Chapter 57: Visiting Her Parental Home

After sunrise, Mama Wang led Cui Xi and Cui Jian along with four or five carefully chosen maids, escorting Meinang as they left the inner courtyard. They boarded a carriage at the entrance gate, heading directly toward the Qin residence in the west of the city.

Once they had traveled for a while, Meinang, feeling certain they had exited the marquis’ estate, relaxed and asked Cui Xi, seated nearby, “We left in a hurry and I didn’t have a chance to check. How many carriages are there? Who’s accompanying us?”

Cui Xi replied, “In addition to the main wife’s carriage, there are two smaller carriages carrying the maids. Madam San personally arranged everything, and three carriages are loaded with gifts. Bai Zhan brought along around thirty riders to escort us.”

Meinang lifted the thick velvet curtain, peering outside through a layer of gauze. Sure enough, she saw a row of sturdy, black-robed guards on horseback, riding slowly alongside, holding whips to keep the marquis’ carriages separated from the bustling city streets. Seeing this formation, Meinang thought bitterly that Xu Jun Ying was effectively restricting her movements. Without Bai Zhan’s reports, she might not have known anything about her brother or had the chance to return to her family. What was Xu Jun Ying’s intention? Could he have some grudge against the Qin family?

The Qin residence was, indeed, small and modest. The main gate lacked even a proper gate tower. The courtyard walls, worn and faded, showed exposed gray bricks beneath. An elderly gatekeeper, hard of hearing and dim of sight, struggled against Bai Zhan’s request to open the gate wider. Mama Wang hurriedly gestured to him, finally bringing a toothless smile to his face as he complied. Watching from the carriage, Meinang felt a pang of sadness.

Entering through the gate, she saw an intricate, carved screen symbolizing “Harmony and Fullness.” However, the outer courtyard was narrow and confined; the marquis’s people nearly filled half the space upon entering. Mama Wang led Meinang into the main hall. Meinang was looking around curiously when Mama Wang reminded her softly, “The house you grew up in was not here. Our family used to have a large estate, but after the master passed… this was all that was left.”

Meinang nodded, understanding. “After my father passed, we sold the estate to pay off debts. This must be our family’s secondary residence?”

Mama Wang lowered her gaze. “This courtyard was a gift to one of Qin family’s loyal servants, who later returned it when he moved elsewhere.”

Meinang was taken aback and felt a slight warmth on her cheeks. The Qin family had fallen so far that they had reclaimed a property they had once given away. Looking at the deteriorated courtyard and then at the well-dressed servants from the marquis’ residence, whose disdainful expressions were barely concealed, Meinang felt anger rise within her.

Seating herself in the hall, she ordered Cui Xi, “Summon Bai Zhan here.” She then instructed Mama Wang, “Go to check on my mother. It’s been a while, and she might be too unwell to greet us. I’ll handle these people myself.”

Mama Wang nodded. “Yes, Madam. Her leg ailment might have flared up again, making it hard for her to move. I’ll go check.”

Just then, Bai Zhan arrived and greeted Meinang. “Madam, do you have any orders? I was just about to arrange for a physician to come and check on your elder brother.”

“No need to call a physician. Take the servants and maids back. Mama Wang, Cui Xi, and Cui Jian can stay to help me. You saw my family’s condition there isn’t enough space or resources for everyone.”

Bai Zhan hesitated. “Madam, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. The marquis instructed me to return you to the residence by noon.”

Meinang’s expression turned cold. “So you’ll all stand outside the main gate with empty stomachs until I’m ready to go back, is that it?”

Bai Zhan was startled. “Madam, please calm down.”

Meinang laughed sarcastically. “Tell me, if you had a wife, would you watch her family suffer in poverty while you lived in luxury?”

Bai Zhan said nothing for a while, then replied in a low voice, “The marquis has only just returned from the front and may not know of the family’s situation…”

Meinang eyed him, softening her tone. “You’ve been here before. Surely you mentioned the state of this place. Tell the marquis I’ll be staying here to care for my mother out of filial duty. Tomorrow afternoon, if someone comes for me, I’ll return. Otherwise, I won’t be coming back.”

Bai Zhan bowed. “As you wish, Madam. I’ll relay your message.”

After he left, Cui Xi approached nervously. “Madam, what if the marquis becomes angry?”

Meinang smiled coldly. “Let him. I’m not afraid anymore.”

A young servant girl then arrived, bowing. “Madam, please follow me to see your mother in the back hall.”

Meinang rose and, with Cui Xi in tow, followed the girl along the corridors to the inner courtyard. Though plain, the inner courtyard was arranged pleasantly. As they neared, Meinang saw her mother, Madam Qin, anxiously awaiting her.

Upon seeing her daughter, Madam Qin’s eyes filled with tears. “Meinang, my poor girl. You’ve returned, but we couldn’t even welcome you properly…”

Meinang gently patted her mother’s back. “Mother, I have hands and feet. If I want to visit, I’ll simply come home.”

When a servant brought a smoking black coal stove, Meinang’s eyes watered from the smoke. Madam Qin quickly told the servant to replace it with properly burning coal. Meinang noticed that her mother was not warmly dressed and felt a twinge of sorrow. Taking her mother’s hands, she said, “Why not get better coal, Mother? Don’t save money at the expense of warmth.”

Just then, Cui Jian entered with a smile. “Madam San sent three carriages of supplies. Among them, she included five baskets of fine silver mist coal. We have enough for the winter.”

Meinang beamed. “Madam San understands our family’s needs. Bring the silver mist coal here, and take that smoky black coal to the kitchen.”

Madam Qin looked uneasy. “Your visit is enough, my dear. There’s no need to bring so much from the residence. Don’t let others gossip…”

Meinang smiled and reassured her. “I’m still your daughter. If bringing these things brings comfort, then I’ll do it, no matter who talks.”

After spending time with her mother, Meinang requested to visit her brother and his wife. Madam Qin, looking worried, explained, “Your brother is unwell. He coughed up blood last night, and your sister in law, already five months pregnant, has fallen ill from exhaustion caring for him.”

A servant guided Meinang to her brother’s room in the eastern courtyard. She found her brother, Qin Bo Qing, pale and asleep. His wife, frail but determined, sat by his side, wiping her tears as she watched him rest. Meinang entered, greeting them gently.

The room filled with warmth as Meinang embraced her family, feeling a renewed resolve to support them, hoping to help restore the Qin family to its former glory.