Chapter 18: First Meeting with Xue Qi

Wang Baochuan waited for several days, finally, her second sister returned to the Wei mansion. She left at noon, and Wang Baochuan went to the Wei mansion in a grand manner in the afternoon.

The steward of the mansion was surprised to see the third Miss. He remembered his nephew, who worked at the Prime Minister’s mansion, telling him that the sisters didn’t get along well.

“Third Miss, our Madam is taking a nap, would you like to have someone wake her up?” He asked tentatively, but he didn’t mean to send anyone.

Madam had a bad temper, and she had just returned from the Prime Minister’s mansion, tired from the carriage ride. If he went to disturb her at this time, he would surely be scolded.

Wang Baochuan understood his predicament and said considerately, “It’s alright, I just miss Second Sister and wanted to see her.”

“Since she’s asleep, I’ll just wait in her courtyard.”

“Yes.” The steward smiled at Wang Baochuan. Although the third Miss’s reputation wasn’t very good, her temper was really good.

“Someone, take the third Miss to Madam’s courtyard and take good care of her.”

The maids dared not be negligent and led her to Madam Wang Yinchuan’s courtyard.

Wang Baochuan walked slowly, stopping every now and then.  This was the second time she had come to the Wei mansion since her second sister married Wei Hu.

The corridors, pavilions, and courtyards were arranged in a harmonious way.  Every step was a new scene, each with its own beauty.

Wang Baochuan sighed inwardly.  The Wei mansion was almost more luxurious than the Prime Minister’s mansion.  It was just more extravagant and less elegant and refined.

She remembered that Wei Bao lived in the west courtyard, and if she wasn’t mistaken, this was it.

“You can go down, I know the way.” Wang Baochuan dismissed the maids.

When they were alone, she took Xiaolian and another maid, Qingqing, straight to Wei Bao’s courtyard.

Sure enough, as soon as they entered, they saw a beautiful and delicate woman in the courtyard, it was Xue Qi.

Wang Baochuan had seen her in her previous life.  She admired her brother, Xue Pinggui, so she was very hostile towards her.

“Who are you?”

Xue Qi was preoccupied.  Since she learned that her father was dead and her brother was missing, she had been restless and had lost a lot of weight.

Wang Baochuan smiled politely at her.  She hadn’t expected that they wouldn’t be separated by Xue Pinggui in this first meeting, and this woman was still hostile towards her.

“This is our third Miss, she’s Madam Wei’s sister.” Qingqing introduced.

Xue Qi immediately understood her identity.  She was Wang Baochuan, the third Miss of the Prime Minister’s mansion, who Wei Bao often mentioned.

“Master Wei is not here, if you’re looking for him, you should ask the servants to inform him.” Xue Qi’s voice was a little sour, but she still politely informed her.

“I’m not looking for him, I’m here to see my second sister, I just took a wrong turn.” Wang Baochuan pretended to leave, but she stopped after taking two steps, as if she had remembered something, “You’re the Miss Xue Qi that Second Sister mentioned, right?”

“I’ve met your brother twice…”

As soon as Xue Qi heard that she knew about her brother, she rushed forward and grabbed her hand tightly, “Third Miss, you’ve seen my brother, do you know where he is?”

“What?  You and your brother are separated?” Wang Baochuan pretended not to know.

She nodded sadly, tears streaming down her face, “My father was murdered, and my brother disappeared.  I’m all alone.  If it weren’t for Master Wei taking care of me, I probably wouldn’t be alive anymore…”

“Your father was murdered!” Wang Baochuan widened her eyes in shock.

She thought, I’m so tired of living.  I know everything, but I have to pretend I don’t.  In this life, I’m a better actress than those female roles in the opera.

“When something like this happens, as children, how can we not find the murderer and avenge the deceased?”

Xue Qi cried even harder, her whole body trembling, she couldn’t even stand straight.

“But Master Wei said that the Jingzhao Prefecture investigated, but they didn’t find any clues.” She wiped her tears silently, every move she made showed her sadness.

Wang Baochuan took the opportunity to give her advice, “The county magistrate just wants to shirk responsibility, you can write a complaint and appeal to the Ministry of Justice.”