Shen Qingwan supported Ye Minglan as they followed behind Qin Xiuzhu into the cabin.

It was already close to noon, so Qin Xiuzhu had someone bring food into the room.

Meanwhile, Rong Yunfei and Rong Yunshuang stood guard at the door.

Seeing that he had even prepared a meal, Shen Qingwan felt a little embarrassed.

“If it weren’t for the young lady’s help last time, I’m afraid I would have lost that batch of goods. Those bandits certainly wouldn’t have let me go, either. You left in such a hurry that day, and I never got the chance to properly thank you. I never expected to run into you again today. The food on the ship is simple, so I can only ask you both to make do with it for now.”

Qin Xiuzhu’s voice was pleasant to listen to, and he always carried a warm smile.

Ye Minglan, unaware of what had happened between them, remained silent.

Shen Qingwan, however, waved her hand dismissively, clearly not concerned about the past matter.

“You’re too polite, Young Master Qin. It was just a coincidence that I happened to be there and helped out. Since I’m eating your food today, let’s consider it thanks enough. There’s no need to mention that incident again.”

Shen Qingwan was not the type to demand repayment for a favor, especially since she had merely lent a hand at the time without expecting anything in return.

Qin Xiuzhu smiled but did not refute her words.

Instead, he asked for her name. “The young lady is so open-minded. May I ask for your name?”

“I am Shen Qingwan, and this is my mother, Madam Ye,” Shen Qingwan introduced herself and Ye Minglan.

Qin Xiuzhu cupped his hands in greeting.

“Miss Shen, Madam Ye.” Since Shen Qingwan had mentioned her mother’s surname, Qin Xiuzhu respectfully addressed her as Madam Ye.

“Are you two heading to the capital?” His question was not out of curiosity but simply out of courtesy.

Shen Qingwan nodded. “Yes, we’re going to the capital to find relatives.” She did not elaborate, and Qin Xiuzhu did not press further.

Instead, he invited them to eat together.

Shen Qingwan was not one to be overly reserved. Since she had accepted the meal, she ate openly and without hesitation.

Ye Minglan also ate a little.

After the meal, Qin Xiuzhu suddenly recalled that he had booked all the rooms on the ship.

Shen Qingwan and her mother likely had nowhere to stay. Fortunately, he had reserved the rooms primarily for storing goods, so he could spare two for them.

Shen Qingwan had been worrying about accommodations. When Qin Xiuzhu offered two rooms, she gladly accepted.

Over the next few days on the ship, Qin Xiuzhu often sought out Shen Qingwan for meals and tea.

As a result, they gradually became more familiar with each other.

As they approached the capital, the buildings along the canal grew more grand and refined, and the scenery became increasingly picturesque.

The capital, located in the southeast, had a mild climate.

Even in winter, temperatures rarely dropped below freezing, and snowfall was rare.

As a result, the vegetation remained green even in the cold season.

Ye Minglan, feeling warm after entering the capital, removed her thick winter coat.

Her quilted jacket, filled with goose down by Shen Qingwan, had kept her especially warm.

But in the capital’s milder winter, it was unnecessary.

The autumns in the northern regions were colder than the winters in the capital, so it was no wonder Ye Minglan had struggled to adapt to the harsh climate there.

After disembarking, Qin Xiuzhu initially intended to escort Shen Qingwan and her mother further, but she declined.

Before parting, he gave her a jade pendant, telling her to find him at the Qin family’s silk shop if she ever needed anything.

As a newcomer to the capital, Shen Qingwan had no idea how prestigious the Qin family’s silk business was.

However, Ye Minglan, having once been a noblewoman in the capital, was well aware.

The Qin family’s silk shop had stood for over a century and was the largest in the capital.

The Qin family itself was one of the three great aristocratic families, along with the Bai and Ning families.

The Qin family dominated the silk and textile trade, controlling nearly half of the capital’s fabric and clothing business. It was estimated that one-third of the fabric trade across the entire Daxia Kingdom was linked to them.

The Bai family’s Wantong Bank and grain stores, on the other hand, had branches throughout the kingdom, controlling nearly one-tenth of the nation’s economy—so much so that they were said to be as wealthy as the country itself.

The Ning family, which originally specialized in jade and antiques, later expanded into the jewelry business.

Their gold, silver, and jade accessories were renowned, and they controlled at least one-fifth of the kingdom’s jade mines.

Their gold and silver mines were so vast that they seemed to sit atop mountains of treasure.

Ning Huaian, the third son of the Ning family, was truly born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

However, his two elder brothers overshadowed him, giving him a reputation as a frivolous and carefree young master.

What people didn’t know was that Ning Huaian had a close relationship with Beichen Yuan and was secretly working for him.

Even the Ning family was unaware of their connection; otherwise, they would never have allowed Ning Huaian to associate with Beichen Yuan.

The Ning family had always maintained a neutral stance, never aligning with any political factions or the royal court.

They avoided power struggles to prevent their family from becoming a mere pawn.

Having suffered from mental instability for years, Ye Minglan’s memories of the capital were frozen in the past.

Seeing how much the city had changed, she felt momentarily disoriented.

However, she still remembered the location of the Huguo General’s Mansion.

Shen Qingwan hired a carriage to take them there.

As Ye Minglan stepped out, she stared at the mansion’s plaque for a long time.

She was unsure if Gu Tingyi had returned, and standing before this familiar yet foreign home, she didn’t know how to proceed.

A gatekeeper, recognizing her, was so shocked that he rushed inside to report the news.

At that moment, Ye Minghui was in Huixiang Courtyard, having a milk mask applied to her face by her daughter, Ye Lingxue.

“Madam, something terrible has happened! The General’s wife… she has returned!” The gatekeeper, unable to enter the lady’s chambers, shouted from the doorway.

Startled, Ye Minghui quickly wiped the sticky white mask off her face.

“That’s impossible! How could she still be alive?”

As she hurriedly cleaned her face, Ye Lingxue tried to calm her. “Mother, don’t panic. Auntie was not in her right mind. She couldn’t have come back on her own. Someone must have brought her here. Let’s go take a look first and not lose our composure.”

Ye Minghui steadied herself upon hearing this and immediately set off with Ye Lingxue.

As they passed through the hall, they saw the servants leading Ye Minglan inside, accompanied by three others.

Ye Minghui ignored the others and instead rushed forward, her eyes reddened.

“Sister, is it really you? You’ve finally come back! I thought you were…”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, her expression a perfect blend of guilt and joy, like a devoted sister who had long awaited her sibling’s return.