Madame Wang stood in the small courtyard of Qin Liusi's residence, surveying her surroundings.
The courtyard, not particularly large, was not adorned with many flowers or plants. In one corner, a small artificial hill was constructed, with a small pond beneath it. Inside the pond, several lotus plants were growing, and despite it being near the end of July, there was still a trembling lotus flower blooming atop, with two peculiarly colored small fish swimming around.
This scenery captivated Madame Wang, who also glanced towards the southeast corner where a pomegranate tree was planted. The pomegranate flowers on the tree were still in full bloom, vibrant red and brimming with vitality, giving the impression of abundance.
As a breeze blew by, carrying a faint floral scent, Madame Wang was about to follow it when Qin Liusi emerged to greet her.
"Why has Mother come?" Qin Liusi bowed to Madame Wang.
Madame Wang paused, her lips curling slightly. "It's not fully dark yet, I came to talk to you."
Qin Liusi gestured for her to enter the house.
Madame Wang didn't refuse, lifting her feet to ascend the steps. Upon entering, she glanced around the room.
There were no elaborate decorations or ornaments in the room, only a table beneath the window with writing implements, and several books stacked haphazardly. Beside the table, there was a divan draped with a light blue blanket.
In the center of the room, there was a round table set with tea utensils. Madame Wang sat down, and Qihuang promptly served the tea.
Madame Wang took a sip and looked at Qin Liusi. "This house isn't small. There are plenty of empty rooms. Why did you choose to live in this side courtyard?"
Qin Liusi replied calmly, "Convenience and tranquility."
Madame Wang choked. How could this be considered tranquil? This side courtyard was near the back street, and even though there was a side door for convenient access, some noises could still be heard.
But when she mentioned convenience, was it really just about ease of access?
Madame Wang forcibly suppressed this thought, looking at the rather pale face in front of her, unable to find any words for a moment.
Qin Liusi's birth mother was exceptionally beautiful, with an enviable figure, but Qin Liusi didn't resemble her much.
Qin Liusi's features were not delicate; her cheeks were slightly thin, her lips were rosy, and her eyes were exceptionally lively. When she raised her eyebrows, she seemed aloof and disdainful towards everyone.
Yet, this appearance was still quite pleasant to look at.
Madame Wang said, "You've been alone in the old mansion for these years. You must have suffered."
Qin Liusi raised her eyelids and said, "It's not really suffering. This arrangement is quite good. I'm used to it."
Madame Wang was momentarily stunned, not saying much. Instead, she took out a small silver hairpin from her sleeve and handed it to Qin Liusi. "You should have had a coming-of-age ceremony, but with the sudden incident in the family, nothing could be taken out. I bought this silver hairpin yesterday. It's a token of my regards."
Qin Liusi looked at the silver hairpin, which was shaped like a begonia, and hesitated for a moment before accepting it. "Thank you, Mother."
Madame Wang tugged at the corner of her mouth. "There's no need for thanks. This should have been given to you by the Qin family. If it weren't for the incident, you should have had a better hairpin. After all, you are the eldest daughter of our Qin family. Even if it's just in name, you still have the status of the legitimate daughter."
Qin Liusi fell silent for a moment, then pinned the silver hairpin to her head. She reached out and touched Madame Wang's wrist, saying, "Please rest assured."
As soon as her hand touched her pulse, Qin Liusi's brows furrowed slightly. When she looked at Madame Wang's palace of children and grandchildren, her expression dimmed, and she pursed her lips.
"Mother, unable to sleep at night, with liver fire stagnant. Over time, this will harm your vitality and affect your longevity. A broad heart is the key to hope."
Madame Wang's pupils quivered slightly as she met Qin Liusi's gaze squarely.