After bidding farewell to her grandmother and uncle, Pan Yueqing followed Pan Haiyun and, together with Wan'er, Gupan and others, boarded the carriage waiting at the door.
Pan Haiyun had always been a low - key person. The accompanying carriage was just an ordinary one covered with green oiled cloth. Although simple, it was spacious enough. With a long shout from Qingshan, the young servant beside Pan Haiyun, the carriage slowly set off towards the Prime Minister's Mansion.
The housekeeper and some maids had been waiting at the door for a long time. As soon as they saw the small carriage entering Langguan Fang from a distance, they sent someone to inform the three concubines and the young ladies in the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"Master, we're here," Qingshan said in a low voice to Pan Haiyun inside the carriage.
Pan Yueqing saw Pan Haiyun open his eyes, pretending he had been dozing. She stood up and raised her hand, indicating that she would help him. Pan Haiyun looked at Pan Yueqing's obedient appearance and a smile involuntarily appeared in his eyes. "Yue'er, you go down first. Daddy still needs to sort out some official documents brought along the way."
Liu Shi, who was waiting at the door, saw the carriage stop and beckoned the Third Young Lady, Pan Miaoqian, to step forward. Since Liu Shi was in charge of the household, the other two concubines could do nothing but watch as this mother - daughter pair tried to please Pan Haiyun.
Liu Shi pulled Pan Miaoqian and stood three steps away from the carriage step. A hand protruded from the carriage. Liu Shi pulled Pan Miaoqian to curtsy respectfully. Before she could say "Master" with a half - smile, a lively and clear voice came from above: "Aunt Liu, we haven't seen each other for so long, and you're being so formal?"
Over the surprised gazes of Liu Shi and Pan Miaoqian, Pan Yueqing looked at Concubine Li standing behind them and the Fourth Young Lady, Pan Lianshan, by her side. As expected, she received their astonished looks. Pan Lianshan tugged at the sleeve of her birth mother, Concubine Li, and whispered, "Why is it her?"
Pan Miaoqian froze in place. After hearing Pan Yueqing's voice, she straightened up and said, "You didn't inform Grandmother. How dare you come back to the capital without permission?!"
It was no wonder she was anxious. In three days, it would be the 60th birthday of the Princess of Anbei, and all the noble ladies in the capital would attend. Originally, as a concubine - born daughter, she naturally had no right to ask for an appearance. But since Pan Yueqing was not at home and Grandmother had always favored her, it had long been decided to take her there. Although she had the reputation of being a "talented girl", due to her humble birth, it was difficult for her to show herself in front of important people. This was a perfect opportunity.
"Third Sister, what a strange question. Naturally, it was Daddy who went to pick me up that I dared to come back," Pan Yueqing said with a smile as she lifted the hem of her skirt and got off the carriage. Then she turned back to look at Pan Haiyun, who got out of the carriage with a somewhat displeased expression.
Ignoring Pan Miaoqian's changing facial expressions, Pan Yueqing raised her eyes and stretched out her hand as if to help Pan Haiyun get off the carriage. She lowered her head, frowned slightly, and softly called out, "Daddy, be careful."
Pan Miaoqian took three steps forward, adjusted her facial expression, and said to Pan Haiyun with a smile, "Daddy, you've had a long and tiring journey. Daughter has prepared lunch for you. Would you like to come to Mother's courtyard today and taste my cooking?"
"The rooms in Yue'er's courtyard haven't been tidied up yet, so I won't keep Daddy for lunch," Pan Yueqing said with a smile, glancing at Pan Haiyun's expression.
"En," Pan Haiyun replied casually. Liu Shi stepped forward and was about to help Pan Haiyun, but Pan Haiyun glanced at her and subtly avoided her hand. He placed his hand on Pan Yueqing's slender and fair hand and said coolly, "I'll have lunch with the old lady."
Pan Miaoqian had never seen Pan Haiyun like this. She immediately looked back at Liu Shi, feeling at a loss. Pan Lianshan had also never seen Pan Haiyun being so dismissive of Pan Miaoqian and Liu Shi. Fortunately, Concubine Li beside her tugged at her, so she pursed her lips and held back her laughter. Otherwise, she would have laughed out loud on the spot.
"Then..." Liu Shi turned her gaze to Pan Yueqing and said amiably, "Second Young Lady, come and have a meal in my courtyard."
Trying to play the role of a kind step - mother in front of Pan Haiyun again? Let's see who has better acting skills.
"I'll have lunch with Daddy," Pan Yueqing frowned slightly and smiled. "Aunt, please don't be offended. I don't dare to eat the food in my own courtyard now. I'm afraid I'll eat some unexpected ginseng, bird's nest, purslane again... and get a stomachache."
These words were clearly alluding to the miscarriage incident. Unable to hold back, Pan Miaoqian knelt down in front of Pan Haiyun with tears in her eyes and cried pitifully, "Daddy, Second Sister is accusing others first when she's the one in the wrong. The younger brother is gone, and Mother didn't even blame Second Sister. But now Second Sister..."
"Third Sister, I just said that I have a weak stomach and don't dare to eat randomly. Why are you accusing me in the street at the gate? People coming and going here are all from prominent families. Are you deliberately trying to embarrass Daddy?" Pan Yueqing stood beside Pan Haiyun, took half a step back, and also wiped away her tears. "Daddy, you see. I said I should stay away. Daddy took pity on me and brought me back. The matter hasn't been settled yet, but Third Sister and Aunt are blaming me. Now, as time has passed, it's impossible for me to clear my name."
Pan Haiyun's expression became even more displeased. He held Pan Yueqing's hand and, ignoring the others, stepped over the threshold without saying a word. Wan'er, Gupan and the others followed closely behind, looking very proper and not even giving a sideways glance elsewhere.
"Mother..." Pan Miaoqian was completely panicked. Looking at Pan Haiyun's departing back, she murmured, "Could Daddy have found out something?"
When passing by Pan Haiyun's Changyun Pavilion, Pan Yueqing took her leave from him.
"Your courtyard hasn't been lived in for a long time. It should be tidied up," Pan Haiyun thought for a while and said to Pan Yueqing, "Let Qingshan go and give you a hand."
Pan Yueqing looked up at Pan Haiyun. Qingshan was a very capable person beside Pan Haiyun. Although young, he was highly appreciated by Pan Haiyun. Even Liu Shi had to humble herself to please Qingshan. Pan Yueqing made her way back to her Dongfeng Pavilion.
In Dongfeng Pavilion, the head maid was Yingying, but she was nowhere to be seen. The courtyard seemed in a mess. The precious moon - like jasmine plants she had painstakingly planted had all been dug up. Quilts and handkerchiefs were being in the courtyard without any regard for propriety. Some maids were warming wine and gambling in the side room. The maid in charge of the young maids' upbringing in the mansion was loudly scolding her adopted daughters. For a moment, there were sounds of fighting, drinking games, and scolding... It was extremely noisy and lively.
Pan Yueqing's face turned cold. She forcefully pushed open the half - closed door. The door made a loud bang against the two walls, but it still couldn't drown out the noise in the courtyard. Ignoring the unsightly scene in the courtyard, Pan Yueqing walked straight towards her bedroom. When she pushed open the door, from the thick gauze curtains in the room, there came Yingying's gasping sounds from the bed where she was supposed to sleep.
As expected, Pan Yueqing slightly curved her lips into a smile.
In her previous life, she was caught in rumors of being defiled by bandits. Although there was no evidence, the scandal of Yingying's adultery spread like wildfire. When a maid behaved improperly, it made others even more suspicious of the mistress's conduct. At that time, she had already suspected that Yingying's adultery had been going on for a long time. Unfortunately, no one in the mansion was willing to listen to her. Now, seeing this, her suspicion was confirmed.
A pair of embroidered shoes and a pair of cloud - stepping boots were kicked messily beside the curtains.
"The Second Young Lady really knows how to enjoy. What beautiful Shu embroidery..." It was the voice of the nephew of Nanny Wang from Liu Shi's courtyard.
"Now it's us enjoying it," Yingying said with a coquettish smile, her voice charming. "No matter how good these things are, she can't use them anymore. She's been driven away and won't be able to come back..."
Pan Yueqing stood at the door and didn't take a step forward. She just sneered and said, "So, does Miss Yingying like using them? Do you want me to change it for the silk Su embroidery quilt cover at the bottom of the trunk?"
"Who?" The man on the bed lifted the curtain, his eyes wide with anger. When he saw Pan Yueqing's face clearly, he stumbled and fell to the ground. Kneeling on the ground in just a single - layer garment, he stammered, "Second Young Lady." When Yingying heard Wang Chang's words, she was so scared that she quickly wrapped herself in the quilt.
"Someone, tie up this adulterous couple and take them to see Grandmother," Pan Yueqing said, standing still. Before Yingying could plead for mercy, she turned to Qingshan, who was standing silently behind her, and said, "Sorry for the unpleasant sight."