Chapter 1: The Eldest Daughter's Distant Yearning

  At the Double Ninth Festival, on Mount Miaofeng, autumn colors are just unfolding.

  The Great Zhou Dynasty has always had the custom of climbing high on the Double Ninth Festival, and Miaofeng Mountain is only a hundred miles away from Pingjing, the capital of the Great Zhou. The scenery is extremely beautiful and elegant, so naturally, there are many people who come here today. However, all this has no effect on Ling Yuandai.

  At least for now, she was carefully trimming the orchid in front of her, oblivious to all the commotion outside. The orchid in front of her was extremely well-cared for, its leaves slender and elegant, with a color that was a deep, rich green, like a fine jade carving. Although it had not yet bloomed, just looking at its appearance already revealed that it was no ordinary plant. After carefully examining it for a while, Yu Dai was very satisfied and nodded her head in approval. She had been raising this orchid for over two years now, and judging from its current growth, it should be able to bloom by next autumn.

  Her eyes fell on a clump of orchids, and her thoughts suddenly drifted far away.

  It turns out that I have been in this other courtyard for more than two years! More than two years, it's not a short time for her either!

  The footsteps that sounded behind her at the right time brought back her somewhat scattered thoughts. Without turning around, Yu Dai asked in a low voice, "But someone has come?" There was no need to turn around, just listening to the footsteps, she knew that the one who came from behind was her personal maid, Cai Lian.

  "Ah, it's Sixth Master! Miss, would you like to see him?"

  Sixth brother? Is it her sixth brother who came this year? Hmm, I think his name is Ling Yuanqing. But his appearance is a bit fuzzy in my memory! My memory seems to be getting worse these days, but they haven't met many times anyway, so it's normal that I don't remember clearly!

  Yan Dai thought for a moment, then shook her head and said calmly: "I'm not familiar with him, but it's not necessary to see him! If he asks about me, just say I caught a cold the other day and my body is not feeling well!"

  For these two years she has been like this, claiming illness and not going out. As for Sixth Brother, there is really no need to make an exception either.

  Lotus hesitated slightly, and after a while, she couldn't help but say in a soft voice: "Miss, you've been out of the mansion with your aunt for almost three years now. Are you really planning to spend the rest of your life on this farm and never return to Beijing?" There was already a hint of anxiety in her tone.

  She didn't expect her to suddenly ask such a question, Yuandai stood up straight without any expression, and looked back at Cailian.

  Cai Lian was already eighteen years old this year, with a slender figure, a powdered face and rosy cheeks. Although she couldn't be considered a top beauty, she was still a rare talent that could be picked out from a hundred people. With an eccentric air, he sized her up once, and then suddenly said, "I know!"

  "I know" came out of nowhere and was quite out of place, yet it left Cai Lian stunned and feeling helpless. With a mix of anger and frustration, she stomped her foot and turned to head towards the main hall.

  She saw her off with a faint smile, lifted her hand to brush off the hem of her plain white underskirt, shook off the blades of grass stuck to it, and put the silver scissors in the delicate bamboo basket on one side. Only then did she pick up the basket and walk slowly towards the inner courtyard. Her figure was slender, her waist was even more delicate, and as she walked gently, her steps were light and elegant, just like a weak willow swaying in the wind.

  The Ling family villa under Miaofeng Mountain is not very large, with only three courtyards in the front and back. The buildings are just ordinary white walls and green tiles, but because of the reasonable layout of the houses, the flowers and trees are properly decorated, giving it a simple and elegant charm that washes away all pretentiousness.

  Yuandai lived in a small courtyard on the west side of this separate courtyard, which was also the closest to the back garden. This small courtyard was originally the smallest and most simple one among the three courtyards, but Yuandai liked its quietness and proximity to the garden, so she had been living there all along.

  Just as she walked to the gate of the small courtyard, a maid in a lotus-colored shirt hastily came up to greet her, took the bamboo basket from her arm, and complained: "Now it's autumn, and it just rained the other day. This kind of weather is most prone to catching cold, and Miss's body is not good to begin with, but she never listens to advice..." Although her words were reproachful, her face was full of concern.

  This maid was another personal maid named Wenping who was beside Yu Dai.

  With a faint smile, Yuandai said: "Forget it, I'm tired too, help me in!"

  Wen Ping nodded, and helped her into the house, supporting her as she sat down on the edge of the kang by the window. A sharp-eyed little maid had already hurried over with tea, which Yu Dai took from her and sipped lightly before asking, "Has Auntie woken up yet?"

  Wen Ping hurriedly replied, "I just went to see the second wife, but she hasn't woken up yet. However, her fever has subsided, so it shouldn't be serious!" The second wife mentioned by the two of them was actually Faraway's biological mother, Zhou Yiniang.

  After a slight nod, Yuan Dai said: "Just now, Cai Lian came to find me and said that the sixth master of the mansion had arrived and is currently in front!"

  Wen Ping pondered her meaning for a moment before softly asking: "Miss, you still don't plan on seeing Sixth Master?"

  Yan Dai calmly replied: "I've already instructed Cai Lian that if he asks about me, just say I caught a slight cold!"

  Although her tone was calm, there was no room for maneuvering in her attitude, and she had to remain silent. To say that she had been serving this young lady for nearly three years, but had never really understood this illegitimate daughter. But one thing she did know was that once this young lady made up her mind, no one could change it.

  She didn't mind her silence at all, and with a slightly tired wave of her hand, she said, "I'm a bit tired!"

  Wenping nodded in agreement and quickly turned around, just about to go get the backrest, when she saw the green curtain on the door move, and Cailian had already walked in hastily: "Miss! Miss!" She was excitedly calling out, her small face flushed red, with an uncontrollable joyful expression.

  She raised an eyebrow and swept a glance over her, then finally spoke up, "What's wrong?" with a hint of impatience in her tone.

  Cai Lian was too excited, and after hearing this question, she couldn't help but take a deep breath before hastily saying: "Sixth Master... Sixth Master said... he wants to come see the young lady!"

  From the moment she entered the house and saw her expression, Yuandai had already guessed a few things. Her cherry lips pursed slightly as she said indifferently, "Sixth Master has come, I suppose you're not alone?"

  She had been living in this separate courtyard for more than two years, and during these two years, someone from the Ling family occasionally came, but after hearing her excuse of illness, no one ever thought of coming to see her. She didn't think that Ling Yuancheng would be an exception either.

  As soon as this was said, the excited look on Cai Lian's face faded a lot, and her expression also stiffened. Wen Ping saw her embarrassment and couldn't help but speak up to relieve her: "Sixth Master, when did you say you would come over?"

  "Will be coming soon!" she said, her eyes involuntarily looking towards the distant Dai.

  Yuandai's face showed no anger, and she asked in a gentle voice: "Cailian, do you know who came with Liu Ye?"

  As soon as the words came out, Cai Lian suddenly felt a lot more at ease for no reason. She lowered her head and thought carefully before shaking it and saying: "There were three people who came with Sixth Master, two young masters and one young lady, all of whom looked unfamiliar to me. However, I heard Sixth Master call the young lady Miss Xiao, and that young man Brother Baili! Besides, there was another young master who seemed to be that young lady's older brother!"

  Suddenly hearing these two surnames, she couldn't help but frown slightly. The surname Bai was indeed the royal surname of the Great Zhou Empire, and as for the surname Xiao, she remembered it very clearly - wasn't the empress dowager, who ruled with dignity, also surnamed Xiao?

  It seems that this sixth brother of hers is quite capable and can keep up with these few people!

  Yuandai thought silently, after all, she swept a glance at the two maids beside her, Cailian was still confused, while Wenshu's expression seemed to have gained something.

  She didn't say anything else, and Yu Dai got up, sat down in front of the dresser, called Wenping to tidy her up a bit, and just finished when she saw the little maid Hui'er outside rushing over to report that Master Liu had already arrived at the entrance of the courtyard.

  After Yan Dai nodded, she didn't delay and got up, taking Cai Lian and Wen Ping with her out of the house. Just a few steps later, they saw four people walking towards them, laughing and chatting. The young man leading the way was tall and slender, with a handsome face and an extraordinary demeanor - it was none other than Ling Yuanqing, the sixth son of the main branch of the An Suo Hou Mansion.

  Ling Yu's eyes swept to the side, and there were three people standing there. They were two men and one woman. The girl in the middle was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with bright eyes and white teeth, her skin as fair as snow. Although she wasn't very tall, her figure was well-proportioned, and her movements and speech showed a noble demeanor.

  The man walking on her right side looked slightly older than her, with a similar appearance to hers, but with more defined facial features. He was clearly her brother. The man on the left side, or rather, he should not be called a man, but a young boy. This boy looked like he was only fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a purple gold crown and white robes with arrow sleeves. Although his face was still tender, it was as if carved from jade, with delicate features and an air of nobility in his eyebrows and eyes, clearly indicating that he was not an ordinary person.

  Yan Dai glanced at him, her heart already understanding his identity. She didn't show it, but instead took a few more steps forward before bowing slightly to Ling Yuan and saying in a soft voice, "Greetings, Sixth Brother!"

  Ling Yuancheng saw her paying respects, and hastily brought a smile to his face as he supported her with one hand. He said in a gentle voice, "It's been a long time since we last met, are Ninth Sister and Aunt both doing well?" Although he asked after their well-being, his expression showed little concern, making it clear that this was merely a casual inquiry.

  Yan Dai heard this and just smiled: "Thanks for your concern, Sixth Brother! My sister and aunt are both fine!"