Indifference vs Hatred

With the gathering behind her, the next interesting event to come in Yan Qiu Yue's life was none other than her older brother's birthday. Yan Xiang Yi would be turning 22. Yan Qiu Yue quite liked that she and her brothers all shared autumn birthdays. She felt that it was a commonality that bound them together and it made the season feel particularly festive.

Her family had always been rather low-key about these things. It couldn't be helped that the birthdays of her mother and father became larger-scale events, but for the non-ranked children of the next generation, it was enough to have a warm dinner at home with a few friends invited for fun. Naturally, Yan Qiu Yue would invite her two friends over. Song Lu Li's older brother Song Lu Ming was also acquainted with both Yan Xiang Yi and Yan Qiu Heng, so he would certainly attend also. Of course, the Feng family was all invited since they were family.

Yan Qiu Yue quite enjoyed helping to organize and direct the decorations for the birthday dinner. After a few busy days went by, she had all but forgotten the strange and confusing events of the gathering at the Xu Marquis estate.

A certain someone, however, was not willing to let her forget. Like a bolt out of the blue, a procession came one morning to the Ning Duke estate with dozens of trunks of betrothal gifts in tow. The steward that came to announce the items spent more than an hour reading the list of gifts, his voice becoming hoarse and rather funny to listen to. Naturally, Yan Qiu Yue had not bothered telling her parents about what occurred at the gathering. After all, who would believe that Prince Rui-shizi would act just because of some meaningless banter between them? Her twin brother, however, was privy to most of her thoughts and happenings. When he saw the procession, his expression darkened.

"Prince Rui-shizi has been engaged to you for more than a month. What does he mean by only sending these things now? Does our Yan family seem so desperate?"

"Don't even joke about that. I only meant to make him feel a little guilty. I didn't expect..."

"Perhaps that is what you meant, but others will not see it that way. Seeing that Prince Rui's household did not send anything until you nicely 'reminded' him, it will seem that the shizi did this at your request."

Yan Qiu Yue sighed. These matters were so tiring. She hadn't even married in yet and yet...

"I know what you're thinking." Yan Qiu Heng poked his sister's forehead. "You should have long learned to watch your words before now. We are from a noble family. People pay particular attention to what you say."

"I don't enjoy scheming and hiding my intentions behind metaphors." In fact, Yan Qiu Yue was rather unskilled at it.

Her brother only laughed, seeing her somewhat miserable state. "I don't think anyone enjoys it, Elder Sister. Such things are simply a necessity for those born into positions such as ours."

"Must you be so reasonable all the time? Don't you realize that it makes me look bad?"

Yan Qiu Heng smirked. "One of us has to be more level-headed, or else how could the two of us ever lead good lives?"

Yan Qiu Yue shook her head with a helpless smile. "You do realize that your marriage must also be coming soon, don't you? Grandmother is already unhappy because of Eldest Brother's matter."

At this, Yan Qiu Heng only laughed before changing the topic.

Time quickly flew by and it was soon the evening of Yan Xiang Yi's birthday dinner. Tables had been set up in the garden in the western part of the estate close to where Yan Xiang Yi and Yan Qiu Heng's courtyards were.

"Big sis!! I finished reading the latest installment!" Feng Ming Xia was so excited that she practically shouted this in Yan Qiu Yue's ear upon arriving. She'd completely forgotten about etiquette and making proper greetings. Yan Qiu Yue had only just finished reading the book herself, and so the two began to discuss their thoughts. Song Lu Li and Sun Fen Fang soon arrived and the four of them made a merry little circle debating theories about their favorite inspector.

"You don't really think that the duchess's daughter stole the vase, do you? What would she gain from it?" Ming Xia raised a beautifully painted brow.

"I believe that the author has made it very clear that Wu Meiren would do nearly anything to get Inspector Yu's attention." Song Lu Li said, shaking her head.

Feng Ming Xia frowned. "But what would be the use of having his attention if it's negative? No doubt Inspector Yu thinks of Lady Wu as a simpleton at this point!"

Yan Qiu Heng strode over during this very moment in the conversation. "Negative attention is still attention. Some would say that hatred from someone you're in love with is better than utter indifference." he grinned as he looked at his sister.

Yan Qiu Yue rolled her eyes, understanding this jab full well. There was a wide-spread rumor currently going around Yinchuan that Yan Qiu Yue was so in love with Prince Rui-shizi that she had purposely drawn attention to herself at the previous gathering at Marquis Xu's estate. Her sarcastic words to him were just her way of getting his attention by playing hard to get. The persistence of this rumor frustrated her to death.

"I'd rather someone be indifferent to me than hate me..." Feng Ming Xia replied, tilting her head in confusion.

"Does it have to be a choice between hatred and indifference?" Sun Fen Fang snuck a glance at Yan Qiu Heng. "Can't the inspector fall in love with Wu Meiren? ...Assuming that she's not the culprit, that is."

Song Lu Li shook her head, hiding her smile behind a fan. Ah, Fen Fang, you're being too obvious!! The twins, however, were still both completely unaware of Sun Fen Fang's feelings at this time.

Across the yard, Yan Xiang Yi was chatting with Feng Ying Jie, who was Ming Xia's older cousin. He was the first son of the family and a legitimate son born from the main branch, so he would certainly be the future Marquis Lu someday. Feng Ying Jie was currently a rather eligible bachelor. However, his mother had died giving birth to him and the old Marchioness Lu had passed away a few years back. The marquis had still not taken another main wife and it was unknown if he ever would. The only women left in the family were Feng Ming Xia's mother and the third aunt, but of course, neither of them could intervene in Feng Ying Jie's marriage. The current Marquis Lu had some ideas about possible political matches for his grandson, but nothing had progressed. It seemed that all of Yan Qiu Yue's brothers and cousins were having rather bad luck with marriage. In any case, Yan Xiang Yi and Feng Ying Jie, being close in age and temperament, had gotten along well from a young age.

After a short while, all of the guests had arrived. Dinner was being prepared and a nanny came into the garden to announce that Madame Lin was about to arrive. Duchess Ning came over to prod her daughter. "Yue'er. Why don't you go assist your grandmother? She has been ill for a while this time and I think she will be heartened by your support."

Yan Qiu Yue had no reason to refuse, of course, and quickly walked towards the Lotus courtyard where Madame Lin stayed. She had her own building that was adjoined to the duke and duchess's living quarters so that they could take care of her. Yan Qiu Yue soon saw her grandmother walking towards her with several maids in tow. "Yue'er greets Grandmother! Are you feeling well tonight? I've come especially to escort you to dinner!" Yan Qiu Yue's tone was bright, masking her more chaotic state of mind.

Madame Lin was not a woman who liked to interfere in the matters of her sons' inner courts. When Yan Qiu Yue's mind drifted to her brief but unpleasant previous interaction with Princess Rui, her future mother-in-law, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the comparison. Madame Lin was happy to live close to her eldest son but did not use her proximity to bother him or his wife much. Yan Qiu Yue had no reason whatsoever to expect the same sort of treatment from Princess Rui. She would be lucky and happy to receive the princess's indifference rather than hate...