Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 8

The house was warm, heated by charcoal. Upon entering, a wave of warmth rushed to meet them.

The maids were guarding outside, and since no one blocked Xun Qi, she walked all the way to the couch. The embroidered curtains were lowered, and without a second thought, she pulled them aside.

As soon as she reached out, Yan Zhi’an woke up and slapped her hand away. “What are you doing?”

“It is time to go. They are already urging us from outside. Are we going to pay respects to the ancestors today?” Xun Qi frowned, rubbing her hand that had been struck. Her eyes danced with mischief as she pulled the curtains open, poked her head inside, and grinned at her mother.

Yan Zhi’an’s eyes were half-closed. She reached out and pushed that head away. “Close your eyes.”

“You are just like the Madman.” Xun Qi, having received a slap, simply held that hand. The skin she touched was warm and incredibly delicate.

She was slightly startled. Yan Zhi’an retracted her hand, keeping her eyes closed, completely unbothered by the other’s intrusion. “Tell me, what was the Madman like?”

“Her? She was a strange person.” Xun Qi pulled on the curtains with both hands, her head inside the curtains while her body remained outside, sticking her behind out.

Yan Zhi’an could not see outside the curtains and, having heard her speak of her foster mother, could not help but be curious. “How was she strange?”

“She said that living under a feudal hierarchy meant power was like a pyramid.” Xun Qi tried hard to recall the Madman’s words. “She also said…”

“Do not say it.” Yan Zhi’an reached out to cover her mouth, her expression filled with unease. “Do not mention her affairs again in the future.”

Xun Qi nodded, though she still added, “She had a wonderful way with words; she even wrote books.”

Yan Zhi’an did not care. No matter how good her literary talent was, could it compare to the scholars of Jinling?

“Have you eaten breakfast?”

“I was waiting for you to get up so we could eat together. They sent people to urge us from outside. Is today not the ancestor worship ceremony?” Xun Qi remembered her mother saying they would offer sacrifices to the ancestors today.

Yan Zhi’an rose lazily, her clothes half-open, revealing the fair skin at her collarbone. Xun Qi frowned as she saw it and reached out to adjust the garments. Yan Zhi’an swept a glance at her. “What are you doing?”

“I am tidying your clothes for you.” Xun Qi blinked. With her clothes half-open, it did not look proper.

Yan Zhi’an raised her eyebrows and patted her on the forehead. “You little prude. Even if you look, what of it? I am your mother.”

Xun Qi was doubtful. “You will catch a cold.”

“You have a point.” Yan Zhi’an was persuaded and yawned. “Tell them to come in.”

Xun Qi knew she meant the maids. She nodded and turned to go out and summon them.

Yan Zhi’an rose slowly to wash and dress. Xun Qi was so hungry she could feel her stomach sticking to her ribs, so she slumped over the table, holding a water pot and drinking.

When a maid brought in a plate of dumplings, she reached out to grab one, but the maid looked at her in surprise. She immediately pulled her hand back and gave an awkward smile.

Yan Zhi’an, sitting to the side, glanced at the scene and ordered the maid, “Go out and tell the Eldest Mistress that she does not need to come and serve us.”

The maid was terrified, but Yan Zhi’an was impatient. “Out!”

The maid did not dare to say a word; she bowed her head and ran out.

Xun Qi kept her hands behind her back, watching Yan Zhi’an walk over. She could not help but lower her head. “I am sorry, Mother.”

“Why are you sorry?” Yan Zhi’an did not understand. “If you want to eat, then eat. Next time you are hungry, eat some snacks to hold you over. I will have them send snacks to you three times a day; eat whenever you are hungry.”

At thirteen, she was at the age where she was growing rapidly; she was naturally hungrier than others and could not be compared to them.

Xun Qi nodded shyly. Yan Zhi’an handed her the chopsticks. “Eat while it is hot. Take some food with you when we go out later. Such banquets are dry and tasteless.”

“Okay.” Xun Qi promised, and Yan Zhi’an placed the entire plate of dumplings in front of her.

Xun Qi looked at the dumplings, then back at her, blinked, and then silently lowered her head to eat.

Yan Zhi’an picked at the vegetables, frowned, then looked at the lotus root soup and frowned again. In contrast, Xun Qi devoured her food. Only then did Yan Zhi’an pick up the lotus root soup and slowly take a spoonful.

Xun Qi kept her head down, eating without a word, and finished all the food on the table within the time it took to finish a cup of tea.

Once full, she put down her chopsticks. A maid immediately handed her a wet towel. She looked at the towel, confused, then looked at her mother. Yan Zhi’an took the towel to wipe her hands, then took a cup of tea, not to drink, but only to rinse her mouth.

Xun Qi followed her lead.

After putting down the tea cup, the sound of people urging them from outside drifted in. “Master, the Elder is getting impatient.”

Yan Zhi’an raised an eyebrow. “If you want to go, then go. Why wait for me? If you want to go with me, then keep waiting.”

The person who urged them took a rebuke and walked away silently. Xun Qi poked her head out and giggled. A voice came from behind her, “Yan Xun Qi, you must remember: before you are powerful, you are at the mercy of others. Once you are powerful, you can control others. Understand?”

The slim body trembled. She looked back to see the cold, brilliant woman standing behind the desk, her gaze deep as water. “Before you are powerful, you must endure. I can be reckless, but you cannot; though, you may be reckless among your juniors. That is the power I give you.”

Upon hearing this, Xun Qi nodded deeply. “I will remember.”

“It is time to go out.” Yan Zhi’an suddenly changed into a lazy expression, looking at ease.

More than ten people were waiting in the cold wind by the carriages. Even the old grandfather was sitting in a carriage, waiting.

Yan Dalang’s feet were aching from the cold. He stamped his feet, cursing the pretentious Ninth Sister in his heart. “She still has not changed that attitude.”

As soon as the words left his lips, someone replied, “Ninth Sister did not ask you to wait.”

Seventeenth Lady glared at him, and he felt humiliated. He opened his mouth to reprimand her, but a servant announced, “The Family Head is coming out.”

Yan Dalang had no choice but to swallow his pride.

Everyone boarded their carriages. The Family Head boarded the Old Grandfather’s carriage, while Xun Qi was pulled into Seventeenth Lady’s carriage. Yan Fifth Lady wanted to join in, but Seventeenth Lady said, “Fifth Sister, your ex-husband is attending today. Do you still want to go?”

Yan Fifth Lady had divorced because she looked down on her ex-husband’s lack of ability. After the divorce, she set her sights on another marriage, but the man already had a wife, so she had dragged things out until today.

Originally, there was the unmarried Ninth Sister in the family, who was also older, but now that the younger woman had a daughter, it made her feel completely out of place.

Yan Fifth Lady huffed, swung her waist, and headed toward the Family Head’s carriage.

Xun Qi wanted to board, but Seventeenth Lady pulled her back. “Wait.”

“What is wrong?” Xun Qi looked toward Fifth Aunt’s direction.

Yan Fifth Lady had boarded the carriage, but within two breaths, she was back down. Just then, Seventeenth Lady pulled her quickly. “Get on, get on, and lock the door!”

Yan Fifth Lady had been snubbed and came back looking for the two younger ones, but to her surprise, the door was locked. She wanted to curse, but she did not dare, so she had no choice but to go further back to find a carriage.

“She is just like that; she brings it on herself.” Seventeenth Lady explained to Xun Qi. “She and Ninth Sister have been competing since childhood. Later, Ninth Sister found a mine and entered the imperial court, so she went to get married. But she was too ambitious, felt her husband’s family was beneath her, and got divorced. After returning, she has just refused to leave the house.”

Xun Qi was not interested in these stories, but she wanted to see what the Talent Gathering Banquet looked like.

The Yan family had built a tall building in Jinling, naming it the Talent Gathering Pavilion. Only those with talent could enter. Each year, the Yan family provided money for the living expenses of those inside. Originally, this rule was for men.

After Yan Zhi’an took over the family, she allowed both men and women to receive the Yan family’s patronage, and even opened a separate floor for women to live in.

Today, the Talent Gathering Pavilion was exceptionally lively. Men and women sat in the main hall. As long as you had talent, regardless of your status, you could have a seat.

Xun Qi stepped off the carriage and looked at the Talent Gathering Pavilion; she understood why the Yan family had risen to the top in Jinling.

The Yan family had transformed solid gold and silver wealth into intangible talent. Money is dead, but these people are alive.

Seventeenth Lady said, “Half of the high-ranking officials in the imperial court come from Jinling, and half of them have received help from the Yan family.”

Xun Qi gazed at the tall building, unable to imagine that Yan Zhi’an was so young yet already controlled the Yan family. That such a powerful woman was her mother made Xun Qi’s chest feel warm, and a sense of pride spontaneously arose.

After entering the building, she was even more awestruck by the grand scene inside. Everyone had a seat, and each family had their own designated area. The Yan family sat in the seat of honor, with several other families adjacent to them.

Yan Seventeenth Lady pointed to the area to the left of the Yan family. “That is the Xie family of Jinling.” She then pointed to the right. “That is the Wang family of Jinling. The origins of the Wang and Xie families are even more profound than those of the Yan family, but in the last two years, since Ninth Sister was appointed as Left Chancellor, they have gradually fallen behind the Yan family.”

“Actually, it is because the Yan family dug up several mines, which are the most valuable. How can the Wang and Xie families compare? My Yan family may be vulgar, but we turn wealth into talent. They want to imitate us, but do they have the money to throw away a thousand gold pieces?”

Seventeenth Lady was very proud. After introducing the Wang and Xie families, she lamented, “Do you know? Before you returned, the family members discussed choosing two girls from among us to be adopted by Ninth Sister.”

“Why adopt?” Xun Qi did not understand. Could the family not survive otherwise?

“Because she will not marry. To whom would she pass on all her skills? After being adopted, they would be her children, and she would naturally have to teach them.” Seventeenth Lady sighed. “Why was I not noticed by our ancestors? Let me tell you, if a mountain were placed in front of me, I would wonder what benefits were in the mountain, but Ninth Sister could infer what is beneath the mountain and whether there is a mine. You say, people comparing themselves to others will just die of anger.”

Xun Qi could not help but giggle upon hearing this.

Over there, Yan Zhi’an took her seat and beckoned for Xun Qi to come over. Xun Qi bid farewell to Seventeenth Aunt and walked toward her mother.

After Yan Zhi’an was seated, countless sycophants surrounded her, all wanting a look. As Xun Qi sat down, the famous scholars of the world all turned ashen-faced.

“Where did this child come from?”

“Why is she sitting next to the Left Chancellor?”

“Could it be that she has taken a student?”

The crowd murmured, and Xun Qi lowered her head. Then, Yan Zhi’an reached out and lifted her chin. “Have you done something shameful?”

“No. I just feel that sitting here makes you lose face.” Xun Qi felt the strength in that hand, as delicate as ever.

“If these people had real ability, they would go to the capital. What use is having talent but no real power?” Yan Zhi’an mocked, then pinched her little cheek. “Today, come and learn about the ways of the world. Do you understand?”

Xun Qi nodded. Just then, the drums and gongs sounded, and the poetry competition began.

She perked up, ready to watch, when someone approached. “Are you a student of the Left Chancellor?”

She hesitated. Yan Zhi’an looked at the other party playfully. “A talented lady of the Wang family, what do you want?”

“Left Chancellor.” The Wang girl bowed to Yan Zhi’an. “Before the poetry competition begins, I would like to spar a little with your student here.”

Yan Zhi’an laughed, her smile holding an unclear meaning. “Wanting to become famous is your business. Why drag my daughter in to be your stepping stone?”

“Your daughter?” The Wang girl was shocked, as if she had swallowed an egg.

“The Left Chancellor is married?”

“Is she the adopted niece from the elder brother’s family?”

Yan Zhi’an looked at the lady who spoke and smiled gracefully. “It is not an adoption; she is my own daughter, the successor of the Yan family.”

After the shock, the Wang girl bowed from a distance, her posture serene. “Since she is the Left Chancellor’s own daughter, her literary talent must be excellent. I would like even more to ask for some guidance.”

Yan Zhi’an sneered, “Since you want guidance, I will grant your wish. The Wang family is wealthy in its own right. If you don’t have a jade mirror, then fill a basin with water and look at your own reflection. Are you even worthy?”