Chapter 19

“Your Highness.” Qin Xin called out to Gu Jing gracefully, smiling sweetly, “This is my third younger sister who only returned to the residence yesterday. She grew up among commoners and has had quite a pitiful life…” Saying this, she gave Qin Jiu a sympathetic look.

Qin Xin left her words unfinished, but everyone understood the implication.

Qin Jiu had grown up among commoners, uneducated and uncultured. She probably wasn’t even even able to recognize a single written character.

Several noble young ladies covered their mouths and giggled furtively. The looks they cast Qin Jiu held sympathy, pity, and disdain.

Qin Jiu heard everything clearly as well. Helplessly, she sighed inwardly, thinking that she really was doing her job as the “vicious supporting female character.” She hadn’t even done anything yet, and the male and female leads already hated her.

This really wasn’t her fault!

Qin Jiu remained indifferent to the contemptuous looks around her. She looked at Qin Xin and kindly advised, “You shouldn’t say that. As the saying goes: ‘The people are of supreme importance; the state comes next; and the ruler last.’ Second Sister mustn’t look down on the common folk.”

When had she ever looked down on commoners?! Qin Xin was so choked by the rebuttal that the veins on her forehead nearly burst.

Interesting. Gu Zezhi watched Qin Jiu with amusement. On the surface, this little girl looked like the type to muddle through life, but she clearly wasn’t someone who would let anyone walk all over her.

Seeing Gu Jing’s gaze fall onto Qin Jiu again, Qin Xin clenched her handkerchief tightly and quickly changed the subject: “Your Highness, I just painted a portrait of the Queen Mother of the West. I was thinking of presenting it to the Empress Dowager during the Thousand Autumn Festival. Could you help me see if there’s anything lacking? I always feel I haven’t captured the Queen Mother’s transcendent, ethereal aura.”

The Empress Dowager had always been devoted to Daoism, so Qin Xin had painted this Queen Mother of the West as a birthday gift for the Thousand Autumn Festival one month later.

“Sister Xin, don’t belittle yourself. Your painting is lifelike and truly exceptional,” a noble young lady in rose-red robes praised.

“Exactly. Sister Xin’s brushwork is exquisite. Add a stroke and it would be too much, remove one and it would be too little.”

Gu Jing’s interest was piqued, and he suggested to Gu Zezhi, “Imperial Uncle, would you like to come take a look as well?”

Gu Zezhi wasn’t interested at all and replied blandly, “Do as you please.”

What was so interesting about a painting? This little girl was far more interesting! Gu Zezhi smiled as he looked at Qin Jiu, making her scalp tingle. She always felt like he was plotting something bad again.

Gu Zezhi could ignore Gu Jing’s feelings, but the others still had to show some respect. Thus, everyone gathered around the desk and began admiring the painting, praising it endlessly.

Princess Yingluo suddenly said, “Oh right, I heard Daoist Master Yunguang is also at Shenghua Pavilion today. Why don’t we invite her to take a look for you, Sister Xin?”

Daoist Master Yunguang was a Daoist nun from Xuanqing Temple in the capital and enjoyed quite a prestigious reputation in the capital. It was said that her Daoist arts were profound, and that she was skilled in divination, feng shui, and fortune reading.

Shenghua Pavilion was planning on renovating its garden, and she had been specially invited today to inspect the feng shui. Being able to invite her was thanks to the prestige of Prince Tai’s estate.

If this Queen Mother of the West painting could receive praise from Daoist Master Yunguang before being presented to the Empress Dowager, it would make for an even finer story.

The other noble ladies all chimed in agreement.

A strange glint flashed through Qin Xin’s eyes, and the corners of her lips curled upward slightly.

Princess Yingluo beckoned a maid over and instructed her to invite Daoist Master Yunguang.

As she spoke, Princess Yingluo casually noticed that the newly-arrived wild girl from the Qin family was sitting together with Gu Zezhi, appearing as though they were enjoying each other’s company. Her curiosity only grew even more.

Unfortunately, from Qin Jiu’s perspective, this was absolutely not “enjoying” each other’s company!

“Big Brother, when did you arrive in the capital?”

“Big Brother, was your journey smooth?”

“It’s only been a few days, but Big Brother has become even more elegant and outstanding.”

Qin Jiu wore a fake smile. Paying no heed to whether he replied or not, she just kept talking.

Her throat felt a little dry from all the talking, so she picked up the fruit drink on the table and finished it in one gulp.

Forget it.

So what if he was the great villain? She was the vicious supporting female character anyway. Neither of them could judge the other!

Wait—

Qin Jiu’s eyes widened slightly.

She remembered that Gu Zezhi didn’t appear until the middle of the novel.

The moment he appeared, news arrived in the capital that he had personally killed his elder brother and cut off his head, shocking the entire imperial court. After that, the novel introduced this character from Gu Jing’s perspective in detail. It listed out his background, how he had murdered his own father and fled several years earlier, and then how the Emperor ordered Gu Jing to lead a great army to suppress him.

But there was no mention of him coming to the capital when Qin Xin was fourteen!

Had the plot changed?!

Watching the rich variety of expressions on the little girl’s face, Gu Zezhi casually picked a grape from the fruit tray and stuffed it into her slightly gaping mouth.

Qin Jiu instinctively began to eat. The grape was sweet, juicy, and delicious.

This little girl still has quite the appetite! Gu Zezhi asked with a smiling expression, “Sweet?”

“Sweet.” Qin Jiu replied without thinking.

The moment these words left her mouth, her little face stiffened, and she wished she could spit the grape right back out.

Just then, someone behind them exclaimed softly, “Daoist Master Yunguang has arrived!”

Qin Jiu’s attention was immediately diverted, and she looked outside the waterside pavilion.

In the garden, a Daoist nun in her forties wearing an blue-green Daoist robe approached gracefully. She had a benevolent countenance and gentle eyes. In her right hand, she held a silver-white horsetail whisk. As her sleeves fluttered in the wind, she exuded an immortal, otherworldly aura that naturally inspired reverence.

Daoists were considered people beyond worldly affairs. Among those present were princes, heirs of noble houses, and princesses—all of distinguished status—yet they all rose to greet her respectfully, addressing her as “Daoist Master.”

Princess Yingluo smiled and said, “Daoist Master Yunguang, my younger sister Xin here has just painted a Queen Mother of the West portrait, which she intends to present to the Empress Dowager. We humbly request the Daoist Master to please appraise it.”

Daoist Master Yunguang flicked her whisk lightly and replied with a smile, “Your Highness is too courteous. This humble Daoist is honored.”

“Please, Daoist Master.” A maid led Yunguang to the desk and invited her to examine the painting.

Daoist Master Yunguang studied the painting carefully for a while, then praised repeatedly: “Wonderful! Truly wonderful! The Golden Mother of the Jade Pool practically leaps off the page—vivid and lifelike!”

Qin Xin smiled radiantly, glowing with pride.

“It’s just a pity…”

As she spoke, Daoist Master Yunguang suddenly frowned, revealing a troubled expression.

The crowd froze for a moment and exchanged glances. Finally, Princess Yingluo asked, “Daoist Master, is there something wrong?”

Looking at the painting, Daoist Master Yunguang shook her head regretfully, “Who else has viewed this painting?

“Alas, this painting originally possessed extraordinary spiritual energy, with faint traces of divine brilliance shimmering within it. But now it has been tainted by an aura of misfortune, clouding the painting with impurity. I fear it is no longer suitable to be presented to the Empress Dowager.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The surroundings fell silent. Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

How could this be possible?! Everyone here was from an illustrious noble family!

Wait a minute!

Everyone seemed to realize something at once, and all eyes turned toward Qin Jiu.

If there was anyone here carrying misfortune, it could only be this wild girl from the Qin family!

Qin Sheng’s eyes filled with disdain. As expected, she was bad luck! They should have never brought this wild girl back!

Daoist Master Yunguang also followed the crowd’s gaze to Qin Jiu, her expression turning grave.

She raised her right hand and began calculating with her fingers while looking at Qin Jiu. Her expression grew increasingly serious before she finally asked, “Is your birth date and hour the year of Bingyin, the month of Jiawei, the day of Xinchou, and the hour of Renyin?”

Qin Jiu did not answer. The one who rushed to answer instead was Qin Sheng:

“That’s right! Exactly!”

Qin Sheng nodded repeatedly, looking at Qin Jiu as though she was a disaster star.

Princess Yingluo and the others all showed expressions of admiration, thinking to themselves: This Daoist Master Yunguang truly lives up to her reputation. She merely glanced at Qin Jiu once and immediately discerned her birth chart.

Daoist Master Yunguang pinched her fingers again in calculation and let out a faint sigh, “What a pity. This birth chart should originally have belonged to a noble lady, yet it is the fate of the Solitary Star of Heavenly Misfortune. It brings harm to father, mother, husband, and children—and will even diminish the fortune of the entire family!”

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath. Several noble ladies even stepped backward, looking as though they desperately wanted to avoid her.

Qin Sheng hurriedly nodded again, “That’s absolutely right! Right after my third sister was born, our family was exiled. My eldest uncle and eldest aunt also…”

Qin Sheng glared viciously at Qin Jiu, her eyes practically bulging from their sockets, as though she had suddenly understood everything.

So that was it!

So the reason their Qin family had been exiled all those years ago was because of her!

The expressions of Princess Yingluo and the other noble ladies became somewhat subtle. They had all heard that fourteen years earlier, the Qin family had been stripped of their title and exiled for allegedly plotting treason. It was only after the current Emperor ascended the throne that the Qin family’s name was cleared and they were allowed to return to court.

Thinking about it this way, Daoist Master Yunguang’s reading for Qin Jiu really did seem frighteningly accurate.

Daoist Master Yunguang casually flicked her whisk, maintaining her immortal-like demeanor as she asked, “Did this young lady also look at the painting just now?”

Qin Sheng hurriedly answered again, “Yes, Third Sister saw it.”

“Then that explains it.” Daoist Master Yunguang sighed regretfully, “That is precisely why this Queen Mother of the West painting has become like a precious pearl covered in dust. Ah, what a pity.”

Everyone exchanged glances.

Just moments ago, Daoist Master Yunguang had said this Queen Mother of the West painting was extraordinary, filled with spiritual energy and even faint divine radiance!

Yet this Third Miss Qin had merely looked at it once and already ruined the painting. Just how inauspicious must she be?

These young ladies instinctively retreated several more steps, wanting to stay as far away from Qin Jiu as possible.