Qin Yuchuan looked at Feng Qingyi's expectant face and said, "Go put on your coat."
Feng Qingyi glanced at the sweater she was wearing, realizing it would indeed be cold to go out like this. "Alright, wait for me."
She hurried upstairs, slipped on the long coat hanging in the bedroom, and changed into a pair of ankle boots while she was at it.
Qin Yuchuan waited patiently downstairs. When Feng Qingyi finished getting ready, she walked to his side.
"How are we getting there?" she asked.
Qin Yuchuan took her hand. "You'll see in a moment."
After a flash of white light, Feng Qingyi found herself in an elegant, classical study.
This was incredible!
Letting go of Qin Yuchuan's hand, Feng Qingyi excitedly circled the study several times. As she looked at the ancient books on the shelves, her curiosity was piqued.
"Qin Yuchuan, may I take a look at your books?"
Qin Yuchuan sat down in a chair. "Of course."
Feng Qingyi took a book from the shelf and opened it. The characters inside resembled traditional Chinese characters, but not quite.
She could only recognize a few characters on each page. How embarrassing!
After years of education, she had suddenly become illiterate here.
Feng Qingyi carefully put the book back on the shelf. She'd rather not make a fool of herself.
"Qin Yuchuan, can you show me around?"
Qin Yuchuan opened the door of the study, and Feng Qingyi followed him out.
The layout of the Falling Flower Courtyard was similar to a traditional Chinese courtyard house. Stepping out of the study, they entered the courtyard.
The snow in the yard hadn't melted yet, with only a small path swept clear for walking.
Feng Qingyi stepped onto the snow-covered area, leaving clear footprints.
As she continued, Feng Qingyi became quite engrossed, happily imprinting her footprints all over the pristine snow in the courtyard.
"Having fun?" Qin Yuchuan asked, standing to the side with a slightly helpless expression.
Feng Qingyi nodded with a smile. "It's so much fun. I haven't seen snow this thick in ages. The snow where I'm from never lasts."
"Let me show you around the mansion."
Hearing this, Feng Qingyi immediately walked to his side.
"Great, let's go!"
Qin Yuchuan wanted to reach out and hold her hand, but seeing that she had her hands in her pockets, he abandoned the thought.
Yan Yang came out of the side room and saw Qin Yuchuan and Feng Qingyi walking side by side along the garden corridor.
"Yan Chi, did you see that? I think that's Miss Qingyi!"
Hearing his words, Yan Chi looked towards the garden corridor.
Feng Qingyi was wearing a deep blue coat with her long hair flowing over her shoulders, walking beside Qin Yuchuan.
The two occasionally spoke in low voices, and Qin Yuchuan would sometimes turn to listen attentively to Feng Qingyi's words.
"How did Miss Qingyi get here?" Yan Chi asked.
Yan Yang replied, "How would I know? I'm going to say hello to Miss Qingyi!"
Yan Yang had only taken two steps when Yan Chi grabbed him. "Can't you read the room? The General and Miss Qingyi are having a private moment. Don't go bothering them."
"...Fine, I won't bother them. I'll go call Bai Wei." In a flash, Yan Yang had disappeared.
The garden of the General's Mansion was planted with many flowers and plants, but now they were covered in snow, leaving only the winter scenery to admire.
Feng Qingyi had been walking on Qin Yuchuan's right side, but suddenly she was distracted by a snow-white cat.
The cat was curled up at the end of the corridor, and Feng Qingyi quickly ran towards it.
However, just as she approached, the cat was startled and ran away.
"Am I really that scary?" she wondered aloud.
Qin Yuchuan asked, "Do you like it?"
Feng Qingyi nodded, "Yes, but it doesn't seem to like me."
"It probably went to my mother's courtyard. I can take you there to see it."
Feng Qingyi vaguely remembered that a long time ago, Qin Yuchuan had mentioned his mother had a cat. It must have been the one they just saw.
However, going to meet his mother seemed a bit inappropriate. This was her first time visiting his home, and she hadn't prepared anything.
"That's alright, let's just walk around a bit more."
"Then I'll send someone to fetch the cat."
Feng Qingyi replied, "No need. I'm sure I'll have a chance to see it again in the future."
Hearing Feng Qingyi mention "in the future," the corners of Qin Yuchuan's lips turned up slightly.
By this time, Yan Yang had already called Bai Wei to come and observe, and Xuanyuan Xi had joined them as well.
Curious about Feng Qingyi, the two hid in the shadows to watch secretly.
Bai Wei remarked, "Miss Qingyi's clothes look so nice, and they seem quite warm!"
Speaking of clothes, Yan Yang had something to say.
"Miss Qingyi even bought clothes for the General. He often wears them when he's in the courtyard."
"Last time when we went to Miss Qingyi's home, she took the General out to buy many clothes."
The three weren't hidden very well. Feng Qingyi, having walked around the garden and finding nothing particularly interesting, was preparing to head back.
At the corner of the corridor, she bumped right into the three standing in a row.
"Yan Yang, what are you doing here?" Feng Qingyi asked.
Yan Yang replied, "Just taking a stroll after lunch. I didn't expect to run into Miss Qingyi. When did you arrive?"
Feng Qingyi was about to speak when Qin Yuchuan stepped forward and introduced, "Qingyi, this is my mother, and this is Bai Wei, my mother's maid."
Feng Qingyi had seen Xuanyuan Xi on her phone before, but the real person was somewhat different from the image.
Xuanyuan Xi wore an elegant light green dress with a fox fur cape draped over her shoulders.
Her beauty was refined, with time leaving little trace on her face.
She stood there quietly, exuding a gentle aura that immediately endeared her to others.
"Hello, Auntie! I'm Feng Qingyi."
Xuanyuan Xi discreetly looked her over. Poised and pretty, her son had good taste.
"It's windy out here, and you're dressed a bit lightly, Qingyi. Come sit with me in the warm room, so you don't catch a chill."
Feng Qingyi glanced at Qin Yuchuan beside her.
"The charcoal fire in my mother's courtyard is very warm, and there are pastries you might like," he said.
She wasn't actually cold, nor was she particularly fond of sweets, but Xuanyuan Xi was her elder, and now that she had extended the invitation, it would be impolite to refuse.
"Then I'll trouble you, Auntie!"
Xuanyuan Xi smiled and said, "This mansion is too gloomy. It's lively now that Qingyi is here."
Following Xuanyuan Xi to the warm room in the courtyard, they were greeted by a wave of heat upon entering.
The charcoal fire in the warm room burned brightly, and Bai Wei brought tea and pastries for Feng Qingyi.
"Qingyi, don't be shy. I'm often alone in the mansion. If you have time, please come keep me company more often."
In response to Xuanyuan Xi's enthusiasm, Feng Qingyi politely replied, "I'll come when I have the opportunity."
She knew Xuanyuan Xi was a princess, but she didn't see any air of superiority about her. Instead, she was extremely gentle and warm.
The initial nervousness gradually dissipated, and Feng Qingyi presumed that Qin Yuchuan must have mentioned her to Xuanyuan Xi.
Otherwise, there would be no need for her to go to such lengths for a stranger.
Standing to the side, Bai Wei noticed that Qin Yuchuan's gaze remained fixed on Feng Qingyi, and any thoughts she might have harbored earlier had long since vanished in that moment.
