3 Mid-Autumn Festival

Late the next afternoon, Yan Qiu Heng arrived at the Peony Courtyard where his sister lived. This courtyard was just a brisk walk away from the western part of the estate where he and Yan Xiang Yi resided. Thus, while it sounded as if they were all separated off, the respective courtyards of the main branch's three children were rather close together. This made it easy for the twins to visit each other at any time.

It must also be said that there were no concubines to be found inside Duke Ning's estate. Neither the duke nor his younger brother had any women other than their wives. Some outsiders said that this was romantic, others said these wives were undoubtedly valiant shrews, and yet others marveled at how neat and tidy this household was. The main branch's courtyards were in the central part of the estate and the second branch's courtyards were on the outer perimeter. It was nice, cozy, and harmonious. No family was completely without problems, but the Yan family had rather less than most.

Today, Yan Qiu Heng was dressed in blue silk robes, with a white jade pendant at his waist, and was eye-catching from every angle. Many of the maids could hardly bear to directly look at him as they passed. Despite being fraternal twins of differing genders, he and Yan Qiu Yue had strikingly similar features. The two could each convincingly pass as the other, something the twins had exploited more often than they'd care to admit. Of course, this meant that Yan Qiu Yue was quite the beauty.

He had come to pick Yan Qiu Yue up to take her out for the festival, of course. The twins had been born in autumn--their birthday had just recently passed--and were particularly fond of the season. Just as Zhi Lan was about to announce his presence, Yan Qiu Heng held his index finger to his lips to stop her. He had no desire to rush his sister and so patiently waited outside as he listened to the commotion of maids helping their young miss get ready. No doubt she had spent too long reading about that Inspector Yu again and been late in her preparations.

"Miss, Fifth Young Master is already waiting outside." Zhi Lan came over and whispered to Yan Qiu Heng.

"He can wait, I'm sure." If that brother of hers really cared, he would have already let one of her maids announce him. Clearly, he was not in any hurry. The maids understood this, too, having become very familiar with the twins over the many years they'd been in Yan Qiu Yue's service. They merely wished for their young miss to hurry and gain more of a sense of urgency.

When the marriage decree had first been read to them by one of the emperor's trusted eunuchs, the Fourth Young Miss had paled and staggered. Afterwards, though she told everyone over and over that she was fine, she did not leave her courtyard for nearly a month. Who knew what Yan Qiu Heng had finally said to her, but after the twins had a heart to heart conversation, the young miss had brightened considerably and was now more or less back to her normal self.

Still, she never talked about the upcoming marriage. When asked about it by Madame Lin or the duchess, she merely smiled in a stiff manner and refused to voice her thoughts. It was concerning, but the wedding date was not until the spring, so Yan Qiu Yue still had some time to indulge in reading about the dashing and noble Inspector Yu in order to avoid reality. Those who cared about her had yielded on so many other things and could surely allow this, too.

It was nearly an hour later that Yan Qiu Heng let his sister take his hand to steady herself as she stepped onto their family's carriage with Chu Hua and Li Mei. Of her four personal maids, these two were trained in some self-defense so that they could also double as bodyguards in a pinch. Yan Qiu Heng got on his horse to accompany his sister into the city.

They first stopped at the estate of second class Marquis Lu. This was their mother the duchess's paternal family whom they were quite close with. In particular, their cousin Fifth Miss Feng Ming Xia was on very good terms with Yan Qiu Yue despite being two years younger. The impatient Feng Ming Xia had long been hovering near the gate and excitedly came out as soon as her cousins' arrival was announced.

"What took you so long, big sis?" she pouted after greeting her cousins and climbing into the carriage.

"I was...busy."

"She was reading 'Inspector of the Whistling Pines' and lost track of the time, that's what." Yan Qiu Heng corrected from outside the carriage. Caught, Yan Qiu Yue merely bit her lip and shook her head, resigned to being teased.

"Ahhh! Have you already finished reading the latest volume? My maid was unable to secure it! They were completely sold out. One of the assistants at the shop has been trying to quickly copy another for me."

"I have not yet finished it." Yan Qiu Yue smiled. "I should be done soon, however, and would be happy to lend it to you."

"Then, troubling big sister Qiu Yue!" Feng Ming Xia bowed her head over and over in a show of gratefulness.

Yan Qiu Yue could only reply that it was no trouble at all. She only hoped to be able to finish reading before that good Third Brother of hers ruined the entire plot. Not too long later, the girls got off the carriage a short distance from the Crisp Pear Bakery where they had arranged to meet with Yan Qiu Yue's two good friends, Song Lu Li and Sun Fen Fang. They put on muslin veils before greeting their friends who were similarly attired.

Song Lu Li was 17, the same age as the twins, and the daughter of Third Class Marquis Ji. Sun Fen Fang was a year younger and the only daughter of the great General Sun. She had quite the retinue of servants with her, much to her own dismay.

"I know that it's best to be low-key for these sorts of outings, but Father insisted." Sun Fen Fang sighed with a roll of her eyes. She then paused, then glanced furtively at Yan Qiu Heng once before reining in her expression to be more refined and adjusting her veil.

"It's good to be loved, isn't it?" Yan Qiu Yue teased. She had missed that entire subtle action of her friend's just now.

"You're one to talk. Who in Yinchuan does not know how much your family dotes on you?" Song Lu Li smiled, both because of Yan Qiu Yue's words and because she'd long guessed at Sun Fen Fang's feelings. Afraid that only these blockhead twins still have not noticed such obvious behavior!

"Older brother, are you not bothered hanging around with us girls all evening?" Feng Ming Xia asked her cousin.

"Only this way will Father and Mother be at ease regarding Yue'er's safety. Besides, what man would mind being surrounded by beauties?"

"Smooth mouth." Sun Fen Fang retorted, then the girls all laughed. Still, not one to forget propriety, Yan Qiu Heng kept a respectful distance of several paces behind the group as they walked around the streets of the capital indulging in all the festival fare.