The siblings had dinner at the Yun family's residence before departing. Qi Yi returned to the outer courtyard, while Qi Zhenzhen went back to Longxiangyuan.
"Second Sister, you're back!" As soon as she entered the room, Qi Xuanxuan rushed over.
"Oh dear, you're going to break my old back," Qi Zhenzhen said, rubbing the two little buns on Qi Xuanxuan's head. "Has Grandmother not disciplined you? A lady of good family should conduct herself as such."
Qi Xuanxuan stuck out her tongue playfully. "Yes, yes, yes, I am a lady of good family. I should smile without baring my teeth, and walk with the grace of a willow in the wind. I'm like this outside, you can ask Sister Zisu if you don't believe me."
Zisu, who was serving nearby, chuckled. "Third Miss only reveals her true nature when she's with Second Miss. Outside, everyone praises her."
"That's more like it. Here, this is a gift from your sister." Qi Zhenzhen pulled out a curved knife, about the length of her palm, inlaid with various colored gemstones.
The curved knife refracted the light, casting colorful rays. Qi Xuanxuan held it, unable to put it down.
"This is a precious saber from an outer tribe. I saw it at the Qian family's shop and thought you might like it, so I brought it back for you," Qi Zhenzhen said.
There was a hole at the hilt. Qi Xuanxuan immediately asked Feixu to find various colored threads and tie an exquisite tassel, which she then attached to her waist sash.
"Second Sister, does it look good?" Qi Xuanxuan twirled around, her skirt billowing, a bright smile in her eyes.
"It looks beautiful. Our Xuanxuan is so lovely, how could it not look good?" Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile.
"I have something for Second Sister too," Qi Xuanxuan said.
Zisu presented a box. "This is a handkerchief that Third Miss embroidered herself for Second Miss."
"So many?" Qi Zhenzhen was surprised. It was a thick stack, at least fifty handkerchiefs.
"How can that be too many? I heard Zisu say that for ladies of our families, when they get married, their dowries include at least several hundred handkerchiefs. How many have I embroidered?" Qi Xuanxuan pouted.
"Those are embroidered by the household embroiderers," Qi Zhenzhen said, torn between laughter and tears.
"I think the ones I embroidered look better than the embroiderers'."
"Second Miss, this is Third Miss's heartfelt gesture," Zisu chimed in.
Qi Zhenzhen was exasperated. "It's not that I don't like them, but embroidery is hard on the eyes. You're still so young, what if you hurt your eyes? Listen to your sister, you can't do this anymore."
"I only do it for Sister and Grandmother. It's not tiring," Qi Xuanxuan said sweetly.
"What deep sisterly affection, truly touching!" Qi Mingzhu's sarcastic voice drifted in.
She was blocked at the door by Erxi, her anger evident on her face.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded to Erxi, who moved aside. Qi Mingzhu stormed into the room. "Second Sister, you have quite the knack. Not only have you won Grandmother's favor, but Third Sister only has eyes for you as her sister, and even Young Master Lu has pleaded for you several times."
Qi Zhenzhen leisurely flipped through the handkerchiefs embroidered by Qi Xuanxuan. Each one had a different pattern, showing that thought had been put into them, and they could be matched with various outfits.
Seeing that Qi Zhenzhen was ignoring her, Qi Xuanxuan's anger grew.
"Second Sister, have you perhaps forgotten your place? You are betrothed to the heir of the Duke of Huguo. Such indiscretion, flirting around, is truly disgusting!" Qi Mingzhu said coldly.
"Greetings to Eldest Sister," Qi Zhenzhen curtsied to Qi Mingzhu and asked with a puzzled look, "How am I being indiscreet, Sister?"