[Gold Powder GL] True Elegance Comes with Knowledge - Chapter 14
The Jin family’s mountain villa had recently been lent out to a foreign guest. If the host wished to visit, that was one thing—but bringing along a large group wasn’t exactly convenient. After a few brief remarks on the matter, the conversation naturally shifted back to the surrounding autumn scenery.
Qingqiu had initially been walking ahead with her mother, but she gradually slowed her pace and ended up walking beside Yan Hui.
In this arrangement, if Yan Hui wanted to take a picture of her, she had to turn around—making the act very conspicuous. After snapping two shots, Qingqiu raised her hand to block the lens with a laugh. “There’s so much beautiful scenery around us. Why are you only photographing me?”
“Because you’re beautiful,” Yan Hui replied with a grin, clicking the shutter again. “No matter how lovely the view is, it feels more complete with a beautiful woman in the frame.”
Qingqiu instinctively raised her hands to fan her cheeks, which suddenly felt flushed.
She suspected her face had turned red and wanted to touch it but stopped herself. Instead, she quickened her steps and moved ahead, leaving only her back in Yan Hui’s view. Only then did she feel like she could breathe again.
“Are you tired from walking?” someone asked from the side.
Qingqiu looked up and, to her surprise, realized that in her flustered state, she had wandered toward Yanxi. It was him who had just spoken.
As she turned her gaze again, she noticed Bai Xiuzhu watching them from not far away. Qingqiu instinctively took a step back to put some distance between herself and Yanxi. “I’m not tired,” she said. “But after walking for a while, I feel quite hot.”
With that, she decisively made her way toward a nearby stone bench. “You all go on ahead—I’ll rest here for a bit. Call me when you return.”
“But since we all came together, we should rest together,” Yanxi said, his gaze still on her face as he followed. “Truthfully, I’m a little tired too, but none of the ladies said they wanted to rest, so I felt awkward bringing it up. What you said actually came at the perfect time.”
The three Jin sisters, who had been walking nearby, noticed his actions and couldn’t help but glance at Xiuzhu.
Only Meili dared to speak up bluntly. “Miss Bai, look at how attentive my Seventh Brother is today! He only acts like this when you’re around—he’s really outdoing himself!”
“Don’t joke,” Bai Xiuzhu said coldly. “Who he’s attentive to has nothing to do with me.”
“How can you say that?” Meili teased. “Aren’t you close friends?”
“Friends—” Xiuzhu laughed dryly. “Isn’t it always like this? He was kind to you yesterday, now it’s me today. For the Seventh Master, it’s all very easy.”
Her tone was light, but her words carried weight. It sounded as though she had truly moved on.
Minzhi and Runzhi exchanged glances in surprise. Looking at Yanxi now, it did seem like his affections had shifted. If he could let go of Xiuzhu that easily, maybe it was for the best. After all, they’d still have to interact in the future. If things got too childish or dramatic, it would only cause problems.
With this in mind, they both smiled and agreed to rest for a while nearby, pulling Xiuzhu aside to talk.
Meili joined in as well. From her perspective, Bai Xiuzhu was a lovely person, and Miss Leng was also a good friend. She liked them both and didn’t know who would become her future sister-in-law—so she happily let the matter go.
While the three sisters worked to lift Xiuzhu’s spirits, Qingqiu had already found Mrs. Leng and invited her to sit, with Yanxi joining the conversation shortly after.
Meanwhile, Qiu Xizhen stood off to the side alone, looking rather pitiful. Yan Hui took a couple more scenic shots before turning to see her. Smiling, she gently took her arm and brought her over to Yanxi. “Seventh Master, you’ve always been known for your thoughtfulness. Why are you neglecting your guests today?”
Yanxi, slightly embarrassed by Qingqiu’s earlier coldness, chuckled and turned to Qiu Xizhen. “I saw Miss Qiu enjoying the scenery and didn’t want to interrupt.”
Qiu Xizhen then sat in the empty seat next to him and struck up a conversation. On Yanxi’s other side sat Mrs. Leng, then Qingqiu. Seeing Qingqiu looking a little aloof, Yan Hui lifted her camera and took several candid shots in a row until she finally broke into a smile.
She playfully scolded him, “How can you take pictures like that? You’re wasting so much film!”
“What’s there to worry about?” Yan Hui replied. “I don’t believe in wastefulness, but we’re here to enjoy ourselves. If I can capture your smile, this roll of film is more than worth it.”
Yanxi chimed in with a grin, “It’s like Baoyu asking Qingwen to tear the fan. If it’s just for anger, it’s a waste—but if it makes a beautiful woman smile, then it’s worth every bit.”
Yan Hui gave him a knowing look. “Seventh Master is quite the scholar of Dream of the Red Chamber.”
Jin Yanxi was indeed that kind of person—insisting he wasn’t Baoyu because he served in government, yet sharing that same naïve compassion for women. He acted on emotion without thinking of the long term.
If anything, Yan Hui found Baoyu more likable—at least Baoyu owned up to his laziness and never pretended to be an idealistic youth.
Their discussion drifted toward Dream of the Red Chamber, drawing the interest of the Jin sisters. Soon, Xiuzhu joined too, and after a few lighthearted exchanges, the tension faded. Everyone was friends again.
Shortly after they returned from the mountains, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.
Since Yan Hui lived alone, Mrs. Leng invited her to celebrate with them for some added festivity.
That evening, Mrs. Leng personally prepared an array of southern dishes. They set a table in the courtyard, where everyone ate and chatted beneath the bright moon. The cool autumn breeze swept away the lingering summer heat, creating a cozy atmosphere.
After a while, Mrs. Leng, feeling her age, excused herself to rest and left the younger ones to enjoy the evening.
At the door, she paused and glanced back—seeing Yan Hui and Qingqiu leaning together, whispering and laughing. It warmed her heart. She hadn’t seen her daughter so cheerful in a long time, and it was largely thanks to Yan Hui.
Just days before, Qingqiu had shared that her serialized novel had been accepted by a newspaper—and that she’d be receiving a regular income. Mrs. Leng was overjoyed.
Though she’d always claimed she would rely on Qingqiu in her old age, deep down she knew it was hard for a girl to shoulder that burden. Even as women gained more opportunities, the idea of her daughter working outside still unsettled her.
Ideally, she hoped Qingqiu would find a good marriage and live nearby to care for her. While she had noticed Yanxi’s previous attention, she had chosen to remain silent. Though she liked Yanxi and approved of the match, she feared the Jin family might look down on them.
Now that Qingqiu could earn money on her own—modest as it was—those worries began to melt away.
She had devoted her life to raising her daughter and couldn’t bear the thought of being apart. No matter how high a family’s status, it could never compare to the comfort of home.
One afternoon after class, Qingqiu arrived at the Yan residence to tutor.
As she entered, she noticed a group gathered around the table, speaking in hushed tones.
“What are you all looking at?” she asked.
“You’re here!” Yan Hui looked up and smiled, beckoning her over. “Come see this!”
Qingqiu stepped closer and saw that it was a newspaper—not the one she usually contributed to, but one focused on current affairs. The page they were reading announced a stunning development: the Palace Museum was set to open to the public.
It was shocking news.
The Qing dynasty had fallen over a decade ago, and the young emperor had long since abdicated. Yet people had continued living in the Forbidden City, like a ghostly remnant of a bygone era.
Beijing had changed so much that many often forgot about the old palace and its former inhabitants. Only last year, General Feng had entered the capital and expelled the emperor. Finally, the imperial city stood empty.
Debate had raged for over a year about what to do with the palace, but it seemed the decision had been made—it would become a museum.
Now, anyone could purchase a ticket to explore the royal halls, private gardens, and imperial treasures.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Yan Hui said, looking up. “Want to go together?”
“Of course!” Qingqiu nodded, scanning the paper. “Let me check if I have class that day.”
“Even if you do, we don’t have to go on opening day. It’ll be packed. Better to wait a bit,” Yan Hui advised. Having once experienced the madness of Golden Week tourism, she was wary of big crowds—even in the Republic of China.
In truth, with the right connections, they could’ve toured the museum before it officially opened. But Yan Hui felt it would be more fun to go with the crowd—there was something whimsical about turning the palace into a bustling tourist spot.
So, they waited ten days and picked a weekday to visit. But even then, the palace was crowded.
Just as Yan Hui predicted, they were jostled along by the throng, admiring the sights while struggling to keep up. In the end, all the grandeur blurred together—there were no strong impressions, only a sense of vague wonder.
She was struck by how worn-down the palace felt—more dilapidated now than it had seemed a hundred years later.
Qingqiu had the same reaction. As they exited the palace, she remarked, “It’s just… big. But in terms of beauty, grandeur, or luxurious displays, it doesn’t hold a candle to the Jin mansion.”
“You’re not wrong,” Yan Hui laughed. “That’s the current prime minister’s home. But this place—this has no emperor anymore.”
“Truly, the fall of the old and the rise of the new is the way of history,” Qingqiu sighed, glancing back at the towering walls.
“New?” Yan Hui raised an eyebrow. To her, the Jin mansion was anything but new—its outdated grandeur mirrored the aging government it represented. She turned to Qingqiu and said with a smile, “This is nothing. One day, I’ll take you to see something truly new.”