While framing Qin Shuying was certainly important, the child in her womb was more important. Qin Feifei hurriedly said to Nanny Liu, “Nanny, Sixth Sister has matters to attend to. We should return first and discuss this later.”
Nanny Liu felt suspicious. She understood Xu Shi and Third Miss’s intentions very clearly. But since Seventh Miss had actually gone to the washroom, their original plan naturally couldn’t be implemented. Was Third Miss changing strategy on the spot?
Nanny Liu complied with Qin Feifei’s opinion and said to Ziteng, “Miss Ziteng, please trouble you to tell Seventh Miss that Third Miss will visit another day.”
Ziteng smiled and said, “This servant will certainly inform Miss. Third Miss, Nanny Liu, please!”
Every movement conformed to proper etiquette standards, her smile like spring breeze, showing not a trace of gloom, with no fault to be found.
Nanny Liu suspected nothing and helped Qin Feifei out of Yilan Garden.
After walking a few steps, Qin Feifei thought for a moment and looked back, only to encounter Ziteng’s sinister expression.
Ziteng probably hadn’t expected her to turn around and hurriedly replaced her sinister look with a smile.
It would have been better if she hadn’t smiled. This smile was indescribably eerie and terrifying. Under the gloomy sky and among the desolate bare branches, Qin Feifei felt her chest grow even more constricted and uncomfortable.
After walking a few more steps to a place where no one was around, Qin Feifei asked Nanny Liu, “Nanny, who was that maid just now? I’ve never seen her before.”
Nanny Liu hadn’t seen much of Ziteng either, but knowing one’s enemy leads to victory in every battle, she had long since thoroughly investigated the situation of the maids around Qin Shuying. So she said, “Third Miss, this maid is called Ziteng. Seventh Miss bought her three months ago. This servant heard that Ziteng can read and write, so Seventh Miss quickly promoted her to first-class maid, specifically managing the study, art room, music room, and such. She’s someone Seventh Miss trusts.”
Qin Feifei felt somewhat doubtful, thinking as she walked. Just as they were about to reach Yanfei Garden, she suddenly saw a figure pass behind an artificial hill.
It was a woman’s silhouette, wearing black clothing with red patterns, her hair disheveled, looking this way with eyes full of desolation. Qin Feifei’s mind immediately thundered, and her body swayed unsteadily.
Second Sister—
This was the clothing and hairstyle Second Sister wore in that side courtyard!
The features and expression were exactly the same as Second Sister’s!
Nanny Liu naturally supported Qin Feifei, with her back to the figure, saying anxiously, “Third Miss…”
Qin Feifei stared wide-eyed at the figure but couldn’t utter a word, because the woman actually made a gesture of slashing her throat with her hand, then flashed away and disappeared behind the artificial hill.
So when Nanny Liu sensed something was wrong and turned to look, she saw nothing.
“Nanny Liu…” Qin Feifei covered her belly. “Quickly…”
Nanny Liu was greatly alarmed and shouted at the top of her lungs. Soon people came and supported Qin Feifei.
That night, Qin Feifei didn’t return to the Lu family but rested in Qin Yunyun’s courtyard. Before long, Qin Feifei developed a high fever, deliriously shouting, “Second Sister, don’t harm me, don’t harm me! Second Sister, Second Sister…”
Although Nanny Liu and the capable maids at her side said nothing, everyone’s eyes conveyed the same meaning: Qin Feifei was being haunted by Qin Yaoyao.
Their plan had been for Qin Feifei to pretend to fall, then frame Qin Shuying, using this as an excuse to confine Qin Shuying, which would naturally affect those shops. Who knew that Qin Shuying had maintained distance from Qin Feifei throughout and hadn’t taken the bait.
Qin Shuying was unharmed, but Qin Feifei had been… by Qin Yaoyao…
No, that was impossible. Qin Yaoyao hadn’t been able to defeat Qin Feifei when alive – what use could she be dead?
Just as Xu Shi was thinking this, the summoned Taoist nun arrived.
This Taoist nun chanted incantations while looking here and there, finally declaring that Qin Feifei was possessed. She prescribed a talisman to be burned and mixed with water for Qin Feifei to drink, guaranteeing it would cure her.
Xu Shi immediately had people follow these instructions. Since Qin Feifei hadn’t awakened, they forced it down her throat.
Strangely enough, after drinking the talisman water, Qin Feifei became less agitated. Though her fever still wouldn’t break, she no longer spoke deliriously.
Physician Liu came and prescribed some mild medicines, saying, “Third Miss’s pregnancy was originally very stable. After today’s fright, she must be carefully tended from now on and cannot suffer any more shocks.”
Xu Shi breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart was filled with terror.
Qin Feifei didn’t sleep peacefully, waking several more times during the night, mostly in a daze. Only the next morning did she finally regain consciousness, feeling as if her head would split.
Seeing everyone looking at her, she felt strange. “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Xu Shi was certain that Qin Yaoyao’s spirit had collided with Qin Feifei, but didn’t dare say much. She instructed Nanny Liu to bring medicine, saying, “Feifei, you scared mother to death!”
Looking at the bowl in Nanny Liu’s hands, Qin Feifei vaguely remembered yesterday’s events. Her face immediately turned deathly pale, and without hesitation she drank the medicine with Nanny Liu’s help, as if ghosts were chasing her.
After her emotions stabilized, she told Xu Shi what she had seen at the artificial hill yesterday.
After finishing, Qin Feifei said viciously, “Mother, help me. Please obtain a spiritual talisman to make that vile creature fall into the Avici Hell, never to be reborn!”
Xu Shi thoroughly agreed, and the matter was settled.
Qin Feifei’s commotion last night had been quite loud. Publicly, they only said she was pregnant, her yang energy was weak, and she had been possessed. By afternoon she was much better, so her sisters naturally all came to visit.
Qin Lulu and Qin Shuying met at the door and entered together hand in hand.
“Third Sister, are you feeling much better? This younger sister was so worried she couldn’t sleep all night!” Qin Shuying spoke with smiling words and elegant bearing, presenting no fault to be found.
Qin Feifei gave perfunctory thanks, then Qin Shuying said she wouldn’t disturb her rest and left.
Walking to the water’s edge by the lakeside pavilion, Qin Shuying casually broke off a tree branch and played with it in her hands, asking Ziteng behind her, “Are all those things cleaned up?”
Ziteng said, “Miss, rest assured, everything is cleaned up.”
“Good. Remember, we’ll need them again next time. When you return, you might think more about what I told you.”
“Yes.”
Qin Shuying threw down the branch in her hands, her eyes sparkling brightly. She smiled as she looked at Ziteng, but her tone was as cold as ice: “Ziteng, this is just the beginning. Remember, just the beginning.”
Ziteng also stood smiling, respectfully answering, “Miss, this servant understands. Miss, let this servant handle all these matters personally, without involving others.”
Qin Shuying stared at her for a moment and said, “Good!”
Doing it personally would be satisfying. Having others do it – how could that compare to the satisfaction and exhilaration of doing it oneself!
Did they think Qin Shuying didn’t know Qin Feifei’s purpose in visiting Yilan Garden? Wasn’t it just to stage another good show of framing someone? Back then, Qin Feifei had performed a fine show at the Lu family, making Lu Changxuan think Qin Yaoyao had pushed down Qin Feifei, thus developing disgust toward Qin Yaoyao.
This time, how could Qin Shuying fall for it again?
Those who do no wrong need not fear ghosts knocking at their door.
Qin Feifei, I hope you can bear this well.
Qin Shuying looked at the gradually melting snow in the distance, lowering her eyelids to hide the cold gleam that flashed within.
You want to control the shops – I won’t let you have your way.