Mo Yiting said to Liang Zhe: “Brother Liang, such filthy affairs really spoil one’s mood.”

Liang Zhe’s expression was cold and somber as he replied flatly: “No matter. I’m not seeing such things for the first time.”

Mo Yiting was reminded of Liang Zhe’s legitimate elder sister Liang Zhen, who years ago had been “caught in adultery” and thus had no choice but to marry far away to a minor official. The legitimate daughter of a distinguished first-rank noble family had ended up with such a fate – truly lamentable.

Mo Yiting didn’t continue this topic and turned his gaze toward Qin Shuying.

As if sensing Mo Yiting’s scrutiny, Qin Shuying also looked over, neither cowering nor afraid, calm and unperturbed, with the corners of her lips curving slightly.

So what if Mo Yiting saw through her?

Seeing Qin Shuying so unguarded and open, Mo Yiting couldn’t help but smile, saying to Liang Zhe: “This young lady truly has some ruthless spirit.”

Liang Zhe gave a noncommittal “Mm.”

Earlier, Qin Shuying and Ziteng dragging Cai Yan into the woods had been witnessed by Liang Zhe and Mo Yiting, who were having a private conversation in the forest.

Initially, Mo Yiting was very angry – this was Duke Chu’s mansion, who would be so bold as to commit murder and robbery here? He was about to speak up to stop them when he heard the conversation between Ziteng and Qin Shuying.

Ziteng said: “Miss, since she wants to ruin Miss’s reputation, let her properly experience what it feels like to have one’s reputation ruined!”

Qin Shuying replied: “Today’s affair has been planned by Sixth Sister and Eighth Sister for a long time, with the First Madam secretly arranging it. Ziteng, are you afraid?”

Ziteng said: “Miss, they’ve harmed you three times and you never fought back. This time, you’re finally fighting back – this servant has been waiting impatiently. Miss, this servant is not afraid.”

…

Thinking of this, Mo Yiting looked at Sun Qingping being dragged by the men he’d brought and shook his head.

So this First Madam had wanted Qin Shuying to be ruined by Sun Qingping. Sun Qingping was lustful and lazy – if today’s events hadn’t been sabotaged by this miss, with her fierce temperament, she would have gone home and killed herself by crashing into a wall.

Liang Zhe stood with his hands clasped behind his back throughout, saying nothing more until he left with Mo Yiting.

The sedan chair Ma Shi had called for also arrived. Qin Shuying thanked Ma Shi, then boarded the soft sedan with Ziteng following closely. Watching Qin Shuying’s figure gradually disappear, Ma Shi was lost in thought.

When they reached the banquet hall, they indeed saw the old madam’s face full of barely suppressed fury. The old madam apologized to Duke Chu’s wife and led the Qin mansion’s young ladies in taking their leave first.

Duke Chu’s wife already knew the whole story. Not only did the female guests know, but the male guests had also heard about it. Therefore, when the Qin mansion people left in disgrace, no one said an extra word.

But since the incident had occurred at Duke Chu’s mansion, Duke Chu’s wife promised to definitely give the Qin mansion an answer. The old madam had her own calculations and didn’t dare show Duke Chu’s wife any displeasure, leaving in sullen silence.

Once in the carriage, Qin Shuying knelt at the old madam’s knees: “Old Ancestor, Shuying is guilty! Shuying should have held back Eighth Sister – she shouldn’t have gone to call people!”

The old madam’s face was grim, not uttering a sound.

Qin Shuying knelt on the ground, motionless. Outsiders might believe her words, but the old madam wouldn’t. They were all granddaughters – the old madam wouldn’t favor anyone, but if time could be reversed, she would still do the same.

Should she just accept being schemed against? If something happened to Qin Yunyun, Qin Yongtao and Xu Shi would find every way to secure maximum benefits for Qin Yunyun. If something happened to Qin Fangfang, she would also have Concubine Li to rely on.

But what if she had been the one caught in the trap today?

All that would await her was drowning in a pond! Not just herself, but Hong Juan, Lu Ye, Ziteng, Lan Chou, Zhishu, Zhihua… all twenty-some people in Yilan Garden, not one would escape!

Qin Shuying knelt like this the entire way until the carriage stopped at the Qin mansion’s main gate.

What happened there – those ladies would naturally explain clearly when they returned home. How Xu Shi had acted, the old madam would certainly know crystal clear, and would naturally understand who was the mastermind behind this affair.

What would the old madam do?

“Seventh Girl, Duke Chu’s mansion is not an ordinary official residence. You shouldn’t have let your Eighth Sister risk herself in danger. How to explain to your eldest uncle, weigh it yourself!”

Having said this, the old madam got off the carriage.

Qin Shuying felt somewhat sad – she had once again put the old madam in a difficult position. But when Qin Yaoyao died, the old madam could only reprimand Lu Changxuan and do nothing else. Because there was no evidence, because Xu Shi was too arrogant. Today, the old madam still had no evidence and would use the same method of punishment.

A desolate smile appeared at the corners of Qin Shuying’s lips. The old madam’s protection of her probably extended only this far!

When people aged, their hearts became kind, but wasn’t this also a form of cruelty toward Qin Yaoyao and Qin Shuying?

Only, she had also broken her word, hadn’t she?

She had promised the old madam to always consider the Qin mansion’s reputation. But now…

Qin Shuying’s lips curved slightly. She had no way back, nor did she want to retreat. The Qin mansion’s reputation was ruined in Xu Shi’s hands, not her own.

Her former virtuous and gentle demeanor hadn’t achieved reputation for the Qin mansion, but for Qin Yongtao and Xu Shi.

Qin Shuying lowered her head, sitting on the ground. When the pain in her knees subsided, she rubbed them for a while before going out.

So what?

How did she know that this strategic retreat wouldn’t be what saved the Qin mansion?

Affairs of the world were unpredictable – who could speak clearly of future matters?

Fearless and unafraid, with a clear conscience.

Ziteng helped Qin Shuying up. As soon as they entered Yilan Garden, Ziteng had people close the main gate and called to Hong Juan who came out to greet them: “Call everyone in the courtyard here.”

Though Hong Juan didn’t understand what had happened, she was good at reading expressions and moved quickly to call people. Lu Ye hurriedly came to serve Qin Shuying. Nanny Fu and Mi Luo also came upon hearing the news. Ziteng told Nanny Fu, Mi Luo, Hong Juan, and Lu Ye everything about today’s events.

But the account differed from the truth of the matter, using the explanation Qin Shuying had given to the ladies earlier.

After hearing this, Mi Luo’s face turned deathly pale, her body swaying as tears welled up in her eyes. Qin Shuying watched coldly – Mi Luo was remembering Qin Yaoyao’s affair, wasn’t she?

How similar it was!

Hong Juan frowned in thought, Lu Ye’s expression turned cold.

Nanny Fu’s face was full of anger: “Xu Shi is truly vicious!”

Ziteng paused, then said in a flat tone: “The room where Eighth Miss had her incident was the very room Eighth Miss was going to take Miss to rest in.”

Now, who still didn’t understand?

However, they hadn’t thought of worse possibilities, believing that Xu Shi and Qin Yunyun had schemed against Qin Shuying, but Qin Shuying’s luck was too good and she had escaped disaster. They wouldn’t think that Qin Shuying had been prepared all along.

Only Nanny Fu frowned, her eyes vicious: “This was meant to ruin Miss’s marriage prospects!”

Ziteng finally said: “If Miss hadn’t had the master and madam’s protection today and had entered that room, what would have been her final fate? And what would have been the fate of us servants?”

Everyone felt a chill run through their bodies and couldn’t help but shudder. Yes, if something had really happened to Qin Shuying, they would either be beaten to death or sold to the filthiest places…