Having seen the child, Xu Shi said, “Old Madam, since Fei’er can’t come out today and we haven’t seen each other for many days, let’s go visit her.”

This was natural human sentiment, so Old Madam Lu naturally wouldn’t obstruct it. She had someone lead Xu Shi to Feiqiong Courtyard.

Qin Yunyun and Qin Shuying naturally followed behind, including the three maids they brought and Nanny Liu.

Upon reaching the entrance of Feiqiong Courtyard, Qin Shuying’s steps faltered. Her entire body felt as if soaked in ice water, chillingly cold, and her legs seemed to weigh a thousand pounds—she couldn’t lift them.

This Feiqiong Courtyard was naturally the courtyard where Qin Yaoyao had lived.

After Qin Yaoyao died, it was renamed Feiqiong Courtyard, and according to Qin Feifei’s wishes, all the furniture and furnishings were replaced. But the trees outside the house couldn’t be changed, nor could the eaves and pillars. Therefore, just looking at it, it still appeared the same as before.

As if… Feng’er was still running under the eaves…

“Miss.”

Ziteng noticed Qin Shuying’s abnormality and gently shook her hand.

Qin Shuying came to her senses, lowered her eyes, and concealed the emotions within them.

As soon as they entered, Xu Shi couldn’t help herself and complained, “Fei’er, your mother-in-law…”

The rest of her words were improper to say, since there was still the outsider Qin Shuying present.

Qin Feifei’s complexion wasn’t very good—she had probably been angered by Old Madam Lu. But when she saw Qin Shuying, her eyes suddenly brightened.

When she saw Ziteng, that brightness turned to anger, but she concealed it well.

Having repeatedly hit walls with Qin Shuying, and yesterday receiving word from Nanny Liu personally about palace affairs and Qin Yongtao’s attitude, Qin Feifei knew that this cousin was now a money pot and needed to be coaxed extensively.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Feifei said to Qin Shuying, “Seventh sister, today’s outfit is something I’ve never seen before. Such jade ornaments—exquisite and elegant, truly rare.”

It seemed casual, like sisterly concern, but actually had ulterior motives.

If it were before, since her cousin had taken a liking to them, Qin Shuying would probably have joyfully taken them out to give to Qin Feifei. Many good things had been given away from Qin Shuying’s hands in this manner.

But Qin Shuying only smiled, saying nonchalantly, “They’re not worth much money. My jewelry only cost seven or eight thousand taels of silver. And look at that girl Ziteng—see her set of yellow jade jewelry? Also not worth much, three or four thousand taels would be enough. If Third Sister fancies them, I have another set that I could give you another day.”

Qin Feifei’s chest ached—a maid wearing three or four thousand taels of silver on her body… What would accepting her gift mean? Wouldn’t it equate her with a maid?

But she had always prided herself on being learned and reasonable, understanding and considerate. Having lost face several times before by eagerly confronting Qin Shuying, she now wanted to recover her position. She made a reproachful expression, pretending to be angry, “You girl, even teasing your own sister.”

Ziteng watched her feigned enthusiasm with cold laughter in her heart.

Qin Yunyun felt anxious and angry, unable to restrain herself, saying, “Seventh sister, we’re all family sisters—what kind of words are these? Ziteng is just a maid—how can she be compared to Third Sister?”

Qin Shuying smiled and said, “This is indeed my oversight. I was saying that Third Sister is noble and pure—how could that girl Ziteng compare? Third Sister, please don’t tease me anymore in the future.”

Seeing a set of jewelry fly away just like that, Qin Feifei was anxious to say something when Qin Shuying continued, “Third Sister is so fortunate. Third Brother-in-law will naturally earn you even better things in the future. What Ziteng wears are all vulgar objects—Third Sister naturally needn’t take notice or keep them in mind.”

Qin Feifei was both annoyed and embarrassed, but had to put on a noble appearance, saying, “Seventh sister, you rarely come to visit sister, yet you still tease me—you truly deserve a scolding!”

Xu Shi felt jealous in her heart and remained silent, but she hated Qin Shuying to death.

Why could this girl casually have jewelry worth thousands of gold, with even her maid dressed so expensively? Her own daughter, though sister to an imperial consort, suffered from lack of money and only had the same few things to rotate through.

Qin Feifei performed sisterly affection for a while, then called a maid, saying, “The winter jasmine in the back courtyard is blooming beautifully. Lead Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister to have a look.”

The Qin residence wouldn’t lack winter jasmine to view—this was just to send Qin Shuying away.

What the mother and daughter would say needed no guessing. Qin Shuying agreed, saying, “Sixth Sister probably hasn’t seen Third Sister for many days either. Why don’t Sixth Sister also stay to talk with Third Sister? I’ll go look by myself.”

Qin Yunyun was naturally delighted, and Xu Shi and Qin Feifei were also pleased to see this happen. Qin Feifei gave the maid a few instructions, and Qin Shuying left Feiqiong Courtyard with Ziteng.

This maid was eleven or twelve years old and looked unfamiliar—she must have been bought later. From her dress and appearance, she should be one of Qin Feifei’s more useful maids.

Among the Lu residence’s current servants, aside from Nanny Yuan, most looked unfamiliar. They had probably all been sold off after Qin Yaoyao’s death.

The Lu residence wasn’t large. Qin Shuying followed the maid for not long before seeing several dense clusters of winter jasmine blooming brilliantly and lively.

However, with just a few clusters of flowers, they were viewed in a moment.

The maid understood Qin Feifei’s meaning and naturally tried to delay Qin Shuying, picking some topics to discuss: “Seventh Miss, though our residence is a bit small, it has the advantage of good location. Right behind us is the Conquering West General’s residence. Usually, the old women from the General’s residence pass by here when buying vegetables or doing work, and this servant often sees them. Being a super first-rank General’s residence, even the servants eat, dress, and live quite grandly.”

Without the maid’s explanation, Qin Shuying was naturally very clear about this.

The Conquering West General’s residence was one of only three remaining super first-rank titles granted at the dynasty’s founding, with a transcendent status. The General’s residence occupied an extremely large area, with pavilions, towers, groves, and lakes—everything was present and exquisite.

It was said that ladies and misses attending banquets at the General’s residence dared not wander around afterward, or they would certainly get lost. But the scenery in the General’s residence was truly too beautiful, making it impossible not to be entranced, so every year several people would get lost there.

The Lu residence was located in the southeast corner of the General’s residence, sharing a street with the General’s residence’s east side gate. However, there were many official families sharing this street with the General’s residence.

Having lived here for several years, Qin Shuying was naturally very clear about this, and even knew all the rumors about the General’s residence. But those were just stories and legends, too distant for common people like her.

That time she met Liang Zhe, she quickly forgot about these rumors afterward.

Seeing Qin Shuying’s lackluster interest, the maid found herself somewhat at a loss for words.

Just as she was worried whether Qin Shuying would return to Feiqiong Courtyard, she heard Qin Shuying point to a distance and ask, “What place is that? Why does it look somewhat charred and blackened?”