Ziteng interjected from the side, “Miss has been waiting for Nanny to say this.”
Nanny Fu’s face burned with shame. Even a young maid could see more clearly than herself—she had truly lived all these years in vain.
“Nanny needn’t blame yourself. Now we walk on thin ice, never daring to be careless at any moment, otherwise it would be…” She didn’t finish the sentence, knowing Nanny Fu would understand.
Nanny Fu couldn’t help but recall the events in the palace years ago. She had been very innocent then, serving an equally innocent master. In the end, that master met a terrible fate, so terrible that she dared not think of her appearance now…
Nanny Fu’s expression grew stern, “Miss, this old servant remembers.”
This was good—otherwise, being used by those with ulterior motives would be counterproductive.
Qin Shuying took a sip of tea, “Nanny, how goes the matter of impeaching Lu Changxuan?”
Mentioning this, Nanny Fu perked up again, saying, “Several Imperial Censors have impeached him for coveting his wife’s sister’s family fortune, saying he’s unfit to be a Personnel Ministry official. His Highness the Crown Prince kept the memorials without issuing orders, but several Imperial Censors won’t let it go, citing classics and precedents. One of them is Madam Zhong’s distant relative, biting down hard. The Fifth Prince’s faction says it should be handled impartially. Lu Changxuan was suspended from duty yesterday for leave.”
Qin Shuying said, “All within expectations. Madam Zhong’s husband has been stuck in that position for over ten years without advancement. When Ziteng mentioned Lu Changxuan was going to serve as a local official, it immediately awakened Minister Zhong. Strange if Minister Zhong would let him off. As for the Fifth Prince… always fair and impartial, naturally he’d handle it justly.”
Here she sneered. What fairness?
It was just that Lianpin was gradually gaining power and dared to compete with Noble Consort De. Noble Consort De had long found her displeasing and seized this opportunity to suppress her. Lu Changxuan was Lianpin’s brother-in-law—suppressing Lu Changxuan was showing Lianpin who was boss.
As for the Crown Prince… when she said at Lu Manor’s gate that Lu Changxuan was openly Lianpin’s relative but secretly had other backing, this wasn’t groundless.
Lu Changxuan had great ambitions but no moral boundaries, naturally clinging to whoever had the thickest thighs.
Though Qin Yongtao always wanted the family to reach the pinnacle of power, he knew to keep a low profile, always wanting to maintain a good reputation so that when he finally reached the top, it would be justified.
Therefore, he wouldn’t go out of his way to find connections and promote his son-in-law Lu Changxuan.
So Lu Changxuan’s rise to fifth rank was both through Xu Shi’s efforts and his own maneuvering. He was sharp-minded, perfect material for officialdom. With Qin Yaoyao’s endless silver for bribes and having given Xu Shi a large sum to pass to Lianpin, he achieved today’s fifth rank.
How many examination graduates remained stuck below fifth rank, yet Lu Changxuan reached this level at such a young age—it wasn’t easy.
Over time, Lu Changxuan would naturally resent Qin Yongtao. So he had privately considered and prepared for “abandoning darkness for light.”
“Lu Changxuan suffering setbacks should have someone to commiserate with. Young Master Che is also a disappointed man, probably sharing much in common with Lu Changxuan.”
Moreover, their family had an unmarried Miss Che, fifteen years old and not yet betrothed. Over five years ago when the Zhou family fell, Miss Che was ten, from a well-off family with good education—truly cultured and refined.
If Lu Changxuan associated with Young Master Che, he’d inevitably meet Miss Che. If Miss Che had intentions, or if Lu Changxuan showed interest… what expression would Qin Feifei wear?
The subsequent events would be beyond Qin Shuying’s control.
Actually, her choice of the Che family wasn’t just because they were now destitute.
However, this matter still required planning.
Lu Manor.
Nanny Yuan, gasping and shaken, said to Old Madam Lu, “Old Madam, I saw with my own eyes… the former madam, standing at our main gate. I saw clearly—she wore black with red patterns, that appearance, that appearance…”
Old Madam Lu said, “You mean that… that… dead ghost?”
Nanny Yuan clapped her hands, “Exactly!”
Old Madam Lu wasn’t afraid. Having lived long in the markets and alleys, widowed young while raising three children, she wasn’t frightened by demons or ghosts.
“I thought it was something serious. If I’m not afraid of the living, why fear the dead?”
Old Madam Lu spoke dismissively.
Nanny Yuan grew anxious, “My Old Madam, I saw clearly with my own eyes! I was sweeping in the courtyard, looked up and saw her at the gate! Does Old Madam remember? She wore that outfit newly made for the birthday celebration—black with red patterns, so elegant and beautiful! I heard she wore the same outfit when she died! Old Madam, her appearance was exactly like when we went to see her, exactly the same!”
Only then did Old Madam Lu pay attention, “You mean the time we went to see her the day Feng’er… Feng’er just died?”
Nanny Yuan clapped her hands, “Yes, exactly!”
Qin Yaoyao had been confined for two months. Old Madam Lu, resenting her, never visited. After Feng’er died, Old Madam Lu fainted from rage and went once—only that once until death.
Qin Yaoyao had worn that outfit then.
“Old Madam, it’s truly evil! I saw clearly just now, clearly! I was stunned, and she even smiled at me! Old Madam, my three souls lost nine spirits! I had no idea what to do, so I hurried to tell Old Madam. We probably need to hold a ritual ceremony.”
Qin Feifei, seated below Old Madam Lu, suddenly remembered when Qin Shuying mentioned seeing a figure in the garden. Because many things happened that day and Qin Shuying had deceived them so, Qin Feifei later dismissed it.
Now hearing Nanny Yuan speak so, Qin Feifei felt frightened too, “Could it be that Second Sister… she… she truly won’t depart?”
She dared not mention another incident—at Qin Manor, she had personally seen Qin Yaoyao’s figure.
Only Lu Changxuan knew of that matter. She had been frightened, and he personally came to take her home. Lu Changxuan had agreed with her not to tell the Lu Manor people.
Old Madam Lu snorted, “So what if she won’t leave? She brought this upon herself—I didn’t force her to die! Those who do no wrong fear no ghosts knocking at night. Grievances have sources and debts have owners. If she wants to return, let her. Who would fear her?!”
Old Madam Lu spoke righteously. Qin Feifei and Nanny Yuan exchanged glances, seeing fear in each other’s eyes.
Grievances have sources and debts have owners—Old Madam Lu naturally needn’t fear, but Qin Feifei and Nanny Yuan were the true “sources” and “owners.”
Qin Feifei was so frightened she nearly fled, stammering, “Mother, Mother, if she returns, the entire manor will be terrified. Nanny Yuan is right—we should invite someone to perform ritual ceremonies.”
Old Madam Lu glanced at her sideways, saying, “Perform ceremonies? Fine. Pay from your private silver—your Second Sister died to make room for you anyway.”