After Qin Yongtao returned home, his heart was so stifled with anger he felt like vomiting blood, yet he had to put on a joyful expression—the Emperor had decreed a marriage for your own niece, and you’re not happy? What did that mean?

His eyebrows were so furrowed they could crush a fly.

After much deliberation, he personally went to Yilan Garden to visit his niece—this was the first time since Qin Shuying’s rebirth that she received her uncle in her own courtyard.

The courtyard was serene with lush, verdant trees. In a daze, he remembered when Yongzhou had lived here.

Qin Shuying had someone brew fine tea for him, then stood to one side.

Qin Yongtao was stunned for a moment, looking at this niece who had repeatedly frustrated him. Remembering what Qin Kaiyu had said after returning from the Sixth Prince’s residence, he didn’t know what to feel.

He now finally believed that this niece of his was not simple. What Imperial Consort Lianpin had said about her palace remarks turned out to be true—how ridiculous that he had thought Lianpin was deliberately exaggerating to get Qin Shuying’s money.

This past half year, he had been too careless.

“Seventh Girl, your foot hasn’t healed yet. Sit down to talk.”

Qin Shuying agreed and sat in the lower seat.

Qin Yongtao slowly sipped his tea. This niece had deceived him so thoroughly! Unfortunately, it was too late to say anything now. However, since she could marry into the Conquering Western General’s residence, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. As the Sixth Prince had said, being able to win over Liang Zhe was no worse than the Liu family.

If Liang Zhe could obtain the heir apparent position, then—of course, three or four Liu families combined couldn’t compare!

“In the past, Uncle was too busy with too many matters and neglected you. I truly failed your parents’ trust. Sigh!”

Qin Yongtao let out a long sigh.

Qin Shuying listened quietly without interrupting, though the depths of her eyes held barely concealed mockery.

“Old Madam only gave birth to your father and me. Though I’m over ten years older than your father, we brothers had deep affection. You should know that the Qin family was once impoverished. Your father and I basically supported each other through those times. Yongzhou had grand aspirations and was intelligent—I personally taught him many official tactics. Though we were poor then, because we felt the future was bright, we brothers were very happy and joyful.”

Qin Shuying continued listening quietly without speaking. She knew Qin Yongtao had come to persuade her. He wanted her to understand his helplessness, wanted her to continue being that obedient girl, that understanding niece, making her efforts for the Qin residence’s future.

—Just like yesterday, when she had almost made her effort, which would have been sacrificing her person to win over Chang Daocheng’s power. And in the future? It would be persuading Liang Zhe to side with the Qin residence—more precisely, the Sixth Prince—making Liang Zhe an asset for the Sixth Prince.

But why wouldn’t he admit his mistakes? Why wouldn’t he apologize? Why did he treat her as his possession to toy with at will?

If he had said he was wrong, that he was sorry, Qin Shuying might have thought more highly of him.

Seeing Qin Shuying keeping her eyes lowered without speaking, Qin Yongtao couldn’t gauge her thoughts.

He wouldn’t think now, as he had before, that this niece appeared compliant out of respect for him. Carefully recalling the questions she had deliberately asked the night before last, mentioning Qin Yongzhou—wasn’t that testing him, testing whether he would spare her from being pushed toward Chang Daocheng for Qin Yongzhou’s sake?

Her compliance was only superficial, only a means to conceal her true thoughts.

Qin Yongtao said shamelessly: “Uncle has exhausted his heart’s blood for the family’s future prospects. In many places, I didn’t consider you thoroughly—these are all Uncle’s faults. Seventh Girl, don’t hold it in your heart. Uncle ultimately hopes for your well-being, because only when you’re well can the family have additional support and prosper.”

Qin Shuying looked at him but still said nothing.

Qin Yongtao paused and took another sip of tea. What did this mean? Among the officials he dealt with, most were seasoned bureaucrats, yet compared to those old foxes in their forties and fifties, Qin Shuying’s mental acuity was no less sophisticated.

“Your grandmother is coming back soon. She has worn her heart out for this family—her greatest wish is to see the family prosper. You’re a filial child and surely know what to do, right?”

Only then did Qin Shuying raise her eyes to look at Qin Yongtao. Her eyes were particularly bright, like two crystal-clear black gems, so brilliantly sparkling one couldn’t look away. Though her expression was clearly calm, Qin Yongtao somehow read mockery and ridicule in them.

“Uncle, your niece understands. I will certainly be filial to Grandmother.”

Qin Yongtao felt utterly defeated—she had said nothing at all! But could he really speak plainly and directly? He, Qin Yongtao, truly couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“Uncle, do you have anything else?”

Qin Yongtao was startled—was he being dismissed by Qin Shuying?

“No, nothing. Rest well and heal your injury. When your grandmother returns, she’ll handle your marriage arrangements, and I can rest easy…”

After speaking, Qin Yongtao fled in defeat.

After walking far away, Qin Yongtao redirected his anger toward Dong Shi: Such matters should be handled by her as the sister-in-law—did he have to personally teach her? She really came from a small household with no insight, not caring about the Qin family’s future at all! And himself—what madness possessed him to personally come and suffer such humiliation…

Soon, Dong Shi was summoned by Qin Yongtao for a scolding.

After leaving Qin Yongtao’s study, Dong Shi felt very wronged.

If her mother-in-law hadn’t offended Seventh Miss, would she, Dong Shi, have needed to return to this filthy nest? This should have been her mother-in-law’s responsibility, yet as a sister-in-law from a different branch of the family, the master hadn’t considered his daughter-in-law’s position at all.

Returning to her courtyard, Dong Shi couldn’t help but say a few more words to Qin Yue.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Yue asked: “Mother, about Seventh Aunt going up the mountain on the day of the marriage decree—do you know about this?”

Dong Shi didn’t dare meet her daughter’s eyes.

Qin Yue sighed: “Mother, Grandfather’s arrangements put you in such a difficult position. If you don’t follow Grandfather’s instructions, he’ll be angry and you won’t benefit. If you do follow Grandfather’s arrangements, you’ll offend Seventh Aunt.”

Nanny Zu quickly agreed: “Young Miss sees clearly—Madam is caught between rock and hard place.”

Qin Yue said: “Mother, I have an idea. What do you think?”

Dong Shi knew her daughter was intelligent and also knew her daughter disapproved of some of her methods toward Qin Shuying, so she hadn’t told Qin Yue about sending Qin Shuying up the mountain.

“Tell me. At this point, I can’t keep hiding.”

“If Grandfather instructs Mother to comfort Seventh Aunt, we should do this without his instruction—it’s what we ought to do. But if Grandfather again asks Mother to harm someone as he did yesterday, Mother, you absolutely must not listen to Grandfather anymore. Great-grandmother is returning—we still have her.”

Dong Shi felt somewhat uncomfortable: “Child, how can you make me sound so terrible? How would I harm anyone?”

Qin Yue smiled and didn’t persist in questioning her mother.