Ziteng returned after delivering the message. After hearing what Qin Shuying told her about what happened, she looked around to ensure no one was present and lowered her voice: “Miss, Eighth Miss truly is a dog that can’t change its habit of eating filth!”

Qin Shuying smiled coldly. “Considering that Li Shi has been relatively well-behaved these past few years, I haven’t gotten around to settling accounts with Li Shi about my concubine mother’s affairs. Yet she had the audacity to try to expose me.”

“Eighth Miss really hid it deep!”

Qin Shuying rubbed her eyes somewhat wearily.

She had people hand Qin Fangfang over to Dong Shi. As for how Dong Shi would handle it, one could figure it out with their toes – naturally she would lock Qin Fangfang up, then hurriedly pack her off to Guangnan Prefecture tomorrow morning.

As for Qin Fangfang’s wild claims that Qin Shuying was Qin Yaoyao reincarnated, as long as she dared to speak, Dong Shi would certainly have someone stuff her mouth.

Qin Shuying wasn’t worried.

She had never expected to keep her secret for a lifetime, but whether she acknowledged it was another matter entirely.

Speaking of which, she should thank Xu Shi for last year’s performance of hiring a master to catch the baleful star.

If it ever came to that point, Xu Shi’s earnest performance would finally have some benefits, wouldn’t it?

Zhishu came in and said: “Miss, the person on the roof was Second Young Master. First Madam has already had him carried away and sent for a physician. This servant could see he was just knocked unconscious – he won’t die.”

Qin Shuying gave a light “mm,” then lay down on the bed.

Eighth Sister had come to frighten her, and Second Brother had fallen from the roof – naturally Seventh Miss was frightened and had to lie down.

Ziteng stood by the bed: “Miss, Young Master Liang is already at the shop. Don’t you think it’s strange?”

Qin Shuying immediately looked at her.

Ziteng didn’t notice the faint expectation in Qin Shuying’s eyes and said indignantly: “Young Master Liang really is something. Though not many people know about what happened between you two at the camp, Madam Mao knows very clearly. This servant gave Madam Mao a good warning at the time, and Liang Yanjun also frightened her. But who knows if she’ll talk nonsense? If she starts spouting nonsense, won’t it damage your reputation, Miss? Young Master Liang already has no good reputation – he’s barefoot and doesn’t fear those who wear shoes. Now he’s still waiting for you at the shop, really…”

“How did Liang Yanjun frighten her?”

“Liang Yanjun said Xu Minyi had some dirty dealings, and if she dared talk nonsense, Liang Yanjun would expose Xu Minyi’s affairs. This servant saw that Madam Mao’s face turned white with fright. Afterward, I asked Liang Yanjun how he knew so much. Liang Yanjun said he didn’t know anything – he was just trying to scare Madam Mao!”

Qin Shuying smiled. “Alright, don’t worry about it. Nothing will happen.”

Ziteng felt somewhat reassured, then remembered something: “Speaking of that dead bird, don’t you think it’s strange? When I talk to it, it refuses to make a sound.”

“Bring the cage in, let me see.”

Ziteng did as instructed.

The parrot was sleeping listlessly.

Qin Shuying called to it: “Parrot.”

The parrot immediately opened its eyes: “Madam, madam.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?”

“…Yes, madam.”

Qin Shuying said helplessly: “Why are you so stupid?”

“I’m not… I’m not stupid. I can fight, roast fish, catch insects…”

Qin Shuying’s pretty face immediately turned red. This damned bird – what nonsense was it spouting!

“Ziteng, quickly take it away.”

Ziteng suppressed her laughter and was just about to pick up the birdcage when the parrot unfortunately said: “Ziteng? You must take good care of madam.”

Ziteng couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into “hahaha” laughter.

“Alright, alright, I understand.”

The parrot said with supreme confidence: “That’s good. As long as you take good care of madam, the master… master will reward you!”

Ziteng laughed until she bent over. She really didn’t want to be so embarrassed.

Qin Shuying looked at Ziteng, then at the parrot. She really didn’t know what to say.

Suddenly—

“First Madam, our miss is in her room!”

Hong Juan’s voice.

Ziteng quickly composed herself, grabbed the damned bird, and hurried to the study room in the back.

Dong Shi walked in, came around the screen, and saw Qin Shuying lying on the bed.

“Seventh Sister, are you alright?”

Qin Shuying smiled faintly with a somewhat weak appearance: “Eighth Sister’s words really frightened me, and then hearing that someone fell from the roof, I haven’t recovered yet. Sister-in-law, I’ve already rested for a while and feel much better. I wonder if Old Ancestor was frightened?”

Dong Shi sat down on a stool: “I had everyone keep their mouths shut. Anyone who dares let Old Ancestor know will definitely not be forgiven!”

Qin Shuying smiled – exactly as it should be.

“How is Second Brother?”

“The physician just examined him and said fortunately his face hit the ground and tree branches blocked him somewhat, so there’s no serious harm. Just needs some rest and he’ll be fine. Seventh Sister, this really is… I don’t know what to say.”

“Uncle should be back, shouldn’t he? Sigh, I don’t know how to explain this matter to him either.”

“Don’t worry. You were frightened, and I’ll tell Master the truth.”

“Then I thank Sister-in-law.”

After giving a few more instructions, Dong Shi left.

Walking in the garden, Nanny Zu said puzzledly: “Why did Eighth Miss suddenly go mad, saying Seventh Miss was Second Miss returned from the dead?”

Dong Shi didn’t speak.

Nanny Zu rubbed her forehead. Not only did Eighth Miss say Seventh Miss had returned from the dead, but Second Young Master had climbed onto someone’s roof to eavesdrop.

How inexplicable!

Now this was good – though Dong Shi had suppressed the news and not many people knew the truth, Master would naturally have to know. It remained to be seen how Master would handle him.

Sigh, First Madam had just finished with Eighth Miss’s wedding and hadn’t had time to handle Sixth Miss’s affairs, but now she’d have to deal with Second Young Master first.

She’d heard before that Second Young Master acted frivolously, but now it seemed he wasn’t just unstable – he was utterly absurd.

…

“Nanny, don’t you feel that when Seventh Sister looks at people, though she appears very quiet, she often gives people a gloomy feeling?”

Nanny Zu was complaining about Qin Kaiyu’s lack of propriety and how much trouble he’d brought their mistress when she heard Dong Shi bring up this topic.

“First Madam, what… what do you mean by that?”

Dong Shi stopped and frowned in thought.

“Perhaps what Eighth Sister said isn’t entirely without reason.”

Nanny Zu was startled, looked around, and felt the hair on her back stand up: “My good mistress, don’t frighten me! In broad daylight, why do you speak so eerily? Eighth Miss only did this because Seventh Miss saw through her schemes and turned the tables to ruin her reputation, which is why she married into the Sun family and suffered such torment. She’s unwilling to accept it and holds a grudge against Seventh Miss. She’s been unable to find an excuse for revenge all this time, but finally convinced Second Young Master to bring about this incident. My good mistress, don’t you think that’s the reason?”

Dong Shi seemed to hear Nanny Zu’s words yet also seemed not to hear them.

“Oh my, my good mistress, let’s go quickly. Master has returned, and you still need to think about how to explain this to him. Sigh, so much trouble – it was more peaceful in the south! In this old servant’s opinion, let’s quickly find a match for First Miss and return to the south…”

Nanny Zu chattered on as she urged Dong Shi toward the main house.