Qin Shuying was silent for a moment. “The most precious thing in a person’s lifetime is to recognize their circumstances, understand what kind of person they truly are, and then walk the path they should walk. That Che Ju’er can do this is extremely rare. I believe she will live well in the future. Convey my words to her, and give her an additional two hundred taels of silver.”

Ziteng agreed and went to prepare.

Qin Shuying sat in the study, silent for a long time.

Feng’er…

Mother has avenged you. Are you happy?

Feng’er…

Lost in thought, Qin Shuying didn’t notice that tears had begun silently streaming down her face.

When Ziteng returned after finishing her tasks, she was startled and quickly embraced Qin Shuying, saying softly: “Sister, what’s wrong?”

Qin Shuying hugged Ziteng back. “Ziteng, silly child, Sister… Sister really misses Feng’er so much… Sister would rather give up this life than have Feng’er alive…”

“Sister…”

Ziteng held Qin Shuying tightly as they both wept silently.

Until nightfall, Qin Shuying didn’t leave the study once.

She sat there in a daze, her mind seeming both tumultuous and chaotic, yet blurred.

She seemed to think of many things, yet nothing at all.

She recalled everything from her previous life, remembered Feng’er’s innocent smile and sweet calls of “Mother.”

She also thought of Princess Fuping’s words about Liang Zhe’s death, feeling as if fresh blood was gushing before her eyes, everything turning blood red.

When Ziteng came in to report that Qin Feifei had come to Yilan Garden wanting to see her, Qin Shuying said listlessly: “Tell her to leave. I’ve been frightened and haven’t rested well yet.”

Qin Feifei was driven away by Lu Ye, cursing and swearing as she left, completely like a shrew.

Ziteng looked worriedly at Qin Shuying sitting in the round chair.

Since arriving at the Qin Manor, no matter what dangers and difficulties arose, Sister had always faced them bravely, never becoming discouraged or compromising.

This was the first time seeing her so listless and absent-minded.

Her entire being seemed suffused with both deathly air and restlessness.

Ziteng couldn’t comfort her and simply stood guard silently at the door.

Not until lamp-lighting time did Hui Yun come in to say: “Miss, Lord Liang just sent word that they are safe.”

Only then did Qin Shuying’s eyes, after sitting motionless for half the day, show a glimmer of light and life. “Truly?”

Hui Yun nodded: “Liang Yanjun came personally. He was outside the manor, and I met with him.”

“Young Master Liang is alright?”

“Liang Yanjun said Lord Liang is fine.”

Only then did Qin Shuying’s anxiety subside as she slowly let out a breath of relief.

Seeing this, Ziteng felt both joy and sadness.

Sister, this person has ultimately entered your heart… Sister, don’t worry, I will definitely help you.

After thinking, Ziteng approached and said: “Miss, Third Miss was spouting nonsense in the manor and was forcibly sent back to the Lu residence by the First Madam.”

“What did she say?”

Seeing that Qin Shuying showed interest in asking questions, Ziteng called Lu Ye in: “Lu Ye, you know more. You tell her.”

Lu Ye began speaking at length: “Third Miss said that falling to her current state was all Seventh Miss’s fault. When First Madam told her to stop talking, Third Miss cursed First Madam, saying First Madam had accepted your benefits and would have to live watching the face of the Liang family’s eldest young mistress in the future, naturally having to curry favor with the Liang family’s eldest young mistress. She wondered whether the Liang family’s eldest young mistress would think highly of her, the daughter of a minor official, and whether she would find a good marriage for Miss Yue… The more she spoke, the more outrageous it became. First Madam really couldn’t listen anymore and had her stuffed into a carriage and dragged back to the Lu residence…”

Hong Juan kept shaking her head: “Third Miss wasn’t like this before. Now she’s changed to the point where it’s hard to believe.”

Nanny Fu said: “Third Miss was eager to scheme and marry her own brother-in-law. Now, she hasn’t even tasted a fraction of the suffering Second Miss endured, yet dares to say she’s suffered enough and fallen to this state? Good days are still waiting for her.”

When Nanny Fu said this, she watched Qin Shuying’s reaction.

Qin Shuying remained expressionless, showing no particular emotion, which put Nanny Fu’s mind somewhat at ease.

Though Qin Fangfang’s “nonsense” might fool Lu Ye and Hong Juan, it had ultimately reached Dong Shi, making it difficult for Nanny Fu not to know.

Recalling the strange words Yun Jingshu had mentioned when she came to the Qin Manor, Nanny Fu had always had an unresolved concern in her heart.

After all, she was the person who had been by Qin Shuying’s side the longest.

What others couldn’t discover, what others didn’t know, she knew.

Returning to her own room, Nanny Fu gazed at the moon in the sky, looking for a long time. Finally, all her speculations, sadness, grief, and helplessness transformed into a long sigh.

The next day.

Lu residence.

Qin Feifei had cried all night and woke up rather late. After eating and sitting in a daze for half the day, it was already mid-afternoon.

Feeling disheartened, she sat on the bed’s edge watching her son play on the kang, absent-mindedly coaxing him, when suddenly she heard a loud “bang” from the main gate – someone had kicked it open.

Lu Changxuan stormed in like a whirlwind and immediately slapped Qin Feifei across the face: “Bitch! Do you want to die?”

Lu Changxuan’s voice was so loud it could almost lift the roof. Qin Feifei’s son was frightened into tears: “Waaah waaah waaah…”

The slap sent Qin Feifei tumbling from the kang to the floor, where she lay unable to get up for a long time, half her face instantly swelling up like a steamed bun.

Lu Changxuan showed no mercy, grabbing her by the collar and flipping her over. His face was vicious, his eyes bloodshot – where was any trace of his former elegant and handsome appearance?

“What exactly did you do? Where did you hide Ju’er?! Speak! What exactly did you do!”

Qin Feifei hadn’t seen Lu Changxuan for several days, and he came in with a slap right away – even she was stunned.

But though Lu Changxuan’s voice was so loud, her eyes went blank, staring at Lu Changxuan in terror.

Lu Changxuan grabbed her chin: “Speak, tell me! Where did you hide Ju’er? Speak!”

But Qin Feifei looked at Lu Changxuan as if seeing something incredible, staring blankly as if she didn’t recognize him.

“Stop pretending to be stupid! You bitch! Will you talk or not, will you talk or not? Fine, you won’t talk, will you?”

Lu Changxuan looked around and saw his wailing son on the bed. He scooped up the child and rushed out the door.

Before leaving, he gave Qin Feifei another kick.

Qin Feifei was kicked over again and fell to the ground.

After a long while, Qin Feifei tremblingly reached out to touch her ear, then tremblingly brought her hand before her eyes.

Blood!

Her ear was bleeding!

Her ear was deaf!

She hadn’t heard a single word of what Lu Changxuan said afterward – only buzzing sounds.

Lu Changxuan’s slap had deafened her!

“Ah…”

Qin Feifei threw back her head and laughed wildly.

That evening, people at the Qin Manor received news from the Lu family: the Third Young Mistress had gone deaf!

Qin Shuying had just gone to bed when she heard this from Lu Ye. After a moment of silence, she said: “Let’s sleep.”

Qin Feifei, this is only the beginning.

I hope you can properly endure what comes next – you must not go mad.

Today there are four updates, thank you everyone for your support. Some readers mentioned an issue in Chapter 262, and I’ve already contacted the editor to fix it. Previous readers don’t need to reread it – let me briefly explain. The error was describing Old Madam Liang as being of the same generation as Luo Meixiang. The correct understanding should be that Old Madam Liang is Luo Meixiang’s concubine-born aunt. In other words, Old Madam Liang married her own niece from her natal family to be her daughter-in-law. As for the truth of the matter, it will be explained in later chapters. Thank you again for everyone’s support. If any reader sees that it’s been corrected, please leave a comment, thank you. Since I previously subscribed to that chapter to check the issue, it seems even if it’s been revised, I can’t see the correct content anymore (not sure if I understand this correctly).