Qin Shuying said coolly, “Everyone says that the Maternal Aunt and the Old Madam are close, that when the Old Madam was still in her maiden home, the Maternal Aunt took great care of her. So after the Old Madam married, she always treated the Maternal Aunt extremely well. But Her Majesty the Empress told me that the Old Madam actually despised the Maternal Aunt back then, and even used trickery to make the Maternal Aunt lose face and be humiliated.”
Maternal Aunt Zhou immediately froze in place, turned around, and stared at Qin Shuying with full suspicion, trying to discern some clues from her face.
Of course Maternal Aunt Zhou knew that Qin Shuying had been summoned by the Empress—not only did she know, but all the noble ladies in the capital knew.
Qin Shuying continued, “Her Majesty the Empress said that the Old Madam back then was proud of her beauty and looked down on everyone. The Maternal Aunt was originally just a humble beauty from a small family, and when she entered the Luo family, the Old Madam didn’t regard you at all. Maternal Aunt, is what Her Majesty the Empress said correct?”
Maternal Aunt Zhou’s expression slowly changed from disdain to solemnity, but she didn’t make a sound, still just staring at Qin Shuying with confusion, trying to see if she was lying.
“It’s not just Her Majesty the Empress who says this! The Old Madam also said that Madam was raised by you to be unfit for public appearance.”
A look of sudden panic and fear flashed in Maternal Aunt Zhou’s eyes.
“The Old Madam must deeply regret not having earlier…” Qin Shuying made a beheading gesture and even made a “crack” sound with her mouth.
Maternal Aunt Zhou immediately cried out, “Yanyan, don’t kill me…”
Qin Shuying laughed with a “puchi” sound, “What is the Maternal Aunt so afraid of?”
Maternal Aunt Zhou immediately realized she had lost her composure and tried desperately to appear calm, but no matter what, she couldn’t achieve the same composure as before. No matter how one looked at it, she revealed an air of panic and alarm.
“Maternal Aunt, you know that Prince Liang has always been soft-hearted. If he hadn’t pleaded for you back then, you would probably have lost your life long ago.”
Maternal Aunt Zhou was startled with fear, but still didn’t make a sound.
“Speaking of which, what noble status Madam has, yet now she can only be a concubine, sigh… Maternal Aunt, tell me, if Prince Liang could still speak, would he do something for Madam?”
“Ah!” Maternal Aunt Zhou cried out, “He would, I suppose…”
At this point, she realized she had misspoken and quickly covered her mouth.
But Qin Shuying didn’t question her, only sighed and said lightly, “After all, Madam is his and the Old Madam’s daughter, isn’t that right?”
Maternal Aunt Zhou opened her eyes wide in panic, hardly able to believe it, “You, you, you, how do you know?”
Qin Shuying still maintained her casual conversational manner, “Her Majesty the Empress told me. Sigh, marrying one’s own daughter to one’s own son—the Old Madam really had some bizarre ideas. Back then, Prince Liang said it wouldn’t work, but the Old Madam insisted on having her way, saying that the Earl wasn’t her biological child anyway, so what did it matter? Her Majesty the Empress also said the other day that the Old Madam has always been stubborn and strong-willed, insisting on having things her way. You see, now that such rumors have emerged, one can tell that the Old Madam’s decision back then was too hasty. If she hadn’t married her own daughter to the Earl, but to someone else’s family instead, with the Old Madam backing her, who would dare not give Madam face?”
Maternal Aunt Zhou had already misspoken twice, and this time, she wouldn’t make a sound even if beaten to death.
But Qin Shuying’s words still shocked her to the extreme, her eyes wide and round, almost bulging out of their sockets.
“The Earl was born to Steward Concubine, and though not of the Old Madam’s bloodline, the Old Madam is ultimately the Earl’s legitimate mother—this point cannot be avoided no matter what. In the end, the Earl is just a concubine-born son, and if this matter were to be exposed, the Earl would also lose face. The Earl grew up by the Old Madam’s side—the debt of birth is not as heavy as the debt of raising—and as a Great General, the Earl understands this principle. It’s precisely considering this point that the Earl asked me to come persuade you, Maternal Aunt, hoping that you would also advise the Old Madam.”
Maternal Aunt Zhou was shocked to the extreme, but she had always possessed some small cleverness while lacking vision, so for a short time she could only stare blankly. She didn’t think at all about the inconsistencies in Qin Shuying’s words.
“So that’s why I invited the Maternal Aunt over—I wanted you to go back and help persuade the Old Madam. Although Madam has noble status, now that Prince Liang can’t even speak, he can’t support her. Besides, there’s still the Princess Consort of Prince Liang. If the Old Madam insists on making Madam the wife, and if Madam’s origins really come to light, the Princess Consort will probably never spare Madam in the future.”
Maternal Aunt Zhou still stared with wide eyes.
“Those who understand the times are the outstanding ones. Even if County Princess Qin’an becomes the legitimate wife, Madam is ultimately the Old Madam’s biological daughter, and the Old Madam certainly won’t let anyone bully her. If County Princess Qin’an can’t get her wish, I’m afraid the entire household will suffer the consequences. If His Majesty further strips away the noble title, then forget about being a fourth-rank Lady of Honor—I’m afraid she won’t even be able to become a Lady of Virtue. I fear it would also implicate the Luo family and the Maternal Aunt. Speaking of which, just based on the dignity the Old Marquis had before His Majesty, with Elder Luo and the Maternal Aunt helping the Old Madam confuse the Liang family bloodline and putting such a green hat on the Old Marquis, His Majesty might get angry in who knows what way. Even if he doesn’t make an example of the Liang family, it would be very simple to make an example of Second Master Luo. Maternal Aunt, tell me, isn’t this the reasoning?”
Maternal Aunt Zhou thought of how her biological son, Second Master Luo, had been very worried recently, always returning home with a furrowed brow. And her grandson also seemed to have encountered some troublesome matter.
Of course, this was all the doing of Liang Zhe and Luo Huan, which Maternal Aunt Zhou didn’t know.
Qin Shuying smiled again and said, “I know the Maternal Aunt has always been reasonable, and no wonder Elder Luo took you with him when he went to his post outside the capital back then.”
After Qin Shuying’s lengthy persuasion, Maternal Aunt Zhou felt her mind buzzing with confusion.
She had only been putting on airs earlier. Elder Luo had indeed taken her with him to his post, but Elder Luo was a very rule-abiding person who kept her confined to the inner courtyard even when they were away, never letting her entertain any guests.
So Maternal Aunt Zhou’s knowledge remained the same as before—she hadn’t become more knowledgeable or clever from following Elder Luo to his post.
Combined with years of being treated by Old Madam Liang with both kindness and severity, her fear of Old Madam Liang exceeded her closeness to her. After Qin Shuying’s speech, which even involved the Empress and revealed past secrets with perfect accuracy, she was already dizzy with confusion.
Maternal Aunt Zhou said with difficulty, “You, since you all know, you won’t, won’t do anything to me, will you?”
Qin Shuying patted her hand, “Maternal Aunt, haven’t you seen clearly yet? The Earl is wholeheartedly protecting Madam. If he weren’t protecting Madam, just based on such a scandalous affair—the Old Madam bringing such shame to the Old Marquis—the Earl could immediately confine the Old Madam, then confine Madam as well. When County Princess Qin’an enters the household later, she could directly take charge, and what would it have to do with Madam? Why would there be need for such great trouble? This is all for Madam’s sake. The Earl values Madam so much, and Madam was raised by you—how could he harm you? If the Maternal Aunt could help persuade the Old Madam, the Earl certainly wouldn’t be angry with the Maternal Aunt.”