Seeing the Old Madam’s urgency, Qin Huaiyuan cupped his hands and spoke with some pacifying intent, “Mother, please don’t be anxious. Your son has no intention of sending Hui Jie’er away. It’s just that the Qin family bloodline cannot be confused, and the genealogy cannot tolerate disorder. Your son’s meaning is that Qin Yining should be entered into the genealogy, replacing Qin Huining, and we should inform our ancestors that Hui Jie’er was mistakenly taken in and is to be adopted as your son’s foster daughter. From now on, she won’t be ranked within the clan, and Yining will henceforth be the legitimate daughter of the first branch, Fourth Miss of the Qin family.”

Everyone looked at Qin Yining and Qin Huining with various expressions.

The Old Madam fell silent.

The genealogy indeed could not contain errors, but she was truly reluctant to part with Qin Huining.

Qin Huining was thunderstruck. From now on, she would only be a foster daughter of unknown origin, no longer the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Qin! She was about to have her coming-of-age ceremony next year, and all these years Prime Minister Qin had been carefully considering marriage prospects for her. Now that she wasn’t yet betrothed, with her status plummeting, what would become of her marriage prospects?

Why would such misfortune befall her at this crucial moment!

Why did Qin Yining have to return!

Qin Huining sobbed uncontrollably, this time genuinely unable to restrain her wailing.

After all, she was the child raised at her side. Sun Shi couldn’t bear to see Qin Huining so wronged and anxiously said to Qin Huaiyuan while grasping her hand, “Master, you cannot…”

“Even if Hui Jie’er becomes a foster daughter, being raised at your side, her food, clothing, and expenses will be the same as a biological daughter.” Qin Huaiyuan looked at Sun Shi with unquestionable determination in his eyes, then narrowed them slightly, “Would Madam only be satisfied if I sent Hui Jie’er back to the foundling home, or perhaps found her biological parents to return her to them?”

This was a naked threat!

He was actually embarrassing her in public for the sake of a wild girl who had just been brought back!

Sun Shi’s face flushed red with anger, and in her rage, she blurted out, “A wild girl who didn’t grow up under your nose is worth this much to you! Qin Meng, could it be that this girl was raised by your mistress! Why did you only bring her back? You might as well bring that vixen mother of hers too! After all, you’ve long been tired of us mother and daughter. From now on, just go live with your mistress!”

Sun Shi was the legitimate daughter of Duke Dingguo, born of noble birth, so her temperament was naturally somewhat arrogant. Usually, her sisters-in-law deferred to her because she was Qin Huaiyuan’s legitimate wife, and the Old Madam, who most favored her eldest son and fourth granddaughter, was also tolerant of Sun Shi. This had fostered her shrewish and domineering nature.

If it were someone else, they would never dare to quarrel so loudly with their husband in public, but Sun Shi had strong backing from her natal family, so naturally she had no fear.

Seeing that her mother was willing to stand up for her like this despite knowing she wasn’t her biological child, Qin Huining was moved and hugged her tightly, calling out like a small cat, “Mother, please don’t get angry, don’t fight with Father because of your daughter…”

But Sun Shi wouldn’t listen, only glaring at Qin Huaiyuan.

Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t bear it and scolded, “Outrageous!”

“You’re the one being outrageous!” Her fingernail painted with bright red henna pointed directly at Qin Yining’s forehead, “Speak! Where is your mother? Is your father keeping your mother in some residence!”

Qin Yining looked at Sun Shi in disbelief, being forced back two steps by her jabbing finger, her heart filled with desolation. Seeing Qin Huining holding Sun Shi’s arm neither tightly nor loosely, yet allowing Sun Shi to lunge forward, she immediately understood something.

It seemed that surviving in this grand mansion required even more acting.

Crying as she knelt down, lifting her skirt, Qin Yining said mournfully, “I beg Madam to calm your anger. I know Madam finds it difficult to accept for the moment, but I truly came from Liang City. When I was eight and had lost all support, do you know how I survived to today?”

She extended her hands, full of calluses and scars, and grasped Sun Shi’s well-maintained hands.

“If you look at the calluses and scars on my hands, you’ll know I’m not someone who lived in luxury. Given Father’s character, even knowing that Huining isn’t his biological child, he can still accommodate her. If I were really some mistress’s daughter, how could Father let me live so difficultly?

“Moreover, Father is the current Prime Minister, His Majesty’s trusted minister, below one person and above ten thousand. If he truly favored some woman, why would he need to keep a mistress? He could directly bring her home – who could stop him? He really has no need to tell such lies.

“Since Madam cannot accept me for now, I can wait for you to accept me. I’m also willing to get along well with Huining. I beg you not to be impulsive – angry words spoken in the moment would only hurt the feelings between you and Father.”

Qin Yining was naturally beautiful and very thin. After this tearful plea, she had moved all the women in the room to tears. Sun Shi stood in place, looking down at her tear-covered little face, holding her rough hands, and believed several parts of what she said.

Moreover, what she said was indeed not disagreeable, especially the last sentence.

From the corner of her eye, Sun Shi glanced at Qin Huaiyuan, whose face was dark as water, thinking: If Qin Huaiyuan could give me a way out now, then this matter could be set aside for the time being.

But Qin Huaiyuan, having heard Qin Yining’s words, felt pity arise in his heart. Recalling the tragic scenes of starving corpses everywhere in Liang City, and thinking of Qin Yining’s experiences over the past six years, his heart immediately filled with heartache and anger.

These days, he had already been overwhelmed!

The two countries had been at war for several years, and Great Yan was showing signs of defeat. The current Grand Marshal of Great Zhou’s forces was none other than Pang Xiao, the posthumous son of the Northern Ji Protector General Pang Zhongzheng, whom he had schemed to eliminate years ago.

Pang Xiao, courtesy name Zhixi, was twenty-two years old. Because Pang Zhongzheng was posthumously rehabilitated and granted the title “Prince Zhongshun,” he inherited the princely title. Everyone in the martial world called him “Young Prince.” He was the only prince with a different surname in the two years since Great Zhou’s founding, very much revered by the people. It was said that at fourteen, he had followed Great Zhou’s Emperor Li Qitian in raising the banner of rebellion against Northern Ji’s tyranny. Now he commanded deep respect in the army – he could deploy troops without even needing military tallies. When Pang Xiao stood before the army, he himself was the military tally.

Though young, he had been fighting on battlefields for eight years, renowned for his cunning military tactics and ruthless methods. When Pang Zhongzheng was sentenced to dismemberment by the Northern Ji Emperor, his flesh was literally carved off piece by piece to feed dogs. Pang Xiao had avenged his father in exactly the same way. Among those former dynasty ministers who had falsely accused and harmed his father, three had been personally flayed and tortured to death by his own hands, not to mention countless others he hadn’t personally executed. It was said that the bloodstains on the ground outside the Meridian Gate had been washed with water for three days and nights by many people, yet the bloody stench still wouldn’t dissipate.

And he, Qin Huaiyuan, was the “chief culprit” who had used the stratagem of sowing discord back then!

After Great Zhou’s founding, their conquest of the realm had headed straight for Great Yan. Great Yan had fought Northern Ji for many years and was already deeply weakened – how could they now resist the unstoppable Great Zhou?

If one day the city was breached, how could Pang Xiao possibly not avenge his father?

These days, Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t sleep peacefully whenever he thought of that demon. Years of continuous warfare had long emptied the national treasury, yet the war and peace factions were still arguing heatedly, with hardly anyone doing actual work.

Qin Huaiyuan was already overwhelmed with court affairs, and returning home, these ignorant women, not knowing their place, were still troubling him with such trivial matters!

Qin Huaiyuan was too lazy to discuss these things with women, and even lazier to deal with Sun Shi’s unreasonable troublemaking. He simply left with the words “This matter is settled” and departed with a flick of his sleeves, leaving Sun Shi frozen alone in place.

Everyone could see that Qin Huaiyuan was truly angry. After all, he was the head of the household – if he was genuinely angry, no one could oppose his will.

Sun Shi was also somewhat afraid. After all, she had been the first to start the quarrel, but she felt it would be undignified to show weakness first. For a moment, she was caught between advancing and retreating, aggrievedly sniffling.

The Old Madam was displeased with Sun Shi’s suspicion of her son’s character. Looking at Qin Yining standing to the side, she felt all these troubles had started because of her, making her dislike her even more. She said sternly, “Have Xueli Courtyard cleaned up for Fourth Miss to live in. Hui Jie’er will move here to live with me.”

She acknowledged Qin Yining’s identity but gave her the remote Xueli Courtyard to live in. Qin Huining, who had lost her status as legitimate daughter, was to move to Cixiao Garden. The Old Madam’s suppression and elevation were always so straightforward.

Seeing that the Old Madam had made her decision, everyone could only agree.

Sun Shi held back tears, feeling that encountering such matters was a great injustice. Not wanting to stay longer, she gave a few quiet instructions to Qin Huining and left without looking back, not even willing to give Qin Yining the slightest attention.

However, Nanny Jin, Sun Shi’s capable aide, bowed to the Old Madam and then came to Qin Yining’s side to bow, saying, “This servant pays respects to Fourth Miss.”

Qin Yining didn’t recognize this person and was experiencing someone calling themselves a servant in front of her for the first time, so she couldn’t react immediately.

A girl of eleven or twelve years old, wearing a light pink makeup-flowered jacket with her hair in double buns, whispered beside her, “This is Nanny Jin, the First Madam’s wet nurse and most capable attendant.”

Qin Yining smiled gratefully and then nodded to Nanny Jin, “Nanny Jin.”

Nanny Jin smiled and said, “Actually, Madam has you in her heart and early this morning selected capable maids from her side to serve you. This servant will bring them to pay respects to Fourth Miss shortly.”

Qin Yining nodded, “Thank you for your trouble, Nanny Jin.”

Nanny Jin smiled and withdrew to the corridor.

The Old Madam had already instructed Nanny Qin to have people move all of Qin Huining’s belongings to Cixiao Garden. Seeing these people still standing around, she dismissed everyone.

Qin Yining imitated the manner of the girls around her and bowed to the Old Madam. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the Old Madam call out, “Qin Yining.”

All the sisters stopped, but since the Old Madam hadn’t called for them, they could only suppress their curiosity and withdraw.

Qin Yining turned back and bowed to the Old Madam, “Grandmother.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw the Old Madam roll her eyes impatiently, “Didn’t your mother just say that in families like ours, we don’t use kinship terms but must use proper titles according to rank?”

Qin Yining lowered her eyes and called out again, “Old Madam.”

“Mm.” The Old Madam drew out her response, “Although I’ve allowed you to stay in the manor, I’m still worried. From now on, you must be careful in your words and actions. When teachers are invited to instruct you, you must study diligently and not bring your marketplace airs into the manor. The young ladies in this manor are all pure as jade and ice – don’t corrupt them.”

Qin Yining’s hands hanging at her sides clenched into fists, her teeth biting tightly. After a long while, she obediently said, “Old Madam speaks truly. I will be careful.”

The Old Madam continued, “Don’t think that just because you’ve returned, you can overshadow Hui Jie’er. She is a legitimate young lady who has been raised in this manor for fourteen years. Her manners and etiquette are exemplary in every way, and she’s proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her talents are not something a mountain girl like you can compare to. From now on, you should carefully learn from her.”