Sun Shi dismissed Qin Huining to return to Cixiao Garden to rest.

But for some reason, the image of Qin Yining kneeling and looking up at her with tears barely held back seemed frozen in her mind, impossible to shake off.

After dismissing everyone around her and keeping only Nanny Bao, Sun Shi said solemnly:

“You’re an old hand who has served beside Mother for years. The salt you’ve eaten exceeds the rice I’ve consumed, and you see things more clearly than I do. In your opinion, did Hui Jie’er really sow discord?”

Nanny Bao smiled: “Young Madam is a sensible person—it’s just that maternal love has blinded your eyes. Actually, don’t you already have the answer in your heart?”

“The answer?” Sun Shi seemed thoughtful.

“Yes. Our madam always said that if you want to understand someone, don’t mind what they say—just look at the results of events, and you can roughly analyze what that person has done. For instance, though you say you won’t forgive the master, didn’t you still return to the manor? This shows your feelings for the master are genuine and sincere. This old slave thinks the master can surely feel your sincerity. That’s why he’s always cherished and protected you all these years.”

These words warmed Sun Shi’s heart, and her tense mood relaxed somewhat.

But thinking carefully, wasn’t it exactly so?

Though she made a fuss, in her heart she still cared about Qin Huaiyuan. Though Qin Huaiyuan had also blown his beard and glared at her, ultimately he still respected her greatly.

Sun Shi couldn’t help murmuring: “Hui Jie’er is sensible—every word she says warms my heart. But it’s true that I became suspicious about Yi Jie’er’s background because of one careless sentence from her. Because of that suspicion, in my urgency I quarreled with the Prime Minister. Also, before returning to the manor today, I had actually decided to acknowledge Yi Jie’er, yet just now I couldn’t control my temper and nearly struck her…”

Nanny Bao lowered her eyes, smiling without speaking.

Sun Shi shook her head in disbelief: “No, no, no. Hui Jie’er is good-hearted. Perhaps all this is coincidence! Nanny Bao, don’t you think so?”

Seeing Sun Shi like this, Nanny Bao swallowed back the words “Where do so many coincidences come from?” that had been on her lips.

She was merely a servant woman. Even Duke Dingguo’s wife’s years of constant guidance hadn’t straightened Sun Shi out—what use would her words be?

Nanny Bao comforted Sun Shi with a few more words, then urgently took her leave to return to Duke Dingguo’s manor to report back, leaving Sun Shi sitting alone in contemplation.

At the same time, Qin Yining was walking back to Xueli Courtyard with Rui Lan and Qiu Lu.

The surroundings were quiet with few passersby. Occasionally, a flock of birds could be seen suddenly taking flight from distant bare branches. The early winter sky was blue as a wash, yet the weather seemed even colder than yesterday.

Qin Yining walked with calm composure, her honey-colored brocade cloak slightly spread in an arc.

Qiu Lu and Rui Lan supported her on either side.

Qiu Lu pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

Rui Lan, however, felt that since Qin Yining had shown her tolerance today, she would surely be valued in the future. Since she was to be valued, casual conversation wouldn’t matter, so she said quietly: “Miss suffered grievances just now.”

Qin Yining gave Rui Lan a smile.

As if encouraged, Rui Lan continued: “That Nanny Bao is a favored person beside Duke Dingguo’s wife—her single word carries more weight in Duke Dingguo’s manor than some young misses. Just now, Miss Huining instigated the madam to strike you like that. Why didn’t you make a scene with the madam in front of Nanny Bao? It would have let Nanny Bao see your hardships and report back to Duke Dingguo’s wife.”

Qin Yining smiled gently: “Given the madam’s temperament, making a real scene might not be good—it would only make her angrier and harm her health.”

Rui Lan nodded after hearing this, sincerely sighing: “The Fourth Miss is truly filial, genuinely concerned about the madam’s health—not like Miss Huining, who for her own matters only kept provoking the madam to anger…”

Reaching this point, Rui Lan suddenly understood!

If she could see it clearly, how could an old fox like Nanny Bao not understand?

If the Fourth Miss had truly displayed yesterday’s authority and fought with Sun Shi today, though she wouldn’t have suffered loss, it would ultimately be undignified, and might even spread a reputation for arrogance to Duke Dingguo’s manor.

By calmly following the course of events like this, she instead let Qin Huining repeat her instigation before Nanny Bao again!

Previously, accusing Qin Huining of sowing discord was empty talk—even if spoken, it wasn’t believable.

But seeing is believing! Didn’t Nanny Bao witness it with her own eyes today!

Rui Lan looked at Qin Yining with great admiration: “Miss acted correctly. This slave was thinking wrongly.”

Though Qiu Lu spoke little, she was also perceptive and had now understood, saying: “This is Miss Huining courting death herself. Even if she provokes Duke Dingguo’s wife’s displeasure, it truly can’t be blamed on our miss.”

“Indeed. The tiger has a heart to harm people—why continue covering for her?” Qin Yining smiled.

Both Rui Lan and Qiu Lu laughed.

Actually, both maids shared a common thought they didn’t voice—what was most admirable was that Qin Yining, without many words and with just those understated few sentences, had made the madam abandon the thought of striking someone, sparing herself physical suffering.

This was enough to show that the person they followed had proper judgment, courage, and wisdom! She had clearly figured out Sun Shi’s temperament completely.

Though many events had occurred today, when the master and two servants returned to Xueli Courtyard, they were all in good spirits.

Just entering the courtyard gate, Nanny Zhu came forward smiling: “Miss has returned. The palace instructress that the Prime Minister engaged for you has arrived.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining looked up to see a woman over forty with dignified appearance coming forward, full of smiles as she curtsied: “This servant is surnamed Zhan. I’m a palace instructress specializing in teaching rules and etiquette. By order of Her Majesty the Empress, I’ve come to accompany the young miss for several days.”

“Her Majesty the Empress?” Qin Yining was somewhat surprised.

“When the Prime Minister found his legitimate daughter, His Majesty was very pleased upon learning of it. Hearing the Prime Minister mention the manor’s situation, he instructed Her Majesty the Empress. As the maternal model for the realm, Her Majesty arranged for this servant to come.”

“Instructress Zhan needn’t be so formal. This young woman is crude and will trouble Instructress Zhan.” Qin Yining courteously invited Instructress Zhan inside and began earnestly and carefully studying.

Duke Dingguo’s Manor.

Nanny Bao carefully reported everything that had happened at the Prime Minister’s manor today in complete detail to Duke Dingguo’s wife.

Duke Dingguo’s wife fingered a string of jade Buddhist beads in her hand. The beads made crisp clicking sounds, with light purple tassels adorned with gold beads swaying below. Combined with Duke Dingguo’s wife’s hand wearing a jade ring, it appeared exceptionally beautiful.

After a long while, she stopped her movements and said softly: “It seems Hui Jie’er truly did it.”

Nanny Bao nodded: “Yes, this servant could see that Miss Huining indeed instigated our young madam. You know our young madam’s temperament.”

Duke Dingguo’s wife raised her right hand to rub her brow: “Han Jie’er is straightforward—when others load the gun, she dares to fire it. Previously, Hui Jie’er seemed good too, but how has she now become…”

Nanny Bao knew Duke Dingguo’s wife had everything figured out in her heart—she was just momentarily uncomfortable—so she said nothing more, carefully massaging Duke Dingguo’s wife’s temples.

After a long while, Duke Dingguo’s wife finally sighed deeply: “Does Yi Jie’er’s appearance truly resemble Qin Meng’s?”

“Yes, very much like the master’s younger days. However, this old slave sees that Miss Yining appears to have more cleverness than the master did in his youth, and her heart is very filial and pure. Even when our young madam deliberately made things difficult, she only submissively endured without giving our young madam any cause for anger. It’s remarkable that after suffering so much all these years, she can still be so sensible and reasonable without changing her nature.”

Duke Dingguo’s wife smiled: “It’s rare for you to praise someone so unreservedly.”

Nanny Bao smiled embarrassedly: “It’s truly because Miss Yining is endearing.”

“Forget it. Rather than waiting for Han Jie’er to remember to bring the person, I might as well go fetch her myself.” Duke Dingguo’s wife thought for a moment and instructed: “Have someone check the outer courtyard—Ming Ge’er should have returned by now.”

The Ming Ge’er Duke Dingguo’s wife mentioned was the Duke’s heir apparent, Duke Dingguo’s wife’s eldest grandson, Sun Yu.

Nanny Bao asked in surprise: “Madam actually wants the young master to go to the Prime Minister’s manor to deliver a message?”

“Yes.” Duke Dingguo’s wife considered carefully: “If others go, it shows we don’t value her enough. Since we’re inviting someone, and Yi Jie’er is a good child, as her maternal grandmother, I naturally should give her dignity. Our Ming Ge’er has a good reputation outside and high standing among scholars. He also gets along well with his uncle-in-law. Having him represent me in this trip is most appropriate.”

“Madam thinks thoroughly. The young master and the master don’t just get along well—the master likes the young master as if he were his own son, wishing the young master actually was his biological child!” Nanny Bao smiled as she sent a maid on this errand, unable to help re-evaluating Qin Yining’s position in her mind.

One must know that Duke Dingguo’s heir apparent wasn’t just an ordinary noble. Sun Yu was something of a legend among Great Yan’s younger generation.

Sun Yu, courtesy name Yuanming, was twenty-six years old and remained unmarried, simply because he refused to take a wife—insisting on waiting for a perfectly matched, peerless beauty before agreeing.

He was a gentleman of upright character, elegant and handsome, the cream of the younger generation’s talents. Most importantly, he was brilliantly gifted with exceptional understanding of classical studies, ritual law, and politics.

Two years ago, when Zhou and Yan formally went to war, Sun Yu’s manifesto was like swords with every word, brilliant in literary style, thoroughly denouncing Great Zhou until they were thoroughly shamed and unable to show their faces. While inspiring Great Yan’s morale, it also motivated a large group of passionate men to join the military to serve the country. The Emperor was greatly impressed after reading it, personally issuing an edict for Sun Yu to enter the palace for a face-to-face examination. Subsequently, the phrase “A son should be like Sun Yuanming” spread widely.

Even someone as cautious as Qin Huaiyuan began recommending talent without avoiding relatives, unable to help publicly praising “Sun Yuanming as a genius of our age.” Because of that manifesto, Sun Yu not only became famous in Great Yan’s court but was also extremely well-known in Great Zhou. It was said that Great Zhou’s Emperor Shengchang had fallen seriously ill from anger after reading that manifesto.

Such a handsome figure with unparalleled talent could be said to be the treasure of Duke Dingguo’s wife’s heart.

Her willingness to send him to the Prime Minister’s manor to invite someone showed the weight Qin Yining held in Duke Dingguo’s wife’s heart!