Tang Meng looked at the jewelry with a complex expression and shook her head.

“Miss is an upright person. Previously you and I were complete strangers, yet you sincerely came to rescue me. Not only can I not repay you with anything, but I’ll inevitably cause you trouble. That you don’t blame me – I’m already very grateful. Consider this jewelry as my gift to Miss, as my token of gratitude. Miss must accept it.”

“That won’t do. These are all expressions of the upright officials’ feelings toward you, the good karma your father formed in the past. I absolutely will not take them. We won’t dwell on past matters. In the future when you enter the manor with me, I’ll inevitably bring trouble upon you at times. I only hope we can mutually support each other. As for your personal belongings, I will not touch them no matter what.”

Qin Yining spoke while forcibly pressing the jewelry into Tang Meng’s hands. “Listen to me. Saving more personal money is always beneficial and never harmful.”

Tang Meng wrestled with Qin Yining for quite a while, but ultimately couldn’t prevail.

She wasn’t a stubborn person, and Qin Yining’s sincere treatment moved her greatly.

Accepting the items, Tang Meng bowed to Qin Yining: “I am alone in this world. I can only repay Miss’s kindness with loyalty.”

Qin Yining smiled and helped her up: “Meeting is fate. We’ll support each other and live well. The road ahead is still long.”

The two smiled at each other. Though master and servant, their hearts were mixed with many emotions – gratitude as well as friendship.

Seeing matters settled, Qin Yining instructed Rui Lan to recuperate quickly, then called Manager Zhong’s servant to arrange a carriage: “I’m going to Duke Dingguo’s manor.”

The servant acknowledged and withdrew.

Tang Meng saw that Qin Yining had no one to attend her and originally wanted to follow, but Qin Yining smiled and said: “In the next few days I’ll first arrange for you to return to secular life. Then following by my side will be proper and justified. Rui Lan’s injuries still depend on you for treatment, so stay by Rui Lan’s side for now.”

Though Tang Meng still wore Taoist robes, psychologically she already regarded Qin Yining as her master and obediently nodded.

“Miss can rest assured. I’ve learned medical skills from my father since childhood. Treating flesh wounds won’t trouble me.” She then grasped Qin Yining’s hands to examine them, smiling: “Miss has quite a few scars on your hands. You must have suffered much hardship before. In the next few days I’ll prepare scar-removing ointment. Miss can use one box and your hands will return to their original state. I also have methods to tend to Miss’s skin.”

What woman doesn’t love beauty? Seeing those water-bright, jade-smooth young ladies in the manor, Qin Yining sometimes felt she was too rough, weathered by wind and sun. Not to mention the scars and calluses on her hands, even her facial skin was somewhat coarser than other young ladies’, only appearing less obvious due to her youth.

Now hearing Tang Meng say there were methods, Qin Yining said happily: “Then I’m counting on you.”

Tang Meng patted her chest in guarantee: “Rest assured, I’m most skilled at concocting these things.”

Qin Yining gave Tang Meng and Rui Lan further instructions, then left the Stepping Cloud Inn and took a carriage to Duke Dingguo’s manor.

After the midday meal was the time for the Duke Dingguo’s wife to hear reports from the managing nannies and handle household tokens.

The heated chamber for discussions was busy when Nanny Bao quietly approached Duke Dingguo’s wife and whispered: “Old Madam, the young madam has come.”

Duke Dingguo’s wife frowned: “Let her eat her fill and go back to rest properly. Making trouble in her room wasn’t enough – now when we’re busy here, where is there idle time to deal with her.”

“What is Mother saying?”

Before Nanny Bao could go deliver the message, Sun Shi had already lifted the warm curtain and entered herself. Ignoring the managing nannies around, she strode to Duke Dingguo’s wife’s side.

“Mother, why hasn’t Qin Meng come to take me home yet!”

Duke Dingguo’s wife felt the veins at her temples throb, helplessly waving her hand.

Nanny Bao immediately understood and withdrew with the managing nannies, leaving the heated chamber’s space to the mother and daughter.

Only then did Duke Dingguo’s wife speak: “Now you’re anxious – who told you to come back to your natal home? This time in my view, it’s entirely your fault. You made the mistake yourself, yet still expect others to bow their heads and soften? If you were smart, you’d hurry back to be your Grand Secretary’s wife. Don’t wear away all the affection between husband and wife, or you’ll have cause to cry later.”

“Mother, are you my real mother? How is it that every time you see me you only know to scold me, only speak of my wrongs? Why don’t you look at what Qin Meng has done?”

Duke Dingguo’s wife felt weary and rubbed her forehead tiredly: “Han Jie’er, you’re no longer a child. Must I explain some principles to you? Your mother-in-law and husband weren’t targeting you at all. They spoke about Yi Jie’er’s matter and you became embarrassed, even pulling out your Duke Dingguo manor young lady status to suppress people? Don’t forget – you are a daughter-in-law of the Qin family!”

“Was what I did wrong? Yi Jie’er privately went out to meet with outside men. I was disciplining my daughter, yet Qin Meng not only pushed away my hand and nearly made me stumble, but also rebuked me, saying my propriety wasn’t much and yet I could be harsh with my daughter. He even said I should learn propriety!”

Sun Shi wiped her tears: “Just what have I done wrong to him that he would embarrass me so before everyone? My propriety is poor – surely it’s not worse than some girl who returned from the mountains? He himself said Yi Jie’er made mistakes, yet when I helped him discipline her, he actually scolded me!”

Duke Dingguo’s wife had heard Sun Shi’s complaints so much lately that her ears were getting callused. Hearing her crying and wailing now, if this weren’t her own birth daughter, Duke Dingguo’s wife truly wanted to throw her out to fend for herself.

“Han Jie’er, you must understand – Yi Jie’er is not only Qin Meng’s daughter, but also your daughter! Your husband cherishes both your children – shouldn’t you be happy? Where is there a mother like you who competes with her own daughter? I see what you’re crying isn’t tears, but brain matter. Is your head completely empty?”

“Mother! How can you say this about me!”

“Am I wrong? These past few days I’ve been observing you. Your own mind is muddled, yet when others speak to you, you refuse to listen, only knowing how to cry and make trouble. Are you still waiting for Qin Meng to come with eight sedan chairs to carry you back? I tell you, now Qin Meng is the current dynasty’s Grand Secretary! If you don’t return soon, be careful that even concubines will ride over your head!”

“I…”

“You’re stupid and confused, and can’t judge people clearly. Qin Huining instigated you, and you, a woman over forty, could still fall into traps. Now you still have the face to cry?! I think you should cry for your brain – you’re so foolish you don’t seem like my daughter.”

Sun Shi began sobbing from being scolded to her face.

Duke Dingguo’s wife felt her temples throbbing painfully and stood up, wanting to go out.

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside, and Nanny Bao spoke cheerfully from the corridor: “Old Madam, look who’s come.”

The warm curtain lifted and Qin Yining entered with a smile, her scarlet red brocade cloak reflecting her fair, pink-tinged pretty face, beautiful as freshly bloomed plum blossoms in the back garden.

“Maternal Grandmother.” Qin Yining curtsied.

Duke Dingguo’s wife joyfully helped her up: “My Yi Jie’er, how did you come in such cold weather?”

Qin Yining glanced at Sun Shi, then winked at Duke Dingguo’s wife, removed her cloak and handed it to Nanny Bao, then went before Sun Shi to bow.

“Daughter pays respects to Madam.”

Sun Shi was currently angry, and thinking that this incident originated from Qin Yining privately leaving the manor, naturally she wasn’t pleased to see her. Wiping tears, she snorted and turned her face away.

Duke Dingguo’s wife frowned watching this but remained standing in place.

She wanted to see what Qin Yining intended to do.

Seeing Sun Shi’s red, swollen eyes from crying and her dismissive attitude toward herself, Qin Yining knew that after seven or eight days Sun Shi still hadn’t come to her senses. She could only kneel properly.

“Please don’t be angry, Madam. Everything is my fault.”

Sun Shi snorted coldly: “You still know you were wrong? Then how did you have such audacity to go out and meet outside men, even single-handedly running to Prince Ning’s manor to demand someone? What great audacity you have!”

“At the time I was anxious to save someone and only thought to do my human duty. I never expected Prince Ning would directly give Miss Tang to me. But precisely because of this incident, Father was able to ascend to the Grand Secretary position. It can be considered turning misfortune into blessing.” Qin Yining replied with lowered head.

Sun Shi, hearing this, didn’t understand the meaning at all.

Duke Dingguo’s wife nodded approvingly, thinking she hadn’t misjudged the person. She stepped forward to help Qin Yining up: “The floor is cold. Sit and speak. Your mother is currently angry and can’t think through some matters. If you explain to her, she’ll understand.”

“Yes.” Qin Yining smiled gratefully at Duke Dingguo’s wife, then explained to Sun Shi Prince Ning’s scheme, the changes in the political landscape triggered by Tang Meng’s matter, Grand Secretary Cao’s removal from office, and why Qin Huaiyuan could ascend to the Grand Secretary position.

Sun Shi had stopped crying and looked at Qin Yining with some astonishment: “Did your father teach you all these words?”

“These are all daughter’s own thoughts,” Qin Yining smiled shyly. “I was just thinking randomly, not knowing if I’m right. Moreover, I feel that if I became Grand Secretary this way, I would definitely immediately impeach Prince Ning.”

Duke Dingguo’s wife’s eyes flashed with brilliance, smiling as she asked: “Why do you say this?”

Qin Yining smiled: “His Majesty certainly wouldn’t like seeing ministers form factions. Prince Ning was already a military prince with certain prestige in the army. If he were also friendly with the new Grand Secretary, how could His Majesty feel at ease? I think even if my father didn’t do this, Prince Ning would impeach my father again. Only when the two aren’t close can court balance be maintained.”

“Good child.” Duke Dingguo’s wife pulled Qin Yining over, embracing her and patting her back: “You spoke correctly. Your maternal grandfather just told me today about your father impeaching Prince Ning. I truly didn’t misjudge you – you’re a clever child.”

Sun Shi listened in shock, staring blankly at Qin Yining.

Duke Dingguo’s wife sighed seeing this.

Qin Yining knelt before Sun Shi again: “Regardless, daughter’s private departure was wrong. However Madam disciplines daughter is appropriate. That day Father was also in anger, emotionally agitated, which caused inappropriate words. Now Father has gloriously ascended to Grand Secretary. The day after tomorrow the Crown Prince will personally visit, and the manor will hold a teacher banquet. Mother, you are now the Grand Secretary’s wife. If you’re not present, Father will lose face too. You and Father have deep marital affection – where are there overnight grudges? Daughter came today specifically to apologize to you and beg you to return to the manor.”