Although the Old Madam was somewhat partial, she was ultimately not a confused person. By this point, what was there not to understand?

Had Qin Yining orchestrated all of this?

The Old Madam looked at Qin Yining inquiringly.

Qin Yining responded with an obedient smile, which was equivalent to acknowledgment.

For a moment, the Old Madam truly couldn’t describe what she felt in her heart. It was like thinking she had brought home a puppy, only to discover after raising it for a few days that it was actually a wolf cub.

The Old Madam had observed Qin Yining for so long and naturally believed in her character. As for Qin Huining’s various behaviors, she really did seem like someone capable of framing others. Moreover, the Old Madam trusted Qin Huaiyuan’s judgment – even if she had been momentarily confused, her son would not be deceived.

But what exactly had Qin Yining done to bring things to this point?

Had those two maids really coincidentally been talking behind the artificial mountain?

Whatever she had done, reality had delivered a harsh slap to those who had once mocked Qin Yining!

They said she had “a crooked beam above making the pillars below crooked too”? Who exactly was the crooked one instructing maids to frame the legitimate daughter’s servants?

They said she couldn’t even protect her own maids and could only let others manipulate her? How then could they explain Rui Lan standing here openly and honorably?

The former Rui Lan, now Song Lan, had not only returned unharmed but was even receiving monthly wages from Duke Dingguo’s mansion, her status transcending that of all the Qin household’s maids.

If this was called being unable to protect one’s own maids, then what would constitute protection?

The young ladies present carefully reflected on this. If such a matter had befallen them, they weren’t confident they could bring back a framed maid – with that initial beating alone, the person might already be dead.

The young ladies’ gazes toward Qin Yining all became filled with awe and respect.

Everyone’s surprise lasted only a moment.

After Song Lan performed her curtsy, everyone saw a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl who looked powder-pink and adorable, wearing a light pink vest, obediently curtsy and say crisply: “This servant Bingtang pays respects to the Old Madam and all the young misses.”

“Bingtang.” The Old Madam came back to her senses, her voice somewhat hoarse, with some speculation about her identity in her heart. “That’s quite a sweet name. What were you originally called?”

Bingtang smiled and replied: “In response to the Old Madam, this servant’s original surname was Tang.”

The Old Madam and the young ladies all understood. This was the reason why Qin Yining had been confined to the ancestral hall for study. Miss Tang’s status was even more transcendent than Song Lan’s!

The Old Madam said: “Miss Tang, please rise. There’s no need for such formality.” She was well aware of the methods of those scholarly officials – this person before her was someone they strongly protected. If she treated her even slightly poorly, wouldn’t she be devoured alive by those mad dogs!

But Bingtang smiled and said: “Old Madam, please don’t say that. This servant’s life was saved by Fourth Miss, and I will serve Fourth Miss loyally for the rest of my life. You are Fourth Miss’s grandmother, so naturally you are also this servant’s master.”

The Old Madam’s mouth twitched.

She had been the female head of household for most of her life, and now a little maid was willing to curtsy to her only out of consideration for Qin Yining’s face?

The Old Madam rubbed her forehead and waved for Song Lan and Bingtang to withdraw. The two naturally stood behind Qin Yining.

Everyone chatted for a while longer until it was nearly time for the banquet.

The Old Madam then led her granddaughters to the flower hall in front.

The flower hall was as warm as spring. Circling around the large decorative screen painted with “Five Blessings Arriving,” directly facing them were two rows of official hat chairs covered with scarlet red chair cushions for conducting business. Behind the official hat chairs were east and west side halls, separated by black lacquered carved folding screens featuring the Four Gentlemen – plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum – to divide the areas for male guests and female family members.

Yuchi Yan was dressed in a dazzling purple brocade robe, wearing a purple-gold crowned hat with tassels, and a bamboo-patterned jade belt at his waist. His natural nobility carried a scholarly air that shone through.

The Old Madam and the girls dared not look directly at the Crown Prince and all knelt to pay their respects.

Yuchi Yan supported the Old Madam with both hands, not allowing her to kneel: “Old Madam, please rise quickly. There’s absolutely no need for such formality. You are Grand Tutor Qin’s mother, and this prince is Grand Tutor Qin’s student. Speaking of it, you are an elder.”

The Old Madam repeatedly said “I wouldn’t dare” and added: “There are distinctions of rank, and this woman dares not overstep.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Yuchi Yan looked toward Qin Yining.

At this moment, Qin Yining was properly kneeling among her sisters and hadn’t noticed Yuchi Yan’s gaze.

But the elders nearby – Qin Huaiyuan, Second Master, Third Master, and the Old Madam – could see it clearly.

The Old Madam’s heart skipped a beat, and then some vague anticipation began to sprout.

Now Qin Yining and His Highness the Crown Prince were a suitable match in terms of family status.

If Qin Yining could become the Crown Prince’s principal consort and become the mistress of the Eastern Palace, in the future…

As the Old Madam thought this, her palms began sweating with excitement.

She led the girls around the screen to the western side hall.

The men all went to the eastern side hall.

After being seated, with folding screens blocking the view and a central hall separating them, neither side could see the other, and voices weren’t very clear either.

Sun Shi, Second Madam, and Third Madam all stood to the side serving the Old Madam with dishes.

Sun Shi’s complexion wasn’t good, with obvious dark circles under her eyes, clearly having slept poorly the night before. She already knew that the maids beside Qin Huining had caused trouble, and seeing that Qin Huining wasn’t at the banquet, she quietly asked the Old Madam:

“Have you already confined Hui Jie’er to the woodshed?”

Upon hearing this, the Old Madam immediately lost her appetite. She put down her ivory chopsticks and glanced at Sun Shi, her eyes full of warning as she said: “Hui Jie’er made her own mistakes and should be punished accordingly. Meng Ge’er has already intervened in this matter, so you shouldn’t get involved.”

Sun Shi trembled at these words and nearly dropped both the serving chopsticks and the white porcelain small plate.

What did she mean by “shouldn’t get involved”? What did they want to do to her Hui Jie’er?!

Yesterday she had indeed been unpleasant with Hui Jie’er, but after all, she was the daughter she had raised for fourteen years – there were still maternal feelings there.

Sun Shi knew the Old Madam was angry right now and could only smile apologetically: “Old Madam, please don’t be angry. In the depths of winter like this, how can a proper young lady be confined to a woodshed? It could make her ill.”

Qin Yining had already put down her chopsticks and rinsed her mouth, quietly watching Sun Shi.

Whether the women’s side was actually eating or pretending to be busy with their food, they all pricked up their ears to listen to the situation between Sun Shi and the Old Madam.

The Old Madam waved her hand: “Let’s not discuss this matter right now.”

Sun Shi wanted to continue speaking, but Second Madam and Third Madam flanked her, holding her arms and whispering: “Elder Sister-in-law is just worried about her daughter. At least wait until things calm down before speaking. The Crown Prince is still here.”

Sun Shi pursed her lips at these words, and after weighing the situation, had to temporarily close her mouth.

After the banquet and tea, the teacher acknowledgment ceremony was complete. The entire family went together to respectfully send off the Crown Prince, a vast group of masters escorting him all the way to the main gate.

Yuchi Yan still wore that snow-white fox fur cloak. The snow white paired with brilliant purple made him appear noble and dignified. He stood beside the carriage, exchanging farewell courtesies with Qin Huaiyuan.

He performed the ritual of student to teacher.

Qin Huaiyuan returned the ritual of subject to sovereign.

Yuchi Yan boarded the Eight Treasures Glass Tasseled Carriage with the help of palace attendants, lifted the window curtain to look outside, nodded to the Qin family men in acknowledgment, and finally let his gaze fall distantly on that splash of red among the female family members.

Among the women, aside from Third Aunt wearing a rose-red cloak, only Qin Yining wore that scarlet white rabbit fur brocade cloak.

In the group of colorful clothing, this proper color stood out particularly, and although he couldn’t see her face clearly, Yuchi Yan’s mind had already sketched her every smile and frown.

He suddenly felt his ears and cheeks growing hot and quickly lowered the window curtain, ordering departure.

The female family members all noticed the Crown Prince’s final distant gaze.

Because of the great distance, they couldn’t tell who exactly the Crown Prince was looking at. Qin Yining also felt that she and the Crown Prince weren’t familiar enough to require farewell glances, so she didn’t think much of it.

However, Seventh Miss, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Qin Yining, had already blushed and slowly relaxed the spine she had unconsciously tensed when being observed.

Had the Crown Prince been looking at her?

When they knelt to pay respects in the flower hall before the meal, Seventh Miss had secretly lifted her head for a glance. Unexpectedly, just as she raised her head, the Crown Prince happened to look over. She hastily lowered her head but felt the Crown Prince’s gaze lingering on her for a long time.

During the farewell just now, the Crown Prince must have been looking at her.

None of the girls in the family had any connection with the Crown Prince, and only she had nearly made eye contact with him while curtsying.

The Crown Prince was so elegantly handsome and nobly dignified. The Emperor currently had only one son – the Crown Prince was the undisputed candidate to inherit the throne.

At this thought, Seventh Miss’s heart began beating wildly.

Eighth Miss saw Seventh Miss standing in a daze. Everyone else had gone inside, but she remained standing there with a red face. She couldn’t help but worry: “Seventh Sister, are you catching a cold? Why is your face so red?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing.” Seventh Miss patted her cheeks and followed everyone back to the inner quarters.

The Crown Prince’s tour of the back garden had encountered such an incident, which certainly needed to be dealt with now. Moreover, it involved the relationship between the main branch’s adopted daughter and legitimate daughter, so Second Aunt and Third Aunt didn’t linger long. They only escorted the Old Madam to the entrance of Filial Piety Garden before returning with their respective household members.

Before everyone had gone far, and without even waiting to enter, Sun Shi pulled on the Old Madam’s sleeve and anxiously pleaded: “Mother, why don’t we let Hui Jie’er out first? If she catches cold, that wouldn’t be good.”

The Old Madam most disliked Sun Shi’s princess-like unworldly appearance. At fifteen, one could say such behavior was innocent and romantic; at twenty or thirty, one could barely say she was a late bloomer; but now at forty years old, still acting like she understood nothing – how could she be worthy of her outstanding eldest son? That such a person was the principal wife of their Qin family was simply laughable.

Disgustedly brushing away Sun Shi’s hand, the Old Madam said displeasedly: “You’re pleading with me? I haven’t even asked you how you’ve been teaching your daughter. Yi Jie’er returned late and didn’t need your guidance, yet she’s sensible. But what about Hui Jie’er? Following you for fourteen years, and this is the kind of granddaughter you’ve taught me? As an adopted daughter, not knowing to keep to her proper place, actually harboring jealousy toward the legitimate daughter because of her adopted status, instructing those around her to frame the legitimate daughter’s maid, causing the legitimate daughter to completely lose face. Sun Shi, tell me, are these the proper rules you taught her!”