In the carriage, Qin Yining’s face was still flushed red. Every time she thought of Yao Zhixi’s thoroughly wicked appearance, her teeth would itch with anger, yet certain images kept circling in her mind.

There was his appearance when he suddenly dropped his timid act and domineeringly asked her, “What am I that I need to tell you?”

There was his appearance when he strode forward, grabbed her hand, and seized the sharp arrow aimed at her throat.

There was his tall figure standing protectively in front of her.

And there was his appearance when the arrow pierced through his shoulder—how he turned back with raised eyebrows, smiled at her, and snapped off the arrow’s tail.

The more she thought about it, the more her heart palpitated with lingering fear.

Even though this person had a sharp tongue and always liked to tease her, it was true that he had disregarded past grievances to save their lives. Otherwise, today she, her mother, and grandmother would have all perished at the Immortal Nun Temple.

“Bingtang, Young Master Yao’s injury really won’t be problematic?”

Bingtang said: “Young Master Yao’s injury is severe. Although the arrow didn’t damage bones or tendons, he did lose too much blood, and there’s still that brain-paralyzing poison. He’ll be very weak for a while, and even after the wound heals, he’ll need proper care for some time. However, I can guarantee his life won’t be in danger.”

Only then did Qin Yining feel somewhat relieved: “When we return, let’s check the storehouse. I remember I have a seventy-year-old ginseng root. If it can be used, let’s use everything. Otherwise, I’ll always feel guilty.”

Bingtang smiled and nodded: “Don’t worry, young lady. I’m here.”

“Naturally I trust you. It’s just that in my lifetime, I’ve been saved by a wild horse, saved by a dog… but the times I’ve been saved by people can be counted on one hand. My foster mother saved me when I was a baby, raised me until I was eight, but unfortunately I never had the chance to repay her kindness before she passed away.”

Qin Yining’s gaze fell on the swaying tassels by the carriage window, her eyes gradually growing distant.

“When I was seven, my foster mother fell gravely ill and we ran out of money. We were truly at our wit’s end with nowhere to turn. I had already decided to sell myself into slavery to save her no matter what. That day, a beautiful young man passed by our house asking for water and forcibly gave me ten taels of silver and dozens of copper coins. Though his tone was harsh, I could see his goodwill. He was the second person to save me. I wanted to repay him, but I could never find him again.”

“And the third person is today’s Young Master Yao.”

Qin Yining smiled slightly: “Although I’ve met people like my father and grandmother who harbor goodwill toward me, they’re all relatives, which is different from outsiders. Previously I didn’t have the ability to repay my foster mother and that beautiful young man, but now I can repay this Young Master Yao. Not letting him develop any lasting ailments is just the minimum—it hardly counts as repayment. In the future, if he has any troubles, I’ll certainly do my utmost to help.”

Song Lan and Qiu Lu both smiled and nodded. Speaking of repaying kindness, Bingtang and Song Lan could relate deeply.

Bingtang said: “Young lady has a warm heart and knows how to repay kindness. You’ll surely receive good fortune in return.”

Qin Yining smiled: “I don’t want any good fortune or such things. I only seek to be without guilt or regret. When we get back, let’s open the storehouse to find medicine and prepare some tonics. Bingtang, when you go to treat Young Master Yao tomorrow, take them along.”

“Won’t young lady go tomorrow? I could see that Young Master Yao very much wants to see you.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining’s face grew warm, and she shook her head: “Men and women should maintain proper distance. Besides, a new concubine has come to our house, and we don’t know what the situation is like.”

Thinking of the Concubine Cao who was to be brought through the door today, Qin Yining felt overwhelmed.

Mother would surely make a scene again, and who knew how it would end.

Moreover, Concubine Cao had quite a background—the Emperor had arranged the match, and she had Grand Uncle Cao and the Empress as her backing. Though they hadn’t met, Qin Yining felt this woman might be even more imperious than the Old Madam at home.

The carriage returned all the way to the Qin manor. Qin Yining led Bingtang, Song Lan, and Qiu Lu quickly toward the Cixiao Courtyard.

Entering the gate, passing the spirit screen, crossing the hall, and just descending the steps, she saw the courtyard hung with big red lanterns as if celebrating the New Year, illuminating Cixiao Courtyard bright as day. Bright light shone through the windows of the main hall, with several people’s shadows cast on the windows, and the light filtering through the window lattices stretched long the shadows of Sun Shi, Nanny Jin, and Cai Ju, who were kneeling in the middle of the courtyard.

Qin Yining hurried forward, and before she could approach Sun Shi, she heard cheerful laughter from inside the house.

The warmth and liveliness inside the house formed a stark contrast with Sun Shi’s lonely figure sobbing as she knelt in the courtyard, igniting Qin Yining’s anger.

“Mother, did the Old Madam punish you to kneel?”

Sun Shi raised her tear-wet eyes, and upon seeing Qin Yining, like a wronged child seeing her parent, she sobbed: “Yining, you’re back! The Old Madam said I, said I’m not virtuous and jealous, that I can’t lay eggs myself yet won’t allow concubines, and I refuse to receive Concubine Cao’s tea. I tried to explain, but the Old Madam wouldn’t listen. Huining, Huining also…” By the end, Sun Shi was already crying uncontrollably.

Qin Yining had long seen through the Old Madam’s calculating nature. Without even asking, she could guess what the Old Madam was thinking.

It was simply that with Duke Dingguo’s mansion fallen, Sun Shi no longer needed to be flattered, since she couldn’t help Qin Huaiyuan in court affairs and career advancement anyway.

As for the Cao family, even though they were widely criticized outside, Grand Preceptor Cao was still the Imperial Uncle. Even though he had been stripped of his official position, he had many followers and connections in court, forming a complex network that couldn’t be compared to Qin Huaiyuan’s unstable foundation.

But now, Concubine Cao had become the virtuous concubine bestowed by imperial decree to Qin Huaiyuan.

In this world, the most reliable way to bind two families together was through marriage.

Even though there had been friction between Grand Preceptor Cao and Qin Huaiyuan due to Prince Ning and Duke Dingguo’s involvement, now that Qin Huaiyuan had become Grand Preceptor Cao’s son-in-law, not only did Qin Huaiyuan gain a powerful backer, but in Grand Preceptor Cao’s eyes, he had gained a worthy son-in-law. Past grievances could be forgotten, since Grand Preceptor Cao’s position had gone to his own son-in-law rather than to an outsider.

The court situation had probably reshuffled once again.

What the Old Madam was thinking, if viewed from her position, actually made sense.

If she didn’t take advantage of Concubine Cao’s arrival to step heavily on the mother and daughter a few times in front of Concubine Cao, how else could she demonstrate her welcome to Concubine Cao?

It was just that such methods were rather heartless.

But this was reality.

Not to mention that Mother now had no support—even she, as Duke Dingguo’s granddaughter, would likely be implicated.

“Mother, don’t cry anymore.” Qin Yining crouched down, used her sleeve to wipe Sun Shi’s tears, embraced her, and like comforting a child, patted her back while whispering in her ear:

“Mother, you must remember, we have no backing now. Everything depends on ourselves. No matter what the Old Madam does, what Huining does, what Father chooses, you and I are bound together. I am your daughter, I will always belong to you. I will protect you, and even if worst comes to worst, I will stay with you.”

Sun Shi nodded helplessly again and again.

Nanny Jin and Cai Ju, hearing Qin Yining’s words, began crying again, tears falling like broken pearls.

Just then, Nanny Qin came out lifting the door curtain, smiling as she chatted with Ji Xiang.

Seeing that Qin Yining had returned, she quickly secured the curtain and hurried forward to bow respectfully, saying in a low voice: “Fourth Miss, you’ve returned. Please step aside so we can speak.”