“Nanny Qin, does the Old Madam have some instructions?” Seeing it was Nanny Qin speaking, Qin Yining quickly stood up.

Nanny Qin led Qin Yining to a side corridor and said in a low voice: “Fourth Miss, the new concubine is inside right now, and the Old Madam is extremely pleased with her. This servant knows you’re a filial young lady, but you must keep your wits about you and not act impulsively.”

The phrase “don’t act impulsively” contained too much deeper meaning.

Don’t impulsively offend the new concubine?

Or don’t impulsively offend the Old Madam?

Or perhaps don’t act impulsively and incur the Old Madam’s resentment?

Nanny Qin was a capable person by the Old Madam’s side; her meaning was ninety percent the Old Madam’s meaning.

What? The Old Madam had done such despicable things as discarding loyal servants after their usefulness ended, and she still wanted to bully her mother on one hand while buying favor with her on the other?

Qin Yining’s lips curved in a smile, but her eyes gradually grew cold.

From the moment the Old Madam learned of Duke Dingguo’s household’s male descendants being executed and immediately locked Sun Shi in the ancestral hall while clamoring to divorce her, she had seen through the Old Madam completely.

Sun Shi was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qin family. Her relationship with the Old Madam spanned nearly thirty years at the least.

Any normal person, even if they raised cats or dogs, would develop feelings over time, let alone with people.

Yet the Old Madam could be so heartless toward Sun Shi, who was like half a daughter to her.

What about herself?

She had only met the Old Madam for less than two months.

If the Old Madam’s affection for her was ten parts, then five parts were because of her father’s love for her, three parts because her grandfather was Duke Dingguo, and of the remaining two parts, half was because of her identity as the Grand Preceptor’s legitimate daughter—useful for marriage alliances. Only one part remained that was actual grandmother-granddaughter affection developed from their time together.

Now that Duke Dingguo’s mansion had fallen, she had already lost three parts of her foundation.

She would absolutely never watch her mother be bullied while abandoning her to switch sides for some illusory happiness. A falling out with the Old Madam was only a matter of time; she could consider that one part of grandmother-granddaughter affection already gone.

What remained for her was only her father’s love and her legitimate daughter status.

As long as her father still loved her, she had six parts chance of success, enough to ensure her and her mother’s days in the inner quarters would be secure.

Qin Yining was the type who became calmer when facing difficulties. In just one breath, she had already sorted out her thoughts. She smiled slightly at Nanny Qin: “Thank you for the guidance, Nanny.”

Looking at Qin Yining’s bright eyes, Nanny Qin somehow felt a chill in her heart.

She resembled young Qin Huaiyuan too much. So much so that for a moment, Nanny Qin was in a trance, seeming to see the young Qin Huaiyuan who once fought battles of wit and courage to protect the Old Madam.

Nanny Qin laughed dryly: “It’s nothing. Miss, please go inside first?”

“Good.” As Qin Yining walked toward the main hall alongside Nanny Qin, she asked: “Nanny Qin, where is my father right now?”

“The master just went to the study in the outer courtyard.”

“Father must be very pleased to have a new concubine.”

Nanny Qin could hear that Qin Yining wanted to learn about Qin Huaiyuan’s attitude toward this matter through her words.

This wasn’t a secret anyway, and even if she didn’t say it now, Qin Yining could easily ask others. Nanny Qin wasn’t so foolish as to not know what was important, so she might as well be helpful.

She said in a low voice: “The master only sat briefly before leaving. The Old Madam then questioned the First Madam.”

In other words, Sun Shi was being punished to kneel here, and Qin Huaiyuan didn’t know about it.

Qin Yining smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”

“Fourth Miss is too polite.”

The two stood still in the corridor. After thinking for a moment, Qin Yining called Bingtang to her side and whispered a few words in her ear.

Bingtang immediately nodded: “Yes, this servant will go right away.”

Nanny Qin didn’t know what Qin Yining had arranged for Bingtang to do, but since the young lady was instructing her own servant, it wasn’t her concern. She personally lifted the warm curtain to invite Qin Yining inside.

Qin Yining smiled reassuringly at Sun Shi, then instructed Song Lan and Qiu Lu: “You two, go get three thick warm cushions, and move two braziers over. The Old Madam is benevolent—even when punishing my mother to kneel in anger, she couldn’t possibly make her kneel on the cold stone ground in this freezing weather at night. If my mother really caught cold, the Old Madam would surely be heartbroken.”

“Yes.” Song Lan and Qiu Lu immediately went to prepare thick warm cushions and fetch braziers, cloaks, hand warmers, and other items.

Qin Yining’s stern gaze swept over the dumbfounded servants of Cixiao Courtyard, saying coldly: “You all serve by the Old Madam’s side. How could you misinterpret the Old Madam’s instructions? Speaking of this behind closed doors, people would know it’s because you servants don’t use your brains when working. But if word spreads, wouldn’t the Old Madam’s reputation be ruined by all of you?”

Nanny Qin secretly admired Qin Yining’s wit and presence. Intimidated by her, she bowed along with several maids: “This servant knows her error.”

Only then was Qin Yining satisfied. She gave Sun Shi, whose eyes were bright with hope as she looked at her, a reassuring smile before turning to enter the house.

With thick soft cushions, two braziers placed left and right in front of her, wearing a thick cloak and holding a warm hand warmer, Sun Shi felt warm in body and confident in heart.

Nanny Jin and Cai Ju were so warm they almost cried, their trust and admiration for Qin Yining rising another level.

Qin Yining hadn’t spoken quietly, and everyone inside the house had heard her words clearly.

The Old Madam’s face turned red with anger at her indirect criticism.

Qin Yining entered the house with a smile, walked around the “joy upon the brows” screen to the inner room, and with a sweep of her beautiful eyes, clearly saw everyone inside.

The Old Madam wore a rose-purple brocade vest with a matching red ruby-inlaid forehead band, dressed very festively.

Sitting closely beside the Old Madam was a young woman in a light pink embroidered vest with phoenix hairpins, extremely beautiful. She had a powder-white face with peach-colored cheeks, a delicate nose and cherry lips. Her lips naturally curved upward, seeming to smile even when not smiling. Her almond eyes were truly alluring, her powdered face radiant with spring. She appeared to be only in her early twenties, not at all like someone who was thirty.

This was the Empress’s legitimate elder sister, Cao Yuqing.

Cao Yuqing didn’t resemble the Empress much in appearance, but that seductive charm was identical.

Even though Qin Yining was also a woman, seeing her, she couldn’t help wanting to look a few more times.

While she was observing Cao Yuqing, Cao Yuqing was also openly examining her from top to bottom, her eyes full of amazement.

“This must be Fourth Miss? Such a beautiful appearance! Fourth Miss looks so much like the master when he was young!”

Cao Yuqing seemed mesmerized by what she saw. She pushed away Qin Huining, who was holding her arm, stood up to approach, and raised her hand as if to touch Qin Yining’s face. But halfway through the motion, she came to her senses, withdrew her hand, removed a pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets from her wrists, and presented them to Qin Yining with both hands.

“Fourth Miss, please don’t disdain this small token of my regard.”

When a beauty smiled with bright teeth and clear eyes, it was truly hard to bear refusing her.

Seeing Cao Yuqing being so attentive, Qin Huining stared wide-eyed, and the Old Madam was also very surprised. Just as she was about to scold Qin Yining for not understanding propriety and not knowing to bow, she swallowed her words back.

Qin Yining smiled at Concubine Cao, curtsied with a half bow, and said: “Greetings, Concubine Cao. I shouldn’t refuse such kindness, but today is Concubine’s first day in the house. It should be me preparing gifts for Concubine. It’s truly inappropriate for me to accept Concubine’s gifts.”

She was the legitimate daughter, the true master of this household! Cao Yuqing was merely a small concubine. Even if imperially bestowed, she was still just a concubine!

Concubines were bought and sold, only slightly higher in status than ordinary chamber maids. They had to call themselves “servant-concubines” before the wife. What right did a servant have to meet her as an elder? Where did she get such audacity to give gifts to a legitimate young miss as a senior?

Qin Yining’s words were too harsh!

The Second Madam and Third Madam both grew nervous, and the Third Miss, Seventh Miss, and Eighth Miss on the side all gripped their handkerchiefs tightly.

Only Qin Huining sneered coldly, secretly mocking Qin Yining’s ignorance of death.

The Old Madam was extremely nervous and sternly rebuked: “Yining! You’re being outrageous! Kneel down and apologize to Concubine Cao immediately!”

“Kneel down? Apologize?” Qin Yining looked at the Old Madam with surprise, her face innocent: “Grandmother, your granddaughter doesn’t know what wrong I’ve done. Why should I apologize? Were all those rules grandmother taught me these past days false?”

The Old Madam choked, and before she could speak, Qin Yining continued: “Grandmother said that concubines are bought and sold, that in some households concubines are used to entertain guests, and that concubines’ status is just that of slightly superior servants. I am father’s legitimate daughter. Grandmother wants me, a legitimate young miss, to kowtow and admit fault to a servant? Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?”

“When, when did I ever say such things!?” The Old Madam’s face turned red, and she nervously smiled apologetically at Cao Yuqing: “Yuqing, don’t listen to a child’s nonsense. Mother absolutely has no intention of looking down on you.”

Cao Yuqing was stunned. Her beautiful eyes looked toward Qin Yining, and many emotions that Qin Yining couldn’t understand appeared in her gaze. Then, unexpectedly, she bowed to Qin Yining.

“This servant-concubine overstepped. This servant-concubine was just too delighted upon seeing Fourth Miss and momentarily forgot myself. Please don’t blame me, Miss.”

“Concubine Cao need not be so formal. We’ll be family from now on.” Qin Yining smiled magnanimously.

The room fell so quiet that even breathing could be heard.

Since Cao Yuqing’s arrival, the Old Madam had been fawning over her, treating her like an ancestor. To please her, she had even found an excuse to drag Sun Shi out to kneel as punishment.

Who would have thought this “wild” young miss would return and, regardless of consequences, publicly put Cao Yuqing at a disadvantage!

And Cao Yuqing had meekly accepted this disadvantage!

The Second Madam and Third Madam also looked down on the Old Madam’s methods. Sun Shi’s current miserable situation made them feel the sorrow of rabbits witnessing the death of foxes. Now seeing Qin Yining standing up for Sun Shi like this, they inexplicably felt satisfaction in their hearts!

The Third Miss, Seventh Miss, and Eighth Miss all looked at Qin Yining with admiring eyes, but then immediately filled with worry.

This was Concubine Cao!

This was Grand Uncle Cao’s eldest daughter, Empress Cao’s biological sister!

Wasn’t Qin Yining afraid that Cao Yuqing would go back and speak ill of her after such a fiery confrontation?

Their worries naturally occurred to the Old Madam as well.

But the Old Madam wasn’t afraid of Cao Yuqing tattling on Qin Yining—she was afraid of angering Grand Uncle Cao and the Empress!

Furious beyond measure, the Old Madam grabbed the brass tobacco pipe beside her and hurled it at Qin Yining, roaring in extreme anger: “Beast! Kneel down right now!”