“Yes, Old Dowager.” Qin Huining and Eighth Miss both stood up, bowed, and quietly withdrew.

Walking to the corridor, Qin Huining took Eighth Miss’s hand and whispered: “Sister, do you know what the Old Dowager wants to discuss?”

Eighth Miss recalled how the Old Dowager had instructed her to serve tea to Pang Xiao that day. Her face instantly flushed red, and thinking of Pang Xiao’s unrestrained yet undeniably handsome face made her face burn even hotter.

Seeing Eighth Miss’s expression, Qin Huining immediately had her suspicions, and an indescribable jealousy and envy spread from deep within her bones.

Originally, she had been the most favored daughter in this household, enjoying such wealth and luxury. But now she had fallen to dust, only able to watch others obtain happiness.

She was the same age as Qin Yining. Qin Yining could marry such a heroic and valiant man, yet she hadn’t even seen a shadow of marriage arrangements, nor had she seen the family elders planning anything for her. How could she not hate, not feel jealous?

Qin Huining took a breath, exerting great effort to keep any dissatisfaction or unwillingness from showing on her face.

Her repeated confrontations with Qin Yining had already completely worn away her good reputation in this household. Now, even though Qin Yining had disappeared and was no longer in this home, most people in the family still spoke in Qin Yining’s favor. Especially Sun Shi – she had never seen this mother show much concern for her daughter before, but ever since Qin Yining’s disappearance, Sun Shi spent her days in tears, unable to eat or drink, losing several rounds of weight, constantly choking up and saying she had wronged her daughter.

What Qin Huining least liked to see now was Sun Shi’s tear-streaked face.

It reminded her that the mother who once treasured her like a precious jewel had long since abandoned her.

She admitted she had made mistakes in the past.

But for Sun Shi to abandon her over this, living in the same manor yet acting as if she couldn’t see her – wasn’t that too heartless?

Eighth Miss found it strange that Qin Huining ignored her for so long. When she looked at Qin Huining and saw the barely concealed viciousness in her eyes, Eighth Miss was startled, her face turning pale.

Remembering Qin Huining’s past actions, Eighth Miss imperceptibly stepped back two paces and said: “I’m also tired. Sister Hui should go rest well too.” After hastily bowing, she turned and left.

Qin Huining gritted her teeth, taking a long moment before spitting out: “Sycophantic wretch!”

However, having seen much of such fair-weather behavior, Qin Huining told herself she had long grown accustomed to it.

Now that she knew the family might very likely send another daughter to Prince Zhongshun’s manor after Qin Yining’s disappearance, she had to make plans for herself. Currently, the marriageable daughters in the household were only herself and Eighth Miss. If she couldn’t grasp this one-in-two opportunity, even heaven would mock her weakness.

While Qin Huining contemplated outside, the Old Dowager had already taken Qin Huaiyuan’s hand and said earnestly: “Meng Ge’er, Mother knows that with Yi Jie’er missing, your heart aches and you’re anxious. She’s your only daughter – with such a thing happening, how could the family not be worried? But you must also consider our Qin family.”

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan stared steadily at the Old Dowager for a long moment before asking: “What does Mother mean?”

The Old Dowager said: “Now that Yi Jie’er has disappeared, there’s no woman to serve in Prince Zhongshun’s manor. I’m thinking that since Prince Zhongshun loves our Yi Jie’er so much, he wouldn’t dislike any girl from our Qin family. I’m considering sending Eighth Miss as a good concubine. Although Eighth Miss is of concubine birth, she’s beautiful and kind-hearted with a good temperament. She was also closest to Yi Jie’er before Yi Jie’er married.

“If Yi Jie’er returns in the future, the two little sisters can get along harmoniously. If Yi Jie’er… truly meets with misfortune, then Eighth Miss could be promoted from concubine to proper wife, securing the position of Princess Zhongshun, which would be a great help to our Qin family.”

The Old Dowager smiled as she held Qin Huaiyuan’s hand: “This concerns our Qin family’s affairs. Meng Ge’er, you mustn’t refuse outright just because you feel sorry for Yi Jie’er.”

Although the Old Dowager was smiling as she discussed this with Qin Huaiyuan, her manner clearly showed she had already made up her mind.

Second Madam said nothing, obviously not wanting to wade into murky waters. After all, Eighth Miss was Third Branch’s daughter, and with Third Branch having no mistress and Third Master not speaking up, and Second Young Madam Han as sister-in-law also saying nothing, it wasn’t her place as second aunt to speak up either.

Second Young Madam Han did smile and say: “I think what the Old Dowager says makes sense. My sister-in-law is a pure and good girl, as the Master well knows. In the future, she could be a companion to Yi Jie’er – the two sisters would get along perfectly.”

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan lowered his eyes and didn’t immediately respond.

But Sun Shi on the side had already reached her limit and swept the tea table aside with her hand.

A tremendous crash rang out as cups, plates, bowls, and dishes all fell to the floor. The sound of shattering porcelain seemed to pierce eardrums, startling everyone who had been smiling and calculating.

The Old Dowager stared blankly while pressing her chest.

Second Madam and Second Young Madam Han also stepped back two paces.

Sun Shi’s face was flushed red with anger, her chest heaving violently. She pointed at the Old Dowager and Second Young Madam Han, her lips trembling, but in her rage she couldn’t speak a complete sentence.

Her eyes were bloodshot, her expression murderous and terrifying. Even the wheezing sounds from her throat were chilling and eerie.

Qin Huaiyuan stood up and supported Sun Shi, gently soothing: “Alright, don’t get angry. If you hurt yourself with anger, you’ll be the one to suffer. You must take good care of yourself so you can help Yi Jie’er in the future, right?”

Looking at Qin Huaiyuan, Sun Shi finally felt the breath that had been stuck in her chest flow freely, and tears poured out all at once.

Qin Huaiyuan quickly reached out to gently pat Sun Shi’s back.

Seeing Qin Huaiyuan actually comforting that shrew, the Old Dowager’s face immediately darkened.

“Meng Ge’er, you…”

“Mother.”

Qin Huaiyuan gently interrupted the Old Dowager’s words, saying wearily: “In the future, please don’t make any more plans concerning Yi Jie’er and her family. I will arrange and help with Hui Jie’er and Bao Jie’er’s marriages when the situation calms down. But now tensions are high – it’s not the time to discuss their marriages.

“As for concubinage and sisters serving the same husband, please don’t bring it up again. Yi Jie’er is alive and well now, and her husband’s heart belongs only to her. Why must you, as grandmother, do such thankless work?”

The Old Dowager never expected to be scolded by her son. She immediately stared with wide eyes in disbelief: “You, you say I’m doing thankless work? You’re despising me, this old woman!”

“Mother, the court situation is truly tense now. I’m already exhausted dealing with external affairs and have no energy left to manage internal household matters. Please save yourself some trouble and keep the inner quarters as they are for now. As for Yi Jie’er’s marriage, no one should think of interfering. I won’t allow it.”

After saying this, Qin Huaiyuan supported the tearful Sun Shi and walked out.

The Old Dowager watched the backs of the couple leaving, her face flushed red with anger, pounding the bedding repeatedly.

“How outrageous, outrageous! Marry a wife and forget your mother! This ungrateful wolf, this thankless bastard – I loved him so much, he was my most beloved, and now he actually scolds me for the sake of a dead girl!”

As the Old Dowager spoke, she began to wail, crying about heaven’s injustice, her husband’s early death, her son’s lack of filial piety – basically, the whole world had wronged her.

Second Madam and Second Young Madam Han were both helpless. They couldn’t let the Old Dowager cry herself sick, so they could only try to comfort her. But the more they comforted, the louder she cried, often peeking through her fingers at the door as if expecting Qin Huaiyuan to return and apologize.

Hearing the sounds from the Old Dowager’s room, Qin Huaiyuan acted as if he heard nothing, supporting Sun Shi as he said: “Don’t take Mother’s words to heart. I still have the final say in Yi Jie’er’s matters. If I say no, no one will bully our Yi Jie’er.”

Sun Shi nodded, sobbing: “I’ve wronged that child. I haven’t had the chance to treat her well. If something really happens to her, how can I live?”

“It won’t happen. Rest assured, Yi Jie’er is a blessed child. Even if she encounters some setbacks, she’ll surely turn danger into safety and misfortune into fortune. Besides, I just received news that Yi Jie’er is currently in Tatar territory, alive and well. Stop thinking such thoughts.”

“Really?” Sun Shi forgot to cry, asking joyfully: “Master, are you telling the truth? You’re not just saying this to comfort me?”

“Why would I deceive you?” Qin Huaiyuan led Sun Shi back to their room, putting his arm around her shoulders: “Though I may not be a hero, I consider myself a gentleman. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“I know, I know. I’m just so happy! Yi Jie’er is alive, really alive?”

“Yes, really alive. Though she’s encountered some trouble, don’t worry – with me here, and with our son-in-law, she’ll be fine.”

Qin Huaiyuan didn’t explain the specific details to Sun Shi, partly to avoid worrying her, and partly because women tend to gossip – some things needed to be kept secret and couldn’t be spread around carelessly, or it would invite trouble.

Sun Shi was already smiling through her tears: “As long as she’s alive, that’s good. Where there’s life, there’s hope. None of us in this family have done bad things – heaven won’t be so cruel.”

“Exactly. So stop crying. If you hurt yourself, and Yi Jie’er comes back thinking I mistreated you, I won’t be able to explain myself.”

Hearing this, Sun Shi immediately smiled through her tears, lightly pounding Qin Huaiyuan’s shoulder once before leaning into his embrace.

Qin Huaiyuan held Sun Shi close, but where she couldn’t see, he frowned with worry.

After a night’s rest, the Minuo tribe’s people had finally recovered some energy.

Last night, some of the tribal leaders had privately and cleverly conveyed Qin Yining’s words to these people in their casual conversations.

Early in the morning, the brothers Ha’er Bala and Chagan Bala gathered the tribespeople again and gave another speech.

Though the old, weak, sick, and disabled felt uncertain about the future and were afraid, at least they no longer felt abandoned.