Qin Manor.

After sending away the outsiders and closing the main gate, Old Madam’s face turned iron-blue as she stared at Qin Yunyun kneeling on the ground.

At this time, Qin Yongtao was not in the manor.

“Go fetch Xu Shi!”

Old Madam slammed the table and roared angrily. Everyone in the room shuddered.

Xiangqin hurried to Yanfei Pavilion.

“Tell me, all of you tell me clearly, what exactly happened?”

Old Madam’s voice trembled with disappointment as she looked at Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu one by one.

As for Qin Yunyun, she had long since cried herself into a pitiful state, her face covered with snot and tears, sobbing so hard she could no longer speak.

Looking at Old Madam, Qin Shuying felt a pang of heartache.

Now that Zou Shi was the household manager, she was naturally present. Seeing Old Madam’s anger, she quickly knelt down and said, “Mother, please calm your anger. It’s all daughter-in-law’s fault for not managing the household properly…”

Old Madam slammed the table again, “Shut up! You all explain properly to me!”

Zou Shi dared not make another sound. Old Madam didn’t want to hear her false pleasantries—she wanted the truth, spoken directly by Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu themselves.

Qin Lulu spoke up, “Old Ancestor, let me speak.”

“Good, you speak!”

Qin Lulu began recounting everything from the beginning—how things went at the Xu Manor, how Xu Peiwei mocked Qin Shuying, how Qin Shuying retaliated, how Qin Yunyun tried to mediate—she told everything in complete detail.

She also clearly explained why they later went to the temple.

During this time, Xu Shi arrived. Seeing Qin Yunyun’s wretched state, her vision darkened and she nearly collapsed. Fortunately, Jin Huan had received Xiangqin’s prior instructions and caught her in time.

While Qin Lulu was speaking, Xu Shi tried to interrupt several times, but Old Madam would only say, “You be quiet! Let her speak!”

Qin Lulu spoke for a full quarter-hour before finishing.

As soon as Qin Lulu finished, Xu Shi cried out, “Old Madam, since those unruly commoners followed Seventh Girl to catch her, how could she possibly appear from behind that crowd? This matter was definitely done by Seventh Girl! She just can’t stand seeing Yunyun doing well—she’s the one who harmed Yun Girl!”

Old Madam looked at Xu Shi with pained disappointment. She truly hadn’t expected this daughter-in-law to be such a fool.

She had seemed acceptable before!

Over these years, Xu Shi had been blinded by money and power, losing her true nature. If the Qin Manor remained in her hands and continued this way, it would face the disaster of collapse!

Qin Shuying didn’t defend herself. She understood that Old Madam was not so easily fooled.

Whether this incident was coincidence or intentional, whether it was Qin Shuying’s or Qin Yunyun’s scheme, Old Madam already had the answer in her heart.

After Xu Shi arrived, Nanny Gu had already taken all the servants outside. Now only the masters remained in the room.

Old Madam asked, “Fifth Girl has finished speaking. Sixth Girl, Seventh Girl, was there anything false in what Fifth Girl said?”

Qin Shuying shook her head and said solemnly, “Old Ancestor, everything Elder Sister Five said is true.”

Qin Yunyun had cried enough. While Qin Lulu was speaking, she had gradually become much more clearheaded. Now she wanted to deny Qin Lulu’s words, but discovered that everything Qin Lulu said was actually true. Could it really have been like that?

Qin Yunyun sobbed, “Old Ancestor, I just want to ask Seventh Sister one thing—how did you end up behind that crowd? I saw with my own eyes that you entered that shop! If you say those people had nothing to do with you, how can you make me believe it!”

Unexpectedly, Old Madam threw the teacup at her side to the ground with a “crash.” The sound of the shattering cup startled everyone in the room. Old Madam’s voice was calm and unruffled, yet even more terrifying, “Sixth Girl, I’m asking you—was there anything false in what Fifth Girl said?!”

Qin Yunyun was stunned. For nearly an hour since returning, she had been crying and playing pitiful. In truth, she was indeed pitiful—she, Qin Yunyun, was the one who had lost her chastity today.

She had thought Old Madam might take pity on her pathetic state and direct her anger toward Qin Shuying. She never expected Old Madam to fixate so stubbornly on the sequence of events.

Seeing Qin Yunyun still weighing her options, Old Madam’s tone grew heavier as she shouted, “Speak!”

Qin Yunyun trembled all over and blurted out, “Nothing was false!”

Old Madam’s tone returned to calm, “Nothing was false? You said this yourself! Seventh Girl, regarding Sixth Girl’s question, what do you have to say?”

Qin Shuying said, “Sixth Sister is right—I did indeed go inside. After entering, I wanted to find First Madam Xu, but since we hadn’t followed First Madam Xu upstairs earlier, I couldn’t find the staircase. I wandered around the back courtyard and actually ended up in their kitchen. There was another door in the kitchen. We went in to look and unknowingly walked outside. When we realized it, we were already by the courtyard wall of the house next to the shop. Just as we were about to go back to find First Madam Xu, we heard a great commotion. I sensed trouble and realized that with our small numbers, if that crowd identified me as some concubine, even ten mouths couldn’t explain it clearly—I’m sure Sixth Sister understands this better than I do. I didn’t dare go back. I took a detour down that path and returned to the front street, where I found Fifth Sister. After thinking it over, I decided to report to the authorities.”

Qin Yunyun’s heart pounded wildly. How was this possible? She had clearly asked those shop assistants, who said there was no other way to leave.

“You’re lying! That shop couldn’t possibly have the door you mentioned! If you went to the kitchen, how could the shop people not have seen you?”

Qin Shuying calmly replied, “How does Sixth Sister know there’s no such door? Could it be that Sister has been there before?”

Qin Yunyun was stunned. Of course she had never been there, but how could things be so coincidental?

Qin Shuying continued to Old Madam, “Old Ancestor, it was nearly lunch time then, and there was a cook in the kitchen busy preparing food. She didn’t notice granddaughter. Because I was anxious and frightened, when I saw that door, I went through it without taking time to speak with the cook. Old Ancestor, whether that shop has a kitchen or not, sending someone to check would reveal the truth. Sixth Sister personally chose that shop—granddaughter had no prior knowledge that such a place existed there.”

Qin Yunyun felt guilty. The way Qin Shuying spoke clearly pointed to herself—that this incident was something she, Qin Yunyun, had orchestrated.

Qin Yunyun stiffened her neck, “You… you’re just making excuses!”

Qin Shuying said, “Old Ancestor, since First Madam and Sixth Sister both suspect me, to clear granddaughter’s name, after First Uncle returns, granddaughter requests that First Uncle investigate this matter.”

Qin Yunyun’s heart jumped, and she instinctively said, “Don’t…”

“Sixth Sister, why won’t you let First Uncle investigate? Could it be you have something unseemly to hide?” Then Qin Shuying had a sudden realization, “Today’s incident between Sixth Sister and Cousin Wei has probably already spread throughout the capital. I’m sorry, Sixth Sister—I was inconsiderate.”

Reminded of this, Qin Yunyun’s heart began beating violently. Yes, she had lost her chastity… she had lost her chastity…

“My child!”

Xu Shi’s eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Qin Yunyun gave a long wail and also fainted.

The confrontation with Xu Shi is nearing its end. Please await the even more intense struggles ahead.