Dong Shi looked at Qin Shuying with an apologetic smile.

Hong Juan took the opportunity to interject: “Second Miss, this servant speaks out of turn—if I say something inappropriate, please don’t take it to heart. The shops under Seventh Miss’s name were all left by our master. In the past, they were entirely managed by the head steward. Those who say Seventh Miss is good at business are just gossiping tongues talking nonsense—Second Miss mustn’t take it seriously. Seventh Miss is a daughter of an official family, a true young lady from an official household, not someone a random merchant could claim association with.”

Now that there were many unmarried young ladies in the household, to distinguish between them, Qin Shuying’s generation were called “Miss So-and-so” while Qin Yue’s generation were called “Miss So-and-so” as well.

Qin Wei became indignant and put on the airs of a master, saying: “The masters are speaking—what kind of propriety is this, interrupting? Seventh Aunt, you can’t just ignore this.”

Qin Shuying said indifferently: “Hong Juan spoke very correctly. Wei’er, what do you want me to manage?”

Qin Wei then said: “When masters are speaking, how can a maid interrupt? Since Seventh Aunt says this, it seems the household has never had such rules. Mother, this won’t do! If others knew, who knows what they’d think of our Qin household! We are the natal family of Consort Lian—we’re not comparable to just any random official family.”

Dong Shi still only smiled apologetically at Qin Shuying, saying: “Seventh Sister, Wei’er has an innocent and frank nature. Consider her words as just speaking quickly—don’t take them to heart. When Grandmother and Mother managed the household, all proper rules naturally existed. Hong Juan’s words were not wrong either. Wei’er, have you forgotten my teachings so quickly? Hurry and apologize to your Seventh Aunt.”

Qin Wei was unwilling, but seeing her legitimate mother’s displeased expression, she remembered Concubine Miao’s words and had no choice but to lower her head, saying: “Seventh Aunt, Wei’er spoke inappropriately. Please don’t hold it against me, Seventh Aunt.”

Qin Shuying smiled faintly: “It’s good that Wei’er knows she was wrong.”

Qin Wei could hardly believe it—those were just polite words on her part. What right did Qin Shuying have to accept them so matter-of-factly? She was about to lose her temper when she saw Dong Shi looking at her with warning, so she had no choice but to lower her head and swallow her grievances with resentment.

Qin Yue had remained silent until now, when she smiled gracefully and said: “Seventh Aunt, we daughters of official families will probably all need to manage households in the future. Seventh Aunt can train those around her to be so reasonable and know their place, yet Seventh Aunt still remains modest. Seventh Aunt, in the future, Yue’er wants to become closer with Seventh Aunt. Please don’t find me slow-witted.”

The difference between Qin Yue and Qin Wei was immediately apparent.

Qin Shuying only smiled: “Yue’er speaks nicely, so I’ll accept it. It’s just that I’m quite boring—I hope Yue’er won’t find me tedious.”

Qin Yue shook her head, her etiquette beyond reproach.

While chatting, they reached a fork in the road where everyone needed to go in different directions.

Dong Shi said: “Seventh Sister, when you have nothing to do on ordinary days, come sit at Rongfu Courtyard more often. We can chat and relieve our boredom.”

Qin Shuying naturally agreed.

Everyone parted ways.

After walking a few steps, Hong Juan said: “Miss, First Madam is quite calculating.”

Qin Shuying asked casually: “How so?”

“First Madam has been following the master at his posts since the seventh year after marriage—it’s been five years now. Previously, when First Madam was still in the household, this servant had seen her. At that time, First Madam rarely spoke and just did whatever the Grand Madam told her to do. Now, First Madam is completely different from before. Earlier, Second Miss’s words were probably all encouraged by First Madam to test Miss’s true nature.”

Qin Shuying laughed: “What is there to test about me?”

Hong Juan said: “Second Miss doesn’t care about anything else, only about Miss’s business. This is either because she can’t stand Miss being wealthy and powerful, or because she considers herself noble and pure. Either way, it’s to see whether Miss gets angry or cares. If Miss doesn’t get angry, First Madam probably thinks Miss is easy to manipulate. If Miss gets angry and scolds Second Miss, First Madam would think Miss has a bad temper. In short, she wants to understand Miss’s character and way of handling things.”

Qin Shuying agreed with Hong Juan’s assessment, but she didn’t care about these tests and speculations in large households now, only saying: “Let her guess what she wants—I’ll do what I do.”

As long as Dong Shi didn’t actively provoke her, she didn’t care what Dong Shi did or what kind of person Dong Shi really was.

Returning to Rongfu Courtyard, Dong Shi’s expression darkened as she said to Qin Wei: “Kneel down!”

Qin Wei was startled—in all her years of life, Dong Shi had never made her kneel before.

Dong Shi could easily read Qin Wei’s expression and sneered: “Not convinced, are you? Lanxiang, go call Concubine Miao over!”

Qin Wei protested: “Mother, what did I do wrong that you want me to kneel? Could it be that with Father not around, you don’t want to pretend to be virtuous anymore?”

Dong Shi laughed coldly: “What a frog in a well! I won’t say much to you. Wait until your concubine mother comes, then we’ll talk. Whether I’m pretending to be virtuous or you’re too stupid—judge for yourself.”

Concubine Miao lived in the side courtyard of Rongfu Courtyard. Hearing she was summoned, she put down what she was doing and hurried over.

Upon entering, she saw Qin Wei kneeling on the ground with her neck stiff, her face full of grievance and indignation.

Concubine Miao’s heart ached, and she was about to plead when she suddenly remembered that she was now in the capital, not in the south. Now, everything was in Dong Shi’s hands—the master could no longer control her situation.

Concubine Miao quickly knelt down: “Madam, I don’t know what matter this concerns?”

Looking at Concubine Miao’s delicate, beautiful face and humble attitude, Dong Shi felt immensely satisfied—Concubine Miao, you have this day too?

But she said: “Lanxiang, repeat what Second Miss said to Seventh Miss just now.”

Lanxiang mimicked it perfectly, and Dong Shi asked Qin Wei: “Did Lanxiang get it all right?”

Qin Wei pouted: “Yes. Mother, what exactly did I say wrong that you torment me like this!”

“Still not convinced? Concubine Miao, you tell me—was what Second Miss said right or wrong?”

Concubine Miao was a house-born servant who had served Qin Kaile since childhood, which was why she had such affection and could become pregnant at the same time as the legitimate wife while being protected to give birth to her child.

Therefore, she naturally understood the capital’s rules. Her face immediately changed as she said: “Madam, it’s all because this concubine failed to teach Second Miss properly. It’s all this concubine’s fault.”

Dong Shi sneered: “You think too highly of yourself. Second Miss is a master of this household—what are you? A concubine involved in commerce—how dare you say you raised Second Miss? If word of this got out, which family would dare marry Second Miss? You’re an old person in this household, yet you don’t even understand this basic rule? Have you really been considering yourself a master all these years!”

Concubine Miao was filled with regret—she had lived too comfortably these years and had actually forgotten all these things.