As the maternal family of Imperial Consort Lianpin, Old Madam’s principle was to maintain ordinary relations with noble families—they couldn’t become too close. Especially before Qin Yongzhou’s death, although Xu Shi was the female head of the manor, Old Madam essentially controlled major affairs, and interactions with powerful officials in the capital had always operated according to Old Madam’s pace.
Now that His Majesty governed the realm through filial piety, common people valued milestone birthdays. For someone like Old Madam, last year’s sixtieth birthday was naturally celebrated grandly. This year wasn’t a milestone birthday, and with Old Madam’s strong insistence, no invitations were sent to anyone beyond relatives, so only family members came to visit.
Old Madam’s maternal family had long declined, with few relatives and no one of importance in the capital.
All three daughters-in-law had their own maternal families.
Eldest daughter-in-law Xu Shi’s family was most prosperous. Today, her legitimate sister-in-law Mao Shi had come.
Second daughter-in-law Zou Shi’s father was a minor official. Today, her mother Luo Shi had come.
Third daughter-in-law Long Shi’s family was in the south. Long Shi was an only daughter whose father had been a prefect during his lifetime—the pampered pearl of an official family, beautiful as a flower and delicate as a willow swaying in the wind. When Qin Yongzhou encountered Long Shi during his youthful travels, it was love at first sight. Old Madam, doting on her youngest son, arranged the marriage to the Long family daughter. Long Shi’s mother had long since passed away, and after the deaths of Qin Yongzhou and his wife, Long Shi’s elderly father couldn’t bear the shock and died shortly after. Thus, Qin Shuying ended up without even a single maternal uncle.
The eldest young master was already married, and although his wife’s family wasn’t in the capital, they had sent representatives to offer congratulations.
Additionally, people naturally came from the families of several young masters and misses who were engaged. For instance, since Qin Shuying was betrothed, the Liu family had sent someone.
As for Imperial Consort Lianpin, the eldest young master, Second Master, and even the Sixth Prince had naturally sent generous gifts through representatives.
The Sixth Prince had already established his own household. Ordinarily he would visit the Qin manor personally, but he was currently away from the capital on official business.
Therefore, today’s birthday banquet was quite simple—behind closed doors, it was all family.
During the host and guests’ conversation, Mao Shi seized an opportunity to say: “Old Madam, look how clever and filial each of the young misses is. Today being your birthday, they must have prepared thoughtfully. Why not bring out their gifts for everyone to see and broaden our horizons? I can take this back to teach that little monkey of mine, showing her what a true young lady from a distinguished family is like.”
Mao Shi had a fourteen-year-old daughter named Xu Peiwei who was usually close to Qin Yunyun but hadn’t come today.
This was customary—the female guests would view the young misses’ gifts. Old Madam smiled broadly, modestly demurred a few words, then instructed Xiang Qin and Xiang Chun to bring out the young misses’ presents.
Qin Shuying lowered her eyes in apparent shyness while pondering inwardly. Mao Shi usually maintained close relations with Xu Shi. Her bringing up this matter today probably wasn’t so simple.
First was Qin Lulu’s gifts: a jade ruyi scepter and a painting of the Queen Mother’s birthday celebration. The jade ruyi was purchased, but it excelled in fine craftsmanship and rich emerald quality—quite rare indeed.
Next came Qin Yunyun’s personally embroidered Hundred Longevity birthday screen—four panels total that combined into a four-panel folding screen. The frames used materials like mica, crystal, and glass, with inlay work incorporating precious items like ivory, jade, enamel, emerald, gold, and silver. It was both luxurious and carried an air of refined elegance.
Especially Qin Yunyun’s embroidery skills were truly one in a hundred. One look at this screen showed it was made with complete dedication and had taken considerable time.
However, with Qin Yunyun being the younger sister of Imperial Consort Lianpin, she was naturally intelligent and had long held a reputation for talent. Today’s performance was within everyone’s expectations.
The Hundred Longevity painting earned everyone’s unanimous praise. When Qin Shuying saw this screen, her face showed complete shock, followed by prolonged dazed staring, as if unable to comprehend.
Madam Liu appeared rather disappointed, because from this screen, she naturally realized that the charming yet dignified girl she had been quite taken with was not her daughter-in-law. Seeing that among the remaining two young misses, there was a girl of clear and intelligent beauty who had begun staring blankly, she frowned.
Xu Shi imperceptibly raised an eyebrow. Although Liu Gongshan’s official rank wasn’t high and he wasn’t in the capital, he wielded real power.
The Liu family had to be courted, but not through Qin Shuying.
When Qin Shuying first returned from the south, Xu Shi thought using her to curry favor with the Liu family was good—she was gentle and obedient.
But later, learning that Qin Shuying possessed so much silver, her attitude changed. Qin Shuying had to die, and that money had to come into her own hands.
This kind of satisfaction, once experienced, made one want it a second time. The first time was when Concubine Zhou’s maternal family fell into decline—the silver obtained from the Zhou family totaled over twenty thousand taels. Those twenty-plus thousand taels had helped Lianpin, years ago, survive a crisis in the palace.
Qin Yongtao clearly understood Xu Shi’s desire for Qin Shuying’s money and had no objections. In his view, what did a little girl need so much money for? But he hadn’t authorized Xu Shi to take Qin Shuying’s life—she was, after all, his own brother’s daughter.
Besides, Xu Shi’s lethal actions were actually unbelievable when described—after all, she was giving her niece supplements, not poison.
At this moment, Xiang Qin announced the name, and only then did Madam Liu realize that the wooden, dazed girl was her daughter-in-law.
Madam Liu’s fingers slowly clenched, a flash of understanding and complexity crossing her eyes.
Xiang Qin and Xiang Chun slowly unrolled Qin Shuying’s birthday congratulations scroll. Just having opened one corner, everyone had already lost interest—it would just be another birthday celebration painting.
Once fully opened, however, everyone was astonished. Wasn’t this identical to Qin Yunyun’s embroidered piece just shown? Only one was embroidery while the other was painting.
Suddenly, sharp-eyed Mao Shi noticed the signature was actually “Yun,” and couldn’t help crying out: “Shuying, you silly girl! Old Madam loves you so much—how could you use your Sixth Sister’s painting to fool Old Madam?”
Having said this, she seemed embarrassed by her outspokenness and said to Old Madam: “Old Madam, look at this mouth of mine—it really deserves a beating. This painting is clearly the template for Sixth Miss’s embroidered screen. Seventh Miss must have taken the wrong one.”
Rather than helping, these words focused everyone’s attention on Qin Shuying, their gazes clearly reading “hardly taking the wrong one—definitely lazy and unfilial.” The gifts were each personally prepared and delivered by their personal maids—how could there be a mistake?
Xu Shi hurried to smooth things over: “Seventh Miss has always been sickly. Yunyun cares for her and often helps—that’s common. Old Madam is benevolent and magnanimous. Seeing their sisterly affection, she would surely be lenient with Seventh Miss. However, Seventh Miss, if you were going to take something, you should have taken a different piece. Having them identical really doesn’t look good.”
Under everyone’s gaze, Qin Shuying lowered her eyelids as if pondering something.
Xu Shi’s smile grew more gentle as she took Qin Shuying’s hand: “Good child, although you’ve done wrong, Old Madam loves you and won’t blame you. But you must recognize your error, apologize to Old Madam, and kowtow. How could Old Madam bear to punish you?”
Qin Shuying slowly raised her head to look at Old Madam, whose originally joyful face now wore a thoughtful expression.
Qin Shuying smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling brightly, and said to Xiang Qin: “Sister Xiang Qin, please trouble yourself to call in my maid Lu Ye.”
Everyone was puzzled. Xiang Qin glanced at Old Madam, and seeing no anger from her, went out to call Lu Ye.
Mao Shi said: “Seventh Miss, even if you’ve done wrong, you shouldn’t call a maid to take the blame for you! Child, what can one say about you?”
Xu Shi appeared quite “embarrassed” and said to everyone: “It’s all because I failed to properly educate Seventh Miss. I’ve made you all witness this spectacle.”
Old Madam said nothing, nor did she show the anger Mao Shi and Xu Shi expected.
Madam Liu’s eyelids lowered slightly: How could such a woman be worthy of her son?