That night.

The main hall was brightly lit, with all members of the Qin Manor’s third branch present, except for a few young masters who were studying at academies or serving as officials elsewhere.

Xu Shi, Qin Yongtao, and Qin Shuying knelt on the ground.

Old Madam sat with her eyes closed, and the entire room was so quiet that even the sound of a falling needle could be heard.

Qin Yongtao spoke: “Mother, it was all due to your son’s poor consideration before. I only thought that since Third Brother and his wife had both passed away, Seventh Girl was only ten years old and immersed in the grief of losing her father and mother—how could she possibly attend to so many matters? That’s why I volunteered to help manage things. These past few years, business has been difficult, and the estates have been hard to manage. Your son dare not claim any merit, but there has been hard work. Mother, please consider this and don’t be angry anymore. If you harm your health with anger, your son would be even more unfilial!”

Old Madam remained silent, her eyes slightly lowered, fingering her prayer beads. Although Qin Shuying kept her head down, she could still imagine the filial expression on Qin Yongtao’s face—solemn and righteous. This man who had been her biological father in her previous life and was now her uncle in this life was currently a third-rank Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a leading candidate for the next Minister position.

Qin Yongtao continued: “Mother, it’s all the fault of your son and daughter-in-law. Please calm your anger. Tomorrow your son will hand over all the assets Third Brother left behind to Seventh Girl. If you’re not at ease, we can even have a notary from the prefectural office come.”

Xu Shi couldn’t help but feel anxious—how could this be acceptable? Although Old Madam had indeed said such things today, everything had its priorities. Old Madam naturally had to speak that way in front of so many people. But now in private, how to handle matters was still the family’s internal affair, wasn’t it?

Qin Shuying caught sight of Xu Shi’s expression from the corner of her eye and sneered inwardly. All these years of managing the household had truly made Xu Shi disregard everyone else.

Sure enough, Xu Shi said: “Old Madam, this matter was indeed your daughter-in-law’s fault—I failed to judge people clearly, which allowed that cunning slave to exploit the situation. Your daughter-in-law is willing to accept punishment, but please, Old Madam, take care of your health above all! However, Third Brother’s properties are too numerous, and Seventh Girl is still young and doesn’t know how to manage them. If coveted by scheming people and they fall into others’ hands, how could we face Third Brother?”

Old Madam opened her eyes and said slowly: “Then according to you, what should be done?”

This old woman still couldn’t do without her after all, still had to give her face. Qin Yongzhou had left behind so much—Old Madam couldn’t possibly manage it herself, Zou Shi was too dull-witted and was merely a concubine-born son’s wife. Only she was most suitable to manage things. Look how Old Madam hadn’t spoken for so long—she must be quite troubled, waiting for her to volunteer!

Xu Shi felt triumphant: “Old Madam, your daughter-in-law has made a grave error and dares not presume that Old Madam would trust me again. Your daughter-in-law also dares not speak of managing Third Brother’s properties again. Not to take credit, but business has indeed been difficult these years. Your daughter-in-law dares not deceive—just ask anyone outside and you’ll know.”

Old Madam said flatly: “Then according to you, what should be done?”

Xu Shi was extremely pleased and continued: “Old Madam, your daughter-in-law’s idea is that Third Brother’s properties should be decided by Old Madam—rent them out, and collect only the rent from now on. This way, Seventh Girl would have ready money and wouldn’t need to worry about whether the businesses were doing well or poorly.”

Qin Shuying almost laughed out loud. Rent them out? To whom? To Xu Shi’s people? What was clearly supposed to be an occasion for apologizing and inventorying the storehouse had been twisted by Xu Shi into paving the way for herself.

And during all of Xu Shi’s speech, Qin Yongtao hadn’t said a single word.

Old Madam pondered for a moment, then said to Qin Shuying: “Seventh Girl, what do you think of what your eldest aunt said?”

Old Madam’s voice was steady, revealing no emotion. But Qin Shuying knew that Old Madam was angry, and was also observing Qin Shuying’s reaction to see if she was worth protecting.

If it were the real Qin Shuying, she naturally wouldn’t hear the trap in Xu Shi’s words. But she wasn’t Qin Shuying—she was Qin Yaoyao, who had personally conducted business for eight years!

Qin Shuying raised her head, her clear eyes sparkling as she said: “Grandmother, your granddaughter thinks First Madam considers everything thoroughly. However, your granddaughter doesn’t quite understand something First Madam just said and hopes First Madam can clarify it for me.”

Xu Shi became even more pleased. After all, she had managed the Qin Manor for many years. Old Madam hadn’t concerned herself with household affairs for three years, and most of the people in the manor had been replaced with her own. Now that Old Madam was old and confused, plagued by illness, how could she possibly compete with her?

As for Qin Shuying, those words at today’s banquet were probably taught to her by that cunning old fox Nanny Fu. Now, wasn’t she still being obedient?

Xu Shi said warmly: “Child, we’re all family—why speak so formally?”

Qin Shuying sneered inwardly. Still kneeling, yet already so impatient.

She then asked: “First Madam said that after renting out those shops, my finances would be comfortable. Shuying just wants to ask—since Father left me one hundred thousand in family assets, why are Shuying’s finances currently not comfortable? Why must I even watch the faces of maids and servants to get a hot meal?”

Xu Shi was immediately struck speechless. Seeing things going badly, Qin Yongtao quickly said to Qin Shuying: “Seventh Girl, this was all First Madam’s oversight. Good child, you’ve been wronged. Jinling, I entrusted the inner courtyard to you—how could you be so careless? How could you allow maids and servants to be disrespectful to their master?”

Jinling was Xu Shi’s given name.

Seeing this, Qin Yunyun hastily said: “Father, how Mother has treated Seventh Sister is plain for everyone in the Qin Manor to see. Mother visits her every two or three days, and I often go to keep her company and help her relax. The manor is so large and there are so many matters—it’s natural that Mother can’t attend to everything. Seventh Sister, you absolutely mustn’t take what those bad servants do as Mother’s intention, or Mother would be terribly wronged!”

What a united family indeed!

Qin Shuying’s expression remained unchanged as she said: “Sixth Sister is overthinking. Shuying naturally knows that First Madam treats me with utmost sincerity, and Sixth Sister also cares for me wholeheartedly. Your younger sister is simply puzzled—why would First Madam say that younger sister’s finances aren’t comfortable? Didn’t Father leave one hundred thousand in family assets? Younger sister couldn’t spend it all in a lifetime!”

Both Qin Yongtao and Xu Shi were stunned. Qin Yunyun hadn’t expected that the usually docile Qin Shuying would oppose her at every turn today. Her face showed annoyance, but she had always been “kind-hearted and considerate of others,” so she said: “Seventh Sister, you’re young and don’t understand how people’s hearts aren’t what they used to be. If bad people were to swindle away your money, wouldn’t Third Uncle be unable to rest in peace even in the underworld? Mother is just helping you manage it, preventing those black-hearted people from stealing younger sister’s money.”

“Sixth Sister, I currently don’t have a single penny in my hands—how is that different from being swindled?”

Qin Yunyun never expected Qin Shuying to be so bold as to say anything, completely abandoning feminine virtue. Shouldn’t a proper young lady be modest and dignified? What kind of behavior was this from Qin Shuying?

She couldn’t help but say angrily: “Seventh Sister, as a woman, virtue, speech, and conduct are extremely important. You mustn’t speak recklessly.”

Qin Shuying smiled: “Then younger sister asks elder sister for guidance—which of younger sister’s words was reckless?”

Qin Yunyun was left speechless, unable to utter a word.