Liang Qiong sensed Luo Jinniang’s unusual behavior, frowned slightly as she looked at her, and reminded her in a low voice: “Jinniang!”

Luo Jinniang said hatefully: “Cousin! I just can’t stand her attitude!” Her voice quickly dropped very low as she said: “Why didn’t Aunt kill her today!”

Liang Qiong’s expression remained elegant, but underneath she pinched Luo Jinniang hard, her smile still sweet as she said in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Don’t worry, everything you want, you’ll definitely get!”

Luo Jinniang snorted and finally withdrew her gaze.

Also feeling sour were Yun Jingshu and Princess Fu’an.

Yun Jingshu had learned to be well-behaved now, keeping her head down without making a sound, trying her best to minimize her presence.

Princess Fu’an was furious, shooting several fierce glares at Liu Sujiang. Liu Sujiang was initially confused, but then realized what was happening and quickly closed her mouth, not daring to be too intimate with Qin Shuying.

The maids continuously brought many foods, and the noble ladies carefully ate pastries while maintaining their image.

The waiting time was extraordinarily long. Even the noble ladies couldn’t maintain their composure anymore, and gradually some went to relieve themselves or walk around, with impatient emotions spreading.

It wasn’t until the hour of You that matters were finally clarified and the female guests were allowed to leave.

But as for what the truth of the matter actually was, no one gave an explanation.

It was already late, time for the evening meal.

The two princesses had already left first, and only then did the noble ladies walk out one by one.

Everyone walked hurriedly, no one in the mood to talk.

Qin Shuying walked with Qin Yue and Lin Zilan to the main hall. Just as they saw the maids and servants waiting in the hall and were about to look for Ziteng, they heard a commotion as a eunuch called out shrilly: “Make way! Make way!”

Everyone tacitly stopped and cleared the path – the princes were coming out.

Sure enough, shortly after, the Fifth Prince and others hurried out and departed quickly.

Only after they had gone far did Qin Shuying breathe a sigh of relief and go to find Ziteng.

After searching for quite a while, she finally discovered Ziteng standing rigidly in a daze.

“Ziteng.”

Seeing her strange expression, Qin Shuying approached her and called to her in a lowered voice.

Ziteng’s eyes were fixed on the direction the princes had departed, her face pale and her whole body trembling, as if she hadn’t heard her words.

“Ziteng.”

Qin Shuying called again. Ziteng still said nothing. Qin Shuying noticed her hands were tightly clenched into fists, as if suppressing some fearful emotion.

Sensing something was wrong, Qin Shuying took one hand to grasp hers and gently tugged her sleeve with the other, saying in a low voice: “Ziteng, don’t be afraid! Come with me!”

Only then did Ziteng come to her senses. Looking at her, she murmured: “Cou… Miss! I, I…”

Qin Shuying paused as she grasped her hand, tears welling up in her eyes, but she said nothing and just pulled her along, focused only on getting outside.

After meeting up with Qin Yue and bidding farewell to Lin Zilan, Qin Shuying and her group boarded their carriage.

In the carriage were also Qin Yue and Qin Yue’s maid. Everyone was tired. After saying a few words, Qin Shuying closed her eyes to rest. Ziteng sat beside her, head lowered the whole time, also appearing exhausted.

When they returned to the Qin residence entrance, someone was waiting, saying that Qin Yongtao wanted to question them.

This situation was not unexpected to Qin Shuying. With such a major incident, Qin Yongtao would definitely want to ask about it.

Qin Shuying gave the same account as before. Qin Yue had been in the front hall the whole time and never went to the back, so naturally had nothing to say.

Qin Yongtao stared at Qin Shuying with a stern expression, as if he didn’t quite believe her account, but in the end said nothing and waved his hand to dismiss them.

Yilan Garden.

Qin Shuying hastily finished her evening meal and had Ziteng attend to her washing.

“Ziteng, did you see something today?”

With her back to Ziteng, Qin Shuying looked at Ziteng combing her hair in the mirror and asked gently.

Ziteng’s hands stiffened. Looking at Qin Shuying in the mirror, her complexion still looked poor, though not as pale as before.

“Ziteng, we’ve agreed that you must tell me about certain things. Only this way can I know what I cannot touch and what I need to be wary of. Ziteng, these past few months, we’ve cooperated very well, haven’t we? When you help me, you’re helping yourself. Now, if I can help you, perhaps I’m also helping myself. Your vengeance is my vengeance. Your hatred is my hatred.”

Qin Shuying spoke that last sentence very slowly, as if it were a very important statement.

The comb in Ziteng’s hand fell to the floor.

She opened her mouth but couldn’t make any sound.

Qin Shuying sighed and said: “Ziteng, trust your instincts. I am that person.”

All this time, she hadn’t dared tell Ziteng that she was her cousin, partly because she feared unnecessary trouble – for instance, if Ziteng accidentally called her “cousin,” it might arouse suspicion. Secondly, because there had been no need.

But now, if she didn’t let Ziteng believe that she was Qin Yaoyao reborn, Ziteng probably still wouldn’t tell her exactly why she had lost her virtue, and why she was so terrified.

Ziteng still remained silent.

Her defensive mentality had always been this strong, even though they had already shared life-and-death experiences.

Qin Shuying turned around and stood up, her expression showing a trace of emotion. “Ziteng, I’ve always suspected that Uncle and the others died because of something Lu Changxuan did, and it’s related to Xu Shi. That’s why I set traps for Lu Changxuan. Otherwise, do you think that as the legitimate daughter of the third branch, why would I necessarily go against the main branch? Even if Qin Shuying had been harmed by Xu Shi, there was no need to scheme against Lu Changxuan, don’t you agree? You’re so clever, you probably suspected this long ago. But I couldn’t say anything. Ziteng, I know you must understand my difficulties, don’t you?”

Ziteng looked at her, tears slowly seeping from her eyes. “Cou… Cousin!”

Qin Shuying embraced her and said softly: “Ziteng, poor child!”

Ziteng and Qin Shuying held each other and wept, but didn’t dare make any sound, only shedding tears silently.

After a long while, Qin Shuying finally explained: “Ziteng, I don’t know how it happened either. I was clearly burned to death, but when I opened my eyes, I had become Seventh Miss Qin lying on the bed. Ziteng, the moment I came back to life, I swore that I would make Xu Shi and Lu Changxuan die horrible deaths! That’s why I’ve been planning step by step, determined to drag them into the nine levels of hell! I won’t let them die so easily. They must taste every kind of suffering, must live like dogs. Only this way can I be worthy of Uncle’s and Cousin’s spirits, worthy of Feng’er!”

The people she cherished, those who truly loved her, had all died at the hands of Xu Shi and the others. During this time, she had painstakingly managed to barely get them into her trap. But this was still far from her goal – she still had a long road ahead.

The pain of losing family members was constantly tearing at her heart every moment, yet she couldn’t speak of it, couldn’t cry, couldn’t reminisce.

Ziteng gently covered her mouth. “Sister, I know, I believe you. You don’t need to say anything more…”

Qin Shuying took a deep breath. Yes, she couldn’t speak of it. Even though she had now organized Yilan Garden to be as secure as an iron barrel, she still didn’t dare be careless.

Human hearts were always so hard to fathom.