Ziteng was startled, “You’ve already discovered something?”
Qin Shuying said, “Yes. Wait a bit longer. This language is really difficult to learn. If Third Uncle hadn’t taught Seventh Sister before, I wouldn’t be able to pick it up. When Seventh Sister was three years old, Third Uncle started teaching her. He taught her for seven whole years, and Seventh Sister was naturally intelligent, so I’m taking advantage of that. Even so, they are two different languages, and I only received part of Seventh Sister’s memories. These notes vaguely record some reasons, but I still need to carefully sort through the clues.”
Ziteng’s face showed joy, “Master Qin was upright and honest. Now that you’ve found clues, Miss, we must seek justice for them.”
Qin Shuying smiled, “What a silly child. How many truly upright people are there in this world?”
Ziteng smiled with pursed lips. Yes, it was only because Qin Yongzhou was Qin Shuying’s biological father that she felt closer to him. As for how Qin Yongzhou actually died, Qin Shuying had already shared part of her speculation—that was quite a story.
How many completely upright people could there be in this world?
Take the Yun family, for example. Madam Yun, wife of the much-praised Yun Luoyuan, had also enjoyed a reputation for virtue in the south. At this moment, her face was full of dark clouds.
She violently smashed the teacup in her hand to the ground and scolded, “What kind of tea is this? Where’s this year’s new tea? Did you all eat it?!”
The maids were terrified and hastily knelt on the ground to clean up the broken teacup fragments, not daring to argue.
They all knew the madam was venting her anger, but who dared to point out that the cup had contained new tea? They hadn’t eaten any new tea.
Only after all the maids had withdrawn did Yun Jingshu say, “Mother, it’s all my fault. I’ve made things difficult for Mother.”
Madam Yun glared at her with disappointment and sat for a long while before saying, “I was negligent. We’ve been in the capital for some time now, yet she has never come to visit me. From this alone, I should have known she was no longer the Qin Shuying who was protected by the Qin Yongzhou couple and remained innocent of worldly affairs. But I…”
But she had been busy with various matters and hadn’t noticed this abnormality, still thinking that as long as her daughter went to coax her, she would treat Yun Jingshu as a close friend like before.
Her daughter had mentioned Qin Shuying’s changed demeanor compared to the past, but she hadn’t taken it seriously.
“That crafty old fox Madam Liu deliberately sent the official matchmaker to the Qin family today.” Madam Yun steadied her mind and sneered coldly, “Liu Junqing did the deed, but wants Qin Shuying and us to solve it! Hmph!”
At this moment, Madam Yun seemed to completely forget that this matter wasn’t done by Liu Junqing, but by her dear daughter.
The Liu family knew this precisely, which was why they deliberately acted this way, letting the Yun family figure out a solution themselves—this fact was completely ignored by Madam Yun.
But fundamentally, whether it was the Yun family or the Liu family, both actually wanted Qin Shuying to solve it, while they just picked up the ready-made result. If that result was unsatisfactory, they could find fault later…
Who would have thought that Qin Shuying wouldn’t say anything at all, wouldn’t make a fuss, and still kicked this difficult problem back to them.
Not only that, but the Qin family also remained silent. When the Liu family proposed marriage, they happily agreed.
Anyway, all these betrothal procedures required the male side to take initiative, while the female side only needed to provide things when the male side required them. Given Dong Shi’s steady nature, this wouldn’t be difficult.
Yun Jingshu’s face showed resentment and anxiety. Qin Shuying could afford to wait, but she couldn’t! Things had come to this—why did she still insist on holding onto the title of legitimate wife?
Could it be that when she saw herself and Liu Junqing in that compromising position, she didn’t resent Liu Junqing at all? As long as she had the slightest resentment and proposed breaking the engagement, she herself could become Liu Junqing’s wife.
She actually dared to openly agree to the official matchmaker’s proposal?
Didn’t she see that now, with both her parents dead, the people in the Qin mansion were only using her? That day, when Qin Kaiyu spoke about her that way in front of so many people, Yun Jingshu understood everything clearly.
In such circumstances, she still couldn’t recognize her own position and actually had the face to marry Liu Junqing?!
“Mother, I’ll have someone deliver this letter to Father right away.”
Madam Yun pressed her forehead and said, “The letter must be sent, but we must also act simultaneously. Time is pressing.”
A letter to the south would take at least ten days, and a round trip would take away twenty-some days.
Speaking of this, Madam Yun pressed her forehead again, “This has completely offended Princess Fu’an!”
Princess Fu’an liked Liu Junqing, and as her follower, Yun Jingshu naturally knew this. Now she had stolen the princess’s man—Princess Fu’an must hate her to death.
Yun Jingshu was also somewhat afraid of Princess Fu’an, but thinking back to that day’s events still felt like a dream.
She had received Qin Shuying’s invitation to listen to opera at the Red Mansion.
The invitation was delivered by Ziteng and an unfamiliar young maid. Ziteng said Qin Shuying had also invited Miss Liu—since they were all from the south and knew each other before, listening to opera together would be more lively.
Hearing this, Yun Jingshu was tempted.
Her relationship with Liu Sujiang had been mediocre before. If she could use this opera listening to strengthen their relationship while also badmouthing Qin Shuying, it would be perfect.
If she did this, Princess Fu’an would definitely be very pleased—since Yun Jingshu knew Princess Fu’an liked Liu Junqing, although she still lost herself every time she saw Liu Junqing, she didn’t dare harbor improper thoughts about him anymore.
Therefore, she readily agreed to Qin Shuying’s invitation.
The next day, when she arrived at the Red Mansion as agreed, she encountered the young maid who had accompanied Ziteng in delivering the invitation at the entrance. She heard her own maid call her “Sister Lan Chou.”
Seeing her, Lan Chou was very enthusiastic and came forward saying, “Miss Yun, our miss was going to wait for you at the entrance, but Scholar Liu had something to discuss with our miss, so she went in first. Let me escort Miss Yun inside.”
Yun Jingshu’s heart skipped a beat.
Liu Junqing was here too?
Her maid Caixia had often complained in front of her, saying why should Qin Shuying steal the man her miss liked? Given Qin Shuying’s current different status, she should yield Liu Junqing to her mistress.
Although Yun Jingshu often scolded Caixia not to speak nonsense, her thoughts often wavered.
Hearing Lan Chou’s words, Caixia was obviously also shocked and asked, “Sister Lan Chou, what did you say? Scholar Liu is here too?”
Lan Chou chattered away. Though she spoke quickly, her voice was clear, making every word audible: “Of course! Young Master Liu is truly good—he treats our miss with gentle courtesy and cares for her. Our miss only invited Miss Liu, but Young Master Liu must have learned our miss was here and hurried over. I heard people in our mansion say that June has two good days perfect for betrothal ceremonies—His Highness the Crown Prince married the Crown Princess on such a day! How could such a day not be auspicious? After June, there won’t be good days until the twelfth month… Miss Yun, when our mansion has its joyous occasion, will you come to witness the ceremony?”