Dong Shi represented the Qin residence in settling the matter of the broken engagement with the Liu family clearly.

When the jade pendant that Qin Yongzhou had originally given returned to Qin Shuying’s hands, she examined it for a long time before personally locking it away.

This represented Third Uncle’s cherished love for his daughter, but it was too heartrending.

Qin Lulu was afraid Qin Shuying would be sad, so she consoled her warmly.

Then she told her that Zou Shi had found a marriage prospect for her—the man was the legitimate eldest son of a sixth-rank capital official, sixteen years old this year, currently preparing for examinations, named Yu Qingnan.

Qin Lulu spoke with poise and generosity, making Qin Shuying very happy for her. She was fourteen this year and would be fifteen next year. After her coming-of-age ceremony, she could marry.

Just after seeing off Qin Lulu, Qin Fangfang arrived.

Qin Fangfang had completely changed as a person now. However lively she had been before, she was now equally cold and distant.

Since returning to the residence, aside from coming to Yilan Garden when Yun Jingshu visited last time, today was only the second time she had set foot here.

Qin Shuying seemed unable to see the coldness in Qin Fangfang’s eyes and greeted her indifferently: “Eighth Sister, it’s rare for you to visit. I happen to have some dried fruits from Baiwei Residence here—they taste quite good. Try some.”

Qin Fangfang silently ate a few dried fruits, then said: “You should be careful of Mother, Second Brother, and Sixth Sister.”

Qin Shuying played dumb: “Eighth Sister, what do you mean by that?”

Qin Fangfang snorted: “I’m only giving you a kind warning out of consideration that you still have some conscience. If you think I’m here to sow discord for my own revenge, you need not pay me any mind.”

Only then did Qin Shuying become serious: “Then I thank Eighth Sister. Honest people don’t do underhanded things—Eighth Sister need not worry about me.”

Qin Fangfang didn’t respond, sitting in silence for a moment before rising to leave. Before going out the door, she said: “I was wrong in the past. If you refuse to forgive me, hmph, I don’t want to beg you either.”

After saying this, she quickened her pace and left.

Lu Ye watched her disappear at the doorway, patted her chest, and asked Nanny Fu and the others in confusion: “Did Eighth Miss come to make peace?”

Hong Juan was also somewhat stunned: “It seems, it seems to have that meaning. But her apology was rather strange.”

Nanny Fu said: “No matter what she means, as long as she doesn’t harbor intentions to harm others, Miss is magnanimous and won’t hold it against her.”

Ziteng said: “After going through that incident, Eighth Miss finally understands many things. Knowing that Miss broke off her engagement with the Liu family, everyone in the residence looks at Miss differently now. It’s rare that Eighth Miss is still willing to visit.”

The others exchanged glances, knowing whom she was referring to—Dong Shi.

However, Dong Shi was a clever person. Although she couldn’t hide her disdain and schadenfreude, when she came to Yilan Garden, she did so under the banner of offering comfort.

Qin Shuying said nothing about it, responding with a few perfunctory words before seeing her off. When Qin Yue came to Yilan Garden, everyone pretended to know nothing.

On the other hand, when Qin Wei’s confinement period ended and Dong Shi released her, she also wanted to come to Yilan Garden to “visit” her aunt, but was blocked outside by maids and servants who claimed Qin Shuying was sleeping.

Within two days, the meals sent to Yilan Garden showed very obvious changes.

Previously, although Qin Shuying’s meals couldn’t compare to the Old Madam’s, they were no worse than Dong Shi’s.

Today, while the quantity of food hadn’t decreased, the quality had changed dramatically. For instance, the meat soup that was previously clear and refreshing now had black, bloody foam floating in it. It was obvious the cook hadn’t blanched the meat properly—the broth was murky and fishy, completely inedible.

Qin Shuying wouldn’t eat such food.

Even in the past when married to Lu Changxuan in such poverty and busyness, when she made soup herself, she would ensure the broth was clear, refreshing, and deliciously sweet. Otherwise, she would rather eat chaff and swallow vegetables than consume such filthy meat.

Qin Shuying didn’t touch that soup. The other dishes also tasted terrible—either too salty or too bland, either overcooked or undercooked.

Qin Shuying said: “Take it away and dump it.”

Then she had Nanny Fu fetch money: “Your meals are probably even worse. Dump everything at the main kitchen door. Take this money and go outside the residence to purchase two table settings of food.”

Nanny Fu took the money and did as Qin Shuying instructed, bringing Lu Ye along to buy food.

When Dong Shi learned of this, she secretly regretted it, realizing she shouldn’t have listened to Qin Kaiyu.

If daughters from other families suffered such treatment, they could only grit their teeth and bear it. Qin Shuying was different from others—she had always known this—yet she still allowed the kitchen staff to act recklessly according to Qin Kaiyu’s instructions, angering Qin Shuying.

At this point, to apologize, Dong Shi didn’t have such thick skin. After all, Qin Shuying had lost such a good marriage prospect, so Dong Shi somewhat looked down on her. She only instructed the kitchen staff to send meals to Qin Shuying as usual and ignored everything else.

The matter was thus set aside.

Nanny Fu shook her head repeatedly: “We used to think the First Young Madam could keep her composure, but now it seems she’s also petty-minded with no magnanimity.”

Qin Shuying remained silent. Whatever Dong Shi did, she didn’t care in the slightest. Such tactics couldn’t affect her in any way.

After a few more days, they learned that Emperor Delong had issued an edict for Liu Junqing to marry Princess Fu’an.

The Liu residence immediately filled with guests, coming and going, making both Madam Liu and Liu Sujiang’s faces ache from smiling.

However, the atmosphere in the Qin residence became increasingly strange, though no more incidents like sending inferior meals occurred.

Days passed leisurely until Qin Yunyun’s birthday on the fifth day of the sixth month.

Taking advantage of Qin Yunyun’s inattention, Cai Luan went to Xuan Hall and knelt on the ground, holding a thick stack of Buddhist scriptures that Qin Yunyun had personally copied. Tears streaming down her face, she described Qin Yunyun’s hardship and sincerity over these months. The stack of scriptures was written with rounded characters and restrained brushwork—exactly the calligraphy style the Old Madam favored.

Qin Kaiyu was also present at the time and knelt down to plead for his sister. Although Qin Yongtao said nothing, his expression was also sorrowful.

Thus, the Old Madam tacitly allowed Qin Yunyun’s confinement to be lifted. She could move about the residence in the future, but if she wanted to leave the residence, she must obtain the Old Madam’s approval.

Qin Shuying wasn’t present at the time. When she learned of the matter, Nanny Fu and Lu Ye spoke indignantly about Qin Yunyun for quite a while, but Qin Shuying said nothing.

The next day, Qin Shuying had people prepare for going out—it was time for her monthly routine inspection of the shops.

The weather was hot, so there were few carriages and horses on the streets.

After inspecting the shops, Qin Shuying took Ziteng and the others to a teahouse to drink tea and escape the heat.

Just as they reached the main hall of the teahouse, they saw Liu Sujiang laughing coquettishly as she followed behind Princess Fu’an. They were chatting happily.

Upon seeing Ziteng, Liu Sujiang lifted her veil, raised an eyebrow, and laughed: “Oh! Your Highness, look who’s here! She was rejected by my brother, yet she still has the face to come out!”

Qin Shuying shook her head. This Liu Sujiang truly couldn’t contain herself. To shout such things in front of so many people—she could no longer maintain that previous appearance of sisterly affection.

At least put on some pretense! Such a face was truly despicable. She wondered what kind of person Liu Gongshan really was, for both his wife and daughter to be so improper.