Qin Shuying pretended not to know, but Dong Shi saw through some of the implications.

She was talking with Nanny Zu: “If Seventh Miss marries over there, I’m afraid she’ll never be able to return to the capital again. The climate in Guangnan Prefecture is scorching hot—can Seventh Miss endure it?”

From the capital to Guangnan Prefecture, female relatives would need over twenty days by waterway, and even longer by land—about forty days. Men on horseback were much faster, but even they needed over ten days.

Such a long journey was simply unbearable for ordinary people.

Moreover, the climate of Guangnan Prefecture was completely different from the capital. It was said to be extremely hot there, never requiring cotton-padded jackets throughout the four seasons. When noble ladies from the capital went there, they would suffer from acclimatization, and might die from illness without recovery.

Many men who had committed crimes and been exiled there, unable to adapt to the sweltering weather, died of illness in no small numbers.

Although Qin Yongzhou and Qin Kaile were also in the south, compared to Guangnan Prefecture, they were much closer to the capital—less than half the distance—and the climate difference wasn’t too great.

After Nanny Zu finished lamenting about the distant journey and harsh climate, she continued: “Lord Chang previously married two legitimate wives. The first left behind one son and one daughter, and the second also left one son and one daughter. Now, he surely has concubines and bedchambers by his side, and there won’t be few illegitimate sons and daughters either. I hear he now has two daughters-in-law and several grandchildren.”

A forty-year-old man had indeed already become a grandfather.

Although Dong Shi inevitably felt some contempt for Qin Shuying being rejected by the Liu family, as a fellow woman, she also pitied her somewhat: “She appears to be the legitimate wife of a second-rank official, but who knows how difficult that will be? Master…”

She shook her head as she spoke.

Nanny Zu dared not criticize Qin Yongtao, but picked other examples of how difficult it was to be a stepmother, ultimately showing some disapproval of Qin Yongtao’s methods.

“Besides, isn’t Master afraid of Old Madam finding out?”

Dong Shi sighed: “When the rice is cooked, what can Old Madam do?”

When the rice is cooked—what did that mean? Repeatedly scheming against Seventh Miss’s reputation, such methods had been used many times without success. What new trick did they want to pull now?

Dong Shi knew what Nanny Zu was thinking and smiled: “Once the engagement is set, can Seventh Miss be allowed not to marry? If Sixth Prince personally intervenes, can Seventh Miss be allowed not to marry?”

Nanny Zu’s eyes widened even more—Sixth Prince was also involved?

Dong Shi said no more.

Without Sixth Prince’s involvement, how would Master dare be so bold?

Dong Shi rubbed her temples, feeling extremely troubled. Since returning to the capital, her heart had been like a lone boat floating on the sea, rising and falling constantly, never having a moment’s peace.

Never mind—as long as it didn’t affect Yue’er and Shuo’er, however they made trouble was none of her business.

Whether Qin Shuying was intelligent or Master was selfish and self-serving had nothing to do with her anymore. Wanting to bask in someone’s reflected glory didn’t seem so easy to achieve.

Qin Yunyun also gleaned some meaning from Qin Kaiyu’s expression—Qin Shuying marrying so far away was truly wonderful.

She happily ate two extra bowls of rice at lunch. Too full to sleep, she went to the garden to walk and aid digestion.

When Lu Ye came over, she encountered Qin Yunyun and her servant walking and stopping by the mansion’s only pond.

“Oh, isn’t this Lu Ye? Walking in such a hurry—where are you going?”

Cai Luan deliberately blocked Lu Ye’s path.

For the safety of those around her, Qin Shuying required them to travel in pairs when going out, especially to somewhat secluded places. Therefore, Lu Ye was with Zhihua.

Lu Ye and Zhihua bowed to Qin Yunyun: “Sixth Miss.”

Qin Yunyun watched coldly, glancing at Cai Luan. Understanding her meaning, Cai Luan asked: “What were you doing? What’s that thing in your hands?”

Lu Ye said: “These are Miss’s bracelets.”

Cai Luan snorted with laughter: “Bracelets? Could they be from that batch of dowry Seventh Miss had prepared?”

Lu Ye’s expression hesitated, and she didn’t answer.

Thinking she was embarrassed and unwilling to speak, Cai Luan giggled delicately: “Seventh Miss’s engagement was broken—how can she still use such things?”

Of course, Cai Luan didn’t know about Qin Yongtao’s calculations. She only knew that Seventh Miss had been rejected by the Liu family and was gloating, deliberately needling Lu Ye.

Lu Ye also didn’t know about the alliance between Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe. Her face looked terrible, but with Qin Yunyun present, she said nothing.

Cai Luan commanded Lu Ye: “Bring it here, let me see.”

Lu Ye forced a smile: “Cai Luan, these belong to Seventh Miss. We servants dare not open them casually.”

Cai Luan raised an eyebrow, looking at her sideways: “Can’t even Sixth Miss take a look? Who knows—now that those people outside know Seventh Miss’s engagement was broken, they might cut corners?”

Lu Ye said: “Absolutely not…”

Cai Luan glared viciously at Lu Ye, moved forward aggressively, and snatched the brocade box from her hands: “What do you know! Shallow-eyed cheap slave!”

As she spoke, she opened the brocade box. Upon opening it, her eyes widened—this was a pair of naturally formed purple jade bracelets, pure in color, lustrous and translucent. Anyone could see they were valuable items.

Qin Yunyun glanced over. Being knowledgeable about such things, she also recognized their quality—they couldn’t be bought for less than four or five thousand taels of silver.

Qin Yunyun asked: “Lu Ye, do these really belong to Seventh Sister?”

“Sixth Miss, these truly belong to our Miss. Sixth Miss, please return them to this servant. These bracelets are precious—if something happens to them, this servant cannot bear the responsibility.”

Seeing Lu Ye’s anxious appearance, sweating profusely, Qin Yunyun felt particularly pleased. When Qin Shuying bullied her, this cheap slave had often helped from the sidelines.

Her eyes turning, Qin Yunyun said: “Seventh Sister and I have a good relationship. Give me these bracelets to wear for a few days, then return them to Seventh Sister.”

Lu Ye was about to refuse without thinking when she heard Qin Shuying’s voice: “Sixth Sister, what are you all standing by the water discussing? Oh, those are my things—you’d better hold them carefully. Don’t drop them in the water—they’re worth a fortune! If they fall in the water, they can’t be retrieved!”

Upon hearing her voice, Qin Yunyun became unhappy… Water?

Qin Yunyun’s hand holding the brocade box suddenly flicked, and with a “splash,” the pair of bracelets from the box flew into the water.

Everyone froze in place.

Qin Yunyun looked innocently at Qin Shuying: “Sorry, Seventh Sister. Your voice was too loud—you startled me. My hand slipped and the bracelets fell in.”

Qin Shuying stood stunned, wanting to blame Qin Yunyun but unable to find words.

Lu Ye and Zhihua anxiously found a tree branch from nearby, lay on the bank, and used the branch to search. But the bracelets had been thrown far out and were blocked by much water grass—invisible and unreachable.

Cai Luan laughed gloatingly: “Lu Ye, you might as well stop looking. This is heaven’s will—who told Seventh Miss to speak so loudly and startle our Miss? Heaven just doesn’t want Seventh Miss to wear these bracelets. No matter how much you search, it’s useless!”