The marriage arrangements for Qin Kaiyu and Qin Yunyun were settled one after another.

Qin Kaiyu was betrothed to the legitimate daughter of a fifth-rank capital official, age fifteen.

Qin Yunyun was betrothed to a man named Li Youwang, sixteen years old. He had passed the xiucai examination in his early years and was now preparing for the provincial examination. Although his ancestors hadn’t produced any high officials for three generations, the family clan had third-rank officials, so it could be considered a scholarly family.

In Dong Shi’s view, both matches were quite good.

High families marry off daughters, lower families take in daughters-in-law.

Moreover, both families were respectable households. Dong Shi had met both young people and found them to be steady and well-mannered children.

Qin Shuying also thought they were acceptable matches.

Qin Kaiyu followed his father’s arrangements without objection. Given his status, the match was neither particularly good nor bad. As long as the girl wasn’t too ugly to be seen, he could accept it.

Besides, he had caused the deaths of two maids. Families with some background would discover his situation upon investigation and wouldn’t be willing to marry their daughters to him.

Moreover, after these recent events, though he didn’t believe in Cai Luan’s ghost, he felt somewhat apprehensive.

Only Xu Shi, though she didn’t make a scene, still let some crying sounds be heard.

Especially after Old Madam’s incident that night, Qin Yongtao realized that if Xu Shi were allowed to come out and cause trouble, there was no telling what complications might arise. So he had her watched closely and wouldn’t let her know about Qin Feifei’s affairs.

When Qin Yunyun learned about her betrothal to Li Youwang, she immediately covered her face and wept bitterly: “What kind of family is this? Such a crude name! And so poor – this is ruining me…”

The maids and servants quickly withdrew upon seeing the situation, leaving only Nanny Zhao behind.

When the incident with Cai Luan occurred, Nanny Zhao happened to be away handling family matters. When she returned to the Qin residence and learned of such a major incident, she couldn’t express how much she regretted it.

Though she knew that as a servant she had no standing to speak on certain matters, she watched Qin Yunyun sink deeper and deeper and constantly worried for her.

“Miss, this old servant has heard that Young Master Li is steady in character, well-learned, from a respectable family background, and the Li family is simple in composition. It’s a good match…”

Qin Yunyun’s anger was evident, but seeing Nanny Zhao’s worried expression, she swallowed the words about to spill from her lips and cried: “Nanny, Sister-in-law is hastily arranging my marriage so she’ll have time to choose a husband for Sister Yue…”

Nanny Zhao advised: “Miss, this marriage also has the master’s approval.”

Qin Yunyun felt a surge of anger stuck in her chest. That old thing!

Whose wet nurse was she anyway, actually speaking up for Dong Shi?

If Dong Shi could find a better family, Father would naturally agree too!

Though men had decision-making power over women’s marriages, the right to evaluate families fell to Dong Shi. Dong Shi could only present these candidates for Father to choose from – could Father conjure up another person from thin air?

Nanny Zhao didn’t notice Qin Yunyun’s flickering gaze and continued: “Furthermore, Old Madam made it very clear that Grand Madam should handle this matter. Miss, Grand Madam is your own sister-in-law – you absolutely cannot become estranged from her…”

Qin Yunyun held back again and again, ultimately neither losing her temper nor mocking Nanny Zhao.

She knew that even if she threw a tantrum, it wouldn’t change the facts.

This was already her second time being confined. If she caused more trouble, she might end up like Qin Fangfang – married far away, and to an old man as a second wife at that.

At only her teens, she would already have stepchildren and grandchildren…

After holding back for a long time, she squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: “It’s all Qin Shuying’s fault! If not for her, how would I have accidentally dropped my bracelet in the water, how would Cai Luan have… and how would I have been confined? If Cai Luan hadn’t died, Grandmother wouldn’t have been so eager to marry me off. It’s all her fault! She gets to marry into the super first-rank Liang family, while I have to marry into a family I’ve never even heard of before… From now on, when I see her, I’ll have to bow to her!”

Regardless, though Liang Zhe wasn’t currently the heir apparent, he held an official position. Fifth rank wasn’t particularly high, but it wasn’t low either. After all, Liang Zhe was still young. Moreover, it was said he had military achievements on the battlefield.

Nanny Zhao felt a headache coming on. Cai Luan’s death was one reason, but Cai Ying’s injuries all over her body had been witnessed by many people in the Qin residence, plus Cai Luan’s mother’s vivid subsequent accounts – the latter was probably the main reason Old Madam was determined to quickly marry off Sixth Miss.

Nanny Zhao advised: “Miss, after you marry, if you encounter troubles and difficulties at the Li family, Seventh Miss is still your sister – she will help you…”

“Impossible. Look who she’s ever helped?”

Nanny Zhao was momentarily stunned. Speaking of it, Seventh Miss truly hadn’t helped any of her siblings. But these siblings hadn’t needed her help either. As for the Lu family, it was better that Seventh Miss didn’t help!

Look at that family’s behavior!

When Nanny Wu was sold, everyone who had served alongside her in the Qin residence felt a sense of shared vulnerability.

Nanny Zhao remembered something: “She takes out several hundred taels of silver each month to donate in our residence’s name, and the residence’s reputation is excellent…”

“Nanny, don’t say anymore. I’ll listen to you.”

Qin Shuying, since you’ve harmed me so, there’s absolutely no possibility of not avenging this grievance.

Only when everyone is close can revenge be taken, isn’t that right?

Qin Shuying, you can change, and so can I!

After a long while, Nanny Zhao said: “Miss, have you heard about Third Young Madam’s situation?”

Qin Yunyun heard the desolation in Nanny Zhao’s tone and felt her heart skip a beat: “Nanny, didn’t you say that Third Brother-in-law was stripped of office, banned from service for three generations, the Lu family had no choice but to move to Gaode Lane, so poor they couldn’t make ends meet, and Third Sister came back a few days ago asking for some food to take back? What else could there be?”

Nanny Zhao sighed: “Miss, that’s how things are. But this old servant really can’t bring herself to tell you – there are many other matters.”

“Could it be that what Nanny told me these past days wasn’t the truth?”

“Not exactly.”

Qin Yunyun looked at Nanny Zhao nervously.

Regardless, Qin Feifei was her blood sister – she naturally hoped her sister was doing well.

“Sigh, Miss, Grand Madam has arranged your betrothal, and you’ll be leaving the residence by year’s end. You should know some things. Third Young Madam – her ear was half-deafened by Third Young Master’s slap. Third Young Master himself, from smoking black incense, is neither human nor ghost and reportedly won’t live long. When Third Young Madam returned and caused a scene at the gate, Grand Master ordered that she not be allowed in. Because the disturbance was severe, Third Young Madam was taken away by patrol officers… Now at the Lu family, when Old Madam Lu is displeased, she beats Third Young Madam, sometimes not letting her eat. Third Young Madam is very pitiful.”

Qin Yunyun was immediately struck dumb. Ear deafened, beaten, not allowed to eat?

“What about Big Sister? Doesn’t she care?”

“My good Miss, Third Young Master offended the dragon’s countenance! How can Her Highness interfere? Banned from service for three generations – how terrifying! If it implicated Sixth Prince… sigh…”

“But, but… Father could at least help Third Sister return to the Qin residence!”

Nanny Zhao moved closer to her: “Miss, everyone in the residence is saying that Second Miss was burned to death by Third Young Madam. The Lu family has already made this matter known.”

Qin Yunyun stared at Nanny Zhao in shock and terror, speechless.