Xu Shi stared at the entrance of Yilan Garden for a long time, her expression changing repeatedly.

“Madam…”

Jin Huan anxiously reminded the blank-eyed Xu Shi once again.

Xu Shi took a deep breath, put on a smile, and said in a concealing manner, “Seventh Girl married into… such a good family, naturally she’s changed…”

She had come today intending to make peace.

After being confined for so long, Xu Shi had recognized the situation clearly.

Qin Yongtao was simply a fence-sitter – he would lean toward whoever could benefit him.

He needed a virtuous wife to cheer him on and support him, not one who brought him negative influence.

Otherwise, he could keep Xu Shi locked up until the day she died.

She had only been confined for a few months, yet the Lu manor had already declined to this state, and Third Girl’s life was ruined.

Sixth Girl had also been played for a fool, actually marrying into such a family. Back then, she had even harbored hopes for Duke Chu’s manor – marrying a scholarly family’s son as the legitimate wife should have been well within Sixth Girl’s reach!

Even more pitiful was Kaiyu. Over ten years ago when the Qin manor wasn’t prosperous, Kaile married the daughter of a sixth-rank official; over ten years later, with the Qin manor having an imperial consort and Qin Yongtao reaching third rank, the younger son was still only marrying the daughter of a fifth-rank official’s family.

Xu Shi had to get out, otherwise who knew how much her children would continue to be bullied.

Fortunately, after being confined for so long, her behavior had been acceptable.

Seeing his younger son and daughter getting married, Qin Yongtao thought that Xu Shi was, after all, his first wife, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her not to appear at their children’s weddings, so he mentioned it to Old Madam.

Old Madam was soft-hearted, and with Qin Shuying marrying well, she had less obsession with Xu Shi’s past actions, so she agreed to Qin Yongtao’s request and released Xu Shi.

However, the wedding arrangements for Qin Kaiyu and Qin Yunyun would still be handled by Dong Shi.

Xu Shi understood very clearly that if she could repair her relationship with Qin Shuying, Qin Yongtao would definitely be pleased to see it happen.

When Zhao Quansheng came to announce the imperial edict that day, Xu Shi clearly saw the wild joy within Qin Yongtao’s shock and unease.

From that day forward, although Xu Shi was jealous of Qin Shuying’s good fortune and spat blood in anger, she also saw reality clearly – Sixth Girl couldn’t compete with Qin Shuying, and neither could she.

Since she couldn’t compete, she would try hard to accept it and plan for the future.

At the noon banquet, Qin Yongtao hadn’t let her appear. But he also hadn’t restricted her from moving around the garden, so she deliberately waited for Qin Shuying at the entrance of Yilan Garden.

She had originally thought that no matter how much Qin Shuying resented her, so much time had passed, and both she and Sixth Girl had been confined for so long and received punishment – Qin Shuying’s anger should have subsided.

If she took the initiative to say some kind words, as they talked things through, they could gradually get along better.

As long as she got along well with Qin Shuying, Qin Yongtao would definitely give her more freedom and power.

Who would have thought that Qin Shuying didn’t regard her as worthy of attention at all.

Xu Shi slowly turned around and walked toward her own courtyard.

The newly arrived Nanny Ruan, along with Jin Huan and Yin Huan, looked at each other before following.

After resting well in Yilan Garden and spending the afternoon chatting with Old Madam, Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying prepared to return to the Marquis of Pingxi’s manor.

Qin Yongtao personally escorted the couple to the main gate, where everyone exchanged pleasantries and bowed their farewells.

Just then, the three Lu siblings appeared around the corner again, coming before everyone.

Lu Changxuan stared intently at Qin Shuying’s profile, and his originally clouded, listless eyes immediately burst with amazing brilliance, “Yaoyao!”

Lu Changsong and Lu Changju frowned but paid him no attention.

Since moving to that dilapidated house, Big Brother often muttered about his late first wife and that girl Ju’er. They had grown accustomed to it.

Both of them were now somewhat irritated, their faces gloomy.

When they came, it had been agreed that today was Qin Shuying’s homecoming day – Qin Yongtao would definitely come out to receive guests, and they could take advantage of the situation. Qin Yongtao wouldn’t dare make things look bad, so they would certainly gain something.

Sure enough, in front of the Qin Shuying couple, Qin Yongtao suppressed his anger and let them in.

They had eaten and drunk, and gotten money too – quite a large bundle, a full hundred taels!

But for some reason, Big Brother wouldn’t leave after eating and drinking his fill, clutching the silver and insisting on staying at the Qin manor.

At first, the two of them could understand this – having lived in crude housing for some time without enjoying luxurious food and clothing, wanting to stay at the Qin manor a bit longer was understandable.

However, they had stayed for a very long time, and when Big Brother finally agreed to go home, after the three came out, he insisted on waiting at the main gate – what was this about?

They had waited for half an hour. Big Brother’s health was poor and needed their support, but they had been supporting him until their legs went soft and their hands cramped.

It was truly aggravating.

Now he wanted to approach and speak with Qin Yongtao again?

Lu Changsong suppressed his extreme impatience.

He was also someone who read the classics – the act of taking advantage already made him very embarrassed. Knowing that Qin Yongtao despised them, yet still wanting to put his face forward to be slapped again made him both irritated and disgusted.

However, since Big Brother wanted to approach, he had no choice.

Lu Changju had been very irritated, but the moment she saw Liang Zhe, all her irritation instantly vanished.

Lu Changxuan’s health was poor and he didn’t have much strength to speak, but this cry of “Yaoyao” was shouted with all his remaining strength. Though it was immediately drowned in the noise of servants moving gifts at the gate, Qin Shuying heard it.

Her body stiffened slightly, but she didn’t turn around.

However, Qin Yongtao’s smile immediately froze, and he frowned – why hadn’t they left yet?

Steward Qin also noticed that these three unwelcome guests still hadn’t left. He immediately walked toward them and asked rather rudely, “Third Young Master, is there something else?”

Lu Changxuan didn’t answer his question but kept his eyes glued to Qin Shuying.

It was her, it was definitely her!

He wouldn’t mistake her – absolutely not.

This morning he had felt she was familiar but couldn’t remember who exactly.

While eating in the Qin manor’s guest room, he had suddenly realized that Qin Shuying resembled Qin Yaoyao.

Especially one small gesture – whenever she was a bit nervous, she would unconsciously rub her right thumb and index finger together.

At the main gate, Qin Shuying had done exactly that.

Lu Changxuan’s main reason for not leaving the Qin manor was to recall what Qin Shuying had done these past few months.

Apparently, Qin Shuying had only visited the Lu manor once – on the child’s full-month celebration day.

But she was merely Qin Feifei’s cousin – why did she arrive at her cousin’s home carrying such reckless hostility? She didn’t even care about her own reputation, insisting on making the Lu manor a complete mess, not only exposing his mother’s true face but also letting the neighbors see his humiliation, and making everyone know the truth about Qin Yaoyao’s death…

Shortly after the full-month celebration, he had become obsessed with the Che family.

Now thinking back, Che Ju’er quickly disappeared, and the entire Che family vanished – this was obviously a honey trap.