Several days later.

Mo Yiting was getting married, and both Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying attended the banquet.

Mo Yiting was a friend Liang Zhe could speak with in the capital, and the gifts they brought were all carefully selected by Qin Shuying.

Though Liang Zhe had a good relationship with Mo Yiting, Liang Yunshan’s relationship with Duke Chu’s heir was merely ordinary. However, Duke Chu’s status was what it was, so the public household sent the chief steward to personally deliver congratulatory gifts.

The two groups simply went their separate ways.

After arriving at Duke Chu’s mansion, men and women were separated – Liang Zhe went to the outer courtyard while Qin Shuying went to the inner courtyard.

The bride Mo Yiting married was said to be personally chosen by Madam Ma – the legitimate eldest granddaughter of the current Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, Rong Yu. Her given name was Mingxuan, she was fifteen this year, and had come of age a few months ago.

When Qin Shuying arrived, there weren’t too many guests yet.

Duchess Chu personally received the female guests.

The Qin mansion had sent people as usual this time. Old Madam Qin’s health hadn’t been good since autumn began, so she didn’t come. Instead, Dong Shi and Qin Yue came.

Between spring and autumn, only a few months had passed, yet the old ancestor’s health had deteriorated like this. Qin Shuying felt very distressed.

Though Qin Shuying was the eldest young mistress of Pingxi Marquis’s mansion, she was an eldest young mistress without real power. Many of the household mistresses merely observed, and few actively sought her out for conversation.

Dong Shi actively came to find Qin Shuying to talk, so Qin Shuying walked outside with Dong Shi, asking about Old Madam Qin’s health. Hearing that she had been quite stable these days, her heart felt much more at ease.

Dong Shi said: “Shuying, this is all thanks to the old ginseng you sent.”

“Things are dead, but matters are alive. It’s all because eldest sister-in-law manages the household well and hasn’t let the old ancestor suffer any disturbances that her health improves day by day.”

“This is all what I should do.”

Qin Yue had just turned thirteen a few days ago. She ate longevity noodles and invited several friends to play at the Qin mansion. Qin Shuying had also sent gifts over.

Seeing Qin Shuying, Qin Yue was also very happy and spoke about Qin Lulu: “Fifth Aunt is busy embroidering her trousseau, and Second Great-grandmother won’t even let her come out. Knowing that Seventh Aunt would come today, Fifth Aunt secretly told me she was dying of anxiety.”

The three chatted and laughed. When a young lady came to speak with Qin Yue, Qin Yue apologized and went to talk with the newly acquainted noble lady.

Dong Shi lowered her voice: “Shuying, yesterday we received word that Third Brother-in-law won’t make it.”

Qin Shuying’s eyes were like autumn water, her lips slightly curved upward: “Is that so?”

No matter how Dong Shi tried to suppress it, she couldn’t control those strange thoughts in her heart: “He did so many unconscionable things – how could Second Aunt let him off? Don’t you think so?”

Qin Shuying’s eyes were clear and limpid as she looked directly at Dong Shi: “Eldest sister-in-law is right.”

Dong Shi felt her behavior was truly petty and narrow-minded, but she just couldn’t help it – this really wasn’t her fault.

What Eighth Aunt had said was truly too incredible, but she just couldn’t help being curious.

However, looking at her now, Qin Shuying showed not the slightest abnormality.

Was it that Eighth Aunt was overthinking, or was Qin Shuying too good at pretending?

“There’s also Third Aunt – she’s been tormented by the Lu family until she’s lost all human appearance. When I saw her that day, I was nearly frightened to death. The Lu family people truly have ruthless hearts – how do they dare? She’s still a legitimate aunt from the Qin mansion. They’re truly barefoot and unafraid of those wearing shoes – there’s nothing they wouldn’t dare do.”

Qin Shuying said lightly: “If eldest sister-in-law would just visit the Lu family once, the Lu family people definitely wouldn’t dare.”

Dong Shi immediately fell silent.

Qin Yongtao was eager to distance himself from Lu Changxuan, and the Old Madam also hated how Qin Feifei had treated Qin Yaoyao. Though she, Dong Shi, was supposedly the household mistress, how would she dare to displease the master and Old Madam?

After talking for a while, the conversation turned to Qin Fangfang: “Eighth Aunt arrived in Guangnan Prefecture, first fell ill, and only held the ceremony after recovering. From this, it seems Chang Daocheng is also someone who knows how to cherish beauty.”

Qin Shuying responded indifferently without saying much.

As long as Qin Fangfang didn’t come to provoke her, it would be fine for everyone to coexist peacefully.

“Recently His Majesty issued an edict for the great selection of palace maidens – this is to choose consorts for the princes. The matter has been delayed repeatedly, and many people could no longer contain themselves. Now that the edict has come down, the capital will have quite a show to watch. Who knows which family the Sixth Prince’s consort will fall to.”

Qin Shuying toyed with the handkerchief in her hand and asked: “Does His Highness usually come to the mansion?”

Dong Shi said: “His Highness came just a few days ago, saying it was a pity he couldn’t meet with Seventh Brother-in-law for a few drinks.”

During those days, the Sixth Prince probably had urgent matters at hand; otherwise, on the day of returning to the natal home, he would certainly have gone to the Qin mansion.

After talking for a while longer, Qin Shuying learned that Xu Shi now occasionally moved about in the mansion, but didn’t participate in her son’s and daughter’s marriage arrangements, leaving everything to Dong Shi’s discretion.

Having talked about the Qin mansion’s affairs thoroughly, Dong Shi became concerned about Pingxi Marquis’s mansion matters. Qin Shuying spoke truthfully, telling her about some of her experiences at the Qin mansion.

Of course, some things were impossible to discuss.

Hearing that Qin Shuying didn’t need to serve Old Madam Liang and Luo Meixiang breakfast, though Dong Shi didn’t know the reason, she understood that Seventh Aunt had extraordinary methods.

Just as they were talking, they heard a mocking voice: “Oh my, I wondered who it was – turns out it’s the Pingxi Marquis’s eldest young mistress who can’t even manage the household and exists in name only!”

It was actually Princess Fu’an.

Behind Princess Fu’an followed Yun Jingshu and Liu Sujiang.

Qin Shuying and Dong Shi curtsied to Princess Fu’an.

After Qin Shuying straightened up, she wasn’t angry at all about Princess Fu’an’s earlier mockery, but instead smiled warmly.

Watching Qin Shuying’s smile, Dong Shi instinctively felt that this Seventh Aunt, who never spared anyone with her tongue, probably had something good to let Princess Fu’an know her prowess.

Indeed, Dong Shi heard Qin Shuying ask with a smile: “Your Highness, looking at you like this, are you pregnant? How many months along are you?”

Princess Fu’an immediately flew into a rage. She had gained a little weight recently, but it was only a little – was it so obvious that she looked pregnant?

Moreover, she hadn’t even consummated her marriage yet – how could she be pregnant?

However, she couldn’t possibly say this.

Princess Fu’an was so angry she couldn’t speak. This occasion wasn’t suitable for scolding Qin Shuying either, with so many people coming and going watching.

Qin Shuying took advantage of this gap to say: “Judging by your expression, this subject’s wife guessed wrong. Oh my, Concubine Yun is even plumper than before – it seems the pregnant one should be Concubine Yun.”

Princess Fu’an’s eyes sharpened as they shot toward Yun Jingshu.

Yun Jingshu reflexively shrank back, her hand unconsciously covering her lower abdomen.

Qin Shuying smiled even more sincerely: “The child in Concubine Yun’s belly must be the Liu family’s first grandson. If Madam Liu knew, she would surely be overjoyed. This subject’s wife congratulates Your Highness.”

Having said this, she gave Dong Shi a meaningful look, and the two prepared to leave.

Princess Fu’an angrily shouted: “Stop!”

But Qin Shuying paid no attention and walked away directly.