Qu Linglong accepted the gift and thanked her solemnly: “Thank you, Great-Grandmother.”
Qin Shuying watched, her eyes growing warm.
Old Madam Qin would do this partly because Qu Linglong was truly intelligent, but also partly for her own sake.
This was Liang Zhen’s daughter. Old Madam Qin treating Qu Linglong this way meant Liang Zhen would owe her a favor, which was naturally good for her relationship with Liang Zhe as husband and wife.
As everyone chatted and laughed, Qin Lulu also arrived.
This was the first time Qin Shuying had seen her since Qin Lulu’s marriage.
She saw that Lulu was beaming with smiles, her complexion rosy—clearly she was living very comfortably.
The two held hands and talked for a while, then Dong Shi came over and said: “Old Ancestor, Sixth Sister heard that Fifth Young Madam and Seventh Young Madam had both returned, and misses them dearly. She requests both Young Madams to come speak with her.”
The marriage ceremonies of the Great Zhou varied by region and custom.
Even in the capital, these customs weren’t entirely uniform.
Qin Yunyun still had over an hour before she would begin leaving home. For now she remained in her maiden chambers, where female relatives and friends could all come to chat.
Qin Lulu and Qin Shuying exchanged glances, and Qin Shuying replied: “Old Ancestor, Sixth Sister is about to leave the pavilion. She’s probably reluctant to part with Uncle and Aunt, reluctant to part with us. Fifth Sister and I will go see her and keep Sixth Sister company, to help her not feel nervous.”
Old Madam Qin looked at Qin Shuying with meaningful eyes and said: “Exactly so. You go keep her company for a while.”
Qin Shuying smiled sweetly.
It seemed that while Qin Yunyun had indeed become much more well-behaved during this period, she certainly wasn’t willing to accept her fate. Who knew what kind of trouble she might stir up.
Old Madam Qin was personally overseeing things today—this bridal departure ceremony could not have any mishaps.
Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu walked hand in hand.
Fangfei Courtyard
Some of the maids in the courtyard looked familiar, others were strangers—presumably the unfamiliar ones were people arranged later. Among them were quite a few burly matrons with broad shoulders and thick waists, apparently assigned to watch over Qin Yunyun.
Upon entering the room, they heard it was quite lively inside. Besides Xu Peiwei, there were two somewhat familiar young ladies keeping Qin Yunyun company in conversation.
Qin Shuying recognized both these young ladies—one was Second Miss Liu from Counselor Liu’s family, and the other was First Miss Miao from Physician Miao’s family. Previously, at Duke Chu’s mansion, Qin Shuying had met them.
They were the same age as Qin Yunyun, having just reached the hairpin ceremony this year. Their families had also arranged marriages for them, but they hadn’t yet left their maiden homes.
Seeing Qin Shuying enter, they were momentarily stunned, then paid their respects.
Now that Qin Shuying was married and held an official title, Second Miss Liu and First Miss Miao first paid respects to Qin Shuying, who then returned their courtesy.
The moment Qin Yunyun saw Qin Shuying enter, her originally resentful gaze immediately became several degrees more vicious.
Qin Shuying spoke politely: “Sixth Sister, we haven’t seen each other for quite some days. Today with your makeup and dress, you’re truly more beautiful than flowers—I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Qin Yunyun took a deep breath and said: “Yes, it’s been quite some days. Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister both look very comfortable—I suppose you’re living very contentedly.”
Qin Lulu said: “Whether one is comfortable or not is something one creates for oneself. Sixth Sister, are all your things in order? Do you need our help with anything?”
Qin Yunyun’s voice was very cold: “There’s nothing that needs help. Peiwei, Sister Liu, Sister Miao, Fifth Sister—I have something to say to Seventh Sister. Please go wait outside for now.”
Xu Peiwei quickly left.
Qin Shuying was truly too frightening. Xu Peiwei now felt chilled whenever she saw her.
Setting aside the incident at Dongyin Temple, Qin Shuying at the traveling palace had been even more terrifying. Xu Peiwei believed that when those bees chased Liang Qiong, Qin Shuying’s hand was definitely involved.
Liang Qiong could have married a prince, but Qin Shuying probably did something to interfere, resulting in Liang Qiong only marrying a minor Prince Huo Luo. Though it was fourth rank, how could it compare to Liang Zhe’s fourth rank?
Later, when she married Liang Zhe, she didn’t know what happened inside Pingxi Earl’s mansion, but a few days ago, news had spread among the capital’s womenfolk that control of Pingxi Earl’s mansion’s household management had transferred from Luo Meixiang to Qin Shuying.
The ladies were all amazed—Qin Shuying’s methods were truly formidable. You must know that Pingxi Earl’s mansion was vast with extensive properties; that household management wasn’t easy to control.
First of all, the old-timers in the mansion wouldn’t submit to Qin Shuying’s arrangements. If she had no people to deploy, Qin Shuying would just be an empty shell, manipulated and controlled by others—she’d probably cry before it was too late.
But in just a few days, Qin Shuying had organized Pingxi Earl’s mansion perfectly. She made examples to warn others, boldly and extensively adjusting personnel. For a time, the management matrons of Pingxi Earl’s mansion’s inner residence were silent as cicadas in winter, with no one daring to make a peep.
Second Miss Liu and First Miss Miao naturally also knew about the changes at Pingxi Earl’s mansion. They were both curious about Qin Shuying and held her in some awe.
They were both legitimate daughters of their families, taught household management by their mothers, so they naturally knew the difficulties involved. Even families like theirs found it challenging, let alone Pingxi Earl’s mansion with over a thousand people in the inner residence alone.
After the four of them left, Qin Shuying sat on a stool to one side, with Lu Ye standing behind her and Baiyun guarding outside the room.
Qin Shuying asked directly: “Sixth Sister, do you have something to tell me?”
Qin Yunyun’s gaze became icy cold: “Second Sister, you truly are Second Sister!”
Qin Shuying remained unmoved, neither confirming nor denying, saying: “If you have something to say, please say it directly. Don’t speak of irrelevant matters. If you say one more word of such boring talk, I have no need to listen—there are many more interesting things waiting for me up ahead.”
With that, Qin Shuying stood up.
Qin Yunyun’s chest heaved violently. She said angrily: “You think I believed it just because Eighth Sister told me? It was Lu Changxuan who told Third Sister before he died, and Third Sister wrote to tell me!”
“Oh?”
Casual and noncommittal.
Qin Yunyun shot up, pointing at Qin Shuying’s nose: “You demon! You came back for revenge, you…”
Qin Shuying glanced lightly at Lu Ye and said: “Lu Ye, slap her!”
Lu Ye responded “Yes!” and stepped forward, raising her palm to deliver two crisp slaps to Qin Yunyun.
The sharp sound of the slaps and the pain made Qin Yunyun step back two paces. She looked at Qin Shuying in disbelief: “You, you, you—do you know what day this is? You actually hit me?”
Then she touched her face in disbelief.
Qin Shuying said coolly: “Sixth Sister, I am now a fourth-rank Lady of Honor. You keep slandering me with your words—hitting you is getting off lightly.”
Lu Ye said: “Sixth Miss, sorry, I struck a bit hard. You have two palm prints on your face. Look, will you personally even out your makeup yourself, or shall I help you?”
Tears burst from Qin Yunyun’s eyes as she pointed at Lu Ye: “You, you lowly servant, you dare to hit me?”
Lu Ye pouted, her contempt plain to see, shaking her hand and saying: “Sixth Miss, I am no longer a servant. Please watch your words, Sixth Miss.”