Having said this, Qin Shuying rose to her feet, clutching her handkerchief, and curtsied to the ladies. “Please forgive me, madams.”

Then she lifted her feet to leave.

Madam Lu was so angry she felt dizzy. How could there be such a shameless rogue? If she really let her leave today, and she went outside to spread nonsense, saying that she had been driven away, how could she ever go out visiting again in the future?

Of course she had to keep Qin Shuying here!

But how to keep her?

Madam Lu’s eyes immediately filled with tears as she said to the ladies, “Just look at this – Madam Liang comes to our home and lectures Ruyang here, putting on airs everywhere. I was only acting out of kindness, afraid that her lack of propriety would make people laugh at her when she went out, which is why I spoke a few extra words. If it weren’t for the sake of our family relationship, would I bother doing such a thankless task that even dogs would despise? This is just wonderful – not only is no one grateful, but I’m also left with the reputation of driving people away. This is truly a disaster that fell from the sky!”

If it had been anyone else, having made the hostess cry, they would have died of shame or guilt. But Qin Shuying paid no attention at all and had already walked far away.

From the corner of her eye, Madam Lu caught sight of Qin Shuying and felt both hateful and bewildered. Had she spoken those words for nothing? Had she performed that act for nothing? Surely she couldn’t go and beg her to stay?

Grand Aunt Liang was also completely bewildered by Qin Shuying’s unconventional actions. If this had been any other family, they would naturally have tried their utmost to keep Qin Shuying. But Grand Aunt Liang prided herself on being an elder, and her noble title was higher than Qin Shuying’s, so she couldn’t bring herself to lose face like that. If she sent someone to forcibly keep her, wouldn’t that show that she was afraid of Qin Shuying?

In just this moment of hesitation, Qin Shuying had already walked out of the courtyard gate.

Qin Shuying naturally knew that acting this way was too arrogant, but Madam Lu’s tearful complaint had truly angered her. Acting like that made it seem as if Qin Shuying was bullying her – what kind of thing was this Madam Lu to dig such a trap for her?

She, Qin Shuying, simply refused to jump into it. Moreover, she had something else on her mind.

She had just noticed that the two people who had emerged from that ox cart entering the Lu residence earlier were very suspicious. Although she had only seen their backs, because of the traffic congestion at the time, those two people had waited at the gate for quite a while before entering, giving her a clear view.

Those two people consisted of a man around forty years old and a woman in her thirties, appearing to be a married couple. Both were dressed like farming folk, very neatly groomed. The man appeared honest and simple but was actually very shrewd.

Just looking at their appearance, it would be easy for people to assume they were respectable stewards of the Lu family.

But today was a special occasion – stewards should enter through the back gate, not the front gate. So the passersby’s speculation made sense – they were very likely relatives of the Lu family from the South Sea.

There are exceptions to everything. What if they weren’t relatives of the Lu family, but held some other identity?

Looking at that man’s shrewd appearance, he must also be someone who wielded power. Although the woman’s appearance wasn’t striking, she carried herself with considerable presence.

Could they be…

Once this thought arose, Qin Shuying urgently needed verification.

So she first walked out of the courtyard with steady steps, but once she left the sight of Grand Aunt Liang and Madam Lu, her pace immediately quickened considerably.

She had paid attention when entering earlier, so upon leaving, she immediately headed east with a clear target in mind.

That direction led to the outer courtyard where the study was located.

Because the Lu residence wasn’t very large, the pavilions, towers, and halls were relatively compact. For aesthetic appeal, there were also many plants, making it easy to conceal one’s movements.

Qin Shuying moved swiftly, turning several times before hiding among some lush pine and cypress trees. Ziteng and Hui Yun also followed her with quick movements. They encountered several maids and elderly servants along the way, but since there were many guests today anyway, and Qin Shuying appeared cold as ice and aloof, the maids and servants only looked at her curiously without questioning her.

Earlier in the carriage, she had already given some instructions to Ziteng and Hui Yun. She gave them a meaningful look toward the study, and Hui Yun nodded lightly, using a clump of bamboo as cover to reach the back of the study.

Qin Shuying and Ziteng didn’t have Hui Yun’s exceptional skills, so fearing they might disturb someone, they only hid behind an artificial rock formation.

Qin Shuying and Ziteng waited behind the artificial rocks with some anxiety.

Hui Yun eavesdropped for a while, and shortly after, the people in the study left. She tiptoed over to reunite with Qin Shuying and whispered quietly, “People from the South Sea mines.”

Qin Shuying’s heart shook. Without saying a word, she turned and left, returning to the inner courtyard.

Meanwhile, Grand Aunt Liang and Madam Lu had already sent people to look for Qin Shuying and her servants in the courtyard. When a matron saw Qin Shuying, she hurried over: “Madam Liang, the old madam requests that you come speak with her.”

Qin Shuying snorted coldly: “I hadn’t expected that this residence would be so winding – going round and round, only to circle back again! Madam Lu detests me, yet she doesn’t look at how Lu Ruyang spoke so rudely earlier, yet dared to scold me. Please trouble this matron to tell Grand Aunt that it’s not that I’m unwilling, but that I dare not.”

Having said this, her expression became cold as ice as she lifted her feet and headed west.

The matron cried out in distress, but Qin Shuying’s imposing presence was overwhelming, cold as ice, and the matron truly didn’t dare to stop her.

The matron was both secretly amazed – how could Qin Shuying, just a young wife who had recently married into the family, possess such presence? – while hurriedly signaling a maid to report to Grand Aunt Liang, then following closely behind Qin Shuying herself.

“Madam Liang, the birthday banquet will begin shortly. Please stay for the meal before leaving.”

Qin Shuying held her shoulders high, saying not a word, not even bothering to spare that matron a glance.

Qin Shuying quickly reached the second gate and headed toward the main entrance.

The matter of Qin Shuying’s unhappy departure had already been reported to Lu Wangzhi by Grand Aunt Liang, and Lu Wangzhi had sent someone to watch at the front gate. When Qin Shuying reached the front entrance, a man who looked like a steward made a respectful bow: “Madam Liang, our humble residence still has the noon banquet. Please stay for the meal before leaving – there will certainly be time.”

Qin Shuying knew that the Lu family certainly hadn’t told the coachman that she wanted to leave, so there was no carriage at the gate now. Generally speaking, carriages would be driven to the back of the courtyard to rest, and someone would also host the coachman for a meal.

The snow outside hadn’t stopped, and the road surface was covered with deep snow. It would be impossible for the three of them to walk home.

But did they think they could keep her here with just a steward?

Ridiculous.

Qin Shuying didn’t make things difficult for this steward, only saying: “Since Madam Lu doesn’t treasure having people from the Liang family as guests, she need only say so directly. I won’t darken her door again in the future. Ziteng, go rent a carriage. We’re leaving.”

The steward watched as Ziteng braved the wind and snow to go out and look for a carriage, and was startled. He hadn’t expected that this Madam Liang would be the type to cause trouble at the slightest disagreement. It seemed the master had miscalculated – though you couldn’t blame the master for miscalculating. What family’s new daughter-in-law would be this stubborn and forceful?

The steward hurriedly gave a meaningful look to a nearby servant, who rushed toward the inner courtyard.

The steward smiled apologetically: “Madam Liang, you also know that there are many guests today, and both the front and back courtyards are busy. Please be understanding of any inadequate hospitality.”