The two families settled the matter – Qin Fangfang would become Sun Qingping’s noble concubine.

Ordinarily, although Qin Fangfang was the half-sister of Noble Consort Lianpin, Qin Yongtao’s official position wasn’t high, and Sun Qingping was the legitimate eldest son of the Earl Zhuangmu’s mansion, destined to inherit the earl’s title in the future. Under normal circumstances, Qin Fangfang would merely become a concubine.

Now things were different. The Duke Chu’s mansion exerted pressure on the Earl Zhuangmu’s mansion, and moreover, Sun Qingping was quite fond of Qin Fangfang, so he granted her the status of noble concubine.

The Earl Zhuangmu’s mansion sounded impressive in name, but in reality it was just an empty shell – neither did anyone hold important positions at court, nor did they have good economic support. Year after year, their expenses exceeded their income.

Precisely because of this, Sun Qingping’s legitimate elder sister Miss Sun had married a concubine-born son from the Duke Chu’s mansion. Furthermore, that Sun Qingping was skilled at cockfighting, dog racing, drinking, gambling, and whoring – these were his specialties. He had only one redeeming quality: he was extremely cowardly, never gambling big money or provoking those of high position and great power.

Within half a month, Xu Shi discovered that Qin Fangfang seemed to be pregnant – she was vomiting violently day and night. Not daring to call for a physician, she quietly summoned a midwife to examine her. The midwife said there was an eighty to ninety percent chance she was with child.

Learning of her pregnancy, Qin Fangfang cried, made scenes, and sought death, but Xu Shi suppressed all her outbursts. No one knew what Xu Shi said to her, but in the end, Qin Fangfang stopped making trouble and silently began preparing for her wedding.

With the main branch so quiet, Qin Shuying secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew Xu Shi couldn’t possibly let this matter rest, she currently didn’t have much time to deal with their scheming.

Since Qin Fangfang was becoming a concubine, after the date was set, she would be taken away very soon.

Time was tight. Before the appointed day, sisters from all branches came to add to her dowry.

When the maid announced Qin Shuying’s arrival, Qin Fangfang dug her nails into her flesh, her face rigid with tension.

Qin Fangfang was both shocked and frightened, filled with unease. Ever since the incident at the Duke Chu’s mansion, she had been confined by Xu Shi upon her return. Later, when the old madam began fasting and chanting Buddhist prayers, she exempted everyone from morning greetings. For over twenty days, they hadn’t met even once.

Every time she recalled the scene of being pushed through the door by Qin Shuying, Qin Fangfang found it unbelievable – where had Qin Shuying found such courage? Yet she never considered that according to the original plan, that maid was supposed to lead Qin Shuying into that room. At the time, when the maid wasn’t there, she herself should have led Qin Shuying into that room. If she had done so, what would Qin Shuying’s feelings have been?

After Qin Shuying entered, she looked around as if no one else existed, smiled, and said: “Eighth Sister, I heard that the Earl Zhuangmu’s mansion is quite impoverished – the servants only get two sets of clothes per year. After Sister goes there, I’m afraid you’ll never again have the comfort you enjoyed at home. This set of jewelry is made of pure gold. Although valuable, it’s rather vulgar, just sitting in the storeroom gathering dust with no use. Why not give it to Sister? If Sister ever lacks money in the future, you can even melt it down for silver. This is Elder Sister’s heartfelt gesture – I hope Sister will accept it with a smile.”

Nanny Zuo was Qin Fangfang’s dowry nanny, standing behind her, one hand pressing down hard on Qin Fangfang’s hand. Qin Fangfang suppressed her anger, wanting to mock her in return, but couldn’t utter a single word.

Everything Qin Shuying said was true.

“Thank you for Seventh Miss’s kind intention. Our young miss will remember it.”

Nanny Zuo also feared Qin Shuying might say something unpleasant and only hoped she would leave quickly.

Qin Shuying’s clear, water-like eyes fixed on Nanny Zuo’s face as she smiled slightly: “When the master speaks, a servant interrupts – Nanny Zuo, you’re also an old hand from Madam’s side, yet you still don’t understand proper etiquette. What a waste of Madam’s dedicated nurturing! However, today is Eighth Sister’s auspicious day, so I won’t hold it against you.”

Nanny Zuo was both angry and resentful but could only endure silently without making a sound, while still pressing down hard on Qin Fangfang.

Qin Shuying stood up. Qin Yunyun watched her with forced calm – this cousin who had once been submissive and timid now made her both incomprehensible and somewhat frightening.

Qin Shuying smiled and said: “Sixth Sister, tell me, isn’t Eighth Sister’s marriage quite wonderful?”

Qin Yunyun was stunned. Wonderful? Even ghosts knew this wasn’t anything good, yet Qin Shuying had the face to say such a thing!

Qin Yunyun angrily said: “Seventh Sister, what do you mean by this?”

Qin Shuying’s smile became even sweeter as she said in a voice everyone could hear: “Isn’t that so? After all, Eighth Sister’s marriage was only possible thanks to Sixth Sister’s help, don’t you think? Oh my, if only Sixth Sister had shown more pity for me back then and gone with me instead – then that Young Master Sun wouldn’t be Brother-in-law but Brother-in-law instead! Sixth Sister, tell me, isn’t that right? Speaking of which, Sixth Sister can be called the matchmaker for Eighth Sister and Young Master Sun! Sixth Sister, you’re truly remarkable – you must be the first matchmaker in our Qin family!”

For a boudoir maiden to speak so directly and without reserve – both Qin Fangfang and Qin Yunyun were struck speechless by her bold words, never dreaming there could be someone who spoke this way.

Qin Fangfang was stunned, Qin Yunyun was dazed, while Qin Shuying looked at the teacup in her hands with a radiant smile. They constantly spoke of feminine virtue, every sentence appearing refined and magnanimous, yet more poisonous than venom itself.

What matchmaker, brother-in-law, sister’s husband – such words they probably had never even heard before. Young ladies from prestigious families – who among them didn’t speak in thirds, concealing thirds? Even when cursing someone, they did so in roundabout ways.

Having walked among the common folk for many years, Qin Shuying had heard countless words more explicit than these. Sometimes when dealing with those common women, she had to adapt to local customs. But in front of Lu Changxuan, she had once felt ashamed of herself for not rejecting those women’s frank and forthright language.

Now thinking back, though those common women were frank and straightforward, their words might seem crude and unbearable to these boudoir ladies of prestigious families, yet they often contained wisdom gained from understanding worldly affairs.

While these madams and young ladies’ seemingly polite and courteous words often carried sinister undertones with soft knives, killing without bloodshed.

Within moments, Qin Yunyun regained her composure, her face flushed red: “Seventh Sister, you, you, you…”

Despite her usual sharp tongue and quick wit, she now found it difficult to find appropriate words to counter Qin Shuying.

Qin Fangfang stared blankly at Qin Yunyun, eyes unblinking, not knowing what she was thinking.

“Eighth Sister, the person you should thank most now is Sixth Sister. The most important event in your life was orchestrated single-handedly by Sixth Sister. Eighth Sister, don’t you think so?”

Qin Shuying smiled gracefully and without waiting for either to respond, walked away with a laugh.

When Qin Yunyun came to her senses, she found Qin Fangfang staring at her, making her feel a chill: “Sister, Seventh Sister’s words were deliberately meant to sow discord – you mustn’t fall for her trap!”

Qin Fangfang said: “Sixth Sister, I know! She was just deliberately trying to upset me!”

Yet in her heart, Qin Fangfang felt truly unsettled. If not for Qin Yunyun’s scheme, how would she have fallen into the trap as well? If Qin Yunyun had also gone along at that time, she certainly wouldn’t have suffered such humiliation. If Sixth Sister hadn’t made her go, then Sun Qingping might truly, as Qin Shuying said, have… the one marrying Sun Qingping would be her, not herself!

Qin Fangfang harbored secret resentment but dared not reveal even half of it.