Shuangyun Hall

Seeing Qin Shuying enter with furrowed brows and somewhat disheveled hair, Qin Yunyun couldn’t suppress the joy in her heart. She didn’t even notice that Lianpin hadn’t appeared.

“Seventh Sister, what happened to you?”

Qin Shuying hesitated, looking at Qin Yunyun, then at Xu Shi, stammering: “I myself don’t have… nothing much.”

Qin Yunyun was delighted. It seemed the plan had succeeded. Hmph, today she had offended someone important. When they returned, grandmother would surely be furious, and the Liu family marriage arrangement might well be called off.

Qin Yunyun pulled Qin Shuying to sit on an embroidered stool with feigned concern: “Seventh Sister, we’re all family sisters—what can’t be said? Just tell us, so I can help you analyze the situation.”

You want to see me make a fool of myself, don’t you?

Qin Shuying sat up straight but still didn’t answer Qin Yunyun’s question, only saying: “Sixth Sister, I really don’t have any problems.”

Xu Shi said: “Seventh Girl, whatever the matter is, Her Ladyship will make decisions for you. There’s no need to be afraid.”

Qin Shuying’s eyes widened slightly, her bright eyes looking at Xu Shi with an expression of sudden understanding: “Whatever the matter, Her Ladyship can make decisions?”

Xu Shi raised a proud smile: “Naturally.”

Qin Shuying appeared thoughtful.

Seeing her apparent enlightenment, Xu Shi thought to herself that this matter was likely settled. Thinking of how the shops under this girl’s name would be used by her in the future, with endless silver flowing in, she couldn’t help but beam with joy.

“Seventh Girl, this is the benefit of having backing. Think about it—if not for Her Ladyship, could you have come to the palace? When word of this spreads, how many people will envy you for gaining Her Ladyship’s favor. In the future at the Liu family, if there are those who can’t read situations and try to offend you, they’ll have to think twice.”

Qin Shuying lowered her head slightly, appearing somewhat shy.

This probably meant she accepted her words?

Xu Shi became even more delighted, though she maintained perfect composure on the surface: “Young ladies should be refined and noble. After returning, Seventh Girl should prepare well for marriage and not walk around outside anymore. Speaking of which, it damages your reputation, and even if the Liu family considers Her Ladyship’s face, they might still be displeased. If the Liu family is displeased, Seventh Girl’s future days will naturally be difficult.”

Qin Shuying looked up at Xu Shi again, her expression calm, her thoughts unreadable.

Xu Shi assumed she had listened to everything and felt pleased. She picked up her tea, took a sip, and dabbed the corners of her lips with a handkerchief.

Qin Yunyun felt annoyed but knew this wasn’t the time to act out. She also knew her mother had other plans and would naturally find ways to leave Qin Shuying with neither money nor prospects.

She said: “Seventh Sister, Master Long has returned. We should focus on learning needlework, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and household management—these are what young ladies from scholarly families like us should be doing. Moreover, now that the weather is getting better, Mother plans to take us out to meet some noble ladies, broaden our horizons, and make some good friends. Seventh Sister, you should let Mother help manage those troublesome shops of yours—she’ll handle everything properly without any problems. You don’t know this, but the young ladies from aristocratic families and noble houses in the capital most despise nouveau riche upstarts. If you continue going back and forth to shops every day, they certainly won’t associate with you and will inevitably gossip about you. Seventh Sister, you mustn’t lose the greater for the lesser.”

Qin Shuying’s eyes were like clear water as she looked steadily at Qin Yunyun, listening very seriously to this entire speech.

Qin Shuying hadn’t been this obedient in a long time. Qin Yunyun felt secretly pleased, and Xu Shi was quite satisfied as well.

“Seventh Girl, what your Sixth Sister said comes from the heart—only family sisters would care for you like this. Those few shops should still be managed by me. Times are different now—the Liu family already knows you manage so many shops and are somewhat displeased. Think about that Liu family young master—what an outstanding young man. He’s about to take the imperial examinations. When he first became a scholar, it was effortless, and when results are announced, won’t he return as a jinshi? If he knew that you, Seventh Girl, show your face in public like a merchant’s daughter, personally managing shops, would he be happy? This time is different from that time. Seventh Girl must think clearly—this Liu family marriage is the best match you can get now. It’s only because the Liu family considers Her Ladyship’s face that they haven’t called off this engagement. If it were anyone else, knowing about your behavior, they would have ended this marriage long ago.”

After listening, Qin Shuying smiled gracefully and said: “First Madam speaks very correctly.”

Wasn’t that exactly right?

The Liu family was indeed only considering Lianpin’s face, which was why they hadn’t called off this marriage.

Seeing Qin Shuying being so sensible, Xu Shi couldn’t help feeling proud: “Then it’s settled.”

Qin Shuying sat there with a bright smile, showing no signs of anything amiss.

Qin Yunyun smirked inwardly. Once they returned and seized control of the shops, then told the old ancestor about her offending palace nobles, let’s see how she could still smile!

Xu Shi had finished saying what needed to be said. With several palace maids around who weren’t Lianpin’s confidantes, naturally she couldn’t speak more explicitly, so she stopped mentioning it and just happily drank tea.

Sitting there bored, Xu Shi asked a nearby little palace maid: “How is it that Her Ladyship hasn’t returned yet?”

Little Ruzi had gone out earlier to gather information since Lianpin hadn’t returned, so naturally he wasn’t present.

That little palace maid wasn’t one of Lianpin’s confidantes, so naturally she didn’t know Lianpin’s plans and whereabouts. She only said: “Madam, this servant doesn’t know. I’ll go check right away.”

Xu Shi nodded. Just as the little palace maid was about to leave, Qin Shuying said: “This aunt needn’t go look. Just now Aunt Han Dan committed an offense, and Her Ladyship has taken Aunt Han Dan to Delin Palace to apologize.”

“Gone to Delin Palace… What? What did you say?”

Xu Shi was so shocked that she accidentally dropped her cup. Fortunately, there was carpet laid there, so the cup didn’t break.

Qin Shuying still wore her bright smile: “Han Dan offended Princess Fuping, so Her Ladyship went to Delin Palace to apologize to Consort De. This niece doesn’t understand palace rules, but hearing Her Ladyship mention it, Han Dan will probably receive at least thirty strokes of the rod.”

“That’s not… you…”

Qin Yunyun was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up, pointing at Qin Shuying, wanting to say something. But after an instant, she swallowed the words that had reached her lips and lowered her finger.

She looked at Qin Shuying in horror, enormous waves crashing through her mind. A strange feeling instantly struck her heart, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Xu Shi’s mind turned twice before she immediately understood: Han Dan had failed!

After Han Dan had led Qin Shuying out, she had returned, and judging by her expression, it seemed Qin Shuying had fallen into the trap. She had assumed that with Lianpin taking action, how could it possibly fail? So she hadn’t thought much about it.

From this perspective, Qin Shuying had somehow ensnared Han Dan instead!

Qin Shuying still had that smile on her lips: “I don’t know who instructed Han Dan, but she actually tried to sow discord between Consort De and Lianpin Your Ladyship. After thirty strokes of the rod, she might lose half her life. First Madam, don’t you think it’s strange? Han Dan is clearly Lianpin Your Ladyship’s personal maid, yet she wanted to test Consort De’s attitude—wasn’t this making Consort De angry with Lianpin Your Ladyship? Sigh! I truly worry for Lianpin Your Ladyship!”

Xu Shi swayed and nearly fell over.