Qin Shuying took the towel Lu Ye handed her and wiped the sweat from her face. After walking slowly for a while and steadying her breathing, she said: “Lu Ye, call Hong Juan to do my hair.”
Lu Ye went on the errand, and Hong Juan arrived quickly.
Hui Qin didn’t come into the room much—most of the time it was Nanny Fu, Lu Ye, and Hong Juan serving Qin Shuying.
“Miss, what hairstyle would you like today?” Hong Juan asked, looking at Qin Shuying in the mirror.
“Cough cough cough… Sister Hong Juan, you decide.”
Qin Shuying’s earlier vigorous and spirited appearance immediately vanished, replaced by a weak and indecisive demeanor.
Hong Juan sighed softly and subtly advised her: “Miss, though your health is poor, you still need to receive guests. In this servant’s opinion, why not arrange a double topknot? It would add some liveliness and prettiness to Miss, while also appearing composed and dignified…”
Hong Juan’s words were very insightful, and Qin Shuying nodded approvingly in her heart.
“The plum blossom chignon suits Seventh Miss best—let’s do the plum blossom chignon!” Hui Qin burst in, declaring loudly.
Hong Juan frowned slightly, looking at Hui Qin with apparent displeasure. Hui Qin paid no attention, glaring back at Hong Juan, then said: “Hong Juan, Nanny Zhang from First Madam’s side was just looking for you, saying they’re short-handed today and need you to help out first.”
Hong Juan refused without thinking: “Miss can’t spare anyone here…”
Hui Qin interrupted her: “Hong Juan, are you trying to make Miss appear unfilial?”
Hong Juan laughed coldly: “I really don’t know how serving Miss makes her appear unfilial!”
Hui Qin was stunned, obviously not expecting the usually silent Hong Juan to contradict her like this. From outside, Nanny Zhang’s voice could already be heard: “Seventh Miss, First Madam’s side is short a hand, so this old servant came to Seventh Miss’s courtyard to borrow someone. Hong Juan has always been careful and steady—would Seventh Miss be willing to let this old servant take her to use for a while?”
Entering without announcement and speaking so loudly—Qin Shuying’s position as master was truly pathetic. However, Qin Shuying had long grown accustomed to the rudeness of the maids and old women in Spring Garden, and was also used to Nanny Zhang’s arrogance.
Hong Juan looked at Qin Shuying with determined eyes. Qin Shuying understood the hint in that gaze—she was asking her to refuse.
But Qin Shuying welcomed Nanny Zhang with a somewhat ingratiating smile: “What words are these, Nanny? First Madam has always taught us to prioritize the greater good, and I’ve always kept that in my heart. Hong Juan, go with Nanny Zhang. Remember, you must do your duty well.”
“Miss…” Hong Juan still wanted to fight to stay, but Qin Shuying’s face darkened as she said: “What? Am I the miss or are you the miss?”
These words were rather harsh. Hong Juan’s worried gaze quickly changed from determination to disappointment, and she had no choice but to follow Nanny Zhang.
“Miss, stop looking. Hurry and do your hair—the guests will arrive soon.”
As Hui Qin spoke, she pushed a second-rank maid forward to Qin Shuying, while she herself laid out the clothes Xu Shi had recently had tailored for the third branch girls. She had chosen all the colors and styles herself—Qin Shuying’s was moon-white.
Qin Shuying closed her eyes and let Hui Qin and the second-rank maid work on her, smiling coldly inside. The second-rank maid’s hands were quick, and she finished the hairstyle in no time.
Hui Qin had also prepared the clothes. Under their ministrations, Qin Shuying’s appearance was transformed.
In the mirror, Qin Shuying wore an old-fashioned plum blossom chignon with only a single gold hairpin. Hui Qin had added extra powder to her face, making her complexion appear pale and her eyes lifeless. Combined with the outdated, nearly white clothing, this wasn’t an outfit for attending a birthday celebration—it was more suitable for attending a funeral…
In her previous life, though Qin Yaoyao was a concubine’s daughter, she carried herself with dignity and grace, and Old Madam treated her fairly well. While not as beloved as the legitimate daughters, she never lacked for what she deserved. Moreover, Qin Yaoyao knew how to conduct herself, often showing filial piety before Old Madam and understanding all of her habits and preferences perfectly. Old Madam liked girls who understood propriety and most detested those who didn’t know their place or understand etiquette.
Dressing like someone in mourning at Old Madam’s birthday banquet—Xu Shi intended to make Old Madam completely disgusted with her.
“Really quite nice!” Hui Qin exclaimed in praise.
Lu Ye had been sent out by Hui Qin earlier to fetch something. When she returned and saw the person in the mirror, she was startled. After staring for a long moment, she tentatively asked: “Miss?”
“The guests are coming soon—we can’t wait any longer.” Hui Qin completely ignored Lu Ye. As she spoke, she sent someone to get a small hand warmer and thick cloak for Qin Shuying. “Miss has a weak constitution and can’t stand the cold since winter began. Look how thoughtfully I’ve planned—I even prepared a hand warmer.”
“Miss…” Lu Ye was very distressed. With so many guests seeing Miss in such poor health and dressed like she was in mourning, which family would dare marry her? Among today’s guests was Madam Liu, whose son Liu Junqing was the husband Master had arranged for Qin Shuying before his death.
But Qin Shuying seemed not to hear Lu Ye’s words and said very happily: “Lu Ye, it’s cold today and I was worried about catching a chill. Sister Hui Qin’s consideration is truly thoughtful. This way, I can play more with Sixth Sister and the others. I haven’t left Spring Garden’s gates in so long!”
Seeing Qin Shuying’s expectant expression, Lu Ye turned her head away, wiped her eyes, and said nothing more. Hui Qin smiled with satisfaction, helped Qin Shuying put on the cloak, and supported her hand as they left the room.
Before leaving, Hui Qin looked Qin Shuying up and down once more and laughed smugly. That troublesome Nanny Fu had already been sent away by Xu Shi under some pretext—otherwise, today’s affair wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
Qin Shuying also smiled. She understood Xu Shi’s plan now—she wanted to ruin her marriage prospects!
However, Xu Shi could never have imagined that Qin Shuying was happy about this. The men in this world were heartless and cold—she had no intention of marrying in this lifetime. This lifetime was for properly “repaying” Xu Shi.
She had been worrying about how to get rid of Liu Junqing, and Xu Shi had directed this performance for her. How could she not cooperate well? But in Qin Shuying’s plan, today’s main event wasn’t this performance, so how Madam Liu viewed her wasn’t important.
That Nanny Fu was so easily sent away was naturally also part of Qin Shuying’s advance arrangements. Though Nanny Fu was completely opposed to this, she couldn’t go against Qin Shuying and had no choice but to dejectedly follow Miss’s instructions.
In Nanny Fu’s eyes, the Liu family was the most reliable support for Qin Shuying besides Old Madam. She had repeatedly reminded Qin Shuying to perform well in front of Madam Liu, especially last night when she repeatedly urged her to make a good impression today. Qin Shuying could understand Nanny Fu’s thinking but wouldn’t act accordingly, so she placated Nanny Fu with repeated promises that she would take it seriously.
Having died once, she saw through the coldness of human nature. Liu Junqing’s father, Liu Gongshan, was a fourth-rank prefect with only Liu Junqing as his legitimate son. How could Madam Liu possibly let her precious son marry an orphan girl? Even if Qin Yongzhou had once saved Liu Gongshan, even if Qin Yongzhou and Liu Gongshan had deep friendship, it still couldn’t overcome the four words “when one dies, the lamp goes out,” couldn’t overcome Madam Liu’s pillow talk.