Ziteng smiled with pursed lips: “Nanny Mi, we’re not benefiting from your good fortune. From now on, we’ll have to rely on Nanny Mi even more, so we can receive red envelopes every day.”

Lu Ye also said: “Whatever Miss says, I’ll do, so I can receive more red envelopes.”

Everyone laughed even harder.

Hong Juan’s smile bloomed like a flower. Knowing Miss was generous, the red envelope in her hands contained at least fifty taels. This was equivalent to her entire family’s income for two or three years!

Thinking of her mother’s irrepressible smile when she brought it home, Hong Juan’s heart leaped with joy, and she also laughed: “Nanny Mi, speaking of which, after receiving red envelopes, we should treat you to a feast.”

Everyone began discussing the feast arrangements with great excitement.

Nanny Fu, Ziteng, and the other personal attendants all received red envelopes, and every other maid and woman in Yilan Garden also received one. Even the rough-work women received red envelopes of two taels of silver.

This news instantly spread throughout the Qin Manor, arousing countless people’s envy.

A rough-work woman with a monthly salary of only four hundred wen suddenly received a red envelope worth two taels of silver for no particular reason—equivalent to seven months’ wages! How could this not make people from other courtyards green with envy?

If even rough-work women received this much, wouldn’t the maids in Seventh Miss’s quarters have gotten dozens of taels!

Qin Yunyun reacted most violently, fiercely smashing a precious tea bowl.

She just couldn’t understand why Qin Shuying had such good fortune!

As a legitimate daughter, Qin Yunyun was vaguely aware of the Qin Manor’s economic situation.

The Qin Manor’s foundation was thin. Back when Old Madam’s natal family completely collapsed, the Qin family itself wasn’t from any prestigious clan, having only modest farmland, shops, and a little savings.

Old Master Qin and Old Madam personally farmed and traded to raise their sons and send them to school. Supporting three scholars was a heavy burden, so when Qin Yongtao entered office, the Qin family had only an empty mansion left.

Fortunately, the three Qin brothers were all capable—each had a relatively smooth career path. Though Qin Yongluo’s official rank wasn’t high, he was conscientious and never slacked off.

Only then did the Qin family gradually improve, but soon after, the three brothers married and had children one after another, which was another major expense, and the Qin family endured several more years of hardship.

Only in recent years, relying on the Qin Manor’s accumulated reputation and careful management, had life become more comfortable. But with such a large household, they only had those few shops and estates generating income, while the Qin Manor supported nearly two hundred people.

So many people’s daily needs represented no small expense. The Qin Manor also had many social obligations, and they had to support Concubine Lian in the palace—over the years, they hadn’t saved much of a foundation.

No wonder Xu Shi and Qin Yongtao had developed greed for the third branch’s vast wealth.

Previously, Qin Yunyun had some jewelry bestowed by Concubine Lian, which she always considered her most precious possessions. Later, after seeing what Third Aunt Long Shi had left for Qin Shuying, Qin Yunyun realized that even commoners could be enormously wealthy, that commoners also possessed many fine things that even exceeded imperial rewards.

Third Aunt was the Long family’s only daughter, and among the jewelry she left behind were countless treasures that simply dazzled the eyes!

But she could only secretly play with them, not daring to take them out—if Old Madam knew, that would be terrible!

She had hoped Xu Shi would eliminate Qin Shuying so she could use those fine things.

Who knew Qin Shuying would be so resilient!

Now, she had even brought down Mother!

Yet she still didn’t know restraint, deliberately giving such generous rewards to people in Yilan Garden—this was blatant provocation! Blatant face-slapping!

But Old Madam didn’t scold her, and Father happily accepted Qin Shuying’s “filial offerings.”

Qin Yunyun was both angry and resentful, especially thinking of Liu Junqing’s incomparably handsome face, which made her heart ache even more.

Moreover, though the Liu family clearly knew Qin Shuying had shown herself in public, they had no reaction whatsoever.

Could it be they approved of Qin Shuying’s behavior?

Making such a scene at the Lu Manor’s front gate like a shrew, yet the Liu family could still tolerate it?

Qin Yunyun nearly wanted to spit blood!

“Cai Ying!”

Qin Yunyun suddenly raised her voice to call Cai Ying.

Cai Ying had been trembling with fear outside the door when she heard Qin Yunyun smash the tea bowl, wanting to enter but lacking the courage.

Since returning from the palace, Miss’s temper had become increasingly moody and unpredictable, flying into rages and scolding people at the slightest provocation. She lived in constant fear while serving.

Now, hearing Qin Yunyun call her, she was even more frightened but had no choice but to enter. Steeling herself, she went in and indeed saw Qin Yunyun’s darkened pretty face.

“Where did you die off to? Don’t tell me you expect me to serve you, you shameless wench!”

Cai Ying quickly knelt down and began picking up the broken tea bowl pieces: “Miss, it’s all this servant’s fault. This servant was a bit slow just now! Please calm your anger, Miss—this servant won’t dare again!”

Qin Yunyun snorted coldly: “What wouldn’t you dare? You think I don’t know you envy those maids in Yilan Garden! Why is it that you’re all first-class maids, yet they can receive fifty taels in red envelopes while you get nothing? Tell me honestly, isn’t this what you’re thinking?”

Cai Ying silently groaned inside. Dear heavens, every maid in the Qin Manor had such thoughts—she swore that she, Cai Ying, truly didn’t have them.

“Miss, please see clearly—this servant truly doesn’t. This servant belongs to Miss and is utterly loyal to Miss, never having any divided loyalties.”

Qin Yunyun’s sinister gaze fixed on her for a full half-quarter hour, staring until Cai Ying’s scalp crawled, before she finally snorted: “I suppose you wouldn’t dare! If you dare have divided loyalties, I’ll have your entire family sold off!”

Nanny Zhao stood to the side, anxious in her heart but unable to advise Miss. Miss’s temper was becoming increasingly unpredictable, though she knew the reason.

Cai Ying felt even more uncomfortable inside.

The Qin Manor’s foundation was thin, and the servants had only been gradually trained up in recent years—only a very few were longtime family-born servants. Most had been purchased after the Qin Manor became prosperous. The earliest arrivals were only a dozen or so years ago, the recent ones only a few years.

Cai Ying’s parents had arrived at the Qin Manor seven or eight years ago, and through years of conscientious service had gradually gained respectability. The whole family served diligently and had never made any mistakes.

Yet Miss could so casually threaten to sell her off…

Cai Ying felt hurt inside but could only constantly pledge her loyalty until Qin Yunyun’s anger was mostly vented, then forced herself to summon someone to help dress Miss.

Nanny Zhao looked at Cai Ying with an inscrutable expression.

She had also tried to advise Miss, but Miss now seemed possessed—she paid extreme attention to anything related to Seventh Miss. At the slightest disturbance, Miss would go mad and take it out on the little maids.

Beating the little maids wasn’t enough. For some unknown reason, she had taken a particular dislike to Cai Ying, probably because Cai Ying had once said a word or two advising Miss not to oppose Seventh Miss. She came up with vicious punishments from who knows where, never having others do it but forcing Cai Ying to do it herself—either slapping her own face or using needles to prick her fingers.