The weather was good today, and the young ladies would be attending classes with Master Long.

While the young ladies were in class, Caiying didn’t need to follow them inside but waited outside instead, which gave her some relief.

Usually, it was either Ziteng or Hong Juan who accompanied Qin Shuying to classes, but today it was Hong Juan.

Hong Juan had started serving around the same time as Caiying. Although they weren’t in the same courtyard, they were quite familiar with each other and had a good relationship.

Previously, Hong Juan had been a maid in Old Madam’s courtyard, which was quite respectable. Later, Hong Juan was given to Qin Shuying. As Qin Shuying gradually stopped appearing around the Qin residence, Hong Juan also rarely came out, so Caiying seldom saw her. Caiying had once sighed for Hong Juan – she was steady and honest, but following a master like Qin Shuying was truly a pity.

Now that Qin Shuying was frequently coming and going, Hong Juan also often appeared before others, and the two would occasionally interact.

Today, Hong Juan was dressed no differently from all the first-class maids in the residence, but the jade bracelet on her wrist was of excellent quality. Caiying had a good eye for such things – this bracelet alone would cost at least a hundred taels of silver. Not only that, Hong Juan also wore a gold hairpin in her hair, with an elegant design and fine craftsmanship that was clearly not ordinary goods.

For a mere maid to wear jewelry worth several hundred taels of silver was obviously a reward from her master.

Caiying felt a mixture of emotions in her heart. Just as she was lost in thought, Hong Juan sat down beside her and said, “Caiying, I heard you have a fashionable embroidery pattern. Could you lend it to me to learn?”

Hong Juan’s originally pale and silent face was now tender and rosy, obviously in an excellent mood and living quite comfortably. Looking at her, Caiying didn’t know whether her heart felt sour or bitter, but she mustered her spirits and said, “Of course, sister. If you want it, I can… give it to you anytime.”

“How about I come get it this afternoon?”

“No!”

Caiying’s voice suddenly rose, and without thinking, she refused. If Hong Juan came, Miss would very likely misunderstand.

Hong Juan was very surprised. She looked around, and seeing that no one else was paying attention to their conversation, she lowered her voice and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? I can see you’re not in good spirits. Is there some difficulty? Tell me, maybe I can help somehow.”

Caiying quickly shook her head: “No, nothing’s wrong. I just didn’t sleep well last night, so my spirits are a bit low. It’s nothing serious.”

“Is it because of your mother’s illness that’s worrying you?” Hong Juan naturally didn’t believe her words and asked with concern.

Mother’s illness was indeed a fact. Because treatment was too expensive, they had been watching the condition neither improve nor worsen over the years, but it had never been completely cured. With the changeable spring weather, her recent coughing had become more severe.

Caiying stammered: “…Well… it’s not really…”

Hong Juan looked as if she understood everything, sighed, and said, “Don’t try to hide it anymore. Don’t I know about your family’s situation? I have twenty taels of silver here. Take it for your mother’s treatment – health is the most important thing.”

Caiying’s eyes widened as she looked at Hong Juan. Twenty taels of silver? That was a year and a half’s monthly wages for respectable maids like them.

Hong Juan’s family circumstances weren’t wealthy. Her father’s position wasn’t good, her mother was also ill, and she had a younger sister with her. Her younger brother was only ten years old and had just gotten a job last year, barely enough to make ends meet. The whole family had been living frugally for years.

How could she casually offer twenty taels of silver to lend to herself? Could all the rumors be true? That Seventh Miss rewarded each of her personal maids with fifty taels of silver? Only this could explain why Hong Juan now had such ample funds.

Seeing her surprise, Hong Juan smiled slightly: “Come now, what’s our relationship? Now that I’m slightly better off, helping you isn’t difficult. I didn’t bring it with me today, but I’ll deliver it directly to your mother later. Treatment is urgent. Don’t worry, you can pay me back whenever you have money – I’m not in a hurry.”

Caiying steadied herself and asked tremblingly, “Sister Hong Juan, how do you have so much money now?”

Hong Juan smiled lightly and said casually, “These are all rewards from Miss in daily life. Our Miss, as long as you serve diligently, continuously gives rewards. The monthly allowance isn’t much, but the rewards are dozens of times more than the monthly allowance.”

Caiying asked again, “Seventh Miss looks quite formidable… Does she scold you?”

“Not at all.” Hong Juan denied immediately. “Seventh Miss is very easy to serve. Her daily life is also very simple, and often she doesn’t need us to attend her closely. I have a lot of free time, and she lets me go home three times each month. Tomorrow is my time to go home, and I’ll personally deliver it to your mother.”

Caiying’s heart was extremely complicated as she said, “Sister Hong Juan, let’s… let’s forget about this! My mother’s condition has always been like this. Our family isn’t short of money, it’s just that the illness is hard to treat – there’s nothing we can do about it…”

As Caiying spoke, her heart was bleeding. These words were so against her conscience…

If she had these twenty taels of silver, mother’s condition would definitely improve greatly. But…

Seeing her insistence, Hong Juan said no more, only sighing: “It’s all fate… I’ll do as you say. If you need anything, don’t be polite – just ask me.”

Today’s lesson was painting.

After Master Long finished teaching, the young ladies would paint on their own.

Qin Lulu, Qin Yunyun, and Qin Shuying each held their brushes, some contemplating, some grinding ink, some consulting Master Long.

Qin Shuying already had a complete vision in her mind. She raised her brush and moved her wrist, and the painting took shape with each stroke. Soon, there was already a rough outline on the slightly yellow paper – this was today’s assignment from Master Long: spring mood.

Qin Yunyun kept her head down, seemingly deep in thought, but actually sulking.

Through these days of study, Qin Yunyun had discovered that Qin Shuying was also skilled in academics. Poetry and prose, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting – she was proficient in everything and good at everything.

She herself couldn’t match Qin Shuying in a single thing?

Previously, she could still rely on Consort Lian, but now even Consort Lian couldn’t be depended upon. When the Sixth Prince came last time, he was still polite to her, but no longer had the previous intimacy.

The Sixth Prince was angry at her for using Consort Lian!

So the Sixth Prince had tactfully asked grandmother to remove mother’s housekeeping authority!

Why did even big sister and the Sixth Prince help Qin Shuying like this!

Why?

It must be because of the Liu family. The Sixth Prince wanted to gain the Liu family’s support, so he let Qin Shuying ride over her head and act tyrannically!

If Qin Shuying lost this Liu family marriage, what would she have to rely on!

As for how to make Qin Shuying lose this marriage…

After sister-in-law returned, she would arrange marriage prospects for her, so she had to hurry.

Qin Yunyun smiled coldly. She had Nanny Zhao send a letter to her maternal aunt a few days ago, and perhaps there was progress on the matter.

After a while, she gradually collected her thoughts and began painting.

The morning lesson lasted only one hour. After class ended, Master Long left.

As soon as Qin Lulu saw Master Long leave, she hurried to Qin Shuying’s table: “Seventh sister, I heard something today, but I don’t know if it’s true or false. You need to confirm it for me.”