The concubines had originally thought that given the old dowager’s recent attitude toward Sun Shi, she would definitely stand up for them this time and take the opportunity to ruthlessly trample on Sun Shi and Qin Yining.
Who could have expected that with just a few whispered words, Qin Yining would make the old dowager change her mind!
Though Sun Shi was jealous by nature, she had never been stingy with material things toward them. They had grown accustomed to wearing silk and brocade in the Qin household, with delicate maids and luxurious attendants. How could they bear the hardship of being ordinary servants? If they were sold off, they would never again have such comfortable days of eating well and drinking fine things!
The four concubines regretted their actions so deeply their intestines turned green!
They should never have volunteered to be the sacrificial lambs just to curry favor with Concubine Cao.
Thinking about it now, Cao Yuqing was also a concubine like them, and of noble birth – how could she possibly consider them as her own people?
After all this trouble, not only had they failed to get revenge, but they had also ruined their own futures.
They had essentially dug a pit for Concubine Cao and buried themselves in it!
“Old Dowager, show mercy! We humble servants know we were wrong!”
“Madam, please show mercy!”
…
The concubines wailed and begged for forgiveness at the top of their voices, completely different from their earlier sharp, domineering, and mocking demeanor.
The rough old women ruthlessly dragged them outside. When they couldn’t pull them away, they would pinch their waists and backs several times, causing those clinging to the pillars to let go from the pain.
Earlier, with only Qin Yining’s orders, they had felt uncertain. Now with the old dowager’s words, each had no more worries. Hearing these concubines making such unseemly noise, some old women simply untied the silk sashes from the concubines’ waists, wadded them up, and stuffed them into their mouths.
Xingning Garden quickly returned to tranquility.
The remaining servants in the courtyard now looked at Qin Yining and Sun Shi with different eyes.
Who said Madam had fallen out of favor?
Who said Fourth Miss had fallen out of favor?
If they had truly fallen out of favor, how could the old dowager so readily support Fourth Miss and Madam?
Those four concubines weren’t newcomers who had just entered the mansion – they dared to disrespect Madam and Fourth Miss, yet were still sold off without hesitation!
Fortunately, they had never disrespected Madam and Fourth Miss, otherwise today’s punishment and sale might have fallen on themselves!
Qin Yining’s beautiful eyes swept over the expressions of everyone in the courtyard, knowing she had achieved her purpose. It seemed that as long as she spoke to the old dowager’s heart, using her as a weapon wasn’t so difficult. This time she hadn’t fought head-on, yet still achieved her goal.
If she hadn’t taken the opportunity to use those four concubines to establish rules today, even the rough servants might dare to bully her and her mother in the future.
Naturally, Qin Yining was very grateful for the old dowager’s “help” and smilingly invited her inside for tea.
Seeing everyone’s expressions and thinking about how her actions had pleased Concubine Cao while also helping Sun Shi and Qin Yining, the old dowager immediately realized she had been manipulated by Qin Yining, and willingly so. She couldn’t help feeling irritated at being used.
She didn’t want to talk with Qin Yining and Sun Shi anymore, lest she die of anger!
The old dowager turned and left.
Qin Yining didn’t care about the old dowager’s attitude and bowed respectfully with everyone to see her off.
Second Madam and Third Madam, who supported the old dowager on her left and right as they returned, changed their assessment of Sun Shi once again after witnessing Qin Yining’s handling methods.
Sun Shi was rash, willful, domineering, and brainless, but Qin Yining was different.
Not to mention that Qin Huaiyuan knew the inner residence affairs like the back of his hand. Even if Qin Huaiyuan didn’t manage inner residence matters, now that Sun Shi had Qin Yining by her side, it would be extremely difficult for the second and third branches to compete with the main branch.
After everyone left, Cao Yuqing smiled and nodded to Sun Shi, then smiled at Qin Yining: “Fourth Miss is exceptionally intelligent. This humble servant greatly admires you. In the future, when you have leisure time, Fourth Miss is welcome to visit this servant anytime.”
Sun Shi glared at Cao Yuqing, her eyes full of anger.
However, Qin Yining again didn’t give Sun Shi a chance to speak, smiling and nodding: “Thank you very much today, Concubine Cao.”
Cao Yuqing smiled gently: “Fourth Miss need not be polite. This servant merely did what little she could.”
The two women looked at each other, both their pretty faces wearing enigmatic smiles. The exchange of glances made them both understand that Qin Yining’s “thank you” and Cao Yuqing’s “what little she could” definitely weren’t referring to Cao Yuqing pleading for Qin Yining when the old dowager wanted to punish her with kneeling.
Cao Yuqing had only entered the household a few days ago, yet had effortlessly eliminated four rivals through Qin Yining’s hands without shedding blood. What kind of scheming was this?
Meanwhile, Qin Yining had used this incident not only to re-establish Sun Shi’s authority but also forced the old dowager to publicly support Sun Shi’s sale of the concubines, making the servants once again take Sun Shi and Qin Yining seriously.
This matter was a mutually beneficial win-win situation between them.
Qin Yining understood, and Cao Yuqing understood. The two women looked at each other for a moment, each revealing a knowing smile.
Sun Shi on the side couldn’t understand what riddle Qin Yining and Cao Yuqing were playing, but she vaguely felt there was something going on.
At this moment, Qin Huining was nearly drowning in jealousy and hatred.
She didn’t understand why, even though she had successfully acknowledged Cao Yuqing as her foster mother, she was still at a disadvantage compared to Qin Yining. Qin Yining only had the burden-dragging Sun Shi by her side – what right did she have to live so comfortably?
Why would Concubine Cao treat Qin Yining so kindly and even actively plead for her?
No matter how much Qin Huining thought about it, she couldn’t understand what connection these two people, who had just met, could have.
She only knew that her decision to risk the infamy of being “opportunistic” had failed to give her any leverage to suppress Qin Yining, which was enough to make her resentful!
After Cao Yuqing and Qin Huining took their leave, Qin Yining helped Sun Shi inside for a meal.
Discussing today’s events, Qin Yining briefly explained, and only then did Sun Shi fully understand Cao Yuqing’s scheming and Qin Yining’s intentions. She couldn’t help but be even more convinced of her daughter’s intelligence and methods.
The news that Qin Yining had dismissed four concubines with just a few words and gained the old dowager’s support had already spread throughout the entire mansion.
The old dowager had originally thought that when Qin Huaiyuan returned to the mansion and learned that his four minor concubines had been sold off, he would at least ask about it. She had even prepared her explanation.
Who would have known that after Qin Huaiyuan returned from court, he shut himself in his study and even missed the usual time to pay respects at Cixiao Garden. When the old dowager sent people to inquire, he still didn’t come out.
However, Second Master Qin Xiuyuan, who also had the opportunity to attend the grand court assembly, brought shocking and unexpected news to the entire family.
“What did you say? Say it again! Great Zhou wants to negotiate peace with us?”
“Exactly.” Qin Xiuyuan nodded: “Today at the grand court assembly, Great Zhou’s envoys said they wanted to negotiate peace with us. The negotiation location will be in the military camp outside Xihua City. After much discussion, elder brother successfully prevailed, and His Majesty appointed elder brother as the peace negotiation envoy.”
“Good, excellent!” The old dowager joyfully gestured with her hands, repeatedly praising.
Not only the old dowager, but all the other female family members also smiled.
Great Zhou negotiating peace with Great Yan – whoever went to conduct the negotiations would achieve great merit afterward and be recorded in history!
Qin Huaiyuan was already the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. If he could successfully manage the peace negotiations, both his popular reputation and historical records would have a magnificent entry.
The old dowager repeatedly said: “Bringing glory to our ancestors! But this is clearly good news – why did your elder brother seem melancholy and refuse to see anyone after returning to the mansion?”
Hearing this, Qin Xiuyuan’s expression finally showed some abnormality.
“In response to mother, it’s like this: the choice for the peace negotiation envoy was between Imperial Uncle Cao and elder brother. After His Majesty appointed elder brother, Imperial Uncle Cao gave His Majesty a terrible suggestion…”
The old dowager leaned forward, eyes wide: “Speak quickly! What terrible suggestion?!”
Qin Xiuyuan mumbled: “Imperial Uncle Cao said that Great Zhou’s appointed negotiator this time is their Minister of War, Lian Shengjie. This person is most skilled at scheming and very cunning. Fortunately, he has a weakness – he’s lecherous. Imperial Uncle Cao suggested His Majesty use a honey trap on this person. Upon hearing this, His Majesty thought it made perfect sense, saying ‘heroes can’t overcome beautiful women,’ and that a honey trap was excellent. As soon as His Majesty agreed, Imperial Uncle Cao said, ‘Grand Tutor Qin has the reputation of wisdom and Pan An’s beauty. I hear his legitimate daughter Miss Qin resembles her father and must have nation-toppling beauty. To promote peace negotiations between the two countries, if Grand Tutor Qin would献上令爱, it would also be a great achievement.'”
“What!”
The old dowager’s head buzzed upon hearing this.
She had been planning to keep Qin Yining to marry the Crown Prince!
If she was used for negotiations this time, wouldn’t this chess move be wasted?
She had heard of that Lian Shengjie – reportedly an aged lecher. If Qin Yining went to negotiate, her chastity surely wouldn’t be preserved.
Their family had finally found such a suitable candidate for Crown Princess, yet she had to be sacrificed for peace negotiations?!
The old dowager anxiously asked: “What did His Majesty say? Did His Majesty agree?”
Qin Xiuyuan sighed and nodded: “His Majesty has already issued the decree, ordering elder brother to depart in ten days, taking Yi Jie’er to the negotiations. He must ensure the negotiations succeed, or return with his head. That’s why elder brother is so distressed.”
Qin Xiuyuan’s words made everyone in the room fall into icy silence.
Everyone knew that with the imperial decree issued, if Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t bear to sacrifice his daughter, the entire Qin family might be destroyed. The Qin family wouldn’t abandon years of cultivation to protect one woman, so Qin Yining’s sacrifice had become inevitable.
The old dowager sat upright, pursing her lips in silence.
Everyone exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts.
At this moment, in Tayun Inn, Pang Xiao had just ordered Huzi to escort Bingtang home when he received intelligence from his subordinates.
Wearing a black sable fur cloak, he stood by the window. After reading the note in his hand, his expression grave, he threw it into the charcoal basin and stared at the flickering flames with furrowed brows.
Huzi entered the room and, seeing Pang Xiao’s terrible expression, asked worriedly: “Master, are you alright? Are your wounds causing severe pain?”
Pang Xiao’s face was somewhat pale, but in his anger, his phoenix eyes seemed to burn with two flames, causing Huzi to shiver and step back two paces.
After a moment of silence, Pang Xiao furiously kicked over the charcoal basin!
The coals scattered across the floor. Frightened, Huzi hurried to bring a basin of water to douse them: “Master, what’s wrong?”
Pang Xiao roared in fury: “Damn that old dog Yuchi! His Majesty has ordered Lian Shengjie to manage peace negotiations with Great Yan, and the Yan Emperor wants to send Miss Qin Fourth to Lian Shengjie!”
“Ah!” Huzi exclaimed.
This flower that his master couldn’t bear to pluck – was he supposed to watch it be stuck in that pile of dog shit called Lian Shengjie?