Meeting Qin Yining’s gaze, the Old Mistress’s expression became somewhat awkward. She smiled soothingly at her and said, “Yining, come sit beside Grandmother.”
Qin Yining’s heart gave a sudden lurch, but she sat beside the Old Mistress without showing any emotion, her clear, water-like eyes looking at the Old Mistress with confusion.
Under such clean and pure gaze, the Old Mistress actually felt a sense of guilt rising in her heart. Her dry hands grasped Qin Yining’s slender white hands and patted them.
The characteristic dryness and slight coldness of elderly hands enveloped Qin Yining’s hands. She involuntarily wanted to withdraw them, but still forced herself not to move.
Seeing her obedience, the Old Mistress’s expression softened as she said gently, “Yining, don’t be anxious. Your mother entered the palace some days ago.”
“Mother is still living in the palace now?”
“Yes. But don’t worry—your Aunt Cao went with your mother. Living in the palace to relax and clear her mind is good for her, preventing your mother from being listless all day. This trip will also allow your mother and Aunt Cao to properly cultivate their relationship.”
Was this even human speech!
Qin Yining instantly flared with anger, all the blood in her body seeming to turn to lava rushing through her veins, and in an instant her face flushed red with rage.
She forced herself to maintain an unchanged expression, smiling as she said, “I see. Was this summons issued by Her Majesty the Empress’s oral decree?”
As she spoke, she observed everyone’s expressions. Seeing that the Second Madam and Third Lady both lowered their eyes and remained silent, their expressions unreadable, while the expressions of her several cousin sisters were clear to see—all somewhat awkward and worried.
Qin Yining understood that Sun Shi probably hadn’t been summoned by the Empress. It was likely for other reasons that she entered the palace.
The Old Mistress, however, didn’t feel awkward at all. She smiled and said, “You can rest assured. Your Aunt Cao also wanted to get along well with your mother. Pitying your maternal family’s situation and knowing your mother was feeling depressed, she thought to bring her into the palace to relax.”
“I see. Aunt Cao is truly a considerate person.” Qin Yining’s voice remained as calm and gentle as usual. “May I ask how many days Mother has been in the palace?”
Seeing that Qin Yining hadn’t exploded in rage as she had imagined, the Old Mistress felt much more pleased and said with a smile, “Your mother entered the palace the day after you left.”
“I understand.” Qin Yining’s mind raced, and she immediately grasped the whole situation.
The origin of this matter likely involved the Old Mistress wanting to please Cao Shi, allowing Cao Shi to bring Sun Shi into the palace to torment and humiliate her at will, thereby elevating Cao Shi’s status.
But there was another point that the Old Mistress’s mind probably couldn’t comprehend.
Qin Yining smiled graciously and said, “I presume Aunt Cao also consulted with Her Majesty the Empress before entering the palace?”
Without waiting for an answer, Qin Yining stood up and said, “This time when Father and I went out to participate in the peace negotiations, His Majesty essentially placed the burden of Great Yan’s life and death entirely on Father’s shoulders. Although we are a prosperous region, years of weakness and deficits have left us like a defenseless weak woman carrying a large bundle of silver walking before mountain bandits—not only is the silver at risk, but her very life is in danger. Father is a genius of unparalleled talent with far-reaching fame. Old Mistress, what do you think His Majesty feared most when he sent Father out to negotiate?”
As Qin Yining spoke, her spine was perfectly straight. Though she wore a smile, her presence was quite intimidating. Looking at her now, everyone was reminded of Qin Huaiyuan when he had a stern expression. Though Qin Yining had never mingled in official circles, the wildness of someone who had once survived as an enemy of wild beasts added several degrees of intimidation to her bearing.
Looking at Qin Yining’s face, the Old Mistress recalled words her beloved son had once said to her, and her expression changed in an instant.
She stared blankly at Qin Yining, her originally smiling, ruddy face gradually turning pale as she said with belated fear, “What His Majesty feared was naturally…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone wasn’t stupid—they all understood.
The Second Madam and Third Lady exchanged glances.
Qin Huining, Third Miss, and the others also had grave expressions.
“Correct.” Qin Yining smiled. “His Majesty worried that Father might defect to the enemy in the face of battle, so he would naturally find ways to create constraints for Father. What is Father’s greatest constraint? Surely it’s not just my mother?”
Qin Yining walked slowly to stand before the Old Mistress, smiling as she said, “However, fortunately Father and I successfully completed the negotiations and returned safely. The crisis at home can naturally be resolved.”
Her penetrating gaze looked sharply at the Old Mistress, then at the two aunts, before she smiled and continued, “Otherwise, whether it’s those who wanted to seize something while Father wasn’t in the capital, or those who wanted to seize something while I wasn’t in the capital, none would obtain what they fantasized about. Setting aside whether what Father and I possess would burn the hands of others who obtained it, just considering that we’re all members of the Qin family—our fates are bound together. The principle that when the nest is overturned, no eggs remain whole is quite obvious, isn’t it?”
It wasn’t that Qin Yining had a small-minded heart, but rather that these people had displayed their surprise and hostility toward her return too obviously.
The Qin family hadn’t yet divided their property. Qin Huaiyuan was the eldest son of the main branch and the pillar of the Qin family. Second Uncle was the legitimate second son, also an official, but his rank wasn’t high and he had always been suppressed in court. Third Uncle was a concubine’s son who managed the commercial affairs and served as the Qin family’s economic lifeline.
When Qin Huaiyuan was present, the second and third branches each performed their duties.
But if Qin Huaiyuan were no longer there, both the second and third branches would become restless. The legitimate second son felt he could inherit the family business, while the concubine’s son felt he was the economic lifeline—why should he give away the silver he had earned to others?
Talk of dividing the family property—while they didn’t dare speak of it in front of Qin Huaiyuan, behind his back everyone had calculated plenty.
And what about her? Setting aside everything else, if she weren’t there, the Zhaoyun Company in her hands would be a large piece of fat meat. She and Father knew that His Majesty had designs on Zhaoyun Company, but the family didn’t know this.
Perhaps seeing her return alive, those who had once fantasized about owning Zhaoyun Company were quite disappointed.
Qin Yining’s gaze fell on Qin Huining.
Qin Huining was certainly one of the disappointed ones, because she considered herself Qin Huaiyuan’s adopted daughter and had once called the Duke Dingguo’s wife “grandmother.” What grandmother had given her, if she weren’t there, should naturally pass to another granddaughter.
And since Sun Shi had now seen through Qin Huining’s sinister calculations, she naturally wouldn’t allow Zhaoyun Company to fall into Qin Huining’s hands. So Sun Shi’s existence was an obstacle to Qin Huining implementing this plan.
These simple-minded people who only looked at immediate petty gains hadn’t considered that if the peace negotiations failed, or if she and Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t return, they would probably lose their lives—what would be left for them to calculate?
Qin Yining wasn’t being alarmist but was laying out these principles for them to contemplate themselves.
If they could become increasingly frightened the more they thought about it, that would serve as a form of punishment.
The Old Mistress’s face turned snow white.
Even the Second Madam and Third Lady’s expressions were extremely awkward and unsightly.
Qin Huining’s face was even paler, her lips pressed together as she stared blankly for a moment. Seeing Qin Yining looking at her, she refused to show weakness and stared back. Only her hands constantly wringing her handkerchief betrayed her nervousness.
The Old Mistress finally understood everything now.
“You’re saying that when Cao Shi wanted to bring your mother into the palace, it might have been His Majesty’s idea?”
“Eight or nine times out of ten, that’s the case.” Qin Yining smiled slightly. “After all, His Majesty couldn’t very well directly bring people into the palace as hostages—if word spread, it would sound bad. The peace negotiations had already attracted considerable criticism and controversy, and His Majesty isn’t that foolish, so he borrowed Aunt Cao’s hand.”
Yes! When it was inconvenient for the Emperor and Empress to issue decrees, they could only use the legitimate reason of Cao Shi visiting relatives for relaxation!
“This, this… I never imagined that Cao Shi’s heart wouldn’t be with our family!” The Old Mistress looked as if she had received a severe blow.
Qin Yining’s expression remained unchanged as she said, “Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is human nature. Old Mistress needn’t be angry.”
Wasn’t this exactly what the Old Mistress often did? Could it be that only magistrates were allowed to set fires while common people couldn’t light lamps?
After hearing Qin Yining’s words, all the women in the room had solemn expressions.
The Second Madam and Third Lady once again experienced Qin Yining’s formidable nature, even developing the thought that they must never directly oppose her in the future.
Faced with an Old Mistress who disregarded years of daughter-in-law and mother-in-law affection and allowed a concubine to bring the legitimate wife into the palace to be tormented, Qin Yining didn’t shout or make a scene. She merely analyzed the court situation a bit and had already frightened people until their faces turned deathly pale, wishing they could turn back time. This wasn’t intimidation or threats—this was complete intellectual domination!
Seeing the Old Mistress looking as if she’d been struck by lightning, Qin Yining smiled. “Grandmother needn’t worry. Now that Father has returned safely, everything can be resolved. I’m sure Mother and Aunt Cao will be able to return home soon.”
Though she said this, how could the Old Mistress ever trust Cao Shi again?
She felt her emotions had been deceived.
Nanny Qin had been listening from the side for a long while without having a chance to interject. Now seeing the topic finally conclude, she smiled and stepped forward to bow, saying, “Old Mistress, shall we set up the evening meal in the warm chamber?”
The Old Mistress nodded with an ashen face, looking completely dispirited.
Qin Yining lowered her eyes, concealing all her emotions beneath her long lashes.
After finishing the evening banquet, everyone returned to their respective courtyards, each harboring their own thoughts.
Qin Yining, wearing a small jacket and holding Er’Bai, sat cross-legged on the arhat couch by the window, frowning as she pondered.
Qiu Lu brought an additional lamp into the room, illuminating the somewhat dim bedroom much more brightly.
Song Lan and Bingtang were both filled with righteous indignation. As they worked on their needlework, making shoe soles, they cursed, “How shameless! I’ve never seen such people—bullying Madam while we’re not home. What kind of ability is that!”
Qiu Lu sighed, “There’s nothing we can do about it. Without Miss here, Madam has no backbone. Miss Huining only knows how to add fuel to the fire in front of the Old Mistress. You all know the Old Mistress’s temperament—three sentences and she’s completely bewildered.”
“I think she’s never been able to find north!” Bingtang fiercely poked the shoe sole with her needle.
Song Lan made a “shush” gesture and looked back at Qin Yining.
Qiu Lu then changed the subject, “Miss, while you were away, several people also left our Scholar’s Studio.”
Qin Yining came back to her senses and smiled slightly, “I noticed—Liu Ya and two junior maids below her are gone. Did they go to Snow Pear Courtyard?”
Qiu Lu nodded, “Liu Ya took the two little maids to seek refuge with Miss Huining. I don’t know what Miss Huining said to the Old Mistress, but the Old Mistress agreed, saying that our courtyard originally had too many people with the addition of Song Lan and Bingtang. Since Song Lan and Bingtang originally received salaries from Duke Dingguo’s mansion and now also eat from our mansion, there’s no need to keep so many people in Scholar’s Studio.”