“Unable to bear sons, you at least had a daughter before. If even the daughter isn’t yours, think for yourself! ‘Of the three forms of unfilial conduct, having no descendants is the greatest.’ You’ve cut off Qin Meng’s lineage—that violates the ‘Seven Grounds for Divorce.’ If Qin Meng divorces you, your father and I would have nothing to say!”
Sun Shi was stunned speechless by Duke Dingguo’s wife’s words. After a long while, she shrieked sharply: “He wouldn’t! He wouldn’t dare divorce me!”
“Wouldn’t dare?” Duke Dingguo’s wife sneered coldly, looking at her daughter’s naive foolishness with such anger that her brain ached: “What kind of person is Qin Meng! He’s someone of extraordinary talent and decisive in killing—at such a young age he could use schemes to eliminate the former Protector General of North Ji, and later his official career soared. Have you ever seen our Great Yan Dynasty have someone so young enter the cabinet as Prime Minister?”
Upon hearing this, Sun Shi stared blankly and shook her head. Indeed, in her memory, no man had a smoother official career than Qin Huaiyuan.
But Sun Shi was still unconvinced: “That was also thanks to my father’s support…”
“Fool!” Duke Dingguo’s wife forcefully pushed her daughter’s forehead, pushing Sun Shi until she fell sitting on the ground.
“Our family and the Qin family are in-laws—mutual benefit and support is natural. If you always speak to your husband in such a condescending tone, never mind your husband, even I find it annoying to hear. Your husband is an upright man—would he need to be afraid to bring home even a mistress?”
Sun Shi’s lips trembled as she recalled everything after seeing Qin Yining today, murmuring: “Could it be that Yi Jie’er really is my child? And Hui Jie’er really was switched?”
Seeing her daughter’s dejected and heartbroken appearance in the midst of her rage, Duke Dingguo’s wife’s heart still softened, and her tone became much gentler than before.
“Since your husband said so, the matter is already eight or nine-tenths certain. Moreover, regardless of who gave birth to her, you must acknowledge this child—and acknowledge her happily. If you don’t acknowledge her, you become a sinful woman with no offspring. If you do acknowledge her, you instead gain an additional daughter and an additional support. Must I teach you such a simple principle before you understand?”
Sun Shi’s tears fell again like broken pearls. She stammered: “I raised Hui Jie’er for so many years—how did she become fake! It’s all Qin Meng’s fault! If he hadn’t offended people outside, how could the child have been switched in swaddling clothes!”
“When you married Qin Meng and were highly sought after, when did you show gratitude for his goodness? Shouldn’t husband and wife share both sweet and bitter, prosperity and adversity?” Duke Dingguo’s wife’s barely calmed mood was completely worn away by Sun Shi’s ingratitude.
Sun Shi was startled, then said with outward strength but inner weakness: “Anyway, he’s in the wrong!”
“Is it that in your heart, everyone has wronged you? Enough, you needn’t tell me these things. Just tell me—what will you do next?” Duke Dingguo’s wife helplessly rubbed her temples.
Sun Shi thought and said: “Mother, how about we secretly take a bit of that girl’s blood, without letting anyone know I performed blood recognition with her. What do you think…”
“At this time, you don’t even need to test! Didn’t I just say this? I’ve said so much—was it all wasted breath?” Duke Dingguo’s wife said shrilly.
Sun Shi was startled by her mother’s fury and cowered with her head lowered.
“You should be clear about Great Yan’s current situation. Your father, brother, and I have analyzed it more than once—Great Zhou is flourishing daily, Emperor Zhou is cunning, that demon Pang Zhixi is brutal and tyrannical, our Great Yan is declining daily and the future won’t be easy. At this time, we especially need Duke Dingguo’s mansion and the Qin family to cooperate fully. Our family and the Qin family cannot have the slightest rift.”
Speaking of the grave national situation, even Sun Shi’s expression became serious.
The rampaging Young Prince Pang leading the Huben Army was like a blade thrust into the belly and constantly stirring, causing unbearable agony, as if every breath was waiting for death’s judgment.
Sun Shi felt her hands and feet turn ice cold.
Compared to national ruin and family destruction, having a child switched and then found again didn’t seem like the sky was falling.
Seeing her daughter finally calm down somewhat, Duke Dingguo’s wife’s anger also subsided considerably. Her tone became slightly gentler: “You should trust Qin Meng’s character. Perhaps he might use schemes in other matters, but concerning his own offspring and the Qin family bloodline, he would never allow confusion to occur. Your questioning today was truly inappropriate.”
Sun Shi thought of Qin Huaiyuan’s face red with anger and couldn’t help feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Duke Dingguo’s wife continued: “Han Jie’er, think carefully—now that you’ve found your biological daughter and still have Hui Jie’er whom you raised for fourteen years, you’ve gained an extra daughter out of nowhere, which means an additional worthy son-in-law in the future. Isn’t that an additional support? With such a good thing, tell me—is having one good, or having two good?”
Sun Shi thought about it and finally nodded obediently.
Duke Dingguo’s wife saw she was finally no longer stubborn and breathed a sigh of relief.
Facing a daughter nearly forty years old, yet having to break down and explain every principle thoroughly—it was more tiring than taking care of granddaughters. She could help Sun Shi plan, but she couldn’t accompany her for life! Sun Shi was so old yet still so unaware—what could be done in the future?
Nanny Bao understood Duke Dingguo’s wife’s melancholy. Seeing the matter had been discussed openly, she came forward smiling: “Young Madam is also tired today. This servant has already had people prepare the courtyard you used to live in. Why don’t you wash up and rest first? We can discuss other matters tomorrow?”
Nanny Bao was Duke Dingguo’s wife’s dowry maid, with a transcendent position among the servant women in Duke Dingguo’s mansion—even Sun Shi had to be polite to her.
Upon hearing this, Sun Shi smiled gratefully at Nanny Bao, then looked at her mother whose complexion had turned ugly from anger. Sun Shi said with a thick face: “Mother, don’t be angry anymore. Your daughter will listen to everything you say, won’t that do?”
Duke Dingguo’s wife shook her head helplessly and instructed Nanny Bao: “Have someone send Han Jie’er medicinal ointment later.” She then told Sun Shi: “You should also think of an explanation carefully. Return to your home immediately tomorrow and explain properly to your mother-in-law.”
“What’s there to think about? I’ll just say Qin Meng bullied me.” Sun Shi huffed.
Duke Dingguo’s wife felt the urge to hold her forehead again: “Can you say such words before your mother-in-law? If I were your mother-in-law, I’d certainly make you learn proper conduct until you cried! Just say my health is uncomfortable and you rushed back to tend to my illness, which is why you came at night without informing your mother-in-law.”
Sun Shi disagreed: “How can that work! Mother, you’re not ill—how can you speak such nonsense! Besides, my leaving caused such a commotion that the second and third branches should know by now. If I say this, they’ll know I’m making excuses.”
This foolish girl had actually let the matter spread!
Duke Dingguo’s wife felt that talking with Sun Shi would shorten her life by at least ten years. She impatiently waved her hand like shooing flies: “Go rest quickly. We’ll discuss the rest tomorrow.”
Seeing Duke Dingguo’s wife was truly annoyed, Sun Shi didn’t dare continue pestering and obediently withdrew.
Nanny Bao instructed Nanny Jin and Cai Lan to serve carefully, watching them leave before returning to the room. Seeing Duke Dingguo’s wife’s weary expression, she smiled and consoled: “Madam, don’t take it to heart. Young Madam has improved much compared to before. It’s just that this matter involves offspring, and what do women care about most if not their own children? Young Madam’s reaction is understandable.”
As parents naturally favor their children, although Duke Dingguo’s wife found Sun Shi truly reckless and brainless, hearing Nanny Bao’s words made her feel comforted.
“Han Jie’er has a genuine nature—she’s been like this since childhood. I just don’t know if the Qin family will think the same.”
“Speaking of this, Madam needn’t worry even more.”
Nanny Bao smiled as she brought the delicate white porcelain tea cup to Duke Dingguo’s wife. “You see, our Young Madam has been married for so many years yet remains so straightforward, which shows your son-in-law has protected her very well. Even the Qin family’s old madam treats her daughter-in-law with tolerance and gentleness. Otherwise, with Young Madam’s intelligence, if there really were so many back courtyard struggles to wear her down, wouldn’t she have become an expert long ago? This way, innocence has its benefits—at least it shows Young Madam hasn’t suffered much.”
Nanny Bao truly deserved to be Duke Dingguo’s wife’s most capable aide. Her words made Duke Dingguo’s wife feel as comfortable as eating immortal fruit, and her recent anger completely dissipated.
Duke Dingguo’s wife thought carefully and said: “Tomorrow you should still accompany her for the trip. Han Jie’er acted wrongly, and our family isn’t one without rules—we can’t completely ignore it. We must let the Qin family see our sincerity. You should carefully explain to the in-law madam and also observe those two children.”
Nanny Bao nodded cautiously: “This servant understands.”
“Also, tomorrow you should indirectly investigate what exactly happened in the Prime Minister’s mansion after Yi Jie’er returned, paying special attention to the reactions of both Hui Jie’er and Yi Jie’er. Come back and report truthfully after you understand everything tomorrow. Then I can think of ways to help Han Jie’er.”
“Yes.” Nanny Bao’s expression became serious as she understood in her heart.
Qin Yining was accustomed to rising early. Before dawn broke, she got up, washed and dressed, then tucked her skirt hem into her sash and ran laps around the courtyard.
Yu Xiang had been punished to boil water last night, working until midnight before sleeping. Rui Lan had endured pain while serving Qin Yining with brush and ink until midnight. They thought Miss would oversleep from fatigue today, but when they got up, they saw someone running in the courtyard with wind at her feet.
What proper young lady exercised like this in the morning?!
Rui Lan didn’t dare delay. She hastily wiped her face, threw on clothes, and came out, only to see Qiu Lu holding a honey-colored cloak and waiting in the corridor. She smiled and approached, asking quietly: “When did Miss get up?”
“She’s been running for about an hour.”
An hour?
Rui Lan looked carefully at Qin Yining and discovered she only had a slight flush in her face, without even changed breathing. She couldn’t help feeling alarmed.
This Miss’s stamina was completely different from ordinary young ladies!
After exercising, Qin Yining finally felt her body relax considerably. Seeing the time was about right, she called Rui Lan and Qiu Lu to help her dress: “I need to go to Cixiao Garden later to pay respects to the Old Madam.”
Rui Lan and Qiu Lu exchanged glances, both feeling somewhat uneasy.
Last night’s incident had been quite a commotion—they still didn’t know what the reactions of the second and third branches were, and they didn’t know how the Old Madam would handle it.