Xueli Courtyard was located in the northwest corner of the Prime Minister’s mansion. To put it nicely, it was “tranquil and elegant,” but in reality it was rarely visited, remote in location, and far from everywhere else. Going to the Old Madam’s residence required much more walking than for young ladies from other courtyards.

Qin Yining brought Qiu Lu and Rui Lan out of the courtyard gate, while Nanny Zhu, Liu Ya, and the little maids respectfully saw them off at the entrance.

Rui Lan flattered with a smile: “Miss, should this servant arrange for some rough servant women to prepare a small sedan chair? It’s quite a long way, and Miss might get tired.” She thought that since Qin Yining had been running for an hour upon waking, she probably had no energy left now.

“No need. The morning air is good—it’s perfect for loosening my muscles and bones. Otherwise I always feel uncomfortable all over.”

Compared to her previous self-sufficient life in the mountains, recent days were too comfortable for Qin Yining. Having grown accustomed to a life where not working today meant starving in a few days, she truly feared her willpower would be completely worn away by this life of having clothes handed to her and food placed in her mouth.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but click their tongues. If it were them, they’d probably be exhausted, yet this one still complained her muscles and bones weren’t loose enough—just how good was her stamina?!

Liu Ya came to her senses and immediately came forward to join Rui Lan in praising Qin Yining’s stamina, practically describing her as a female warrior who could “uproot mountains with heroic spirit.” Even the usually quiet Qiu Lu looked at Qin Yining with admiration.

Qin Yining only smiled upon hearing this.

Compared to yesterday’s casual disrespect, today the servants’ attitudes were vastly different—showing that her “becoming famous in one battle” hadn’t been in vain.

This was exactly what Qin Yining wanted.

Since gentleness and understanding couldn’t earn the affection she deserved, she could only “show her sword.”

Otherwise, if everyone treated her like a soft persimmon, wouldn’t they be able to trample on her at will?

A legitimate daughter without even the ability to protect herself—how could people trust in following her? Having no one useful under her command was like having no hands, feet, eyes, or ears. How could she survive in such a vast back courtyard?

The current situation was a good beginning for her.

Qin Yining relaxed and led Rui Lan and Qiu Lu toward Cixiao Garden.

The morning air was crisp and fresh, with much more human warmth than in the mountains. Compared to desolate loneliness, Qin Yining truly preferred this place she could call “home.”

Walking while appreciating the surroundings, even the stone bricks slightly covered with moss were interesting.

Seeing Qin Yining in good spirits, Rui Lan thought for a moment, then approached and spoke quietly: “Miss, yesterday Yu Xiang boiled water until midnight and left words saying she would go complain about you to the Old Madam. You should be careful not to let her slander you.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded without saying much, but showed she had taken Rui Lan’s words to heart.

Seeing this, Rui Lan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed Miss didn’t intend to pursue her past mistakes. Such a tolerant yet capable master could give people a sense of security.

Following the alley to the fork and turning right, the scenery ahead suddenly opened up. Walking forward, they soon reached the back garden. Qin Yining couldn’t help but slow her pace, examining the courtyard scenery with great interest. Having seen many wild mountains and fields, she greatly appreciated such artificially crafted gardens with unique ingenuity.

Just as she was feeling pleased, a somewhat childish, sharp female voice came from behind.

“Oh my, I was wondering who it was—so it’s you! I wouldn’t have thought a savage like you would appreciate gardens?”

Hearing the voice, she turned around, casually gathering the hair strands blown across her face by the wind. Qin Yining looked at the speaker with smiling beautiful eyes, not immediately responding.

The newcomer was a plump and round young lady who, like her, wore a double flat bun with two silver butterfly hairpins and a pink-white peony palace flower. Her silver-red jacket and skirt coordinated with the white rabbit fur at the collar, making her apple-shaped face appear adorably fair like snow. She looked like a plum blossom suddenly blooming in the dim winter day, truly brightening one’s eyes.

Rui Lan guessed Qin Yining didn’t yet know the young ladies in the mansion and immediately cleverly curtsied: “Sixth Miss, good health to you.”

Hearing it was Sixth Miss, Qin Yining raised an eyebrow.

Last night while copying books, she had Rui Lan serve with brush and ink while also asking about the various people in the mansion.

This Sixth Miss had the given name Shuangning, and her birth mother was Second Master’s favored concubine, Concubine Lin. Concubine Lin was fortunate—in one pregnancy she bore twin daughters. Sixth Miss Qin Shuangning was the elder, with a younger sister born less than a quarter-hour later, named An’ning.

Though Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss were twins, their appearances and temperaments were completely different.

Sixth Miss was close to Qin Huining and very dependent on her birth mother, Concubine Lin.

Seventh Miss was close to Third Miss and Eighth Miss from the third branch and was recorded under Second Madam’s name for upbringing.

Second Madam Su Shi had given birth to First Master Qin Yu and Fifth Master Qin Xian but had no biological daughters. With Seventh Miss recorded under her name, she was naturally treated like a legitimate daughter.

When Rui Lan mentioned this matter, she even praised Second Madam’s virtue.

But Qin Yining felt that if Second Madam were truly virtuous, how could she elevate one of Concubine Lin’s twin daughters while suppressing the other? The one held in hand could be taught at will—what she became was another matter. The suppressed one, being treated unfairly, would inevitably harbor resentment and grievances. This way, she could at least cause the sisters to become estranged.

Watching her own twin daughters become alienated, with one not even close to her, must be most painful for Concubine Lin.

Speaking of stirring muddy waters, Second Madam was truly an expert.

Qin Yining smiled and said: “So it’s Sixth Sister. Are you also going to pay respects to the Old Madam?”

“Of course I’m going to pay respects to the Old Madam, and I also want to see how Fourth Sister is doing. I just didn’t expect to encounter you, this wild hoof, on the road—how truly unlucky.” Sixth Miss snorted coldly with her nose in the air.

Qin Yining’s eyes turned cold, but her voice remained gentle: “I wouldn’t have thought that’s how you ‘city people’ sisters greet each other when meeting? You’ve truly broadened my horizons.”

Sixth Miss saw the disdain in Qin Yining’s eyes and immediately flared up: “Don’t get smug! Look at your domineering manner—daring to hit people on your first day back, even daring to hit Fourth Sister! Just wait for Grandmother’s punishment!”

Qin Yining smiled slightly: “Are you referring to Qin Huining? It seems your information isn’t very well-informed. Speaking of punishment, Grandmother already punished her yesterday. Qin Huining sowed discord between my father and mother, which greatly angered Grandmother, so she was already punished to copy the Classic of Filial Piety.”

“You! You’re talking nonsense!” Sixth Miss stamped her feet in anger: “You’re turning black into white!”

“I think Sixth Sister is young but confused!” Before Qin Yining could speak, three young ladies emerged from around the corner. The speaker was Eighth Miss Qin Baoning, whose crisp voice came from nowhere. Then she flew over light as a young swallow, curtsying to Qin Yining while glaring at Sixth Miss:

“Just yesterday First Uncle said Qin Huining is only an adopted daughter, and Fourth Sister is now in the genealogy, yet you still address her incorrectly. You can’t even tell which one is your Fourth Sister—be careful lest First Uncle and the Old Madam find out and punish you.”

Upon hearing this, Sixth Miss’s eyes reddened with anger as she shrieked: “Qin Baoning, you’re being too heartless! This wild hoof just returned and you already don’t acknowledge Fourth Sister? From what I heard, she beat Fourth Sister! We sisters have gotten along for so many years—don’t you care about Fourth Sister?”

“I do care—I care about why Qin Huining deserved a beating! Since she deserved it, naturally she did something wrong!”

While speaking, Eighth Miss rolled her eyes dramatically at Sixth Miss. She wanted to continue mocking, but Third Miss Qin Jianing secretly tugged at her, so she finally closed her mouth.

Seeing the situation about to become uncontrollable, Seventh Miss Qin An’ning, who had been silent, quickly stepped forward to take her twin sister’s arm, smiling: “Sixth Sister, let’s go pay respects to Grandmother first. Don’t delay the time.”

Sixth Miss pushed away her twin sister, saying disdainfully: “There, there, there—stay away from me. I most despise talking to ungrateful things like you. Don’t you usually like to curry favor with the third branch? What good person are you pretending to be now!” Speaking thus, she actually shook off Qin An’ning’s hand and left directly.

Seventh Miss’s face flushed red.

Though Third Master Wang Shi was of concubine birth and had no achievements in officialdom, he was successful in business, making the third branch the Qin family’s economic pillar. Even the third branch’s children didn’t entirely depend on the public funds for money. The third branch’s young ladies and masters were naturally different from these young ladies who relied on monthly allowances.

Seventh Miss had indeed received some small gifts. Having lost face now, how could she not be angry? She immediately said angrily: “If you put it that way, haven’t you been currying favor with the first branch all along? And you’ve been supporting a fake one at that.”

Upon hearing this, Eighth Miss clapped and laughed loudly, angering Sixth Miss so much that she turned back to glare at everyone. Finally feeling she couldn’t gain any advantage, she left in a huff.

After the person had gone far, Third Miss took Qin Yining’s hand and said: “Fourth Sister, don’t take offense. Shuang Jie’er has always played with Miss Huining—this time she’s just acting on impulse.”

“Third Sister speaks truly. Sixth Sister is innocent and lively—quite interesting indeed.” Qin Yining smiled.

Upon entering any new environment, whether deep mountains or human society, Qin Yining always liked to carefully observe the environment, analyze the people and events around her. Having more understanding of her surroundings made her feel secure.

Now she had a general understanding of the sisters in the mansion.

Seeing that Qin Yining didn’t show her emotions and treated people differently from yesterday’s shyness—seeming much more open—Third Miss couldn’t help but regard Qin Yining more seriously.

The sisters chatted quietly along the way and soon arrived at Cixiao Garden.

Just after passing through the hall and stepping onto the square bricks in the courtyard, the little maids serving under the corridor all curtsied in greeting.

Two maids lifted the embroidered warm curtain on the left and right, with a pair of blue jade gourds hanging from the curtain corners, their light blue tassels swaying beautifully.

Today’s warm curtain was different from yesterday’s again.

While marveling at the luxury of wealthy families, Qin Yining removed her cloak and handed it to a maid for safekeeping, then followed everyone around the “Joy Upon the Brows” screen into the inner room.

Today the Old Madam wore a treasure blue longevity-patterned crossed-collar wide-sleeved jacket. Her graying hair was arranged in a round bun with a gold-inlaid red ruby phoenix-headed pearl hairpin inserted diagonally. At this moment, she sat cross-legged on an arhat couch by the window with a gloomy expression.

Second Madam Su Shi and Third Madam Wang Shi accompanied her, sitting on either side below.

First Young Madam Yao Shi and Second Young Madam Meng Shi stood with lowered heads behind their respective mothers-in-law.

Surrounded in their midst was Qin Huining, whose face was swollen like a pig’s head on one side.

Seeing Qin Yining, Qin Huining’s pupils contracted slightly, involuntarily shrinking back, biting her lip in an extremely aggrieved yet not daring to resist pitiful manner.

Sixth Miss, who had arrived one step earlier, saw this and immediately shouted before Qin Yining and the others could bow: “Old Madam, look what Fourth Sister’s face has been beaten into! You must severely punish that wild hoof!”