Since Shuoren Hall had been Qin Huaiyuan’s residence before his marriage, it contained extremely precious books and was adjacent to the back garden. One could say that opening every window revealed a beautiful view. Being able to live in Shuoren Hall was an incomparable honor.

Who would have thought that in such a precious place, Qin Yining would actually be willing to share it, actively suggesting to live together with her sisters.

Qin Huaiyuan smiled with satisfaction. “Yi Jie’er’s idea is excellent.”

Seeing that Qin Huaiyuan also nodded in agreement, the girls all became delighted.

Sixth Miss awkwardly pressed her lips together, but felt that Qin Yining wasn’t as detestable as she had previously thought.

Seventh Miss and Eighth Miss both smiled joyfully, thanking Qin Huaiyuan first, then thanking Qin Yining.

Eighth Miss even held onto Qin Yining’s hand and wouldn’t let go. “This is wonderful! I’ve long known that Fourth Sister’s place has beautiful scenery and many books! I don’t want to live in some empty room either – I want to live together with Fourth Sister! Fourth Sister even has a particularly cute little rabbit, and I want to pet the little rabbit too!”

Third Madam chuckled with amusement. “You little girl, now you’re pushing for even more.”

Eighth Miss’s face turned bright red, embarrassedly sticking out her tongue.

But Qin Yining quite liked Eighth Miss’s straightforward and innocent nature. Holding her hand, she gave it a shake. “What’s wrong with that? If you like it, then we sisters can live together.” She then smiled at Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss. “Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister can also carefully choose which room they’d like to live in later.”

“Good!” Seventh Miss nodded with a beaming smile.

As for Sixth Miss, she quickly lifted her eyes to glance at Qin Yining, then said hesitantly, “Fourth Sister, you haven’t mentioned where Miss Huining will stay.”

This was the first time Qin Yining had heard Sixth Miss call her “Fourth Sister” in such a tone without any barbs. Previously, she had been in cahoots with Qin Huining and had been most disdainful of this “wild” sister of hers.

Now seeing her expression, and noticing that she was still thinking of her good sister, Qin Yining couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.

After all, they were all young girls. Even if they truly had some crooked thoughts, it wasn’t as if they were rotten to the core.

However, someone like Qin Huining, who was black to her very bones and beyond salvation, she would not easily forgive.

“I understand Sixth Sister’s meaning, but Miss Huining is a guest, and my Shuoren Hall has limited rooms. If we sisters live together and bring along our respective servants, I’m afraid it would be too crowded.”

Hearing this, Sixth Miss pressed her lips together.

She knew that back then, in order to frame her eldest aunt, Qin Huining had actually made voodoo dolls to harm the old madam. Initially, she had felt she could understand Qin Huining’s actions.

But after Qin Huining went to the estate, she had heard Concubine Lin mention several times that Qin Huining was no good and had used her as a pawn, which had already made her doubt Qin Huining’s character. Later, she discovered that without Qin Huining at home, her days had become much more peaceful. Even her legitimate mother, who hadn’t been particularly fond of her, had begun treating her with kindness and good humor.

So now, having settled down and observed so many things in the manor, she had gained a new understanding of Qin Yining, whom Qin Huining had called a “wild person,” “lacking in talent and taste,” and “sharp-tongued and harsh toward her sisters.”

She no longer felt that Qin Yining was as detestable as Qin Huining had claimed.

Although she didn’t particularly like Qin Yining, she couldn’t say she disliked her either. At least she was a person with flesh and blood who cared for her family.

So when she heard Qin Yining speak this way, Sixth Miss surprisingly didn’t argue back on the spot, which left everyone somewhat astonished.

Second Madam was very satisfied with her concubine daughter’s behavior and smiled. “This is very good. You little sisters living together can properly bond with each other, discussing and planning things together – nothing could be better.”

Most importantly, with everyone concentrated together rather than scattered as before, it would be convenient for the guards to protect them. And if there were any sudden problems, they could respond and retreat in a timely manner.

Qin Yining nodded in agreement.

On this side, Qin Huaiyuan was also discussing his own lodging arrangements with Second Master, Third Master, Master Yu, and Second Master Han.

Third Master and Third Madam, along with the concubines, would respectively stay in the side buildings at the rear courtyard of Cixiao Garden.

Second Master and Second Madam, along with the concubines, would stay in the east wing and ear rooms of the front courtyard of Cixiao Garden.

Fourteen-year-old Fifth Young Master Qin Ding would stay in the west wing of the front courtyard of Cixiao Garden with his three younger cousins.

Since Qin Han and Qin Yu were both married, the young couples were each assigned to the east and west wing rooms of the rear courtyard of Cixiao Garden.

Qin Huaiyuan and Sun Shi would stay in the ear room on the east side of the old madam’s main quarters, while Cao Yuqing was also arranged in the west ear room.

The young ladies would stay in Shuoren Hall, separated from Cixiao Garden by a small path, so as not to cause any improper mixing of residences.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Huaiyuan called Qin Yining aside and said, “Now that the whole family is gathered together, since we’ve already opened the door to let Qin Huining return, why don’t you give her a place to stay in your Shuoren Hall? If it weren’t for my orders for her birth father to come to the capital, perhaps her birth father wouldn’t have gotten caught up in the refugee stampede and died.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining was startled. “You’re saying that Qin Huining’s birth father is dead?”

“Mm.” Qin Huaiyuan said in a low voice, “I specifically sent people to search along the route and had her birth father’s body collected. Although her birth father was that kind of person and had no feelings for Qin Huining, if not for my orders, she wouldn’t have lost her birth father. I do feel somewhat guilty toward her. Moreover, in these dangerous times, she has carried the Qin surname for over ten years. I don’t want to just throw her out to fend for herself. I know her character isn’t good, and you’re worried she’ll be a bad influence on the other sisters. But with you there, she won’t be able to cause much trouble. If she makes mistakes again, you should discipline her as needed – if that doesn’t work, I’ll still be here.”

“Alright.” Qin Yining smiled and nodded. “As long as Father won’t be reluctant to let me discipline her, then I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Would you go easy on her just because I didn’t allow it?”

“Given how chaotic the world is now, I don’t want to deliberately make things difficult for her. As long as she behaves herself, everyone can maintain their dignity.”

The father and daughter were chatting and laughing here. Since they looked so alike, if Qin Yining wore men’s clothing, she would simply be a young version of the “Intelligent Pan An.” The current scene was quite different from other families’ father-son lectures with their “one sternly questioning while the other hangs his head in response” atmosphere. Sun Shi watching from the side couldn’t help but smile, and Second Madam and Third Madam also looked on enviously, teasing in low voices.

When the father and daughter finished their discussion and returned, Third Madam smiled and said, “What were you two plotting again?”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled slightly. “I was discussing with Yi Jie’er about arranging for Hui Jie’er to also stay in Shuoren Hall. Yi Jie’er is soft-hearted after all and agreed.”

At these words, everyone’s gazes toward Qin Yining became even more different.

In other families, when fathers encountered such situations, they would probably just give an order and be done with it. But Qin Huaiyuan had consulted with Qin Yining before making the decision, showing how much he cherished and respected this daughter. Combined with the capabilities Qin Yining had displayed while managing the household recently and her astuteness regarding political matters, not only did Second Madam and Third Madam regard her with newfound respect, but even her cousins now naturally looked up to her.

Everyone then began arranging to move with their people. Third Master also hurried to the front courtyard to arrange matters regarding which servants to keep and their duties.

Just then, a young maid newly assigned to serve at the second gate came rushing in.

“My Lord! My Lord! Someone from the palace has come to deliver an oral decree – His Majesty commands you to enter the palace immediately!”

The originally relaxed and pleasant atmosphere was doused with cold water by this sudden announcement. Everyone’s faces turned very grim.

The old madam worriedly grasped Qin Huaiyuan’s hand tightly. “Meng Ge’er, His Majesty – what does His Majesty want to do now? Don’t go, we won’t go!”

Qin Huaiyuan soothingly patted the old madam’s arm and sighed. “How can I defy His Majesty’s oral decree?”

In truth, he had already guessed that with Xihua City’s fall, the Emperor would certainly summon him.

Qin Huaiyuan then turned to look at Qin Yining.

Qin Yining said, “Father, rest assured. Leave the household to us. Please return early.”

“Good.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled with relief, turned, and left the inner quarters.

The women looked at each other, their hearts all hanging in suspense.

Qin Yining was also worried, but she couldn’t show it on her face. She just arranged for people to handle the moving, personally leading people to inspect the back residence, cataloging and locking away unused items in the courtyards, and rearranging which kitchens to use and how the servants should rotate their duties.

While Qin Yining was thus busy, Qin Huaiyuan had already changed clothes and entered the palace.

In the imperial study, the Emperor’s face was dark as storm clouds as he violently threw the military reports from the front lines onto the floor.

“Useless fools, useless fools! They’re all a bunch of rice-wasting idiots! What use is it for me to raise this pack of fools when I’ve fed soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one moment!”

With the dragon’s fury unleashed, Imperial Uncle Cao, Qin Huaiyuan, Yuchi Yan, and Prince Ning all knelt down in unison. “May His Majesty calm his anger.”

The palace servants had long since fled in terror to the courtyard, not daring to approach for fear of being implicated.

“Calm my anger? Raising you pack of good-for-nothings who don’t handle proper business – how can I calm my anger? That bastard Pang Zhixi is simply not human! In our Great Yan, I treated him to good food and drink, yet he turns around and leads troops to attack us! Talking about Tatars coming to assassinate – I think he’s just looking for an excuse to start trouble! Qin Meng!”

“Your subject is here.” Qin Huaiyuan kowtowed in response.

“I sent you to negotiate, and this is how you negotiated! Couldn’t you see that those Zhou Dynasty scoundrels were trying to swindle our silver? Look now – Xihua City has been occupied, and our Eastern, Northern, and Western routes with a total of three hundred thousand troops have actually been beaten into constant retreat by the Huben Army’s mere hundred thousand men. Is this because my generals don’t know how to lead troops? Does only that Pang fellow in all the world know how to lead troops? I say this is all your fault! From the negotiations onward, it’s been one mistake after another, leading to every step being wrong now. You still have the nerve to kneel here!”

The Emperor grew angrier as he spoke. He rose and circled around the paulownia desk covered with bright yellow cloth, striding up to Qin Huaiyuan and kicking him in the shoulder, sending Qin Huaiyuan rolling across the floor.

“Imperial Father!” Yuchi Yan quickly helped Qin Huaiyuan up. “Imperial Father, calm your anger! The Zhou people are full of tricks. Moreover, when the peace negotiations were being conducted, Marquis Anping had already submitted a memorial to Imperial Father explaining the disadvantages. It was only after Imperial Father issued the decree that Marquis Anping signed the treaty. How can Imperial Father now blame all the faults on Marquis Anping? This matter is the Zhou people’s breach of faith – what does it have to do with Marquis Anping? If you act this way, aren’t you afraid of disheartening your loyal subjects?”

“Audacious! Outrageous! Now you want to control me too?” The Emperor flew into a rage, delivering a vicious slap across the face.