Qin Yining smiled shyly and said, “I was just trying to be lazy.”

Since being confronted by Pang Xiao, Yao Shi had persisted through the night in not paying attention to affairs in Pang Xiao’s courtyard, nor had she sent Steward Zhao’s wife to inquire. Therefore, Yao Shi was still unaware of the arrangements that Ma Shi had mentioned.

Yao Shi had originally wanted to maintain her dignity, but seeing Ma Shi and Qin Yining conversing so agreeably, she couldn’t help but ask, “How did Yining arrange things?”

After asking, she felt it was somewhat beneath her dignity, so she added, “I should learn from it too.”

Seeing that Yao Shi’s expression was somewhat awkward, Qin Yining was afraid she’d be embarrassed, so she smiled and said, “I just categorized the affairs in the courtyard, arranged what each person should do, and then set specific times for daily reports. If there are no urgent matters, everyone comes to report and receive instructions at noon. Urgent matters are exceptions.”

Upon hearing this, Yao Shi immediately understood the reasoning and couldn’t help but praise, “This is excellent. This time connects the morning and afternoon – events from the first half of the day and affairs to be handled in the afternoon can all be arranged at this hour. It also eliminates the annoyance of people coming at all times. This method is truly clever.”

After praising her, Yao Shi felt somewhat embarrassed as she remembered that she seemed to be competing with her daughter-in-law, and her face showed some awkwardness.

But Qin Yining responded shyly yet intimately, “Mother flatters me. Your daughter-in-law is just accustomed to being lazy.”

Seeing the bright and sincere smile on her face, Yao Shi couldn’t help but smile along.

Ma Shi felt very gratified watching this and said, “I heard from Dafu that you also have business outside to manage. Don’t wear yourself out.”

“Yes. With the business, I actually just sit back and enjoy the profits. The head shopkeeper I had in Great Yan is both loyal and experienced. With just one word from me, he can arrange everything properly. I don’t need to exert much effort.”

“That’s good, that’s good. Being able to have such a devoted person help you is good fortune, but it’s also your ability that makes people submit to you. I’ve always known what an outstanding girl you are, and seeing you now proves it’s truly so. Dafu is blessed to have such a virtuous helper as you.”

Ma Shi pulled Qin Yining into her embrace, her aged hands patting her back.

Although Qin Yining had her own biological grandmother, she had hardly experienced such sincere kindness from the old matriarch of the Qin family, nor had she ever been truly cherished like this.

Ma Shi had a unique scent belonging to elderly people – dry, warm, sunny, plus the sweet fragrance of the skincare balm she used. It made one want to nuzzle in her embrace, feeling very warm and cozy.

“Grandma just likes to praise me. Be careful or I’ll become proud.”

“You won’t. You’re a good child, not that kind of person.”

Ma Shi patted her back stroke by stroke, growing ever fonder of Qin Yining in her heart. She had no granddaughter, and Qin Yining was seven or eight years younger than Pang Xiao. She had never had a sweet, soft little granddaughter to enjoy her company. Now having such an obedient, intelligent, and beautiful granddaughter-in-law, Ma Shi was delighted beyond measure.

Yao Shi watched Ma Shi embrace Qin Yining with such affection, and recalling her own childhood, it seemed she had never occupied her mother’s embrace for so long. Her heart felt somewhat sour.

She realized she was having this emotion and felt it wasn’t quite right, but some emotions arise from the heart and cannot be controlled – just like how she worried her status would be threatened when her precious son married a wife.

“Mother.”

Just then, Pang Xiao arrived in great strides, wearing a brand-new deep blue brocade robe. He entered at a position where he could see Yao Shi first, so he smiled and bowed to her first.

Seeing that Pang Xiao wasn’t distant from her and was still as close as before, Yao Shi couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief and smiled, “Dafu has come.”

“Yes. I’ve just prepared some modest gifts. Today when visiting father-in-law and my esteemed in-laws, I’ll also need to formally acknowledge the relationship.”

Speaking thus, he approached Yao Chenggu and Ma Shi, still smiling as he bowed.

Yao Chenggu called Pang Xiao to his side and quietly asked what gifts he had prepared. Hearing Pang Xiao’s explanation, he found it appropriate. After thinking, he advised, “You should also prepare some small fortune pouches with gold and silver ingots inside. In case you meet younger or same-generation relatives and need greeting gifts, it won’t look shabby.”

Pang Xiao had naturally prepared these, but had simply forgotten to mention it. Seeing Yao Chenggu’s reminder, he obediently nodded, “Yes, these are ready. I’ll bring them along.”

The whole room was harmonious and happy, as if the previous unpleasantness had never occurred.

Ma Shi was satisfied in her heart and urged Pang Xiao, “If you’re ready, prepare to set off. Uncle should be arriving soon too.”

For the third-day return visit, a clan brother needed to come as escort.

Qin Yining smiled, “He should be arriving soon.”

Just as her words ended, someone outside reported, “Uncle has arrived at the main gate.”

“Go quickly then, and be careful on the road. Send our regards to your in-laws.” Ma Shi gently patted the back of Qin Yining’s hand.

Qin Yining smiled and nodded, bowing before following Pang Xiao out of Songhe Hall.

In front of the prince’s mansion gates, Qin Yu and Qin Han were discussing whether they should go in to pay respects to the old matriarch of the mansion. Just as they were talking, they saw Qin Yining and Pang Xiao emerge side by side from within.

“Brothers-in-law.” Pang Xiao was no wastrel – he stepped forward to greet them proactively.

Originally, due to his high position and great authority, and his fearsome reputation, Qin Yu and Qin Han still harbored some apprehension toward him, worried that he had married Qin Yining for revenge.

Now seeing his warm smile and that Qin Yining was perfectly well, the brothers’ worried hearts settled, and their attitude toward Pang Xiao became much more natural.

Qin Han said, “Brother-in-law, shall we set off now?”

Pang Xiao was very pleased with this form of address – it made him happier than being called Prince or Minister.

At this moment, the carriage had already been brought out from the mansion. Pang Xiao first helped Qin Yining into the carriage.

Worried about her discomfort, he almost lifted her up entirely.

Qin Yining noticed his hands applying slight pressure at her waist and immediately sensed his intention. Her face flushed red as she pushed him away.

Eye contact: So many people are watching!

Pang Xiao had no choice but to release his hands.

After Bingtang and Ji Yun got into the carriage and were seated, Pang Xiao took the reins and mounted his horse.

Qin Han and Qin Yu took everything in, feeling even more reassured. Both men also mounted their horses and rode ahead of the carriage, talking with Pang Xiao as they led the way.

Sitting in the carriage, Qin Yining couldn’t help feeling somewhat emotional. The last time she had ridden out in a carriage, she had still worn a maiden’s hairstyle. Now she already wore a married woman’s coiffure.

Seeing Qin Yining’s slightly furrowed brow, Bingtang and Ji Yun both felt worried.

These past two days, they had witnessed everything Yao Shi had done in the mansion and felt aggrieved on Qin Yining’s behalf. Fortunately, the Prince had not sided with his mother, otherwise Qin Yining would have been even more wronged.

They traveled all the way to the street where the Qin family lived. Just as they turned the corner, they could see the Qin mansion’s gates wide open, with Qin Huaiyuan in casual round-collared robes and Sun Shi stretching her neck in eager anticipation standing at the entrance.

As soon as Sun Shi saw the mounted figures of Qin Han, Qin Yu, and Pang Xiao turning the corner, she couldn’t help but hurry forward to greet them.

Pang Xiao and the others quickly dismounted.

Pang Xiao stepped forward to bow, “Mother-in-law.”

Hearing this familiar address again, but after so many events had occurred, Sun Shi could no longer be certain whether Pang Xiao would truly treat Qin Yining well, so she merely nodded, “You’ve returned. Come inside quickly.”

The carriage stopped.

Qin Yining lifted the curtain and smiled, “Mother, why did you come out?”

Sun Shi hurriedly took her hand and helped her down from the carriage, “When your cousin brothers left, I came out. I couldn’t stay inside anyway. Come home with mother quickly.”

She linked arms with Qin Yining as they walked toward the residence.

Pang Xiao approached Qin Huaiyuan and bowed, “Father-in-law.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled and nodded, turning around, “Come, let’s go home first before talking.”

As the Qin Huaiyuan couple received their guests, the gatekeepers had already rushed to spread the news throughout the mansion.

The Qin family’s residence wasn’t large to begin with, so after walking just a few steps, the group of servants and maids arrived at the main hall of the inner courtyard.

The old matriarch wore a wine-purple cross-collared round-necked pleated robe, had specially combed her hair to a glossy shine, and wore jade hairpins inserted at an angle. She sat cross-legged on the kang by the window.

The Second Master, Second Madam, Third Master, and all the brothers and sisters in the family were gathered together at this time.

When everyone entered, they all smiled and exchanged pleasant courtesies and welcomes.

Nanny Qin placed two brocade cushions on the floor.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao stepped forward to kowtow to the old matriarch.

“Old Matriarch, we wish you well. Your granddaughter kowtows to you.”

Pang Xiao also said, “Old Matriarch, we wish you well.”

The old matriarch’s heart was already surging with emotion, so excited that her hands trembled slightly. The one kowtowing before her was Prince Zhongshun of the Great Zhou Dynasty! He was that murderous fiend, that Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall who held power over the court!

Such an noble person – if not for her having such a capable granddaughter as Qin Yining who had become a princess, how could she ever receive such courtesy?

“Rise quickly, get up.” The old matriarch maintained her smile as she instructed Nanny Qin to present a greeting gift.

It was a fine Sheyan inkstone.

Pang Xiao smiled and had someone accept it.

Next came the mutual introductions. Qin Yining introduced Pang Xiao to Second Uncle and Second Aunt, Third Uncle, eldest cousin brother Qin Yu, second cousin brother Qin Han, second cousin sister-in-law Meng Shi, fifth cousin brother Qin Xian, eighth cousin sister Qin Baoning, tenth cousin brother Qin Rong, eleventh cousin brother Qin Zong, and cousin nephew Qin Yuzhen.

Pang Xiao met them all. After paying respects to the elders, he presented greeting gifts and received greeting gifts in return. With peers, he smiled and presented greeting gifts. Especially the greeting gift for the little cousin nephew – a bag of gold beans – made the second cousin sister-in-law beam with delight.

In all of Qin Yining’s introductions, she had deliberately skipped over Qin Huining.

Qin Huining stood with lowered head in the corner, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

She really shouldn’t have come to today’s occasion. But not coming would have been disrespectful to Pang Xiao and Qin Yining. Coming was also self-humiliation.

Having been neglected for so long now, she had long regretted her past actions.

If she hadn’t targeted Qin Yining so much from the beginning and hadn’t used those schemes, she wouldn’t have lost her father and mother’s pity and sympathy. Even as an adopted daughter, with a father like Qin Huaiyuan who was so powerful yet valued relationships, how could he have mistreated her?

But there’s no medicine for regret in this world.

The second cousin sister-in-law also noticed that Qin Yining hadn’t introduced Qin Huining. Thinking they were all family and not wanting to leave anyone in an awkward situation, she smiled and introduced her to Pang Xiao, “This is eldest uncle’s adopted daughter, Hui Jie’er. She’s the same age as Yining.”