The mountain of gifts slapped Qin Huining’s face painfully!

All of this should have belonged to her!

Whether it was the status of the Grand Tutor’s legitimate daughter, this table full of gifts, or others’ pursuit and respect—it all should have belonged to her!

Now she had to watch someone else possess the happiness that had once been within her grasp and act smug about it.

Qin Huining was unwilling to accept this!

Now not only had the Grand Dowager’s, grandmother’s, and Sun Shi’s hearts turned away, even Father was wholeheartedly favoring Qin Yining.

Going out to meet with men—what a grave error that was! Yet Father only had Qin Yining live comfortably in the ancestral shrine for seven days, then even rewarded her with Yao Qin and Yu Qi.

Previously, though Father wasn’t bad to her, he was always cold and distant, barely speaking a few words. Now he doted on Qin Yining so much.

Looking at Qin Yining’s leisurely manner, Qin Huining truly wanted to pounce on her and tear apart that hateful face! The flames of jealousy burned so fiercely they nearly consumed her reason.

“Little Xi is so blessed. Meeting Father’s promotion to Grand Tutor, she can even enrich her private treasury.”

Seeing Qin Huining like this, Qin Yining sneered: “Indeed. Today Second Aunt even said I was a little lucky star.”

“To survive so many years in the mountains without being eaten by wild beasts—truly a hard life.” Sixth Miss gritted her teeth.

Qin Yining laughed: “Sixth Sister is truly too naive. Do you think luck alone is enough to survive? Do you know why I wasn’t eaten by wild beasts?”

Qin Yining walked step by step toward Sixth Miss.

Her momentarily cold, piercing gaze made Sixth Miss unconsciously step back two paces. “Wh-why?”

“Because I ate all the wild beasts.” Standing before Sixth Miss, Qin Yining’s slightly cool, calloused hand gently patted Sixth Miss’s cheek. “Qin Shuangning, can you be fiercer than wild beasts?”

Sixth Miss was so frightened she retreated two steps, nearly hitting the wall behind her. She looked like a small animal encountering a natural predator, ready to flee immediately.

Seeing Sixth Miss embarrass herself like this, Qin Huining glared at her fiercely.

Qin Yining curved her lips. With opponents of such low caliber, it seemed like she was bullying little girls.

“If you two enjoy sitting here, then sit. I need to go settle accounts with Steward Zhong now, so I won’t keep you company. Qiu Lu, put everything away.”

Qiu Lu nodded in agreement.

No matter how thick-skinned Qin Huining and Sixth Miss were, they couldn’t stay longer, especially with their faces slapped so resoundingly and their fighting spirit completely crushed. Qin Huining pulled Sixth Miss’s hand and turned to leave.

When they reached the courtyard gate, Qin Huining whispered a few words in Bi Tong’s ear.

Bi Tong immediately nodded and followed in Qiu Lu’s footsteps.

In the main room, seeing everyone had left, Qin Yining smiled at Yao Qin and Yu Qi: “We just had guests, so I neglected you two sisters.”

“We wouldn’t dare.” Having witnessed how Qin Yining had intimidated Sixth Miss, and having already heard rumors, the two gained a new understanding of Qin Yining.

Yao Qin smiled and bowed: “Master has already instructed us both. From now on, we belong to you, Miss. Whatever you command, just order us around.”

“Exactly so.” Yu Qi also bowed.

“I understand Father’s intentions. I know you two are quite accomplished in music and chess. I’ll need your guidance in the future.” Her tone clearly treated them as teachers that Qin Huaiyuan had given her.

Yao Qin and Yu Qi repeatedly said they wouldn’t dare.

Qin Yining said: “I’ve just had Liu Ya prepare rooms for you both. Xueli Courtyard is small, so I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with the east wing for now.”

“Yes, thank you, Miss.”

Yao Qin and Yu Qi knew they couldn’t expect important positions immediately. Being treated courteously by Qin Yining was already very satisfying. They followed Liu Ya to the room that Yu Xiang and Rui Lan had shared to settle in.

Qin Yining took a cloak and put it on, had a little maid notify the outer courtyard to prepare a carriage, and without bringing anyone, went out alone.

When Liu Ya finished arranging things for Yao Qin and Yu Qi, she discovered Qin Yining was no longer in the courtyard.

Remembering Qin Yining said she was going to settle accounts today, Liu Ya hurried to see who was missing from the courtyard, finally discovering that Qin Yining hadn’t brought anyone!

The young lady would rather go without anyone than take her!

Yu Xiang and Rui Lan had both left, Qiu Lu was being relied upon and was cataloging gifts, Yao Qin and Yu Qi were newcomers who couldn’t be ordered around immediately—this was when she should have been brought along!

Why still wouldn’t the young lady rely on her!

Liu Ya’s face flushed red with anger, and she returned to her room in a huff.

Meanwhile, at the storage room in the back ear room, Bi Tong was stealthily approaching and silently standing by the half-open door.

The ear room wasn’t large, but it contained quite a pile of silks, vessels, and various brocade boxes. Two large camphor wood chests in the center were particularly eye-catching, with open jewelry boxes on top that sparkled with pearls and gems.

To think Fourth Miss had become so wealthy since returning!

She was indeed the owner of Zhaoyun Company—her status was extraordinary!

As Bi Tong marveled, her gaze shifted and her eyes suddenly widened to perfect circles.

She saw Qiu Lu with her side turned, back to Bi Tong, stuffing a string of pearls into her bosom. After the pearls, she grabbed a handful from the jewelry box and stuffed it in her bosom. From her angle, she couldn’t see exactly what Qiu Lu took, only vaguely glimpsing a blood jade bracelet and an earring flashing green light.

Bi Tong’s heart pounded—she felt heaven itself was helping her!

If she could catch Qiu Lu now, that would make three maids gone from Qin Yining’s side. Miss Huining would surely reward her!

Thinking this, Bi Tong pushed open the door and angrily said: “How dare you! What are you doing? I saw everything!”

Qiu Lu was so startled her hand shook. Her face went pale as she rushed forward to cover Bi Tong’s mouth: “Sister, please keep your voice down!”

“Keep my voice down?” Bi Tong sneered: “Come, follow me to the Grand Dowager to settle this! I want to see what you have to say for yourself! So everyone in Xueli Courtyard has dirty hands—Rui Lan was a thief, and now you’re learning from her! Come!”

As Bi Tong spoke, she dragged Qiu Lu outside.

Qiu Lu grasped Bi Tong’s wrists with both hands, crouched on the ground refusing to go, and said anxiously in a low voice:

“Sister, don’t shout! Listen to me! Fourth Miss hasn’t even looked at these things—she doesn’t know if anything’s taken. We maids work so hard for just that little monthly wage. After what we give our families and our own expenses, there’s nothing left. We’re young now, but what about the future?”

Feeling Bi Tong’s strength loosen somewhat, Qiu Lu knelt down and looked up at Bi Tong:

“Sister, think carefully about what I’m saying. People like us have only one way out—saving some money ourselves to ensure good days ahead. Fourth Miss has so many things, and she doesn’t keep count… Sister, as long as you don’t speak up, I’m willing to share half of what I took with you!”

Bi Tong was struck to the heart by Qiu Lu’s words.

She wasn’t family-born but bought from outside to serve. Now sixteen, in a few years she planned to ask the Grand Dowager to release her registration so she could leave.

Her family had a sick old mother, her brother and sister-in-law were married with two nephews below them. The whole family depended on a vegetable stall, all counting on her to earn money.

She didn’t want to be married off randomly, nor did she want to be someone’s concubine. She just wanted to save enough money for her freedom, so she could become a proper wife in a modest household.

But all this required money.

This was why she desperately performed before Qin Huining, hoping for rewards.

Any casual reward from the young ladies was more than she could earn working hard for a year.

But even if Qin Huining rewarded her, it wouldn’t be as much as half of what Qiu Lu would share with her!

Such a good opportunity was right before her!

Bi Tong looked down suspiciously at Qiu Lu. She saw Qiu Lu’s face red with anxiety, tears and snot flowing down, looking at her with complete pleading.

“Sister Bi Tong, we’re both servants—why make things difficult for each other? Why don’t we take this chance to save money? There are small days ahead to live. Please have mercy, Sister Bi Tong. How about I give you most of it and keep just a little? I promise never to tell anyone about this. Sister Bi Tong!!”

Bi Tong knew Qiu Lu had originally been a maid at Xingning Courtyard, honest and simple by nature.

Seeing her like this, Bi Tong already believed her. Gritting her teeth, she said: “Fine, you give me most of it, or I’ll tell everyone.”

Qiu Lu was delighted and quickly stood up, taking things from her bosom. She gave Bi Tong the string of pearls, plus an agate ring, a blood jade bracelet, a pair of solid gold rose earrings, a pair of jade teardrop earrings, and a jade begonia hairpin.

Seeing so many treasures, and noting how fine the agate and jade were, Bi Tong’s eyes went straight. She hurriedly stuffed everything into her bosom.

She pointed at Qiu Lu: “Be careful and keep your mouth shut tight!”

“How would I dare speak? This involves my life and death too.” Qiu Lu tucked away what remained in her bosom and said: “Let’s leave quickly. It’s not good if someone sees us here too long.”

The two left the storage room.

Qiu Lu ran off in a panic.

Bi Tong bit her lower lip in thought. With so many items, if she brought them back and they were discovered in her bedroom, how could a servant like her have so many treasures? That would be inexplicable.

Thinking this, Bi Tong couldn’t be bothered to report back to Qin Huining. She took off running, exiting the mansion through the small kitchen’s side gate and sprinting toward her home.

Her home wasn’t far from the Qin mansion. After running for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, she reached a single-courtyard house near the market. Three families lived in this courtyard, and hers was in the west wing.

These items could only be safely stored if she took them home for her mother to keep.

Since three families shared the courtyard, the main gate was never locked during the day. Bi Tong pushed open the gate with its peeling black paint and ran toward the west wing, gasping.

With a creak, she pushed open the latticed door: “Mother, I’m back! You…”

Bi Tong’s eyes suddenly widened, her lips trembling, unable to speak.

She saw Qin Yining sitting in the place of honor, with a refined-looking gentleman of about fifty standing behind her, along with two young servants and two men who looked like guards.

Bi Tong’s mother stood to the side, carefully speaking with Qin Yining.

Seeing her burst in, Qin Yining smiled: “Miss Bi Tong was in such a hurry to come home today? What a coincidence.”