The carriage slowly stopped at the side gate of the Qin manor. Sun Shi looked out through the gap in the curtains with a somewhat rigid expression.

Observing Sun Shi’s demeanor, Qin Yining knew she must feel that returning on her own initiative had caused her to lose face.

If she had known it would come to this, why did she act as she did in the first place?

No wonder Duke Dingguo’s wife was so angry. At Sun Shi’s age, she still acted so willfully. That she had been able to steadily maintain her position as the prime minister’s wife all these years and get along reasonably well with her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law was truly good fortune.

But even so, Qin Yining wouldn’t stand by and do nothing about Sun Shi’s situation.

“Madam, please don’t be angry anymore. Your daughter already knows her wrongs.” Qin Yining deliberately misinterpreted Sun Shi’s embarrassment and awkwardness as anger, saying with an apologetic smile: “Later I will certainly explain clearly to Old Madam that Madam returned to instruct her daughter. Old Madam will surely feel relieved knowing this and won’t worry about matters of instructing daughters anymore.”

Sun Shi was startled upon hearing this and didn’t immediately react.

Nanny Jin, who was attending nearby, smiled, her impression of Qin Yining having completely reversed. However much doubt she’d had about Qin Yining before, she now had that much respect.

“Madam, look how thoughtful Fourth Miss is. Don’t be upset about this matter anymore. Besides, we’re all family. You and Master have been husband and wife for so many years – what obstacle can’t be overcome? Men care about face. If you yield slightly, it will pass.”

“Why should I be the one to yield?” Sun Shi muttered quietly, but didn’t become angry.

Qin Yining saw through Sun Shi’s thoughts and hinted after thinking: “Since Madam is no longer angry, shall we enter the manor? If we go see Old Madam now and give our report, you can also return to Xingning Garden to rest and recover. After all, you haven’t been home for so many days.”

Sun Shi indeed became alert upon hearing this. She wanted to return to see which concubine’s quarters Qin Huaiyuan had been sleeping in during the days she was away.

“Let’s go, return to the manor!” No longer hesitating, Sun Shi ordered the maidservants following the carriage to knock on the gate.

Seeing this, Nanny Jin smiled and nodded at Qin Yining, who responded with a gentle smile in return.

The carriage entered the manor. Sun Shi and Qin Yining changed to a smaller oil-wall carriage for transportation and only alighted at the second gate.

Just as they entered the Cixiao Garden, they saw the head maidservant Ru Yi talking with young maids.

Qin Yining smiled first: “Sister Ru Yi is busy.”

Seeing the visitor was Qin Yining, Ru Yi’s face broke into a three-point smile. Seeing Nanny Jin, Cai Ju, and Cai Lan attending Sun Shi’s return, she immediately bowed with a smile: “Great Madam, Fourth Miss, may you be well. Old Madam happens to be free now. Please both come in quickly.” As she spoke, she led the way.

The maidservants in the corridor had already announced their arrival inside. Two maidservants lifted the warm curtains, and Ji Xiang and Nanny Qin both came out to greet them.

Qin Yining supported Sun Shi as they entered the room and removed their cloaks. Nanny Qin and Ji Xiang immediately smiled and took them over.

Looking up, Qin Yining saw Bi Tong.

Bi Tong didn’t dare meet Qin Yining’s eyes. Seeing Qin Yining look over, she quickly lowered her head, her body involuntarily shrinking.

Qin Yining pretended not to see, supporting Sun Shi as they walked around the black lacquered carved “Magpies on Plum Branches” screen to the inner room.

The room’s furnishings had changed again. The originally cool-toned chair covers, table cloths, and pillows were now all replaced with scarlet red ones. The fresh flowers in the vases were also chosen in red – red flowers accompanying snow-white beautiful flower vessels gave a festive feeling upon sight, perfectly matching the great joyous occasion of Qin Huaiyuan’s promotion.

Old Madam wore a dark blue brocade jacket embroidered with large immortal cranes and cloud patterns, sitting cross-legged on the arhat couch by the window smoking a pipe.

Qin Huining stood beside her holding an exquisite spittoon, attending to the ash-tapping. Seeing Qin Yining and Sun Shi return together, her face showed genuine surprise.

Qin Yining’s gaze swept over the completely astonished Qin Huining as she supported Sun Shi in kneeling down and properly bowing to Old Madam.

Sun Shi endured her embarrassment and said: “Old Madam, your daughter-in-law has returned.”

Old Madam took a puff from her pipe and coldly hummed, only leaving Sun Shi with a pair of white eyeballs.

Sun Shi’s face instantly flushed red, even her ears and neck turning completely red. She bit her teeth and forcibly endured the humiliation: “These past days, this daughter-in-law was too impulsive. I hope Old Madam won’t take it to heart.”

“Take it to heart?” Old Madam casually knocked ash into the spittoon, the brass pipe and ceramic making loud clashing sounds.

“If I took things to heart, wouldn’t I have been angered to death by you long ago these years? Sun Shi, tell me – in all these years in the Qin family, has this mother-in-law ever given you any grievances? Or has our Qin family wronged you somewhere? What exactly are you dissatisfied with that you pick fights every few days? Tell me – is my son unworthy of you? Or do you find this old woman displeasing to your eyes?”

Sun Shi bit her teeth and said nothing.

Old Madam continued scolding: “You’ve been in this family all these years and haven’t borne Meng Ge’er even one son. Tell me, have I ever blamed you for anything? That day you caused trouble for no reason, every word stabbing at my heart. What do you want this old woman to do?”

Old Madam threw down her pipe in grievance. Qin Huining immediately caught it, carefully extinguished it, and brought a cloth to attend to Old Madam’s hands.

Old Madam glanced at Qin Huining and continued: “Tell me – all these years you couldn’t teach children yourself, so I raised Hui Jie’er carefully under my own eyes. You couldn’t get along with your sisters-in-law, so I spoke countless good words for you behind your back to your second and third sisters-in-law. You can’t see any of this – do you take everyone else’s kindness to you as deserved?”

“Meng Ge’er is at least a court official. You, a mere woman, can’t share your husband’s burdens. Not only do you repeatedly cause trouble, but you also quarrel with him in public. Where did all your lessons about the three obediences and four virtues go? Is this the family teaching of your Duke Dingguo manor?”

Sun Shi cried grievously, her heart filled with only one question: should she endure this? Should she just return to her natal home now and never again have to look at these people’s faces!

Old Madam felt much better after this scolding. Seeing Sun Shi crying incessantly, she snorted: “What, you still feel wronged?”

“Old Madam.” Seeing that Old Madam had finished her scolding and vented her anger, Qin Yining finally bowed: “Please calm your anger. This incident is entirely my fault. Madam was only acting from eagerness to teach her children. During these days at Duke Dingguo manor, Madam often discussed child-rearing experiences with Maternal Grandmother. Now that she’s understood, she hurried back. I beg Old Madam to consider family harmony and stop being angry.”

Old Madam’s impression of Qin Yining was already far different from when she first returned to the manor. Because Qin Huaiyuan treated Qin Yining like a son in his upbringing, Old Madam also gave Qin Yining more importance.

Old Madam understood that with Duke Dingguo manor as Sun Shi’s strong backing, she couldn’t do anything to her. Since they would have to continue accepting her in the future, saying too much would be counterproductive.

Thinking of this, Old Madam said: “Fine, let this matter pass. There won’t be a next time.”

“Yes. Thank you, Old Madam.” Sun Shi bowed to Old Madam, truly breathing a sigh of relief.

Qin Yining smiled: “Thank you for Old Madam’s mercy.”

“Enough, you girl just know how to sweet-talk.” Old Madam smiled lovingly.

Qin Huining, watching from the side, saw how Qin Yining had persuaded Old Madam with just a few words. Whatever hope she had harbored was now completely shattered.

It seemed Old Madam had truly acknowledged Qin Yining and liked her to the point of following her advice. There was no room for regret anymore.

How would she live her future days?

Qin Huining bit her lip anxiously, then stepped forward to support Sun Shi’s arm: “Mother, how have you been these days? There have been some matters in the manor, and I couldn’t get away – I haven’t had time to visit you.”

Sun Shi’s mind kept replaying Duke Dingguo’s wife’s words. Looking at Qin Huining now, her gaze became much more complex.

“Matters? What matters?”

Qin Huining glanced at Old Madam, then at Qin Yining, forcing a smile. As if she had suffering to swallow herself while protecting others, she only said: “It’s nothing really.”

First saying there were matters, then when Sun Shi asked, saying it was nothing.

This was clearly playing mind games, trying to arouse Sun Shi’s interest.

As long as Sun Shi was interested, she would naturally investigate. No matter how Sun Shi investigated, the rumors outside were all unfavorable to Qin Yining. During the days Sun Shi wasn’t home, the unseemly rumors would reduce Sun Shi’s favorable impression of her.

Qin Yining saw this clearly but didn’t take a stance, only maintaining her normal, smiling expression.

Sun Shi was indeed somewhat curious. But with Old Madam present, she didn’t ask immediately, only thinking to question Qin Huining later when they went out.

Seeing that Sun Shi didn’t immediately pick up the conversation as usual, Qin Huining felt somewhat annoyed and asked instead: “How did Mother come with Sister Yining? Did you meet on the road?”

Another trap!

Just as Qin Yining was about to interject, Sun Shi had already answered thoughtlessly: “Yi Jie’er went to Duke Dingguo manor to kowtow and admit her wrongs, which is why I returned.”

Old Madam frowned upon hearing this.

Qin Huining caught Old Madam’s expression and felt pleased inwardly. Her face remaining unchanged, she nodded: “I see. Sister Yining is indeed convenient in going out – she can leave whenever she says she will.” This was a veiled reference to Qin Yining going out without reporting to Old Madam.

Qin Huining wanted to use this incident to criticize Qin Yining before Old Madam for now being able to come and go as she pleased.

But Qin Yining knew this statement would certainly arouse Old Madam’s dissatisfaction with Sun Shi.

Old Madam indeed darkened her expression: “Yi Jie’er went to kowtow and admit wrongs before you returned? What, if Yi Jie’er didn’t invite you, you wouldn’t have come back?”

“I…” Sun Shi was startled and immediately shook her head: “Old Madam, don’t misunderstand. It was just coincidence. Even if Yi Jie’er hadn’t gone, I would have returned.”

Old Madam was already too lazy to listen to more of Sun Shi’s words. Impatiently waving her hand: “Enough, enough! Go rest. I suppose you’re also too lazy to come see this old woman. From now on, your morning and evening greetings can be dispensed with.”

Sun Shi’s face went white, then she looked angrily at Qin Huining.

Days of accumulated dissatisfaction and suspicion all burst forth at this moment.

Sun Shi’s face darkened. It took great effort for her not to start shouting in front of Old Madam. Gritting her teeth: “Since that’s the case, then this daughter-in-law takes her leave. Hui Jie’er, Yi Jie’er, both of you come with me. I brought things to give you.”

With that, she turned and left.

Qin Huining’s face went pale as she anxiously followed.

Qin Yining helplessly shook her head, bowed to Old Madam, then followed closely behind.