Nanny Qin first glanced at her master to confirm the Old Madam had no objection, then smiled and invited Qin Yining aside, saying in a low voice:
“Today, because of what Nanny Bao said when she came to take you out, Miss Huining and the First Madam had a quarrel. Both sides had their reasons and were quite angry. Right now the First Madam is crying sadly in Xingning Garden, and Miss Huining here is also terribly aggrieved. The Old Madam comforted this one and then that one, caught in the middle and in a difficult position. She barely ate anything for dinner today.”
At this point, Nanny Qin sighed again, “Nanny Bao was also thoughtless, embarrassing Miss Huining in public like that. Young ladies have thin skin – how could she bear it? When Miss Huining made a fuss, wasn’t it the Old Madam who suffered?”
This was criticizing Duke Dingguo’s wife.
Actually, if Qin Huining had been sensible, no matter how much Nanny Bao embarrassed her, she wouldn’t have caused trouble.
This was clearly poor upbringing on the Qin family’s part, yet they blamed others instead.
If you wanted to demonstrate your children’s home training, shouldn’t you put effort into educating them?
Who could demand that children never encounter difficulties?
Nanny Qin spoke this way simply because of different positions and loyalties.
A son doesn’t speak of his father’s faults. Qin Yining was unwilling to criticize her elders or speak ill of others behind their backs, so she only frowned with worry.
“The Old Madam is getting on in years and needs good care. Missing one meal and harboring anger and resentment – how can her body endure it?”
Qin Yining approached the Old Madam with concern: “Old Madam, I know your difficulties regarding today’s events. I haven’t read many books, but I do know one saying.”
She picked up the still-warm white porcelain covered bowl containing bird’s nest soup with milk that Nanny Qin had just ordered someone to bring, and brought a spoonful of bird’s nest to the Old Madam’s lips.
“Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. You just need to maintain your health, and our Qin family will have a stabilizing force. Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and the cousin brothers can focus on their endeavors outside without worrying about household matters. We womenfolk also have a backbone with you presiding over us.”
Qin Yining’s bright eyes sparkled with affection and smiles as she coaxed gently. The Old Madam’s heart softened, and though she had no appetite before, she now cooperatively opened her mouth and took several spoonfuls.
Seeing this, Nanny Qin smiled and immediately fetched a brocade handkerchief and warm water for rinsing, standing ready at the side.
“You are the head of our household. Your health doesn’t belong to you alone, but to our entire Qin family. You must take care of yourself not only for your own sake, but for the whole family’s sake. Not to mention others, just your granddaughter who has just returned home knows nothing and will need your guidance in many matters.”
Qin Yining’s voice was soft and gentle, making the Old Madam feel comforted. Before she knew it, the entire bowl of bird’s nest soup with milk was finished.
Nanny Qin tactfully came to help the Old Madam rinse her mouth and wipe it, smiling: “Fourth Miss is right – children and grandchildren have their own blessings. You are the ancestor and head of the family. For some matters, just turn a blind eye, see half but not the other half, and let it be. Why make things difficult for yourself? You worked hard for this family when you were young. Now that the Grand Master’s official career is soaring and bringing glory to the ancestors, it’s time for you to enjoy your blessings. Why not be good to yourself?”
Perhaps because she had eaten something and felt better, or perhaps because Qin Yining’s words had an effect, the Old Madam, who had been gloomy all afternoon, finally showed a genuine smile and sighed: “Enough, you’re both right.”
Seeing the Old Madam like this, Nanny Qin’s respect for Qin Yining increased even more, and she couldn’t help speaking up for her:
“In this servant’s opinion, Fourth Miss truly resembles the Grand Master when he was young. Do you remember that year when you fell ill and the Grand Master, only ten years old, stayed by your bedside day and night to serve you medicine? No matter how this servant tried to persuade him, he refused to leave, insisting on watching over you. He finally fell asleep leaning against the bed only when he couldn’t hold out anymore at dawn.”
Under the warm lamplight, Qin Yining’s features, so similar to Qin Huaiyuan’s, appeared even more gentle. The Old Madam already liked looking at her, and with Nanny Qin’s words reminding her of young Qin Huaiyuan’s filial piety, that happiness of being cared for by a child unconsciously transferred to Qin Yining.
The Old Madam embraced Qin Yining and patted her back: “Good child, your father is good, and you’re so much like your father – you’re also good. You suffered in the past, and Grandmother said some harsh words when she was angry. You must have been hurt, right?”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile, though her eyes grew warm with emotion.
Regardless of how the Old Madam might treat her in the future, at this moment she could feel that the Old Madam’s affection for her was genuine.
“What are you saying, Grandmother?” Qin Yining immediately took the opportunity to change her form of address: “We’re family. I’m your biological granddaughter. However you discipline your granddaughter is proper – it’s all for my own good. How could your granddaughter be hurt?”
“What a good child.” The Old Madam held Qin Yining close, patting her back comfortingly like soothing a child: “Grandmother will love you well from now on and make up for all those years we lost. Doesn’t that sound good?”
“Just being able to serve by Grandmother’s side is already enough to satisfy your granddaughter.” Qin Yining nuzzled against the Old Madam’s embrace.
The atmosphere in the room was very warm, even the flickering candlelight seemed cheerful.
Nanny Qin seemed infected by the happiness between grandmother and granddaughter, feeling happy herself and couldn’t help but smile.
Just then, a sharp scream shattered the warm tranquility of the room.
“Something terrible has happened! Come quickly! Miss Huining has hanged herself!”
The Old Madam was so startled she nearly fell off the stepped bed. “What? What did you hear them shouting? Hui Jie’er hanged herself?”
Nanny Qin silently cursed whoever was making such a commotion outside and said soothingly: “Don’t panic, I’ll go see what’s happening.”
“No, no, no, I heard it clearly. They said Hui Jie’er hanged herself?” The Old Madam got up in panic, rushing outside without even putting on her shoes.
Qin Yining hurriedly followed with the shoes: “Grandmother, please put on your shoes first. Your granddaughter will help you go there.”
Nanny Qin also brought a thick outer garment to dress the Old Madam properly before she and Qin Yining supported the Old Madam on either side as they went out.
By this time, Ji Xiang and Ruyi had already ordered young maids to bring lanterns. The group proceeded along the covered walkway toward the warm pavilion where Qin Huining lived.
They hadn’t walked far when the sound of servants’ tearful pleas could be heard.
“Miss, you mustn’t think such dark thoughts.”
“You should at least think of the Old Madam – you still have the Old Madam.”
“Miss, acting like this only brings pain to those who love you and joy to your enemies!”
…
What “those who love you”? What “enemies”? Was this supposed to be persuasion or adding fuel to the fire?
Nanny Qin’s face turned black as a pot bottom as she looked questioningly at the Old Madam.
The Old Madam’s expression also looked quite unpleasant.
The door of the warm pavilion was wide open. Qin Huining stood on a black lacquered wooden stool with cabriole legs, both hands gripping white silk, stretching on her toes to put her neck into the noose.
Nanny Cai, Bi Tong, and Bi Tao – some holding her legs, some embracing her feet, others kneeling and kowtowing – created a chaotic scene of crying and sobbing.
“What is this nonsense!” The Old Madam trembled with anger. “Hui Jie’er, get down from there immediately!”
“I have no face left to live. Grandmother, just let me go like this.” Qin Huining’s tears fell like rain, her front soaked with a wet patch. “Being humiliated like that today, even Mother won’t acknowledge me anymore. My heart is breaking. Old Madam, your granddaughter is unfilial. Please allow me, let me go!”
“Go where? You’re a daughter of the Qin family – where do you think you’re going? Get down here now!” The Old Madam was both angry and heartbroken, directing everyone: “You there, help your mistress down immediately!”
“Yes!” Nanny Cai, Bi Tong, and Bi Tao quickly stood up.
Having achieved her purpose, Qin Huining cried and went limp, deliberately falling down and landing on Bi Tong and Nanny Cai. The two women exerted great effort to prevent Qin Huining from getting hurt, but ended up being knocked about and bruised all over.
Bi Tao grabbed Qin Huining’s hand: “Miss, please get up quickly. Don’t make the Old Madam sad.”
Qin Huining shook off Bi Tao’s hand and threw herself at the Old Madam’s feet, hugging her legs and crying: “Grandmother, why did you have them save me? Just let me die!”
The Old Madam frowned. Though her heart ached for Qin Huining, seeing her behave this way also made her angry.
“Hui Jie’er! What are you trying to accomplish with all this crying and carrying on? Your father has just been promoted to Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince – the family is celebrating this great joy, and you’re acting like this. Who exactly are you trying to curse?!”
Qin Huining suddenly looked up, staring at the Old Madam in disbelief.
The Old Madam’s brow was tightly furrowed: “I know you feel wronged, but you should also be more sensible. Don’t you know your mother’s temperament? Why did you provoke her? Can’t Grandmother’s love for you make up for the grievance in your heart?”
“No, it’s not like that.” Qin Huining covered her face and sobbed, using this gesture to hide the vicious expression on her face.
Indeed, even the Old Madam no longer loved her…
“Not like that? Then what am I seeing? You live in my courtyard, yet you deliberately stage a hanging to upset me. You’re harboring resentment!”
The Old Madam loved Qin Huining most dearly. After scolding her a few times, she felt sorry and turned her anger toward the people around Qin Huining instead.
“Cai Shi, you’re her wet nurse. If the child doesn’t understand, don’t you understand either? When your mistress was hanging white silk from the beam, didn’t you know to stop her? Yet afterwards you hugged her legs and cried – what kind of performance was that for? Believe it or not, I’ll have you hanged up there!”
Nanny Cai turned pale as paper, trembling like a sieve as she kowtowed repeatedly, saying “This servant failed in her duty, this servant wouldn’t dare.”
The Old Madam’s temples throbbed and her body shook with anger.
Seeing this, Qin Yining quickly said: “Nanny Qin, please help Grandmother return first. Don’t let anger harm her health. Miss Huining has always been sensible – today must have been a momentary impulse. I’ll have a good talk with her, and I’m sure she’ll come around soon.”
Nanny Qin nodded and, feeling reassured to leave this matter to Qin Yining, gently persuaded the Old Madam to return.
The Old Madam, feeling unwell herself and seeing that Qin Yining was so willing to give Qin Huining a way out, felt at ease returning to rest.
After the Old Madam’s people had all left and only the sobbing Qin Huining and the still-kneeling Nanny Cai, Bi Tong, and Bi Tao remained in the room, Qin Yining let out a cold laugh.
“Crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide – Qin Huining, do you think you’re putting on a theatrical performance? What’s this about – do you find the household too peaceful?”
“What are you! Get out!” Qin Huining jumped up with red eyes and pushed at Qin Yining.
But Qin Yining grabbed Qin Huining’s slender neck!
“Want to die? Do you need me to help you?!”