Qin Huining grabbed Qin Yining’s wrists with both hands, then tried to pry her fingers open, but Qin Yining’s hand was like an iron clamp – no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t loosen it even a fraction.

Having her throat gripped like this, she gradually found it difficult to breathe, and screamed hoarsely: “What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and save me, go call for help!”

Nanny Cai and Bi Tao had long been stunned by Qin Yining’s fierce methods. Only upon hearing her voice did they come to their senses and move forward to pull at Qin Yining.

But Qin Yining’s accumulated authority ran deep. With just one cold, knife-like glare thrown their way, Nanny Cai and Bi Tao both trembled in fright, and Bi Tong didn’t even dare to step forward.

Qin Yining released her grip with disdain.

Qin Huining’s legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, covering her neck and coughing.

“Didn’t you say you had no face left to live? The Old Madam has a compassionate heart, but I’m a savage who’s seen plenty of bloodshed. If you want to die but are afraid of pain and don’t dare do it yourself, I can help you along.”

Qin Yining’s tone was very gentle, but the content of her words made Qin Huining’s blood run cold.

From that brief moment just now, she knew that if Qin Yining truly wanted to kill her, her struggles would probably be useless – she would be strangled to death before anyone could come to help.

Would anyone believe that the Grand Tutor’s daughter could kill someone? Even if the masters of the household knew she had been killed by her, they would cover up the matter for the sake of Qin Huaiyuan’s reputation!

When had her situation in the Qin household become so dangerous?!

This was no longer simply about wealth and status – her very life was now in someone else’s hands!

Seeing that Qin Huining finally showed fear, Qin Yining smiled.

“Now you know to be afraid? Qin Huining, listen carefully to every word I’m about to say. Your suicide attempt today has probably spread throughout the entire household, and within a month, all the noble families in the capital will have gained a new topic for idle gossip. If you dare cause trouble again, I’ll hang you up. I think, since you have a precedent of attempting suicide by hanging, everyone will just think you’ve done it again.”

Looking at the roof beam, then back at Qin Huining, Qin Yining grabbed Nanny Cai’s collar with one hand and lifted her up like a bundle.

Nanny Cai’s feet left the ground, and she was so frightened her eyes bulged wide.

Qin Yining smiled and set her down, saying under Qin Huining’s horrified gaze: “Did you see that? I’m not playing games with you. I have the strength to hang you up there. If you dare provoke Mother again and make her lose face before her in-laws, if you dare stir up unrest in the household again, just try it. See whether people come to save you faster, or whether I strangle you and hang you up faster.”

She patted Qin Huining’s shoulder again, saying: “It’s late, you should rest now.” With that, she turned and walked out.

Qin Huining sat there dumbfounded, staring straight at the doorway.

Nanny Cai patted her chest and mumbled: “Is this even human? Is this even human…”

Bi Tong kept her head lowered, thinking of Manager Zhong’s instructions, and the fear and despair in her eyes deepened several degrees.

Only after a long while did Qin Huining let out a scream and angrily began smashing things in the room.

On her end, Qin Yining went to check on the Old Madam, confirmed that the Old Madam’s health was fine, then returned to Snow Pear Courtyard to rest.

The next day was when His Highness the Crown Prince would come to pay respects to the Grand Tutor and hold the teacher appreciation banquet. Before dawn, the household was already bustling with activity.

Early in the morning, Manager Zhong, through Nanny Jing from the kitchen, delivered a document from the Bureau of Taoist Records to Qin Yining’s hands, and whispered in her ear: “The silver has been sent, and the two young ladies are also prepared.”

Qin Yining was startled, then smiled.

“Thank you for making the trip, Nanny Jing.” Qin Yining smiled and pressed a heavy silk pouch embroidered with the character for fortune into Nanny Jing’s hands. “In the future, I’ll need your continued care. This small token is for you to buy wine.”

“Oh my, Young Miss, this servant doesn’t dare accept such kindness.” Nanny Jing repeatedly declined.

“We’re all one family, why be so formal? If you keep refusing, it means you look down on me.” Qin Yining pretended to be angry.

Only then did Nanny Jing accept it. After exchanging more pleasantries with Qin Yining, she respectfully took her leave.

Qin Yining ate the bird’s nest porridge sent from the kitchen, pursed her lips as she made some plans, then smiled and instructed Qiu Lu: “Go clean out one of the side rooms next to my bedroom. Don’t skimp on the necessary furnishings, utensils, bedding, and such.”

Qiu Lu nodded and went to do as instructed.

Qin Yining then took the precious zither and jade chess set that Qin Huaiyuan had just bestowed upon her to Filial Piety Garden to pay her morning respects to the Old Madam.

Today’s Filial Piety Garden had returned to calm, as if the news of Qin Huining’s threats to hang herself last night had never spread.

Sun Shi, along with Second Madam and Third Madam, went to the outer courtyard to organize the reception for the Crown Prince and the banquet arrangements.

The Old Madam stayed with the properly dressed and prepared young ladies in Filial Piety Garden, talking until it was time for the banquet when they would go to the front to pay respects to the Crown Prince.

Qin Yining looked over Qin Huining and found that today she wore a cross-collared jacket that concealed the marks on her neck, and had applied appropriate rouge and powder to her face to hide the redness and swelling from Sun Shi’s slap. She sat quietly beside Sixth Miss with her head lowered, generally appearing well-behaved.

She thought with amusement that Qin Huining was clearly the type who only responded to force, not reason – a hundred gentle words weren’t as effective as one slap.

Since she was being compliant, Qin Yining didn’t think about it further and chatted with the other young ladies, making the Old Madam laugh happily.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), a young maid came to report: “His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived and is currently performing the teacher acknowledgment ceremony with the Grand Tutor in the front courtyard.”

At three quarters past Chen, someone else came to report: “His Highness the Crown Prince, the Grand Tutor, Second Master, Third Master, Eldest Young Master, and Second Young Master have gone to the study to talk.”

At the hour of Si (9-11 AM).

Ji Xiang, who had just gone out to check the situation, returned with a smile: “Old Madam, His Highness the Crown Prince is touring the back garden with the three masters and young masters. Madam says the banquet is ready and can be served at the first quarter of noon. She requests that Old Madam bring the young ladies to the flower hall at the end of Si hour.”

The Old Madam nodded in excellent spirits: “Understood.”

The Old Madam then inspected the young ladies’ attire once more.

But after just the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a little maid rushed in from outside and rattled off like machine gun fire in the corridor:

“Old Madam! Just now, Bi Tong and Xiao Ai from beside Miss Huining offended His Highness the Crown Prince in the back garden. The Grand Tutor has already ordered them to be thrown out, and the Grand Tutor also instructed Old Madam to confine Miss Huining to the woodshed – he’ll have questions for her later.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Huining shot to her feet, staring wide-eyed in terror, looking pleadingly at the Old Madam: “What, what happened? Bi Tong didn’t follow me this morning – she said her monthly period had come and she felt unwell. Seeing her discomfort, I didn’t bring her along. How could she have gone to the back garden and offended the Crown Prince…”

The Old Madam frowned and instructed Nanny Qin: “Lu Juan, go quickly and find out what happened, then report back to me.”

“Yes.” Nanny Qin hurried off.

Qin Yining lowered her eyes and took a sip of the warm tea.

It was slightly bitter on the tongue with a clear, fragrant aftertaste – good tea.

The young ladies who had been excited about seeing the Crown Prince at the noon banquet were now all rather anxious, especially Qin Huining, whose face was pale as she broke into a cold sweat, wondering what had happened and why father would want to confine her to the woodshed.

After a while, Nanny Qin returned.

“Old Madam.” Nanny Qin’s expression was very grim. “This servant has found out everything. Bi Tong and Xiao Ai didn’t know that the Grand Tutor, Second Master, and Third Master were touring the back garden with the Crown Prince. Both of them were free today and were gossiping behind the artificial mountain. As a result, they were overheard clearly by His Highness the Crown Prince and the Grand Tutor’s party. They said, they said…”

The Old Madam frowned: “What did they say? Speak clearly!”

“This servant brought Qi Tai, the Grand Tutor’s personal attendant, to explain it to you.”

“Quickly call him in!”

Qi Tai was already in his thirties, had served by Qin Huaiyuan’s side for many years, and was both loyal and clever. When he came, he didn’t enter the inner room but knelt outside the decorative screen painted with magpies, where only a vague silhouette could be seen.

“…His Highness the Crown Prince’s party was walking along when they heard two young girls whispering, saying that Fourth Miss was a fool with a screw loose who didn’t even know when she was being framed. They said the maid who was accused of stealing Old Madam’s bracelet was actually framed by Miss Huining’s order to Bi Tong, and that Old Madam was easy to fool – she just believed it and had the person thrown out.”

“This humble one was right behind the Grand Tutor and His Highness the Crown Prince at the time, and heard these words clearly. His Highness the Crown Prince must have heard them too.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince didn’t speak at the time, but the Grand Tutor’s expression was very ugly. He angrily scolded the two gossiping girls. The Grand Tutor was merciful and didn’t have them beaten to death, just had them thrown out directly.”

The room fell completely silent. Everyone’s gaze turned toward Qin Yining and Qin Huining.

No wonder the Eldest Master wanted to confine Qin Huining to the woodshed – so the theft by Qin Yining’s maid was actually a frame-up by her!

Having such dark household affairs exposed in front of the Crown Prince, especially with the adopted daughter framing the legitimate daughter’s maid – if such a thing spread, what would people say?

There was no guarantee that people wouldn’t say that Grand Tutor Qin couldn’t even keep his own inner quarters in order – if one can’t sweep one’s own house, how can one sweep the world…

The Old Madam was so angry her face turned purple. She violently threw the brass tobacco pipe in her hands, hitting Qin Huining squarely on the shoulder, making her cry out in pain.

“And you still have the face to cry! Someone come, confine Qin Huining to the woodshed. Without the Eldest Master’s word, no one is allowed to see her!”

“Old Madam, I didn’t, I really didn’t! I’m being wronged! Someone must be framing me!”

“You still dare to make excuses at a time like this! Take her away, take her away!” The Old Madam angrily pounded the table.

Sturdy women servants came in, covered Qin Huining’s mouth, and dragged her out bodily.

The room fell into deathly silence.

Because of the Rui Lan theft incident, many people had mocked Qin Yining for not knowing how to manage her servants, and some had gone even further, saying that with a crooked beam above, the pillars below would also be crooked.

Now that the truth was revealed, everyone felt somewhat awkward when looking at Qin Yining.

Just then, someone else came to report from outside: “Old Madam, Duke Dingguo’s wife has sent two maids for Fourth Miss.”

As soon as the words were spoken, they saw the head maid Ji Xiang enter with a somewhat peculiar expression, leading two young women.

Upon seeing these two people, once again, everyone’s attention focused on Qin Yining.

The Old Madam was surprised and pointed at one of them, saying: “Aren’t you Rui Lan?!”

“This servant is Song Lan, paying respects to Old Madam and Fourth Miss.” Rui Lan, now renamed Song Lan, smiled and performed a curtsy.

Author’s Note: Merry Christmas Eve!