Sun Shi had always been heaven’s favored daughter and had never suffered such grievances. Being scolded face-to-face by the Old Madam truly made her lose all dignity.
Her face flushed bright red as she retorted at rapid speed: “Old Madam can’t say that. How is it that when Hui Jie’er performed well before, Old Madam always said Hui Jie’er was raised under your own eyes? Just the other day you said that to help your daughter-in-law, you personally taught Hui Jie’er. How is it that now when Hui Jie’er’s servants have made mistakes, you’re questioning me first? If she turned out this way, it wasn’t just me alone who taught her.”
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam nearly spat out a mouthful of blood from anger.
Back then she must have been truly blinded to think that Sun Haihan, this foolish woman who didn’t know the height of heaven and earth, would be worthy of her outstandingly talented eldest son!
“Sun Shi, is this the tone a daughter-in-law should use with her mother-in-law? What do you mean? As a mother-in-law, I helped you raise your daughter, and not only are you not grateful, you’re actually complaining that I didn’t teach her well? Who exactly is her mother – me or you?”
The Old Madam was furious and pointed at Sun Shi again: “I originally thought that your voluntary return this time showed you had matured somewhat, but I didn’t expect you’re still like this – truly rotten wood that cannot be carved!”
Sun Shi’s eyes filled with tears as she stiffened her neck and said: “Old Madam, just tell me straight – do you still care about your precious flesh and blood or not? Why are you dragging me into this?”
“Now I’m ‘rotten wood that cannot be carved,’ but back then it wasn’t my Sun family who tried every means to arrange this marriage! Wasn’t it your honored mansion that found someone to mediate with our Duke’s mansion? All these years, while I won’t say how good I’ve been, Qin Meng has at least risen steadily in his career – I do have the fortune of helping my husband prosper. Why does Old Madam now find me disagreeable no matter what!”
“You, you!” The Old Madam’s face turned ashen with anger at Sun Shi’s words. “If you were my daughter, I would have slapped you away long ago!”
A mother-in-law could establish rules for her daughter-in-law, but actually hitting someone would ultimately be mocked by people in noble circles, and if it spread, it would also give the Old Madam a reputation as a wicked mother-in-law.
Therefore, although the Old Madam had been willful at times over the years, she had never laid a finger on her daughter-in-law.
But today Sun Shi’s words were too excessive. The Old Madam was already quite angry about the trouble Qin Huining had caused, and now being angered again by Sun Shi, her vision began to darken in waves. Supporting her head as her body swayed, she nearly fell.
“Old Madam!”
Nanny Qin and Qin Yining hurried to support her.
“Are you alright? Please go inside and rest.”
Qin Yining secretly shook her head at Sun Shi, indicating she absolutely shouldn’t say anything more to avoid bringing trouble on herself, then helped the Old Madam inside with Nanny Qin.
Sun Shi clenched her fists, trembling all over with anger.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to control her temper, but controlling it was too much of a grievance to herself. She had been raised in her grandmother’s palm since childhood, and her parents were also loving toward her – where had she ever suffered such hardship? If it weren’t for Qin Huaiyuan’s sake, she wouldn’t bother serving such a difficult wicked mother-in-law!
Sun Shi really wanted to turn and leave, but thinking it over, she still needed to show concern for the Old Madam, otherwise people would gossip. She had no choice but to follow the three of them into the room.
Qin Yining and Nanny Qin had already helped the Old Madam lie down. After confirming the Old Madam was fine, both spoke softly to comfort her.
Sun Shi stood to the side quietly watching them serve the Old Madam, removing her shoes and socks, gently consoling her. The Old Madam closed her eyes looking like she didn’t want to say another word. Sun Shi knew her pleading today would probably be useless.
She thought it over and still felt that Qin Huining wasn’t that kind of person. Perhaps someone was stirring up trouble behind the scenes, deliberately trying to implicate Qin Huining.
Sun Shi went to the warm chamber and called for Nanny Cai from beside Qin Huining to ask about the whole story.
Nanny Cai was Nanny Jin’s niece, and Nanny Jin was Sun Shi’s wet nurse. When Sun Shi saw Nanny Cai, she felt she was one of her own people and spoke directly.
“Did Hui Jie’er actually instruct Bi Tong to frame the maid beside Yi Jie’er?”
“Madam, how can you think that? You know how gentle and sensible Miss Huining is. Her days are like walking on thin ice now. Last night she nearly hanged herself in suicide, and when the hanging didn’t kill her, she was choked by Fourth Miss, who said something about if she wanted to die but didn’t dare, she could help…”
At this point, Nanny Cai spoke through tears: “Now, if even Madam won’t believe Miss Huining, Miss Huining truly has no hope of getting ahead. Bi Tong has always been arrogant – who knows what crooked thoughts she harbored, deliberately framing our Miss Huining!”
Nanny Cai wiped her tears while carefully observing Sun Shi’s expression. Seeing that Sun Shi was eighty percent convinced, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
How could she possibly admit that Qin Huining had framed someone?
Because that plan was her idea for Qin Huining!
Now that Qin Huining’s affair was exposed, Nanny Cai was terrified of being implicated for instigating her mistress. She absolutely had to insist that Qin Huining was wronged.
Seeing Nanny Cai so resolute, Sun Shi believed her completely. Hearing that Qin Yining had once treated Qin Huining that way, she couldn’t help but frown. However, her impression of Qin Yining had already improved, and she felt this matter was probably exaggerated, so she didn’t ask more.
“Since you say so, I’ll believe Hui Jie’er. But who exactly would deliberately frame Hui Jie’er? Also, how did Bi Tong and Xiao Ai happen to say those things just when Master and the Crown Prince’s party were passing by? The more I think about it, the more it seems like someone planned it.”
Seeing that Sun Shi believed her story, Nanny Cai finally relaxed and curled her lip: “Madam is a perceptive person. Do I need to spell out some things? Who’s framing Miss Huining is obvious – whoever has gained the most benefits now, that’s who it is.”
Who had gained the most benefits?
Sun Shi recalled today’s events. Although she hadn’t been serving in the Old Madam’s room earlier, she did know that Qin Yining had brought back two maids from Duke Dingguo’s mansion, one of whom was Rui Lan, who had been suspected of theft.
Who was the beneficiary now? Obviously it was Qin Yining.
Sun Shi’s brow furrowed into a knot. She didn’t want to believe Qin Yining would harm Qin Huining, but with Nanny Cai saying this, her heart wavered uncertainly.
Just as Sun Shi’s mind was becoming a muddled mess, Qin Yining arrived at the warm chamber with her people.
“Madam is indeed here. I guessed you’d be here.” Behind Qin Yining followed four people: Bingtang, Song Lan, Yao Qin, and Yu Qi.
Sun Shi had been busy all day and only brought one Cai Ju with her, who wasn’t even by her side now.
Recalling how Qin Yining looked when she first returned to the mansion, then seeing her current entourage, the vast difference made Sun Shi think carefully.
With Qin Yining’s methods being so formidable, did she have the heart to harm others?
“What’s wrong, Mother? Why are you looking at me like that without speaking?” Qin Yining had some idea in her heart but still smiled on the surface.
Sun Shi frowned and said: “Come with me.”
With that, she grabbed Qin Yining’s hand and rushed toward Xingning Garden like flying.
At the same time in the woodshed, Qin Huaiyuan stood with his hands behind his back before the kneeling and weeping Qin Huining, asking in a deep voice: “Say everything that needs to be said. Don’t drag it out – I don’t have that much patience.”