Old Madam leaned forward and asked: “You mean, only summoning the three of us—me, your aunt, and Yining?” Her tone was full of tension.

“Yes.” Qin Yu said: “Right now Uncle is outside entertaining the eunuch who came from the palace to deliver the message. He said he’ll return shortly and asks that you, Aunt, and Yining prepare yourselves with full formal dress.”

Old Madam nodded with furrowed brows.

After Qin Yu finished delivering the message clearly, he withdrew. In the outer room, he said to his wife Yao Shi: “Yining has never entered the palace. As her sister-in-law, you should give her some additional guidance.”

The eldest daughter-in-law smiled and nodded: “Don’t worry, I understand.” Watching Qin Yu leave, she pulled Second Daughter-in-law Meng Shi: “Come, Madam is attending to Old Madam. Let’s go help Yining.”

Second Daughter-in-law then set aside the embroidery pattern she had been teaching Ji Xiang and entered the room with First Daughter-in-law.

The atmosphere in the room was now heavy with solemnity. Old Madam’s brows could be knotted into a lump as she pressed her hand to her chest: “I always feel today’s events are inauspicious. Not only did the Cao family inexplicably send us Laba porridge, but Empress Cao somehow spoke before His Majesty. Why would they summon three women like us to enter the palace?”

Sun Shi was also nervous. Although she was a first-rank noble lady and had seen grand occasions, facing the Emperor and Empress still made her hands and feet feel cold. She estimated that when standing before them, she wouldn’t even be able to speak properly.

“Old Madam, why don’t we have Master accompany us?”

Old Madam shook her head. “Didn’t you see I deliberately asked that question? His Majesty and the Empress only want the three of us to go. Meng Ge’er is not included—how could he go without being summoned? Enough, whether it’s good or bad, we’ll know when we see them.”

Seeing Old Madam and Sun Shi both looking as if facing great enemies, Qin Yining smiled to console them.

“Grandmother, Mother need not worry. Now that Father’s position is different, presumably entering the palace won’t involve major trouble. Whenever there are sudden summons, there are only two possibilities: either rewards or punishments. Since we’ve done nothing wrong, naturally it won’t be punishment.”

Everyone in the room had originally been at a loss, but hearing Qin Yining’s logical and clear analysis, their hearts seemed to see light.

Only Sun Shi worried: “But we do have a grudge with the Cao family.”

“His Majesty is wise and mighty. As long as minor disputes between court officials don’t involve state foundations, how would he use them as pretexts? Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the nation and surely wouldn’t create complications for personal grievances.”

Qin Yining spoke a whole carriage-load of praise and glorification, but it really meant just one thing: even if the demon empress whispered in the foolish emperor’s ear, to harass the female family members of a loyal official without evidence or reason would only slap their own faces and invite ridicule from the world—the Emperor and Empress still wanted face!

“Yining is right.” Qin Huaiyuan happened to return at this moment. Entering the door without even removing his cloak, he comforted Old Madam.

“You need not worry. Currently there are no changes in court, our family’s position is stable. You just need to act cautiously, adapting to circumstances as they arise. If there are any changes, don’t immediately agree to whatever His Majesty and the Empress command. Just say you need to return home to consider it. You are an old noble lady, and His Majesty advocates governing the world through filial piety—he won’t make things difficult for you.”

With her son’s words, Old Madam had a backbone and nodded repeatedly.

Qin Huaiyuan then turned to Sun Shi: “When you enter the palace, just follow Mother.” The meaning was: speak less to err less, don’t act independently.

Sun Shi nodded.

Looking at his daughter, the affection in Qin Huaiyuan’s eyes was about to overflow: “Yining, be clever when entering the palace, and take good care of your grandmother and mother.”

“Yes.” Qin Yining smiled and nodded.

Among these three people, Old Madam had experienced everything, Qin Yining was intelligent and perceptive—only Sun Shi was the restless one. But Sun Shi probably wouldn’t dare act rashly before the Emperor and Empress, so Qin Huaiyuan was very reassured.

After giving a few instructions, Qin Huaiyuan busied himself with going out again.

From beginning to end, he never once looked at Qin Huining.

Qin Huining, who had deliberately positioned herself conspicuously when Qin Huaiyuan entered, now lowered her head with clenched teeth. Jealousy and fury were about to consume her.

Old Madam relaxed and instructed Nanny Qin to prepare clothing and accessories.

“Yining has never entered the palace—are the formal court robes prepared?”

Nanny Qin frowned: “Not yet. The day before yesterday I instructed the needlework room to work overtime, but the embroidery is complex and takes effort. Originally thinking they were for New Year’s Eve palace worship, I told them to work carefully without haste. Who knew it would be moved up so many days.”

First Daughter-in-law looked at Qin Huining, who had been keeping her head down without speaking, and smiled: “What’s difficult about that? I see Yining and Hui Jie’er are about the same size. Why not take Hui Jie’er’s court robes for Yining to use?”

First Daughter-in-law’s words were actually deliberately meant to disgust Qin Huining.

She had long been unable to stand her appearance of seeming pitifully innocent on the outside while being full of schemes inside, like the concubine daughters from her maiden family.

Qin Huining, who had been without presence, was suddenly named, and everyone’s gazes fell on her together.

Today Qin Huining wore a light green plain satin jacket with no jewelry in her hair. Though her plain, quiet dress wasn’t quite like mourning clothes, on a festive day like Laba, it made people feel displeased.

The sisters and sisters-in-law all knew Qin Huining always loved dressing this way. It wasn’t that she wasn’t given jewelry and rouge—she deliberately made herself look mistreated.

At this moment she raised her head, her eyes shimmering with tears, clutching a handkerchief in one hand, looking apologetically toward Old Madam: “Grandmother, my robes were just sent for washing and sizing. I didn’t know they’d be needed today. Moreover, Yining is taller than me—I’m afraid they won’t fit.”

The Emperor had specifically summoned people to the palace, yet among the main branch’s female family members, she alone was excluded. This had already made her lose complete face, and when Father returned, he didn’t even glance at her!

What was this—not letting her go but expecting her to provide clothes for Qin Yining to wear? Simply dreaming!

Old Madam frowned displeasedly. “I don’t think Yining needs such trouble. Didn’t I just recently give Yining a bolt of light pink Shu brocade with small peach blossoms? That outfit should be finished, right?”

Qin Yining nodded: “It’s finished and delivered.”

“Then wear that. Young ladies should dress in pink and tender colors—that’s what’s pleasing.”

Old Madam made the final decision, and First and Second Daughters-in-law flanked Qin Yining, taking her back to Shuoren Studio to help her dress and arrange her appearance.

Qin Huining was already on the verge of tears, her palms scratched bloody by her nails, with traces of fresh blood staining her handkerchief.

Old Madam’s words just now—weren’t they criticizing her for dressing too plainly!

How quickly she had fallen from favor!

How doting had Old Madam been toward her before? She had even held her saying, “No matter what happens in the future, Grandmother will always cherish you.”

But what about now?

Indeed, since she wasn’t blood-related, these people were beginning to trample on her one by one! Even Old Madam’s heart had become completely biased!

Qin Huining lowered her head as two teardrops fell onto her lapel.

Old Madam watched with direct frowning.

When Qin Yining studied actively, Qin Huining only knew to eat snacks and read story books.

When Qin Yining got along harmoniously with her sisters and never stirred up trouble, Qin Huining only stayed close to Sixth Miss and wasn’t friendly with others.

Previously when Qin Yining lived in Pear Snow Courtyard, she had no complaints. Moving to Shuoren Studio, she showed no smugness or showing off.

But when Qin Huining lived in Compassionate Filial Garden, she often used this to show off and provoke other sisters. Now living in Pear Snow Courtyard, she still frequently voiced grievances and dissatisfaction.

Deliberately giving her the cold treatment for a few days to see her reaction, she put on this current appearance, as if the Qin family had mistreated her…

Anyway, every action was stirring up trouble.

Old Madam was an old hand who had emerged from inner residence scheming. Once she set aside doting and affectionate emotions, she saw more clearly than anyone.

Now she had grown cold toward Qin Huining.

She instructed everyone to disperse, and Old Madam and Sun Shi each went to prepare themselves.

Soon, all three were ready. They took oil-wall carriages out of the second gate, then boarded spacious, warm vermillion-wheeled canopied carriages outside.

The carriages traveled both fast and steady, quickly arriving at the palace gates. After guards conducted an inspection, eunuchs led the three to change to palace carriages, traveling all the way into Empress’s Fengxiang Palace.

Having studied with Nanny Zhan for many days, Qin Yining had also learned palace etiquette. After alighting from the carriage, she properly kept her head lowered and dared not look around or examine her surroundings.

The palace was not like a private mansion—one slight misstep could give others grounds for accusations. If she alone made an error, it could implicate the entire family. Qin Yining dared not transgress in the slightest.

Passing through the spacious courtyard paved with blue stone bricks, they ascended the red steps to the entrance of Fengxiang Palace hall, where more eunuchs went in to report.

Soon, a eunuch came out with a beaming smile: “Old Noble Lady, Madam Qin, Miss Qin, please enter. Both His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress are present.”

The three arranged their appearance solemnly, then bowed and entered the hall, following the eunuch’s steps to a side chamber.

Upon entering, a cloying lily fragrance assaulted their nostrils, making Qin Yining slightly furrow her brows. The floor was covered with thick, luxurious carpets with blooming peony patterns. The three knelt in sequence from a distance and performed grand salutations.

Old Madam called out loudly: “This old woman, Qin Gu Shi, brings daughter-in-law Sun Shi and granddaughter Qin Shi to pay respects to His Majesty and the Empress, respectfully wishing our Emperor ten thousand years of longevity and blessings, and the Empress good health!”

“Rise.” The speaker had a delicate, lazy female voice.

Qin Yining was very familiar with this voice—it was exactly the voice of the person she had encountered at the Immortal Maiden Temple that day.

She couldn’t help feeling somewhat fortunate that the young master that day had been quick-eyed and pulled her away. Otherwise, today’s meeting would be even more troublesome.

The Emperor’s voice had the hoarseness characteristic of elderly people: “Today is informal, no need for strict protocol. What the Empress says represents Our words. You are all Qin Meng’s family members, which makes you Our people. No need for excessive ceremony.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress!” Old Madam again led Sun Shi and Qin Yining in salutations.

After completing the proper etiquette, the three stood up.

Since they kept their heads lowered and dared not look directly at the dragon countenance, they could only see from the corners of their eyes that the hall contained not only the Emperor, Empress, and palace attendants, but also several outsiders—and there seemed to be outside men too!

The Empress smiled: “Miss Qin, come to Us so We may have a good look at you.”

Both Old Madam and Sun Shi’s hearts skipped a beat.

Qin Yining was somewhat nervous, but having come this far, she could only accept the situation. She simply responded affirmatively and slowly stepped forward with lowered eyes.

As she walked around a bronze tripod incense burner with carved decorations, from the corner of her eye she indeed saw outside men in the hall—a man in his thirties with a small beard, and an eighteen or nineteen-year-old youth. There was also a middle-aged woman dressed luxuriously. The examining gazes of these three people also fell upon her simultaneously.