Qin Yining still had no idea that in just a few words between Qin Huaiyuan and the Crown Prince, her future had already been decided. She was accompanying Sun Shi in the inner chamber doing needlework, and the atmosphere was warm and peaceful when she heard Sun Shi let out a sigh.

“What’s wrong, Mother? Are you feeling unwell?” Qin Yining hurriedly put down her embroidery hoop and stood up to gently massage Sun Shi’s back.

Sun Shi had long grown accustomed to having Qin Yining serve at her side during this period. Overall, she was quite satisfied with this daughter, but after all, she had fourteen years of feelings for Qin Huining, which ran much deeper than her feelings for Qin Yining.

She could see that Qin Huining and Qin Yining didn’t get along. Sometimes when Qin Huining came and saw that Qin Yining was present, she would only perform the proper greetings and leave, as if avoiding Qin Yining. But when Qin Yining wasn’t there and Qin Huining came, she would always look at people with those resentful eyes, making Sun Shi feel very uncomfortable.

They were both her daughters – why couldn’t they get along harmoniously? Why was it that while other families could enjoy the bliss of family harmony, she could not?

“Yining, I know you don’t like Huining. Sometimes Huining does wrong things too, but we are family after all. In the main branch, there are only you and Huining as children. When you two don’t get along, it pains me to see it.”

When Qin Yining heard Sun Shi say “I know you don’t like Huining,” her heart already began to feel displeased. But she had always been good at enduring, and she knew that Sun Shi had always had this temperament, so she didn’t argue with her and only nodded obediently.

“Yes, I’ll listen to you in everything. As long as Miss Huining doesn’t take the initiative to provoke or bully me, I will never actively target her.” This was a subtle reference to how it was always Qin Huining who started trouble, not her who harmed others.

Nanny Jin came over with a beauty hammer, smiling as she took over Qin Yining’s previous task, speaking gently: “Madam, please don’t make things difficult for Fourth Miss. In all these recent incidents, none of it can really be blamed on Fourth Miss. Our Fourth Miss has actively shown goodwill, but Miss Huining doesn’t appreciate it – Fourth Miss is in a difficult position too.”

Nanny Jin was Sun Shi’s wet nurse, so her words naturally carried unusual weight. Moreover, her tone was gentle, with great persuasive intent.

Sun Shi naturally knew about these situations too, and sighed: “We’re all family. Many things should be let go if they can be. Since Yining is the legitimate daughter, she should have the proper demeanor of a legitimate daughter.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded: “Yes, I understand.”

Nanny Jin also smiled slightly: “If this old servant may speak presumptuously, our Fourth Miss has an honest and gentle nature. Just look at how she treats those who serve her and you’ll know. In this old servant’s opinion, Fourth Miss’s character and demeanor closely follow yours, Madam. You’ve always been kind to us servants who serve you, and isn’t Fourth Miss the same way? Fourth Miss wouldn’t even harm servants, so how could she actively seek to provoke and harm others? Madam, there has never been a principle in this world that says when someone is bullied, they’re not allowed to fight back.”

Nanny Jin now hated Qin Huining with a passion.

Qin Huining’s wet nurse, Nanny Cai, was Nanny Jin’s niece. They weren’t particularly close normally, but when Nanny Cai was beaten with forty strokes and driven from the manor for Qin Huining’s sake, Qin Huining didn’t even glance at her, didn’t give a single coin in consolation, as if Nanny Cai had never been her wet nurse, as if they had never known each other at all.

Such behavior was truly chilling to the heart.

A wet nurse was different from ordinary servants – she was someone who had nursed Qin Huining, accompanied her as she grew up, spending even more time with her than her birth mother. Such cold-hearted behavior had completely destroyed any good impression Nanny Jin had of Qin Huining.

In contrast, look at Rui Lan, who now held a transcendent position in the manor. Although she had changed her name to Song Lan, who didn’t know her past? Yet even knowing she was Rui Lan, no one could do anything to her, and no one would dare mention that past incident of theft in front of her, because Song Lan had been wrongly accused – her master had cleared her name!

Both had made mistakes and been beaten and driven out, but Song Lan’s master never forgot her loyalty, sparing no expense to save her life and giving her even greater honor when she returned, so that no one would dare bully her anymore.

When similar situations were placed on these two people, the difference in character was immediately apparent.

It could be said that however much contempt Nanny Jin had previously held for Qin Yining, she now held that much respect for her.

After hearing Nanny Jin’s words, Sun Shi also knew they were right. The problem mainly lay with Qin Huining.

“Yining, in a moment, go to Xueli Courtyard for me and deliver the fox fur to Huining. Consider it as visiting her on my behalf. As for her mistakes, I’ll properly instruct her later.”

Qin Yining obediently nodded: “Yes.”

Seeing her so compliant, Sun Shi’s heart rarely felt warm as she took Qin Yining’s hand and patted it.

“I know you’re a good child, and I’ll love you just the same from now on. I also hope our main branch can be more harmonious, so outsiders won’t laugh at us. You’re the legitimate daughter and sensible, so please be more tolerant. People say that suffering losses brings blessings – if you yield to her a little, isn’t that also your blessing?”

“Mother is right.” Even though Qin Yining felt wronged in her heart, she didn’t want to go against Sun Shi’s wishes.

If it were anyone else, she would have long since retorted – Why should sensible people have to be more tolerant? Shouldn’t sensible people be loved more? If suffering losses brings blessings, why won’t you suffer losses yourself?

But facing Sun Shi, she knew that reasoning wouldn’t work clearly and would only make her mother more confused. The mother-daughter relationship they had worked so hard to build – she didn’t want it to become strained over these matters.

Qin Yining’s attitude toward Sun Shi could be summarized in twelve words: keep your heart broad, your skin thick, your person obedient, and your mouth sweet.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll take the fox fur to visit Miss Huining shortly. That glutinous rice and red bean paste pastry we just had tasted quite good too. Nanny Jin, are there still some in the small kitchen? I’ll bring some to Miss Huining as well.”

Nanny Jin thought to herself that this was what it meant to know how to conduct oneself properly, and smiled warmly: “There are still some. This old servant will arrange it right away. I’ll have them prepare several varieties for you to bring to Miss Huining.”

“Thank you for the trouble, Nanny Jin.” Qin Yining took over the beauty hammer and began massaging Sun Shi’s legs instead.

Nanny Jin went outside to prepare the food box together with Cai Ju.

The two had just finished preparing everything and were about to go inside to report back when they saw Song Lan and Bingtang from Qin Yining’s service approaching with hand warmers, a thick fur-collared, wide-sleeved cloak, and two umbrellas.

“Nanny Jin, Sister Cai Ju.” Song Lan smiled as she bowed.

Bingtang followed suit and bowed as well.

“Oh my, we don’t dare accept such courtesy.” Nanny Jin and Cai Ju both knew Bingtang’s background – how could they dare accept her bow? They quickly stepped aside and returned the courtesy to her instead.

After exchanging pleasantries, Bingtang smiled: “Just now we looked at the sky and felt it didn’t look quite right – like there’s going to be sleet. We were worried our miss would get cold, so we brought things and waited for her to come.”

Nanny Jin and Cai Ju instinctively looked at the sky. While it wasn’t completely cloudless, there were only a few more clouds than before. How did it look like it would sleet? They just assumed the two were making up an excuse to come pick up Qin Yining.

“Miss Bingtang is so thoughtful. Come inside and warm up.” Nanny Jin led the two into the room to warm themselves by the fire in the outer chamber, while she carried the food box into the inner chamber.

Qin Yining was discussing with Sun Shi how to use her fox fur.

“…Why don’t I not have mine inlaid into a cloak either, but just make it into a scarf? That way, no matter what I’m wearing, I can wear it whenever I want.”

“That’s good. Your grandmother also gave me a sable fur. How about we have them both made into scarves together? The leftover scraps can be made into sleeping rabbits – they’ll be both warm and beautiful to wear.”

Qin Yining nodded repeatedly, smiling: “Mother knows so much more – that’s even better. I wonder how Miss Huining wants to use her fur. Should we ask her?”

“You can ask her when you visit her shortly.” Sun Shi wholeheartedly wanted her two daughters to get along. Even officials don’t arrest gift-bearers – with Qin Yining bringing fur and pastries, the two would naturally reconcile.

Seeing that Sun Shi wouldn’t relent, Qin Yining could only smile and agree.

After taking leave of Sun Shi, when she reached the outer chamber, Song Lan and Bingtang immediately came forward to help her put on the light green, wide-sleeved cloak with its large fur collar. They also tucked the brass hand warmer into an exquisite brocade pouch for Qin Yining to hold.

While Song Lan tied the collar ribbons of the cloak for Qin Yining, she smiled and said: “This servant looked at the weather and thought it seemed fine, but Bingtang claims she learned from Immortal Liu and insists that there will be snow within the hour. Worried you’d get cold, we hurried to bring you clothes.”

Bingtang snorted: “Don’t forget – we made a wager with stakes on it.”

Qin Yining asked curiously: “What did you two wager?”

“If it doesn’t snow, I lose a box of hand cream to her. If it snows, she loses a pair of shoes to me.”

Qin Yining burst into laughter: “You two really know how to find amusement.”

The three chatted and laughed as they went outside. The scene was so harmonious that they didn’t look like master and servants, but more like close sisters, making all the maids in Xingning Garden quite envious.

Not just them – which servant in the entire Qin Manor didn’t envy those who served in Shuoren Studio?

The three walked toward Xueli Courtyard while chatting and laughing. Qin Yining said: “We’ll just drop off the items and leave shortly.”

Song Lan nodded: “If we stay too long, we’re bound to end up frustrated.”

“Most importantly, we might get caught in the sleet.” Bingtang shook her head with a serious expression.

She had been born with a round, apple-shaped face that was quite adorable, and making such an expression made her look extremely cute, causing both Qin Yining and Song Lan to burst into laughter.

When they arrived at Xueli Courtyard, the little maid who answered the door saw it was Qin Yining and quickly ran inside to call someone.

Granny Ge had served Qin Yining for several days at the ancestral hall, so she felt familiar when she saw Qin Yining now. Seeing Qin Yining’s noble and radiant attire, with her two maids wearing bright blue brocade-trimmed cotton cloaks of excellent workmanship and material – if they went out, they could compare to young ladies from ordinary wealthy families – her heart filled with even more admiration for Qin Yining, and her attitude became even more respectful.

“So it’s Fourth Miss. Our miss is in her room. Please come in.”

Qin Yining smiled: “Please trouble Granny Ge to tell Miss Huining and see if she’s free. Mother instructed me to bring Miss Huining some pastries and fox fur.”

“Yes, please rest for a moment, Miss.” Granny Ge led Qin Yining to sit in the front hall. “This servant will go report to our miss right away.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded, though from the corner of her eye she had already glimpsed Qin Huining’s figure in the inner chamber. She heard her say in a suppressed voice: “…I don’t want the things either. Tell her to get out!”

The senior maid Fugui entered carrying a tea tray. Hearing this, her face immediately stiffened. She glanced anxiously at Qin Yining, and seeing no unusual reaction, forced a smile and said loudly: “Fourth Miss, please have some tea.”