In earlier years, relying on Bingtang’s outstanding skills, the rouge and medicinal oils she produced had once been popular among the upper-class noble ladies of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Thanks to Manager Zhong’s dedicated management, although Bingtang later followed Qin Yining to Great Zhou, she had left the formulas in the care of trusted people. While the business wasn’t as good as it initially was, the income earned was still enough for Bingtang to live comfortably for a lifetime without worries.

However, Qin Yining still felt that wasn’t enough, because that was what Bingtang had earned herself, not what she had given her.

“I’ve also arranged for a two-courtyard residence in the capital for you. Even if your marriage is settled, it can’t be done simply. We must return to the capital to hold a grand ceremony. I had Manager Zhong keep an eye on that residence for a long time – the location is excellent, and the surrounding environment is good too. However, the previous owners lived there for some years, so I think it needs thorough renovation. I’ll have people start working on it soon.”

Bingtang was at a complete loss for words at this moment. Even wealthy families marrying off their daughters probably wouldn’t be willing to spend so lavishly.

She and Qin Yining were master and servant, not blood sisters, yet Qin Yining was willing to treat her this way. It made her feel that all the past hardships and the dangers she had experienced alongside Qin Yining had not been in vain.

It wasn’t that Qin Yining was good to her simply because she gave her silver – she was a divine physician, and if she wanted, she would never lack money to spend in this lifetime.

What she valued was Qin Yining’s sincere treatment of her.

Seeing Bingtang’s face flush red with shyness as she lowered her head without speaking, Qin Yining assumed she was embarrassed due to her thin skin, and laughed, “Alright, let’s not talk about this. I’ll arrange all of this for you. As for Huzi, I must also investigate him thoroughly.”

You know a person’s face but not their heart – who knows if Huzi has any bad habits behind the scenes? For a woman, marriage is like a second birth. If she ends up with someone unsuitable, wouldn’t that ruin her entire life? She couldn’t bear to let the beautiful Bingtang suffer.

The master and servant were speaking in low voices when footsteps were heard outside.

Ji Yun entered with a smile, bowing as she said, “Princess Consort, someone has come outside, saying he’s here to deliver a calling card on behalf of Manager Xia.”

Bingtang stood up and moved to one side.

Qin Yining raised her eyebrows and said, “How amusing – they’re starting to send me calling cards again. Bring it here so I can see what’s written.”

Ji Yun nodded and went out, returning shortly with the calling card.

Qin Yining took it, glanced at it once, and burst into laughter, casually tossing it into the nearby wastebasket.

“Go tell the messenger that this Princess Consort has no time.”

Ji Yun asked, “Don’t tell me it’s another invitation for the Princess Consort to go there?”

“Indeed.” Qin Yining smiled mockingly. “This type of person is the most oblivious to death. I wonder where he gets such confidence from.”

Bingtang spat coldly, “After the last incident, he still doesn’t know to learn his lesson! How utterly shameless. The Princess Consort needn’t pay him any mind. A mere subordinate who doesn’t even come to pay respects to his master, yet expects the master to go see him instead?”

Ji Yun was equally indignant and went out with a cold face to meet the messenger boy.

“Go back and tell your master that our Princess Consort is busy and has no free time. If your master sincerely has matters to report, he can come see our Princess Consort, though whether our Princess Consort has leisure to see him is uncertain.”

Ji Yun was extremely beautiful, and in her anger, her eyes sparkled like cold stars, making the boy blush red. Even after being scolded, he was too dazed to react and stumbled out.

Ji Yun was thoroughly angered. When she returned and told Qian Yun, Qiu Lu, and Lian Xiaozhou about the matter, they were all equally furious, privately cursing Manager Xia thoroughly.

Upon hearing the boy’s report, Manager Xia was so angry he immediately slammed the table and stood up.

“Did she really say that?”

“Manager, this servant dare not lie.”

Manager Xia’s face was dark, and he remained silent for a long while.

Several people beside him exchanged glances and immediately cursed, “What an ignorant foolish woman! To dare repeatedly embarrass our Manager like this!”

“Exactly! She’s just a sheltered housewife. Given her family’s current position, she still doesn’t know to behave modestly and keep her place – she truly doesn’t know her depth!”

“Manager, I think you don’t need to save face for her anymore! This woman’s brain is simply stupid to the extreme. Besides, all the properties aren’t under her name anyway – don’t they all depend on your decisions?”

Manager Xia’s beard trembled, his eyes flickering as if he was moved by this suggestion.

However, after a moment, he slowly sat back down and said, “She may be heartless, but I cannot be unrighteous. We men cannot stoop to the level of a mere woman. Write another calling card and send it again tomorrow. I want to see when she’ll finally come to her senses.”

“Ah, Manager is truly noble!”

“Yes, Manager is indeed too righteous.”

Under everyone’s flattery, Manager Xia’s expression improved somewhat, but he was still holding back anger in his heart. He wanted to see just what capital a woman who could only depend on men had to be so arrogant before him! He’d heard her husband was already at wit’s end – how much patience could such a man who fought on battlefields have for dealing with a mere woman?

Manager Xia’s people didn’t slack off. Indeed, for the next half month, Qin Yining received a calling card every day, all inviting her to meet at the manor.

Later, Qin Yining was too lazy to even look at them and told Ji Yun, “Next time they come, throw both the person and the card out together. Say that this Princess Consort is too lazy to see servants who don’t know their place.”

“The Princess Consort should have done this long ago. You were too good-natured before, which is why these petty people dared to act presumptuously before you.” Ji Yun went out and immediately ordered people to throw the messenger boy out.

The boy was tossed in front of the Qin Manor gates. Looking at the side door that slammed shut with a bang, he spat angrily, got up, and ran back to report.

“Manager, this servant was just thrown out, and this time the Princess Consort didn’t even look at the card! When this servant went to deliver the message, I represented you. For them to treat this servant this way – isn’t that slapping your face?”

Manager Xia had endured this for half a month, repeatedly having his face rejected, and was already furious beyond measure.

Now hearing his subordinate say this was truly adding fuel to the fire. He no longer cared about the principle of good men not fighting with women and immediately ordered, “Prepare the carriage. This old man wants to see just what kind of formidable person she is to repeatedly refuse to give me face!”

“Yes!”

His subordinates immediately went to prepare the carriage.

Manager Xia changed into a brand-new sapphire blue robe, wore a six-harmony cap, and walked out with his hands behind his back.

Arriving outside the manor and seeing those hardworking, cheerful tenant farmers and laborers, he was even more angry that his teeth itched. After these people received news of the rent exemption, they were as happy as if celebrating New Year every day. Previously they worked with one part effort, but now they actually worked with ten parts effort – truly a bunch of unruly people!

While Manager Xia was still on his way, Qin Yining had already received the news.

Jingzhe said with a face as dark as water, “The man surnamed Xia started preparing to come out upon receiving the news. I immediately rushed back at full speed to report. Judging by normal carriage speed, he should arrive within half an hour.”

Qin Yining looked down at the warm jade ring on her finger, then said, “Come closer.”

Jingzhe immediately stepped forward seriously.

Qin Yining whispered a few instructions. Jingzhe blinked in surprise, and after receiving Qin Yining’s confirming nod, immediately rushed out.

Seeing Jingzhe leave, Ji Yun said, “Princess Consort needn’t worry. The guards in the manor have long been arranged. These days without fights, everyone’s hands have been itching.”

Qin Yining was amused and laughed, “Don’t be so tense. It’s not like we’re going to war. With his capabilities, he wouldn’t dare act presumptuously in our manor.”

“We’re afraid he won’t act presumptuously.” Bingtang held a small porcelain bottle and said, “I’ve prepared itching powder for him.”

Qin Yining had originally felt somewhat angry, but after these few stirred things up, she immediately couldn’t maintain her anger. “So just how detestable is this person to make you all so furious?”

“Some people inspire affection at first sight, but some people are truly detestable before you even meet them,” Qiu Lu huffed.

“Even our kindhearted Sister Qiu Lu has been angered to this extent – that shows just how detestable this man surnamed Xia is. Bingtang, don’t be soft-hearted – pour more itching powder!” Qian Yun said.

The several girls joked around while skillfully serving Qin Yining, helping her change clothes and arrange her hair.

After getting ready, they went to the room to check on the two children.

When a servant came to announce, “Manager Xia requests an audience,” Qin Yining was no longer angry at all.

She leisurely sipped her tea before saying, “Have him wait in the front courtyard.”

“Yes.”

The servant hurried away. Qin Yining unhurriedly rose and strolled leisurely toward the front courtyard, taking her maids along the small lanes. Passing through the back garden, she even had the mood to stop and admire the scenery for a while.

Early spring had arrived, and the branches sprouted pale green buds, covering the gray-white winter season with a new layer of green.

Qin Yining took several deep breaths of fresh air. From the corner of her eye, she saw Bingtang, Ji Yun, and the others secretly laughing, and couldn’t help but laugh as well. “What are you laughing about?”

“We’re laughing about whether Manager Xia might die of anger waiting up front.”

Qin Yining smiled charmingly. “I’ve never seen you all so mischievous before.”

As the group slowly walked toward the front hall, before they even entered, they could hear Manager Xia’s characteristic hoarse voice inside, speaking harshly to a maid: “Where is your Princess Consort! Where is she! Is this how your manor treats guests!”

Qin Yining raised an eyebrow and smiled. While walking up the steps, she called out loudly, “Who has upset Manager Xia? Such great anger?”

Ji Yun lifted the door curtain for Qin Yining, who stepped over the threshold.

Bingtang followed closely behind, taking the tea tray from a young maid’s hands. “Let me handle this.”

The little maid felt greatly relieved and quickly ran out.

Qin Yining glanced sideways and saw before her a man of medium build wearing a sapphire blue robe, around fifty years old. He looked decent enough, appearing human-like. However, his eyes were too presumptuous – from the moment she entered, he had been staring at her in a daze, which was quite displeasurable.

Qin Yining was someone who had seen great storms and was accustomed to traveling far and wide. Being stared at due to her appearance wasn’t unprecedented.

However, being stared at by Manager Xia, who was already unlikeable, was truly even more disgusting.

Qin Yining coughed lightly and sat gracefully in the main seat, raising one hand to indicate that Manager Xia should sit.

Only then did Manager Xia come to his senses. Inwardly cursing, he didn’t sit but immediately spoke with righteous indignation, demanding loudly, “Why has the Princess Consort repeatedly refused to meet with me after receiving my calling cards several times!”

Bingtang, who was preparing hot tea in the back, was so angry upon hearing this that she poured more itching powder into the teapot.

Qin Yining wasn’t angry but actually smiled as she asked, “Manager Xia’s temper is rather too great. If outsiders heard this, they’d think you were the master and I was just a manager.”

Manager Xia choked, stretching his neck but unable to speak for quite a while. After a moment, he gave a cold laugh. “The Princess Consort is being rather too presumptuous. Don’t you know that all the properties in this old capital are managed single-handedly by me, Xia! The Princess Consort refused to condescend to come see me, preferring to wait until I, Xia, came to find you before you’d yield? Fine! Then let me ask you – by what right did the Princess Consort bypass me and privately stop collecting a year’s rent! Do you know how long I worked painstakingly to achieve the current situation? It was all ruined by one sentence from the Princess Consort!”

Qin Yining propped her cheek with one hand. Hearing Manager Xia’s aggressive tone, she laughed again. “I didn’t hear wrong, did I? Manager Xia is asking ‘by what right’?”