Sun Shi hadn’t expected Qin Huaiyuan to suddenly return, and didn’t know how much of her words he had heard. Feeling somewhat guilty, she blurted out: “Why did you come back? Isn’t today Concubine Hua’s turn?”
Qin Huaiyuan’s brow furrowed even tighter. Foolish woman—saying anything in front of their daughter!
“You two go out first. I have something to discuss with your mother. Nanny Jin, get the best medicinal ointment for Fourth Miss. What will it look like if her face swells up tomorrow!”
Nanny Jin mumbled “Yes” in acknowledgment but didn’t move, looking at Sun Shi with great concern.
As Sun Shi’s wet nurse, she naturally knew what kind of temper Sun Shi had. She feared that she might say more inappropriate things in front of Qin Huaiyuan and wanted to stay to offer some advice. But since Qin Huaiyuan had just ordered her to fetch medicine, she couldn’t very well refuse to go.
Qin Huaiyuan saw Nanny Jin’s hesitation and sneered: “What’s this? Does Nanny Jin perhaps only care about your madam’s orders and treat my words as background noise? Or are you afraid I’ll bully your madam?”
After all, he was someone who had been an official for many years. How could a servant like Nanny Jin withstand his imposing presence and authority?
Nanny Jin was so frightened her legs trembled, repeatedly apologizing: “This servant wouldn’t dare! This servant will go apply medicine for Fourth Miss immediately.” She retreated from the door looking utterly dejected, following the two young misses outside and carefully closing the room door for her master.
Unsurprisingly, Sun Shi’s shrill voice could not be blocked by the thin latticed door and inevitably reached their ears:
“Qin Meng, you’ve come back to throw your weight around with me! If you’re so capable, go be imposing outside—what kind of ability is it to blow your beard and glare at women…”
Nanny Jin was overwhelmed by her mistress’s quarreling and looked up to see that Qin Yining and Qin Huining were both standing in the corridor. She hurriedly stepped forward, grasping both their arms and lowering her voice: “Young misses, you mustn’t stay here!”
Remembering Qin Huaiyuan’s instructions and seeing Qin Huining’s worried expression, Nanny Jin thought for a moment, then directly led them both to the ear room next to the main chamber that served as a tea preparation room, saying quietly: “Young misses, please sit for a moment. This servant will fetch medicine for Fourth Miss right away.”
Qin Yining nodded, this time not offering thanks.
The burning pain on her face from her birth mother’s slap made her see reality clearly.
She hadn’t even been back at the residence for six hours—how much ostracism and humiliation had she endured?
The Grand Dowager despised her, her birth mother refused to acknowledge her, others watched which way the wind blew, even the maids dared to brazenly steal her belongings and, after being discovered, still withheld her coal for heating. This usurping adopted daughter had repeatedly stirred up trouble.
These people clearly saw that she had no support in the Qin household and were picking on her as a soft target!
She was the type who would rather die standing than live kneeling. Having survived confronting a cold, indifferent world with resilience, how could she easily give up?
Qin Yining didn’t lack the patience of a hunter, nor the courage to face off with wolves!
Her hope for familial affection didn’t mean she would endure limitlessly!
Her delicate hand lightly touched her cheek, her fingertips seeming almost masochistic as they pressed the swollen area, yet her lips bloomed into a smile full of cold intent.
Nanny Jin was agitated and didn’t notice these details.
But Qin Huining caught sight of Qin Yining’s sadistic smile, like a fierce beast targeting its prey, and felt somewhat panicked.
Just as she was about to say something, the sounds of Qin Huaiyuan and Sun Shi arguing next door drifted vaguely to their ears.
Prime Minister Qin’s voice was low and his sentences brief.
Sun Shi’s voice was shrill with constant complaints.
At first they couldn’t hear much clearly, but later when Sun Shi switched to roaring, it became impossible for them not to overhear:
“…Even Hui Jie’er, just a girl, can see it—yet you as a husband still want to deceive me! How was I so blind as to marry you back then! Without my father’s support, could you have risen so smoothly? You can be Prime Minister today, yet you don’t know to be grateful to our Duke Dingguo’s household, don’t know to treat me better, and still dare to deceive me with some mistress’s daughter!”
“Silence!” Qin Huaiyuan’s voice erupted in fury: “Foolish jealous woman, I can’t be bothered with you!”
“Crash”—the sound of the latticed door of the main room next door being kicked open.
Simultaneously, they heard Sun Shi’s hysterical scream.
Qin Yining and Qin Huining quickly walked out of the ear room, just in time to see Qin Huaiyuan’s extremely cold-looking silhouette in the night as he stormed away angrily.
Sun Shi’s hysterical wailing pierced their eardrums: “Why is my fate so bitter!”
The two turned back to see Sun Shi sitting on the threshold, hugging the door frame and weeping copiously, nearly fainting.
“Please get up, the ground is cold.” Qin Yining frowned and went to help her.
But her outstretched hand was knocked away by Qin Huining midway.
Qin Huining pushed past Qin Yining, pulling Sun Shi to her feet and choking back tears: “Little Xi, isn’t it enough that you’ve made our family a complete mess? Do you now want to pierce mother’s heart too!”
With one sentence, she directed Sun Shi’s glare toward Qin Yining.
Wasn’t that right? Without her return, where would all this turmoil have come from! Knowing she was a frail woman, Qin Huaiyuan didn’t even care whether she was heartbroken or not, refused to comfort her with a few words, and just stormed off like that!
She had only scolded Qin Yining a few words and given her one slap, yet Qin Meng reacted that way—it showed what kind of seductress that mistress must be!
Sun Shi’s eyes were bloodshot as she pushed and shoved Qin Yining, roaring: “You ruinous seed! Since news of you came, I haven’t had a single good day! Get away from me!”
Turning back, she shouted at Nanny Jin: “Wet nurse, prepare the carriage! I’m going back to Duke Dingguo’s residence!”
Nanny Jin was frightened pale, hurriedly trying to dissuade her: “Madam, curfew is about to begin. Going back rashly at this time might not be good. Why don’t you rest tonight and we’ll go back first thing tomorrow morning? That way we’ll have something to explain to the old lady…”
“No, I must go back now! I can’t stay in this Prime Minister’s residence! Qin Meng is trying to force me to death!” Sun Shi sobbed and wailed: “If wet nurse won’t allow it, you can stay here yourself—I’ll go alone!”
In her fury, Sun Shi didn’t even care about Qin Huining anymore, shaking off her daughter’s hand and walking outside.
Qin Huining was shaken back two steps, her three-inch golden lotus feet unsteady. If Bi Tong hadn’t supported her in time and Cai Mama hadn’t pulled from behind, Qin Huining would have fallen down the steps.
Qin Huining frowned in displeasure.
Seeing that Sun Shi had lost her temper and couldn’t be dissuaded, Nanny Jin had no choice but to order the little maids to quickly arrange for a carriage; Cai Lan to fetch Sun Shi’s large fur-collared cloak and exquisite brass hand warmer; and gave Cai Ju a meaningful look, whispering a few instructions.
At this point, the news that the main branch’s master and mistress had quarreled, angering the madam into returning to her natal family, couldn’t be concealed. It was better for them to report directly to the Grand Dowager rather than have others relay the message and have the meaning change several times along the way, giving the second and third branches something to laugh about.
Cai Ju wore a bitter expression as she reluctantly headed toward Cixiao Garden.
Nanny Jin and Cai Lan supported the sobbing Sun Shi as they passed through the hall and left Xingning Garden.
The courtyard that had just been full of noise and commotion suddenly became quiet.
The last traces of evening glow silently disappeared behind the mountains, leaving only a bright crescent moon hanging in the sky, half-hidden by dark clouds, dyeing the silent courtyard of Xingning Garden a cold, eerie blue.
The little maids were so frightened they dared not breathe, tiptoeing to hang the palace lanterns under the corridor. Warm orange halos gradually spread, casting circles of light under the corridor.
Qin Yining looked at Qin Huining with a cold smile.
Being stared at made Qin Huining’s heart race. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, sobbing: “Little Xi, don’t blame sister for speaking too much. With mother acting like that just now, how could I not try to mediate? Your way of speaking was like stabbing mother’s heart. After all, you haven’t been by mother’s side these years and don’t know her difficulties—it’s understandable that you might say the wrong thing.”
Seeing Qin Yining slowly walking toward her, Qin Huining smiled in a friendly manner and added: “Little Xi, your face is quite swollen. I have some excellent medicinal ointment that’s best for stopping pain and reducing swelling. I’ll have Bi Tong send it over to you later.”
“Is that so? Then I should thank you.”
Qin Yining stopped in front of Qin Huining. Those bright almond eyes flashed with deep, cold light, making Qin Huining feel like she had encountered a starving wolf.
“No, no need to be polite.” Qin Huining involuntarily swallowed nervously. “You and I are sisters, we…”
“Slap—!”
A crisp slapping sound echoed through the sky!
Qin Huining’s ears rang, stars danced before her eyes, and her body swayed as she fell to the ground, unable to react for a long moment.
The four people nearby—Cai Mama, Bi Tong, Rui Lan, and Qiu Lu—were all so shocked they froze, even forgetting to help her up.
“You don’t need to send me your medicine—keep it for yourself!”
“You!” The stunned Qin Huining came to her senses, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she screamed unclearly: “You actually dare to hit me!”
“I’m hitting you specifically!” Qin Yining stepped forward, bent down, and swung her arm in a full circle for another slap.
After all, she was someone who hunted and chopped wood—her strength was not to be underestimated. Both slaps landed on the same spot, slap upon slap, and half of Qin Huining’s face quickly swelled up red.
“You wild hussy, what gives you the right to hit me! Someone, seize her!” Qin Huining pointed at Qin Yining and shrieked!
The shocked Cai Mama and Bi Tong finally reacted, rolling up their sleeves and moving forward. Even Rui Lan was eager to try, wanting to capture Qin Yining.
Who would have thought that when the three rushed forward—two grabbing at arms, one at hair—they couldn’t even touch a corner of Qin Yining’s clothing, but were instead knocked to the ground by her punches and kicks.
Qin Yining stepped on Rui Lan’s back with her left foot, twisted Cai Mama’s arm behind her back with one hand, and gripped Bi Tong’s throat with the other, causing all three to turn pale with pain. Bi Tong was so frightened she held her breath with wide eyes, not daring to move.
Applying pressure with her foot, Rui Lan immediately wailed “Aiyou!”
Qin Yining sneered: “Others aside, you’re my maid. Instead of protecting your mistress, you come to assault me—do you not want to live?”
“Miss, Miss, spare my life!” Rui Lan’s pleading voice had already broken.
The servants in Xingning Garden who had originally wanted to come tear into the fight were now all pale-faced, no longer having any thought of stepping forward. Each was silent as cicadas in winter—where did they still dare to look at Qin Yining with their original contemptuous gazes?
Qin Huining finally managed to crawl up, staggering to hide behind a corridor pillar: “You, you, you wild person! Ill-bred pauper!”
“Yes, I am a wild person!”
Qin Yining shook off Cai Shi and Bi Tong, stepped over Rui Lan’s back, and walked straight toward Qin Huining.
“I’ve seen through it all—even if I try to please and accommodate, you’ll still consider me a wild person in your hearts. Why should I bear the name of ‘wild person’ for nothing?!”