“Your humble servants greet Madam and Fourth Miss.”
“Your daughter greets mother.”
The women’s delicate voices offering greetings were pleasant to hear, and the sight of them bowing in unison was quite pleasing to the eye.
That is, if one didn’t look at the triumphant expressions on their faces.
Qin Yining smiled as she returned the courtesy, then sat down in the seat to Sun Shi’s left.
Sun Shi’s face was flushed red. She thought to herself not to mind the coarse food and plain tea on the table, nor to think about her red, swollen eyes from crying. She would simply put on the airs of a principal wife to deal with these people.
But her red face still betrayed the embarrassment and humiliation in her heart.
Cao Yuqing leisurely took a seat in a nearby chair, languidly propping herself up with her elbow and smiling as she watched everyone, looking like she was waiting for a show.
The four concubines Hua, Li, Qian, and Chen originally wanted to follow Cao’s example and take seats as well, but when they inadvertently met Qin Yining’s half-smiling gaze, they froze mid-motion.
After all, they didn’t have backgrounds as distinguished as Cao Yuqing’s, so they didn’t dare act too brazenly.
Qin Huining had already approached Sun Shi with a smile, charmingly linking arms with her and sitting beside her, explaining softly: “Mother, I’ve been confined by father these past days and haven’t been able to come keep you company. You look much thinner.”
“Mm.” Sun Shi was happy to see her daughter, but when her gaze fell on Huining’s silver-red cross-collar brocade jacket, she couldn’t help but frown: “What kind of outfit is this? Your grandfather and uncle just passed away not long ago, and you’re dressed so gaudily – who are you dressing up for!”
Upon hearing this, Qin Huining sneered inwardly but appeared panic-stricken on the surface. She stood up and lowered her head, saying:
“Mother, since it’s the first month of the year, your daughter thought about having to go out and about. I was afraid of displeasing the old dowager, so naturally I had to dress up a bit. Besides, my foster mother has just entered the household, so I’m also showing my filial devotion.”
“Foster mother?” Sun Shi didn’t understand what this meant at first.
Qin Yining’s gaze had already fallen on Cao Yuqing, who was leisurely eating candied dates nearby.
Noticing Qin Yining’s attention, Cao Yuqing politely smiled back, clearly showing intention to befriend and win her over.
Qin Yining raised her eyebrows slightly and withdrew her gaze.
It seemed Qin Huining had already firmly latched onto Cao Yuqing’s coattails.
Concubine Chen smiled and said: “In response to Madam, Miss Huining and Sister Cao are very fated. Now the old dowager has decided to let Miss Huining acknowledge Sister Cao as her foster mother. We humble servants just came from witnessing the ceremony at Cixiao Garden.”
Concubine Chen was now thirty-five years old. She had served Qin Huaiyuan since childhood as a maid, later becoming his bed warmer. When Sun Shi entered the household, Chen had her hair pinned up and was elevated to concubine status.
Chen Shi felt her relationship with Qin Huaiyuan was special. Even though she was bound by a death contract sold to the Qin family, her status was different after all, so she spoke without much consideration.
All these years she had suspected that Sun Shi had given her sterility drugs – otherwise, how could she never have conceived?!
“Exactly. We humble servants can see that Miss Huining and Sister Cao are indeed fated – even their beautiful faces are so similar.” Seeing Concubine Chen acting this way, Concubine Qian also smiled cooperatively: “Just now at Cixiao Garden they held a feast, and everyone said Miss Huining and Sister Cao resembled each other somewhat. It’s just that we sisters all had Madam in our hearts, so we only ate a couple of bites before specially coming to pay our respects to Madam.”
Qian Shi was a respectable woman the old dowager had bought from outside to help Qin Huaiyuan continue the family line. Now twenty-eight years old, she looked to be in her early twenties, born with charming and alluring beauty.
With Concubines Chen and Qian leading the charge, Concubines Hua and Li also began to smile, ignoring Sun Shi’s livid expression as they chattered congratulations.
Qin Huining showed a shy expression, coquettishly tugging at Sun Shi’s sleeve and calling out: “Mother.”
Sun Shi’s vision went black in waves, her head buzzing. After quite a while, she finally caught her breath and pointed at Qin Huining with trembling fingers.
“Good, very good! You ungrateful, treacherous wretch! I must have been blind to raise you all these years for nothing!” As soon as she finished speaking, she slapped her across the face.
Qin Huining never expected that Sun Shi would actually strike her in front of Cao Yuqing. She had no time to dodge and was slapped to the ground, covering her face and staring up at Sun Shi in a daze.
Sun Shi’s tears of humiliation, which she had been holding back, fell again. She pointed at the circle of people in the room and said: “I naturally know what schemes you’re plotting. Don’t forget – I’m still Qin Meng’s legitimate wife!”
The four concubines enjoyed watching Sun Shi’s fierce exterior hiding her inner cowardice, each sneering mockingly. They had been oppressed by Sun Shi long enough. Now they could finally see what “a plucked phoenix is worse than a chicken” meant – how satisfying!
Qin Huining covered her face and began to sob: “Mother, please calm your anger. No matter whom I acknowledge as foster mother, you’re still my mother! Your daughter will never forget your nurturing grace for as long as she lives. Your daughter simply found affinity with foster mother. If you… if you act this way, won’t you make foster mother uncomfortable?”
With one sentence, everyone involuntarily looked toward Cao Yuqing.
They saw Cao Yuqing sitting upright in her original position, taking another candied date from her small pouch to eat, her red lips slightly pouted in an extremely attractive manner.
Seeing Cao Yuqing like this, the concubines seemed to gain a backbone and once again looked contemptuously at Sun Shi, chattering their advice:
“Madam should show some grace.”
“Exactly. Duke Dingguo’s mansion may be gone, but Madam is still here. Just because Duke Dingguo’s mansion is gone, has Madam’s upbringing disappeared too?”
“The old dowager is currently pleased. What is Madam’s behavior directed at? Could it be displeasure with the old dowager?”
“It couldn’t be. Madam values filial piety most – how could she disrespect the old dowager?”
“Then it’s directed at Sister Cao?”
…
The four concubines all had sharp tongues. In just a few sentences, they had placed two people who already had a blood feud at the center of the storm.
Sun Shi’s eyes had already turned red with rage.
But Cao Yuqing continued eating her snacks as if nothing had happened.
In the past, when Duke Dingguo’s mansion was powerful and Sun Shi was domineering, ordinary people didn’t dare offend Sun Shi. Even the old dowager had to yield to her somewhat, and Qin Huaiyuan wasn’t enthusiastic about concubine matters, so these four minor concubines naturally didn’t dare act presumptuously.
Times had changed. Sun Shi now ate coarse food and plain tea, endured the old dowager’s cold treatment, had no backing, and faced the strong-backed Cao Yuqing. How could these concubines not take the opportunity to kick her while she was down?
Sun Shi’s head buzzed again, her whole body trembling with rage. Just as she was about to explode, Qin Yining spoke first.
Her voice wasn’t loud as she said flatly: “All of you, shut up.”
Hearing Qin Yining’s voice, the concubines all paused, but they didn’t take Sun Shi seriously, and Qin Yining was even less worthy of attention now. They continued their “persuasion” as usual.
Qin Yining let out a cold laugh and raised her voice slightly: “Nanny Jin, when concubines disrespect their mistress, how should they be dealt with?”
“In response to Miss, concubines are bought and sold like servants. Naturally, they’re at the master’s disposal.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the four concubines finally shut up.
Concubine Chen looked at Qin Yining mockingly: “Fourth Miss shouldn’t be so presumptuous. Madam hasn’t even spoken – what business is this of yours!”
“Yes, Fourth Miss is an unmarried young lady. It’s better not to meddle in adult affairs,” Concubine Hua also said.
Qin Yining remained seated and instructed Nanny Jin: “Go call some sturdy old women. These four – Concubine Chen, Concubine Hua, Concubine Li, and Concubine Qian – have not served father devotedly for many years. Not only can they not extend the Qin family lineage, but now they’ve banded together to cause trouble in Madam’s room, using their status as concubines to offend their master. The Qin family doesn’t want such troublemaking slaves. Have the human traffickers strip them of their brocade clothes and gold and silver jewelry, give each a set of coarse cotton clothes, and sell them directly to places where I’ll never see them again.”
Hearing Qin Yining give such orders, everyone was dumbstruck. Sun Shi also finally came to her senses, staring blankly at her daughter.
Nanny Jin swallowed hard, thinking to herself that Fourth Miss was truly formidable!
The concubines were also somewhat surprised.
They had originally thought Qin Yining was a savage who was sharp-tongued, quarrelsome, and liked to hit people. If they angered her into physical action this time, the moral high ground would no longer be with Sun Shi, and outsiders would think Sun Shi had failed in her teachings, raising a legitimate daughter to be like someone from a ruined household. It would also let the master see what kind of principal wife he had married.
No one had expected that Qin Yining wouldn’t argue with them or resort to violence this time, but would directly order them to be sold off!
Concubine Chen sneered coldly: “Ridiculous! I’ve served the master since childhood. The master hasn’t spoken – what right do you have to sell me off!”
“What right?” Qin Yining stood up, the corners of her mouth curved in a smile as she looked at Concubine Chen: “Naturally, it’s because I am the master and you are the servant.”
She turned back to instruct Nanny Jin: “Why aren’t you going quickly?”
Seeing Qin Yining’s commanding presence, Nanny Jin immediately felt her spirits soar and went to call people.
But Qin Huining grabbed Qin Yining’s sleeve: “Yi Jie’er, how can you do this? Father’s bed companions are not for you to dispose of at will! What are you trying to do? Do you want to rebel?”
Qin Yining gently brushed off Qin Huining’s hand and smiled warmly at her: “Don’t be anxious. I’ll settle accounts with you in a moment.”
Her voice wasn’t loud and her attitude was gentle, completely unlike her previous fierce demeanor, but Qin Huining felt a chill down her spine. Frightened by her, Qin Huining’s heart shook violently and she involuntarily stepped back two paces.
Seeing Cao Yuqing eating snacks nearby, Qin Huining barely managed to suppress the panic in her heart.
The news that Xingning Garden was selling off concubines spread throughout the entire mansion when Nanny Jin went to find people, thanks to the servants the concubines had brought with them.
In Cixiao Garden, the old dowager was smiling as she chatted with Second Madam and Third Madam. Upon hearing that such an incident had occurred at Xingning Garden, she immediately roared in anger: “Absolutely outrageous! That hen that lays no eggs! She can’t lay a single egg herself, yet wants to sell off Meng Ge’er’s women. Who gave her such audacity!”
The one reporting was Ruyi, who glanced at Nanny Qin before saying anxiously: “In response to Old Dowager, this matter wasn’t ordered by Madam, but by Fourth Miss.”
Upon hearing this, the old dowager’s rage flared: “That girl again! She’s really rebelling! How dare she touch her father’s bed companions! Second daughter-in-law, third daughter-in-law, come with me to see! I want to see who dares run wild on my territory!”