The old dowager rose angrily, about to head outside.

Second Madam and Third Madam exchanged glances, both having gleams of interest flash in their eyes.

Though they looked down on the old dowager’s sycophantic, opportunistic demeanor, the second and third branches had always competed with the main branch. Especially the second branch – Third Master was born of a concubine and wasn’t favored by the old dowager, but she had to rely on the third branch’s money, so she still showed some affection for Third Madam. But what about the second branch? Should the legitimate second son really be so much lower in status than the legitimate eldest son?

However, Nanny Qin stepped forward to support the old dowager’s arm, gently persuading: “Old Dowager, don’t be hasty. Let’s put on your cloak and dress warmly before going out. You are advanced in years – if you catch a chill from the wind, a cold is no laughing matter.”

Nanny Qin’s words were measured and entirely for the old dowager’s benefit, so naturally the old dowager was willing to listen.

While Nanny Qin helped her put on her cloak and warm hat, the old dowager continued cursing: “I think that girl wants to ride roughshod over me. She’s only been quiet for a few days and already dares to act this way. What does she think she’s doing in front of Concubine Cao? Doesn’t she consider our family’s current difficulties?”

Though Nanny Qin wholeheartedly served the old dowager, she sometimes couldn’t stand the old dowager’s extreme actions. But as a servant, she couldn’t directly advise. Seeing the old dowager speaking up, she took the opportunity to counsel:

“Old Dowager, please calm your anger. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. If you keep getting so worked up over their affairs, how is that good for your health? Besides, look at the master’s attitude – doesn’t he always let Fourth Miss do as she pleases? This servant sees that the master treasures Fourth Miss deeply, raising her like a son. A man of the master’s character and talent naturally has thoughts and actions that a crude person like this servant cannot comprehend, but this servant knows that since childhood, the master’s actions have always had their own logic. After so many years of experience in official circles, the master has become even more outstanding, and his judgment of people has become increasingly astute. If the master allows Fourth Miss to act, perhaps the current situation is exactly what the master wishes to see.”

Qin Huaiyuan was precisely the old dowager’s weakness. After Nanny Qin’s series of compliments, even though the old dowager was angry, most of her rage subsided. Thinking carefully about the meaning behind Nanny Qin’s words, wasn’t this exactly the case?

Though the old dowager was angry at Qin Yining’s domineering behavior, she now wondered if perhaps this was exactly what Qin Huaiyuan had secretly instructed?

She wanted to ask Qin Huaiyuan’s opinion, but today was the sixth day of the first month, when the court held a grand assembly, and it was uncertain when Qin Huaiyuan would return.

At this point, the old dowager’s attention had been diverted, and her anger had mostly dissipated.

Seeing the old dowager like this, Second Madam and Third Madam couldn’t say much more.

They all knew that though the old dowager was impulsive, Nanny Qin was shrewd. If they said one word too many and earned Nanny Qin’s resentment, the old dowager would believe whatever words she added or subtracted behind their backs.

When the group hurried to Xingning Garden, the sturdy old women had already changed the four concubines’ clothes. However glamorous they had looked upon arrival, they now appeared equally disheveled and wretched.

The old women were dragging the concubines outside. Concubine Chen clung tearfully to a pillar, refusing to let go, while Concubine Hua lay on the ground, both hands clutching the platform base. The courtyard was filled with continuous curses and cries.

Qin Yining was supporting Sun Shi as they stood at the main room entrance, watching this chaotic scene, while Qin Huining accompanied Cao Yuqing nearby.

Seeing the old dowager arrive, Qin Yining smiled and helped Sun Shi down the steps to bow: “Grandmother has arrived.”

“Old Dowager, may you be well.” Sun Shi and Cao Yuqing also curtsied.

The old dowager’s face was stern: “I would like to be well, but you won’t let me have peace. How can I be well? Sun Shi, what is this disturbance about? It’s not even past the first month, and you dare create such a scene! His Majesty has always governed with benevolence. In our Great Yan, no distinguished family would have incidents of beating and killing servants. If you must make a scene, do it more quietly!”

Sun Shi had been sulking these days. The old dowager’s cold indifference had already broken her heart, and now being scolded face-to-face – with her temperament, how could she swallow this insult?

But before she could speak, Qin Yining had already tugged her hand and stepped forward to bow: “Old Dowager, please calm your anger. Your granddaughter had no intention of beating or killing them, but since they served poorly, I simply had them sold off. Moreover, today’s events were not mother’s idea, but your granddaughter’s.”

The old dowager’s sharp gaze glared at Qin Yining, her finger adorned with a gold-set jade ring pointing at Qin Yining’s nose: “Even if you hadn’t said so, I would have come looking for you. You family-disrupting wild thing, kneel down at once!”

Qin Huining couldn’t help but curve her lips in delight. Now let’s see who gets punished first!

Qin Yining was completely unconcerned and was about to obediently kneel when a strong hand grasped her arm.

Looking back, she met Cao Yuqing’s beautiful face directly.

“Old Dowager, please calm your anger.”

Cao Yuqing was all smiles, her arm firmly linked with Qin Yining’s to prevent her from kneeling. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Qin Yining never would have imagined Cao Yuqing possessed such strength.

Qin Huining was also very surprised, not understanding why, when she had already acknowledged Cao Yuqing as her foster mother, Cao would still help Qin Yining!

“Old Dowager, this concubine has overstepped, but in this cold weather, Fourth Miss is a young lady – how could she endure kneeling on these freezing stones? If she developed health problems, the master would surely be heartbroken.”

Hearing this, the old dowager couldn’t help but feel pleased.

Cao Yuqing was born with striking beauty and never put on airs as the Cao family’s young miss. She was always polite and completely obedient to her, this mother-in-law, and always considered everything from Qin Huaiyuan’s perspective, thinking of her husband.

She wanted to punish Qin Yining with kneeling, and even Sun Shi, the birth mother, was still busy being angry and hadn’t intervened, yet Cao Yuqing could do this.

The old dowager nodded and said to Qin Yining: “For the sake of your Concubine Cao, I’ll spare you this time. Now tell me, what’s going on in this courtyard! Who gave you the audacity to sell off these concubines!”

Qin Yining didn’t know what Cao Yuqing was trying to do, but there was no time to think about it now. She walked to the old dowager’s side and said quietly: “Grandmother, please step aside to speak privately. Your granddaughter has something to say.”

Seeing Qin Yining’s serious expression, the old dowager followed her to the side.

Qin Yining whispered in the old dowager’s ear: “Old Dowager, these concubines don’t follow rules. Originally, your granddaughter thought that with your kind nature, you wouldn’t mind their years of barrenness and would just treat them as servants. Who would have thought they would be so disrespectful to Madam? Your granddaughter thought that the household’s rules couldn’t be ruined in their hands, and we couldn’t let father be criticized by others for having an unpeaceful inner residence and poor judgment in selecting concubines. That’s why I decided to sell them off. Moreover, now that Concubine Cao has entered the household, think about it – does this courtyard need other concubines?”

The old dowager didn’t want to hear the earlier part of what Qin Yining said.

She only heard the last sentence.

Yes! How had she not thought of this earlier!

With Cao Yuqing’s entry, she couldn’t replace Sun Shi’s position due to the distinction between legitimate and secondary wives.

But if there were other concubines in Qin Huaiyuan’s inner residence who could stand on equal footing with Concubine Cao, wouldn’t that make Cao uncomfortable!

So today, when Qin Yining wanted to deal with these minor concubines, was she perhaps taking the opportunity to help Qin Huaiyuan clean up the rear court?

With this thought, the old dowager actually felt that Qin Yining making a big scene and selling off the concubines wasn’t wrong at all. As the old dowager, she naturally had to distinguish priorities clearly. Qin Huaiyuan had never been enthusiastic about those four concubines anyway, treating them as dispensable. Looking at it this way, having just one wife and one concubine was sufficient.

Thinking of this, the old dowager immediately nodded and turned to command: “What are you standing around for? Hurry up and throw these four lowly servants out of the mansion! How dare they act high and mighty in front of Madam – do you think the Qin family is easy to bully? The Qin family has supported you without caring about your years of barrenness, and you actually dare to become arrogant!”

Everyone was dumbstruck.

What exactly had Qin Yining said to the old dowager?! In just the blink of an eye, the old dowager had actually been successfully persuaded by her and was even actively following her wishes!