Qin Shuying showed no anger, only a faint smile. “Third Sister, you’ve put it so well. Back then, Second Sister must have been so relieved. After all, you took such good care of her husband, tending to him with meticulous devotion. Those concubines, Hongxiu and Tianxiang, must have been modeled after you, right? Third Sister, you’ve set such a fine example for women everywhere! Your concern for me is truly touching—I’ll remember your heartfelt advice forever. Second Sister, seeing how you’ve managed to take such good care of her husband, must surely rest easy in her grave!”

  “Bang!” Madam Xu smmed her bowl on the table. “What nonsense are you talking about? Changxuan is your third brother-in-w!”

  So Madam Xu couldn’t keep up the pretense of being kind and amiable anymore? Her facade had finally cracked? Qin Shuying smiled slightly and said, “Madam, Second Brother-in-w is Third Brother-in-w, and Third Brother-in-w is Second Brother-in-w. Everyone in the capital knows this. Did I say anything wrong?”

  “You…” Madam Xu was furious. The issue wasn’t whether it was “Second Brother-in-w” or “Third Brother-in-w”; the real sting was Qin Feifei’s status—she would always only be a concubine compared to Qin Yaoyao.

  Qin Shuying clearly knew how to hit Madam Xu where it hurt. She added, “Whether he’s Second Brother-in-w or Third Brother-in-w, in any case, Third Sister took over the care of Second Sister’s husband. Second Sister must be very pleased in the afterlife! I’m sure Second Sister will often visit Third Sister in gratitude for looking after her husband! And once Third Sister’s child becomes the legitimate eldest son, he should also thank Second Sister’s son for dying early. Don’t you think so, Third Sister?”

  Qin Feifei was so furious she nearly jumped up, pointing a trembling finger at Qin Shuying. “You, you…”

  Inside, Qin Shuying sneered, but outwardly she continued, her voice calm and composed. “Madam, although Third Sister will always only be a concubine in Second Sister’s presence, didn’t you often tell me that as women, we should stick to our roles? That’s why I believe Third Sister will surely continue taking good care of Second Sister’s husband. You needn’t worry—whether he’s Second Brother-in-w or Third Brother-in-w, he’s still your son-in-w and will always be filial to you.”

  Madam Xu had to swallow her humiliation; Qin Shuying’s words left no room for fault.

  The commotion drew Qin Yongtao’s attention. He sent someone to inquire, “The Master asks if something is amiss.”

  Qin Shuying lowered her gaze. Now wasn’t the time to confront Qin Yongtao directly.

  For the time being, she had no intention of breaking ties with him.

  Qin Yongtao was an experienced politician, deeply immersed in courtly intrigue. If he decided to act against her, she’d have little chance of escaping his grasp.

  Therefore, some things she could say to Madam Xu, but she couldn’t let Qin Yongtao witness firsthand. Her confidence in speaking so boldly before Madam Xu was grounded in the knowledge that Madam Xu wouldn’t report these incidents to him.

  Of course, just because Madam Xu wouldn’t say anything didn’t mean no one else would. Perhaps Qin Feifei or Qin Yunyun might speak up—but that would damage their image of being virtuous and kind in front of their father. Even if they did, Qin Shuying, as the niece, could also defend herself.

  As for Concubine Li, would she foolishly report to Qin Yongtao about how Madam Xu was humiliated at the banquet? Qin Shuying smiled faintly. If Concubine Li were that naive, she wouldn’t have survived so well in the Qin household.

  At that moment, Qin Shuying said nothing, as if completely detached from the situation. She simply picked up a piece of stir-fried bamboo shoots and ate it delicately.

  Madam Xu, naturally, wouldn’t let Qin Yongtao know about her attempt to embarrass Qin Shuying. It wasn’t something that would reflect well on her. Though they were husband and wife, and her position was currently unshakable, Madam Xu understood Qin Yongtao’s bottom line.

  Qin Yongtao revered the Old Madam above all. The Old Madam now favored Qin Shuying, and if he learned that Madam Xu had publicly tried to undermine Qin Shuying, he wouldn’t take it lightly.

  Madam Xu alone knew how cold and ruthless Qin Yongtao could be. If he were truly angered, he might not visit her chambers for months—giving those vixens in the household an opportunity to take her pce.

  Madam Xu suppressed her anger and said to the servant, "Today, Feifei returned home, and we were all so happy that our voices may have gotten a little too loud and disturbed the master's peace."

  The servant left to deliver the message. Only then did Madam Xu grit her teeth and lower her voice. "Morality, morality—an unmarried girl speaking so openly about men! Does she know no shame?!"

  If this had been the original Qin Shuying, she might have gone back and hanged herself with a white silk ribbon. In a world where reputation was as vital as life, how many women could endure having their aunt publicly accuse them of being shameless?

  Qin Shuying's smile remained sweet, her face lifted, though only she knew the gcial hatred that had frozen over in her eyes.

  "Madam, you ftter me. No matter what I do, I could never match Third Sister."

  Qin Feifei was fuming, but she dared not raise her voice any further.

  No one at the table could taste the food anymore.

  After the Luncheon

  At Yanfei Pavilion, Qin Feifei spoke with Madam Xu.

  "Mother, you said before that the seventh girl had changed drastically. I didn’t quite believe it then, but now I do. That girl is strange!"

  Madam Xu narrowed her eyes. "Feifei, the seventh girl must be possessed by an evil spirit. We need to invite a respected Taoist priest to exorcise it!"

  Qin Feifei pursed her lips into a smile, a cold glint in her eyes. "Mother, you truly care deeply for your niece!"

  Madam Xu gave a chilling grin. "It's only natural for an aunt to care for her niece."

  At Yin Garden

  When Qin Shuying received the news, her hand holding the brush did not pause. It reminded her of something that had happened long ago. Back then, Qin Yaoyao had yet to marry, and Madam Xu had invited a Taoist priest to drive out "evil spirits" from a favored concubine of Qin Yongtao’s. In the end, the so-called evil spirit was driven away, and the concubine died.

  Qin Shuying simply said, "I see," and continued writing.

  Ziteng stood in the shadows, her lips curling into an ambiguous smile.

  It was good that Miss had money. Several maids and servants from Yanfei Pavilion had been bribed with substantial sums to pass along information.

  Each had received 500 taels of silver.

  How could they resist? They wouldn’t earn that much in a lifetime of service.

  At Xuantang

  The news from the luncheon naturally reached the Old Madam. Nanny Gu anxiously watched the Old Madam’s complex expression and sighed inwardly. The master had truly let the Old Madam down.

  After a long while, the Old Madam finally said, “If I’m no longer here, how will that child survive? Sigh…”

  Nanny Gu dared not speak, standing silently by the Old Madam’s side, her heart heavy with worry.

  The Next Day

  Qin Shuying took the pass granted by the Old Madam and left the mansion.

  When Madam Xu heard the news, she smashed a Ru porcein tea cup into pieces. “That little wench!”

  Nanny Liu dared not respond, unsure if Madam Xu was cursing the Old Madam or Qin Shuying.

  Recently, Qin Shuying had left the mansion several times. Though Madam Xu had been angry, she had never been as furious as she was today.

  “Feifei returned home, and she went to burn incense! Today, she feigned illness and didn’t attend! The Old… hmph!” Madam Xu had been seething since yesterday, venting her frustrations on the Old Madam before breaking into a cold ugh.

  “But what does it matter? The second girl still died in the end! And even the little bastard she bore is dead! A concubine’s daughter is just that—a concubine’s daughter. No matter how high she climbs, it’s useless! A chicken can never become a phoenix!”