The Old Madam chuckled, “You little rascal, how could you be jealous of your sister?”

  For a moment, the room was filled with ughter, but Qin Shuying knew that beneath the cheerful atmosphere, the Old Madam had already begun to harbor doubts. What did it mean when someone said, “The maids and servants cim Shuying is a bringer of misfortune”? Who said such a thing? And how had the news reached Qin Shuying? Surely the maids and servants knew better than to spread such rumors about the young dies of the household. Idle gossip among servants, if escated, could be punished with flogging.

  If Qin Shuying had heard about it, was it possible that Madam Xu hadn’t?

  The Old Madam wasn’t a muddle-headed person. On the contrary, she was astute—otherwise, how could she have raised such an outstanding son as Qin Yongzhou? Even her illegitimate son, Qin Yongluo, was now a sixth-rank official, a testament to her wisdom. Many matriarchs in wealthy families deliberately suppressed illegitimate sons, yet Qin Yongluo held great respect for the Old Madam.

  Although Madam Xu was the eldest daughter-in-w of the legitimate line and enjoyed a good reputation outside, the Old Madam had lived with her long enough to know her true nature.

  Qin Shuying’s words had pnted seeds of doubt in the Old Madam’s heart, ying the groundwork for future actions.

  Meanwhile, Madam Xu was growing increasingly anxious. How could this foolish Seventh Miss mention such private words to the Old Madam? Indeed, years ago, in an attempt to burden Qin Shuying psychologically, Madam Xu had cimed that she brought misfortune to her parents and was inherently unlucky. Those words had deeply affected the original Qin Shuying, leaving her broken and ultimately leading to her untimely death. Madam Xu had repeatedly warned her not to speak of it to others.

  However, this was not the moment to expin. With the room filled with ughter, any expnation would seem forced, and the Old Madam was not easily deceived.

  That said, Madam Xu no longer feared the Old Madam as much as before. For one, the Old Madam was advanced in age, and the household’s management had long been in Madam Xu’s hands. Additionally, the Old Madam’s health had deteriorated significantly over the past two years, leaving her future uncertain. Second, Madam Xu’s daughter, Consort Lian, was now the Qin family’s greatest asset, ensuring that even the Old Madam had to show her some respect.

  After a while, Nanny Gu beside the Old Madam reminded her, “Old Madam, it is now three-quarters past the hour of Chen.”

  As the banquet was set for noon, most guests would arrive toward the end of the hour of Chen or the beginning of Si. However, as the hostess, the Old Madam couldn’t wait in the reception hall until guests arrived. Given her status as the birthday celebrant and the fact that today’s attendees were all retives, it wasn’t necessary for her to personally greet the guests. Madam Xu would handle these matters.

  The Old Madam nodded and said to Madam Xu, “It’s getting te; you should go ahead.”

  Madam Xu responded respectfully, subtly signaling Qin Yunyun with a nod before leading a group of wives and maids out. Madam Zou followed shortly after, as they also had responsibilities to attend to.

  This left the Old Madam with the young dies, a few maids, and the elderly servants.

  “Come, my dear, let me have a good look at you.” The Old Madam held Qin Shuying’s hand, gazing at her with a mix of emotion and relief. Qin Shuying smiled gently, her delicate hand tightly csping the Old Madam’s, exuding warmth.

  Qin Yunyun, having received Madam Xu’s cue, wrapped her arms around the Old Madam’s and pyfully said, “Grandmother, now that you have Seventh Sister, you don’t care about me anymore. I’m feeling so jealous!”

  The Old Madam smiled indulgently. “Yunyun, you’re the elder sister. How can you compete with your younger sister?”

  “No, no, Grandmother! Of course, you should dote on Seventh Sister, but don’t forget about me either.”

  Qin Shuying merely smiled without speaking. While Qin Yunyun could act coquettish in the Old Madam’s presence, Qin Shuying knew better than to attempt the same.

  Meanwhile, Nanny Gu discreetly observed Qin Shuying, feeling a flicker of unease. The Seventh Miss, smiling quietly, now exuded a noble and composed demeanor that bore no resembnce to the timid and meek girl she had known before. What had brought about this transformation?

  “Old Madam, look closely—don’t you think Seventh Miss’s brows and expressions are carved from the same mold as the Third Master’s?” Nanny Gu asked tentatively, a hint of probing in her tone.

  Nanny Gu had served the Old Madam for many years and knew well how deeply the Old Madam missed her favorite third son, Qin Yongzhou. Over the past three years, the Old Madam’s health had deteriorated significantly due to her grief. There were times when Nanny Gu even feared that the Old Madam wouldn’t make it.

  If the Seventh Miss could regain the Old Madam’s affection and show her genuine filial piety, it might just improve the Old Madam’s health. Selfishly, Nanny Gu hoped for the Old Madam’s well-being, as her own life as a servant was tied to it. As long as the Old Madam was around, Nanny Gu felt some sembnce of stability, even though things were already becoming less manageable than before.

  At the core of this change was Madam Xu.

  The Old Madam chuckled warmly, “The Seventh Miss has always resembled Yongzhou since she was a child. Among all my grandchildren, only she looks the most like her father. Look at Kaile—not a trace of Yongtao in him; he takes after his mother entirely. They say daughters look like their fathers, and sons resemble their mothers, but neither Consort Lian nor Feifei resembles Yongtao much.”

  The Old Madam’s cheerful mood was unmistakable, affirming Nanny Gu’s thoughts. She couldn’t help but gnce at Qin Shuying a few more times.

  The Old Madam continued chatting fondly, and Qin Shuying listened quietly, occasionally massaging the Old Madam’s legs and shoulders. Her attentiveness brought the Old Madam even more joy. Qin Yunyun joined in with pyful remarks, creating a lively and harmonious scene among the three of them.

  Before long, female guests began arriving at Xuantang, filling the room with the bustling sounds of birthday greetings and well-wishes.

  Qin Shuying spotted Madam Liu in the crowd. She remembered her from when she had accompanied Qin Yongzhou during his time in office. Although years had passed, Qin Shuying still recognized her. Madam Liu was only in the capital temporarily; she usually resided in Huzhou.

  However, Madam Liu didn’t recognize Qin Shuying. Fifth Miss Qin Lulu and Sixth Miss Qin Yunyun were both fourteen, while Seventh Miss Qin Shuying and Eighth Miss Qin Fangfang were thirteen. Their simir heights and attire made them difficult to distinguish. With so many people present and no granddaughter sitting particurly close to the Old Madam, Madam Liu had no way of identifying her.

  Sitting quietly to the side, Qin Shuying began to reflect inwardly.

  Though Consort Lian held a prestigious position as the mother of the Sixth Prince, the Empress had given birth to the Crown Prince. The Emperor and the Empress shared a deep bond as husband and wife, and the Crown Prince had been formally established for over a decade. He was already heavily involved in the court’s affairs.

  The Empress came from the Wen family, a renowned schorly lineage. Her grandfather, Grand Tutor Wen, had been the Emperor’s mentor, forging a strong bond between them. After Grand Tutor Wen’s passing, the Wen family had adhered to his wishes, allowing only one legitimate son from each branch to enter officialdom. As a result, the most senior Wen family member currently held a third-rank official position, ensuring the Emperor’s trust in the family. The Empress and the Emperor shared mutual respect and understanding, making it clear that barring unforeseen circumstances, the Crown Prince would naturally ascend to the throne.

  Given this, the interactions between noble families and the families of other princes’ mothers required great delicacy. Those families also had to exercise considerable caution in their dealings. The dynamics were a minefield of propriety and politics.