That Night

  Xuantang was brightly lit, and all members of the Qin family's three branches were present, except for the young masters who were either studying at academies or serving in official positions outside the capital.

  Madam Xu, Qin Yongtao, and Qin Shuying knelt on the floor.

  The Old Madam sat with her eyes closed, the silence in the room so profound that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

  Qin Yongtao broke the silence. “Mother, this is all my fault. I didn’t consider everything thoroughly. With my third brother and his wife both gone, and Shuying only ten years old at the time, overwhelmed by grief, how could she possibly manage everything? That’s why I volunteered to help oversee things.

  “These past years, business has been tough, and managing farmnd hasn’t been easy either. While I don’t cim any great achievements, I have put in considerable effort. For the sake of this hard work, please don’t anger yourself further. If your health suffers, it would be the height of my unfilial conduct.”

  The Old Madam remained silent, her eyes half-lowered as she gently turned her prayer beads. Qin Shuying, though keeping her head bowed, could imagine the pious expression on Qin Yongtao’s face—solemn and dignified.

  This man, her father in her past life and her uncle in this one, currently held the prestigious position of Assistant Minister of Justice and was a strong candidate to become the next Minister of Justice.

  Qin Yongtao continued, “Mother, this is all the fault of your son and daughter-in-w. Please, let go of your anger. Tomorrow, I will hand over all the assets left behind by my third brother to Shuying. If you’re still uneasy, we can involve an official notary from the yamen to ensure fairness.”

  Madam Xu’s face tensed with panic. This couldn’t happen! While the Old Madam had decred so earlier in public, it was one thing to make such a statement in front of outsiders and quite another to actually follow through in private. Qin Shuying caught the flicker of Madam Xu’s expression out of the corner of her eye and smirked coldly. Madam Xu has grown far too bold over the years, treating everyone as if they were beneath her.

  True to form, Madam Xu interjected, “Old Madam, this is indeed my fault. I was blind to the true nature of that treacherous servant and allowed her to take advantage. I am willing to accept punishment, but please take care of your health!

  “However, the assets left behind by my third brother are vast, and Shuying is still young and inexperienced in managing them. If they were to fall into the hands of ill-intentioned people, how could we ever face my third brother in the afterlife?”

  The Old Madam slowly opened her eyes and asked, “What do you suggest, then?”

  So, the Old Madam still relies on me. She’ll give me the authority I deserve, Madam Xu thought smugly. Managing Qin Yongzhou’s extensive assets herself was the obvious solution. The Old Madam, too old and frail, wouldn’t bother handling such matters directly. As for Madam Zou, being the wife of a concubine-born son, she wasn’t even worth considering.

  Madam Xu smiled inwardly but kept her composure. “Old Madam, I dare not presume to regain your trust, nor do I dare to suggest taking over the management of my third brother’s assets again.

  “These years, business has indeed been challenging. If you ask around, anyone can attest to this.”

  The Old Madam’s expression remained neutral. “And what do you propose, then?”

  Madam Xu, fully confident, replied, “Old Madam, I suggest renting out the third brother’s properties. That way, we only need to collect rent, and Shuying will have funds on hand without worrying about the complexities of running a business.”

  Qin Shuying nearly ughed out loud. Rent them out? To whom? To Madam Xu’s own cronies? What should have been a simple matter of rectifying the household accounts had now become an opportunity for Madam Xu to pave her own path.

  Notably, Qin Yongtao didn’t utter a single word to challenge Madam Xu’s proposal.

  After a moment of thought, the Old Madam turned to Qin Shuying and asked, “Seventh girl, what do you think of your aunt’s suggestion?”

  Her voice was calm, betraying no emotion. But Qin Shuying knew that the Old Madam was testing her, gauging whether she was worthy of protection.

  The real Qin Shuying, naive and inexperienced, would likely have missed the traps in Madam Xu’s words. But Qin Shuying was not the same person—she was Qin Yaoyao, a woman who had run businesses for eight years with her own hands.

  Raising her head, Qin Shuying’s clear, bright eyes sparkled as she said, “Grandmother, I believe Madam Xu’s suggestion is thoughtful. However, there’s one point I don’t fully understand, and I hope Madam Xu can enlighten me.”

  Madam Xu’s confidence grew. This is my domain. The Old Madam hasn’t meddled in household affairs for three years, and I’ve repced most of the servants with my own people. The Old Madam, old and ailing, can’t possibly oppose me. As for Qin Shuying, her earlier boldness at the banquet must have been orchestrated by that crafty old maid, Nanny Fu. Now, she’ll still fall into line.

  Feigning affection, Madam Xu said warmly, “Child, we’re all family. Why speak so formally?”

  Qin Shuying sneered inwardly. Still kneeling, and yet Madam Xu is already so eager to make her move.

  She asked, “Madam Xu mentioned that once the shops are rented out, my finances will improve. I just have a question: My father left me a fortune of 100,000 taels. Why is it that my finances aren’t currently ‘improved’? Why is it that even having a hot meal depends on the moods of the maids and servants?”

  Madam Xu was instantly speechless. Sensing trouble, Qin Yongtao quickly interjected, “Seventh Miss, this is all due to Madam Xu’s oversight. Good child, you’ve been wronged. Jinling, I entrusted the management of the household to you—how could you be so careless? How could you allow the servants to disrespect their mistress?”

  “Jinling” was Madam Xu’s maiden name.

  Seeing the situation escate, Qin Yunyun quickly stepped in. “Father, Mother has always been good to Seventh Sister—everyone in the Qin family knows this. Mother visits her every two or three days, and I often accompany her to chat and lift her spirits. With such a rge household and so many responsibilities, it’s only natural that Mother might overlook some things. Seventh Sister, you mustn’t bme Mother for the behavior of a few ungrateful servants. That would truly be unjust to her!”

  What a united family indeed!

  Qin Shuying maintained her composure and replied calmly, “Sixth Sister, you’re overthinking. Of course, I know that Madam Xu cares for me wholeheartedly, and you’ve always been so kind to me. I’m merely curious—how could Madam Xu say that my finances aren’t stable when my father left me a fortune of 100,000 taels? Surely, that’s enough to st me a lifetime!”

  Both Qin Yongtao and Madam Xu froze, momentarily at a loss for words. Qin Yunyun, unaccustomed to the typically submissive Qin Shuying’s newfound assertiveness, felt her anger rising. But as always, she maintained her facade of being “kind-hearted and considerate” and said, “Seventh Sister, you’re still young and don’t understand how untrustworthy people can be nowadays. If unscrupulous individuals were to swindle you out of your wealth, wouldn’t our Third Uncle be unable to rest in peace in the afterlife? Mother is simply safeguarding your assets so that no schemers can take advantage of you.”

  “Sixth Sister,” Qin Shuying replied with a faint smile, “if I have nothing in my hands, how is that any different from being swindled?”

  Qin Yunyun was utterly stunned. She never expected Qin Shuying to be so bold, daring to say whatever was on her mind without the slightest regard for so-called feminine virtues. A proper noblewoman should be reserved and dignified—what was Qin Shuying doing, behaving in this unseemly manner?

  Unable to hold back, Qin Yunyun snapped, “Seventh Sister, as a woman, one’s virtue and propriety are of utmost importance. You must be careful with your words.”

  Qin Shuying continued smiling serenely. “Then, please enlighten me, Sister. Which of my words was improper?”

  Qin Yunyun was left speechless, her mouth opening and closing with no response.