Qin Guan's cold shout was like a bucket of icy water poured over Lin Shi's head in her fury. Lin Shi stared blankly at Qin Guan, "What good deed has Xiang'er done? How could someone as proud as her ever become a concubine?! Unless something happened, how could she possibly... What do you mean by that..."
Qin Guan brushed off Lin Shi's hand with such force that Lin Shi stumbled back two steps.
Hu Shi watched this and let out a long sigh, "Sister-in-law, I told you not to be so impatient. Why didn't you listen to me?"
If this had happened before, Lin Shi would have certainly erupted in anger. But now Qin Guan's status was extraordinary, and no matter how cold or rude she was, Lin Shi dared not say a word. Her eyes red, Lin Shi's face was still full of despair, "Eldest Brother's Wife, it's not that I didn't listen, but when Eldest Brother wanted to bring the younger ones to the capital, I didn't utter a single complaint. I thought coming to the capital would give the younger generation a better future. But now, Xiang'er has actually become Prince Cheng's concubine!"
Lin Shi only knew that Prince Cheng was a royal prince, but she came from a scholarly family herself. If it were a consort position, it might be acceptable, but being a concubine was a lifelong stigma that should never be accepted. Even if Qin Xiang was confused, what were Qin Shu and his wife, the Marquis of Zhongyong, doing?! How could they just stand by and watch her Xiang'er become a concubine!
Seeing Lin Shi weeping incessantly while Hu Shi seemed hesitant to speak, Qin Guan couldn't bear to watch any longer and said, "Eldest Aunt, Third Aunt must know the whole story about this matter. Wan He is still here. Let Wan He come and explain to Third Aunt."
Wan He had served Qin Xiang for many years. Upon hearing Wan He's name, Lin Shi's expression changed, "Good, let Wan He come. I'll ask her..."
Lin Shi trusted Wan He more than Qin Shuang. Hu Shi sighed and glanced at Granny Yu beside her. Granny Yu nodded and immediately headed toward Qin Shuang's courtyard. Hu Shi stepped forward, "Sister-in-law, this is Guan'er's courtyard. Let's go to the main hall to talk. Guan'er and Shuang'er have just gotten up. Let them come over later."
Lin Shi wiped her eyes, probably realizing she had lost her composure, then nodded and walked out. Hu Shi stayed behind for a moment, looking at Qin Shuang and Qin Guan, "With Third Brother gone, Third Sister-in-law is all alone and pitiful. The Marquis originally intended to let her rest before discussing this matter properly, but she became impatient. Get yourselves ready and come over later."
Qin Guan and Qin Shuang nodded. Hu Shi turned and followed Lin Shi out.
Once everyone had left, Pine Breeze Courtyard finally quieted down. Qin Shuang let out a sigh of relief and quickly grabbed Qin Guan's arm, "Thank goodness you were here. That was really frightening just now."
Qin Guan sighed, "You're about to get married. Why don't you know how to avoid trouble?"
Earlier, Qin Shuang had been so scared she closed her eyes, prepared to take the hit. If not for Qin Guan, Lin Shi's slap would have landed on Qin Shuang's face. Qin Shuang said helplessly, "It's always been like this since childhood. With others it's fine, but she is my legal mother after all." Then she added, "Can I still get married?"
Qin Guan replied helplessly, "Of course you can. Would Third Aunt really ruin your marriage just to vent her anger over Qin Xiang's own mistakes?"
With that, she pushed Qin Shuang inside, "Go wash up and then head to the main courtyard."
After Qin Guan and Qin Shuang finished washing up, they made their way to the main courtyard. Just as they reached the front hall, they could hear Wan He's tearful account from inside the room."I found it improper, but the young lady said it was nothing. She said being a concubine for others wouldn't do, but being Prince Cheng's concubine was acceptable. His Highness Prince Cheng would become part of the imperial clan someday, which was still better than marrying some minor seventh-rank military officer..."
"That day when I was taken to the small tent, the young lady stayed with Prince Cheng for the entire afternoon. I don't know what happened, but when the young lady returned to bathe, I saw clearly that she and Prince Cheng had already been intimate."
"When Prince Cheng's residence sent people to fetch her, the Marquis asked the young lady what had happened. It was the young lady herself who insisted on going to Prince Cheng's residence. The Marquis said if she was unwilling, he would certainly seek justice for her, but the young lady insisted... I was afraid. Someone of my status dared not go to the royal residence, so that day, I didn't follow..."
"At that time, the Marquis was so furious that he said he would disown the young lady from the Qin family..."
All the maids in the room had been driven out, waiting far away at the courtyard gate. Qin Shu was nowhere to be seen, leaving only Hu Shi and Lin Shi in the room. Wan He knelt before Lin Shi, speaking through tears.
Lin Shi sat upright on the stool, her face ashen. After Wan He finished speaking, Lin Shi remained silent for a long while. Hu Shi sighed, "Sister-in-law, these are the facts. That night we were all here - it was Qin Xiang herself who insisted on going to Prince Cheng's residence. Although the Marquis cannot compare with Prince Cheng, he still holds some influence. He originally planned to enter the palace to seek justice for Qin Xiang or outright refuse Prince Cheng's unreasonable demand. Who would have thought Qin Xiang would insist on going herself."
"Qin Xiang's marriage had been arranged with the Xue family long ago. We brought her to the grand hunt only to broaden her horizons and let her have fun with her sisters. Never did we expect such an incident to occur."
"The engagement with the Xue family had already been preliminarily settled, only awaiting the selection of an auspicious date and delivery of betrothal gifts. Because of her actions, the whole city knew by the next day. In all these years, when has the Marquis' household ever been so disgraced? Ah, you know Prince Cheng - Yu'er is destined to become the Crown Princess. In everyone's eyes, our household stands with the Crown Prince. With Xiang'er's actions, not only did we disgrace the Xue family, but we also lost face before the Crown Prince. Early the next morning, before dawn, the Marquis entered the palace to apologize. As for me, I personally went to the Xue residence first thing to offer our apologies..."
"To put it plainly, if Xiang'er had married into the Xue family, it would have been marrying beneath her station. You come from a great family yourself - you know the advantages of a high-born daughter marrying down. That young man from the Xue family works with Ye'er in the Garrison Battalion and is an excellent prospect. Sister-in-law, we truly had Qin Xiang's best interests at heart in arranging this marriage. After what happened with Third Brother, that Xue young man was the best choice in the entire capital. If you insist that we found her someone with too low a rank, then I have nothing more to say. We could have matched her with second sons or illegitimate sons of noble families, but these men either already had numerous concubines or were older with various ailments. Wouldn't marrying Xiang'er to such men be wasting a daughter of the Qin family?""After all the effort we've expended, Xiang'er remained unsatisfied. When she declared her departure that day, her words were utterly resolute—she didn't soften her tone even before the Marquis. What could we possibly do? Moreover, she and Prince Cheng had already reached such an intimate stage. If this were to escalate further, not only would the Marquis' household be disgraced, but wouldn't it essentially drive Xiang'er to her death?!"
"So when she decided to leave, we couldn't stop her, nor dared we try. Although we've aligned with the Crown Prince's faction, we wouldn't lightly offend Prince Cheng—especially when it would bring us nothing but trouble. That day when I visited the Xue family, fortunately the elderly couple was reasonable and didn't press the matter, merely saying it wasn't meant to be. Later... it was actually Elder Xue who, recognizing our Marquis' household isn't the type to bully others with our status, and learning we had another young lady in the family, proposed having a different cousin marry over instead. After all, the original arrangement hadn't specified which young lady exactly. This way, both families could save face—"
"Don't blame Shuang'er either. This was decided by the Marquis and myself—we only informed Shuang'er after everything was settled. In any case, when selecting a husband for Shuang'er, we applied the same considerations. The Xue young man is quite promising, so we finalized the match between Shuang'er and him." Hu Shi spoke at length with detached calmness, then sighed upon seeing Lin Shi's ashen face. "Sister-in-law, you placed great hopes in Xiang'er, and so did we. But in this life, everyone chooses their own Path. We're merely Xiang'er's uncle and aunt—you're her birth mother. You should be the one to ask her why she acted this way. The Marquis and I have already done everything we possibly could."
Lin Shi had been furious this whole time, never imagining it was such a matter!
Qin Xiang... Qin Xiang actually dared to have an affair with Prince Cheng while being betrothed! And they'd been physically intimate!
Though Lin Shi didn't know Prince Cheng well, she understood that with his title, if he wanted to take Qin Xiang as a concubine, no one could stop him. Had Qin Shu stubbornly refused to let her go that day, Qin Xiang—having lost her virtue—would likely have faced no alternative but death.
Lin Shi swayed on her feet, momentarily uncertain whether to feel hatred or fury. She knew Qin Xiang's ambitions well—precisely because of them, she'd been certain Qin Xiang wouldn't casually become someone's concubine. Yet she never expected Qin Xiang herself had caused all this. For wealth and status, she'd discarded all dignity befitting the legitimate daughter of the Qin family—
Hu Shi sighed again. "There's another matter you might not know, sister-in-law. On the journey back to the capital, Xiang'er had already made a similar mistake once before. Despite this, we still treated her as our own niece, exhausting our efforts to arrange a good marriage for her. That Xue young man may appear low-ranking now, but with the Marquis above him and the Crown Prince above that, his future prospects can't possibly be poor. Yet Xiang'er's ambitions were simply too high. No matter how capable the Marquis is, how could he possibly send her to Prince Cheng's royal residence?"
Her words carried notes of mockery and irritation—Hu Shi couldn't contain herself any longer. While Lin Shi was indeed pitiable, Qin Xiang had been raised under her guidance. Because of Qin Xiang alone, the Marquis' household nearly earned the Crown Prince's displeasure—what a grave offense! And now Lin Shi had come making a scene at the residence, utterly exhausting Hu Shi's last remnants of compassion and patience. Were it not for her upbringing holding her back, she'd have spoken even more harshly, for Qin Xiang's actions were truly too disgraceful to bear the light of day!Lin Shi swayed again, her mouth opening but no words coming out. She tried to stand by leaning on the armrest of her chair, but halfway up, she collapsed forward. Wan He gasped softly and caught Lin Shi to support her. Hu Shi was also startled and immediately called for help. Qin Guan and Qin Shuang hurried in, with Qin Guan stepping forward at once to check Lin Shi’s pulse.
Soon, Qin Guan said, “Third Aunt is overwhelmed with anger and exhausted from the journey. I’ll write a prescription for her.”
With the Little Medicine Immortal in the residence, there was naturally no need to call another physician. Hu Shi quickly instructed servants to take Lin Shi back to the guest courtyard to rest and had Wan He stay by her side to care for her. Lin Shi had come to the capital alone, accompanied only by four guards, two elderly maids, and two young maids—one of the elderly maids had fallen ill and been left behind along the way.
The journey had been grueling enough, and upon arrival, she had erupted in a fit of rage. Then, hearing about Qin Xiang’s situation had been the final blow. Qin Guan prescribed a calming and qi-regulating formula, and the ingredients could all be obtained from the marquis’s medicine storeroom.
The commotion sparked whispers among the household servants. Hu Shi summoned several head Mommas to reprimand them, leaving herself quite weary. When Qin Guan and Qin Shuang returned from Lin Shi’s guest courtyard, Hu Shi sighed helplessly, “Third Sister-in-law is really… Ah, never mind. We’ve made things clear. If she still doesn’t understand, then she’s simply being unreasonable. Shuang’er, don’t let this affect your mood—it has nothing to do with you.”
Qin Shuang, who had been anxious earlier, had now calmed down. “Don’t worry, Aunt. I understand. But since Mother has come to the capital, she will insist on seeing Qin Xiang. How should we arrange that?”
Hu Shi smiled bitterly. “What else can we do? Although your uncle has disowned Qin Xiang, he can’t deny Third Sister-in-law. She has borne and raised children for the Qin family, with both merit and hardship to her name. If she wants to see her daughter, we’ll take her when the time comes. I just wonder if Qin Xiang even has the face to see her own mother now.”
Qin Xiang’s actions would anger anyone. Lin Shi’s outburst had, in a way, stirred up the resentment Hu Shi had been holding inside.
The three of them talked a while longer. Knowing Lin Shi wouldn’t wake for some time, Hu Shi took Qin Shuang to review the dowry list. With only two days left until Qin Shuang’s wedding—though she wasn’t her own daughter—the ceremony had invitations sent out, and any mishap would bring shame upon the marquis’s household!
Lin Shi woke at dusk. She stared blankly for a moment before realizing where she was and recalling the morning’s events and Qin Xiang’s situation. A dull ache pierced her heart again. Glancing up, she noticed Wan He sitting on a small stool and called out hoarsely, “Wan He—”
Wan He immediately lifted her head and, seeing Lin Shi awake, brightened with relief. She hurriedly poured a cup of tea and brought it over. “Madam, have some tea before speaking. The County Princess said you were too exhausted and prescribed a remedy. I gave you a dose at noon.”
“County Princess—” Lin Shi murmured, then remembered Wan He was referring to Qin Guan.
A sudden daze came over her. Qin Shuang had changed, and Qin Guan had changed too—both were improving, especially Qin Guan. Even before reaching Yuanzhou, Lin Shi had begun hearing tales of the Little Medicine Immortal. By the time she arrived in Luozhou, stories of Yongci County Princess were spreading far and wide. Now, Qin Guan had become a lofty figure, closely connected to the imperial family.Back in the day, Qin Guan was merely an orphan girl abandoned by the main branch of the family...
Lin Shi's heart was filled with bitterness. She understood Qin Xiang's thoughts—clearly Qin Xiang wasn't lacking, yet she simply couldn't measure up to others. This was truly despairing. Qin Xiang would never be content marrying a seventh-rank military officer, but she shouldn't have become Prince Cheng's concubine either!
"Eldest Brother's Wife mentioned something happened on the way to the capital. What was it? Tell me."
After drinking half a cup of tea, Lin Shi's mind settled somewhat, and she urgently questioned Wan He. Wan He hesitated briefly before revealing that Qin Xiang had attempted to elope with someone at Cloud Mist Mountain. Upon hearing this, Lin Shi's hands trembled violently, and Wan He quickly took the teacup from her.
Lin Shi lay against the pillow, breathing heavily with a heart full of chill. Waves of despair washed over her. If Qin Shuang had done something so outrageous in the past, she would have felt like beating her to death. Yet the Marquis's household, setting aside past grievances, still found her a good match. The Marquis's household truly hadn't treated Qin Xiang unfairly—it was Qin Xiang herself who failed to strive—
Suddenly, Lin Shi felt her face burn with shame. After doing such a thing, Qin Xiang shouldn't have come to the capital to humiliate herself. But not only did she come, she also caused a huge scene—this was utterly disgraceful!
Lin Shi looked at Wan He with a bitter smile. "Why didn't you go with Xiang'er?"
Wan He hunched her shoulders and lowered her head. "This servant didn't dare—"
Lin Shi sighed. Wan He's eyes reddened as she said, "You know how I've cared for the young lady since childhood and my feelings for her. But this time, with Prince Cheng, I was truly frightened. The best place I've ever been to is the Marquis's residence, and even there I lived in constant fear. How much more so if I went to Prince Cheng's royal residence? I was scared..."
As she spoke, Wan He knelt on the ground. "I betrayed the young lady. Please forgive me, madam. I originally said I would return to Jinzhou to serve you, but Jinzhou is too far. The Marquis had me follow the Sixth Young Lady for now."
Lin Shi asked again, "Does the Sixth Young Lady treat you well?"
Wan He nodded. "The Sixth Young Lady treats me well. After arriving in the capital, she has changed a lot. Now she's as close as sisters with the Commandery Princess, who also treats servants extremely well."
Lin Shi thought of Qin Shuang and Qin Guan whom she saw this morning. Back in Jinzhou, the one who bullied Qin Guan the most was Qin Shuang. Yet now, the two could sleep intimately in the same place.
Lin Shi closed her eyes, her heart still aching with waves of pain.
Qin Xiang hadn't listened to her. She had also urged Qin Xiang to befriend Qin Guan, but Qin Xiang refused. If Qin Xiang had improved like Qin Shuang, how could such a tragedy have occurred today?!
Lin Shi took a deep breath. "There are still two days until Qin Shuang's wedding, right?"
Wan He nodded. Lin Shi sighed. "I will eventually return to Jinzhou. You should come back with me then. After all, you're not truly by the Sixth Young Lady's side. Even if she treats you well, you wouldn't feel comfortable in your heart."
Wan He quickly nodded. Having previously served Qin Xiang, she knew many things. Now staying with Qin Shuang, although Qin Shuang never mentioned anything, she indeed felt somewhat guilty inside. It would be better to return with Lin Shi and stay at the residence in Jinzhou, rather than living in constant fear like in the capital.
"Are you leaving already, madam? Won't you see the young lady?"
Lin Shi took a deep breath. "Since I'm here, I must see her. But I can't arrange this myself—I'll need the Marquis's help. After meeting once, I'll return..."Lin Shi closed her eyes. This matter would inevitably require the Marquis's residence's assistance, and she would have to seek Qin Shu's help again.
Upon hearing that Lin Shi had awakened, Hu Shi brought Qin Shuang, Qin Guan, and Qin Chaoyu to see her. As soon as Lin Shi saw Hu Shi, she grasped her hand and said, "Eldest Brother's Wife, I truly apologize. My behavior today was improper, and I offer you my sincerest apologies."
Hu Shi quickly stopped her, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for this. I have daughters too, and I understand what you must be thinking. This isn't your fault. You've traveled such a long distance and exhausted yourself. We are family—let's not speak of such formalities. We had planned to hold a welcome banquet for you tonight, but seeing you're unwell, we'll have to postpone it. You must recover quickly."
Lin Shi smiled bitterly, "Eldest Brother's Wife, though we haven't met often, I've long heard of your virtuous reputation. Now that everything has been clarified, I won't stand on ceremony with you. I came here originally for Xiang'er's marriage, but things have turned out this way. I bear no resentment—in fact, I should be apologizing to you and Eldest Brother. Xiang'er's actions nearly brought great disaster upon the Marquis's residence... This should never have happened..."
Hearing this, Hu Shi felt somewhat relieved and spoke more sincerely, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for apologies. Xiang'er is still young after all. She'll likely regret this in the future. But what's done is done—there's nothing we can do about it now."
Lin Shi responded, "I understand that. Which is why I have an impertinent request—I wish to see Qin Xiang once."
Hu Shi had anticipated this. After a moment's contemplation, she said, "If we send a formal visiting card, it wouldn't be proper. Prince Cheng and the Crown Prince are currently at odds like fire and water—he'd likely ignore our message completely. So if you wish to see Qin Xiang, you'll probably have to visit her at Prince Cheng's residence..."
Lin Shi's face burned with shame. Qin Shu had declared he wouldn't acknowledge Qin Xiang, so there was no question of allowing her to enter the household. Firstly, because Qin Xiang had committed improper acts that damaged the Qin family's reputation, and secondly, to demonstrate their stance to the Crown Prince. Now that Lin Shi wanted to meet her, the Marquis's residence couldn't simply summon Qin Xiang back—especially since she now belonged to Prince Cheng's household. Would she even come if called?
Lin Shi nodded, "Very well, I understand your meaning, Eldest Brother's Wife."
Hu Shi added, "Don't worry. Which day would you like to see her? I'll arrange for someone to escort you to Prince Cheng's residence."
Lin Shi felt waves of bitterness in her heart and said, "Then let it be tomorrow."
Hu Shi nodded, "Good, I'll make the arrangements for you."
As Lin Shi was still unwell, Hu Shi left with the younger ones after exchanging a few more words. Because of these delays, Qin Guan couldn't go to the magistrate's office that day. The next day, she needed to accompany Qin Shuang for her Wedding Gown fitting and Jewelry Set selection, so she only sent Baiying to the magistrate's office. Early the following morning, the Marquis's residence dispatched guards to escort Lin Shi to Prince Cheng's residence. Hu Shi, feeling uneasy, also sent Granny Yu to accompany her.
The Marquis's residence carriage traveled along the main Path toward the royal residence. Looking at the capital's bustling scenery, Lin Shi felt somewhat dazed. The capital was a fine place, but at her age, she found such noisy excitement somewhat unsettling. She lifted the curtain and glanced outside a couple of times before listlessly withdrawing her gaze, her mind preoccupied with what she would say when she met Qin Xiang.The carriage arrived at Prince Cheng's royal residence before long. The residence stood adjacent to the imperial city, with towering gates and broad courtyards, guarded by sword-bearing sentinels at the entrance. As the carriage approached, a guard immediately stepped forward. The attendant outside hurriedly explained, "Brother, inside the carriage is the lady from Qin Manor, here to visit the Qin maiden in the royal residence..."
The gatekeeper lifted his chin, "Qin maiden? Which Qin maiden?"
The attendant's expression shifted slightly. Being from the marquis' household, he naturally held little regard for Prince Cheng's staff, but today he had to maintain decorum while accompanying Lin Shi. Gritting his teeth, he replied, "The one recently taken as Prince Cheng's concubine."
The guard let out an "Oh" of sudden understanding, then smiled, "Then I must trouble you to use the side gate. In Prince Cheng's royal residence, it's unheard of for a concubine's relatives to enter through the main gate."
The guards at Prince Cheng's residence did not know that Lin Shi was inside the carriage. When they heard it was from the Qin Manor, they assumed someone from the Marquis' estate had arrived. The guards of Prince Cheng's residence had even less regard for people from the Marquis' estate.
The attendant from the Marquis' estate paled slightly, but such rules were common in the capital. The relatives of a concubine were not considered proper kin and were usually only permitted to enter through the side gate. Feeling aggrieved, the attendant knocked on the carriage door. Inside, Granny Yu sighed helplessly and said, "Let's go to the side gate."
The attendant had no choice but to drive the carriage dejectedly toward the side gate...
Upon arrival, the guard at the gate, hearing it was someone from the Qin Manor, also wore an unfriendly expression. He made the carriage wait outside while he went to announce their arrival. This announcement took a full half-hour.
Inside the carriage, Lin Shi's face burned with such humiliation it seemed capable of igniting flames.
Within Prince Cheng's residence, Qin Xiang was carefully applying makeup and adorning her forehead with a floral decoration. With Feng Chenbi about to enter the residence, Qin Xiang spent each day thinking of ways to win Prince Cheng's favor. Her previous style had been simple, elegant, and scholarly, but now she was growing increasingly radiant. Just as she finished applying the floral decoration, Xiu Zhi hurried in and said, "Miss! Someone from the Qin Manor has come!"
"From the Qin Manor?!" Qin Xiang straightened up, clearly surprised.
Xiu Zhi nodded eagerly, "Yes, the gatekeeper reported it and asked if you wish to see them."
Currently, there were seven or eight concubines in Prince Cheng's residence, but Qin Xiang was indeed the most favored. Thus, the servants did not dare act too presumptuously. When the message reached her, Qin Xiang remained unhurried. "Who has come?"
Xiu Zhi looked puzzled. "I don't know, only that it's the lady..."
"Aunt?" Qin Xiang had not expected Lin Shi to come, so she assumed it was Hu Shi. She then sneered, "What is she doing here? Didn't she disown me as her niece?"
Xiu Zhi snorted lightly, "This servant doesn't know either. Could it be that she wants to persuade you to leave the royal residence?"
Qin Xiang considered this and thought it possible. Frowning in anger, she said, "Let them wait in the gatekeeper's lodge. I'll go after I finish getting ready!"
For the esteemed lady of the Marquis' estate to enter the royal residence not only through the side gate but also be relegated to the gatekeeper's lodge was a severe blow to the Marquis' estate's dignity. Xiu Zhi was somewhat worried, but Qin Xiang coldly laughed, "The prince dislikes the Marquis' estate. No matter why she has come, I cannot show them any favor. Do I have any way out now?"
Xiu Zhi understood and immediately went to relay the message.
Qin Xiang then spent some time selecting the most luxurious gown and had Xiu Zhi help her change into it.
When Lin Shi saw that the guards of Prince Cheng's residence had only led her to a small room in the gatekeeper's lodge, she frowned, and her face instantly turned pale. "What is the meaning of this? Is this how guests are treated here?"
The guards did not recognize Lin Shi, and neither the attendant from the Marquis' estate nor Granny Yu dared to reveal that Lin Shi was Qin Xiang's birth mother. It was likely that Lin Shi herself did not wish to disclose her identity at this moment. Seeing Lin Shi's anger, the guard smirked and said, "These are the orders from inside. Please make do, madam. The royal residence does not treat guests this way, but the few of you hardly qualify as guests."
The guard was haughty and overbearing. Granny Yu quickly steadied Lin Shi and said, "Don't fret, madam. Let's just wait for now."This small room was meant for the guards to rest in. Not only was it crude, but it also carried the distinct smell of men's sweat. The pot of cold tea on the table was the height of disrespect, yet the guard showed no intention of replacing it with fresh tea. Instead, he cast a few mocking glances at Lin Shi before turning and walking out. The moment he left, Lin Shi, enraged, slapped her hand hard on the table!
Granny Yu observed this with a faint smile. This Fifth Young Lady clearly knew the visitors were from Qin Manor, yet she treated them this way. Evidently, she intended to deliberately humiliate the Marquis' household... Granny Yu shook her head inwardly. Such an ungrateful wretch—it was fortunate she had left the Marquis' household back then. If the Marquis had truly stirred up trouble in the palace for her sake, it would have only brought harm to the household!
But the Fifth Young Lady likely never imagined that the visitor was none other than her own birth mother!
A full two cups of tea later, footsteps were finally heard outside the gatehouse. The guard from earlier spoke with a semblance of respect, "Ninth Concubine, the people from Qin Manor are inside—"
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiang lazily replied, "Understood. Xiu Zhi..."
Xiu Zhi immediately stepped forward to offer a tip. The guard, clutching the silver, expressed his thanks and withdrew.
Qin Xiang eyed the narrow door, straightened her dress, and then walked in. "Out of the blue, the Marquis' household sends someone. Let me see exactly who—"
Before the word "who" could fully leave her lips, Qin Xiang suddenly caught sight of Lin Shi seated by the table.
Lin Shi looked much more haggard than before, appearing at least ten years older. Dressed in plain, unadorned silk robes, she seemed especially frail and sickly. Qin Xiang halted at the doorway, utterly stunned that the visitor was Lin Shi!
Her eyes widened in disbelief, and it took a long moment before she managed to whisper, "M-Mother... Why have you come?"
Qin Xiang stood frozen, her heart inexplicably fluttering with panic at the sight of Lin Shi in such a state.
Lin Shi sat upright in the cramped, dimly lit room, an aura of profound despair enveloping her. She slowly turned her head and looked at Qin Xiang, who was decked out in flamboyant attire. Suddenly, she felt that Hu Shi's earlier words had been too mild. All of this—Qin Xiang had brought upon herself. There was no trace of reluctance or grievance in her; she even took pride in it. Today, using such deliberate means to shame the Marquis' household—this was her daughter. This was actually her daughter...
"Mother... I didn’t know it was you..."
From the look in Lin Shi's eyes, Qin Xiang knew exactly what she was thinking, and her fear intensified. She could be resolute toward Qin Shu and the others, but she never wanted Lin Shi to learn of all she had done. Yet, it was clear Lin Shi already knew.
Qin Xiang panicked instantly. She took two steps forward but found herself at a loss for words. She had worn her most luxurious garments, intending to flaunt her status and show Hu Shi how well she was living. But at the sight of Lin Shi, every piece of opulent silk and every glittering jewel felt like a weight on her conscience. Lin Shi knew her better than anyone. No matter how meticulously Qin Xiang armored herself, Lin Shi could see right through to her true self. And now, these silks and jewels felt bitterly ironic.
Flustered and unsure what to do, Qin Xiang’s eyes reddened with anxiety. "Mother, why have you come?"Lin Shi rose to her feet, her eyes filled with both heartache and disappointment. Her lips were pressed tightly together before she suddenly closed her eyes and reopened them. By then, her gaze had cleared into crystalline sharpness. "I heard your marriage plans had changed, so I came to the capital to ask what happened." As she spoke, Lin Shi looked Qin Xiang up and down. "Now I understand. After seeing you this once, I shall return to Jinzhou."
She then glanced around the room and laughed scornfully. "I suppose I can say I've visited Prince Cheng's royal residence."
Qin Xiang immediately stepped forward to grasp Lin Shi's hand. After casting a glance at Granny Yu, she pleaded urgently, "Mother, it's not what you think. Did they say something to you? Mother, don't believe those rumors. Your daughter has a clear conscience. Since you've come, please stay in the capital. I'll have the prince buy you a grand residence. If you remain, you can share in your daughter's good fortune."
Lin Shi smiled bitterly. "Good fortune? The daughter I cradled in my palms has become another's concubine and been cast out from the family. I feel only shame—what good fortune is there for me to enjoy?"
Qin Xiang's expression shifted instantly. She stared fixedly at Granny Yu. "Mother, don't believe those words! Your daughter isn't what you imagine. I originally intended to tell you everything after some time had passed, but... I never expected you'd come to the capital... Mother, I've missed you terribly. Please stay. I'll explain everything to you personally..."
Hearing this, Lin Shi could no longer maintain her composure. Her eyes reddened, filled with anguish. "Explain? Is it false that you had an affair with Prince Cheng? Is it false that you broke your engagement with the Xue family after betrothal?"
Qin Xiang's face paled. "Mother, it's not what you think... Now that I've entered Prince Cheng's royal residence, I'm living well... Can't you see? I'm living well..." Qin Xiang released her mother's hand and stretched out her arm, displaying her lavish gown.
Seeing Qin Xiang like this, Lin Shi suddenly raised her hand and slapped her daughter across the face!
The slap was heavy and sharp, whipping Qin Xiang's head to the side. Lin Shi's tears fell like rain. "I thought the Marquis's household had treated you poorly, that your younger sister had mistreated you. I nearly slapped that accusation across your sister's face. But now I understand—you chose this path yourself. Since that's the case, remain here in Prince Cheng's royal residence and enjoy your wealth and status. I, the third madam of the Qin family, am unworthy of being the mother of Prince Cheng's Ninth Concubine—"
Having spoken these words, Lin Shi pushed Qin Xiang aside and strode out. Granny Yu hurried after her. Only after they had departed did Qin Xiang react. Chasing after them with the red handprint still visible on her cheek, she caught only a glimpse of a distant carriage shadow. Qin Xiang stood motionless at the side gate, feeling as if all strength had been drained from her body.
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