Spring Mansion Intrigue 013 Scheming Against Each Other

  When Zhao handed the jewelry to Chen Huan, she began to suspect. If her parents were killed on their way home by people sent by the Qin family, and if her parents were harmed by Lü Shi, then Lü Shi was more vicious and frightening than she had imagined. She originally wanted to investigate secretly, but now that there was a crisis everywhere, and there were no allies in the mansion, it was difficult to take action quietly. It just so happened that Ning Da Gongzi used Cao Tianjian to help her establish prestige, she might as well use this opportunity to intimidate and scare the murderer into revealing their tracks in front of Qin Gongyuan.

  Qin Gongxun's expression was clear, this matter wasn't done by him, but he wanted to save face, so before knowing the truth, he wouldn't speak out. Therefore, she had to stall Qin Gongxun, the murderer who killed their parents hadn't successfully driven the three siblings out of the house, and might strike again. If Qin Gongxun was on guard, at least someone would be wary, giving her time to think of a way to cope.

  Qin Yu's face looked extremely unpleasant, he never thought that his parents might have been secretly harmed, but when it came to investigating, he was completely at a loss.

  "All right, I've taken note of the young lady's orders. I've completed Lord Ning's request, and I still have military duties to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." Cao Tianjian bowed his fist in farewell.

  After Qin Gongxun sent Cao Tianjian out, Qin Yun finally couldn't help but say in a low voice, "It must be her!"

  "Brother, we're just guessing, there's no evidence, so we have to assume it's not her!"

  "Why?"

  "Because Master thinks she is." said Zhou Zhi Dao.

  "What elder uncle said is right."

  Qin Yu furrowed his brow, although he didn't understand Shen Huan's intention, but since Big Uncle agreed with it, it was naturally correct.

  After Zhou Zhi and Zhou Ding met, they whispered a few words to each other, looking towards the quiet Shen Huan, both with puzzled expressions.

  Everything went smoothly as usual after the funeral, and the two uncles and second aunt were about to leave. Zhou Zhi suggested discussing the arrangement of the children with Qin Lao Ye, who was very polite and accompanied them for a meal. After dinner, they sat down and started talking seriously.

  Qin Gongxun was being polite. Lü's family smiled warmly at Zhao's family, but Zhao pretended not to see and pulled Shen Huan's hand, whispering something in her ear. Lü's face suddenly turned ugly, and the joints of her hands holding the Buddhist beads turned white.

  Qin Yu and Qin Wan remained silent, the atmosphere in the room was a bit awkward.

  Lü couldn't help but smile along with him, "Second Uncle proposed that the children follow the Zhou family to live, I think it's not suitable. Let Master express his opinion."

  "It doesn't feel right." Qin Gongxun furrowed his brow.

  Zhou Zhi, Zhou Ding and Zhao Shi remained silent.

  Just as things were about to come to a standstill, Madame Lü suppressed her anger and said, "I think so too. After all, they are the descendants of the Qin family, how can they be raised in another family? However, since the children will stay in the manor, Second Uncle proposed that their mother's dowry should be kept by Second Uncle's household. I don't think this is suitable either."

  "What's the logic in this!" Qin Gongxun finally cooperated, which made Lü Shi breathe a sigh of relief and continued to say, "I'm saying the same thing. I'm thinking about the child's future after all, it's the dowry left for the child..."

  "Leaving the children behind, can we guarantee that the dowry will be left to Wan'er and Huan'er? When our great aunt and great uncle were alive, their belongings were snatched away by force. Now that they're gone, only the children are left, who knows how greedy people will take advantage of them?" Zhao said bluntly.

  He was told by a woman that he was like a robber who robbed children of their property, Qin Gongxun's face sank with anger.

  "Second Auntie said that it was really unjust to say so, Master is thinking for the children's sake. In the past, Qin An didn't understand things and had disagreements with Master, but after all, the Qin family will return, we are just helping the eldest son manage things, lest Qin An doesn't know how to do business and loses everything."

  Chen Huan placed his hands on his knees, sitting quietly. However, he carefully observed Lü Shi, whose every sentence hit Qin Gongxun's weak points, showing great cunning.

  "Hmph, yes, the lady is indeed keeping it safe, but it's all being kept in Mr. Lü's pocket, just short of being in Mr. Fan's." The surname Fan was none other than Mr. Lü's ex-husband.

  The tea garden and tea shop in the Yan family's dowry were exactly what Lv was persuaded by Qin Gongxun to let Qin Zhongju manage, which is equivalent to saying that Qin Zhongju is a member of the Fan family, directly scolding Qin Gongxun for raising someone else's son.

  Lü's face turned red and white with rage, her teeth almost clenched in anger.

  Qin Gongxun was so angry that he wanted to slam his fist on the table, but he didn't bother arguing with a woman, and coldly snorted, refusing to respond.

  "In fact, Qin's children will naturally return to the Qin family." Zhou Zhi said slowly.

  Zhou Zhi mediated, Qin Gongxun followed suit, nodding his head with a serious expression, "Of course."

  "But we also have to think for the sake of our children."

  "The family property of the Qin's naturally cannot be given to the Zhou's." Madam Lü hastily added, blocking Zhou Zhi's mouth.

  "Hasn't the Qin estate's turn to be managed by a woman arrived yet?" Zhou Ding's words made Lv Shi's face turn pale with rage, almost unable to maintain her gentle and virtuous demeanor.

  "Our family isn't older than Brother, is it?" Chen Huan suddenly said, cutting off Qin Gonghao who had just opened his mouth to speak. She absolutely couldn't let Qin Gonghao be the first to mention Qin Yu's young age.

  "Yes. Qin Yu is already 14 years old and can manage the household affairs now. From now on, the children's property will be managed by themselves." Zhou Zhi didn't allow Lü Shi to react and immediately continued speaking.

  Qin Yu nodded, puffed out her chest and said, "I'll take care of it."

  Chen Huan looked at his brother and let out a relieved sigh. He had finally become a man.

  "How can this be?" Lü's voice was almost a shriek.

  "It's none of your business what happens to my sister and brother-in-law's property!" Zhou Ding said coldly, without mincing his words.

  Lü was choked with rage and couldn't speak up or down.

  "Father often said that Third Uncle was a role model for my brother to study and learn from, and in the future, he must emulate Third Uncle's diligence in studying for the imperial examination. Third Uncle often said that governing the country is like governing a household, and my brother must first learn how to govern his own household before he can bring honor to the Qin family." Shen Huan's tender voice was clear and left one stunned.

  "Even Grand Secretary Ning of the Hanlin Academy praised Third Master's scholarship." Zhou Zhi picked up the conversation.

  Upon hearing Ning's official title, Qin Gongxun's expression changed. Ning was not only a second-grade official but also the top Hanlin scholar.

  Qin Songtao was not born into a scholarly family, so even if he passed the imperial examination in the top three ranks, he would not be granted an official position immediately. Instead, he had to serve in the Hanlin Academy for a certain number of years before being eligible for an official appointment. As for how many years it would take to rise through the ranks, aside from the emperor's personal appointment, it was up to the direct officials of the Hanlin Academy to decide. Therefore, the head of the Hanlin Academy was not someone to be trifled with.

  He immediately said, "The things in Chang's house will naturally be managed by Qin Yu."

  "Old Master..." Lü's expression changed.

  "What Master Qin said is absolutely right. Then please ask Master Qin to write down the guarantee in his own handwriting, and list the dowry of my wife's family, Yan Shi, and our Zhou family clearly, hand over the inventory to us for safekeeping, until Wan'er and Huan'er get married, we will come back to check again, if there is any error, the Qin family will compensate for the loss." Zhou Zhi said with a smile.

  The great uncle is indeed a Beijing official, with clear thinking and tight moves.

  Don't worry about Xing Huan anymore, just watch the show and collect your inheritance.