Chapter 110: Probing the Eldest Mother

  Qin Dai Xin asked Yan Shi: "Tomorrow is the second day of the second month, my mother told me to follow my elder sister to have a good time, and the servants and maids by our side are all arranged by my mother. I can only bring two personal maids with me, there are only four maids in my courtyard, who do you think it's suitable to bring?"

  Yan's expression didn't change, and without even thinking, he blurted out: "Of course we'll bring Ruyi and Xueqing along."

  Qin Dai Xin asked again: "Why?" As it happens, her idea coincided with her own intention.

  "Yu Niang is steady and has always been by Miss's side, deeply understanding her likes and dislikes. Miss is very close to her, so naturally others can't surpass her. Xue Qing may be my daughter, but I won't favor family over talent; looking at it in the long run, this girl will definitely be a kindred spirit. Chun Li is still young and often gets flustered when things happen, while Ai Lian has an air of elegance about her, but she's a bit too reserved. In my opinion, it's better to have someone who can speak eloquently." Yan Shi rattled off the characteristics of each of the four maids in one breath, and they were all surprisingly accurate, with a sharp eye for observation.

  Qin Dai Xin peeled the tangerine with her own hands, occasionally teasing the white tendons on the tangerine pulp, and put each peeled pulp into a short-footed, wide-mouthed celadon lotus plate. She then asked: "What do you think of Fourth Miss?"

  Yan thought for a moment, looked up at Qin Dai Xin, saw that she was still fiddling with the tangerine, and didn't seem to be paying much attention. Suddenly it dawned on her that this Third Miss wasn't seeking her opinion, but rather trying to get her to acknowledge someone in a roundabout way! She said: "He's not very sensible, just doesn't look as fierce."

  With a mind of vigilance and the ability to govern, what is there to fear?

  Qin Dai Xin finally peeled the tangerine, Yan Shi's eyes were bright and her hands were quick, she handed over a silk handkerchief that was hanging on one side, Qin Dai Xin took it and wiped his hands, saying: "Tonight you go to Auntie's courtyard to sit for a while! As for Madame Tai Fu, there is no need to go."

  Yan Shi replied and took over the handkerchief that Qin Dai had used: "I understand."

  Qin Dai Xin said: "I'm tired, you can go down now!"

  Yan's family no longer spoke, and Fu bowed his head and retreated.

  Qin Dai's heart didn't care about her image, she leaned back casually and thought about what happened during the day. Fang Wanru had arranged everything for everyone, nothing else was out of the ordinary, except for going to Pu Fa Temple to burn incense...

  The place of the Universal Dharma Temple seems to be in conflict with itself, every time it goes there, it has to get out of some big or small trouble, either by overturning the car or being robbed by bandits. This time, it's going to have to make arrangements again, she doesn't want to go without returning.

  Before she knew it, it was already late afternoon. Qin Daiyan tidied herself up and brought Ruyi to the Fang family's courtyard. The courtyard was as quiet and simple as ever, but with more people around, it seemed to have a bit of vitality and liveliness.

  Qin Dai Xin met Fang Shi in the main hall, whom she had not seen for a long time. Since the last incident, Fang Shi's attitude towards her had become strange, with a mix of resentment and anger, as well as some patience and expectation. Qin Dai Xin always felt that Fang Shi was not unwilling to take action against her, but seemed to be enduring something.

  It's not scary to be used by others, what's scary is that you don't even have the value to be used.

  Qin Dai Xin put aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind, stepped forward and paid respects to Fang Shi, who was sitting upright. A servant handed over a cushion, Qin Dai Xin resignedly sat down, performed the proper rituals. After getting Fang Shi's lukewarm "get up" remark, she stood up again, also paid respects to Qin Cong Wen and Fang Wan Ru, who were standing beside her, before finally taking her seat.

  Qin Zichen was not there, only Lin Qingyue sat alone at the lower end of Fang Wanyu's seat. Qin Daijin nodded slightly to her, and she smiled faintly, but didn't say anything else. Qin Qianxin had also arrived early, and compared to usual, she was much more well-behaved, it was unclear whether it was because she feared Fang's strictness or thought the family banquet was boring, in any case, she found it hard to be quiet.

  At this moment, the curtain was lifted, and Qin Zichen and Qin Zixin entered the room together. Everyone in the room looked at them, and saw that the two brothers were dressed differently: one wore a crimson silk robe with a lion-patterned jade belt around his waist, carrying a calabaza-shaped green embroidered pouch with a qilin pattern, wearing a jade crown on his head, and black high-top boots on his feet; the other wore a blue shirt, with a four-cornered square scarf wrapped around his head, and only a ordinary brocade belt around his waist, but also carried a calabaza-shaped green pouch identical to Qin Zichen's, except that the embroidery pattern was different, depicting a magpie perched on a branch.

  This Qin Zixian is already thirteen years old, now seeing him wearing such clothes, can it be said that this child has passed the Tongsheng examination? No wonder every time I see him, he is dressed in a similar Confucian attire.

  As soon as Miss Fang saw these two people, a smile appeared on her face, and she warmly invited the two to come closer.

  The two of them quickly walked forward, knelt down on the cushions that the old ladies had already prepared, performed a grand kowtow, and got Mrs. Fang's nod of approval. They stood up together, paid their respects to Qin Zongwen and Fang Wenyu, and then took their seats.

  Qin Dai's gaze fell upon the two brothers, and for a moment, she felt dazed. Qin Zichen had grown up, his face filled with stability and maturity; Qin Zixin was still young, his face still bearing a childish air that had not yet fully developed, but between his eyebrows and eyes, there was already a shadow of Qin Zichen's presence. The two brothers' faces overlapped, as if they were molded from the same template.

  "...As for the two young masters, they are just a bit too thin. If they were a bit taller and fatter, they would be exactly like the eldest young master."

  "......The second young master's eyebrows and eyes are almost identical to those of the eldest young master. It's just that he is younger and hasn't grown up yet, in a few more years, I'm afraid anyone can see it."

  It's really true! Although they are biological brothers, after all, they weren't born of the same mother, yet they're so alike.

  Everyone in the house was delighted and began discussing the two brothers with great enthusiasm.

  "Zi Xìn, this child, the more he grows up, this autumn's imperial examination, must do well and take the test, to bring honor back to the Qin family. " Fang Wǎn Rú was delighted, but still couldn't hide three parts of regret, unfortunately Zi Cheng wasn't material for studying."

  Qin Zixian listened and hastily stood up. Before speaking, his face had already turned red: "Son must work hard and not disappoint mother."

  Qin Chuwen nodded repeatedly with a pleased expression: "As long as you work hard, the results will be fine, don't force it."

  "A real man should do his best in everything, you're still young, what's the hurry?" Su said, rarely speaking up to make excuses for Qin Zixin, after all, he was her own grandson, even if not born to her daughter-in-law, but still the biological son of Qin Zhongwen!

  "Yes." Qin Zixin hastily returned the courtesy, looking a bit flustered. The more hope his family placed in him, the less confident he became. Although the teachers at the academy were very satisfied with his performance and had high expectations of him, he still lacked confidence when it came to the imperial examination.

  "Second brother, don't belittle yourself. You are indeed a bookworm. Besides, the imperial examination is still half a year away. Just work hard and study diligently." Qin Zicheng had boundless admiration for this younger brother of his. He himself was extremely intelligent from a young age, unlike him, who studied and studied but couldn't even pass the children's test.

  Everyone hastened to agree, which actually gave Qin Zixin a lot of encouragement. It wasn't that the people in the Qin family were particularly harmonious, but rather that Qin Zixin was well-read and would inevitably have a bright future ahead of him, so it was better not to offend him for now.

  Just then, the curtain was lifted and Fourth Miss Qin Ruoxin came in with her maid. She first paid her respects to Lady Fang with a bow, then greeted Qin Zhongwen and Fang Wanru before finding a seat.

  "Fourth Young Miss, you usually look diligent, why are you late today?" Fang Wanru's sharp eyes discovered that Qin Ruoxin's eyes seemed to be red.

  Ying Xue stood aside, just about to speak, when Qin Ruoxin pulled her hard, "When Mother asks questions, where do you have the right to answer?" Her voice was sharp and shrill, which made everyone look at her in unison, including Fang Shi who couldn't help but glance at her.

  Qin Dai Xin threw a small pastry into her mouth and patiently waited for Qin Ruo Xin to "play tricks".

  Qin Ruoxin saw that she had successfully attracted everyone's attention, and her heart couldn't help but feel a few points of pride. On the surface, however, she pretended to be shy and lowered her head, but couldn't resist sneaking a glance at Qin Daihe.

  Her small action was clearly seen by everyone, and people couldn't help but look at Qin Dai Xin with curiosity.

  "What's going on?" Fang Wanru hated it the most when someone was secretly plotting something under her nose. Seeing these two people doing their own thing, competing with each other in secret, she didn't bother to care about that much, but if they didn't put themselves in her eyes, then it would be a different story.

  "Mother, don't ask anymore, I'm fine with Third Sister." Qin Ruoxin secretly bit her lip, looking very sad.

  Fang Wanru turned her gaze to Qin Daxin, with a hint of inquiry, but she didn't speak up. Through the previous incidents, especially after what happened at the Jia residence, Fang Wanru actually felt that Qin Ruoxin was not reliable.

  Qin Dai's heart smiled brightly as she stood up, and made a curtsy to Lady Fang and Fang Wanru, saying: "Grandmother, Mother, there are some things that Fourth Sister is probably too embarrassed to say, so I'll just say them for her, to avoid her being uncomfortable here."

  Qin Ruoxin was taken aback, her heart involuntarily racing, from the moment Qin Daihe stood up, she felt that something was off, only feeling regretful, thinking of Qin Daihe's gloomy expression the last two times, she couldn't help but tightly clench the handkerchief in her hand, suddenly standing up, wanting to regain control before Qin Daihe. But just as she was about to stand up, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her calf, and before she could steady herself, she sat back down again.

  Qin Dai Xin took this opportunity to walk up to Fang Wanru and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Mother knows, among all my sisters, I've always been close to Fourth Sister. We're about the same age and have always gotten along well. But this time, I'm really angry with her. She shouldn't have said something like that."

  Fang Wanru saw her so solemn and unconsciously lowered her voice, asking in a low tone: "What's the matter."

  Qin Dai Xin glanced around cautiously and whispered, "Fourth sister said that the child who was born prematurely by Auntie Wang back then had nothing to do with the Wang family. In fact, there was another sinister force behind it... She also said some slanderous words about Mother, which I couldn't bear to hear, so I scolded her in the garden and told her off." Her voice rose slightly as she continued, "As a result, Fourth sister cried loudly and said she would let her daughter see what's good."

  Fang Wanru's sharp eyes swept towards Qin Ruoxin, she slapped the table and shouted: "Nonsense!"