Chapter 108 A Child

  Fang Wanru picked up the Qing dynasty ceramic bowl with a lid, adorned with four seasons and floral patterns. Her hands, well-maintained with rouge, gently lifted the lid, stirred the floating tea leaves in the bowl, and took a light sip. The tea was brewed with great care, knowing her taste, using mountain spring water, even the firewood used to boil the water was made of fruit wood.

  The tea in the house has been changed once, Fang Wanyu led several younger generations to discuss the trip on February 2nd, from the route of travel to the teahouse for rest; from dressing up to the servants who followed, Fang Wanyu made all the arrangements strongly, simply telling Lin Shi and Qin Qianxin and others listened, without asking for their opinions.

  Lin's family obeyed Fang Wanru's arrangements, although she had only been married for a short time, but she already understood her mother-in-law's character very well. She knew that Fang Wanru was not someone who tolerated others questioning her, and if she said something she shouldn't have, it would only provoke annoyance and trouble. Fang Wanru wouldn't listen to her opinions at all, instead thinking that Lin was challenging her authority and doubting her ability. Why bother then?

  Fang Wanru drank tea and gently placed the covered bowl in her hand on the Huangli wood kang table. "It's settled then, you must take good care of these monkeys tomorrow and don't cause any trouble for the family. I'm also tired, let's each go back to our own places! Today is the first day of the month, tonight everyone has to accompany Old Lady to eat vegetarian dishes, the tables are set up in Old Lady's courtyard, don't be late."

  Lin led the way, getting up and facing Fang Wanru, saying: "Mother said, daughter-in-law remembered, now go back and make arrangements." After finishing, she gave a courtesy, nodded to the three sisters, and first took the maid back to her own courtyard.

  Qin Qianxin had thought that this year's flower festival would not be attended by Fang Wanyu, and she could get some freedom. During the flower festival, she could take a walk in places she hadn't been to before. Who would have thought that it was arranged so meticulously, and it was no different from every year on February 2nd? Suddenly felt bored. Fortunately, although repeating the steps of previous years, after all, it's once a year, it's better than having nothing to play with!

  Qin Qianxin was a straightforward person, although she was arrogant on ordinary days, but she was actually a silly and spoiled daughter who relied on her status as the legitimate daughter to bully others. She didn't have any schemes or patience. Her unhappiness was completely written on her face, and with a hint of anger, she said to Fang Wanyu: "I'm going back." Then, carrying three parts of anger, she left the room, and before the little maid could close the curtain, Qin Qianxin herself pulled the curtain and walked out.

  Fang Wanru sighed as she watched her second daughter's back, what a wronged family member, when can she be sensible.

  Qin Dai Xin pretended not to see, and the other party, Fan Wanru, saluted and said: "The daughter will go back and prepare now, mother should rest well." After getting Fan Wanru's nod, she took Yan Shi and Ruyi out of Fan Wanru's courtyard.

  Not long after, Qin Dai Xin heard the rapid footsteps behind her. As expected, soon she heard Qin Ruo Xin's timid voice shouting: "Third sister, wait for me!"

  Qin Dai Xin stopped in her tracks, turned around and looked at Qin Ruoxin and her personal maid Yingxue hurrying towards them. Perhaps because she was intimidated by Qin Dai Xin last time, Yingxue didn't even dare to raise her head, but instead bowed hastily to Qin Dai Xin before retreating to the side with a timid expression.

  Qin Ruoxin saw it and knew that she was afraid of Qin Dai's actions last time, so she scolded this little girl for being useless in her heart, while thinking about how to make Qin Dai listen to her arrangements.

  "What's up?" Qin Dai was too lazy to waste words on this kind of person, so she got straight to the point.

  "I... why did my third sister leave in such a hurry? Wouldn't it be better for us sisters to return together? And I wanted to ask you about the Flower Festival too!" She hadn't expected Qin Dai Xin to have this attitude, and was momentarily at a loss for words, but quickly covered it up.

  "Sister, sorry about this, I'm in a hurry to visit my aunt and didn't mean to rush off. I'm heading to Lan Garden, which is a different route from yours." This young lady has nothing more to say to you, so be sensible and take the maid behind you and scram. Of course, this was Qin Dai's inner monologue.

  "Is Third Sister still angry?" Qin Ruoxin had a cautious and timid appearance, with tears welling up in her eyes, "Sister is being unreasonable to her younger sister, in the past you were never like this. Younger sister didn't do it on purpose, why don't you believe her?" After finishing speaking, tears fell down like broken pearls, big drops falling one after another.

  Ying Xue couldn't help but stand up, took out a handkerchief and wiped away Qin Ruoxin's tears. "Good miss, don't cry anymore, take care of your body. Tonight the whole family will accompany the old lady to eat vegetarian food, if you cry until your eyes are swollen, how can you handle it? If the old lady asks, what would you say?"

  Hmph! Here we go again.

  Qin Dai's expression remained unchanged as she watched the master and servant put on an act. When Qin Ruo Xin was "consoled" by Ying Xue and looked up at her with a wronged expression, Qin Dai suddenly broke into a large sarcastic smile, which made Qin Ruo Xin feel uneasy in her heart. Meanwhile, Ying Xue wished she could disappear on the spot. The third young lady's smile was frightening.

  "Qin Ruoxin, Fourth Miss Qin, there's no outsider here, put away that act of yours!" Qin Dai Xin didn't get angry or annoyed, she just looked at her steadily and said: "Do you think I'm still the old Qin Dai Xin? In Xiaofront Village, you bribed Ma Po to skimp on my food, what was your intention? When Li Er Gongzi from Jiangdong came to our house, you told him in front of me that I had been kidnapped by bandits, what did you mean by that? All these things are right in front of us, can't I see them clearly? Do you think I'm blind or stupid?" Qin Dai Xin took a step forward with each sentence, and Qin Ruoxin retreated a step back, until her back was against the wall of the flower garden. She still couldn't believe that all these words were spoken by Qin Dai Xin.

  Is she still the silly Qin Dai Xin who was outsmarted by herself? Is she still the Qin Dai Xin who did all sorts of foolish things to win the favor of Tai Fu Ren and Fu Ren?

  The answer is obvious, Qin Dai Xin in front of her eyes is no longer the one she can manipulate and drive at will. She has changed...

  Qin Dai's heart saw that there was a hint of fear in her eyes, as if she had understood something, so she said to Ying Xue: "Quickly support your master back home! Don't lean against the wall and catch a chill. However, if Madam really asks, you can tell the truth," The last four words, she intentionally emphasized heavily, scaring Ying Xue into hastily shrinking her neck to support the person.

  Qin Dai's heart didn't want to look at the master and servant's facial expressions anymore, so she took Yan Shi and Ruyi to Su Shi's courtyard. Qin Ruoxin leaned against the wall with a dead face, but the hatred in her heart was like a wildfire, burning hotly, almost bursting out.

  Ying Xue had never seen Qin Ruoxin like this before, her eyes were so afraid of people, her face was pale and bloodless. She was frightened, fearing that something would happen to her, and hurriedly supported Qin Ruoxin, shouting "Miss" in a hurry.

  Qin Ruoxin suddenly stood up and slapped a palm on Yingxue's face, "What are you yelling about? I'm not dead yet!" The contrast with her humble and compromising demeanor just now was like two different people.

  Xing Xue endured the beating, but didn't dare to make a sound, and could only grit her teeth and bear it. She was most clear about her own young lady's temperament, at this time if you cried, she would definitely beat you severely.

  Qin Ruoxin's fingernails dug deep into her palm, but she felt no pain. Her gaze was fixed tightly on the direction Qin Daihe had left in, resentful that she couldn't catch up to her, and swallow her whole...

  Qin Dai'er had just entered the Su family's house when she saw her wearing a thin, moon-white, lotus-leaf sleeved dress, with one hand on her waist and bare feet walking on the all-white plush carpet, while the wet nurse supported her from the side. The two were quite focused and didn't even notice her arrival.

  The carpet was only a few feet long, and she had to turn back after taking just a few steps. By the time Su Shi turned around, she saw Qin Dai Xin standing beside her, smiling brightly at her.

  "How did Ah Li come?" Su Shi had someone help her put on her shoes and lay back down on the large heated bed by the window in the warm pavilion.

  "Auntie, how can you wear so little? Although the weather is not cold, it's still a time of sudden warmth and lingering chill, don't be too eager for coolness." Qin Dai Xin took Su Shi from the wet nurse's hands and personally supported her to lean against the golden branch welcome pillow.

  Su's belly is almost six months pregnant, her stomach is pointed and she has gained a lot of weight.

  "This is the truth." The nurse said beside her: "It's only February, and you're walking barefoot on the carpet, although it's still a bit chilly. Miss, please advise, our words are useless."

  Su's age is not small, and she can be considered an older pregnant woman. She usually takes care of herself and doesn't work hard, so it's inevitable that she will feel weak during childbirth. When she has nothing to do, she thinks about moving around. However, the weather outside is still a bit cold, and she worries that her body won't be able to handle it, so she came up with this idea to exercise indoors.

  Fang Qiao personally brought the tea over and, after putting down the tea, said: "Auntie insists that she has a burning sensation in her heart and mouth. When Lang Zhong came to examine her, he also couldn't understand what was going on, only saying that there are such situations and no great harm will come of it. But we servants truly fear that Auntie is being reckless and impulsive!"

  Qin Dai Xin asked again: "How did you suddenly get a fever? Did you eat something you shouldn't have?"

  Su knew that she was afraid of being secretly calculated, and her heart couldn't help but feel a warm current. She patted her hand and said: "A Li, don't worry! I had this situation before, the belly is different when pregnant, the performance is also different, it's nothing."

  As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Dai's heart was stunned, thinking that Su Shi was going to tell her about the child being taken away by someone all those years ago. The wet nurse was also stunned and secretly gave Su Shi a signal with her eyes, but saw that Su Shi's expression remained unchanged, so she understood a bit and gave Fang Jiao a signal with her eyes. The latter understood implicitly, pulled Ruyi to talk intimately, and started a conversation with Yan Shi again. Yan Shi had experienced many storms, and Ruyi often served Qin Dai Xin, so the two of them knew that their masters had something to discuss, and they followed Fang Jiao's intention and went to sit in the outer room.

  Qin Dai Xin also didn't speak, waiting for Su Shi's next words.

  Su stroked her pointed and round belly, saying: "Before you, I was pregnant with a child, also in the cold weather. I hated that I couldn't even hold ice cubes to cool myself down. I wore fewer clothes, while others were all wrapped up, but I was sweating all over, just wanting to find a well-ventilated place to stay."

  Qin Dai Xin felt that she was getting closer and closer to the truth, and unconsciously became tense as well, asking: "What happened next?"