Nanny Fu tried to mask her own anger, focusing instead on soothing Qin Shuying. She gently patted her back to help her catch her breath.

  Qin Shuying concealed the hatred in her eyes, repcing it with a look of grief. "Nanny, I had a long dream while I was unconscious. I dreamed of Father. He told me many things and even scolded me for ignoring your warnings and falling into Madam Xu's trap."

  Nanny Fu shuddered, her expression shifting between shock and joy. "Was it truly the master sending a message through your dream? Heaven has eyes, heaven has eyes! Miss, the master and mistress were genuinely kindhearted people, always helping others and accumuting good deeds. It must have moved the heavens, prompting a divine message to warn you! Madam Xu is scheming to take the wealth left to you by the master, and she has been harming your health. Miss, Madam Xu is cunning and deceitful. We must pn carefully! Miss… does this mean your actions with Huiqin earlier were deliberate?"

  "Nanny, no one can know about this dream of Father," Qin Shuying instructed firmly.

  "Understood, Miss. This old servant understands. Miss, your priority now should be to restore your health. Then, you should work to regain Old Madam’s favor and slowly recim control of the businesses the master entrusted to you."

  Qin Shuying nodded approvingly. "You're right, Nanny."

  Seeing Qin Shuying’s clear, determined gaze, Nanny Fu felt both relief and delight. As long as her mistress stayed vigint and nurtured her health, there was hope for a brighter future. Encouraged, she quickly began offering advice. "Miss, Madam Xu is merely your aunt. For any matters, you can turn to the Old Madam and bypass her entirely. Madam Xu only managed to deceive you before by convincing you to distance yourself from the Old Madam, which gave her the opportunity to act. Now, if you are willing to endure and work to regain the Old Madam's trust, Madam Xu will no longer pose a threat. Additionally, everything within Spring Garden is under your control. You can bring in a few clever and loyal people from outside to repce the current unruly staff. The atmosphere here needs a proper overhaul."

  Her analysis was precise and logical—truly a clear-headed individual.

  However, if Qin Shuying were to follow Nanny Fu's advice entirely, wouldn’t that be letting Madam Xu off too easily? She didn’t merely want to "not fear" Madam Xu; she wanted retribution.

  Noticing the faint trace of a pn forming on Qin Shuying's face, Nanny Fu grew concerned that she might act too hastily and harm her health. She quickly added, "Miss, you’ve only just recovered. Your body is still weak. Focus on eating well and regaining your strength. The rest can be addressed gradually."

  "Gradually..." Qin Shuying’s lips curved into a mocking smile. Indeed, she had all the time in the world.

  "Nanny, summon someone to help me freshen up," she instructed abruptly.

  Nanny Fu hadn’t expected such a sudden change of topic. She had so much more she wanted to say, but as soon as she opened her mouth, Qin Shuying’s cold gaze silenced her. That piercing stare, filled with icy determination, sent a chill through Nanny Fu.

  Swallowing her words, Nanny Fu instinctively obeyed, lifting the curtain as she called out, "Hongjuan, come and help the miss freshen up!"

  When she turned back, Qin Shuying had already closed her eyes, reclining against the embroidered pillow as if resting. The eerie chill she had felt earlier seemed almost like a hallucination. Rubbing her eyes, Nanny Fu dismissed it as a trick of her aging vision. She gnced at Qin Shuying one st time, worry evident on her face, before stepping out.

  Nanny Fu frequently left the estate due to her family—her children lived in the city—so her movements rarely attracted attention.

  Hongjuan had just returned. Unlike Huiqin’s arrogance, Hongjuan was efficient, composed, and outwardly respectful. She assisted Qin Shuying without speaking unnecessarily.

  Qin Shuying offered her a faintly ingratiating smile, but Hongjuan pretended not to notice, keeping her head lowered and her expression calm and unreadable.

  Reflecting on recent events, Qin Shuying recognized Madam Xu’s tactics as painfully familiar. The first method: administering overly potent supplements that would weaken Qin Shuying’s already fragile health, ensuring a prolonged, incurable decline. The second: isoting Qin Shuying by alienating her from those who genuinely cared for her and surrounding her with maniputive maids like Huiqin. This environment had reduced Qin Shuying—a once delicate and graceful young dy—into a timid, self-deprecating shadow of her former self, unfit for any respectable stage.

  These methods had worked fwlessly before. Qin Yaoyao had fallen, and so had Qin Shuying.

  After eating, Qin Shuying rinsed her mouth and sat briefly to aid digestion before lying back down. Though she had slept plenty earlier, she couldn’t fall asleep. Instead, she closed her eyes and meticulously sorted through everything in her mind until te into the night before finally drifting off.

  That night, it was Hongjuan who kept watch. Nanny Fu didn’t return. Hongjuan was diligent and attentive, speaking little, as she always had been in Qin Shuying’s memories. Having cried excessively during the day, Qin Shuying’s tears seemed to have dried up. Although she couldn’t fall asleep that night, she y in the darkness with her eyes wide open, enduring until morning.

  The next day, her spirits were low. After waking and eating a bit of thin porridge, she fell asleep again.

  Half-asleep and groggy, she suddenly heard the sound of chattering voices entering the room. Before she could react, someone grabbed her hand and began sobbing dramatically.

  "Seventh Sister, you’re finally better! I’ve been so worried these past days, unable to sleep or eat properly. I’ve been praying daily in front of the Bodhisattva, wishing I could trade a few years of my life for your health. Now that you’ve recovered, it seems the Bodhisattva has heard my prayers!"

  From the voice alone, Qin Shuying immediately recognized who it was: the ever-self-praising Qin Yunyun, the sixth miss of the Qin family and Madam Xu’s third daughter.

  Madam Xu had five children: Qin Lianlian, Qin Kaile, Qin Kaiyu, Qin Feifei, and Qin Yunyun.

  Qin Lianlian, the eldest daughter, was a few years older than Qin Yaoyao and was now twenty-nine years old. She entered the pace at thirteen and gave birth to a son, now fourteen, who is the emperor’s sixth prince. With her son’s status, Qin Lianlian was elevated to Consort Lian.

  Qin Kaile, at twenty-seven, was stationed as a magistrate in a prosperous county, with his wife and children accompanying him.

  Qin Kaiyu, sixteen years old, had already earned the title of schor and was studying at an academy with a bright future ahead.

  Qin Feifei would soon marry Lu Changxuan, a fifth-rank court official, as his legitimate wife. Each of Madam Xu’s children seemed destined for success.

  Only Qin Yunyun, at fourteen, remained unmarried. Her beauty was unparalleled, and Madam Xu had employed the best teachers to train her meticulously in all aspects of etiquette, art, and culture. Renowned as a talented young dy, she was graceful and well-mannered. It was evident that Qin Yongtao and Madam Xu intended to marry her into a prestigious family.

  Qin Shuying wanted to feign sleep, unsure if she could control herself in front of Madam Xu, afraid that her overwhelming hatred might lead her to tears. But these people were far too noisy for her to pretend any longer.

  What must come will always come. For Feng’er and her family, no matter how agonizing, she had to endure it. Even if they pced her over a fire, she would bear it—she had to.

  Opening her eyes, she locked gazes with Madam Xu. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t fully suppress the hatred in her eyes.

  Realizing her slip, Qin Shuying quickly covered her face, her hands trembling uncontrolbly. Her shoulders shook as an overwhelming wave of hatred surged within her.

  How she hated Madam Xu! She wanted to tear her apart, to consume her flesh and drink her blood!

  But she couldn’t—not now. She had to hold back, no matter how much it hurt. She must wait.