Madam Xu and Qin Yunyun were dumbfounded, while Zhou Qin’s expression was cold as ice.

  Madam Xu couldn’t help but recall Qin Yongtao’s words: the Sixth Prince’s life in the pace was fraught with difficulties, far from the glorious image he portrayed. She hadn’t paid it much mind at the time. After all, how hard could life be for someone born as Heaven’s favored son?

  But now, seeing Zhou Qin’s grave face, it was clear Qin Shuying’s words had struck a nerve.

  This…

  Qin Shuying turned to Madam Xu and said, “First Madam, we should leave. It seems neither the consort nor His Highness has the time to attend to us. Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”

  “You…”

  Madam Xu was at a loss for words. She couldn’t fathom where Qin Shuying had found the audacity to speak to the Sixth Prince this way. And how could she possess such crity of insight, seeing through the situation so thoroughly, better even than herself, despite her years of experience managing the household? Was it because she was growing old?

  Qin Shuying took Qin Yunyun’s hand. “Sixth Sister, weren’t you compining about feeling faint from hunger? If we don’t leave now, it will only get harder to walk by noon.”

  Qin Yunyun hastily pulled her hand away, a flicker of fear fshing through her. She couldn’t comprehend how Qin Shuying dared to say such things. While others relied on their natal families as their strongest support, Qin Shuying gave off the unsettling impression that she couldn’t care less about the Qin household. It was as if, even if the Qin family fell, it wouldn’t affect her in the slightest.

  “Qin Shuying, don’t you realize that the Qin family is your support? That the consort is your support?”

  Zhou Qin stood up slowly, his voice piercingly cold.

  Like mother, like son—both asked the same question in the same way.

  “Your Highness,” Qin Shuying replied calmly, “the consort already asked me this earlier, and I’ve already answered. Perhaps you should ask her afterward? For now, Your Highness should focus on important matters. Otherwise, I might lose my supposed support in the future.”

  Zhou Qin took a few steps away, then turned back to gnce at her, raising an eyebrow. “What a sharp tongue!”

  With that, he strode off and disappeared in moments.

  In the end, he was still a prince, knowing when to advance and when to retreat.

  Qin Shuying’s lips curved faintly as she turned back to Madam Xu. “First Madam, if we don’t leave now, when will we?”

  Madam Xu instinctively took two steps back but quickly realized how inappropriate that looked. No matter what Qin Shuying said, she was still Consort Lian’s biological mother and Zhou Qin’s maternal grandma.

  Recovering from her initial panic and surprise, Madam Xu steadied herself and adjusted her clothes. With newfound determination, she said, “Consort De has always been close to Consort Lian. Even if Handan offended the princess, it won’t be an issue. Today is Consort Lian’s birthday, and Consort De will likely keep her for a while to chat. Since Eunuch Xi mentioned His Highness has important matters to attend to, the three of us should return home first.”

  Qin Yunyun’s face was pale. This pn had been her idea. She had thought Eldest Sister could easily manipute the situation and ensure Qin Shuying couldn’t recover. But now it was evident that both Eldest Sister and the Sixth Prince were hindered at every turn.

  Gritting her teeth, she followed Madam Xu out. Qin Shuying smiled lightly, silent and unhurried, as she trailed behind.

  A pace maid led the way.

  No one spoke on the journey. By the time they reached the pace gates, the sun was already high in the sky, signaling lunchtime.

  “Miss!”

  Ziteng had been waiting, gncing around anxiously. When she spotted Qin Shuying, she rushed forward, looking her over carefully. Noticing that Qin Shuying’s hair was slightly disheveled, Ziteng cast a gnce at Madam Xu but said nothing.

  Nanny Liu, seeing Madam Xu’s expression, immediately understood. No matter how much Madam Xu tried to maintain composure, she couldn’t fully hide her unease. Qin Yunyun, on the other hand, was pale and trembling.

  Nanny Liu couldn’t help but gnce at Qin Shuying, who remained smiling, her expression serene and unscathed.

  A chill ran through Nanny Liu’s heart, and she dared not speak further. She hurriedly helped Madam Xu into the carriage.

  “Seventh Miss, take the carriage at the back. Nanny Liu, come up here!” Madam Xu ordered sharply.

  Madam Xu spoke, her gaze toward Qin Shuying filled with a complex mix of coldness and fear.

  Qin Shuying, however, refused. What if something unexpected happened along the way? While her words could cut like a bde, her physical strength was no match for Madam Xu’s resources. If Madam Xu had prepared an ambush and ordered the coachman to take her to some desote corner where no one could hear her cries, why should she risk letting that happen?

  “First Madam, this doesn’t seem appropriate. So many people saw me get out of your carriage earlier, and now you won’t let me ride back with you. With so many eyes and ears around, it would be easy for rumors to spread.”

  Madam Xu felt stifled. She didn’t want to share a carriage with Qin Shuying—it was far too humiliating. Yet, Qin Shuying’s reasoning was sound. With people coming and going and gatekeepers nearby, any rumors from the pace would be impossible to dispel.

  Still, she couldn’t back down easily and said, “What could anyone say? I’m only thinking of your comfort, letting you ride in the back carriage where it’s more spacious. But since you insist, get in already.”

  Qin Yunyun had already stepped into the carriage, gripping her skirt tightly. Taking a deep breath, she resolved to ignore Qin Shuying for the rest of the journey.

  The ride back was silent.

  Upon returning to the Qin residence, everyone went their separate ways.

  Yin CourtyardInside the main room, Ziteng gathered Nanny Fu, Luye, and Hong Juan.

  Qin Shuying recounted the day’s events briefly, omitting the parts where she persuaded Princess Fuping and confronted Consort Lian and her son.

  “Today, Consort Lian’s target was me. Fortunately, Princess Fuping saw through her schemes; otherwise, I would’ve been beaten thirty strokes with the rod and likely wouldn’t have survived.”

  Ziteng’s face was dark, and she remained silent.

  Luye, horrified and indignant, opened her mouth to speak but realized that anything she said would feel hollow.

  Nanny Fu, however, couldn’t suppress her anger. “Miss, how could Consort Lian stoop to such despicable methods? How does she even see you? You’re her own uncle’s only daughter!”

  “And so what?” Qin Shuying replied coldly. “For power and wealth, what does it matter? My father and Consort Lian grew up together, close in age, yet she shows no regard for those ties. Nanny, can’t you see? The First Madam will never allow me to live peacefully!”

  Though she directed her words at Nanny Fu, they were meant for Hong Juan.

  Ziteng, Luye, and Nanny Fu were all loyal to her, but Hong Juan, though she had pledged her loyalty, still needed to be fully drawn into her circle.

  Hong Juan, a sharp woman, caught the underlying message and said, “Miss, the First Madam’s actions would break the Old Madam’s heart. We can’t just sit back and wait for disaster. If you give the order, this servant will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

  Good. Qin Shuying thought. She needed manpower now, both inside and outside the residence.

  She nodded and said, “All I need is for you to do your job well and not give the First Madam any leverage against us. As for the rest, we’ll deal with it as it comes—no need to fear.”

  Nanny Fu was still seething. “Miss, letting her off so easily isn’t right! Let me spread the word about what she’s done. Her so-called ‘virtuous reputation’ is nothing but a facade.”

  Qin Shuying sipped her tea, her gaze calm and composed. “That’s a good idea, but it needs a proper pn.”

  Lacking strength, resources, and outside allies, this was the only way she could make the First Madam wary. Beyond this, she had no other options for now.