Bingtang quickly held née Sun’s hands and started pressing down on acupuncture points. “The madame is beset with anger and is suffering from heart palpitations!”
The good mood that’d wrapped itself around Qin Yining for a job well done had utterly vanished by now. No one would simply stand aside when they saw their mother being bullied thus. She knew that her father would have a way to convince the old dowager, but that would only result in a temporary respite, which was still an equally frustrating situation!
Qin Yining gnashed her teeth as she looked at Qin Huining and pounced at the foster girl, taking everyone by surprise. She flung a solid punch at Qin Huining’s eye.
“Ah!!” Qin Huining shrieked with pain.
Before anyone could react, Qin Yining had already grabbed the foster girl by the collar and had thrown her onto the ground, kicking and punching without thought of her image. There was only one thought in Qin Yining’s mind at the moment.
I need to kill this ungrateful piece of shit!
What thirty six stratagems, what hiding a knife in one’s smile, use what brains?! There was nothing more satisfying than directly taking the life of someone as shameless as Qin Huining!
* * *
This wasn’t a good occupation back in the day.
Chapter 156: A Rampaging Qin Yining (II)
Chapter 156: A Rampaging Qin Yining (II)
Qin Huining had never imagined that Qin Yining would dare do anything in front of Qin Huaiyuan! The foster girl was much weaker and already pinned down on the ground. Fists rained like iron mallets on her head and face. She fought back with pained and angry might, clawing wildly and cursing loudly.
“You barbarian! Stop!”
“How dare you act like this in front of father!”
“Stop! Stop hitting my face!”
“Ah!! Help me, someone!”
The wild shrieks slowly turned into ghastly screams, like a pig being slaughtered.
The stunned old dowager finally came back to her senses and quickly gave orders, “Hold her back, hurry!”
Qin-mama and the others rushed over to pull the two girls apart, but the silent Jiyun stepped forward at this time to block them. The mama paused uncertainly. She knew that this maid was a gift from the Faithful Prince of the First Rank and was apparently versed in martial arts.
The alarmed sixth miss was an ant on a hot pan. She summoned five strong granny servants from outside to have them rip off Qin Yining. Once again, Jiyun stretched out her arms to block them again. The granny servants naturally didn’t think much of a pretty, skinny maid. They wanted to put on a good show of effort in front of the sixth miss and the old dowager. The granny servants rolled up their sleeves and attempted to barge past, but they were the ones sitting on the floor after a few rounds, the turn around so quick they didn’t even have time to feel pain.
“You’ll have to get past me first if you want to harm the fourth miss.” Jiyun smiled sweetly.
Who wants to harm the fourth miss?!
It’s more like the fourth miss trying to kill someone!
The granny servants hesitated as well, not daring to come further forward.
Qin Yining’s left hand had a strong grasp on Qin Huining’s hair and a knee firmly lodged in the foster girl’s back, keeping her on the ground. The foster girl was finding it hard to breath and stuck her neck out for some air, scrabbling with her hands and body against her attacker. A bruised eye socket and mouth was on full display for everyone else to see.
Everyone else stood insensate off to the side after Jiyun had blocked the old dowager’s servants. The old dowager was even more maddened when she saw that Qin Huining was about to be beaten to death.
“Stop, you wild brat! Stop! Do you ignore even my words?” The matriarch pounded the bed frame again.
“Don’t forget about the snuff bottle, Old Dowager, and don’t forget how you bullied my mother! I’m just an ordinary girl. We can all go down together if you want to be this way!”
The old dowager promptly shut her mouth from fear after Qin Yining mentioned the snuff bottle and all her hairs stood on end when she met Qin Yining’s razor-sharp gaze. The matriarch pulled on Qin Huaiyuan’s arm. “Why aren’t you disciplining your daughter? Are you going to let her just kill someone??”
Qin Huaiyuan also felt that it’d be rather bad if his daughter killed someone, and then there was threatening the old dowager with the snuff bottle incident.
“Let’s stop, daughter Yi.”
“I naturally must listen to father’s words. Let me just say a few more.” Qin Yining yanked Qin Huining’s hair upwards, eliciting another painful scream and arcing her neck backwards. The foster girl was forced to meet Qin Yining’s chilling, murderous gaze. “Qin Huining, did you forget that I told you not to even think of harming my mother?”
“I, I…” Qin Huining’s voice shook from terror. She couldn’t finish the sentence. She knew that Qin Yining would absolutely, certainly kill her!
“What’s with the voodoo doll?”
“That’s…”
“I can’t be bothered to listen. The fabric used for the doll, the stuffing inside it, the thread used, the ink used for and the content of the birth date, even the handwriting… All of that is clues to be investigated. I’m sure father and the old dowager will fully look into it! We’ll be able to find out who did it even if you don’t say anything.”
Qin Huining shuddered, her teeth chattering in reaction. Qin Yining drew close by her ear, “I’ll send you to where you should be if you still don’t treasure what you have. Aren’t you dissatisfied with how little you think you possess? I’ll return you to your birth parents so you have absolutely nothing!”
Qin Huining suddenly widened her eyes with horror.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you,” Qin Yining sniffed disdainfully. “That would dirty my hands and the dignity of the Qins. That ending would also be too easy for you. I’m going to keep you around so you can thoroughly enjoy what’s coming.”
The fourth miss released Qin Huining’s hair and rose slowly. “Only idiots would be blind to the real reason for the voodoo doll. If anyone still thinks my mother made it, that it can only be that they’re purposefully targeting my mother and using this as an excuse.”
The old dowager was absolutely livid.
Qin Yining gently helped her mother up and transformed from her furiously violent self from moments ago. Her tone was so tender that it felt like the softest breeze. “Mother, are you feeling better?”
Née Sun had long since recovered and had been so touched by Qin Yining fiercely standing up for her that she was crying.
“I’m better, let’s go back.” Née Sun took Qin Yining’s hand and frowned with heartache when she saw that her daughter’s hand was bleeding in two places because of hairpins, and there were multiple scrapes and bruises on her knuckles. “Look at your hand!”
“This is nothing. When I ran into wolves in the mountains, they took off the skin on my arms and back. But here I am now, perfectly fine.” Qin Yining spoke lightheartedly, but her words caused Qin Huining to shiver even more violently. “Father, Old Dowager, my mother is tired. I’m taking her back to the Garden of Tranquility. The voodoo doll has to do with the old dowager, so a thorough investigation should be launched into finding out who actually made it. If we lightly let off the person who wishes you ill, then that would be the greatest disservice to you.”
The old dowager already had a migraine from her anger, and these words only worsened it.
“Additionally, the old dowager doesn’t need to harp on about a divorce all the time. You can ask my father for his opinion. Divorce my mother if you want, I can take care of her! She won’t die just because she leaves your protection!” Qin Yining turned back to help her mother out. “Let’s go, mother.”
Née Sun’s nose twinged when she heard this and immediately burst out into new tears. She swiped at her face and sniffled loudly as she followed her daughter out, looking l
ike a bullied child who’d found her family.
The second and third madame had mutely observed all of the proceedings, looking on with great envy. Having been stopped in her tracks, the old dowager was speechless, and Qin Yining was steadfastly helping her mother away. Even though née Sun didn’t have a son, her daughter was more than enough.
Qin Huaiyuan hadn’t slept all night and felt quite resigned about his mother, after weathering this inner residence storm. He took the doll from Qin-mama and handed it over to his mother, tapping the birth date on the ugly doll.
“Servants, have Qitai come here.”
“Understood.” A maid in the covered hallway sprinted out of the inner door to fetch the body servant.
Terrified, Qin Huining lifted a bloody and bruised face to look at Qin Huaiyuan. She had a feeling that he was going to proclaim judgment on her!
* * *
Chapter 157: Unsuccessful Scheming
Chapter 157: Unsuccessful Scheming
Qin Huaiyuan sat wearily on the edge of the old dowager’s bed, leaning against a bed post and couldn’t be bothered to look at Qin Huining before Qitai arrived. He was even less inclined to talk to the foster girl.
Qin Huining remained curled up on the ground. Every breath she took in tugged at her wound, making her cry with pain. She looked up piteously at Qin Huaiyuan, hoping for a single morsel of attention.
But the lord remained silent.
The second, third madame, and the girls of their respective branches felt on pins and needles. They wanted to leave, but were afraid that doing so would offend the old dowager. But if they stayed, it didn’t seem smart to get involved in the main branch’s dirty laundry.
As they agonized over what to do, a maid reported from the covered hallway. “My lord, Qitai is here.”
“Have him come in.” Qin Huaiyuan stood and crossed over to the divider with magpies alighting on plum blossoms, adopting a stance with his hands behind his back.
Qitai was conscious of the rules after entering and took a position on the outer side of the divider. “My lord.”
“Mm. Three things. Firstly, clean up the manor on the outskirts of town and set a strict guard on it. Miss Huining has contracted an illness and all of Snowpear Courtyard must be quarantined. No one is to visit without my orders. Secondly, find out where the voodoo doll came from. Confirm who did it and how it was planted. There’s no need to report back to me about it, just cut off their hands and send them to the magistrate. Thirdly, contact the Hall of Fosters and continue investigating the matter we’d set aside.”
“Understood.” Qitai turned and left.
It was deathly quiet inside. Everyone was looking at Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Huining with complicated, inscrutable looks. The foster girl had started trembling like a leaf in the wind at the first sentence, with sweat dotting her brow when she heard the last about the Hall of Fosters.
“Father, father!” She thought she’d called out loudly, but her voice was as quiet as a mosquito’s. She raised a trembling hand to clutch the hem of Qin Huaiyuan’s robe. “Father, I’m your daughter, your daughter of fourteen years! Why don’t you care about me anymore after finding Qin Yining? I’m not sick, so why are you sending me to the country manor for quarantine? I’m not going, I’m not going! I won't be able to come back if I go!”
Qin Huaiyuan looked down on Qin Huining, his voice so placid that he didn’t seem to be angry at all. “Daughter Hui, you’ve disappointed me so greatly.”
The girl violently jerked her head up to look at the lord’s composed face, meeting his fathomless eyes. She felt completely exposed in that moment, as if someone had stripped off all her clothes and was parading her around on the streets.
“I didn’t, I’m innocent! I didn’t make the doll, not me!”
“Even though you’re not my flesh and blood, you still spent fifteen years by my side. I know your character, so you don’t need to defend yourself now. Since you feel that the Qin clan is unfair and treats you poorly, then leave. Since you feel that my wife isn’t worthy to be your mother, then don’t call me father either. As for the voodoo doll, let’s hope it wasn’t you. If it was, life will be difficult in the future without a pair of hands.”
Qin Huaiyuan’s proclamation was shocking in its swiftness. Although his tone was even and calm, it stirred tidal waves in Qin Huining’s life, crashing into and washing away all previous towers of glory and honor.
This was the moment she realized the depths of her idiocy. In front of Qin Huaiyuan’s absolute authority, everything she’d built up over the years was but sand castles. When she’d gloated in self congratulation, someone else was able to destroy everything she had with a single wave.
“Father, I was wrong, I know my wrongs now. I don’t think that the Qins weren’t good to me, I just didn’t think it was fair…”
“You felt it was unfair and was jealous of how daughter Yi had taken everything from you. Is that right?” Qin Huaiyuan asked gently.
Qin Huining couldn’t respond.
“You were innocent in being abducted here, but do you know what your original family was like?”
Qin Huining sweated profusely. So they had indeed found her original family! Qin Yining wouldn’t have been so self-assured otherwise just now! They’d already planned on sending her away, hadn’t they??
“You occupied daughter Yi’s position and enjoyed a life of luxury for fourteen years, but think that you’re the victim? The true victim is daughter Yi! A happy, carefree life was robbed from her and you were rescued from a world of troubles. You’re very smart, but overly so and far too selfish. Your only thought that you were a victim in all of this, but didn’t stop to think that the easy life you had with the Qins was the compensation that the heavens gave to you.”
“Father, I was wrong, don’t send me away…”
“Since you call my wife madame, then call me the lord,” Qin Huaiyuan continued without pause. “The Qins have not treated you poorly, but you know nothing of gratitude and forget that your mother raised you. This is truly chilling. Spend some time at the country manor and I’ll let you meet your birth parents after the voodoo matter is taken care of. Don’t you think that the Qins have mistreated you? You can go with them if you miss home then.” Qin Huaiyuan yanked the hem of his robe out of Qin Huining’s tight grip and raised a salute to the old dowager. “Mother, I haven’t slept all night and need to catch up on some sleep.”
The old dowager had long since been stunned into silence, but felt that her son made sense upon further consideration. Although she didn’t like the overly smart Qin Yining because that made the girl too hard to control, the matriarch thoroughly despised Qin Huining’s ungrateful character.
Judging from her son’s tone, he was going to send the girl away. The old dowager frowned and looked at the figure weeping on the floor. She couldn’t harden her heart, seeing as she’d raised this granddaughter.
“Meng’er, let’s hold off on the Hall of Fosters matter.”
Qin Huining was completely preoccupied with having a good cry, but at this, suddenly recalled that her grandmother could overrule her father! Hope bloomed and she scrambled over to the bed, kowtowing repeatedly.
“Save me, grandmother! I’m not sick! I’m not going to the country manor! Grandmother, I didn’t make a doll to harm you, I’m innocent!”
The old dowager rubbed her aching forehead.
Qin Huaiyuan interjected, “The quarantine is settled. I can’t tolerate a source of trouble at home. As for the voodoo matter, I won’t let things slide if someone really is trying to harm the old dowager. Let this be the end of things.”
Given Qin Huaiyuan’s strong attitude, the old dowager didn’t have any room to maneuver with. She also felt a chill grip her heart when she considered that Qin Huining might’ve really created a voodoo doll of her in order to frame née Sun and Qin Yining.
“Forget it, all shall be as the lord says,” the old dowager proclaimed. “Lujuan, have someone organize Mi
ss Huining’s baggage.”
Qin-mama heaved a silent sigh of relief and assented with a smile. This shit stirrer is finally being sent away! We servants can finally have some peace and quiet.
Some servants helped Qin Huining up; the foster girl’s legs were as limp as wet noodles. Those of the second and third branches, including Qin Huining’s closest sixth miss, couldn’t intervene at this moment either.
……
Qin Yining and née Sun were both taken aback heard about everyone in Snowpear Courtyard being sent to the country manor.
“Your father is truly angry this time.” Née Sun spoke after a long moment of silence.
* * *
Chapter 158: Spoils of War
Chapter 158: Spoils of War
Qin Yining only smiled when she heard the pangs of sadness and hurt in née Sun’s voice. A human heart wasn’t a hunk of stone. It was impossible for née Sun not to feel any pity for Qin Huining at all. The girl had been viewed as née Sun’s own flesh and blood for more than a decade, and as angry or disappointed a parent might be, as wrong as a child’s acts might be, that would still not wipe away the ties of the heart.
The fourth miss didn’t want to speak more of this matter. Even her father was unable to tolerate Qin Huining now and had dealt with things in his own way. There was no need for Qin Yining to use her connections with the Institute any longer. She would treat the foster girl as a stranger if Qin Huining docilely kept to her place in the future. But if the foster girl created yet more trouble, then Qin Yining would pursue things to the very end.
When Jin-mama saw Qin Yining sit quietly with lowered eyes as Bingtang dressed the wounds on her hands, the servant was worried that the fourth miss would misunderstand the madame. It wouldn’t be good if their relations worsened again.
“Don’t worry, madame,” the servant quickly interjected. “The lord has his own set of principles, and Miss Huining was truly outrageous this time. It isn’t a particularly harsh punishment to send her to the country manor for some reflection.”
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