When the dowager madam met Qin Yining's gaze, her expression became somewhat awkward. She smiled placatingly at her and said, "Sister Yi, come sit next to grandmother."
Qin Yining's heart skipped a beat. She calmly sat next to the dowager madam and looked at her with her large, clear eyes.
When the dowager madam saw her clear and pure gaze, a sense of guilt arose in her heart. She held Qin Yining's slender and fair hand with her dry hand and patted it.
When the elderly's hand was wrapped around Qin Yining's hand, she couldn't help but want to pull her hand back. However, she forced herself not to move.
When the dowager madam saw her being obedient, she said with a gentle expression, "Sister Yi, don't be anxious. Your mother went to the palace a few days ago."
"Mother is still living in the palace at this time?"
"That's right. However, you don't have to worry. Your Concubine Cao went with your mother. It's good for her to live in the palace and relax so that your mother won't be on the verge of death all day. This time, your mother and Concubine Cao can have a good chat. "
Was this even something a human would say?!
Qin Yining's heart was instantly filled with anger. The blood in her chest seemed to have turned into magma and surged through her veins. Her face instantly turned red from anger.
She forced herself to maintain her composure and said with a smile, "So that's how it is. Did Her Highness the Empress summon us?"
As she said this, she sized up everyone's expressions. She saw that Second Madam and Third Madam were looking down and didn't say anything. However, her cousins' expressions were clear at a glance. They were all somewhat embarrassed and worried.
Qin Yining understood that the empress probably didn't summon the Sun Clan. They probably entered the palace for other reasons.
However, the dowager madam didn't feel embarrassed at all. She smiled and said, "Don't worry. Your Concubine Cao also wants to get along well with your mother. She also takes pity on your maternal family and knows that your mother is depressed. That's why she wanted to bring her into the palace to relax. "
"So that's how it is. Concubine Cao is really a considerate person. "Qin Yining's voice was still as calm and gentle as usual." How many days has mother been in the palace? "
When old madam saw that Qin Yining didn't fly into a rage like she had imagined, she liked it a lot. She smiled and said: "The second day after you left, your mother went to the palace."
"I got it." Qin Yining thought for a moment and understood the whole story.
The origin of this matter was most likely due to the fact that old madam wanted to curry favor with Cao shi. She wanted Cao shi to bring the Sun Clan into the palace to torment them as she pleased and humiliate the Sun Clan in order to elevate Cao shi.
However, there was another point that Old Madam might not be able to think of.
Qin Yining smiled warmly and said, "I presume that before concubine mother Cao entered the palace, she also greeted Her Majesty the Empress?"
Without waiting for anyone to answer, Qin Yining stood up and said: "This time, my father and I went out to participate in the peace talks. It's the same as His Majesty putting the burden of Dayan's survival on my father's shoulders. Although we are a rich and populous village, we have been in deficit for many years. At this time, we are like a weak woman who has lost the ability to resist walking in front of bandits with a big bag of silver. Not only can we not protect the silver, we also can't protect ourselves. My father is a peerless talent and his reputation is widespread. Old madam, what do you think His Majesty is most afraid of when he allowed my father to go out for peace talks? "
When Qin Yining spoke, his back was ramrod straight. Although there was a smile on his face, his aura was very intimidating. When everyone looked at him, they all thought of Qin Huaiyuan, who usually had a stern face. Although Qin Yining didn't mix in the officialdom, his wild nature of being able to survive even when he was an enemy of wild beasts didn't add any deterrence to her.
Old madam looked at Qin Yining's face and thought of what Aiko had said to her before. Her expression changed in an instant.
She stared blankly at Qin Yining. Her face, which was originally full of smiles, gradually turned pale. She said with lingering fear: "What His Majesty is afraid of is naturally …"
She didn't say the rest, but everyone wasn't stupid. They all understood what she meant.
Second Madam and Third Madam looked at each other.
Qin Huining, Third Young Miss, and the others also had serious expressions.
"Correct." Qin Yining said with a smile: "His Majesty is worried that my father will defect to the enemy at the last moment. Naturally, he will think of a way to restrict my father. What is my father's biggest restriction? Could it be only my mother? "
Qin Yining slowly walked in front of the old madam and said with a smile: "However, fortunately, my father and I succeeded in the peace talks, and I returned safely. The family's crisis can also be resolved. "
She looked at the old madam with a penetrating gaze, then looked at the two aunts. She then said with a smile: "Otherwise, whether it's someone who wants to take advantage of my father's absence in the capital or someone who wants to take advantage of my absence in the capital, they won't be able to obtain what they want. Let's not talk about whether what my father and I have will be difficult for others to obtain. Just by looking at the fact that we are all members of the Family Qin, our lives are tied together. Isn't it obvious that when the nest is overturned, no eggs can remain intact? "
It wasn't that Qin Yining had the heart of a villain. It was just that these people's surprise and hostility towards her return were too obvious.
The Family Qin hadn't been separated yet. Qin Huaiyuan was the eldest son of the eldest branch, and he was the backbone of the Family Qin. Second Uncle was the second son of the first wife. He was also an official, but his position wasn't high. He had always been suppressed in the imperial court. Third Uncle was the son of a concubine. He was in charge of business and was the economic lifeline of the Family Qin.
When Qin Huaiyuan was present, the second and third branches each had their own duties.
But if Qin Huaiyuan wasn't here, the second and third branches would become restless. The second son of the first wife felt that he could inherit the family business. The son of a concubine felt that he was the economic lifeline. Why should he give the money he earned to others?
They didn't dare to talk about splitting the family in front of Qin Huaiyuan, but behind the scenes, everyone had made a lot of calculations.
As for her? Without mentioning anything else, if she wasn't here, the Zhaoyun Agency in their hands would be a big fat piece of meat. She and her father knew that the emperor wanted the Zhaoyun Agency, but the people in the family didn't know.
Perhaps seeing her come back alive, those who had fantasized about the ownership of the Zhaoyun Agency would be very regretful.
Qin Yining's gaze fell on Qin Huining.
Qin Huining would definitely be regretful because Qin Huining believed that she was Qin Huaiyuan's adopted daughter. She had also once called Duchess Ding as her maternal grandmother. If she wasn't here, then naturally another granddaughter would take over the things that her maternal grandmother gave her.
And now that the Sun Clan had seen through Qin Huining's sinister schemes, they naturally wouldn't allow the Zhaoyun Agency to fall into Qin Huining's hands. Therefore, the existence of the Sun Clan was a stumbling block to Qin Huining's plan.
These simple-minded people, who only saw the petty benefits in front of them, didn't think that if the peace talks failed, or if she and Qin Huaiyuan didn't come back, they would probably lose their lives. What else could they scheme against them?
Qin Yining wasn't saying alarmist words to scare them. Instead, he uncovered these reasons and let them think about it themselves.
If they could become more afraid the more they thought about it, then it could be considered a punishment.
The old madam's face was snow-white.
Even Second Madam and Third Madam's expressions were very awkward and unsightly.
Qin Huining's face was even more snow-white. She pursed her lips and stared blankly for a moment. When she saw Qin Yining looking at her, she didn't show any weakness and waited. However, her hand that was constantly wringing her handkerchief betrayed her nervousness.
At this moment, Old Madam finally understood.
"So you're saying that Madam Cao wants to bring your mother into the palace. Perhaps it's His Majesty's idea?"
"It's most likely like that." Qin Yining smiled and said, "After all, it's not good for His Majesty to directly take her into the palace as a hostage. If word of this spread, it'd be bad for his reputation. Originally, this peace talk had already attracted a lot of criticism and criticism. His Majesty isn't such a stupid person, so he borrowed Madam Cao's hand."
That's right. It wasn't convenient for the emperor and empress to issue an edict, so they could only use Madam Cao's visit as a legitimate reason!
"This, this … I didn't expect Madam Cao's heart to not be with our family!" The old madam looked like she had suffered a heavy blow.
Qin Yining's expression didn't change as he said, "Seeking benefits and avoiding harm is human nature. Old madam, there's no need to be angry. "
Wasn't this exactly what the old madam had always done? Could it be that only the officials were allowed to set fires, but the common people weren't allowed to light lamps?
After hearing Qin Yining's words, all the womenfolk in the room had solemn expressions.
Second Madam and Third Madam once again experienced the power of Qin Yining. They even had a thought that they couldn't face her directly in the future.
In the face of the old madam, who didn't care about the many years of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship and allowed a concubine to bring her mistress into the palace to torture her, Qin Yining didn't make a fuss. He only analyzed the situation of the court and it was enough to frighten people to the point that their faces turned deathly pale. They hated that they couldn't go back in time. This wasn't a threat or intimidation, this was a complete suppression of wisdom!
Seeing the old madam's expression as if she had been struck by lightning, Qin Yining smiled and said, "Grandmother, don't worry. Now that father has returned safely, everything can be resolved. Presumably, mother and Madam Cao will be able to return home very soon. "
Although he said that, how could the old madam trust Madam Cao in the future?
She felt that she had been cheated of her feelings.
Mammy Qin had been listening at the side for a long time and didn't have the right to interrupt. Now that the topic had finally come to an end, she smiled and came forward to bow and say, "Old madam, shall we have dinner in the warm room?"
The old madam's face was ashen as she nodded. She looked like she had lost all interest.
Qin Yining lowered his eyes and hid all his emotions under his long eyelashes.
After the banquet, everyone returned to their own courtyards, each with their own thoughts.
Qin Yining wore a small jacket and hugged Er Bai as he sat cross-legged on the arhat bed by the window. He frowned as he thought about something.
Qiu Lu added a lamp into the room, brightening up the dimly lit bedroom.
Song Lan and Bing Tang were filled with righteous indignation. They cursed as they sewed the soles of the shoes, "How shameless! I have never seen such a person. She took advantage of our absence to bully Madam. What kind of person is she?"
Qiu Lu sighed and said, "That can't be helped. Without Missy around, Madam doesn't have a backbone. Huining Miss will only add fuel to the fire in front of the old madam. It's not like you don't know the old madam's temper. She will lose her sense of direction with just a few words."
"I think she will lose her sense of direction!" Bing Tang used a needle to poke the soles of the shoes.
Song Lan made a 'hush' gesture and turned to look at Qin Yining.
Qiu Lu changed the topic and said, "Miss, while you were away, a few people from our Master's Study also left."
Qin Yining came back to his senses and said with a smile, "I found out that Liu Ya and the two maidservants are missing. Did they go to Snow Pear Courtyard? "
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