There was dead silence in the side hall. The air seemed to have solidified because of old madam's displeasure. The servants kept quiet out of fear. Mammy Qin, Ji Xiang, and the other senior maidservants retreated to the outer room and didn't dare to breathe loudly.
Qin Yining, who was kneeling on the floor, raised her eyes to look at old madam and slowly said, "It was my adoptive mother who told me to hide before she died. She said that if someone like me was sold, it would be over for the rest of my life. It would be better to be eaten by a wild beast and still be clean. "
This sentence contained a lot of helplessness and hardships.
She was originally a golden child in the prime minister's manor. When she was just born, she was taken away by criminals and thrown into the wilderness. It wasn't easy for her to meet a kind adoptive mother, but she passed away early. She became an orphan when she was eight years old. During the chaos of war, she helplessly hid in the mountains to survive alone. She experienced the fickleness of life and the fickleness of the world.
How could this kind of girl not make people feel pity for her?
If it was them, would they be able to survive alone in the wilderness for six years when they were just eight years old?
None of the people present had this kind of confidence.
Even if it was six days, they probably wouldn't be able to endure it.
Not to mention the problem of food and shelter, just the loneliness of surviving alone with no one to take care of them when they were sick, no one to care about them during the winter and summer, and even no one to talk to, wasn't something that ordinary people could endure.
After all, people's hearts were made of flesh. Many people present looked at Qin Yining with pity and gentleness in their eyes.
"You … it's been hard on you." Old madam also couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Her sharpness just now weakened a bit.
Qin Yining saw that old madam's heart was moved and couldn't help but clench her fist. Four pale crescents appeared on her palm from her fingernails, almost oozing blood. However, the pity on her delicate and pretty face was even more obvious. Her almond eyes that were originally swollen from crying overflowed with tears.
She walked forward in two or three steps and supported Qin Yining with both hands. Qin Yining's slender white jade-like hand rubbed Qin Yining's rough and calloused hand. She said tenderly, "Xiaoxi meimei, you've suffered."
The words' Xiaoxi 'were equivalent to agreeing that old madam didn't approve of Qin Yining.
Everyone was smart, so how could they not understand? Some of the girls lowered their heads to avoid looking, while others whispered to each other.
Qin Huining's hand was wet and cold to the touch. For some reason, it reminded Qin Yining of a cold snakeskin. He blinked and withdrew his hand.
Ever since she entered the door, the hostility of the person in front of her was the most obvious. It seemed that she was the adopted daughter of unknown origin who had swapped identities with her. She came back to take this person's place.
Qin Yining, who had survived in the wild, had an innate ability to sense hostility. Otherwise, she would have been devoured by wild beasts a long time ago. Although she hid deep in the mountains, it wasn't that she didn't leave the mountain at all. She would pick herbs, hunt, and go down the mountain to exchange for some necessities. This meant that she had to come into contact with merchants and hunters. Since she was young, she had followed her adoptive mother to make a living in the marketplace. Her understanding of human nature was probably more thorough than these nobles.
Because in the war-torn era, in order to survive, she had seen all kinds of dirty and dark things.
Qin Huining's fake gentleness was really conflicting, causing Qin Yining to purse his lips.
Second Master Qin Han frowned in disapproval. He went forward and saluted, "Old madam, it's fine if Sister Yi's nickname is Xiao Xi. That's because we don't forget her adoptive mother's kindness of raising her for eight years. However, our Family Qin's daughters are all in the Ning generation. Jia Ning, Huining, Shuangning, Anning, and Baoning, which one isn't like this? Moreover, Eldest Uncle has already given Xiao Xi the maiden name Yi Ning. Old madam, if you … "
"Now it's the younger generation's turn to control my words? Am I old and can't control this family?! Or do you want to be in charge of the family, so you have the final say in the Family Qin? "
Although Qin Han was the legitimate eldest son of the third branch, Third Master was born of a concubine. Old madam didn't like concubines, so she naturally didn't like Qin Han much. Usually, she would take Qin Han's face into consideration, but now that she was angry, she couldn't care less.
Second Young Mistress Meng went forward and pulled Qin Han's sleeve, reminding her husband not to provoke old madam in front of her.
However, Qin Han had a chivalrous heart. His stubborn temper was also pushed up by old madam's unreasonable words. "Although Sister Yi grew up in the countryside, she's Eldest Uncle's biological daughter. As long as one isn't blind or stupid, one can distinguish her at a glance. Now that no one questions her identity, why does old madam still say such things?"
Old madam curled her lips and said angrily, "There are many people who look alike in the world! Could it be that all those who look like your Eldest Uncle are our family's children?! "
"Old madam, in fact, you also know in your heart that Sister Yi is Eldest Uncle's child who was swapped away by his political enemy. We didn't say what will happen to Sister Hui when Sister Yi comes back. Why are you so nervous? You can even dote on and raise a girl of unknown origin. Why can't you dote on and dote on your biological granddaughter? "
The words "unknown origin" caused Qin Huining's face to turn red. Then, tears rolled down her fair and beautiful face. She sobbed and threw herself into old madam's arms, sobbing, "Grandmother, it's granddaughter's fault. It's granddaughter's fault …"
Old madam's nose was sore from Qin Huining's crying, and she also shed tears. She patted Qin Huining's back and said, "Sister Hui, don't cry. With grandmother here, they won't dare to do anything to you!"
She spoke as if everyone wanted to chase away Qin Huining.
Everyone knew that old madam liked to be like this, so they were helpless.
Eldest Young Mistress Yao Clan came forward to persuade him, "Younger Uncle, you should take old madam into consideration. You should speak less."
Second Young Mistress quickly pulled Qin Han's sleeve, indicating that he shouldn't speak anymore, so as to avoid making people dislike him.
However, Qin Han didn't mind and continued to speak in a clear voice, "If we don't let Sister Yi call Yi Ning, then it's too unfair to her. Sister Hui, you don't have to worry about food and clothing in Prime Minister's residence. What you're enjoying is Sister Yi's fortune! You should speak up for her now. Why are you still harping on her? "
Qin Huining, who was called out, raised her eyes to look at Qin Han with a pale face.
Qin Han said, "Currently, the flames of war are swirling everywhere. The country is about to fall. Nine out of ten houses in Liang City are empty. It's a tragic sight! If you see it with your own eyes and experience it for yourself, you will understand Sister Yi's difficulties! I went out this time because I was so scared that my heart turned cold. I really admire Sister Yi's tenacity. Not to mention other things, if any of you were to live the same life as her, the grass on your grave would be three feet tall by now! Our family's flesh and blood has been found. We should happily acknowledge her. Who knows, maybe the country will fall in two days. In any case, the family will die together. "
Qin Huining's face turned red as he choked with sobs, "I was the one who took away Sister Xiao Xi's life. I was the one who didn't treat her well."
Qin Han curled his lips and rolled his eyes when he heard this.
"That's enough, Second Brother. You talk too much." Eldest Uncle Qin Yu waited for Qin Han to finish speaking before speaking in a neutral tone.
Dowager Duchess hugged Qin Huining. She angrily pointed at Qin Han with her finger that wore an emerald ring, "You evil creature. I only said one sentence and you said a whole load of words to block my heart!"
"I know that Dowager Duchess will panic when she sees me. I'll just avoid it!"
"You'd better scram far away!"
Qin Han snorted, pulled his wife, and turned to leave.
Dowager Duchess angrily slapped the short table beside her. Her face turned red as she shouted towards the outside, "Bastard! Bastard! Get out and don't come to see me! "
"Grandmother, please calm down." Qin Huining choked with sobs and hurriedly comforted, "Second Cousin is outspoken and didn't say anything wrong. I'm the one who doesn't deserve it."
Dowager Duchess couldn't help but cry bitterly with Qin Huining after hearing her words. The other girls also cried, and the room was a mess for a moment.
Qin Huining looked on coldly from the sidelines. The brilliance in his eyes dimmed bit by bit.
These people who were newly married and surrounded by gold and jade seemed to live in a different world from her. They were clearly in front of her, but she felt that they were too far away.
If the outside world was still peaceful and prosperous, she really wanted to leave. She would rather live a simple life. At least she would still have freedom.
But she wasn't willing! This was her home. She finally had family. Did she really have to give up everything that originally belonged to her to someone else?
She heard from Second Cousin that her biological mother was still alive.
Her mother must have doted on her child, just like her adoptive mother. Even her biological mother did her best to protect her. If her adoptive mother was like this, then her biological mother must have loved her even more.
Qin Yining became somewhat anxious. He turned to look at Qin Huaiyuan, who was frowning, and asked nervously, "Father, where is my mother? Why don't I see her?"
Qin Huining heard this and suddenly turned to look at Qin Yining.
Qin Huaiyuan faintly said, "En." Then he waved his hand to summon Ji Xiang, "Go and invite First Madam."
Ji Xiang complied and retreated.
Qin Yining no longer looked at dowager Duchess and the others' reactions. She just stared at the door anxiously. Since she was young, she knew that she was an adopted child. Even in her dreams, she imagined what her mother looked like. Now that she was about to see her mother, even someone who had been tempered by many years of hardships and had a calm temperament couldn't help but be nervous to the point that her palms were sweating.
Not long after, the sound of disorderly footsteps could be heard from outside. Then, a young servant girl answered from outside,
"Dowager Duchess, First Madam, Second Madam, and Third Madam are here."
The warm curtains were raised, and a beautiful middle-aged woman wearing a light purple robe with a phoenix head ornament on her head rushed in.
She stood beside the ancient shelf and looked around. Her eyes, which were swollen like walnuts from crying, immediately fell on Qin Yining.
Qin Yining clenched her fists and instinctively took two steps forward. She also looked at this woman.
Their eyes met. Although no one told her, she knew that this was her mother.
"You …" Sun Clan member slowly walked towards Qin Yining. Her body seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. She raised her trembling hand and touched Qin Yining's face.
Qin Yining's almond-shaped eyes finally filled with tears. She murmured, "Mother." She raised her arms and unconsciously took two steps forward.
Sun Clan member immediately covered her mouth and cried. She stepped back and shook her head, "Impossible, impossible. All these years, the child I raised wasn't my own child. How could this be?!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
