By the time she returned to the prime minister's residence, the sky had already darkened, and it was snowing. Qin Yining walked to Cixiao Garden with a paper umbrella under the service of two maidservants. She first went to greet old madam.
Old madam had just set up dinner. The members of the Sun Clan, Second Madam, and Third Madam were all respectfully waiting on the side. Qin Huining accompanied old madam to eat.
"Sister Yi, you're back. You haven't eaten dinner yet, right? Come and eat with me. " Seeing Qin Yining enter, old madam smiled and instructed Ji Xiang: "Send someone to bring Miss's food box over."
Ji Xiang smiled and answered, "Yes." When he passed by Qin Yining, he respectfully bowed before leaving.
"Many thanks, old madam." Qin Yining was slightly relieved.
At the very least, she would be able to eat this dinner.
On the way back, Qin Yining had already imagined several ways her father and old madam would punish her. None of them would be easy. The worst case scenario was that it would happen immediately and she wouldn't have time to prepare.
She could be considered lucky to be able to eat her fill before the incident happened.
Qin Yining thought optimistically. For a moment, she felt that if her father and old madam knew that she only thought about eating, they might be angered to death. She also felt that it was funny. The depression of doing a good thing but getting into trouble was finally relieved.
After eating dinner, Qin Yining told old madam what she had discussed with Shopkeeper Zhong.
"Today, I looked around and was delayed for a few hours. I have to go check the accounts another day."
Old madam didn't care about these things. Qin Yining was a girl. In any case, she wouldn't cause trouble for her.
Just as the room was filled with harmony, they suddenly heard footsteps outside, followed by a servant's respectful greeting: "First Master."
"Old madam, First Master is back."
Someone replied into the room and lifted the bamboo curtain for Qin Huaiyuan.
Qin Yining's heart skipped a beat. He knew that things were not going well, so he stood up with Huining and stood to the side.
Qin Huaiyuan entered the door. He first bowed to the old madam, then nodded to the Sun Clan, Second Madam, and Third Madam.
Old madam asked with concern, "Has Brother Meng eaten dinner yet? Should I ask them to prepare? "
"There's no need, Mother. I still have something important to do." Qin Huaiyuan turned around and looked at Qin Yining. His eyes were cold. It was a coldness that Qin Yining had never seen on Qin Huaiyuan before.
Qin Huaiyuan looked at Qin Yining's face, which was very similar to his own when he was young, and his clenched fists tightened.
His voice was trembling and hoarse as he suppressed his anger. He asked fiercely, "Qin Yining, what have you done today?!"
This reprimand shocked everyone who had been chatting and laughing.
Everyone looked at the father and daughter who were confronting each other at the same time.
Qin Huining used a lot of effort to prevent himself from showing a gloating expression.
Sun Clan's wife asked with a puzzled expression, "What's wrong with Laoye? If there's anything, we can talk about it. Don't disturb Mother. " After the incident at Duke Ding's fu, she had changed her view of Qin Yining and subconsciously wanted to protect her.
Qin Huaiyuan was too lazy to pay attention to this woman from the Sun Clan. He didn't even look at her and only stared straight at Qin Yining.
Qin Yining sighed softly. She lifted her skirt and knelt down, saying, "Replying to Father, Daughter fell into Prince Ning's trap today. Things have indeed developed in a direction that Daughter didn't expect."
Old madam, Sun Clan, Qin Huining, and the others didn't understand what she meant.
Upon hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan's uncontrollable anger, which was like a volcanic eruption, was suddenly choked.
He originally thought that Qin Yining was young, spirited, chivalrous, impulsive, and brainless young miss.
However, the words "fell into Prince Ning's trap" quietly showed him her political sensitivity.
It seemed that he had underestimated his daughter.
Not only was she courageous, but she was also very intelligent.
Qin Huaiyuan was originally full of anger and wanted to punish Qin Yining, but now he felt a burst of helplessness. He thought, "It would be great if this wasn't a daughter, but a son."
If he had a son who could cause such trouble for him and come home nervously to ask for his father's support, the scene would be very interesting.
Unfortunately …
Qin Huaiyuan pursed his lips and stared at Qin Yining without saying a word.
Qin Yining knelt submissively with her back ramrod straight. Although her expression was calm, she was so nervous that her hands and feet were cold.
Everyone didn't understand what kind of riddle the father and son were playing. Old madam couldn't help but ask, "Brother Meng, what exactly happened?"
Qin Huaiyuan sighed, lifted his clothes, and sat down on the side. He then recounted how Qin Yining single-handedly went to Prince Ning's Mansion to ask for Qin Yining and successfully got her back.
The group of people was dumbfounded!
"How dare you! Sister Yi, how dare you! " Old madam pointed at Qin Yining and said, "A girl in the boudoir actually dared to meet an outsider without permission. Have you learned the rules these days?" She then angrily glared at the Sun Clan and said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, this is the good girl that you taught!"
The Sun Clan felt that they had lost face. She rushed up and fiercely slapped Qin Yining. This time, she used all her strength. Her sharp nails scratched Qin Yining's cheeks, leaving two bloodstains. The Sun Clan's hands hurt from the slap. Qin Yining's cheeks quickly swelled from the slap, and a trace of blood flowed down from the corner of his mouth.
The Sun Clan's hatred wasn't appeased. They were reprimanded by old madam for not teaching their daughter well, so they felt very wronged and couldn't help but scold,
"I told you to restrain your vulgar behavior after returning to the mansion, but you didn't listen. Where did a girl like you get such courage to take the initiative to meet an outsider?! Did you listen to my words in one ear and forget them in the other?! You're not sensible, but you caused our eldest branch to be humiliated. I'll beat you to death, you unfilial daughter! "The Sun Clan raised their hands and was about to slap her again.
Qin Huaiyuan coldly looked at old madam and the Sun Clan's teaching. He only listened to their women's opinions and couldn't grasp the main point at all. They even revolved this matter around the topic of "not meeting an outsider". He felt a burst of weariness in his heart.
How could these people understand the matters of the imperial court?
In contrast, he felt that Qin Yining's words of "falling into Prince Ning's trap" were very clear. Even if she made a mistake, he didn't dislike this daughter.
"Enough." Qin Huaiyuan impatiently waved away the Sun Clan's slap that was about to land and reprimanded, "Your rules aren't good, but you're so ruthless when teaching your daughter? I think you're the one who should learn rules! "
The Sun Clan's eyes widened in disbelief, and tears quickly accumulated in her eyes. She angrily said, "What are you saying, Master? What do you mean by my rules aren't good? Didn't I teach my daughter a lesson for you? If you're not willing to let me teach her a lesson, why did you say this in front of us? If you don't want to teach her a lesson, don't tell us! "
"You! You're simply unreasonable! "Qin Huaiyuan frowned and looked at Qin Yining. He said," Sister Yi, come with me. "After he finished speaking, he turned and walked out.
Qin Yining stood up silently and saluted old madam and the others. Then, she followed Qin Huaiyuan out of the side hall.
Inside the room, the Sun Clan watched Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Yining leave. She was so angry that she cried loudly and pounded the short table with grievance, causing the porcelain on the table to jingle. "I've seen through it. I'm old and can't enter Qin Meng's eyes. Qin Meng doesn't like me and wants to force me to death!"
Old madam was originally thinking about what had happened and Qin Huaiyuan's reaction. Her mind was in a mess. Who would have thought that the Sun Clan would make a fuss? It was so noisy that she couldn't calm down and think about why her son had such an attitude. After hearing what she said, she felt even more disdain for her.
If Sun Haihan wasn't the legitimate daughter of Duke Ding, she would have thrown this shit-stirrer out long ago!
Old madam angrily said, "You're still shouting! I think Brother Meng wasn't wrong about you. Your rules are just like this! If you want to cry, don't cry here. Go back to Xingning Garden and cry! If you're still angry, you can pack up and go back to your maternal family now! "
Seeing old madam say such harsh words, Second Madam and Third Madam hurriedly came forward to persuade her.
Qin Huining cried and hugged the Sun Clan's arm, "Mother, you should quickly apologize to grandmother. You can't go back to your maternal family."
The Sun Clan's temper was impatient. She was hot-blooded and didn't think at all. She only acted according to her heart. After hearing Qin Huining's persuasion, she stood up and slammed the table,
"Can't? Why can't I?! If you have the ability, then let Qin Meng divorce me now! I can't give birth to a son. Qin Meng's concubines can't give birth to an egg. I know old madam has long blamed me. She doesn't like me anyway. If you have a candidate, then bring Qin Meng in to give birth to a son for him. I don't care anymore! "
After the Sun Clan finished speaking, she turned around and walked out. After taking two steps, she didn't forget to pull Qin Huining, "Sister Hui, come with mother!" She didn't want to stay in the fu and be bullied.
Qin Huining's expression changed, and she hurriedly shook her head, "Mother, don't go. Daughter also won't go with you!" What a joke. If she went to Duke Ding's fu now, she would be hated by Duke Ding's wife!
However, the Sun Clan made up her mind.
She had lost face tonight. She must make Qin Huaiyuan carry her back in a palanquin with eight carriers! The last time she came back, she took the initiative to apologize. It was enough to make her angry. Could it be that she had to endure it every time?
The Sun Clan didn't care about Qin Huining's persuasion and pulled her away.
Old madam was so angry that she pounded the table and almost threw out the brass tobacco pouch next to her, "Scram, scram, scram! This kind of upbringing, I've also learned something new! My Meng Ge 'er is cultured and refined, educated and reasonable. How could I be so blind to bring back such a shrew for him! "
Second Madam inwardly rolled her eyes.
Back then, wasn't it because she wanted to climb up the big tree that was Duke Ding's fu? Why didn't she dislike her eldest sister-in-law for being a shrew when she borrowed other people's strength to climb up?
Second Madam couldn't stand old madam's ungrateful appearance, so she didn't take any action.
Third Madam immediately went forward to persuade old madam, coaxing her to not get angry.
Qin Yining followed Qin Huaiyuan to the outer courtyard's study. Just as he knelt down, he heard a servant come in and report, "Master, someone came in and said that Eldest Madam wants to go back to her maternal home again. They're making a fuss right now. Mother Jin of Xingning Garden sent someone to reply, begging you to go back and take a look. "
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