Qin Huaiyuan looked at Qin Huining's expression. He didn't need to guess carefully to understand what she was thinking.
When Qin Huining was the legitimate daughter, he didn't have any feelings for her. He only wanted to find a good family for her in the future. Therefore, when he found out that she wasn't his biological daughter, his feelings were different from those of the Sun Clan.
He lamented that his biological daughter had wandered the streets and suffered so much. There were several times when she couldn't survive. What was more depressing was that he boasted of being smart, but he was fooled by others. He didn't know how the person who did this mocked him behind his back.
Qin Huining thought that she hid her emotions very well. Even if she could escape everyone's eyes, she couldn't escape Qin Huaiyuan's discerning eyes, which had been trained in the imperial court.
"Sister Hui." Qin Huaiyuan slowly opened his mouth.
Qin Huining heard this and raised her head. Her line of sight suddenly collided with Qin Huaiyuan's, scaring her so much that she hurriedly lowered her head. "Father."
"There are a few words. I'll say it and you'll listen. How much you understand depends on yourself."
"Yes. Father, please instruct me." Qin Huining's hands hanging by her side clenched into fists.
Qin Huaiyuan gently put down the teacup and said in a gentle voice, "You know your own origins. I've been fooled for many years. After the incident, I could've sent you back to the Health Hall. Don't you think so?"
Qin Huining's face was as pale as paper. The fear in her heart spread to her limbs and bones. The blood on her hands and feet almost froze.
"Father is right." Her voice was dry and trembling. She wanted to defend herself, but she couldn't say a word.
She didn't think so much before. She only felt that she was innocent. The old madam, the Sun Clan, her maternal grandmother, and the others were biased to no end. After Qin Yining returned, not only did he take away everything she had, but he also beat and scolded her and stepped on her underfoot.
However, she didn't expect that her existence, to Qin Huaiyuan, was proof that he had been fooled. It was a stain in her wise and farsighted father's life. How could she have forgotten about this?! His father was such an all-powerful figure. How could he allow his life to be tainted? Why did he want to keep a stain like her by his side?
Now that Qin Huaiyuan said this, could it be that he wanted to send her away?
Old Madam was also nervous. She anxiously called out, "Brother Meng."
Qin Huaiyuan smiled warmly at old madam and waved his hand to indicate that she shouldn't panic.
"You are a girl that our family has raised for 14 years. In Old Madam's heart, in your mother's and my heart, even if we know that we are not related by blood, we still regard you as a member of the Family Qin. We have never treated you as an outsider, but you have already treated yourself as an outsider."
The room was silent. Everyone looked at Qin Huining with different expressions.
"Even after Sister Yi returned home, your food and clothing were all provided in accordance with the standards of the other young ladies in our manor. You were never treated unfairly. Think about it carefully. Isn't that the case? I hope that you can focus on the right path. I can pretend that nothing happened in the past, but in the future, it's up to you. That's all I have to say. You can go take care of your mother. "
Qin Huining's entire body felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar, but his face was burning red.
She originally thought that her father was busy with court affairs and wasn't at home all day, so he didn't know much about the family's affairs. No matter what she did, she would at most coax old madam.
Today, Qin Huaiyuan's words overturned all of her ideas.
Qin Huining didn't dare to hesitate anymore. She bowed in fear and retreated.
Qin Huaiyuan looked at her back and shook his head. His slender hand picked up the teacup again.
Second Furen, who was at the side, felt even more embarrassed.
It turned out that eldest uncle knew everything. He usually didn't care about the family's affairs because he was too lazy to care.
This time, Madam Sun had rushed out of the ancestral hall in a fit of anger because Sixth Miss had gone to report the news. She had even fainted in Ci Xiao Garden and was still bedridden. If Qin Huaiyuan blamed the second branch for this, her husband would no longer be able to hold his head up high in the imperial court!
It had to be known that Second Master only had an unimportant position in the Ministry of Rites and was just eating his salary. The people outside were busy trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince and the Grand Preceptor, but they had no way to do so. They were a family, but it didn't make sense that they would offend someone because of an insensible concubine's daughter's mistake.
Second Furen smiled and said, "Yesterday, the sixth young miss was impetuous and I already reprimanded her. She made her eldest aunt so angry that she fainted. It was because I didn't discipline her that there was no harm. Eldest uncle, please don't take it to heart. "
Qin Huaiyuan smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to blame yourself. The cause of this matter was Sister Hui. You really can't be blamed. "
Second Furen inwardly sighed in relief.
It was rare that Qin Huaiyuan was a person who understood everything clearly. It was good that he knew it was the eldest branch's adopted daughter who stirred up trouble.
"Fourth young miss has arrived."
A young maidservant passed on the message from outside. Not long after, Qin Yining walked in wearing a light white plain satin robe and a dark cyan eight-piece skirt. Her long hair was tied into two flat buns with a dark cyan ribbon. She didn't wear any makeup or hairpins as she walked in.
She was originally tall and beautiful with a charming appearance. Now that she was dressed in such a plain manner, coupled with her pale complexion and cyan eyes, she made people feel pity for her even more.
Compared to the Qin Huining who was dressed in such a delicate manner just now, this was the reaction that a member of the maternal family should have after passing away.
Everyone couldn't help but think in their hearts, 'In the end, mutton paste is not on a dog's body. Those who aren't related by blood are still lacking by a layer. In the end, Qin Huining is a bit too cold-hearted.'
Qin Yining came forward and bowed to the Old Madam and Qin Huaiyuan. She also bowed to the womenfolk in the room one by one before standing to the side in a well-behaved manner.
Qin Huaiyuan then asked, "Is your mother feeling better?"
"Replying to father, mother's body is fine. It's just that because she was too sad, her mind is a bit unclear. Last night, she was talking nonsense in her sleep. When daughter heard it, my heart ached."
It would be strange if anyone's mental state was good when such a thing happened to their family.
Everyone sighed.
Qin Huaiyuan said, "You should persuade your mother, but you also need to pay attention to your own body. I know you are filial, but there are some things that can be left to the servants to do. Look at your complexion. You are still young and are still growing. You need to pay more attention. "
"Yes. Thank you, father, for your concern. "Qin Yining was touched and smiled. Her eyes were moist, as if they could speak.
Being looked at like a small animal, Qin Huaiyuan couldn't help but reveal a smile on his face.
"The commoners have already taken the initiative to bury the male member of Duke Ding's Mansion. Go back and tell your mother that even if the emperor wants to pursue the matter, he can't. This matter will end like this."
Qin Huaiyuan was telling her that her arrangement was successful and that the emperor couldn't pursue the matter because he cherished his reputation. She couldn't dig up the person from the grave again. Wouldn't that arouse the public's anger?
Qin Yining let out a big sigh of relief and nodded, "Yes, I will definitely tell mother. If mother knows that maternal grandfather's family's benevolence, righteousness, and wisdom didn't go to waste, she will certainly be happy."
"En." Qin Huaiyuan nodded and turned to the old madam, saying, "There is one thing that I need mother to take care of for me."
The old madam said, "What is it? Don't hesitate to say it."
"The emperor issued an edict to bestow the eldest daughter of Duke Cao's father-in-law to me as a noble concubine. He wants her to be brought in before New Year's Eve. Now that the Sun Clan is sick and the daughter of Duke Cao's father-in-law has a special status, I hope that mother can make the appropriate arrangements and not fail to live up to the emperor's grace."
As soon as these words came out, the entire room was silent.
The eldest daughter of Duke Cao's father-in-law, wasn't that Empress Cao's elder sister?!
This Concubine Cao, who was about to marry into the family, was now thirty years old. Because of her devastatingly beautiful appearance, she took a long time to find a husband and didn't marry until she was twenty years old. Who knew that she would become a widow in less than three years and live alone until now? Many people were saying that it was time for her to remarry.
Who would have thought that the emperor would actually bestow her to Qin Huaiyuan as a concubine!
Even if everyone didn't understand the twists and turns of the imperial court, Imperial Tutor Cao was impeached and lost his position. Qin Huaiyuan immediately became the Imperial Tutor. The hatred between these two families had already been formed.
What was the emperor thinking by bringing the daughter of Duke Cao's father-in-law into the Qin Manor?
What's more, this was the elder sister of the demon empress!
It was inevitable that her appearance wouldn't be bad, but who could guarantee her character?
After this concubine entered the family, if she was arrogant and domineering and had the support of Duke Cao and the demon empress behind her, how could their family live a peaceful life?!
Everyone was a little nervous.
Old Madam thought for a moment and smiled, "Good, good. Although you are the Imperial Tutor now, Duke Cao has been in power for so many years. He has many disciples and old subordinates. His foundation is deeper than yours. The emperor gave his daughter to you as a concubine, which is also helping you. Our family and the Cao Family have become in-laws. How many misunderstandings have been resolved? In the future, with the Cao Family as your in-laws, you and the emperor will be in-laws. Very good. Very good! "
The more Old Madam said, the more refreshed she felt. She said with a smile on her face, "Don't worry. Leave this matter to me. It will be done grandly and won't be wronged."
Qin Huaiyuan nodded.
Second Madam and Third Madam congratulated Qin Huaiyuan for getting a beautiful concubine.
Seeing that there was no big matter, Qin Huaiyuan stood up and said, "This son will leave first. I will go to see the Sun Clan. I will go out later."
Old Madam said worriedly, "You should sleep first. What matter do you have to do in a hurry? Don't harm your body."
Old Madam chased after Qin Huaiyuan and nagged him. She sent him to the corridor before entering the door. She excitedly pulled Second Madam and Third Madam over and began to discuss how to get a concubine.
At this time, all the young ladies were asked to leave.
Qin Yining wore a dark blue cotton cloak and went to the courtyard. Third Young Miss, Seventh Young Miss, and Eighth Young Miss all comforted her for a while before returning.
Qin Yining stood in the corridor and suddenly smiled helplessly.
Had she fallen to the point where she needed people's sympathy again?
It seemed that there were no real idiots in this fu. Everyone could see that Cao shi had a very high status in old Madam's heart even before she married into the family.
In the past, old Madam curried favor with Duke Ding's family for her son's career. In a few days, she would curried favor with the Cao Family.
In the past, new people would only smile and not old people would cry. With such a powerful concubine entering the family, how would her arrogant and upright mother deal with it?
If a person was always suppressed by others, it would be fine. However, the Sun Clan was used to being high and mighty. With such a huge difference, she was afraid that she would be even more irritated.
Thinking about it, her father went to see her mother in person because he wanted to explain and comfort her face to face.
Qin Yining sighed and quickly left Cixiao Garden.
Early in the morning, she received news from Mother Jing that Duke Ding's family had been properly settled. She had to hurry to see the situation.
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