Chapter 7: The Crisis Begins

  The sky was not yet bright, and the gatekeeper was called open. It was Master Shao bringing his servants and guards to the villa. Master Shao said he wanted to go to Taizhou to see the old lady, but the road was urgent, so he thought of resting at the villa for a while. By the end, Ruyi's tone became unnatural.

  Qin Dai's face remained calm and unruffled, but her mind was already racing. The young master mentioned by Ruo Yu was none other than the son of Fang Shi's daughter, Qin Zongwen's younger sister, and her own aunt's only grandson, Gong Sunjin.

  This Gong Sun Jin, she has some knowledge. Only heard that her aunt Qin Feng Ge is a formidable figure, the most powerful in the Qin family. She married a county magistrate and always followed her husband on duty. This Gong Sun Jin is said to be quite good-looking, a jade-faced scholar-like person, with decent poetry skills, and had studied under famous teachers since childhood. However, it seems that she has heard that this cousin of hers is somewhat promiscuous, having married a wife and taken in several concubines, yet still openly fooling around outside.

  When mentioning him, the whole person is tense and nervous, as if there are unspoken words, could it be that this guy has ever disobeyed his own master?

  "Is that so?" Qin Dai's heart decided to hold back and first probe into Ruyi's attitude.

  "Miss, this young master has come too suddenly, and we can't be too careful! Don't forget, he was the one who kept begging Old Lady to take you in as a concubine back then." Ruyi hastily spoke out her words, but saw Qin Dai's face turn cold.

  Things are really too suspicious, this heartless brother-in-law, why didn't he appear earlier or later, but appeared only after she refused the kindness of Zheng Mama and Ding Mama. If he was in a hurry to see his elderly mother, why did he travel at night and want to find a place to rest at dawn? Everything seems too coincidental.

  "Miss, please say something! Young Master's carriage has already entered the mansion and people are cleaning the courtyard! Judging from the situation, it seems like they will be staying for a few nights." Ruyi knew that Qin Daihe's heart was slightly different from before, her tone was urgent but still respectful.

  Qin Dai Xin knew what Ruyi was worried about, but she felt that if someone wanted to harm her intentionally, it would be hard to prevent.

  "Has Young Master Tiao practiced martial arts?" After all, knowing oneself and knowing others is the key to winning every battle.

  Ru Yi thought she was being rash and hastily said: "No, why did you ask about this matter, miss?"

  Qin Dai Xin smiled, and it was easy to handle from then on.

  "Don't be nervous, go prepare breakfast, I'm hungry. Since Brother Biao has come, we should meet anyway." Qin Dai's words had a hidden meaning, and she already had a plan in mind.

  In ancient times, men and women over seven years old did not sit together, but Da Yong does not have this saying, the style is quite similar to that of the Tang Dynasty.

  Although Ru Yi didn't understand, she couldn't say anything else and had to bid farewell. Qin Dai called Chun Li to help her comb her hair, just a simple double braid, wearing a few pearl flowers, with a pair of small pearl earrings on her ears. She also asked Chun Li to find a peach-colored silk jacket to change into, with a matching colored skirt underneath, and outside was an added moon-white embroidered edge small jacket. The whole person looked elegant and refined, like a fairy spirit. Chun Li said she looked good after seeing her, and Ru Yi's unease in her heart increased by several points when she came to deliver the meal.

  Qin Dai Xin was eating while thinking of a plan. At this moment, she saw the little maid come to report that the steward from her cousin's house had sent a message saying he would rest at the villa for one night and didn't want to disturb Third Miss who was recuperating, so he wouldn't come to visit.

  As soon as the words came out, Yu Yi couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, but Qin Dai's heart felt even more suspicious. Is there really no cat in this world? Such a good opportunity is right in front of him, yet Young Master Hua Xin is so restrained, was he really persuaded by the people around him, or is all of this just a trick to deceive others?

  "Ru yi, help me invite two mothers over and just say I have something to discuss with them. Hopefully everything will go as planned."

  Although Ru Yi didn't understand, she still accepted the order and went.

  Before long, Ruyi lifted the curtain and came in, but there was no one behind her, not even a shadow.

  Qin Dai's heart was clear, but she still asked: "What? Didn't you invite him?"

  "Yes. I went to Zheng Mama's courtyard first, but didn't see anyone. The little maid by her side said that she had fallen ill unexpectedly last night, vomiting nonstop, and only calmed down at dawn today. She just said that if Miss doesn't have any urgent matters, we can discuss it another day." Ruyi carefully observed the master's expression, then continued: "I did see Ding Mama, but her face was pale and she was sweating profusely, looking like she was even more seriously ill than Zheng Mama. With her condition, I'm afraid she won't be able to come either, so I had no choice but to return on my own."

  Are they ill? And yet, they both fell ill together. Listening to Ruyi's description, it doesn't seem like they're faking it. But how could this be so coincidental, that the two of them fall ill at the same time? If you say there's nothing between them, Qin Dai would never believe it. Either they were framed by someone and the two mothers took the bait; or it was a desperate move, and the two of them had reached some kind of tacit understanding beforehand. Whatever the case may be, it only proves one thing: Gong Sunjin's appearance is not accidental, something will definitely happen tonight.

  Qin Dai Xin ordered the removal of a table full of cups, bowls and plates, took the handkerchief handed over by Ya Tou to wipe her mouth, and then rinsed her mouth with jasmine tea. She slowly instructed several Ya Tou to go about their business, leaving only Ruyi in the house to serve her.

  "How many years have you been following me?"

  Although Ru Yi didn't know what Qin Daihe meant, she still answered honestly: "It's been four years since the young lady moved out and started living alone."

  "It's been four years, and you're also a capable one. Don't you think I've changed recently?" Ruyi was clever and wise, some things might be hidden from her for the time being, but she couldn't hide them forever. As an old servant who served by the third miss's side every day, how could she not notice that her master had changed? She didn't say anything for the time being, perhaps thinking that the miss would forget with age, but as time went on, it was inevitable that she would think of something else. The old saying goes that it's easy to change one's circumstances, but hard to change one's nature; if I don't come up with a suitable explanation now, I'm afraid this servant girl won't be at peace serving me. In the end, I might not gain her support, and instead lose it.

  Ruyi hastily knelt down in front of Qin Daihe, "Miss, I know I was wrong. I'm afraid I've been staying in the villa for too long and forgotten the rules. Miss can't be without someone by her side in the villa. I only beg of you, miss, to let me stay by your side and serve you. When we return to the mansion, do with me as you please, even if it means selling me out of the mansion, Ruyi won't utter a single word of complaint."

  "Get up first." The tone did not allow for questioning.

  Ru Yi didn't know Qin Dai's heart and knelt on the ground without daring to move.

  " You're someone by my side, you know my situation all too well. Something happened to me recently, you're aware of it. It's not that I've changed, it's just that I can no longer live with the same attitude as before, hurry up and get up!"

  As she spoke, her words were tinged with a hint of sadness, and he couldn't help but recall the various incidents that had befallen her recently. It seemed as though he had some inkling of what she wanted to say to him, so he stood up and positioned himself beside her.

  Qin Dai Xin didn't look at her, but said: "The days in the mansion are not easy to pass, and it's inevitable that everyone takes care of themselves. These years, Auntie must have also been heartbroken. At first, I didn't understand, but now I finally understand Auntie's kindness." She thought of her past self, her mother's appearance had become more and more blurred, she only remembered the look on her face before she died. Living for hatred, it can be seen how sad she was.

  "My mother wanted to marry my sister into the Jia family, so she forced me to marry someone else as a substitute bride. Who is close and who is far, isn't it obvious? Now living in this countryside, every day is more peaceful than when I was at the mansion. Although there are some annoying people, they're just like jesters."

  Ruyi knew she was talking about both mothers and didn't say anything, just standing quietly by.

  "I've gotten used to days like this, and thinking back to the past makes me feel a bit dazed. Since Mother has already agreed to let my second sister marry into the Jia household, then let her get married, I myself don't want to wade into these deep waters again." After finishing speaking, she raised her head and took a glance at You San, and indeed saw that she had an expression of extreme shock.

  "What's wrong?" A normal person would look like this, and this expression can hardly be made a few times in one's life.

  She thought to herself, "Miss is not getting married after all, then... why did she have to offend Madame earlier and later repeatedly reject Zheng's mother?"

  Qin Dai Xin smiled, knowing what the girl meant. If it weren't for that, how would she have had the chance to come to the countryside?

  "What do you think will happen if I stay in the mansion intermittently?"

  Nature will not have a good ending. The master and servant are heart-to-heart, the lady has made up her mind to marry her legitimate second daughter into the Jia family. Facing the more powerful Jia family, the Qin family is in no way dare to offend them. Except for letting the other party voluntarily give up the third miss, and instead ask to marry the second miss, the Qin family can't come up with a reason not to marry the third miss.

  It was because of this that the Pu Fa Temple incident occurred, followed by Tai Furen's attempt to marry Qin Daihein to Xun Jian as a concubine. It was also because of this matter that Qin Daihein spoke out in defiance and was subsequently punished by being sent to the countryside.

  Miss, if you hadn't come to the countryside, it would be even more difficult. Although Madame is wary of the Jia family and won't repeat what happened last time, there's no guarantee she won't pin some unfounded charges on you.

  Although these words were somewhat conservative, Qin Dai's heart was clear in her mind.

  "We've talked about this as master and servant, so I won't hide it from you. As for the Jia family, I don't necessarily look up to them."

  "Miss..." Ruyi was clearly startled by these words. Since ancient times, a woman's marriage has been dominated by her parents. For someone like Qin Daihe who is not the eldest son, his fate is even more tightly grasped in the hands of the mistress of the house. A family like the Jias, who would want to marry their daughter off to just the Qin family? Why would their own miss say something like "looking down on"?

  Qin Dai's face lit up with a smile, but it revealed a hint of sadness, "The backyard of a wealthy family is not always clean either. Marrying into one would just be exchanging one battlefield for another."

  "Miss's meaning..." Ruyi seemed to understand something, and her gaze towards Qin Dai Xin changed. She was a maid, although she followed her master wholeheartedly, but there must be some self-interest in it. The former third miss of the Qin family was an unmanageable mistress, doing things as she pleased, and it was difficult for anyone to advise her. This first-class maid had suffered a lot, and the beatings she received were enough to make other maids laugh at her for years. She asked herself, with a good appearance and being clever and quick-witted, but because she followed an unlikable mistress, she ended up with no dignity or status to speak of. Other people's second-class maids even dared to look down on her. That life was not easy. Now, hearing Qin Dai Xin say this, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope, wishing that the mistress had really changed.

  Qin Dai's eyes shone like a torch, gazing deeply at Ruyi. This time her gaze was no longer calm as water, but instead had a deeper meaning that set her apart from others. "It's already difficult in the mansion, almost losing my life. In someone else's home, how much better can it get? Even if I hide in this desolate and barren place, won't I still be schemed against by others?"