Chapter Fifteen: Unleashing Divine Authority

  For several days, Qin Dai's heart had been hiding during the day and sneaking out at night. During the day, she looked tired and sleep-deprived, but at night, she was like a spirit, sneaking around and getting familiar with the surroundings, even uncovering some not-so-small secrets.

  For example, two days ago, she learned from Gong Sunjin that Su Shi was pregnant. Originally, she was worried that Su Shi would think of all means to make herself return to the Qin Mansion again, which would thoroughly disrupt her own plan. Fortunately, Qin Fengge told Gong Sunjin the truth later on, fearing that she had secretly colluded with Fang Wanyu, so it seemed that her return to the Qin Mansion was temporarily put on hold. Of course, this was also what she was happy to see. If Qin Fengge knew that she had inadvertently helped herself a great deal, would she be furious and vomit blood?

  The mother and son were not honest, one plan failed, and another was implemented. Although she didn't know her plan, she believed that seeing the move would also be able to play dead, so Qin Dai's heart wasn't worried at all. What she was most worried about was Su Shi, who was pregnant, in such a mansion where internal strife continued, could she be safe? Could she protect the flesh and blood in her belly?

  Since she opened her eyes in this world, she has seen too many people with false intentions. They are enthusiastic on the surface, but their eyes are icy cold, even filled with hatred. Originally, she didn't care about these things. In her past life, hadn't she seen enough of them?

  When she looked up at that anxious face, a corner of her heart suddenly collapsed, and it was an inexplicable sorrow. The beautiful woman's eyes were filled with worry and self-blame. It was something he had never seen before, not even in the eyes of that person, perhaps because he was a man who only knew hatred, but not love.

  Shaking off the past in her mind, Qin Dai looked at the current problem and thought about how to protect Su Shi's flesh and blood. She had reluctantly taken her daughter's place, so she should help with this matter, and she must keep that drop of blood that belonged to her.

  Just as she was lost in thought, the outer curtain was lifted, and it was Chunli who had come to lay out the meal. The little maids moved quickly and efficiently to arrange the cups, dishes, bowls, and chopsticks, and they withdrew on their own without waiting for Chunli's instructions.

  Qin Dai Xin was already annoyed by Qin Feng Ge's mother and son tactics, but at this moment, she saw a table of green vegetables and radishes, suddenly getting angry, every day they just eat this, how can I have the strength to train at night.

  Snap!

  Qin Dai's face was clouded over, and she slammed down her chopsticks. Chunli, who was serving beside her, didn't understand what was going on and was so frightened that she hastily knelt down.

  "Go and call the woman from the kitchen, just say I have something to tell her." The tone of voice was noticeably colder than usual.

  Chun Li nodded in agreement and got up to call someone.

  Before long, the curtain was lifted twice. The first to enter was Ruyi, who saw that Qindai's heart was moved with anger and didn't know how to advise her, so she could only think of quietly observing the situation before speaking. The second to enter was Chunli, who had gone to call someone, followed by a tall and thin old woman wearing coarse linen clothes and with a cloth wrapped around her body.

  The master summons him, but he is dressed like this, which shows the status of this master.

  "Miss, the woman from the kitchen has arrived." After finishing speaking, she took a step back and revealed her true identity.

  This old woman surnamed Ma was indeed the one who liked to drink, as mentioned by Ruyi earlier. When she was at the Qin's residence, she stayed in a small kitchen on the west side, serving meals for the three madams. She had plenty of free time and spent her days playing cards, drinking wine, and living a carefree life. But somehow, she ended up following Third Miss to this rural place to serve her. Without access to wine or cards, she felt suffocated every day. Thinking about these things, the old woman couldn't help but feel resentful, and if not careful, it would show on her face.

  Ma Po made a bow and stood up straight at the side, lowering her head to wait for Qin Daihe's instructions.

  Qin Dai Xin's sharp eyes, where can't she see that few points of resentment, her heart is even colder with laughter, never mind how the former third miss was, now the third miss, isn't someone who can be manipulated by anyone.

  "Ma Pozi, is this the dish you made? The entire household has been talking about your exceptional skills, and yet you managed to produce something like this?" Qin Dai's words were not angry, but her voice was eerily cold, making Chunli tremble with fear. Miss had never lost her temper so badly before, even when she threw plates and scolded people in the past, it wasn't as terrifying as this.

  It doesn't matter, Miss has never cared about these things! She secretly took a look at Qin Dai Xin, seeing the latter calm and quiet, seemingly not angry, and she had a bottom line in her heart.

  The old woman retorted, "Miss, it's not that my skills are poor, but there's really nothing to make. The madam has ordered you to be vegetarian, I couldn't possibly disobey the madam's orders, could I?"

  A clever and cunning old woman, using Mrs. Tao's authority to suppress her.

  "Madam, you want me to eat vegetarian food, but do you have to make me eat plain cabbage and radish every day? It's so bland and tasteless, not even a bit of oil or seasoning. Don't you know that I've just recovered from a serious illness and need to nourish my body well?" Qin Daiyu's voice was not loud, nor was her tone high-pitched, but she seemed somewhat weak in spirit. Ruyi and Chunli heard clearly, this was obviously the calm before the storm.

  Opportunities are in front of you, but cherish them.

  The old woman still didn't see through her true nature and thought that Third Miss was a weak-willed, easily bullied person, not knowing that this was just a false image.

  The old woman grumbled to herself, then replied, "You can't supplement emptiness. Miss has been eating for three months, why do you want to supplement now? The ingredients in my hands are scarce, I'm afraid I won't be able to make the flavor Miss wants." The implication was that she wouldn't serve her anymore.

  "What a reckless thing, who gave you the guts to speak to me like that?" Qin Dai's tone suddenly became heavier, and her whole body emitted an aura of "don't get close to me", her eyes were sharp and piercing, as if she was a goddess of death, making people shiver without even being cold.

  Ru Yi and Chun Lian had never seen Qin Dai Xin like this before, they were so scared that they didn't dare to breathe out loud. This time the young lady was really angry, but this unfamiliar aura was also too frightening.

  The old woman felt like she was being stared at by a wolf, her body hair standing on end, as if the other's gaze could kill her. She quickly knelt down to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

  Qin Dai Xin's gaze was forged in the crucible of life and death, tempered by countless battles and endless slaughter. The icy chill and ruthlessness had seeped into her very being, infusing her blood and marrow with a flavor that was both numb and forgetful. If she tried to conceal it, it would sink to the bottom of her eyes; if she tried to release it, it would awaken completely.

  "The old slave dare not, the old slave dare not." Ma Pozi was so frightened that she hastily knelt down.

  "How dare you?" Qin Dai sneered coldly. She had given her a chance, but she herself had let it go. "Who gave you the benefit to treat me like this?"

  The old woman's heart trembled slightly, but she said firmly: "Whatever you say, Miss, I don't understand."

  "Don't you understand?" After a serious illness, nutrition is key. If it goes on for a long time, even if the illness is cured, I'm afraid there will be lingering effects. "I'm afraid no one understands better than you do. If you don't understand, that's okay, just answer me one question."

  The old woman lowered her head and didn't dare make a sound.

  "What happened to the ginseng your aunt gave you? Who did you feed it to?"

  Qin Dai Xin's voice was not loud, but this sentence sounded in Ma Pozi's ears like a thunderclap on a dry day. How did she know about the ginseng?

  The panic in her heart grew bigger and bigger, and the mare on the ground became more and more restless, trembling like a sieve.

  When she was in the Qin's mansion, Su Niang knew that she would follow her to the countryside and had secretly sent someone to find her. She specifically instructed that Third Miss's body was weak and needed nourishment. Although Old Madam was still angry with her, she couldn't gamble with her daughter's health, so she gave her a piece of 100-year-old ginseng to secretly put in the soup to nourish Third Miss's body. Su Niang had deliberately given her a red envelope to seal her mouth and instructed her to take good care of Third Miss's diet, promising that there would be a heavy reward when they returned...

  This is known to heaven and earth, she knows herself, how did the third lady know? Did Auntie tell her about this matter? If so, why did the third lady only speak out today?

  "The young lady said something about ginseng, old slave...old slave doesn't know. If the third young lady still doesn't believe it, she can just have someone search." Ma Pozi firmly believed that she was only deceiving herself, perhaps it was just a coincidence. The most important thing now is to grit her teeth and not say a word.

  Qin Dai's smile sent chills down people's spines, and Yu Yi and Chun Li only felt a cold wind blowing up from their backs, the hairs on the back of their necks standing on end. This third miss, they didn't recognize her.

  "Search?" Qin Dai raised an eyebrow, this slave, what a big dog's gallbladder.

  "The old slave has no choice but to prove her innocence this way." Ma Pozi gritted her teeth, not believing that Third Miss could do anything to her.

  Qin Dai'er thought to herself: "I'm afraid it's been sold long ago, and the gambling debt at Xingfu Gambling House has been repaid." This secret was not known to anyone, and this matter was kept extremely confidential. If Qin Dai'er hadn't recently gone to various brothels to "visit friends" frequently, she wouldn't have heard Ma Pozi's drunken nonsense and learned about the ginseng affair.

  Do not privately reward those you love, nor privately punish those you hate.

  Qin Dai'er knew this principle, so she didn't let Ruyi and Chunli withdraw.

  As soon as the words came out, Ma Pozi's legs softened and she fell to the ground. The affairs of Xingfu Casino were all kept secret from her family by her. How did Third Miss know about it?

  It's all over now.

  Ma Pozi was somewhat bewildered, she had always been impeccable in doing such things, how could the news have leaked out and let Third Miss know? Now is not the time for regret, the key is how to get through this hurdle.

  If it weren't for selling ginseng to pay off debts, those rascals would have come knocking on the door long ago. Auntie and Third Miss are also considered her benefactors. Now Third Miss probably has something she wants me to do, not that she really wants my old life.

  Ma Pozi had been waiting in the mansion for so many years, although her mind was all on wine and cards, but she still knew some things. No wonder she suddenly became clever at this time, busily begging for mercy: "Miss, Miss spare my life!" Ma Pozi quickly crawled up, knelt down in front of Qin Daihe, and kept kowtowing: "I was wrong, I know my fault. The ginseng given by the madam was taken away by me to pay off the gambling debt, I had no choice, it was to save my life! Please Miss spare your mercy, I am willing to be a cow or a horse, to repay your kindness." After finishing speaking, she continued to kowtow.

  Yu's heart was racing with anxiety, wondering who this person in front of her really was.