Chapter 16: Unleashing Divine Authority (Part 2)

  Miss Qin Dai Xin, since childhood has been a child with great self-esteem, her illegitimate status made her feel inferior and suffered many grievances, so she was sensitive, like a hedgehog that wanted to fight with people every moment, for the sake of her so-called status, she tried to please her elder lady who didn't like her, stayed away from her biological mother, and even ignored Su Niang's indifference to the point of not hearing or asking about it.

  How did such an impulsive and reckless young lady become what she is today?

  She remains calm and composed in the face of events, always thinking one step ahead of others. On the surface, she appears unruffled, but inside, she has a hidden plan. An old fox like Ma Pozi fell into Miss's trap, and was caught without even making a sound. Those things had grasped Ma Pozi's weak points, but how did Miss know about them?

  "I'm not that bad at talking." Qin Dai's heart sank for a moment, then asked: "If this soup is made with high broth, the taste should be different, right?"

  This was a very obvious hint, and Ma Pozi naturally understood it.

  "Of course, of course. The taste is different, but it doesn't look much different on the surface." This can also be considered a response.

  Still knows what's going on. "As you wish, follow Chunli downstairs and bring some tea for Mother Ma."

  "Yes." The two maidservants were like people who had just received a pardon, hastily curtsying and retreating, knowing that the two of them must have something to discuss.

  The door was gently closed, making a faint creaking sound, which, when it reached Old Lady Feng's ears, seemed to be amplified infinitely, causing her heart to skip a beat.

  Qin Dai Xin was simply fiddling with her fingers and didn't say a word, this silence made Feng Pozi almost unable to breathe, and sweat came out involuntarily.

  "Miss, old slave..." Ma Pozi was at a loss, constantly rubbing her hands.

  "Anything wrong?" Qin Dai's heart was calm and she didn't even glance at the horse-faced woman's expression.

  The old woman's heart is bitter, you clearly called me here, and now that I've sent someone to ask questions, you're not saying anything, it really makes one's heart feel cold. Whoever said that Third Miss was a brainless fool who was easy to deal with was simply talking nonsense.

  Qin Dai Xin smiled and said: "Get up, you're not young anymore, how can you always kneel like this?"

  The old woman stood up as promised, but because she had been kneeling for too long, her legs had gone numb and she almost fell over.

  Qin Dai Xin pretended not to see, and asked: "This person who has just recovered from a serious illness, in a place like the countryside, it's inevitable to catch some cold and get some minor illnesses. If you eat these things all day..." Qin Dai Xin pointed to the bowls on the table, "...your body will probably not be well-nourished?" In the countryside, it's also not easy to find a good doctor. If you're not careful, losing your life is also hard to say.

  The old woman's palms were all sweaty, but she didn't know how to respond.

  "Speak! Who told you to do this?" Qin Dai's voice was not loud, her tone was not high, and her manner was calm. But for some reason, Ma Po felt that each of her words was like thunder, striking her heart and making it tremble, her two legs wanting to shake uncontrollably. She wanted to say something, but Ma Po moved her mouth for a long time without saying a word.

  "What's your husband's surname?" Qin Dai changed the subject and started inquiring about Ma's family affairs.

  The old woman hesitated for a moment and replied: "My surname is Niu."

  "Could she also be a born daughter of the Qin family?" The reaction from this woman was within her expectations, but she wasn't a proper young lady from the manor, so simple and easy to fool.

  "It's true, the head of our household is a coachman in the government office, and he drives very well." Ma Pozi answered honestly despite being confused.

  "Where is the child?" Qin Dai's heart seemed to want to chat with this old lady about some family matters, asking all sorts of very ordinary things.

  "The slave has two sons, both of whom work in the stables of the mansion." Seeing that she was asking about trivial matters, Madam Ma felt slightly relieved and her tone became lighter.

  "Have both sons gotten married yet?" Another idle remark.

  "The children of the eldest son are all three years old, but the youngest son doesn't have any yet." Speaking of this youngest son, he is indeed a worry for his mother. He's already 14 years old, but he's still like when he was little and wore open-crotch pants - he doesn't like to talk to people, and in front of his parents, he can't say anything good either. He's as dull as a block of wood... who knows if he'll be able to get married in the future?

  "Who made you do this?"

  "It's Fourth Miss." Ma Pozi blurted out without thinking, and after waiting for half a day without hearing Qin Dai Xin ask another question, she realized that something was wrong.

  "Third Miss, it's all the fault of this servant. I was greedy and took the two hundred taels of silver meant for Fourth Miss, and also took the ginseng that belonged to Madame. This servant is wrong, please don't be angry with me, spare my life this once! I won't dare do it again, I won't dare do it again." Seeing the situation unfolding, Mother Ma hurriedly knelt down to beg for mercy. The Third Miss, who seemed weak and fragile, was actually a fierce and formidable person inside, someone she didn't want to offend at all costs.

  Two hundred taels? You're really willing to spend a fortune. Qin Dai's eyes, which had been cold and hard, softened as she looked at the old woman on the ground, who was just a small pawn in the grand scheme of things - why make things difficult for her?

  "It's all right, get up! Don't mention today's events to anyone else, just keep it between us. I won't pursue past matters either, so take the ginseng from your aunt and the silver from Fourth Miss!"

  What does this mean? Is Third Miss really going to let it go? Madam Ma didn't dare get up, seeing Qin Dai's serious expression, she tentatively asked: "Third Miss..."

  "I mean what I say, and since I said I wouldn't pursue it, that's the end of it from now on. However, this meal can't be done like this again in the future."

  "Your humble servant remembers, thank you Third Miss, thank you Third Miss." Old Mother Ma felt as if she had walked a circle in the underworld, originally destined to die without a doubt, but now was returning to the world of the living, resurrected from death.

  The old woman got up, again with a thousand thanks and apologies, and only then did she wipe away her tears and walk quickly away.

  The fourth young lady in the mansion was Qin Ruoxin, born of Wang Yiniang, said to be of the same age as herself.

  Qin Dai's heart felt once again that it was not easy being an ancient woman. At just thirteen years old, she had already learned how to harm people in various ways. According to Ruyi, in the mansion, Qin Dai and Fourth Miss were originally close friends, both being born out of wedlock and of the same age, naturally getting along well. However, in her early years, Madame Su had a miscarriage, which was said to be because of Madame Wang. It was also because of this reason that Master ignored Madame Wang. After losing power, Fourth Miss became distant from Qin Dai...

  This conversation was originally left unfinished, perhaps because Yu Rong felt that she wasn't close to her aunt either and didn't want to continue talking about it, so she changed the subject. She hadn't taken it to heart before, but after hearing what Ma Pozi said, she thought that Qin Ruoxi might have been influenced by Wang Yiniang's words, and not being close might just be a facade. At thirteen years old, wasn't she already old enough to distinguish between good and bad people, near and far relationships?

  She used to think that although the relationships within the family were indifferent, there would still be genuine sibling affection. Now it seems that she was thinking too much.

  She was never a person of this world, where did she get any family affection or fraternal love?

  "Come in." Qin Dai's voice rang out, and then Ruyi lifted the curtain and entered. She must not have gone far, or else she had come as soon as Ma Pozi left.

  "Miss." Ruo Yi bowed and waited for her instructions, looking a bit more distant than usual.

  I'm afraid you were scared by your own appearance just now!

  "Have you found out who's in charge of procurement yet?"

  Ru Yi still lowered her head and said, "The slave has asked, it's indeed from the Zhuangzi. This Zhuangzi produces its own grain and vegetables, and doesn't buy many things on a daily basis. It's said that there is a fairly large vegetable cellar to store winter vegetables. On a daily basis, they go to a county in the west to buy things, which is only thirty or so miles away from here."

  "Why didn't you go to Taizhou to buy it?" she asked inexplicably.

  "The road is far, and the prices of things are also higher. The people in the village eat and wear what they have, which is not comparable to what we have in our mansion or what can be bought in the county. It's just enough for them." Ruyi was slightly surprised, Qin Dai had never paid attention to these things before, why was she like this today?

  "I don't know if there's a skilled craftsman around, I have something I want to make, you go ask again, if not, let him run a bit further and find someone in Taizhou to make it for me." She had been thinking about this for a long time, if it could be done successfully, they would be in luck.

  As he wished, they also removed a table of untouched dishes and had the kitchen send over some new ones. Only then did he feel at ease, and went to ask that young servant boy.

  "That county is a bit small, are there any skilled craftsmen? Our young lady wants to find someone to make some small trinkets, if the work isn't delicate, I'm afraid our young lady won't like it, but it's also annoying."

  Although the young man in charge of purchasing was not very old, he was a clever and resourceful person. Although others did not take Third Miss seriously as the mistress, he knew whose rice bowl he was holding onto. Upon learning that Qin Daiyu wanted to find a craftsman to make something, he introduced one: "Don't worry, Young Mistress, I know this person's background. Don't look at his age, it's said that he used to work in the palace, but after injuring his hand, he couldn't do very delicate work, so he returned to his hometown to live out his days."

  A craftsman returning home can also be called "retirement in honor"? Ruo Yi was somewhat skeptical.

  This young fellow may have seen Ruyi's idea, and continued: "I heard that the nobles in the palace used to like to ask him to do things. Although these are hearsay, the things he does are indeed very ingenious, not to mention the fine workmanship, but also the good appearance. I don't know what Miss wants to do? Is there a drawing or something? Why don't I take some time off and go there? If he can't make it, going to Taizhou won't delay much work."

  Ru Yi understood the situation and said she would go back and ask Miss, then turned back to Qin Dai Xin's courtyard. When she entered, she happened to catch up with the little maids removing the table, she stood aside and whispered, waiting for the people to retreat cleanly, only then did she tell Qin Dai Xin what she had inquired about.

  Qin Dai Xin picked up a book she usually read, took out several neatly folded papers from it, and handed them to Ru Yi: "These are the drawings I made, with materials and craftsmanship written on them. Let the craftsman follow them to make it. The thing is a bit big, let him hurry up and bring more ropes and other fixing tools to secure it well, so as not to damage or bump it. There are also several things I want written on it, let him try his best to find them for me."

  "Yes." Yiyi took it over but didn't look at it and only asked: "Miss, can this money be taken from the cabinet?"

  "Here! Give him some more, and it's also necessary to pay a fixed amount of money. Bring fifty taels."

  Fifty taels was no small sum, and although he felt a slight surprise in his heart, he didn't show it, and bowed to leave.