Chapter 93: Teaching a Lesson to the Wicked Aunt (Part 2)

  Qin Dai Xin smiled and stared at Jiang Shi's face for a while, then ordered Chun Li to call Ai Lian over. Chun Li was somewhat displeased, but didn't dare go against Qin Dai Xin's wishes, so she went off with a huff, still giving Jiang Shi a fierce glare as she left the door.

  In a moment, Chunli and Ailian entered the house together. Ailian was wearing a light green narrow-sleeved jacket with two delicate pink silk flowers on her head, making her look even more beautiful than usual. As soon as Jiang saw her, she fixed her gaze on her and thought that this girl had become even more lovely, her clothes were clean and tidy, obviously a diligent person. If she entered their household, the old man would have someone to take care of him, with such a pretty girl by his side, he wouldn't want to run off to the gambling house anymore. Jiang seemed to see the day when her eldest son would reform and felt delighted, completely unaware that Qindai's face had turned cold.

  Ai Lian's face turned pale as soon as she saw Jiang Shi. So it's finally happened? She had been worried for two years, afraid for two years, hoping that everything in the past was just a dream! If Miss really wanted to give herself to that scoundrel, even if she jumped into a well and died, she would still be clean and pure.

  Ai Lian thought about it and didn't think there was anything to be afraid of, so she properly bowed to Qin Dai Xin and stood aside, as if this matter had nothing to do with her.

  "I love you."

  "Miss has ordered."

  Qin Daiyun lazily asked: "Do you know this person?"

  Ailian's eyelids didn't even flicker as she said, "I don't recognize him."

  "Hey! How can you talk like that?" Jiang was getting anxious, hastily moving closer to Ailian, "You don't recognize others, but you still don't recognize me? I'm Lin Hai's mother! My good daughter-in-law."

  Ai Lian hastily stepped aside and said without turning her head, "Don't talk nonsense, elder sister-in-law. Who is your daughter-in-law? Are you thinking about your daughter-in-law until you're crazy and now you're making a scene in front of our young mistress?"

  Ru Yi knew her temperament, and as soon as she heard this, she became worried, fearing that this girl would do something stupid. Chun Li didn't understand the reasoning behind it, but felt that Ai Lian's words were forceful and also slapped Jiang Shi in the face, so she stood aside happily.

  Jiang thought to herself, scolding Ai Lian from head to toe, thinking that once she got her into the Lin family's door, would she still have to worry about not being able to discipline her?

  "Third Miss, look at this girl, she's probably shy. Why don't you take charge and arrange for her to marry my eldest son?" Jiang Shi knew that Qin Dai was the key figure, so she didn't bother with Ai Lian's attitude anymore.

  "Ailian, do you still remember this matter? Tell me about it." Qin Dai didn't bother to respond to Jiang Shi, nor did she mention the intention of matching Ailian with her son. She just wondered what had happened in the end and why "she" had made such a decision back then.

  Ailian didn't understand Qin Dai Xin's meaning, wasn't this something everyone knew? She thought for a moment and felt that Miss might have other plans too, so she raised another glimmer of hope in her heart. "Two years ago, I...I broke the ivory pen holder given by Madam to Miss, Miss quarreled with Second Miss because of me, it was only natural that I should be punished, Miss said..." She wanted to say that Miss would marry her off to Lin Hai, who drank and gambled every day, so she could also taste what it's like to live an uncomfortable life every day. Ailian didn't finish speaking, but Qin Dai Xin understood the rest, fearing that the truth was not as simple, only that her maid was afraid of losing face in front of the servants, so she picked out some unimportant words and said a few sentences.

  Isn't this just a case of misplaced anger? Is it all because of this that Ailian has become estranged from herself? But she still knows how to protect her own reputation, so how could she really be estranged from herself? It's probably because there's something else going on here, and "herself" is being petty, not allowing Ailian to come and serve her. She still remembers the tears in Ailian's eyes when she wiped her head that night, and it seems like these past two years haven't been easy for her either. Compared to Yiyi, who is only one year younger, she looks much thinner, which shows that life hasn't been treating her very well.

  Things have come to this point, and it's no longer necessary to delve into the right or wrong of the matter. As long as we can get rid of the Jiang family, that's all that matters.

  "Ailian, I'm asking you, are you willing to marry me?"

  Jiang heard this and her eyes lit up, she hastily stared at Ailian, wishing to rush over and press her head to make her agree, without considering the intention behind Qindai's question.

  Ailian was unwilling, but she didn't understand why the young lady asked this way. She hadn't been serving by Qin Dai's side for nearly two years and naturally didn't know that her temperament had changed. Ruyi, however, understood early on and stepped forward to pull her, saying in a low voice, "Tell the truth."

  Ru Yi treated her well, so she shouldn't harm her. Thinking of this, Ai Lian steeled herself and said: "Miss, I'm not willing to marry him. Lin Hai is a notorious gambler, not to mention his love of wine, but also his laziness is famous. Even if I were to jump into a well and die, I wouldn't marry such a good-for-nothing."

  Mrs. Jiang was naturally displeased upon hearing this, and her anger flared up at Ailian's words. "What are you talking about?" she shouted loudly. "This is not a matter of your willingness or unwillingness! When you marry into a family, you follow their rules. Even if my son were crippled, there would be no need for you to mention it. You little wretch, your mouth is sharp indeed! Just wait until you enter our household - you'll have a hard time!"

  Chun-li stood by, her lungs about to burst from anger, and shouted: "You're a foolish woman, so ignorant of the rules! Miss hasn't even spoken yet, and you're already lecturing others. Your son is that kind of person, what can be said? Ai Lian is Miss's maid, not your relative, it's not up to you to lecture."

  "Miss San has promised something, how can she go back on her word?" Jiang Shi held onto this point and wouldn't let go, showing that she also understood Qin Dai's temperament.

  It's just a pity that she is no longer "her" anymore.

  "When did I agree?" Qin Dai's voice was not loud, but her words sounded like a thunderclap on a clear day to Jiang Shi.

  "Third Miss, you said so two years ago! You even called me over and I thanked you for your kindness!" Jiang Shi was getting anxious, she had never thought that Qin Dai Xin would deny this matter.

  "I don't care about what happened two years ago, I only care about the present. Ailian is my person, and I naturally have the right to arrange her whereabouts. If she serves me well, I will let her stay in the house for a few more years. If I want to marry her off, I will choose someone with good moral character to be with her. Now, I've already asked her opinion, if she agrees, I won't force her to stay. But you see, she doesn't agree, and says she'd rather die than marry your son. How can I bear to let a capable person like her die unjustly?" Qin Dai said slowly, spreading her hands in an innocent gesture, "It's not that I'm being unreasonable, it's just that my girl is unwilling!"

  She made Ailian and Jiang Shi both stunned, the former was happy and the latter was worried, naturally they couldn't help but quarrel for a while. Jiang Shi originally had a thin face, and at this time, for her son's marriage, she became even more distorted, "Third Miss, you are the master, can you still tolerate the maid's temper? Can you bear with her saying whether she is willing or not? You should have your own mind."

  "Listening to you, am I not becoming that person without a mind of my own? How can doing things still require your guidance and instruction?" Qin Dai narrowed her eyes, and Ruyu knew this was a dangerous signal.

  "The old slave didn't mean it that way, the old slave just wanted to ask Third Miss to take charge for the old slave."

  With an air of righteous indignation.

  "You're such a shameless woman, coming to disturb our young mistress's heart during the New Year. Our mistress said she won't marry Ai Lian, and that means she won't marry him. You can afford to lose face, but we can't afford to tarnish Ai Lian's reputation! Get out of here quickly." Ruyi was also trying to save her, afraid that she would provoke the master into a rage and suffer family punishment during the festival.

  "This Jiang family is a stubborn axle, always thinking that once the master agrees to something, it should be fulfilled. Relying on the harsh words Qin Dai said two years ago, she suddenly started making a scene: 'I don't care, in short, if Third Miss agreed to let Ailian marry my eldest son, there's no reason for her to go back on her word. I can stand up for this wherever I go, and if Third Miss goes back on her word, I'll go ask to see the mistress and old mistress, and have them make a fair judgment.'"

  Ru Yi was shocked and thought it was not good. The young lady hated it the most when others used Tai Furen and Furen to suppress her. In the eyes of outsiders, Fang Shi and Fang Wanru were both important figures in the mansion, who had the final say. A girl born out of wedlock could naturally be scolded and controlled, but Ru Yi knew that in the heart of the young lady, these two women were not taken seriously at all.

  As expected, Qin Daihe heard Jiang's words and instead of getting angry, she smiled, but it was a cold smile. "What a bold woman, causing trouble and disturbing her grandmother and mother, I'd like to see what this sharp tongue of yours can do."

  She then told Ruyi to find two robust and strong women, who were responsible for doing rough chores such as fetching water and chopping firewood, and naturally had a lot of strength.

  Ru Yi knew that Qin Dai Xin wanted to teach the Lin family a lesson, but she was worried that making a big noise would attract trouble from other courtyards. She hesitated, not wanting to give others the impression that their own young mistress couldn't even order around her maid, so in the end she gritted her teeth and went to call for the servant.

  Jiang didn't expect Qin Daihe to have such a move, just as she was about to make a sound, she was held up by two old women. After getting Qin's signal, they slapped Jiang's face fiercely with their hands, causing her mouth to swell instantly.

  "Third Miss, spare me! How can you bear to treat me like this!"

  There was also a hint of blame in his words.

  Qin Dai Xin was fiddling with a golden tangerine in her hand, ignoring Jiang Shi's cries for mercy, without even turning her head. The two maids had seen the world and done many such "beating" jobs before, seeing that their master didn't speak up, they clenched their fists again and hit several more times, this time with a few more points of force than before.

  "Third Miss, I was wrong. I won't mention this marriage arrangement again. Please forgive me, a novice, just this once!" Jiang Shi took advantage of the opportunity to beg for mercy. She knew that Qin Dai's anger had reached its peak and her last shred of hope was gone.

  Qin Dai's slender hand waved slightly in the air, and the two women stopped their hands, panting heavily beside them, it was clear that they had used a lot of force just now.

  Qin Dai Xin played with the golden tangerine in her hand, rubbing its surface gently, as if it were a rare treasure. She was completely absorbed in gazing at the tangerine, ignoring everyone else in the room. For a moment, Yi and others didn't even dare to breathe loudly, and the room fell silent.