Chapter Ninety-Four: Trivial Matters

  For many death row inmates, death is not the most frightening thing. Death is a kind of redemption and liberation for them, a new beginning rather than an end. What really makes them feel terrified and fearful is the process of sentencing. It's a kind of indescribable waiting and torment that pushes human psychology to its limits. This is why many excellent spies and special agents can withstand all sorts of severe torture but cannot withstand the wait on the eve of sentencing. That instant of dying is just a momentary thing, while waiting is like a fire dragon rushing towards you, which you can only watch as it slowly approaches you, engulfs you, and finally turns you into a pile of ashes!

  Jiang wasn't a secret agent, nor had she received any special training. She couldn't withstand Qin Dai Xin's silent torture. Her fear grew, and her mind flashed with all sorts of punishments she might receive. Panicked, she knelt down and repeatedly kowtowed to Qin Dai Xin, "Third Miss, it was old slave's mistake, I offended you. Please be magnanimous and spare old slave's life!" After all, one needs to have a life to drink tea, right? There were rumors in the mansion that Third Miss had beaten a young maid from Su Niang's courtyard until she was half-dead. At first, Jiang didn't believe it, but now she believed it a bit - if she herself received such a beating, wouldn't she lose her life?

  No one in the house dared to laugh, only hearing Jiang's head knocking on the floor tiles with a loud noise, as if it was echoing in their hearts, they all held their breath, lowered their heads, and were afraid of being affected by the misfortune.

  Qin Daiyun lazily said a sentence "Forget it", then let Jiang Shi get up and stand aside, sternly instructing: "Today's matter of your overstepping, I won't investigate, but you also need to remember for me, the people around me are not those you can covet, go back and shut your mouth tightly, if I hear even a little rumor..."

  Qin Dai's face sank, and she changed from her previous lazy and carefree appearance to say: "I'll skin you alive."

  The Jiang family felt a small sense of resentment in their hearts, but they couldn't express it and could only resignedly say: "This servant knows her place."

  This farce ended like this, the two women returned to their own posts, carefully recalling the scene just now, their legs and feet were slightly soft, a layer of sweat appeared on their backs, and they didn't mention it.

  After sending Jiang Shi away, Qin Dai's heart naturally wanted to comfort Ai Lian as well.

  "It's been two years, and you still remember it today. If there's something unpleasant in your heart, just tell me. If she hadn't caused a scene today, I would have forgotten that this thing even existed. Where did the idea of giving you to someone else come from?"

  Ai Lian was both surprised and delighted, she didn't expect the young lady to not be angry with her anymore. She knew that their relationship was different, it was her own fault for being narrow-minded these past two years. When the master said "from now on you don't need to serve in the house", she took it literally and didn't dare enter the main house again, what a wooden brain.

  Ru Yi knew that Qin Dai's personality had changed, it was just a matter of this half year. If it were in the past, it would also be said to be done. But no matter what, today's matter is considered to be perfectly resolved, there's nothing more delightful than this.

  Ai Lian was so excited that she solemnly knocked her head three times on Qin Dai's heart, with a face full of gratitude.

  The atmosphere in the room suddenly became lively.

  Qin Dai Xin felt a bit hungry, so she ordered the kitchen to make her a bowl of noodles. However, Ruyi thought this arrangement was too simple, so she had someone make small meatballs with tender and fresh meat and add them to the noodles. She also chose two simple side dishes and had someone bring them up.

  Ai Lian insisted on serving beside him. Like Yi understood her feelings and didn't refuse her intention. Seeing Qin Dai's heart wasn't in it, he smiled and agreed.

  After a meal, several masters and servants had a good laugh, and it was hard to see the previous gap.

  The young maidservants cleared the table and brought in fragrant tea, and the four of them sat in the house chatting. Qin Dai's heart was still thinking about the interesting things that Ruyi had said, so she asked her to tell them one by one for everyone to hear.

  Ru Yi thought for a moment and said: "There is one thing that makes some sense, but I'm afraid if I say it out loud, the young lady won't be pleased."

  Qin Dai's eyelids didn't even lift as she said, "From what I hear in your words, it seems to still be related to me, just go ahead and say it."

  Ruyi turned around and took a plate of persimmon cakes, taking advantage of the opportunity to glance at Chunli and Ailian, who understood each other's intentions and retreated. Ruyi placed the persimmons on the kang table, then said in a soft voice: "After the first month, Madam will probably be back." She spoke softly, fearing that Qin Dai would not be pleased.

  Who else is there besides Qin Fengge?

  "What's going on?" The tone was very calm, with only curiosity and no hint of anger.

  Ru Yi let out a sigh of relief and hastily said: "I heard that it's because Grandfather wants to resign from his official position, after returning from his post he will spend several years living a carefree life."

  Qin Dai Xin's eyes dimmed slightly, and this old man was her cheap uncle-in-law, Gong Sun Tai Xing.

  The Gong family knew that although they were a scholarly family for generations, they were just a declining branch of the clan. In several generations, only one Gong Sun Tai Xing had passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). He first served as a county lieutenant and later promoted to be a county magistrate. However, Gong Sun Tai Xing's performance was mediocre, and he had been serving as a county magistrate for many years without finding an opportunity to get promoted.

  Now that he has resigned from office, he is probably also aware that his promotion prospects are slim.

  Ru Yi carefully observed Qin Dai Xin's expression on the side, seeing that she was only deep in thought and not unhappy, somewhat relieved. The atmosphere in the room was no longer as relaxed and pleasant as before, somewhat gloomy.

  Young Master Bai still has a grudge against Qin Dai, and Third Madame's repeated attempts to frame her are all known to these people.

  The young lady is probably worried too!

  Qin Dai Xin didn't pay much attention to this matter. In her cognitive world, she had never considered this family as her own relatives. Gong Sun Jin and Qin Feng Ge had put themselves in danger several times, with cruel means and ulterior motives, their hearts were punishable! Although Gong Sun Tai Xing did not participate in it, he was the head of a county, indulging his son's crime, knowing the law but breaking it, he must not be a good person either. If she hadn't already changed from the former Qin Dai Xin, she would have been trapped in prison by now and couldn't get out.

  She only hopes that after this family loses the protection of their official status, they will become more rational. If they come again to offend her, she fears it will be difficult for her to show mercy...

  "This isn't anything particularly fun, but you're really paying attention, where did you hear it from?" Qin Dai's heart had already felt that the atmosphere in the house was a bit off, so she asked jokingly.

  Ru Yi understood her meaning and said: "To say this matter, it's really not that I heard about it from the slaves, but Xue Qing accidentally heard someone mention it and quietly told me."

  Xue Qing? She almost forgot that she had bought a pair of mother and daughter entering the mansion before the New Year.

  "You wouldn't have mentioned it if I hadn't forgotten, how were these two mother and daughter settled?" He sounded very interested.

  Ru Yi said: "These two mother and daughter are quite clever, one teaching is enough to understand, I simply told them about the things in the house, they also remembered. According to the rules, Xue Qing should start from the lowest rank of maid, but unexpectedly she can read, it's said that her father taught her a lot of books before. The slave is worried and doesn't know how to arrange this. If let her do chores, afraid it would be humiliating for her, but directly letting her serve in the house also makes me worry, just waiting for Miss to make a decision!"

  Qin Dai thought for a moment, feeling that this matter was not difficult to handle, and said: "That girl looks quite clever, and she is literate and understands etiquette, so let her start directly as a second-class maid! Her monthly allowance will be the same as Chun Lian's and Ai Lian's. For now, don't have her take care of the objects in the house, just have her follow me for a while to see how it goes!"

  Ru Yi was somewhat surprised at this arrangement, but didn't dare not respond, hastily answering: "Yes, I've taken note of it."

  "How did her mother, Yan, arrange it?"

  "Temporarily arranged in the kitchen."

  Inappropriate.

  Qin Dai's heart thought so, but her face didn't show it, and she casually said: "Can Yan Shi also read?"

  "I understand."

  "Send her to the Zhuangzi estate for now! Don't let her interfere with anything temporarily, have two wives send someone over and have someone deliver a message to Zheng Guan Shi, just say let her get familiar with the place first, don't assign any tasks to her yet, other things I will take care of myself." The tone was stern and not open to questioning.

  Ru Yi suppressed the shock in her heart and responded, feeling that her mind was a bit muddled. The Yan family sent someone to the Zhuang's place, while Xue Qing stayed by Miss's side. Listening to the meaning, it didn't seem like she would be reused, but rather just followed her around. Did Miss not trust this mother-daughter pair? Otherwise, why would they be separated?

  The figure of Xiao Yatou was slightly moving outside the curtain, and Yi saw it and went out to greet her. In a short while, she came back and said to Qin Dai, "Miss, Li Gongzi has left the mansion. What he said at the banquet is unknown, but I know that when he left, Master personally sent him off. The two of them were laughing and chatting, both very happy."

  Qin Dai Xin didn't find it unexpected, nodded to indicate that she knew, and instructed Ruyi that she was tired and needed to rest for a while.

  She served her with a smile and had her lie down on the kang, covering her with a red quilt embroidered with golden carp playing among lotus flowers, before retreating.

  The room was warm and cozy, with only the sound of Qin Dai's gentle and steady breathing. Suddenly, she seemed to feel someone speaking in her ear, their voice unclear but making her body burn with heat. Her mind was clear, but she couldn't move, unable to escape the waves of heat that crashed against her body again and again.

  In a daze, the voice came over again from afar, firm and powerful, thick and loud:

  "The Way of Heaven, desires to be with the infinite and contains emptiness, regardless of south or north, calm the mind and eliminate worries, when the vital energy declines then the spirit runs to the heavenly court, follows the principles of yin and yang, understands the numerology, the divine communication walks through the hundred convergences of the refined essence, practices the wonderful method of the conception and governing vessels; quiet contemplation pacifies the spirit, clear and calm like the crown of heaven's pivot, clear and empty without obstacles, knowing is heavenly destiny, the five elements play with the sun and moon in the pot, grasp the yin and yang on the palm, therefore long preservation..."

  Its content is profound and abstruse, with infinite depth.

  Qin Dai Xin only felt dizzy, but her body wasn't as hot anymore. A cool and refreshing stream was circulating inside her body, she unknowingly followed the voice in her mind, chanting along with it. She only felt her consciousness becoming more and more blurry, but her body became lighter and lighter...