"Come back!" Wei Jianjia snapped, a sneer playing on her lips. "Why did you call the physician? To make me a laughingstock? My aunt is having a great time with Su Hua and the others right now."

"Even if I died, let alone injured my hand, they wouldn't care!"

Having said that, he picked up the jade cup and was about to throw it to the ground.

"Miss, you mustn't drop it, you mustn't drop it!" Qiu Shuang's heart was in her throat as she watched her actions, and she hurriedly reached out to stop her. "This jade cup was given to you by Madam Qin just a few days ago for you to use for tea. If she knew that you would drop it like this, she would definitely be unhappy."

Wei Jianjia paused slightly, the bright red blood from her palm staining the outside of the jade cup, making her look alluring and wicked. "It's just a small jade cup. Do you think I, a dignified young lady of the Wei family, can't break it?"

"What's with all this talk of 'happy' or 'unhappy'! Look at your aunt, look at Yu Cheng, look at Ying Xian—they all treat that country bumpkin Su Hua like the apple of their eye, but do they show me even the slightest bit of affection?"

When Qiu Shuang heard her mention Su Hua twice, her mind cleared up a bit.

He immediately followed her lead, saying, "Miss is of noble birth; she could break an entire jade mine, let alone a jade cup!"

Su Hua was just a country girl. Madam Qin and her cousin treated her better only because she had once saved her cousin's life by sheer luck, so they felt more sorry for her.

In comparison, she's not even worthy to be a maidservant or carry shoes for the young lady!

Upon hearing this, Wei Jianjia's expression did not improve at all; the fingertips holding the jade cup turned slightly pale. "Do you really think that Yu Cheng's feelings for Su Hua are only based on gratitude?"

Just thinking about the way he clung to Su Hua made her want to vomit.

That look was not the look one would give to a benefactor.

Looking at her expression, Qiu Shuang remained silent for a while before gently smiling: "Whether it's just gratitude or mixed with other feelings, it won't threaten your position, Miss."

After all, it wasn't just the concubine's idea to send Miss to Qingshui County; it was also a joint decision made by the master, the third prince, and Consort Shu.

The marriage between the Qin family and the Wei family was practically a done deal.

How could Su Hua, a helpless village girl, possibly compete with you, Miss?

Upon hearing this, Wei Jianjia's rage subsided somewhat.

Yes, although the Wei family is not as wealthy as the Li family, her aunt, the eldest daughter of the Wei family, is the favored Consort Shu in the palace and the mother of the Third Prince.

Her journey from Kyoto to Shimizu Prefecture was at the behest of her father and aunt.

The princes in the palace are all grown up now. If the third prince wants to compete for the position, he must have a steady stream of financial support. The Li family is the money bag they have been eyeing for a long time. They are even more unwilling than she is to let anyone ruin the marriage between the Qin and Wei families.

She shouldn't let something as trivial as Su Hua upset her.

Seeing that her complexion had improved slightly, Qiu Shuang quickly took the jade cup from her hand and placed it far away. She then took out a small medicine box from the drawer under the table. "If Miss doesn't want the family physician to come, then don't. This servant will treat you."

Once the injury on your hand has healed, Miss should talk to Madam Qin and Young Master Qin more often; they will know how good you are.

Young Master is still young, so it's normal for him to be intrigued by pretty girls. Once that initial excitement wears off, there won't be anything left.

Wei Jianjia nodded and sat down, letting her treat her wounds. Her gaze fell on her bright red dress, and her disappointment was palpable. "But I don't want to see Yu Cheng's gaze fall on other women. I don't want to wait until his novelty wears off."

She thought that he only had eyes for her.

Since birth, she could only call the matriarch of the Wei family "mother" and her own mother "aunt".

Her maternal grandmother was a concubine, and her mother was also a concubine.

They were subservient to the mistress of the house their entire lives, and were not even allowed to wear bright red clothes.

Therefore, she has only worn red clothes since she was old enough to understand.

Her obsession with Qin Yucheng stemmed not only from his background and appearance, but also from the Qin family's ancestral precept that every male member of the Qin family was only allowed to marry one woman in his lifetime.

As long as she marries Qin Yucheng, she will be his legal wife and will have no need to worry about those other women.

Having witnessed her grandmother and mother spend their lives walking through sand, she cannot tolerate any sand in her eyes.

What she wanted was for Qin Yucheng to belong entirely to her.

“What you wish for, Miss, is not difficult at all.” Qiu Shuang had grown up with her since childhood and naturally understood her meaning. After gently wiping away the bloodstains from the wound, she smiled and said:

"This Su Hua was originally just a country girl who, after traveling with some doctor, learned some crude medical skills and happened to save the young master."

Spicy hot pot and fruit tree cuttings are considered unorthodox and unsavory practices that cannot be openly discussed.

But Miss is different. She has been studying with a female tutor in the Wei family since she was a child. She is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is one of the most talented women in the entire capital city.

"Su Hua is nothing compared to Miss."

Wei Jianjia's eyes brightened slightly, and she asked uncertainly, "What do you mean?"

After pondering for a while, Qiu Shuang smiled and pointed to the wooden box on the table, "Miss, you've been in Qingshui County for so long, and the visiting cards from the young masters and ladies of wealthy families in Qingshui County and even the prefectural city have already filled a box."

Now that it's April, with spring in full bloom, why not take this opportunity to host a flower-viewing banquet?

"At that time, Miss will invite Su Hua and Young Master Biao to exchange skills in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose. Young Master Biao will then know what is fleeting excitement and what is someone who can accompany him for a lifetime."

“What you said makes some sense.” Wei Jianjia was quite pleased to hear this. She usually looked down on the sons and daughters of wealthy families in Tangshan Prefecture and rejected all the visiting cards they sent. Now, in early April, it was the perfect time to hold a flower appreciation banquet.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!