Granny Ruan felt a tightness in her throat, and her breathing became much more difficult. When she looked down, she realized that her clothes were being held by Qian Zhiqing without her noticing.

Seeing that Granny Ruan did not answer, Qian Zhiqing reached out her other hand and tightly gripped her throat, whispering, "I'm asking you a question!"

With her throat being choked, Granny Ruan rolled her eyes and gasped for breath, her fingers involuntarily reaching for the fingers that were restraining her.

The slight stinging pain from someone scratching her finger brought Qian Zhiqing back to her senses. Seeing that she was about to pinch Granny Ruan to the point of injury, Qian Zhiqing was startled and quickly let go of her hand, gently patting her chest to help her catch her breath.

"I'm sorry, I acted hastily just now. Please forgive me, Granny."

Qian Zhiqing smiled gently and spoke softly.

Granny Ruan stared at her with a face full of terror, backing away repeatedly, as if she were looking at a demon that was about to take a life.

“Granny,” Qian Zhiqing said with a smile, taking a step forward and bending down. Before she could even offer a curtsy, Granny Ruan gasped and retreated, almost running into the house, refusing to show her face again.

Frustrated, Qian Zhiqing grabbed a nearby tree branch and plucked the flowers off it. She crushed them into mud with her slender fingers before giving the swaying curtain a sharp look.

Hopefully, this old hag knows what's good for her; otherwise, even if it means her aunt's wrath, she'll make sure she disappears from this world.

Qian Zhiqing took a deep breath, and a gentle smile returned to her face. She took small steps along the winding path, her skirt swaying slightly as she returned to Zhiping Courtyard.

Bao Xia brought over a large bunch of blooming peach blossoms. Upon seeing Qian Zhiqing, she happily stepped forward to greet her and said, "The peach blossoms are in full bloom today. Would you like to arrange them in a couple of vases yourself, Miss?"

Qian Zhiqing was already feeling very annoyed and couldn't concentrate on these things. Upon hearing this, she frowned and said irritably, "Take it aside. Who has the patience for these things?"

Bao Xia was taken aback. Before leaving, the young lady had instructed her to pick more peach blossoms so that she could arrange them as gifts for the madam and the young master. Why did the young lady change her mind as soon as she turned around? Bao Xia looked at Lan Qiu, who was silent to the side, with a puzzled expression.

Lan Qiu shook her head at her and winked at someone to the side.

Bao Xia quickly moved aside and put the vase on the table.

Qian Zhiqing rested her chin on her elbow, feeling a mix of emotions.

Is it really impossible to destroy it? They had clearly seized the initiative, yet they still failed at the last moment.

Qian Zhiqing clenched her fingers tightly, once again regretting that she shouldn't have left so easily to avoid arousing Zhou Si's suspicion. She should have waited until Shi Lan was completely submerged before leaving.

Now that Shi Lan is engaged to her cousin, they will probably get married soon. She has suffered from the loss of status before. Will she fail at this hurdle again this time?

Thinking of how two people who would otherwise have no connection became linked because of her, Qian Zhiqing gave a bitter smile, her body went limp, and she slumped onto the table, burying her head deeply, tears welling up in her eyes.

After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes, the fire in them burning intensely because no one could see it.

Being engaged doesn't mean being married; anything is possible, and she won't give up.

Qian Zhiqing clenched her fingers tightly, her neatly trimmed nails digging deep into the flesh of her palms, quickly leaving red marks.

The pain quickly returned, and Qian Zhiqing's mind cleared again. She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and looked up again, saying, "Bring the flowers."

Seeing that her mood had improved, Bao Xia and Lan Qiu breathed a sigh of relief. Bao Xia quickly took the flowers and walked over to her.

Qian Zhiqing tilted her head, looked at the peach blossom in Bao Xia's arms, examined it for a moment, and said, "Go and bring the fine white porcelain vase with the lady holding a zither and the blue and white porcelain vase with the magpie perched on a branch from the cabinet."

Lanqiu responded and went to the next room to open the cabinet and take out the bottle.

Bao Xia brought over the shears and helped Qian Zhiqing prune the branches.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the blooming petals. Qian Zhiqing examined them closely for a moment, then suddenly asked, "If there are flowers to pick, would you really pick them?"

Hearing this, Bao Xia asked curiously, "If you can break it, why don't you break it?"

Qian Zhiqing glanced at her with a puzzled look, then suddenly burst into a cheerful laugh. Her voice was clear and bright, like a kingfisher chirping on a branch, melodious and pleasant.

“Indeed,” she laughed for a while, then repeated with a relaxed expression, “If it can be broken, why not break it?” She had shaken off her previous dejection and looked even more energetic than when she woke up that morning.

Bao Xia tilted her head, completely unaware of how she had managed to soothe the girl.

Lanqiu quickly found the vase and was about to leave when Yihong walked in.

Lanqiu blinked, recalling the expression on the young lady's face when she returned from the front yard. She subconsciously felt something was wrong and quickly stepped forward, asking, "Sister Yihong, is there something you need?"

Lanqiu was Qian Zhiqing's head maid. Although Yihong considered herself a trusted servant of the madam, she still had to give her some face.

"There is something I need to take care of."

Lanqiu glanced at the maids serving at the door, one of whom cleverly slipped into the room to report. Lanqiu then smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Yihong, and the two of them went into the room together.

Yi Hong entered the room and immediately curtsied to Qian Zhiqing.

Qian Zhiqing had just offended Granny Ruan and was on guard. When she saw Yihong, her heart sank, but she smiled gently and said, "I was just saying that I was going to send my aunt a vase of flowers, and Sister Yihong came. It's true that the fragrance of flowers can be so enticing that you can arrive so quickly."

When Yihong saw the flower branch in front of her, she quickly smiled and said, "Miss, you are very skillful. Even ordinary flower branches look extraordinary when you arrange them, let alone such beautiful peach blossoms. I will take them back with me later. If Madam is happy to see them and rewards me, I will be very fortunate to have received such a gift from you."

Qian Zhiqing smiled faintly, feeling relieved. She knew that Yihong was deliberately trying to please her. She knew her aunt's personality best; she wouldn't give anyone a reward outside of holidays. However, since Yihong was being so ingratiating, it probably wasn't about Granny Ruan's side.

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