Chapter 179 First Meeting with Qin Keqing

"Yes, yes, no one can compare to her. We can't even talk about it..." Wang Xifeng said, feigning sourness. "I've finally figured it out today. Xue Baochai is trying to curry favor with you. I don't believe you can't see it."

"The Xue family's daughter is a descendant of the Ziwei Attendant, and her family is extremely wealthy. Why would she need to do such a thing? Don't look down on her, and don't make wild guesses."

"They're incredibly wealthy, yet they still live in our house and refuse to leave." Wang Xifeng was utterly disdainful, and she also scoffed at the behavior of the Xue mother and daughter. "They say they'll waive all their daily expenses, but they eat and use a lot of money, and I've never seen them give any of it to the public fund. My dear aunt, she earns her sisters' money and uses public funds to do favors. It's so convenient for her."

"Speaking of which, Aunt Xue is also your aunt, so why do you seem so distant?" Yuan Hongqu couldn't comment on whether the Xue family had given her money or not after hearing Wang Xifeng's words.

“Sister Yuan, how can we not be estranged? She married into Jinling, and I’ve only seen her a handful of times over the years. Not only me, but even my brothers and sisters-in-law on my maternal side aren’t close to her. If they were close, would they come to stay at my sister’s house instead of going back to their maternal homes?” Wang Xifeng had actually gone out of her way to secretly inquire about Aunt Xue’s popularity in the Wang family, and it was truly a complicated situation.

"Sister Yuan, you should know that the old lady is practically kicking them out openly. They pretend not to understand at all because they're genuinely afraid that their tyrant will cause us even more trouble. After covering for him so badly once before, we still can't get rid of him..."

Wang Xifeng knew the whole story of Xiangling's affair and the role her family played in it. Therefore, her dislike for the Xue family was obvious. After all, as a person with relatively sound values, she could easily understand, by simply thinking it over and applying basic legal knowledge, that her family was harboring a criminal.

Their family isn't really all-powerful, and since they weren't keeping this a secret, it'll be exposed sooner or later.

According to Sister Yuan, their family had long been an eyesore to the emperor. They had to behave well to survive, because if they made a single mistake, the emperor could use any excuse to wipe out their family.

The Xue family's situation is an excellent pretext for attacking them.

She finally got some inspiration from her older sister and managed to struggle out a way to survive with Jia Lian.

If she gets implicated by the Xue family and goes down that old path again, she'll probably die with her eyes wide open in disbelief.

"Sister Yuan, the Xue family is really troublesome!" Wang Xifeng sighed.

“Orphans and widows naturally face more difficulties than others,” Yuan Hongqu said calmly. “Some of their concerns are understandable.”

"Sister Yuan, are you really planning to help them?" Wang Xifeng asked in surprise. Everyone knew that Yuan Hongqu disliked the Xue family. Could it be that Sister Yuan had been moved by Xue Baochai's feigned help to Daiyu?

Such good intentions should not be taken lightly. Wang Xifeng was about to persuade Yuan Hongqu to give up this idea when she heard her say...

"If they were self-reliant or from a family with good morals, why would they need help from others? If that were the case, I might think highly of them, and if the opportunity arose, lending a hand wouldn't be difficult. But their family, hmph..."

Wang Xifeng felt relieved. "As for the Xue family's family style, it's really hard to comment... Everyone else learns good things, but that one in their family only learns the bad things. Following the head of the East Mansion, he's done all sorts of evil deeds, without even leaving a way out for his mother and sister."

Speaking of these things, Wang Xifeng, as the housekeeper, was naturally very clear about them. "I heard the other day that he got into trouble again and was beaten black in the eye. He's been hiding these past few days and hasn't dared to go out. I thought he was shameless, but it turns out he knows shame after all."

Wang Xifeng hadn't chatted with Yuan Hongqu for a while, and once they started talking, they couldn't stop. They had been chatting since lunchtime, and now the sun was setting.

Daiyu had promised Grandmother Jia that she would have dinner at the Rongguo Mansion before returning home, so there was no need to rush.

"Second Madam, Madam Rong from the East Mansion has arrived," Ping'er announced from outside.

"That's quite unusual. Why would she come at this time? Please come in." Since she's already in the courtyard, it would seem as if Wang Xifeng doesn't welcome her if she wasn't invited in.

"Sister Yuan, today you will meet the most outstanding of all the granddaughters-in-law. The old lady always praises her," Wang Xifeng said with a smile.

Although Yuan Hongqu was also full of curiosity about Qin Keqing, she had never actually met this mysterious Madam Rong before, even though she had lived in the Rongguo Mansion for so long.

Just then, the curtain was lifted, and Ping'er led Qin Keqing in.

At first glance, Yuan Hongqu saw that Qin Keqing had regular features, a delicate appearance, and a very slender figure. Even though she was wearing a padded jacket, her waist was still so thin that it seemed as if one could hold it in one hand. She was truly a beauty.

"Greetings to Auntie." Qin Keqing bowed respectfully to Wang Xifeng.

"You're quite free today, you even have time to come to my house?" Wang Xifeng invited her to sit down, and a maidservant served her tea.

"I haven't had much free time during the first month of the lunar year. Although I've seen you quite a few times, I haven't had a proper chance to talk to you. This afternoon, I was relieved that no one bothered me, so I rushed over to pay my respects to you." Qin Keqing's voice was gentle and peaceful, making people feel good about her at first listen.

Although Wang Xifeng had been far from the East Mansion for quite some time this year and was not as close to Qin Keqing as before, she had never been able to be too cold to her or make enemies with her.

Just as Wang Xifeng was about to introduce Yuan Hongqu to her, she heard Qin Keqing say, "This must be Mr. Yuan. I have long heard of your great name, but I have never had the chance to meet you. Today, I happened to meet you here with my aunt, and I can see that you are indeed worthy of your reputation."

Yuan Hongqu nodded and said with a smile, "Madam Rong, you're too kind. I didn't know I became so famous."

Just as Qin Keqing was about to speak, she heard Wang Xifeng say, "Rong'er's wife, don't say that. I don't think you came here today specifically to see me, but rather to see my sister Yuan, right?"

"Auntie, are you some kind of mind reader? You know exactly what I'm thinking." Qin Keqing smiled, responding to Wang Xifeng's words without showing any embarrassment at having her thoughts exposed.

"Auntie, why don't you guess why I've come to see Mr. Yuan?" Qin Keqing looked at the two of them with a smile.

Yuan Hongqu probably knew her purpose in coming. Although Wang Xifeng did not know, Qin Keqing had always regarded the Lin family as a distant relative. After Daiyu came, she had never had any dealings with Rongyue Courtyard.

The reason they came here is simply because Daiyu has become a princess, and her family wants to cultivate good relations with the Lin family. They sent her to sound out their intentions.