After parting ways at the restaurant, the two sisters, accompanied by their maid, walked back home. Passing by their own shop, they went in to take a look and glanced at the account books. Because of their skillful management and the novelty of their clothing, quite a few people came in to make purchases.
Xiang Wan figured it was going to be late anyway, so she might as well stay in the shop and see if there was anything that needed improvement. Xiang Xia ran to the sewing room at the back and discussed embroidery techniques with the embroiderers, even trying her hand at some needlework. The two of them were busy for a while, and as dusk approached, they finally asked a shop assistant to help them get a carriage to take them home.
The Qin residence was brightly lit. The Queen Mother sat in the chair in the middle of the hall, while Qin Rong stood to the side, looking aggrieved, occasionally wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
After Xiang Wan and Xiang Xia sent the shop assistants back, they walked inside, asking Cui'er, the maid who had come to fetch them, what had happened. Cui'er recounted how Qin Rong had been questioned by Lady Li during her afternoon class alone, but it was unclear what she had said that made Lady Li seem very angry. After finishing the lesson, Lady Li had asked to leave the mansion. Lady Li had now been appeased and was now questioning Qin Rong.
Upon hearing this, Xiang Wan immediately suspected Qin Rong was behind it all. They had ruined Qin Rong's plans that morning, and then weren't at the manor that afternoon. Li Niangzi was likely misled by Qin Rong, which was why she came to see the Queen Mother. Xiang Xia was also extremely nervous; she had left the manor without informing the Queen Mother that morning, and was likely to be scolded.
The two first dismissed the maids beside the Queen Mother, and ordered Xiaozhu and Xiaomei to pack up what they had made in the clothing store that afternoon and wait at the door before entering the hall.
"Mother, what happened? Look how upset Rong'er is. I'm not trying to be mean, but Rong'er is such a delicate little girl, what are we going to do if she's frightened?"
Xiang Wan entered the room with a carefree attitude. She first greeted the Queen Mother with Xiang Xia, and then pretended to be surprised when she saw Qin Rong, asking her questions.
Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother nearly spat out her tea. Xiang Xia pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh, and stood to the side.
Qin Rong paused as she wiped her eyes with the handkerchief, a lump forming in her throat, her face darkening.
What did you all do this afternoon?
"Oh my dear mother, you've finally asked! Otherwise, all our work this afternoon would have been for nothing."
Xiang Wan exaggeratedly called Xiao Zhu and Xiao Mei in and showed the things in her hands to the Queen Mother.
"Look, this is what my sister made at the shop at noon. Isn't it pretty good?"
Xiang Wan proudly showed the Queen Mother the embroidery made by Xiang Xia, praising the stitches and patterns, which made the Queen Mother beam with joy.
“This is the pattern I drew at noon. Mother, you see, it will look very beautiful when embroidered on the collar and cuffs.”
"Hmm, not bad."
The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction.
Seeing that the three of them were talking about clothing as if no one else was around, Qin Rong twisted the handkerchief in her hand again and again, her face turning black and white, then white and black again.
"Mother!"
Qin Rong interrupted the mother and her two daughters, her eyes filled with tears, her grievances and reproaches evident in her expression.
"Oh dear, I forgot that Rong'er is still here! Does she also like the patterns we draw? You should have said so earlier! I'll make you a few new ones tomorrow. Come to our shop and you'll definitely attract attention."
As Xiang Wan spoke, she pulled Qin Rong over and held up the pattern in her hand against her body, saying, "I knew Rong'er had a great figure and looked good in anything. Putting the pattern here makes her waist look even slimmer."
"Let's add a peach blossom here too, a few more at the collar and waist, and some more at the back. And hold a peach blossom fan in your hand. Perfect!"
Xiang Wan pulled Qin Rong around, turning her this way and that, seemingly still not satisfied, and then turned her back again. After being tossed around like this several times, Qin Rong felt dizzy and lightheaded, and could barely stand.
"My two elder sisters are in such high spirits. They met with their lovers in the morning and still have time to make clothes in the afternoon. Could it be a gift from their lovers? I am not fortunate enough to accept such a generous gift."
The hall fell silent as Qin Rong abruptly uttered these words. The Queen Mother, her expression serious, frowned as she glanced at Qin Rong, then at Xiang Wan and Xiang Xia, before asking, "Rong'er, what brings you to these words?"
"Mother, Rong'er dares not hide it. My two elder sisters did indeed go out of the manor to meet their lovers this morning. I'm afraid they had lunch at a restaurant, right?"
"Qin Rong, you should think this through. Some things can't be said casually."
Xiang Xia frowned, wanting to stop Qin Rong. But Qin Rong was determined to smear them this time, so how could she just shut up?
"Rong'er, Rong'er wouldn't dare to lie."
Qin Rong seemed frightened by Xiang Xia and said with a hint of sobs, "This morning, Rong'er went out of the manor to relax, but unexpectedly saw Sister Xia'er and Sister Wan'er chatting and laughing with a man. Rong'er went up to ask them about it, but Sister Wan'er scolded her. Rong'er was so angry that she didn't stop her two sisters."
"Rong'er was only concerned about the reputation of our Qin family. If, if others had seen it, who knows what they would have said about our Qin family's young lady being shameless. Fortunately, it was only Rong'er who stumbled upon it. I thought my two older sisters would be back by noon, so I didn't tell Mother right away. Who knew that Madam Li would ask again in the afternoon? Rong'er really had no way to lie, so she..."
"Rong'er swears that she has not revealed a single word to anyone. Mother, punish me if you must. I failed to stop my two elder sisters. I am sorry, Mother, and I am sorry, my two elder sisters."
Qin Rong broke down in tears as she spoke, kneeling on the ground and weeping with her face covered.
Xiang Xia was so angry by her words that her face turned red, and she pointed at Qin Rong, speechless.
Xiang Wan laughed in anger: "Yes, you deserve to be punished. If it weren't for us, Qin Rong, you might have already seduced that young master, and the Qin family's reputation would really be ruined in your hands."
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