Qin Sheng said calmly, "Even without this incident, once Consort Ye entered the manor, the Earl would have drifted further and further away from me."
She said this with a very calm expression.
Qiao'er and Emerald looked at each other, both feeling sorry and sad for the lady.
Finally, Emerald nodded first, curtsied, and said, "Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely do my best to handle things according to your instructions."
Qiao'er quickly nodded and curtsied as well, saying, "This servant does too."
About half an hour later, an old woman came to report that the second master's family was about to arrive at the gate of the mansion.
The second master and his wife were deeply in love. They had only two daughters and no sons. The second master had no concubines, not even a maidservant.
Second Madam Yun came from a family of military generals. Before her marriage, she was a close friend of Qin Sheng's second aunt.
When Qin Sheng married Yin Wenxiao, the second master's family did not return, but they sent back generous gifts.
Since Qiao'er and Emerald were not present, Qin Sheng took two other maids with her.
When Qin Sheng arrived, Yin Wenxiao and Ye Jiaoniang were already at the door.
Ye Jiaoniang wore a rose-red satin dress embroidered with intertwined floral patterns, and her hair was adorned with golden pearl flowers and pearl necklaces, making her look both noble and graceful.
She naturally gives off a delicate and fragile feeling, which, to use the words from storybooks, is very likely to arouse a man's protective instincts.
"lady."
Ye Jiaoniang was talking to Yin Wenxiao when she spotted Qin Sheng approaching. She quickly took out her handkerchief and curtsied, saying, "Jiaoniang greets Madam."
Qin Sheng ignored her and didn't even glance at her.
When Yin Wenxiao saw her cold attitude towards Ye Jiaoniang, he was immediately dissatisfied and was about to speak when Qin Sheng interrupted him.
"Did you visit your third uncle when he was ill the other day?"
"I've been there." Yin Wenxiao said coldly, frowning as he looked at her.
Ye Jiaoniang interjected at the opportune moment: "Don't worry, sister. When the Earl went to visit, he brought generous gifts. There will be no reason for people to gossip."
Qin Sheng's gaze then fell on her.
She smiled and said, "Isn't Aunt Ye sick? Why is she out here in the wind? Isn't she afraid that her condition will worsen?"
When Yin Wenxiao heard this, he felt that Qin Sheng was being sarcastic.
Ye Jiaoniang bit her lip, about to speak, but Yin Wenxiao spoke first.
"Jiao Niang was indeed feeling unwell before, but she has only recovered in the last two days. Qin Sheng, stop with your sarcastic curses!"
Qin Sheng pursed her lips and remained silent.
She thought, "So this is what it feels like to be completely heartbroken over someone."
No matter what Yin Wenxiao said or did, or how much he defended Ye Jiaoniang, she no longer felt a trace of sadness.
The Second Master's family's carriages slowly came to a stop at the gate of the mansion.
Yin Wenqu looked to be in his early forties, with a square face that gave him a very serious appearance.
Yin Wenxiao performed the junior's greeting, and Qin Sheng stood beside him and bowed as well.
As for Ye Jiaoniang, since she was only a concubine, she stood behind Yin Wenxiao and Qin Sheng at this moment.
After exchanging greetings, Yin Wenqu and Yin Wenxiao began to speak.
Qin Sheng took a few steps forward to greet the Second Madam Yun and her two cousins, Yin Rusi and Yin Ruwu.
"This must be Ah Sheng?" Madam Yun suddenly grasped Qin Sheng's hand and said with a smile, "I held you when your second uncle and aunt got married, remember?"
Qin Sheng was only three or four years old at the time, so I have some impression of him, but it's not deep.
She bowed to the second madam as a junior before saying, "I remember, you even gave me a piece of osmanthus cake."
Yun's smile deepened as she pulled Qin Sheng close and spoke to her affectionately.
Ye Jiaoniang stood there, suddenly feeling somewhat out of place.
She had dressed up specially today, hoping to get on good terms with the Second Madam, but to her surprise, the Second Madam didn't even glance at her after getting off the carriage.
Even the two girls were calling out to Qin Sheng as "Sister-in-law."
Ye Jiaoniang wanted to go over, but she was afraid that with so many people around, Yun Shi might embarrass her... She didn't want to lose face in front of Yin Wenxiao.
The group entered the mansion.
The courtyard for the Second Master's family had been arranged long ago; it was the courtyard where the Second Master lived before he left the capital, and it had already been renovated.
However, the second master and his wife first took their two daughters to Old Madam Yin's Pine and Willow Courtyard.
As the elder of the two young ladies, Madam Yin had returned to the manor, the two young ladies had to go over and pay their respects to their aunt.
The group arrived at Madam Yin's Pine and Willow Courtyard.
As they were talking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside. Old Madam Yin frowned and, suppressing her anger, ordered Granny Shi to go out and see what was going on.
After Shi Mama went out, she returned quickly and whispered a few words in Madam Yin's ear, which immediately made Madam Yin's face turn ugly.
This matter is of great importance, and those outside the courtyard dare not delay.
Qiao'er seized the opportunity and suddenly rushed in, kneeling down in front of Qin Sheng, crying with tears and snot streaming down her face.
Qin Sheng feigned surprise and quickly called out to her, "What's wrong?"
"Madam, Madam! Concubine Ye has been unwell lately. Today, you instructed me to fetch some fine bird's nest from the storeroom to nourish her. Emerald and I kindly took the bird's nest there, but Concubine Ye wasn't there. Instead, the people in Concubine Ye's courtyard said that you, Madam, would be so kind as to give Concubine Ye bird's nest for nourishment, and that there must be something unclean mixed in with it! Emerald and I couldn't stand their slander against you, so we argued with the people in Concubine Ye's courtyard, but they... they're bullying us too much!"
"Alright, that's enough!"
Qin Sheng subconsciously looked at Old Madam Yin, then gave Second Madam Yun an apologetic smile before pulling Qiao'er out first.
"etc."
Madam Yin originally intended to wait until after the family banquet tonight to discuss this matter, but things have already escalated.
She knew the Second Master's personality well, and she also knew that the Second Madam had some familial ties with the Qin family.
Moreover, this second wife has always been fiercely opposed to evil.
The maid has said so much; there's no way to hide the commotion today.
Old Madam Yin glared at the pale-faced Ye Jiaoniang before asking Qiao'er, "Anything else?"
Qiao'er felt a little intimidated in front of Old Madam Yin.
However, she remembered what Emerald had told her before: they were both maids who came with the lady's dowry, and the old lady and the master wouldn't do anything to them.
Thinking of this, Qiao'er swallowed hard, giving full play to her acting skills.
Qiao'er said with a face full of grief and indignation, "Later, the maids in Concubine Ye's courtyard knocked over the bird's nest that Madam had sent to Concubine Ye to nourish her body, and even stomped on it, saying that the Earl would prepare these things for Concubine Ye, and that Madam didn't need to pretend to be kind! They also said, said..."
Old Madam Yin angrily retorted, "What did you say? Stop stammering!"
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