Qin Shuying remained calm and asked, "Sixth Sister, what makes you so certain that I am speaking nothing but lies?"

  "That hairpin on Old Madam Lu's head naturally belongs to her. How could it possibly be Third Aunt’s heirloom? You're sitting so far away—could you really recognize it at a gnce? Who would believe such nonsense? If that isn’t a lie, then what is?"

  Qin Shuying met Qin Yunyun’s gaze directly and replied, "Sister speaks with reason. In that case, why don’t we go to the yamen and check my mother’s dowry records? That would clear everything up, wouldn’t it?"

  "You—!"

  Qin Yunyun was both furious and resentful. All this time, she had endured and tolerated everything, even making an effort to regain Qin Shuying’s trust.

  If they really took this matter to the authorities, it would cause a huge uproar. Even if the hairpin turned out not to belong to Qin Shuying, rumors were more dangerous than truth. Few would believe the official verdict, and Madam Xu’s reputation as a "kind aunt" would be completely ruined.

  Madam Zhao and Madam Zhong had already overheard everything. If Qin Yunyun believed no one would spread the news, she would be deluding herself.

  Quick-witted as she was, Qin Yunyun sneered, "Seventh Sister, you are part of the Qin family, yet here you are, openly defying your elders before so many people, showing no regard for the family’s reputation. These madams have witnessed your actions firsthand. Do you really think they will believe your words?"

  Qin Shuying’s bck-and-white eyes studied her for a moment before she suddenly chuckled. "Sister is right. They will only see me as an unfilial child, and they won’t believe my words."

  But what did it matter whether they believed her or not?

  As long as Madam Zhong had heard, that was enough.

  Madam Zhong’s husband held the same rank as Lu Changxuan, though he was nearly ten years older. While Lu Changxuan had spent the st four years striving for a promotion and was now on the cusp of advancement, Madam Zhong’s husband had remained stagnant.

  This was bound to be an interesting show.

  Qin Shuying didn’t mind fanning the fmes a little more.

  Qin Yunyun had expected her to show fear, but instead, she found her utterly unshaken.

  "Aren’t you afraid that the Liu family will refuse to accept you?"

  Qin Shuying remained indifferent. "Sixth Sister, you’re overthinking things. My father once saved Minister Liu’s life. If he were to turn me away, wouldn't that ruin his reputation and mark him as an ungrateful man? Minister Liu would never do such a thing."

  Qin Yunyun’s face flushed red. Just thinking about Liu Junqing’s face filled her with hatred.

  "And what if Young Master Liu holds a grudge against you?"

  Qin Shuying’s tone was as composed as ever. "And so what? I am still his wful wife. I have wealth, the title of the principal wife, and Minister Liu’s support—what is there to fear?"

  Hearing this exchange, Madam Xu was left utterly speechless.

  Did she not understand that once a woman married, if her husband disregarded her, life would be nothing but suffering?Was she truly that naive, or did she genuinely believe in her own words?With a person like this, what could possibly be used to threaten her?

  The three women sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The maids dared not utter a word. Madam Xu’s expression was dark, while Qin Yunyun seethed with anger.

  Finally, Nanny Liu could no longer hold back. "Seventh Miss, forgive this servant for speaking bluntly. As a daughter of the Qin family, when you step outside, you represent the family’s honor. Today, in front of so many elders, you openly defied Old Madam Lu. Regardless of whether your words are true or false, your reputation as a disrespectful junior is now set in stone. Madam Zhao and the others witnessed it all—they will surely spread the word. If these rumors reach the Old Madam, and she is made to worry, it will all be your fault."

  Qin Shuying leisurely took a sip of tea, completely unbothered. "Nanny Liu makes a good point. If the Old Madam frets over these rumors, it would indeed be my fault."

  Thinking she had found the key to convincing her, Nanny Liu was about to continue speaking when—

  Bang!

  The sound of a teacup smming onto the table echoed through the room.

  Qin Shuying’s voice rang out crisply, "Then wouldn't the simplest solution be to ensure the Old Madam never hears these rumors? Nanny Liu just said that Madam Zhao would spread today’s events—tell me, did Madam Zhao personally tell you this?"

  Nanny Liu was momentarily stunned before hastily denying, "Of course not, that was merely my specution."

  Qin Shuying’s sharp eyes narrowed, her voice turning stern. "Nanny Liu, you are the right hand of the First Madam, and your words and actions represent her. Yet you so carelessly snder Madam Zhao, beling her as a gossip. How is this appropriate? Minister Zhao is the superior of Assistant Minister Lu. If Madam Zhao were to hear your words, how would Minister Zhao perceive my Third Brother-in-w? Are you deliberately trying to hinder his career?

  Furthermore, even if rumors do spread, you oversee the inner court. Are you truly so incompetent that you cannot prevent them from reaching the Old Madam’s ears? Or perhaps… you intend to let the Old Madam hear these rumors on purpose—to provoke her anger?

  First Madam, how can you tolerate keeping such a wicked servant by your side?"

  Her voice grew stronger and firmer, each word striking like a hammer.

  Nanny Liu suddenly felt a chill creeping over her. Unconsciously, she took two steps back.

  She simply could not understand—how had this once-timid Qin Shuying become so fearsome? She was utterly unrestrained, speaking boldly, wielding words as weapons without a shred of hesitation. It was as if she had swallowed the heart of a tiger and the guts of a leopard!

  This—this—this was not how a proper noblewoman should behave!

  Madam Xu was seething. Qin Shuying’s ability to turn the tables on her had grown sharper, and she wasn’t even leaving her a shred of dignity.

  This wretched girl… she could not be allowed to stay any longer! Even if Qin Yongtao bmed her, she had to get rid of her!

  Having made up her mind, Madam Xu actually felt calmer. A cold sneer crept onto her lips.

  "What a sharp tongue!"

  Suddenly, a man’s voice came from outside.

  The people in the room instantly froze.

  Moments ter, the man stepped inside and bowed respectfully. "Mother-in-w."

  Qin Shuying cast a cold gnce at Lu Changxuan but remained seated, unmoving.

  Since an unreted man had entered, unmarried women should have left the room. Qin Yunyun instinctively turned to leave but found no immediate exit.

  After a brief hesitation, seeing that no one else moved, she quietly positioned herself behind Madam Xu, staying put.

  "Greetings, Sisters-in-w," Lu Changxuan said with another bow.

  Qin Shuying acted as though she hadn’t seen him, making no move to return the gesture. Her expression remained composed.

  Old Madam Lu entered soon after and immediately erupted in fury upon seeing the scene.

  "What kind of manners are these? Truly a child with no proper upbringing!"

  Qin Shuying had long grown accustomed to Old Madam Lu’s scolding.

  In her past life, she had heard it enough—scolding Qin Yaoyao, even scolding the neighbors. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she would curse freely, spewing words that could hardly be repeated in polite company.

  She had heard it so often that now, it hardly fazed her.

  Madam Xu and Qin Yunyun, however, were hearing such coarse nguage for the first time and couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled.

  But since the reprimand was directed at Qin Shuying, they chose to feign deafness.