“Everyone sit down.”
Once inside the living room, Qin Yanchi took the seat first and waved his hand at the others.
Directly facing the door was a daybed, with a small table in the middle and armrests on both sides. This was usually where Master Qin and Madam Qin sat, considered the seat of honor in the room.
Now that Qin Yanchi was here, this position naturally belonged to him.
Master Qin and Madam Qin had no choice but to sit on the row of rosewood chairs to the left, while Jiang Ci and Qin Huainan sat on the right.
Seeing the atmosphere, the servants quickly brought in covered teacups and then quietly withdrew.
Qin Yanchi lifted the lid, glanced at the tea, set it aside, and said to Qin Huainan, “Huainan, you tell them.”
Qin Huainan stood up and recounted everything that happened when she went to see Qin Huai’an.
“Big Brother refused to help me, and we were arguing! Who knew that Liang Manyin would just walk right into it? I was so angry I said some sarcastic things to her, and Big Brother slapped me right across the face.”
She glanced at Jiang Ci and added, “This has nothing to do with my sister-in-law. She didn’t even know why I was looking for Big Brother. But when she came to pick me up, Big Brother started saying all kinds of terrible things without listening to reason, claiming that my sister-in-law had put words in my mouth to insult Miss Liang. But how could we have known she would be there? When I tried to explain, the Third Aunt saw the mark on my face. She was so angry that she slapped Big Brother back.”
Master Qin and Madam Qin turned bright red. Master Qin stood up abruptly and said, “I have failed to raise my son properly, disturbing the peace of our elders! I will go and tie that unfilial boy back here immediately!”
“There is no rush.” Qin Yanchi blew on his tea, took a sip, and continued, “Let Huainan finish first, so you understand clearly. Your Seventh Uncle, Third Aunt, and I all saw what happened. The fault does not lie with the two ladies of this household. Normally, I would not interfere in family matters, but Huainan was crying in fear in the car, and as an elder, I cannot turn a blind eye. Furthermore, although she was impulsive today, it was because she is eager to learn. Times have changed. It is a good thing for a young woman to have ambition. As elders, even if we cannot offer much help, we should at least not hold her back.”
“You are absolutely right, Ninth Uncle. We will send her to the girls’ school tomorrow. She can keep her sister-in-law company.”
Sweat broke out on Master Qin’s forehead. Too proud to wipe it with a handkerchief, he could only feel it stinging his eyes.
Qin Huainan had thought this would be incredibly difficult, so hearing it resolved so easily, she almost smiled. But she looked up and saw Madam Qin staring at her, and quickly lowered her head again.
At that moment, Qin Yanchi put down his cup and said, “It has been a while since we caught up. Why don’t we go to the study to talk? That way the ladies can be more comfortable.”
Jiang Ci stood up promptly and said, “Then we won’t disturb you and Father. Huainan should put some medicine on her face anyway. We will take our leave first.”
Madam Qin opened her mouth to speak, but saw her husband frowning. She said nothing in the end, just waved her hand somewhat reluctantly, allowing Jiang Ci to lead Qin Huainan away.
As they walked back to their courtyard, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but ask, “Why do Father and Mother seem so afraid of Ninth Uncle?”
Qin Huainan looked around to make sure no maids were nearby, then whispered, “I overheard them mentioning it once. They said that when Grandfather was alive, the Emperor had already abdicated. Our family was only a sixth-rank official, which wasn’t very impressive even in the old dynasty, and now it means even less. There was no reason for the Ministry of Civil Service to appoint Father as Department Head, yet he got the position. It must have been because of the Third Branch’s influence.”
“In that case, shouldn’t the First Branch be very close to them? Why do they rarely visit?”
“It’s all because Father is so proud! He says we can’t help them with anything, and if we keep going over there, people might think we are greedy and trying to get more favors. It would be embarrassing, like begging for handouts.”
“What about the Second Branch?”
“The Second Branch… Father says they are too rough and dangerous. He doesn’t want to associate with them.”
Jiang Ci didn’t ask further.
But those few sentences were enough for her to understand the relationship between the three branches of the Qin family.
It seemed the First Branch had received too much help to ever repay, so they simply avoided the Third Branch, their great benefactors, altogether.
But if that was the case, shouldn’t Master Qin be more in awe of Qin Yanting? Why was he so respectful towards Qin Yanchi?
Jiang Ci didn’t ask, but Qin Huainan continued talking.
“Speaking of Ninth Uncle, Father is indeed most afraid of him. I don’t really know why. He doesn’t come often, and when he does, he rarely speaks. He never makes things difficult for people. What he said today… was actually quite severe…”
Qin Huainan was right about that.
Because at this very moment, Master Qin was standing in the study being lectured!
Although it was a lecture, Qin Yanchi’s expression wasn’t frightening; it was as calm as ever.
“You are not young anymore. I could have said these things in front of the younger generation, but that would have made you lose face. It is better to speak here, to save you some dignity.
Today’s events were trivial, but looking at Huai’an’s behavior, he is completely out of line. He opposes arranged marriages, yet instead of fighting against you, his parents, he takes it all out on his wife. What kind of logic is that? Furthermore, Jiang Ci has no parents left. Since you welcomed her into this family, you should not bully an orphan. Otherwise, what would people think of the Qin family?
His actions show neither courage nor honor. No wonder Yange was angry; even I find it shameful.
However, he is your son. It is up to you to discipline him properly.”
Master Qin had lived half his life, yet here he was being lectured by a man in his twenties. The humiliation was unbearable.
And this Ninth Uncle, despite his youth, was far more formidable than most men twice his age.
Usually gentle and mild, when he was serious, he didn’t need to shout. Yet his presence made everyone tremble, truly embodying the aura of authority without anger.
Master Qin wanted to be brave, but he simply couldn’t. Every time he faced Qin Yanchi, he felt an indescribable sense of shame.
It took him a while to steady his voice. “It is shameful to make you come here personally to teach us. I will definitely discipline Huai’an and ensure he does not bring shame to this family outside.”
Only then did Qin Yanchi seem to notice, glancing at the chair to his left. “You father and son really need to balance your manners better. In my opinion, you are being too formal. We are uncle and nephew, but you are much older. Why are you still standing when I haven’t told you to sit?”
He gestured flatly towards the chair. “Sit down quickly!”
Master Qin’s face flushed deep red, feeling even more awkward. Once seated, he was actually less comfortable than when he was standing.
Qin Yanchi did not stay long. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he left without staying for dinner.
As soon as he was gone, Master Qin flew into a rage in the study.
Because of the commotion, Jiang Ci had her dinner alone in her courtyard.
She was halfway through her meal when Zhegui ran back excitedly, closing the door behind her. “What a scene! The master smashed so many things in the study! Everyone in the house is too scared to even breathe! Madam is organizing people to clean up, and they carried out several baskets of broken porcelain! After this, that woman Liang will never be allowed to step foot in this house! She won’t even be a concubine!”
Jiang Ci just smiled and said nothing.
What did it matter to her whether Qin Huai’an took a concubine or not?
He could take eighty concubines for all she cared.
If it weren’t for the complicated marriage laws of this era, she wouldn’t even still be holding onto the title of Mrs. Qin.
It was quite absurd. Young people nowadays have mixed customs. Arranged marriages were considered legal and formal, and so were the new-style registered marriages.
Consequently, many men who had studied abroad ended up having two official wives.
One was the old-style wife arranged by parents, and the other was the modern wife they chose themselves.
And legally, both marriages were valid.
Jiang Ci and Qin Huai’an were an old-style marriage. To divorce, they didn’t get a certificate; they needed a document of separation.
This ancient method had many restrictions. It required the consent of both parties, negotiations with the clan elders, signatures from parents, and then official stamps.
So separation was never just a matter between two people.
Even if Jiang Ci didn’t care about face, she couldn’t just demand a divorce letter.
Because her parents were deceased, she fell under the protection of “Three Not Divorces”—she had no family to return to.
According to tradition, even if she committed one of the “Seven Offenses”, she could not be cast out.
But Jiang Ci was determined to get that paper. Because in this era, there was no concept of joint property. If they separated, she could take all her dowry with her.
But if things remained unclear…
Then her dowry would still be considered property of the Qin family.
Which modern woman could tolerate her assets being in such a precarious state?
She had to get that separation agreement. Otherwise, no matter how much money she made, it would feel like working for someone else.
Moreover, as her abilities grew stronger, small pieces of jade were no longer enough for her.
She needed to bet on big stones, and her jade shop needed to do big business.
She couldn’t stay trapped in the Qin family forever, holding onto her goods and letting her capital sit idle.
Jiang Ci narrowed her eyes and beckoned to Zhegui. “Did the Master mention the Young Master?”
“Of course he did! I heard a maid from the main house say that he was yelling at Madam too. He said he won’t let her send Young Master any more allowance money secretly. He also said he would send someone to drag him back home first thing tomorrow morning, and he’s going to tell every hotel and inn in the city not to rent rooms to him!”
Zhegui’s face lit up. “Miss, if he has to come home every day, he’ll surely settle down eventually!”
Jiang Ci’s smile looked a little strange. “Is that so?”
Settle down? Not a chance. On the contrary, she hoped he would be stubborn enough to force both families to agree to the separation.