Many in the Dingxiang Marquis Manor lost sleep that night.
Those who had been waiting to see Qu Ling become a laughingstock and planned to neglect her to curry favor with Song Shi were now filled with belated fear.
The Marquis had given Nuanshan Residence to the eldest young lady, while the Marquise had lost her authority over household management.
The manor had undergone earth-shaking changes overnight.
Yet Qu Ling slept soundly and woke up refreshed and clear-headed.
“Young lady, it’s time to pay respects to the Old Madam,” Tingqin reminded.
Qu Ling nodded and left her courtyard after dressing.
“Eldest Sister.” Qu Lianxue stood at the entrance of Nuanshan Residence.
“Mother is ill, Second Sister is also ill,” she said nervously, twisting her handkerchief as she spoke cautiously, “I’m going to pay respects to Grandmother. Could Eldest Sister take me along?”
Her own mother had died long ago. Though she was supposedly raised under Song Shi’s care, she had actually moved out early and been brought up by maids and matrons.
Qu Ling looked at her frightened appearance and didn’t offer any kindness. “Don’t you know the way to Yun Song Hall?”
After saying this, she walked straight ahead.
A group of maids and matrons followed behind Qu Ling. In contrast, Qu Lianxue had only one maid accompanying her, appearing quite solitary.
She bit her lower lip lightly, hesitated for a moment, then quickened her pace to catch up.
“Eldest Sister, wait for me.”
“Fourth Young Lady, please stop,” Tingqin blocked Qu Lianxue. “You can pay respects to the Old Madam by yourself. If you don’t know the way, this servant can have someone show you the way.”
“I… I just wanted to go with Eldest Sister,” Qu Lianxue said anxiously.
“My young lady prefers quiet.” Tingqin threw out these words, bowed slightly, then turned and left.
“Eldest Sister is really quite guarded,” Qu Lianxue frowned in distress.
She sighed again, “But after being away from home for so long, with no family by her side, it’s normal for her to be withdrawn.”
She smiled and said to her maid beside her, “Go find out what Eldest Sister likes. As her younger sister, I should care for her more.”
The maid obediently agreed.
As soon as Qu Ling arrived at Yun Song Hall, she saw He Shi from the second branch standing at the entrance, eagerly watching for someone.
He Shi hadn’t slept all night.
She had come before dawn with dark circles under her eyes.
Seeing Qu Ling, she couldn’t wait to ask, “What exactly happened last night?”
At one point they said the Old Madam was poisoned, and even an Imperial Physician was summoned.
Then the Old Madam was fine, but the Marquise was placed under house arrest.
The master of the second branch was serving as an official elsewhere, leaving only He Shi and her children in the Hou Manor, always a step behind in receiving news.
Seeing Qu Ling remain silent, He Shi grew anxious and reached out to grab her.
Qu Ling directly avoided her and looked up at her.
That glance was as cold as ice, making He Shi instinctively withdraw her hand.
“If you want to know, go ask Grandmother yourself. Why should I tell you?”
This was the first time He Shi had spoken to Qu Ling since her return home.
Yesterday, when both the first and second branches gathered in the Old Madam’s room, this wretched girl had gone to the Princess Manor instead.
The Old Madam had been furious.
He Shi had been delighted to see it.
But during the evening meal, the Old Madam’s attitude had completely changed.
He Shi was full of questions but didn’t dare speak recklessly.
“Eldest Sister, please don’t blame her,” He Shi’s daughter Qu Lianjia said apologetically. “My mother is impatient by nature, but she means no harm.”
Qu Ling’s calm gaze turned to Qu Lianjia.
Sometimes she felt that heaven particularly enjoyed playing tricks on people.
He Shi had such an obedient and sensible daughter, yet for the sake of her disappointing son, she would ultimately harm her daughter.
“Third Sister, there’s no need to make excuses for your mother. We both know exactly what kind of person she is.”
Qu Ling added one more sentence, “In this Hou Manor, you should be thinking about yourself first.”
“Your mother still has a son to rely on, but you—you have no one to depend on.”
He Shi’s face flushed red with anger.
Just as she was about to speak, the curtain was lifted and a pretty maid came out. “Old Madam invites the Madam and young ladies to come in.”
“Cuilu, where’s Nanny Qi?” He Shi sensed something amiss.
“She’s dead,” Qu Ling answered for Cuilu.
What?
He Shi was so shocked she forgot how to walk.
She knew someone had died last night, but she didn’t know it was Nanny Qi.
“Mother, in front of Grandmother, don’t ask anything, don’t say anything,” Qu Lianjia, who had been pondering Qu Ling’s words, was also startled upon hearing about Nanny Qi’s death and urgently warned his mother.
That was someone who had accompanied Grandmother for most of her life, and she had died just like that.
The manor was about to undergo major changes.
Upon entering the room, Old Madam was sitting there full of energy. When she saw Qu Ling, a smile appeared on her face.
“A-Ling, come here, come to your grandmother.”
These days, she felt happy whenever she saw Qu Ling.
Although last night had been dangerous, they had won beautifully.
The Song Family wielded immense power, and because of this, Song Shi had been domineering in Hou Manor for many years.
After this incident, her arrogance had been crushed.
Old Madam held Qu Ling and asked, “Where’s Lianxue?”
Qu Lianzhi was sick, but wasn’t Qu Lianxue perfectly fine?
“Grandmother, please forgive me. Your granddaughter is late.”
The curtain was lifted hastily and almost hit Qu Lianxue’s hair as it fell.
She knelt breathlessly before Old Madam.
Old Madam scolded with a stern face, “So flustered and hurried—how is this befitting a young lady of Hou Manor!”
“Your granddaughter knows her mistake.” Qu Lianxue didn’t dare talk back, but her eyes reddened.
“I went to Nuanshan Residence early this morning, intending to come with Eldest Sister to pay respects to Grandmother, but Eldest Sister wouldn’t allow me to accompany her. I was afraid of angering her, so… I truly had to wait until Eldest Sister had gone far ahead before I dared to move.”
These words seemed deliberately provocative.
“What she said is true. I didn’t allow her to follow me,” Qu Ling actually admitted.
He Shi thought she was insane.
Sisters not getting along—wasn’t it obvious they would be scolded by Old Madam?
But He Shi guessed wrong again.
Old Madam said indifferently, “You may rise. In the future, don’t disturb your Eldest Sister.”
After a pause, she added, “Your mother is ill, so you don’t need to come pay respects to me either. She raised you; you should serve her properly.”
Qu Lianxue lowered her head and acknowledged softly.
After that, she didn’t speak again.
After paying respects, Old Madam kept only Qu Ling for breakfast.
“In a few days, we’ll be going to Guoqing Temple. By then, all the distinguished ladies and young misses of the capital will be there. You’ve been away from the capital for many years—this is a good opportunity for you to properly acquaint yourself with people.”
Qu Ling expressed gratitude, “Thank you, Grandmother.”
In the following days, she spent her time chatting with Old Madam, copying Buddhist scriptures, and generally having a relaxed routine.
Qu Lianxue came to Nuanshan Residence every single day, tirelessly.
Tingqin was the first to lose patience. “What is she actually after?”
“She wants Father to notice her more,” Qu Ling said. “She’s not Song Shi’s biological daughter, so she has to find her own way out.”
That was normal.
But if she was cutting off others’ paths for her own future, that wouldn’t do.
“Guanqi, keep an eye on her. Watch her closely.”
Qu Lianxue wasn’t that simple.
Nor was she a good person.
In her previous life, had she not died at Qu Ling’s hands, she would have entered the Eastern Palace to serve the Crown Prince.
Just as Qu Ling had anticipated, Qu Lianxue knelt before Song Shi and said,
“Mother, she remains utterly unyielding. I truly have no means of getting close to her.”