Chapter 48: Mutual Probing

Qin Xuan was fully alert when she arrived at the central courtyard.

Inside the side hall, several large chests were filled with various pieces of jewelry and ornaments.

Madam Liu, beaming with joy, was instructing the servants to take inventory. Hearing movement at the door, she set down a few gold bangles and stepped forward to greet her.

“You must be Dalang’s wife, Madam Qin. What a beauty!”

Qin Xuan studied the woman before her. A delicate oval face, fair complexion, elegant brows, and sparkling eyes—she still had a charming and youthful appearance.

Based on Fang Kun’s age, this Madam Liu had to be at least in her fifties, yet she looked remarkably young.

Beautiful and shrewd, she was clearly articulate and attentive. No wonder Master Fang favored her so much.

Qin Xuan returned a polite smile but did not bow. Instead, she offered a courteous remark, “Madam Liu, you truly look youthful—hardly older than me.”

Madam Liu was unbothered by Qin Xuan’s lack of formal greeting. She covered her lips with a laugh, seemingly delighted. “My son is already that grown, how could I be only a few years older than you?”

She invited Qin Xuan to sit.

[An old tree root pretending to have a young girl’s laughter.]

Standing behind, Fang Yuean rolled her eyes.

Qin Xuan lowered her head, the corners of her lips twitching.

Glancing inadvertently at the wooden chests, she noticed a particularly exquisite jewelry set.

If she remembered correctly, that was Old Madam Meng’s dowry, something she treasured dearly and only wore on the most solemn occasions.

Sweeping her eyes over the contents, she recognized several other familiar hairpins.

They knew someone was coming yet deliberately left these items out in the open.

Was this a provocation?

Following Qin Xuan’s gaze, Madam Liu smiled and explained, “Oh, these? Master Fang sent them over. I told him that at my age, I have no use for so many ornaments, but he insisted, saying it was compensation.”

Fang Yuean walked up to the chest, propping herself up on the edge and tiptoeing to peek inside. She chimed in, “Grandmother, if you don’t want them, can you give them to me? I could definitely use them!”

Huai Ze smirked internally. [Really shameless. Just calling her ‘Grandmother’ so easily?]

The hall fell silent. Madam Liu forced a few awkward laughs, looking toward Qin Xuan.

But Qin Xuan had already lifted her tea cup, sipping leisurely, not putting it down for a long while.

One couldn’t tell why she was so thirsty.

Then, Fang Yuean’s persistent voice came again.

“Grandmother, since you’re not saying anything, does that mean you agree?”

Only then did Qin Xuan slowly speak. “An’an, Grandmother was just joking.”

Fang Yuean tilted her head in confusion. “Why joke? It wasn’t funny at all.”

Feigning disappointment, she muttered, “I really thought she didn’t want them.”

The maidservants from the Eastern Courtyard suppressed smiles.

Qin Xuan remained silent, merely smiling.

Given Madam Liu’s past scheming, this was unlikely to be mere flaunting.

Perhaps it was indeed a show of power, implying that one day, Qin Xuan would end up like Old Madam Meng—miserable, stripped of everything for their benefit.

Qin Xuan changed the subject, instructing the servants to bring in the gifts she had prepared. The atmosphere lightened slightly.

She had come today to probe Madam Liu, hoping to learn as much as possible. Maintaining outward decorum was necessary.

Fang Yuean, watching the stream of servants carrying in gifts, looked dissatisfied and pitifully mumbled, “This Grandmother isn’t good. The previous Grandmother gave me a meeting gift.”

She stretched out her arm, revealing the gold bangles Xu Wanyin had given her.

Madam Liu’s smile stiffened slightly.

[Foolish little thing. She took everything from you, left you like a beggar for years, and you think a pair of bangles makes up for it?]

Since Qin Xuan had sent gifts, Madam Liu naturally had to reciprocate, especially with a child present.

But she couldn’t give anything from the chests.

Feigning regret, Qin Xuan turned to Madam Liu. “Children speak without thinking—I hope Madam Liu won’t take offense.”

Madam Liu chuckled lightly, appearing unconcerned. “Not at all. In fact, I had the same thought.”

She stood up and rummaged through the chest for a while before reluctantly retrieving a wooden box. Opening it, she took out two unremarkable violet jade hairpins and handed them to the children.

Fang Yuean didn’t hesitate, immediately pinning one into her hair, grinning. “This Grandmother is much better!”

Beneath Madam Liu’s smiling face, her teeth were clenched tightly.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Qin Xuan excused herself, saying she didn’t want to interrupt Madam Liu’s inventorying. She took the children and left.

On the way back, Qin Xuan glanced at her daughter, who was humming a tune, and found it amusing.

She asked, “If you like gold and jade ornaments, I’ll buy you more. How about I take you shopping one day so you can pick for yourself?”

She had already prepared plenty for Fang Yuean.

Fang Yuean shook her head. “Mother, if you buy them, it’s our own money. I prefer things that don’t cost anything.” She grinned mischievously.

[Hehe, Mother doesn’t know this, but this violet jade is a tribute from a southern kingdom. It looks worthless, but these two pins are worth more than half that chest.]

[Since she gave them, how could I refuse?]

Qin Xuan blinked, glancing at the hairpin in Fang Yuean’s hair before quickly looking away.

She hadn’t heard that.

She didn’t know that.

Shifting the conversation, she said, “Judging by the days, Zhiyi should be returning soon.”

Nanny Lei nodded. “Yes, madam. I have already instructed people to clean the eldest young lady’s courtyard. The bedding has been replaced, and on sunny days, we air them out.”

Qin Xuan nodded approvingly. “When it’s about three days before her arrival, send a group to welcome her.”

Then, recalling something, she added, “Make sure the Western Courtyard is thoroughly cleaned. Go over every detail carefully. We mustn’t let the Second Branch leave anything harmful behind.”

“Once Xunli is married, he will officially live there.”

Meanwhile, after the servants carried the chests away, Madam Liu furiously smashed her teacup to the ground.

Her delicate features contorted with rage.

Everything she knew about Madam Qin’s temperament came from her son, and today was her first time meeting her in person.

She had planned to use this opportunity to test Qin Xuan—to see if her gentle and kind demeanor was merely an act.

Yet that foolish girl had ruined her plans, leaving her with nothing gained and even losing two jade hairpins.

Absolutely infuriating.

Madam Liu’s eyes darkened coldly.

These people were the reason she had never become the marquis’ wife, why she had been hastily taken into the household as a mere concubine.

One day, she would settle this debt—she would make Qin Xuan suffer even more than Old Madam Meng had.

—

At the Fang residence.

After days of busy organizing, the servants finally finished sorting everything, restoring order as it had been in the marquis’ household.

Zhou Huajin had just found a moment to rest when her daughter delivered distressing news.

She and Fang Zhenzhen sat in the pavilion, eating osmanthus custard, but neither had much appetite.

After just a few bites, Zhou Huajin put down her spoon, anxiety written all over her face.

“That matter happened long ago, but what if we overlooked something and Prince Qi finds out?”

“No, we must find a way to make him marry you quickly. Once he does, you’ll be one, and even if he uncovers anything, he’ll protect us to save his own reputation.”

Fang Zhenzhen had already lost her appetite. After one bite, the custard felt like it was stuck in her throat. She absently stirred it in her bowl.

Just now, Prince Qi’s envoy had come with a message—Consort Liang had agreed to their marriage.

But on one condition: Prince Qi must investigate the truth behind Fang Zhiyi’s ruined reputation and inform the First Branch, using it as leverage.

Prince Qi had already begun investigating and had even reassured her, promising to speed things up.

But she and her family were the ones behind that crime.

The drug used on Fang Zhiyi—she had administered it herself.