Chapter 58: The Qin Family Means Nothing to Me!

Qin Yanshu slept heavily for two days, his sleep restless.

During the night, he couldn’t help but dream of the beautiful scenes of the past, feeling like he was in a cloud, with a sweet and warm heart. In an instant, the scene would shift to Shen Ning disheveled, pale, and being discovered by family members, wearing a look of utter despair.

Qin Yanshu watched with deep regret.

He lay on the bed, feeling like he was on a scorching hot griddle, the pain accompanied by a sense of hopelessness in his heart. In a half-awake, half-asleep state, only the pain seemed to be ever-present.

Qin Zhilan visited him three times a day, each time unable to resist cursing Shen Ning, the culprit. Especially when she heard her brother muttering Shen Ning’s name in his sleep, she couldn’t help but feel exasperated: “He’s truly bewitched!”

Suddenly, a loud voice came from outside: “Princess Pingyao has arrived!”

Qin Zhilan paled, hastily waking her brother up: “Brother, wake up! Princess Pingyao is here. Please, stop your ramblings, brother!”

Qin Yanshu, pale as paper, frowned, keeping his eyes closed without speaking.

It was too late.

The sound of footsteps outside was approaching, and Qin Zhilan hurriedly went out, her pupils shrinking.

Princess Pingyao came in grandly, accompanied by Madam Qin, dressed in luxurious attire with a long trailing skirt, followed by more than twenty maids.

Most importantly, by her side was someone Qin Zhilan did not want to see, Qin Yumo, the illegitimate son of the Qin family.

Qin Zhilan bowed her head in respect: “Your Highness, I pay my respects.”

“No need for formalities.” Princess Pingyao glanced at her indifferently, stepping into the room. “How is Qin Yanshu doing?”

“He is still in a deep slumber.”

Madam Qin followed into the room, gesturing for the Princess to go to the inner chamber, smiling as she said, “Yanshu is quite severely injured…”

“Is his injury my concern?” Princess Pingyao frowned, her expression cold and unwelcoming. “Venturing to the Regent’s residence in the dead of night to see his beloved, only to be reprimanded, was his own doing. Mrs. Qin, there’s no need for these explanations. It only adds fuel to the fire.”

Madam Qin’s expression subtly changed.

Although the Empress Dowager had always wanted the Qin family to form a connection with Princess Pingyao, her demeanor was truly unbearable. Not only did she let two brothers share a wife, but today she openly brought the Qin family’s illegitimate son along. Madam Qin was already displeased, and she hadn’t expected the Princess to be so ambiguous even during a visit.

A clay figurine still retains some earthy characteristics.

Furthermore, Madam Qin had always been held in high esteem, finding it difficult to tolerate such a subservient attitude.

“Yanshu had a previous engagement with Shen Ning. His visit to the Regent’s residence was simply to bid farewell to the past.” Madam Qin said calmly. “I hope the Princess won’t misunderstand.”

“Unfinished business is just that – unfinished. What is there to misunderstand?” Princess Pingyao sat down nearby, a hint of disdain on her face. “Even though I can tolerate a future consort thinking of someone else, the Regent may not bear his wife being remembered by another.”

Before Madam Qin could respond, a murmur came from the bed in the inner chamber: “No… Ning is mine, she isn’t the Regent’s wife, she isn’t… she isn’t the Regent’s wife…”

Madam Qin’s expression changed abruptly, almost wanting to knock him unconscious with a blow.

Qin Zhilan anxiously walked to the bedside, wishing she could cover his mouth: “Brother, brother!”

Struggling to open his eyes, Qin Yanshu finally broke free from the torment of confusion. “Zhilan?”

“It’s me.” Qin Zhilan breathed a sigh of relief, quickly instructing the servants, “Hurry, fetch water and assist the young master with his morning routine.”

The maids busied themselves promptly.

Princess Pingyao sat on the bed, watching the scene with interest. “Qin Yanshu, when those bandits attacked the Regent’s Princess Consort, what were you thinking?”

As the words fell, both Madam Qin and Qin Zhilan’s faces turned pale.

“Your Highness, you misunderstand.” Madam Qin explained anxiously. “Yanshu wasn’t involved in that incident. I even sent someone to inquire, and they all said it was the Regent’s desire to marry Shen Ning that led to the intentional mishap. It wasn’t Yanshu’s doing…”

“No.” Qin Yanshu spoke hoarsely, “The rumors outside are all false, Mother. The real culprit isn’t the Regent…”

“Yanshu!” Madam Qin’s eyes narrowed, sternly interrupting, “Have you lost your mind? Everyone says it was the Regent. Besides, Shen Ning is already married to him, isn’t that convenient? Why speak out?”

Princess Pingyao grew impatient and casually gestured, “Qin Yumo.”

“Your Highness.” Qin Yumo knelt before her.

“I find you more handsome than Qin Yanshu and more tactful. How about becoming my future consort?” Princess Pingyao lifted his chin, examining his face carefully. “You are more pleasing to my eyes.”

Qin Yumo knelt before her, allowing her to lift his chin.

Bang!

“Vile creature!” Madam Qin couldn’t bear the absurdity and kicked Qin Yumo, “Shameless thing! Go to the ancestral hall and kneel there—”

“Mrs. Qin, you dare touch my people?” Princess Pingyao’s face darkened as she looked at the furious Madam Qin. “You are out of line.”

Madam Qin wished she could drag Qin Yumo out and feed him to the dogs.

Faced with Princess Pingyao’s anger, she had to suppress her temper. “Your Highness, the Qin family holds a distinguished position as an imperial relative. Even though you are of high status, it’s wrong to humiliate us like this.”

“Is that so?” Princess Pingyao smiled faintly, stood up, and looked down at her. “In that case, I won’t humiliate you. The engagement between me and Qin Yanshu is now canceled. On October 16th, I will marry Qin Yumo. He will become my future consort.”

Madam Qin’s face changed drastically. “This is impossible! Qin Yumo, this lowly creature, is not qualified to be a future consort. The Empress Dowager’s decree—”

“My marriage is not up for anyone to decide.” Princess Pingyao’s eyes were as cold as ice. “As for your noble family… Oh, perhaps only the Qin family deludes themselves, basking in their imperial status, feeling superior. But even the Emperor in the palace must consider others’ opinions. Your Qin family means nothing!”

With those words, she helped Qin Yumo up from the ground. “I don’t want to stay in this foul place any longer. Let’s return home.”

Qin Yumo stood up, keeping his head down as he followed her.

“Qin Yumo, you scheming opportunist! Daring to seduce the Princess and snatch your brother’s future consort position, you are doomed. I won’t let you off—”

“Nonsense.” Princess Pingyao raised her hand, commanding, “For disrespecting me and my future consort, Ajin, give her ten slaps to teach her a lesson.”

“Yes.”

Ajin, the female official beside the Princess, approached Mrs. Qin, grabbing her and swiftly delivering ten resounding slaps to her face.

“Mother, Mother!” Qin Zhilan exclaimed in shock, her face pale. “Mother!”

Princess Pingyao coldly glanced at them. “From today, Qin Yumo is my future consort. Anyone who dares disrespect him will face consequences.”

With those words, she turned and left, her luxurious gown exuding an intimidating aura that left onlookers in awe.

Qin Yumo silently trailed behind her, experiencing the unfamiliar sensation of being protected for the first time, a mix of conflicting emotions swirling within him. However, his typically expressionless face revealed nothing.

Madam Qin stood frozen in place, her face stinging from the slaps. Even after Princess Pingyao had walked far away, she remained in a daze, hands covering her face, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

The scene left the nursemaid and maidservants startled, frozen in place, hesitant to approach.

“Mother.” Qin Zhilan cautiously looked at Madam Qin, “Are you alright, Mother?”

Madam Qin gazed in the direction Princess Pingyao had departed, her eyes reflecting shock, resentment, unwillingness, ultimately turning into desolate despair.

She mechanically returned to Qin Yanshu’s room, watching her son on the bed incessantly calling out for “Ning”. Overwhelmed by emotions, she suddenly lost control, delivering a harsh slap to him, “What sins has the Qin family committed to raise such a monstrous child like you! Monstrous!”

“Mother, Mother, please calm down!” Qin Zhilan, her face drained of color from fear, hastily held Madam Qin, “Mother, Brother is still heavily injured. Please, calm down—”

“What sins have I committed?” Madam Qin collapsed to her knees, breaking down in tears.

Qin Zhilan stood helplessly by, watching her brother, who seemed rational yet pig-headed, and her mother, who was falling apart uncontrollably, feeling lost and bewildered.

She couldn’t fathom how things had escalated to this point.

Who was truly responsible for this mess?

Shen Ning, or Princess Pingyao?