Chapter 21: Won’t Be Fooled Again

The sound of crying filled the entire carriage.

Fang Miaoyi was in Qin Xuan’s arms, insisting that Fang Yuean had pushed her into the water, sobbing and demanding that Qin Xuan punish Fang Yuean.

Fang Yuean had long since fallen asleep and was being carried by the wet nurse in another carriage.

Nanny Lei was traveling with them instead.

Qin Xuan looked over at Nanny Lei and asked, “Can we ask the others about what happened?”

Nanny Lei moved the copper basin filled with ice farther away to prevent it from being kicked over by Fang Miaoyi.

“Everyone says that the fifth young miss tried to take the snack from Yuean, and they both ran to the edge of the pond. When Yuean dodged, the fifth young miss rushed forward and fell in.”

Fang Miaoyi stopped crying upon hearing this, and turned around, shouting sharply, “You’re lying!”

She then looked at Qin Xuan, “Mother, she’s lying. It’s not like that.”

Qin Xuan’s face darkened. “Are all the servants lying?”

Fang Miaoyi pouted, burying her face in Qin Xuan’s chest, muttering, “Mother favors her, you don’t love Miaoyi anymore.”

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but laugh in frustration.

She didn’t think such a small child could come up with this on her own—someone must be coaching her behind the scenes.

“Then tell Mother, what should I do? I saw with my own eyes that Yuean tried to give you the snack, but you refused it. Later, when you wanted it, you tried to snatch it away.”

“Do you want me to help you take it from her, and that wouldn’t be favoring you?”

“Or do you think that only when everything goes according to your wishes, it’s not favoritism?”

Fang Miaoyi couldn’t respond and cried softly until she fell asleep.

When they arrived at their destination, Qin Xuan handed her over to Fang Miaoyi’s maid, instructing, “Let the fifth young miss stay in her Residence these days. She is not to leave without my permission.”

Qin Xuan sighed softly as she watched everyone leave.

The bond between them was quickly coming to an end.

Today, she had noticed a lot from Meng Xiang, and Chen Susu, who was trying to verify everything, couldn’t have missed it.

Next, Chen Susu would likely take action.

Qin Xuan would also need to be ready to help fuel the fire when the time came.

Returning to her Residence, she rested for a moment, and before she had finished her tea, Zhou Huajin arrived.

She was dressed in plain clothes, looking less spirited than in previous days, with a faint pallor and a worried expression.

“I came earlier, but I heard you had gone out. Do you mind telling me where you went?”

Her tone carried a hint of reproach from waiting too long.

Qin Xuan glanced at her, put down the teacup, and didn’t hide anything. “To the Chen family.”

Zhou Huajin’s expression became momentarily awkward. “Which Chen family? What did you go there for?”

Qin Xuan raised an eyebrow in suspicion, staring at her. “The way you’re asking seems a bit strange.”

She continued, “Susu asked me about the old immortal who treated Er’er’s illness, wondering why after many years of marriage, there’s still no pregnancy. But I don’t know where that old immortal has gone, so I couldn’t be of help.”

Zhou Huajin let out a sigh of relief, swallowing the words she had almost said.

She had also thought about this issue and wanted to ask Qin Xuan before personally bringing someone to see her mother-in-law and take a look at her swollen and painful face.

After Xuze’s incident, the Song family had fallen into disarray.

Without their mother-in-law overseeing them recently, they had lost their footing.

They weren’t sure whether to keep waiting or find a new solution.

To avoid suspicion, Fang Xunli had to commit a wrongful act in front of others to make people believe that everything was unrelated to their second branch.

But that wasn’t an easy task.

She had argued with Fang Kun about it, which had given her a terrible headache.

As she thought about it, all her resentment resurfaced.

“Mother Xuan, why is my fate so bitter? That day, Auntie Wei made such a huge mistake and ruined Xuze’s life, yet she kneeled in the Residence on a rainy night, and Fang Kun, that heartless man, forgave her.”

Zhou Huajin took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.

This scene was all too familiar to Qin Xuan.

Last time, Zhou Huajin had come to her and cried just like this, and when Qin Xuan comforted her, she had gone along with her complaints about Auntie Wei.

Later, somehow the story got back to Auntie Wei’s ears, and it seemed like Qin Xuan disapproved of Auntie Wei and was upset with her.

As a result, Auntie Wei came to Yunxiang Residence on a cold spring day, kneeling and crying, begging Qin Xuan not to drive her out.

Qin Xuan didn’t understand the situation at the time, but she couldn’t mention Zhou Huajin, as it would seem like she had betrayed her.

Eventually, she had managed to convince Auntie Wei to leave.

That night, Auntie Wei had a high fever that wouldn’t break.

Afterward, when Fang Kun saw Qin Xuan, he treated her coldly for quite a while.

Zhou Huajin had come to her soon after, cursing Auntie Wei, saying that she would help Qin Xuan get her revenge.

When Qin Xuan asked her about that day, Zhou Huajin claimed that she had drunk a couple of cups of wine and couldn’t remember what she had said.

Back then, out of affection for their relationship, Qin Xuan had chosen to believe her.

But now…

Qin Xuan lowered her gaze and smiled faintly, changing the topic. “Mother Jin, the most urgent matter now is Zhenzhen’s marriage. What are your plans for it?”

When Qin Xuan didn’t fall for the trap, Zhou Huajin put down her hand that had been wiping her tears. “It’s almost time.”

As she spoke about this, resentment bubbled up within her.

The day after the engagement banquet, Concubine Liang had sent someone to invite them to a restaurant.

When they met the concubine’s female official, she had unexpectedly said that the reputation of the second branch had been tarnished and would harm Prince of Qi, so the engagement should be broken off.

It was only when Prince of Qi hurried over that the matter was stopped.

The marriage continued as planned.

Zhou Huajin couldn’t even remember how she had returned to the estate that day.

But such an embarrassing event, if it weren’t for the purpose of trapping Qin Xuan, how could she have casually shared it with Qin Xuan, giving her an opportunity to mock her?

“Listening to you, I’m starting to feel a bit anxious. Not long ago, I was worried that my husband might go too far and not focus on arranging things properly, which delayed a lot of preparations for Xunli. His wedding clothes aren’t ready yet, I need to hurry.” Qin Xuan stood up.

Seeing this, Zhou Huajin knew it was inappropriate to stay any longer and stood up as well. “Then you get to work, I’ll be heading back.”

Qin Xuan nodded.

After Zhou Huajin left the room, her smile faded.

Why was it that her husband and son, both so troublesome, while Qin Xuan seemed at ease, untouched by the chaos?

Why was her life so bitter?

Zhou Huajin immediately decided that their plan couldn’t be allowed to fall apart because of the troubles with the Song family.

She had to secretly release Xuze and go see Lin Xu to discuss things.

Lin Xu had been thinking about the young lady from the Xu family, and with the backing of the Lin family, perhaps his grandfather, a high-ranking official in the court, could lend them a hand.