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  Today, the weather was pleasant, and the young dies were attending Mistress Long's css.

  While the dies were in css, Caiying didn't need to accompany them inside; instead, she waited outside, feeling a rare moment of rexation.

  Usually, Ziteng or Hongjuan accompanied Qin Shuying to her lessons. Today, it was Hongjuan.

  Hongjuan had started working in the Qin Manor around the same time as Caiying. Although they served in different courtyards, they were quite familiar and had a good friendship.

  Originally, Hongjuan was a maid in Old Madam’s courtyard, a position of considerable respect. Later, she was assigned to Qin Shuying. As Qin Shuying rarely appeared in public, Hongjuan also seldom came out, causing Caiying to rarely see her. Caiying had often sighed for Hongjuan, feeling it was a pity that someone as steady and sincere as Hongjuan was pced under a mistress like Qin Shuying.

  Now that Qin Shuying was frequently seen outside, Hongjuan also regurly appeared before others, so the two occasionally met and chatted.

  Today, Hongjuan wore the same attire as all the first-ranked maids in the manor, but the jade bracelet on her wrist was clearly of exceptional quality. Caiying had a good eye for jewelry and could tell the bracelet was worth at least a hundred taels. Moreover, Hongjuan’s hair was adorned with an exquisitely crafted golden hairpin, clearly not something ordinary.

  A mere maid wearing jewelry worth hundreds of taels—it had to be bestowed by her mistress.

  Caiying’s heart was a complicated mix of emotions. As she was lost in thought, Hongjuan approached and sat beside her, asking, "Caiying, I heard you have some fashionable embroidery patterns. Could I borrow them to learn?"

  Hongjuan’s previously pale, reserved face was now rosy and radiant, clearly reflecting her excellent mood and comfortable life. Caiying observed her, feeling an inexplicable bitterness, but she forced herself to sound cheerful, "Of course, sister. If you need them, I can give them to you anytime."

  "Then how about I come by this afternoon?"

  "No!"

  Caiying raised her voice involuntarily, quickly rejecting the offer. If Hongjuan came to visit, her mistress would almost certainly misunderstand.

  Hongjuan looked startled. Seeing no one around notice them, she lowered her voice, concerned, "What’s wrong? You look troubled—is there something difficult happening? Maybe I can help."

  Caiying shook her head quickly. "No… nothing. I just didn’t sleep well st night. I'm fine."

  "Are you worried about your mother’s illness?" Hongjuan clearly didn’t believe her words, gently probing.

  Her mother’s illness was real. The treatment had been costly and lingering over the years, never fully healing. With spring's unstable weather, her coughing had worsened tely.

  Caiying hesitated, "…Well…not exactly…"

  Hongjuan sighed softly as if she knew everything. "No need to hide it from me—I’m aware of your family's situation. Here, I have twenty taels of silver you can use for your mother's treatment. Her health is the most important."

  Caiying stared at Hongjuan, eyes wide with shock. Twenty taels! That was equivalent to nearly a year and a half’s worth of sary for maids of their rank.

  Hongjuan’s family wasn’t wealthy either—her father held only a minor position, her mother was ill, and she had a young sister to care for. Her younger brother, barely ten, had just found a modest job st year. How could Hongjuan easily offer twenty taels like this?

  Could the rumors be true? Had the Seventh Miss really rewarded each personal maid fifty taels? That would certainly expin Hongjuan's newfound wealth.

  Seeing Caiying’s astonishment, Hongjuan smiled gently. "We’re good friends. Now that I have a little extra, helping you isn’t a big deal. I don’t have the silver with me right now, but tomorrow I’m going home—I’ll deliver it personally to your mother. Pay me back whenever you have money; I’m not in a hurry."

  Caiying steadied herself and asked hesitantly, "Hongjuan, how…how did you suddenly get so much silver?"

  Hongjuan answered calmly, "Seventh Miss rewarded me. Our Miss is generous. As long as we serve diligently, the rewards keep coming. Although our monthly wage isn’t much, the rewards can easily be dozens of times higher."

  Caiying asked carefully, "Seventh Miss seems quite intimidating…does she scold you often?"

  "Not at all," Hongjuan quickly denied. "Seventh Miss is very easy to serve. She leads a simple life, rarely needing close attendance. I have plenty of free time, and she lets me visit my family three times a month. Tomorrow happens to be one of my days off."

  Caiying felt deeply conflicted. She mumbled softly, "Hongjuan, perhaps…perhaps you shouldn't. My mother’s illness has always been this way. Our family isn’t short of silver—it's just hard to cure. There's nothing to be done…"

  As she spoke, her heart bled with regret. Her words were painfully insincere.

  With that twenty taels, her mother’s condition would surely improve significantly. But…

  Seeing Caiying insist, Hongjuan sighed softly, not pressing further. "Everything is fate, I suppose. If you ever need help, just tell me."

  ___

  After Mistress Long finished teaching, the young dies began working on their own paintings.

  Qin Lulu, Qin Yunyun, and Qin Shuying each took up their brushes, contempting, grinding ink, or consulting Mistress Long.

  Qin Shuying had already envisioned her painting. With a practiced stroke, the image swiftly appeared on the pale paper—today’s theme was springtime.

  Qin Yunyun, head lowered in thought, was actually simmering in frustration.

  After these recent lessons, Qin Yunyun realized Qin Shuying was skilled in every subject—poetry, music, and painting. Qin Yunyun couldn’t surpass her in a single area.

  Previously, she had Consort Lian as a backer, but now even Consort Lian was unreliable. Although the Sixth Prince had been courteous to her during his st visit, there was no longer the same warmth or closeness.

  The Sixth Prince was clearly displeased that she had exploited Consort Lian! He’d even subtly hinted to Grandmother to remove her mother's household management authority!

  Why did Eldest Sister and the Sixth Prince both support Qin Shuying so fiercely? Why?

  It had to be because of the Liu family! The Sixth Prince sought the Liu family’s support, letting Qin Shuying lord over her. If Qin Shuying lost her engagement with the Liu family, she would have no backing left!

  As for how to ruin Qin Shuying’s engagement…

  Her sister-in-w would soon return to arrange a marriage for her. Qin Yunyun had to hurry.

  A cold smile appeared on Qin Yunyun’s lips. She had already asked Nanny Zhao to send a letter to her aunt a few days ago. Something should happen soon.

  Finally calming herself, she started painting.

  The morning css sted only an hour. Afterward, Mistress Long departed.

  As soon as she left, Qin Lulu immediately approached Qin Shuying’s desk, whispering urgently, "Seventh Sister, I heard something today, but I'm unsure if it's true. You must tell me if it's real!"