Chapter 354: Trying to Save a Bit of Face

"In my opinion," Qin Bi tossed the melon seed shell and said, "Rong Yuan did the right thing; there's nothing wrong with it. In his own home, he can do whatever he wants. Qin He, don't get it wrong. If the Young Master of the Marquis of Yan Fu protects you, I will only protect my Rong Yuan."

"Coming to me, you've chosen the wrong person. Do you think I'll show pity and spare your feelings?"

The Fifth Lady of the Qin Yan Marquis Fu flicked her handkerchief. Oh dear, there was no need to say that last part. If Qin Bi kept talking, Qin He would be painted as a fickle, unfaithful woman.

Expecting men to protect her everywhere, and having grown accustomed to it.

Whenever she felt wronged, she would find someone to back her up.

Yet, for Qin He to have been thrown out of the Guogong Fu by Rong Yuan, only to run to the Qin Yan Marquis Fu to seek justice from Qin Bi, was undeniably the worst possible move. Even if Qin Bi put on a show to give Qin He an explanation,

Rong He Shizi would likely not agree.

As for He He Shizi, it was unclear. In the Fifth Lady's view, even if Qin He was He He Shizi's childhood sweetheart and white moonlight, he would at most stop Rong Yuan from protecting her a bit. Anything more was uncertain.

"I didn't say Rong Yuan was wrong," the Fifth Lady said. "Your eldest aunt's point is that Qin He is, after all, family. To be ordered out of the manor by a child in front of everyone is utterly shameful."

The Fifth Lady merely spoke, yet everyone felt their dignity was lost.

Qin He's face flushed red again. "It was Qin Bi who instigated Rong Yuan. She must have been badmouthing me to him often. Otherwise, why would Rong Yuan suddenly hate me so much?"

The onlookers pondered; this was hard to say. Even if Qin Bi badmouthed you to Rong Yuan, what could you do? Besides, you hadn't stopped badmouthing Qin Bi in front of Fu Bao either.

A clear official cannot settle family disputes. Qin He's legitimate younger sister sided with Qin He, but she had no right to speak.

The Wife of the Qin Yan Marquis exchanged glances with the Third Lady Zhu and the Fifth Lady. In truth, they all understood that Qin He, having suffered grievance, returned to the Qin Yan Marquis Fu hoping to rely on her natal family to vent her anger.

However, with the current Qin Bi, the Qin Yan Marquis Fu dared not let her suffer any grievance either.

In the past, Qin He always stood out, while Qin Bi suffered much due to He He Shizi. Now Qin He wanted to repeat the same trick, but unfortunately, the Qin Yan Marquis Fu would not do anything to the Rong He Shizi's wife.

Whose temper was softer? Who would take a step back?

"Perhaps..." The Fifth Lady was about to suggest that Rong Yuan, the young He Shizi, come to the Qin Yan Marquis Fu to apologize to Qin He, thereby restoring some of Qin He's dignity.

Thinking of the dashing Rong He Shizi in fine clothes and on a spirited horse, the Fifth Lady closed her mouth. That was absolutely impossible.

No chance at all.

The Second Lady, Cui Shi, looked at her sisters-in-law. "So, what then?"

"Nothing," the Fifth Lady said. She was sharp and liked to go with the flow; she certainly wouldn't start trouble.

Cui Shi sighed. She knew that once news spread that Qin He had been thrown out of the Guogong Fu, it would be known by all the families within half a day. As the He Shizi's wife of the Xue Wang Fu, Qin He's face was utterly ruined.

"How about this," Cui Shi said.

Everyone looked at Cui Shi. Qin He's legitimate younger sister said, "Mother, we cannot let Sister Qin He suffer a loss. She has suffered such a great grievance this time. Our Qin Yan Marquis Fu must help Sister Qin He restore her dignity."

The Second Lady glanced at her own legitimate daughter. What a simple-minded fool. Once thrown out, restoring Qin He's dignity was impossible unless Rong Yuan apologized, and Cui Shi knew that was impossible.

Who dared ask Rong Yuan to apologize? Rong He Shizi would draw his sword and draw blood.

Cui Shi dared not gamble on He He Shizi either. The mind of a powerful minister was unreadable. He He Shizi usually protected Qin He, even for years, but once he withdrew that protection, Qin He would die a very ugly death.

At present, they needed to find a balance.

The Second Lady pushed aside her annoying legitimate daughter and looked at Qin Bi, proposing, "Qin Bi, do you think this would work? Call Rong Yuan over. Let him express any grievances to Qin He openly, and consider it a reconciliation."

Once reconciled, Qin He would restore some dignity and could continue to go to the Guogong Fu.

Qin Bi was easy to talk to and didn't say no. She picked up her tea and drank, saying only, "Rong Yuan is at the Guogong Fu. If Second Aunt can summon Rong Yuan, just go and call him. I won't stop you."

Qin Bi seemed to give face, but in fact, she gave none at all.

Cui Shi choked. Qin Bi was uncooperative. She glared at the ungrateful Qin He. The Second Lady and the other ladies discussed it; her proposal was the most gentle, considering everyone's dignity.

The Wife of the Qin Yan Marquis thought for a moment and nodded. He Shi drank her tea and did not participate.

The Qin Yan Marquis Fu sent someone to the Guogong Fu to invite Rong Yuan. Cui Shi calculated that since the Qin Yan Marquis Fu was Rong Yuan's maternal grandfather's home, the child would find it hard to refuse. However, she overlooked one thing: this was the Guogong Fu.

When He He Shizi saw the messenger, he asked, "What business requires calling Rong Yuan?"

The messenger opened his mouth but could not speak.

He He Shizi said, "Rong Yuan is not available."

The person sent by the Qin Yan Marquis Fu was sent back. Upon returning to the Qin Yan Marquis Fu to report to the ladies, the Wife of the Qin Yan Marquis felt the matter was difficult. Qin He would likely have to endure this grievance.

For no other reason: He He Shizi had blocked the way. Who would dare go and call Rong Yuan now?

Qin He relied entirely on He He Shizi's favoritism. If she provoked He He Shizi, it would be all over!

The Wife of the Qin Yan Marquis twitched her eyelid. At first, she thought He He Shizi didn't know Qin He had suffered grievance. Now she saw he likely did; He He Shizi was simply protecting his own child.

Some things, once seen through, should not be spoken of.

Only Qin He, so stubborn, kept shouting that she wanted to see He He Shizi to back her up. But what would happen if she saw him? Was Qin He so certain that He He Shizi would mistreat his own child for her sake?!

The Wife of the Qin Yan Marquis looked at Qin He. She was still so stubborn.

"He He Shizi must not know that Rong Yuan threw Sister Qin He out of the manor," Qin He's legitimate sister, also stubborn, shouted. "Those sent to call Rong Yuan are truly foolish. Why didn't they take the opportunity to tell He He Shizi that Sister Qin He was thrown out?"

The Fifth Lady could no longer hold back. "He is a servant. Where does he have the right to speak?"

"Sister Qin He suffered this grievance precisely because she couldn't see He He Shizi!" Qin He's legitimate sister stamped her foot. "If she had seen He He Shizi, she should have told him everything at once. Perhaps He He Shizi would have immediately come to the Qin Yan Marquis Fu to see Sister Qin He's situation."

Qin Bi, with a headache from the commotion, stood up and left with He Shi.

After the people of the Fourth Branch left, the Third Branch's Lady Zhu did not leave, watching to see how Cui Shi would handle this.

Although the Second Lady, Cui Shi, had unusual depth, with no one cooperating, she could not maneuver. In the end, she had no choice but to tell Qin He to tidy up and return to the Xue Wang Fu, pretending nothing had happened.

When meeting the Xue Wang Fei, she should speak and smile as usual, absolutely never mentioning being thrown out of the Guogong Fu.

Qin He cried bitterly from grievance. No one helped her; Cui Shi was also incompetent.

Back in the courtyard of the Second Branch, the Second Lady, Cui Shi, called Fu Bao over and explained the situation to the young girl. Qin He, as the He Shizi's wife of the Xue Wang Fu, could be replaced.

Fu Bao was, after all, a young princess of the Wang Fu. She was merely raised to be domineering, not ignorant.

Fu Bao nodded. "Grandmother, I understand. I won't say anything when I return."