Chapter 426: Qin He Is Furious to Death

Xue He Shizi's expression instantly shifted to surprise, and he realized Qin He was furious.

Qin He claimed she did not compare herself to Qin Bi, but in truth, only she knew whether she cared; Qin He had never regarded Qin Bi as a rival, yet Qin Bi kept improving, which Qin He found hard to accept.

Hearing that Rong He Shizi had given Qin Bi her share of the profits from their joint shop, Qin He could not bear the provocation.

Anger could cause fainting, with consequences ranging from minor to severe; Xue He Shizi put aside his own anger toward Qin He and scolded Qin He's legitimate sister and Qin Yan: "Qin He is ill; why did you tell her about Qin Bi? The two of them have always been at odds."

Qin He's legitimate sister lowered her head, while Qin Yan said, "I did not know Qin He Jiejie would faint from anger."

Was this poor health, or simply a short temper?

Previously, when Qin Bi married He He Shizi, Qin He had longed for a lifelong pair; because she was to become a co-wife, Qin He had been furious every single day, yet nothing serious had happened. Why did she faint this time?

Anger is one thing, but fainting from it showed an excessive temper.

Xue He Shizi did not wish to continue reprimanding her; just as he prepared to rise and summon the imperial physician, Qin He finally recovered, opened her eyes, frowned, and said, "Stop making noise; my head hurts terribly. Bring me a cup of fruit juice."

"You cannot drink fruit juice," Xue He Shizi said.

Qin He frowned: "I feel nauseous and unwell."

Helpless, Xue He Shizi ordered a maid to fetch a cup of fruit juice. Qin He's legitimate sister hesitated, then, wishing to appear as if the sisters were close, walked over, took the cup, and handed it to Qin He.

Qin He held the cup, drank a few sips of fruit juice, and her complexion finally improved; Qin He's legitimate sister and Qin Yan could at last breathe a sigh of relief.

The two had come to their elder sister's home, and because they had repeated words that caused Qin He to faint, such talk would look bad if it spread abroad, making them seem like gossips and damaging their reputations.

"Be more open-minded in the future," Xue He Shizi advised Qin He. "Do not fret over everything. Just now I asked Qin Yan; you were upset because Rong He Shizi gave the shop's profits to Qin Bi, correct? They are husband and wife; it is entirely proper for Rong He Shizi to give Qin Bi money. Your anger over this is unreasonable, and it only makes your own body feel worse."

Qin He shed tears and said, grievously, "Was it easy for me to open a shop? In the beginning, I rose before dawn and worked until late night; how much effort did I spend creating various soaps? Since Qin Bi and I are at odds, how could Rong He Shizi turn around and give the shop's profits to Qin Bi? What has Qin Bi contributed? Why should the silver I earned through hard work go to Qin Bi?"

Better to give it to anyone else; even if Rong He Shizi kept a mistress and gave the silver to her, it would be better than giving it to Qin Bi. Rong He Shizi ought to have a concubine; with a concubine to compete for favor, Qin Bi would have no place in the matter.

Qin He's heart was filled with all manner of venom; she was furious, her head spinning and her mind reeling.

Xue He Shizi hesitated, while Qin He's legitimate sister and Qin Yan dared not speak, fearing Qin He would faint again.

When Qin He fainted just now, it terrified them both.

The more Qin He thought about it, the more aggrieved and helpless she felt; as Xue He Shizi had said, Rong He Shizi's share of the profits could go to whomever he wished, and no one could interfere. Yet Qin He was furious and deeply resentful.

Qin He burst into loud weeping: "It is silver I earned through great hardship."

Qin He was truly aggrieved, crushed by resentment.

Xue He Shizi could no longer endure and reminded her: "That is Rong He Shizi's rightful share of the profits. Once the silver is given to him, you have no business meddling. Rong He Shizi may give it to whomever he pleases; you worry far too much. If this were spoken of, no one would think you were in the right."

Getting angry is your own fault; do you have any right to meddle in Rong He Shizi's share of the profits?

Qin He choked on her words: "Leave. I do not wish to see you."

If he did not agree with her, Qin He would not listen and would grow angry; after all, it was her silver, and what fault was there in her caring who received it? She could accept anyone else, but she could not accept Qin Bi.

Xue He Shizi glanced at Qin He; seeing her condition, he realized she had merely been overcome by sudden anger just now, and she was fine now.

When Xue He Shizi left, Qin He's legitimate sister and Qin Yan saw the situation and felt utterly distressed; had Qin He recovered, they should have left immediately. But since Xue He Shizi had swept out in anger after they stayed, it would be improper for them, as sisters from the Marquis's household, to abandon Qin He and depart.

With no choice, Qin He's legitimate sister and Qin He had to remain a while longer. They spoke only of caring for her health; they dared not mention anything else, fearing Qin He would faint again.

Xue He Shizi arrived at Xue Wang Fei's courtyard, where Fu Bao was also present. Since Qin He was ill, Xue Wang Fei had worried about the child catching her sickness, so both Xue He Shizi's legitimate son and Fu Bao had been brought to Xue Wang Fei's side.

Xue Wang Fei, having learned that Qin He had fainted, asked, "Is she all right? How did she suddenly faint?"

Xue He Shizi could not tell Xue Wang Fei the true reason Qin He had fainted from anger; such a story would make him look unreasonable, as if she had fainted simply because she was bored and had too much to eat.

If Xue Wang Fei learned of Qin He's mindset, she would consider replacing the Rong Shizifei.

A Rong Shizifei must first be sensible and come from a prominent family as a legitimate daughter; yet it is well known that Qin He is merely the illegitimate daughter of the second branch of Qin Yan Hou Fu, with no connection to a legitimate daughter, and she is far too willful.

Xue He Shizi knew this well and did not wish Xue Wang Fei to know.

"The Rong Shizifei cares deeply for me," Xue He Shizi said as he sat down, forced to smooth things over for Qin He, insisting their relationship remained strong: "The Rong Shizifei was already ill; yesterday I went out to drink with several friends, and the Rong Shizifei came looking for me. She was probably angry."

Xue Wang Fei snorted: "What do you mean 'cares for you'? In my view, your Rong Shizifei is simply jealous."

Xue He Shizi grinned: "Mother, the Rong Shizifei simply has me in her heart."

Xue Wang Fei did not wish to meddle; she lifted her teacup and drank. Winter was cold; because there was no snow, the air was dry and biting, even colder than the wind that blows after snowfall. Qin He's legitimate son sat nearby, reading.

Whether he understood the text was secondary; Rong He Shizi's young son, Rong Chi, had already begun studying memorials. If the legitimate eldest son of Xue Wang Fu's He Shizi did not start reading soon, he would be outshone.

To speak honestly, Xue Wang Fei glanced at Qin He's legitimate eldest son and felt a pang of envy; both were grandchildren of Qin Yan Hou Fu, yet Rong Yang and Rong Chi were the recipients of countless dotes.

Other children also grew up, delicate and beautifully carved; Xue Wang Fei felt envious in her heart as well.

Qin He's legitimate son was not unattractive; he was sturdy and lively, quite endearing, though not like those little milk dumplings. Qin He's legitimate son looked prosperous, sturdy and robust.

Xue He Shizi also doted on his children; he took his legitimate eldest son into his arms and taught him a few characters.

The child studied earnestly. Fu Bao wandered over, deliberately showing off his cleverness. Xue He Shizi glanced at Fu Bao; this child's nature resembled Qin He's, too sharp and too ambitious.

His younger brother is still small; he should not be so unyielding.

Xue He Shizi could not help thinking of Rong Yang; the child was small in stature, a delicate milk dumpling, yet he doted greatly on his younger brother, Rong Chi, and seemed not to worry at all that Rong He Shizi might favor one over the other.

If it were Fu Bao, he would likely have made a scene long ago.

"Fu Bao," Xue He Shizi said, holding his legitimate son and pausing his lesson: "Go play elsewhere."

"No," Fu Bao said.