Chapter 48

Qin He was dumbfounded, feeling somewhat panicked.

This was not an easy question to answer; in what capacity was she questioning this matter?!

In ancient times, no capacity was appropriate.

If she cared about He Yan's marriage as the Xue Heir Apparent Consort, she was being restless. In ancient times, she had no standing. She and He Yan were already impossible, and Qin He had no intention of divorcing the Xue Heir Apparent.

Xue Qing, whether in appearance or family background, was second only to He Yan and Rong Juan in every aspect.

If she did it as He Yan's "white moonlight"? It wasn't impossible, but as mentioned before, if Xue Qing found out, he would certainly propose a divorce to her. Thinking of this, Qin He panicked; she shouldn't have been impulsive.

She didn't want a divorce, nor did she want to destroy the beautiful image she held in Xue Qing's heart.

Her intentions for coming to the Qin Yan Hou Fu today must not be known by Xue Qing.

"Stepmother." Qin He withdrew her previous aggressive momentum, adopted a bit of cuteness, and argued with insufficient confidence: "I wasn't calculating anything. I was just too angry and asked about it. I thought their marriage was just going through the motions."

Standing in her position, Qin He felt there was nothing wrong with asking.

"Qin Bi didn't think it was just going through the motions." Cui Shi stared at Qin He; this daughter of a concubine was used to smooth sailing and was too self-righteous: "She made such a scene wanting to call off the engagement back then; what were you doing?!"

Qin Bi understood it wasn't just going through the motions, yet Qin He was delusional; she really stood in her own position to think of beautiful things. Besides, Qin He had ability and looked clever; how could she be less understanding than Qin Bi in this matter?

As she spoke, Cui Shi's cultivation as a member of a prestigious family was about to break, but she suppressed it.

Qin He didn't think she was wrong, but faced with Cui Shi's questions, she was left speechless and said, "With her status, and the marriage being delayed again and again, perhaps she had long been hoping to marry into the Yan Guogong Fu. If I had intervened, perhaps I wouldn't have been thanked, and the fourth branch might have blamed me for ruining their opportunity to marry into the Yan Guogong Fu."

Cui Shi couldn't help it; whether she spoke correctly or incorrectly, it was all Qin He's logic.

Who was taking advantage—it was such a clear matter!

"Go to the fourth branch and say exactly that to your fourth uncle and fourth aunt." Cui Shi stood up and pointed outside the door: "If you dare to say it, I can guarantee that the whole fourth branch will dare to come and fight our second branch."

Qin He was a daughter of a concubine; Qin Di and his wife wouldn't talk to Qin He, they would certainly come to find them, the couple. Not teaching the concubine's daughter well—finding them, the second branch couple, was no mistake. It just depended on whether Qin He dared to go.

Qin He felt timid for a moment, then immediately straightened her back: "Aside from cousin Qin Tang and the fourth aunt, no one in the fourth branch has any prospects. What is there to fear from them?"

He Shi's maiden home was the Yan Guogong Fu, and Qin Tang had his own abilities; Qin He didn't put anyone else in her eyes at all.

"What is there to fear from them?" Cui Shi was angered by this daughter of a concubine. A maidservant stepped forward to help Cui Shi sit down, and Cui Shi slapped the table: "Your fourth uncle calls your father 'second brother'; that is enough."

One family speaking two different languages—what Qin He questioned today was no small matter. If a woman is restless, the entire family will be implicated. Once married, one must speak of married matters.

Xue Qing was willing to interact with He Yan and trusted Qin He because Qin He had no faults, and she had been settled since marriage.

Today, Qin He's questioning showed that her heart was a bit restless.

Qin He was unconvinced, but she knew that the ancient cultivation world she had transmigrated into had rules. If she went too far, someone would deal with her. Her wings were not yet fully grown, so she had to lie low.

Qin He didn't speak again. Cui Shi looked at her, knowing this daughter of a concubine was unconvinced.

"Do you know? Qin Bi doesn't have your ability. She couldn't make the decision regarding the marriage with the Yan Guogong Fu; she didn't even have room to speak." Cui Shi was no longer impatient and said calmly: "So, compared to your smooth sailing, it was difficult for Qin Bi to change some things. But after knowing He Yan was going to take you as a secondary wife, she still made a scene. Only then did your fourth uncle ask your grandfather and eldest uncle to step forward and go to the Yan Guogong Fu to bring up the matter of divorce."

Speaking of this, Cui Shi "scoffed," glanced at Qin He, and said, "Not to mention Qin Bi, if the fourth branch had been eager to climb high into the Yan Guogong Fu at the time, there would have been no divorce. All the benefits were yours, yet you actually had the nerve to speculate that others were dying to marry the He Heir Apparent?!"

Qin He was startled, worried that her stepmother thought her too malicious.

"Mother." Qin He lost all her temper and said aggrievedly: "I was just too angry and spoke without thinking. I'm not that malicious, and besides, I didn't take any benefits."

She didn't believe Qin Bi didn't have the heart to marry He Yan, but Qin He didn't dare say this. The impression she had given her stepmother today was too poor; the more she said, the more she erred, so Qin He didn't dare say more.

Cui Shi looked at Qin He—this was called not taking any benefits? It was truly an eye-opener.

However, there was no help for it; some people had good fates and good fortune.

"What's past is past." Cui Shi had already seen that Qin He was not worry-free and reminded her: "Don't mention these words again in the future. You are married, and your younger sisters in the Hou Fu are not yet married; they are all at the age to discuss marriage."

Qin He was unhappy in her heart; she hadn't done anything! Was it necessary to talk to her like this?

After sitting for a while longer, Qin He found an excuse and left.

Her younger sister grabbed her hand: "Stay for dinner before you go. You just arrived, and we haven't even talked yet."

Qin He's eyes flashed; her stepmother was dissatisfied with her, so she had to touch up and restore her image. Qin He smiled and said, "Let's go, come with me to the Xue Wang Fu; I'll give you some things."

Qin He had many resources in her hands, and her younger sister was delighted: "Really? Great."

The younger sister followed Qin He to the Xue Wang Fu. Qin Yan heard about it and followed along as well. The brothers and sisters in the Hou Fu all knew Qin He was a wealthy woman and all hoped to get closer to her.

Several ministers in the imperial court had heard that the little Rong Heir Apparent had gone to the Yan Guogong Fu. Several ministers were somewhat surprised, thinking the Rong Heir Apparent intended to interact with the He Heir Apparent.

After all, both were powerful heirs of the Great Yan Kingdom and had previously had a good relationship.

Both heirs had a share in the Xue Heir Apparent Consort's shop business, so they inevitably had to deal with each other. In the imperial court, the two heirs only discussed state affairs and were usually indifferent to each other; the Great Yan Emperor was quite troubled.

The ministers couldn't be bothered to care; let them do as they pleased.

The Yan Guogong Madam heard from the guards that the child had called He Yan "Father," but she didn't take it to heart. He Yan was fated to have no wife or children, and his wife was not yet in sight; how could she dare to hope for descendants?

The child was young, so it was most likely a mistake in address.

That was what she said, but the Yan Guogong Madam was not in a good mood.

Qin He received the news and immediately sent Fubao over.

"Grandmother!" the little girl called out.

"Fubao is here." Only then did the Yan Guogong Madam's mood improve slightly. She smiled, pulled the little girl over to talk, and said, "I haven't seen Fubao for several days. Come, Grandmother has delicious things for you."

The Yan Guogong Madam ordered rare food from the manor to be brought to Fubao. The little girl said happily, "Thank you, Grandmother."

The little girl accompanied the Yan Guogong Madam to talk, and when she left, she packed up quite a few good things to take back.