Chapter 498: Scolding Qin Han

If Qin Bi had any strategy, the Qin Yan Hou Fu would have sought her out eagerly.

Being able to accurately gauge human hearts shows her mind is not lacking.

Qin Tan and Qin Di were chatting about the Red Flame Festival, noting preparations must begin now. He Shi, originally speaking happily with Jiang Shi and Lin Shi, immediately frowned upon hearing Qin Han intended to target the farmlands of the two legitimate sons.

"What did she say when you went?" He Shi asked.

"What could she say?" Qin Xun replied, "Make excuses. Qin Han said she planned to return tonight and inform me and my eldest brother."

He Shi's anger flared; in other words, Qin Han had acted on her own authority!

"Tell your father: when has Qin Han ever regarded me, her legitimate mother, or you two legitimate brothers, with any respect?" He Shi pondered while speaking, "I raised her by my side, yet she is so unrefined. She must learn the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born."

Qin Xun looked at Qin Bi, who waved her hand: "I don't mind. It wasn't about me."

He Shi softened her expression; this one was good. Unlike Qin Han, who dared covet what belonged to the legitimate line. If the relationship between legitimate and concubine-born children had been good, and Qin Tang and Qin Xun had asked Qin Han to farm, He Shi would not have been angry.

The main issue was that Qin Han acted on her own authority without asking a word.

No matter how much He Shi loved Qin Han, she could not allow her to surpass her legitimate sons.

Jiang Shi and Lin Shi were also furious. Lin Shi said, "We never saw it before. Qin Han, relying on growing up by Mother's side, now doesn't even respect us legitimate children."

Jiang Shi added, "Qin Han is too disappointing."

He Shi was not like Qin Di; when a concubine-born child infringed upon the interests of a legitimate son, she tolerated nothing. She immediately sent someone to the Wilderness to fetch Qin Han and Jiang Mo back.

He Shi opened her storage bag and took out a small teleportation array, something she usually couldn't bear to use.

As a legitimate mother disciplining a concubine-born daughter, He Shi didn't care about the cost of the teleportation array.

Qin Lang volunteered, reaching out to take the small teleportation array: "I will go to the Wilderness."

He Shi handed the small teleportation array to Qin Lang: "Very well, go quickly and return soon."

Qin Lang took the small teleportation array to the courtyard and activated it to leave.

Qin Bi sat down one by one next to Qin Tang and Qin Xun, waiting. He Shi didn't stand on ceremony; she summoned all the concubine-born sons and daughters of the Fourth House, along with the concubines. Qin Han's mother also arrived.

Everyone fell silent as if frozen. Shortly after, Qin Di and Qin Tan came from the study, along with the Third Lady, Zhu Shi.

Qin Lang went to the Wilderness and went straight to fetch Qin Han and Jiang Mo: "My fourth aunt is calling you back."

Qin Han's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately showed signs of panic. Jiang Mo went to inform the Qin He Shizi, then gathered Jiang Ren to go with him. Qin He and the others saw this and poked their heads out curiously.

Qin He hesitated, then walked over: "It's still early. What is so urgent that you must call Qin Han back right now?"

"If you are curious," Qin Lang looked at her, "you can come back with us."

Qin He was displeased, lowered her head to hide her emotions, then looked up smiling: "Qin Lang, who provoked you to speak so harshly? You must not speak to your own cousin like that."

Qin Lang simply ignored her.

Qin He lost face and said nothing more.

"It's just about farming on the fields?" Qin Yuan muttered, "What's the big deal?"

It turned out she already knew why Qin Lang had come; Qin He's question was unnecessary.

Knowing it was wrong yet still intending to plant vegetables on the farmlands reclaimed by Qin Tang and Qin Xun, Qin Lang sneered. Still a young lady of a Marquis's house, yet so shameful, showing no trace of a proper noblewoman's demeanor.

The Qin He Shizi and Qin Xiang naturally understood He Shi's reaction. As a legitimate mother, He Shi could least tolerate Qin Han acting on her own authority and touching what belonged to the legitimate line. Previously, she had sent Qin Lang and Qin Han's family away.

Upon teleporting to the courtyard of the Fourth House, Qin Han hesitated before entering the main hall.

Jiang Mo stepped forward and entered the main hall ahead of Qin Lang. If one is wrong, one is wrong; what good does hiding do? Qin Han gritted her teeth and had to pull Jiang Ren with her into the main hall.

In the main seats were Qin Di and his wife, and Qin Tan and his wife.

On either side sat Qin Tang and Qin Xun, Qin Bi, Jiang Shi and Lin Shi, as well as the concubines and concubine-born sons and daughters of the Fourth House.

There was only one young concubine-born son and one young concubine-born daughter present; the slightly older ones had gone to the Wilderness and had not yet returned. Qin Han had never seen such a scene and immediately admitted her fault.

"Do you still have me, your legitimate mother, in your eyes?" He Shi said. "You don't even respect your legitimate elder brothers."

Qin Di also shouted angrily, "Who gave you the audacity to touch what belongs to your legitimate elder brother?"

"Father, Mother," Qin Han sobbed, "I was wrong."

Jiang Mo also said, "Father, Mother, Qin Han knows she was wrong."

"Knows she was wrong?" Qin Di's gaze swept over, questioning Qin Han, "If you truly knew you were wrong, the moment your second brother returned in anger from the Wilderness, you should have immediately followed to make amends, not continued to treat it lightly."

"I wanted to return to apologize to my elder brothers," Qin Han said while crying, "but without a teleportation array, I could only wait until evening to return."

There was no need for He Shi to act; at such a time, Qin Di, as head of the household, could least afford to spoil a concubine-born child, lest his legitimate wife and legitimate sons feel cold-hearted. Besides, Qin Han was clearly in the wrong.

"If you had any intention, Qin Yan would have produced a teleportation array," Qin Di said. "And Qin He. If Qin Bi couldn't get a teleportation array from Qin He, I might believe it. But if you asked, would Qin He refuse to give you a teleportation array to return? You simply counted on your legitimate mother and legitimate brothers being lenient toward you."

Qin Han could only cry; she had no words to answer.

None of the concubines or concubine-born dared to make a sound. Qin Di scolded Qin Han thoroughly. Qin Han's face was utterly ruined, and she wept until she could not speak. He Shi, Qin Tang, and Qin Xun watched with cold eyes.

Zhu Shi did not plead for her, and Qin Bi certainly did not intervene. It was a self-inflicted consequence.

"My husband and child are here," Qin Han said. "Leave me some face."

Qin Di and Qin Tan both frowned. Qin Han thought that bringing up her husband and child would reduce the scolding, but the opposite happened. Her little scheme could not even fool He Shi and Zhu Shi.

"Good, Qin Han," Qin Di slammed the table heavily. "Being with Qin He, you learned nothing else, but you picked up many little schemes. Bringing the child here is nothing but an attempt to make me and your legitimate mother spare you from scolding out of consideration for the child. You even play such tricks on your own family."

Qin Di was especially angry. If not for the sake of Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren, he would have kicked her. A useless thing; as a concubine-born daughter, she had turned a good hand into such a mess.

Originally, he intended to resolve it within his own courtyard, scold Qin Han, and have her apologize to the two legitimate brothers. Qin Tan signaled Qin Di, who then ordered someone to summon the Qin Yan Hou and his wife.

Only after Qin Han apologized to her legitimate elder brothers in front of so many people would the matter be settled.

Qin Han left in tears. Qin Di did this to let the Second House know that he was aware of Qin He's little schemes. They should not think that planting vegetables on Qin Tang and Qin Xun's farmlands was solely Qin Han's idea.

Qin Han was scolded; although Qin He was not scolded, she also lost face.

It was not unknown that Qin He had instigated Qin Han to plant vegetables.