Chapter 552: Cui Shi's Wrath

Cui Shi's sarcasm made Qin He's face flush even redder in an instant.

Why look down on her?

Qin He was furious, yet she could not voice her question, for she knew very well she would gain nothing; when she first transmigrated, she did as she pleased and was soundly disciplined by Cui Shi.

When Qin He refused to yield and argued with her legitimate mother, Cui Shi slapped her several times.

Cui Shi knew best how ignorant Qin He was; Qin He dared not challenge Cui Shi. Even though she hated her to death, she understood that Cui Shi, born of a prestigious family, handled affairs far better than she did.

"Mother," Qin He submitted, speaking with grievance, "I worked so hard, yet that scum He He Shizi gave everything to Rong Yuan. Where will Fu Bao get cultivation resources?"

Only then did Cui Shi look properly at Qin He. This concubine-born daughter never knew her own worth, lacked any self-awareness, and always wanted everything. How to put it? A concubine-born child is always concubine-born.

Was He He Shizi some ordinary scion of a common noble family? No. He He Shizi was one of the two heirs of the great Yan's most powerful ministers. He He Shizi was as gentle as jade and skilled in strategy, yet fated to have no wife and no children.

If he had no children, he could raise anyone, provided He He Shizi was willing.

But He He Shizi now had a biological child. What did Qin He still hope for? Think nothing of it. There was no place for Qin He or her child in this. Wasn't it time to use your brain even when indulging in delusions?

When He He Shizi first acknowledged Rong Yuan, Qin He made a mistake from the very start.

Qin He should have used her connection with He He Shizi to treat Rong Yuan better. As for Fu Bao, she should have considered Rong Yuan an extra younger brother. Instead, Qin He did nothing but dream up nonsense.

She even wanted Fu Bao to compete with Rong Yuan and drive Rong Yuan away.

Could He He Shizi tolerate that? Cui Shi scoffed. Only Qin He was too foolish to see clearly.

Had Qin He treated Rong Yuan better at the beginning, He He Shizi would not have suddenly stopped supporting Fu Bao. Whatever He He Shizi gave to Rong Yuan, Fu Bao would surely have received some as well, had she been sensible.

But Qin He could not bear Rong Yuan, and Fu Bao was not sensible either.

With things having come to this, Cui Shi could only say, "Seek your sect. Let Fu Bao obtain cultivation resources from the sect. Besides the Yan Guogong Fu, immortal sects also possess cultivation resources."

"But..." Qin He began, wanting to say that obtaining cultivation resources from an immortal sect would mostly require entering the small space of the demon beast realm.

Obtaining cultivation resources in the demon beast realm's small space was far less easy than asking He He Shizi. Qin He calculated that the Yan Guogong Fu's deep reserves were enough to support her and Fu Bao's cultivation.

Cui Shi's gaze swept over Qin He, and Qin He, with words on her lips, could not continue.

She also knew that insisting on clinging to the cultivation resources in He He Shizi's hands would invite Cui Shi's mockery. This Cui Shi had the most poisonous tongue, spoke so harshly, and left no one any face.

Qin He's eyes flickered. "But Fu Bao is too young."

Second Lady Cui Shi: "..."

This tone was just like that of the concubine-born daughter of the fourth branch, Qin Han.

Qin Han was the concubine-born daughter of the fourth branch; Cui Shi could not control her. As for Qin He? Cui Shi had to lecture her. This concubine-born daughter needed lecturing; she constantly spouted fresh nonsense and acted without knowing how much shame she was costing.

Qin He thought only of what benefited herself, disregarding everyone else entirely.

"I am not ignorant of cultivation," Cui Shi said. "Qin He, if not for the family, who else do you expect to support you and your child for life? As for He He Shizi's Yan Guogong Fu, as long as Rong Yuan is there, do not even dream of it."

Hearing this, Qin He exploded, acting willfully. "Why should Rong Yuan not stay at Rong Wang Fu? He is Rong He Shizi's child."

Qin He had finally spoken her mind.

Some people, impulsive and brainless, feel uncomfortable unless they speak out.

Second Lady Cui Shi: "..."

What kind of words were those? Were you a three-year-old child? To speak such brainless nonsense.

Rong Yuan was a child of the He family; returning to the Yan Guogong Fu was only right. Yet, in Qin He's stubborn mind, Rong Yuan should stay at Rong Wang Fu, and returning to the Yan Guogong Fu was wrong.

Yes, if Rong Yuan returned to the Yan Guogong Fu, Fu Bao would lose everything she wanted.

Could that be right? In Qin He's view, it was not.

But anyone who knew propriety and shame knew that what Qin He said was utter nonsense.

"Qin He," Cui Shi, her face filled with anger, said, "Have you truly lost all shame? Rong Yuan is a child of the Yan Guogong Fu. If he wishes to return to the Yan Guogong Fu, he returns. Why do you need to speak ill of him here?"

"Mother," Qin He refused to yield. "Since Rong He Shizi raised Rong Yuan, he should continue raising him. Rong Yuan is his child; the title should be inherited at Rong Wang Fu, not the Yan Guogong Fu."

Cui Shi flew into a rage and suddenly stood up. "Shameless thing! Dare you say that again!"

Qin He's tears burst forth. "Where did I go wrong? Rong Yuan is Rong He Shizi's child; he should stay at Rong Wang Fu. Why must he run to the Yan Guogong Fu and compete with our Fu Bao?"

Qin He was overcome with emotion and momentarily forgot she was speaking to her legitimate mother, Second Lady Cui Shi. Cui Shi did not indulge her, nor would she allow such shamelessness and baseless arguments while pointing fingers at others.

Whether Rong Wang Fu or the Yan Guogong Fu, neither was a place for Qin He to interfere.

Qin He usually knew this, but once she was worked up, she spoke without thinking.

At this moment, Second Lady Cui Shi restrained herself repeatedly, holding back from slapping Qin He. Qin He was already married with a child and was the Heir Consort of Xue Wang Fu; Cui Shi preferred not to strike her if she could avoid it.

"You are not wrong," Cui Shi said with a mocking tone. "You are simply shameless."

Qin He could not accept this. "Mother, why must you speak such harsh words to me?"

"What you say is shameless nonsense," Cui Shi said. "Do you expect me to speak kindly to you? If you and Xue Wang Fei lose face and cannot go out, that is your business, but must you also cause me to lose face and be unable to leave the manor?"

Qin He's face flushed red, her emotions running high. "I am not wrong."

Second Lady Cui Shi feared no stubbornness from Qin He; she truly believed she could still control her. Cui Shi sneered. "If you speak again of Rong Yuan staying at Rong Wang Fu and not returning to the Yan Guogong Fu, do not say such things outside the manor. Otherwise, do you believe I, as your legitimate mother, will keep you at Qin Yan Hou Fu to recover from illness?"

Qin He froze. Cui Shi meant to keep her here, not let her return to Xue Wang Fu, and under the guise of recovering from illness. She could not believe it. She was no ordinary concubine-born daughter; she was the Heir Consort of Xue Wang Fu.

How dared Cui Shi?

Xue Wang Fu would certainly not agree.

Qin He faced the standing Cui Shi. This time, Cui Shi was truly enraged, her face ugly. "I have seen shameless people, but never one as shameless as you. If you dare tarnish the reputation of a young lady of the Marquis manor, I will dare to keep you here in the manor."

Qin He was afraid. Cui Shi was serious; Cui Shi was truly angry.

Indeed, Cui Shi also had a legitimate daughter, Qin Yuan. How could she allow Qin He to shamelessly fight for things? Even the scholars and strategists alone could curse Qin Yan Hou Fu's second branch to death, and even implicate other young ladies of the Marquis manors.

Second Lady Cui Shi knew the consequences, but Qin He only feared Cui Shi.