Madam Xu watched as Nanny Gu helped Old Madam Qin leave. She was seething inside. Turning back to look at Huiqin, who had colpsed on the floor and lost control of her bdder, Madam Xu wrinkled her nose in disgust. The stench in the room was unbearable. Letting out a derisive snort, she walked away without a second gnce.

  The so-called "evil star" had been identified—Huiqin.

  With the culprit caught, the matter was resolved, and the monk was escorted out of the Qin estate by Nanny Gu.

  Before leaving, the monk, Yuan Zhen, turned back toward the Qin residence. Bowing deeply with his hands csped, he muttered solemnly, "Amitabha! Mercy, mercy! The killings are too heavy, too heavy!"

  Yet when these words reached the ears of the Qin family heads through Nanny Gu, no one took them seriously. They all had their private understandings of who or what the real evil star might be.

  Yuan Zhen let out a heavy sigh, shook his head, and departed.

  ___

  As Madam Xu walked back toward her quarters, she unexpectedly encountered Qin Shuying strolling down the small path with a young maid in tow.

  It was the dead of winter. The trees were bare, and the world seemed lifeless except for the evergreen pines and cypresses standing resolutely green. Qin Shuying, dressed in a striking red cloak, stood out vividly against the snowy backdrop. Her graceful figure and fair complexion, paired with a bright, warm smile, made her a sight to behold.

  "Madam!" Qin Shuying greeted politely, her crisp voice carrying a hint of intimacy that made her seem approachable and kind.

  Madam Xu stopped in her tracks as if she'd seen a ghost. For a moment, even her heartbeat faltered.

  However, she quickly composed herself. Having weathered countless storms, Madam Xu maintained her poise, though her repeated losses to Qin Shuying had left traces of resentment in her tone. “Seventh Miss, your manners have improved remarkably. Truly, you are someone to be reckoned with.”

  Qin Shuying smiled gently, her calm gaze meeting Madam Xu’s. “I’m an orphan, after all, entirely indebted to Madam’s teachings for whatever I’ve become.”

  Madam Xu’s fingers clenched involuntarily. Sensing the tension, Nanny Liu quickly interjected, “Madam, it seems I’ve forgotten to show you the silk flowers rewarded by Consort Lian. Such negligence is unforgivable. I’ll fetch them right away.”

  Qin Shuying’s smile deepened at this attempt to invoke Consort Lian’s authority—a subtle reminder of who Madam Xu’s daughter truly was.

  Feigning sweetness, Qin Shuying remarked, “Nanny Liu, those words seem unnecessary. Consort Lian resides in the deep pace. Without an imperial decree or the Empress’s permission, she wouldn’t dare summon Madam at will, lest the Empress punish her. So, even if you’ve deyed for a decade or more, what does it matter? And Madam Xu is so kind; why would you worry?”

  The implication was clear: Qin Shuying understood pace protocol and knew exactly how limited Consort Lian’s influence truly was. After the witchcraft scandal years ago, unwritten rules in the pace prohibited consorts from casually summoning their family members. Even consorts of higher rank required the Empress's approval for such meetings.

  Over time, these restrictions had eased, but for someone like Consort Lian, these visits were infrequent and highly reguted. Madam Xu could see her daughter only a few times a year at most.

  Nanny Liu’s attempt to leverage Consort Lian’s name had backfired. Qin Shuying’s fearless response made it clear she wouldn’t back down. As a result, Madam Xu’s face darkened further, though she managed to maintain a faint, strained smile. “Seventh Miss, your wit is sharp as ever. I’m sure your te parents must be deeply comforted, knowing how well you’ve grown.”

  Qin Shuying’s smile grew even warmer. “Madam overpraises me! Compared to Third Sister, I’m not even worthy to carry her shoes. Second Sister must be overjoyed in the afterlife to see how capable Third Sister has become.”

  Even with Madam Xu's practiced composure, her face turned ashen with rage.

  But Qin Shuying wasn’t finished: “Still, whether it’s Second Sister or Third Sister, they’re both Madam’s daughters. Naturally, Madam must be even more gratified!”

  Nanny Liu was stunned, utterly unable to fathom why Seventh Miss would go to such lengths to provoke her own aunt, and in such an uncompromising way. In her fifty years of life, she hadn’t just never seen anything like this—she hadn’t even heard of it.

  Understanding her mistress’s temper, Nanny Liu tried to intervene: “Seventh Miss—”

  “Silence!” Qin Shuying interrupted sharply, her voice ced with an unexpinable authority. Nanny Liu involuntarily shuddered.

  Qin Shuying continued her rapid tirade: “The Qin family has treated you generously, and this is how you serve? Undermining the family’s rules? Don’t you know the consequences of cking discipline? Have you already forgotten about Nanny Zhang?”

  Nanny Liu froze, her mind immediately conjuring up the horrifying image of Nanny Zhang’s tragic demise. A chill ran down her spine.

  Once again, Madam Xu found herself unable to refute her niece’s sharp words, leaving her simmering in frustration. Just as she was about to respond, Qin Shuying adopted a respectful demeanor and said, “Madam, Shuying only speaks out of concern for you. Madam is known for her magnanimity and surely won’t take offense at my candidness. Since you seem busy, I won’t hold you up any longer. Shuying will take her leave now.”

  With fwless etiquette and a composed bearing, Qin Shuying turned to leave.

  “Stop right there!” Madam Xu called out.

  Qin Shuying acted as though she hadn’t heard, walking away steadily and confidently, her pace unhurried.

  “Madam…” Nanny Liu hesitated, carefully observing Madam Xu’s expression.

  Madam Xu suddenly sneered, spitting out a single word: “Wretch! You reap what you sow!”

  Nanny Gu’s heart skipped a beat.

  ___

  On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, an auspicious day, Qin Shuying’s shops opened with great fanfare.

  In just five days, Lu Changxuan received a report from the chief manager of his bck sugar business: sales had plummeted.

  The manager had gone to investigate and discovered another shop selling identical products at prices 10% lower. Naturally, only a fool would still buy from the Lu family’s store.

  This rival shop was located just one street away from the Lu family’s bck sugar business.

  When the manager dug deeper, he was shocked to learn that the owner of the shop was none other than the Qin family, specifically Qin Shuying. He couldn’t comprehend why the Qin family would act in such a manner.

  Of course, it didn’t take long for the rumors to crify that the shop was solely under Qin Shuying’s name. Still, no one could believe that a thirteen-year-old girl, confined to the inner quarters, could possibly mastermind such a business strategy.