Qin Yining saw through her motherâs thoughts and racked her brain a bit harder. âSince youâre no longer angry, madame, why donât we enter the manor? We can make our greetings to Old Dowager, and then you can organize things at Garden of Tranquility. After all, itâs been many days since youâve been home.â
The old dowager continued, undeterred. âYouâve yet to give birth to a son in all these years of marriage, but have I ever blamed you once? And yet, you created trouble out of nothing at all and stabbed me in the heart with every word you spoke. What would you have an old woman like me do?!â She threw the tobacco pouch away in an aggrieved fit. Qin Huining adroitly snatched it out of the air, carefully extinguished the pipe, and brought over a handkerchief to wipe her grandmotherâs hands. The old dowager glanced over the girl and continued. âWell? You donât know how to raise a child, so I took care of darling Hui myself these past few days. You donât know how to interact with your sister-in-laws either, so I had to put in no end of good words for you. But youâre blind to everything that people do for you, and worse think it nothing less than your due! Mengâer is a great official at court, and not only do you not help him with his burdens, but you bring even more trouble time and time again. You even argue with him! Where have all your lessons and manners regarding virtue gone to?! Is this the type of upbringing they teach at the Duke of Ding Manor?!â
âOld Dowager.â Qin Yining felt it an appropriate time to interject; her grandmotherâs anger shouldâve mostly dissipated after that rant. She curtsied gracefully, capturing the old dowagerâs attention. âPlease donât be angry, itâs all my fault this time. Madame was most concerned about my education, which was why she acted like that. She has spent these past days at the Duke of Ding Manor discussing the various experiences of raising a child with her family, and immediately hurried back when sheâd thought through everything. Please consider the peace of our family, and refrain from anger.â
Qin Huining squeezed out a small smile after looking at the old dowager and Qin Yining, as if making a great sacrifice to protect someone else. âOh, itâs nothing major.â
The old dowager frowned when she heard that. Qin Huining felt a thrill of glee when she noted this and nodded, being careful to keep her face expressionless. âOh I see. Sister Yining really does have it easy, she can leave whenever she wants to.â Isnât she something, leaving without telling the old dowager! She wanted to make use of this newfound opportunity to denounce Qin Yining for leaving the manor on a whim.
As expected, the matriarchâs expression darkened further. âYou only came back because granddaughter Yi kowtowed in apology? So you wouldnât have come back if she hadnât done that?â
âWhatever!â The old dowager didnât want to hear anymore platitudes and waved them off impatiently. âJust go rest. You probably canât be bothered to see this old face anymore, so donât bother with the morning and evening greetings either!â
Color drained from Qin Huiningâs face at her motherâs lance-like glare as she followed with trepidation. Qin Yining shook her head resignedly, and politely took her leave from the old dowager as well, following the duo out.