Chapter 15: Chapter 17 The Ancestral Home Belongs to the Eldest Miss
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
"This estate is mine, does that count?"
Old Mrs. Qin's mind kept echoing Qin Liuxi's words until she returned to her own room, then she looked at Mrs. Wang with a complex expression.
"What is she thinking?"
Mrs. Wang remained silent, unable to comprehend Qin Liuxi either.
However, Mrs. Xie couldn't hold back and urgently asked, "Mother, what did Miss Xi mean just now? That the old house belongs to her? Isn't it our Qin family's ancestral home?"
The distinguished ancestral home, even the males dare not covet, how did it become that girl's possession?
Old Mrs. Qin sighed, "Master Chi Yuan, I'm afraid, had already foreseen the troubles of the Qin family back then."
Mrs. Xie was confused, what did that mean?
It turned out that when Master Chi Yuan took Qin Liuxi away years ago, he had a confidential talk behind closed doors with Old Master Qin. The escort who brought Qin Liuxi back turned out to be Old Master Qin's trusted Uncle Cheng. Upon returning to Li City, Uncle Cheng ran errands, and the old house ostensibly remained the Qin family's ancestral home, but the deed owner changed to become Chi Yuan's property, which was then gifted to Qin Liuxi.
And when the properties were seized, all properties of the Qin family were sealed, except for this one ancestral home far away in Li City.
Old Mrs. Qin preserved this house by gifting it as private property and pleaded with the Empress Dowager to keep it untouched, hence everything about this ancestral home remained undisturbed, allowing the Qin family members to return and settle down here.
Then Qin Liuxi suddenly mentioned this.
"So, the deed of the house is now in Miss Xi's hands? Is it hers?" Mrs. Xie's voice sharpened in shock.
Would they then be living at someone's mercy, possibly being kicked out anytime?
"This was also an expedient measure." Old Mrs. Qin said wearily, "It's lucky that the house changed hands back then, otherwise we wouldn't even have a place to stay now."
"But mother, this is the ancestral home, how can it be given to Miss Xi? We need to take the deed back," Mrs. Xie anxiously pleaded, the property would be entirely in Qin Liuxi's hands from now, how could that be allowed.
Mrs. Wang spoke calmly, "Sister-in-law, our family now bears a criminal record, even if we take it back, do we need to hand it over to the officials to be sealed?"
Mrs. Xie choked, thinking Mrs. Wang of course would not care, with the deed in Qin Liuxi's hands, it effectively remained within the main branch.
"That's not what I mean..."
"Enough, your sister-in-law is right. Now is the time for the Qin family to keep a low profile. Why make a fuss over a deed?" Old Mrs. Qin scolded sternly, "Your husband, your father-in-law, and your son, they're all still on the road to exile, aren't you worried about them? Instead, you're fixated on this deed?"
Mrs. Xie's face turned purple, she grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the non-existent tears at the corner of her eyes, choking up, "Mother, you're cutting deep into my heart, he's my husband, how can I not think of him? If not for worrying about the children, I'd have longed to join him."
Old Mrs. Qin scoffed, "Stop your fake crying, I find it distasteful."
Mrs. Xie looked embarrassed.
Old Mrs. Qin, thinking of today's events, turned to Nanny Ding, who handed a wallet to Mrs. Wang.
"This wallet was secretly given to me by your great-aunt when we left the capital. Take it; you must take charge of this family," Old Mrs. Qin remarked, eyeing the wallet, "They say adversity reveals true friends; the Wang family is honorable. Our Qin family did not tie the wrong marital knot. If one day our Qin family is vindicated, you must also remember the Wang family's kindness."
It's easy to add flowers to brocade but difficult to send charcoal in snowy weather. Being able to secretly offer aid against the Holy Emperor's disfavor shows capability and loyalty, unlike Qin Meiniang's in-laws who, once the Qin family faced trouble, immediately sent a letter of divorce, leaving no trace of affection.
Qin Meiniang, reminded of this, bowed her head and began to sob quietly.