Chapter 139: Chapter 139
Chapter 139
"Is that so? Then let me go see my mother," Yueqian said hurriedly, her demeanor indicating that her mother still held a significant place in her heart.
"Yes, Miss."
The elderly woman led the troublesome eldest young miss of the Qin family inside, while those waiting around quickly rushed to inform their masters. It seemed they believed that the principal wife’s plan was working—first to call the eldest young miss back to the manor and then use the illness to keep her there.
Soon, there would be ample time for soothing her, and eventually, an opportunity for Young General to build a relationship with her again. Naturally, many people were unhappy with this prospect.
Crash!!
"Miss, please don’t be angry," a voice soothed continuously, accompanied by the sound of shattering objects.
She had just returned from the academy, having been summoned by her father to stage a fake illness for the principal wife. She had dutifully come back and even informed Yueqian herself. But upon returning, she was injured, and no one seemed to care. The blood still seeping from her cheek was ignored, and her father was only concerned with Yueqian. He didn’t even mention punishing her!
If only he had said even a half-hearted word of reproach, that would have been something!
"Don’t be angry? Don’t be angry? I, a disciple of the imperial physician, am injured, and you tell me not to be angry!!"
Crash!!
Another expensive vase was destroyed. Qin Feixian’s face grew even more unpleasant. Her status at the academy was prestigious. She had a future as a physician, and even if she didn’t work for the palace, she had skills that would allow her to help others. Compared to her... with her talents, she was far more suitable to be the principal wife of Young General.
What did Yueqian have that was so special? She was merely fortunate to be born as the daughter of the principal wife. She didn’t have to strive for anything. On the other hand, as the daughter of a concubine, she had to work hard, develop her skills, and strive to learn more. And what did she get in return?
Repeated rejections and being used as a pawn by the Qin family! Why should she even try?! Everything she worked for should have come back to her, shouldn’t it?
"Second Miss, she’s here. She went into the principal wife’s quarters," a maid assigned to monitor the principal wife’s quarters ran back to report. Shortly after, another maid followed, running.
"Second Miss, the master has left his quarters with the steward. They are probably heading to the principal wife’s quarters," hearing the reports from both maids, Qin Feixian exhaled, her face regaining its haughty and scholarly demeanor.
"In that case, it’s time for us to go," Feixian picked up her tools while her maids carried the larger items.
Not only was Feixian heading to the principal wife’s quarters to win favor with Qin Majiao, but several wise concubines with their sons and daughters were also preparing to visit the principal wife.
Inside the principal wife’s quarters, Yueqian sat beside her mother’s frail body. It was clear that her mother was pretending to sleep. Yueqian squeezed her mother’s hand tightly, and her mother squeezed back, signaling mutual understanding.
"My poor mother. What did the doctor say?" Yueqian turned and asked.
"Mistress’s body is weak. Combined with her stress, she cannot rest properly. She has been sleepless every night, worrying about you endlessly. Ever since returning from visiting you last time, she has been ill. The doctor said nothing could be done. It’s all because of her worry for you," the maid recited the well-prepared lines to Yueqian.
No, she was saying it for the benefit of those approaching. In front of others, she had to make it seem like she wanted the eldest young miss to stay at the manor.
"Hah! Worried about Yueqian? If she was really worried, how could she let her go off and suffer?" Even though she knew Yueqian wanted to be with the husband she loved, Mujin couldn’t help but criticize.
Over the years, did Yueqian’s mother truly take good care of her friend? If she had, why did Yueqian’s reputation grow increasingly notorious?! If the principal wife had stepped in even once, things would surely have been better than the current situation. What was it like now? Even the common folk spoke of Yueqian without fear of reprisal!
How could that be acceptable?! A mere commoner speaking ill of the eldest young miss of the Qin family without consequence!! If that were really possible, the reputations of all young misses would be in ruins by now.
However, that was because other families protect their descendants! Even Liu Sun, who committed heinous acts, couldn’t be spoken of carelessly by the common folk in front of her!
"The principal wife couldn’t decide on that matter by herself, you know. Didn’t you know she begged the master day and night?" The maid immediately defended her mistress. It was true that the principal wife loved her daughter dearly. Otherwise, according to the original story, wouldn’t she have died a miserable death?
Yueqian knew her mother was very intelligent. When she asked her husband for help and didn’t get it, she must have devised other plans to help Yueqian. This meant the Yueqian in the novel had sent messages to her mother seeking help.
Since she had reincarnated as Qin Yueqian, she and her mother had tested each other many times. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have realized that her mother was acting all along. Her mother had also come to understand her character well. So now, it felt like she had a silent ally in her mother.
"Your mother truly loves you. As she said, she spent all day and night begging me to revoke your exile," the deep, resonant voice of the family head echoed from behind.
He didn’t give Yueqian much time to think. True, at that time, he detested this daughter to his core, even considering disowning her for provoking him with just a few words. In a fit of anger and shame, he thought, why shouldn’t he cut ties with his only disappointing child?!
Back then, no matter how much Ailing said, he he didn’t care, and he still scolded her, saying that she was the reason why Yue Qian had become such a vile woman.
But who would have thought that looking back on those days would fill him with regret now? Not regret for being harsh on his daughter, but for not consulting with the prospective son-in-law’s side how they would handle it. Because he had acted impulsively, in order not to let Yueqian’s reputation ruin the Qin family, he had made this decision without realizing it.
Had he known Young General would honor the engagement so steadfastly, he would have quickly sent her to be his principal wife! At that time, having Young General as a son-in-law and a daughter as the principal wife of the general’s manor. No matter what... those connections are exactly what he wants most.
So now, even if he had to backtrack and turn black into white, he would do it!
"Do not hold any grudge against her. If there is blame, it should fall on me. As the head of the Qin family, I was under immense pressure from all sides. Your actions created many controversies, and hidden enemies would not have spared the Qin family if we did nothing," Majiao spoke with an air of wisdom, as if as if he had no regrets of what he did. This was all the family head’s duty, and Yueqian should understand.
"What kind of pressure, Father? Like the pressure Liu Sun faced? Now she is a concubine to the general. Meanwhile, I, body and soul, have become the wife of the Mu family. A woman is born to have only one husband, and if she dies, she should die as her husband’s wife. Are you saying that as the head of the Qin family, you couldn’t protect your own daughter as well as the head of the Liu family?"
Yueqian let out a derisive laugh. She was mocking him. She looked down on him!
Her demeanor right now was like a full-fledged demon. They had seen it before when they visited her in the countryside. Seeing it again today confirmed that they hadn’t been mistaken.
Yueqian had changed! It seemed she had gained considerable self-restraint, making her even more frightening.
"Eldest Young Miss, what you’re saying isn’t correct. The situations of you two are not the same. It is said that Miss Liu’s situation was due to poison administered by bandits, but in your case..."
"And how do you, Steward Na, know that the poison was really from bandits? Why don’t you consider that the poison I received could also have been from bandits? It’s not difficult for the Qin family to find a scapegoat. It’s just that you guys didn’t want to do it... If it weren’t for my former fiancé insisting that he wouldn’t change the person from the Qin family, you wouldn’t even want to contact me, would you?"
"A daughter married off is like water thrown out. Right now, I am no longer a member of the Qin family. Not to mention that I am not even listed in the family registry. So, you don’t need to come to me to discuss that matter any further. I am here only to see my sick mother. Once she gets better, I will leave. There is nothing more to it."
Hearing Yueqian say this, Majiao’s eyebrow twitched slightly. However, seeing the changed Yueqian, he knew he had to adjust his plan as well. The head of the Qin family let out a deep sigh, stepping back for the moment to strategize.
He still had plenty of time to scheme with her. For now, he would let Yueqian revel in her defiance. She probably thought she was indispensable to the Qin family and dared to challenge them. Once she faced the harsh reality, she would likely come back and kneel down to beg them.
"Then, let’s not discuss this further. Whether you consider yourself a Qin or not, you are still the daughter of Ailing and me. Shortly, Xian’er will come to examine your mother’s condition. Stay here and wait with us," the Qin family head said. He did not insist on forcing Yueqian back into the Qin family today and instead aimed to keep the situation amicable for now.
This was likely his plan, and Yueqian appreciated his approach. For her, all she needed was time. Meanwhile, she could improve Mu Heng’s reputation a bit and reduce her own infamy. Then, on the appointed day, she would move to another kingdom.
The Qin family was unaware of this plan, so let them think they still had plenty of time.
"Hah! Feixian, you say? Is she really that capable now? Do you dare let her touch my mother’s body? Can’t the Qin family summon the imperial physician? Why let someone unqualified handle this?" Yueqian looked at Majiao with disdain.
It had been a long time since Qin Majiao had been looked at with such contempt. Seeing his daughter’s arrogant demeanor, he could only grit his teeth and suppress his anger, restraining himself from ordering this vile daughter to be beaten to death!
"Well, that..."
"Perhaps you aren’t aware, elder sister, but Xian’er is now an assistant to the imperial physician. While you were toiling in the countryside, I was diligently studying to ensure that I could help you in the future. So now, I can take care of First Mother’s condition," the girl’s clear voice rang out.
The delicate figure in a clean white attire made her almost like an immortal. It was said she knew how to dress and present herself well. Although her features closely resembled those of the Qin family and bore some resemblance to Yueqian, her attire, which lacked any hint of arrogance, made her seem approachable and easily likable by others.
"You don’t have much knowledge in this area, elder sister. Why not let me take care of First Mother first?" Although her words were very polite, the implication was to scold Yueqian, "Don’t get in the way."With such a direct challenge, did they really think someone like Yueqian would back down quietly?
