Chapter 9 Adjudication

"You despicable wench! You shameless harlot!" Qin Huining trembled and screamed.

"Who's the shameless one here?" Qin Yining grabbed Qin Huining's collar, their eyes locked in a stare, just inches apart. "I never wanted to harm you. We could have coexisted peacefully, but you constantly incited trouble. Not only did you make Mother misunderstand me, but you also caused discord between our parents! You're just a cuckoo's child in our family, I can treat you as a human when I'm in a good mood, but when I'm not, what are you to me?"

Qin Huining's eyes turned red with anger, but as a delicate woman, how could she compete with the "wild woman" who had lived in the wilderness for years?

Unable to match her in physical strength, Qin Huining resorted to intimidation: "If you treat me like this, aren't you afraid that Grandmother will kick you out?"

"Ridiculous! I've already fought and killed wild wolves for food, let alone you all! I don't bother with you because it's beneath me, but don't think I'm afraid! Don't forget, even if you look down on me, I'm still my father's legitimate daughter!"

With a strong grip, Qin Yining dragged Qin Huining outside. "Come with me to see Grandmother! You've caused discord between our parents, don't think I'll let you off easily!"

For years, Qin Huining had been raised as the only legitimate daughter in the Qin family, and Grandmother had doted on her. She had never been mistreated. Now, being slapped and dragged, Qin Huining was on the verge of a breakdown, struggling and cursing, spewing all sorts of filthy words, which were unbearable to hear.

But Qin Yining only tugged at her clothes, appearing relaxed as if she were handling a chicken ready for slaughter.

Let her curse, let people see what kind of daughter the Prime Minister's residence had raised.

Qin Yining, with her agile feet accustomed to surviving in the mountains, walked effortlessly. But Qin Huining, a delicate woman, struggled and stumbled, unable to keep up, walking unsteadily.

Unable to persuade, unable to listen, unable to push, unable to fight! No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free from the hand firmly gripping her collar, and no one dared to help her.

Qin Yining effortlessly led her prey to the Cixiao Garden, with the servants and maids following behind like a string of dumplings, none daring to speak loudly.

As they arrived at the door, Qin Huining finally saw a familiar face. "Grandmother, help! Someone is trying to kill me!" Her piercing scream echoed far and wide, nearly causing Grandmother to drop her pipe.

Just as Grandmother had heard that her daughter-in-law had taken people back to her family home, she was furious, and Qin Mama had to work hard to calm her down. Just as she lit a cigarette, before she could take a puff, the burning tobacco fell onto her snow-white skirt, burning a hole in it.

"Ouch, Grandmother!"

Qin Mama quickly poured a cup of tea to put out the fire, then frantically checked to see if Grandmother had been burned. Luckily, it was cold, and she was wearing padded trousers, which saved her from injury.

Grandmother threw her pipe aside, her face turning ashen. "Who dares to make such a commotion!"

The maids outside the door were stunned, stuttering as they reported, "Grandmother, it's Fourth Miss and Miss Huining who have come."

Grandmother frowned and stood up.

"What are these two doing here so late at night! I see that Lady Sun is a troublemaker! What kind of people have been raised in this family!"

"Grandmother, please calm down. Let me help you change your clothes first." Qin Mama and the head maid, Jixiang, quickly and respectfully persuaded her, deftly helping Grandmother change into a new dress and put on a sapphire-studded headband.

After the preparations, Grandmother's anger had subsided somewhat, and she led Qin Mama and Jixiang to the banquet hall.

As they entered, they saw Qin Huining and Qin Yining kneeling in the middle of the room, both with disheveled hair and swollen faces. Qin Huining's half face was particularly swollen, her makeup ruined by tears and snot, her face a mess.

Seeing Grandmother, Qin Huining finally saw a familiar face and burst into tears, crawling forward to hug Grandmother's legs, crying as if the sky were falling, unable to speak clearly.

Seeing her in such a state, Grandmother immediately bent down to help her, calling out anxiously, "What's wrong? Stop crying." She then turned to the accompanying Cai Shi and Qiuluo, "What's going on?"

Cai Shi's shoulder still hurt, and she trembled, unable to speak.

Qiuluo, as usual, kept her head down and remained silent.

Qin Yining calmly explained, "Grandmother, don't be angry. Qin Huining incited discord between my parents, causing my father to leave for the outer courtyard and my mother to return to her family home. I have already reprimanded her. Please don't get angry and harm your health. If punishment is necessary, it can be carried out by the servants."

"What!?" Grandmother frowned.

She had been upset about Lady Sun returning to her family home, but she never expected that it would be related to her beloved Qin Huining.

Qin Huining shook her head repeatedly, her swollen face making her words unclear: "No, it's not like that. It's Mother who suspected Xiaoxi of being a concubine's daughter... Mother only slapped Xiaoxi and scolded her a few times, but Father felt sorry for her and argued with Mother..."

Qin Huining was distorting the truth with confidence.

Madam Cai also said, "Back to the Old Madam, Fourth Miss is really too arrogant. Not only did she slap Miss Huining, but she also beat me and two other maids. My arm still hurts so much that I can't lift it." She knelt down, holding her arm and groaning in pain.

Qin Mama looked at everyone, then helped the Old Madam to sit on the thick brocade mat by the window, with Jixiang and another maid supporting her on either side, and brought a hand warmer to keep the Old Madam warm.

The time it took to walk and sit down helped the Old Madam calm down a bit.

Today, when Qin Yining returned to the mansion, she gave the impression of being a well-behaved, steady, and somewhat timid country girl. The Old Madam couldn't believe that she would dare to start a fight on her first day back. But seeing the slap mark on Qin Huining's face, everything seemed real.

The Old Madam didn't immediately speak up for her, which made Qin Huining anxious. She secretly thought to herself: It seems that they are the real family. When the granddaughter returns, they don't treat her as an important person anymore.

Qin Huining was both anxious and worried, and in her excitement, she spoke without much consideration.

"Grandmother, no matter what, she beat me like this and also beat my nurse and maids. This is all her fault! How can a young lady like us resort to physical violence? If this gets out, where will our family's reputation go? Isn't this embarrassing for my father? This kind of uncivilized behavior is simply..."

"Shut up." Although Qin Yining was kneeling, her back was straight, and her eyes, similar to Qin Huining's, were sharp and cold, with furrowed brows and a fierce demeanor.

"Are you still trying to sow discord in front of the Old Madam? Mother didn't originally suspect my identity. It was your insinuations that made her doubt that I'm a concubine's daughter. But Father is honest and straightforward. He likes whoever he brings back to the mansion. How could he secretly keep a mistress and her child outside? Even if there were a concubine and a child, wouldn't they be brought back openly? Besides, Father would never stoop to such behavior! With his character and talent, there are countless young ladies vying to enter the door as concubines. Has Father ever been tempted? But you incited Mother to doubt Father, causing discord between them! A family's harmony leads to prosperity. Qin Huining, for your own selfishness, you've lost all conscience!"

Qin Huining retorted in frustration, "Don't act so self-righteous. Aren't you doing this for yourself? You claim to be the legitimate daughter, but who knows what really happened back then? It's natural for Mother to have doubts! Besides, I didn't incite anything!"

"Father's actions are honest and straightforward. Would his advisor's investigation be false? You dare to say this in front of the Old Madam. Are you still denying that you didn't incite anything?" Qin Yining turned to the Old Madam after speaking.

Qin Huining trembled at her words, and her heated mind gradually calmed down. She realized that she had fallen into a trap!

This wild woman was not a fool at all. She had taken advantage of her emotional turmoil to make her say those things!

But once words were spoken, they couldn't be taken back!

The Old Madam frowned, feeling somewhat disappointed with Qin Huining.

The Old Madam had no doubt about Qin Yining's bloodline. Her face was carved from the same mold as Qin Huaiyuan's. Could it be fake? Although she favored Qin Huining, as Qin Huaiyuan had said, the bloodline of a large family couldn't be confused. A biological daughter was a biological daughter, and an adopted daughter was an adopted daughter.

The Old Madam really didn't like Qin Yining.

But even if she didn't like her, she was her beloved eldest son's only legitimate daughter.

The Old Madam did indeed like Qin Huining.

But no matter how much she liked her, she was still an adopted daughter.

Now, an adopted daughter had caused trouble between her son and daughter-in-law, leading to discord in the family and causing her impulsive daughter-in-law to return to her family. She didn't know how her in-laws would misunderstand the situation. And once this matter spread, she didn't know how the nobles and scholars would discuss it. Their family's reputation would be tarnished!

Qin Yining was wrong to resort to violence, but the root of the problem lay elsewhere. The Old Madam, who had managed the inner courtyard for many years, could see through it.

The Old Madam looked at Qin Huining with a disappointed expression.

And that disappointed look made Qin Huining feel what it was like to be alienated.

Her inner mockery deepened: Indeed, they are a family. They have completely treated me as an outsider! They say they cherish me the most, but now they are favoring their own granddaughter!

The Old Madam looked at Qin Huining's choked-up appearance and couldn't bear it. Even a cat or a dog raised for a long time would develop feelings, let alone a beautiful and delicate girl like her. Even though she was an adopted daughter, they had more than ten years of affection.

Rubbing her forehead with a frown, the Old Madam turned to Qin Yining and said helplessly, "Even if Huining has made mistakes, what you did today was too much. As a young lady, you represent our family when you go out. Do I have to teach you this principle?"