"You want me to seduce the Crown Prince? Why are you crying now that I've entered the pala

Chapter 169 Setting Fire to the House
Are you sure your mother would agree?

Qin Rusong looked at his second daughter standing below with a scrutinizing gaze, his brows furrowed.

Because Aunt Qiu hadn't been feeling well these past few days, he hadn't been able to sleep well either. In addition, he had to attend court and handle official business during the day, which made him look several years older.

Qin Qionghua nodded: "My daughter has already persuaded her mother, but the recognition of relatives still requires my third sister to be present in person."

After hearing her words, Qin Rusong remained silent, his eyes filled with contemplation.

"This matter is of great importance. You should go back first, and I will think about it some more."

In the end, Qin Rusong did not immediately agree.

Knowing that it couldn't be accomplished overnight, Qin Qionghua tactfully got up to take her leave: "Your daughter takes her leave."

Qin Qionghua walked out of Qingqiu Courtyard and looked back at the elegant and quiet courtyard, where servants were coming and going in an orderly manner, each performing their duties.

She stared for a while before turning away and leaving with her maid.
-
"cousin."

Upon learning that Aunt Qiu had woken up, Qin Rusong quickly entered the room.

Upon entering, I saw a sickly, pitiful woman leaning against the headboard, her pale face even whiter than the thin clothes she wore.

He frowned and walked over: "Why are you up? Didn't I tell you to rest properly?"

Aunt Qiu seized the man's hand, her eyes flashing slightly: "Cousin, I heard that Miss is here. What is she doing here? Is she here to apologize on behalf of Madam?"

The woman's dark eyes made Qin Rusong feel inexplicably guilty, and he wanted to avoid the question: "They've arrived, but it's nothing serious."

He paused, then explained, "It has nothing to do with you or Rou'er."

Aunt Qiu's brows furrowed again before they could relax: "What is it?"

Considering his cousin's personality, Qin Rusong honestly didn't want to tell her, "It's really nothing serious, the important thing is for you to get some rest..."

Seeing that he wouldn't tell the truth, Aunt Qiu withdrew her hand: "If you really don't want to talk about it, then so be it, I won't force you. I'm tired, you can leave now..."

She made a move to lie down in anger as she spoke.

Qin Rusong dared not leave at this moment and let her sulk: "Hey you..."

He remembered that there were servants present, and even if he didn't say anything, his cousin would eventually find out once she calmed down and asked someone.

He sighed: "She came to tell me that Zhang was willing to adopt Sangsang under her name."

"What?" Aunt Qiu's eyes widened suddenly, a mixture of shock, astonishment, and disbelief flashing across them. "How could this be..."

"See? I told you you wouldn't be happy if you knew, that's why I didn't want to tell you."

Aunt Qiu wouldn't listen: "So, did my cousin agree?"

Qin Rusong frowned: "Not yet, but this is indeed a good opportunity. If Sangsang can enter the palace as the legitimate daughter, it will be good for her and for the entire Prime Minister's Mansion. I had thought about it before, but Zhang Shi would definitely not agree. But now she has actually relented..."

Aunt Qiu was a confidante of Qin Rusong. She could tell at a glance that he was very interested in the young lady's suggestion, but he did not agree immediately because he was reserved, or perhaps he had some concerns about her.

But how could she possibly get two people she hated to join forces?

"My stomach, my stomach is starting to hurt again..."

Aunt Qiu suddenly frowned and cried out, looking extremely distressed: "Cousin, the child, our child..."

Qin Rusong paused for a moment, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but he quickly ordered his servants, "Someone, go and fetch a doctor quickly..."
-
Qin Qionghua and her maid hadn't gone far when they heard a commotion behind them.

She paused, her brow furrowing. "Go and find out what happened?"

Hongxing spat out, "You shameless woman, always causing trouble," before bidding farewell to her mistress and going to inquire.

Qin Qionghua looked at the defenses of Qingqiu Courtyard, her eyes filled with coldness.

She had always known that Aunt Qiu, who had managed to nearly sever the relationship between her father and mother, was no ordinary person.

Unexpectedly, she reacted so quickly after only one visit.

Qin Qionghua stood still and raised her hand to touch her face.

Several days have passed, but her face still seems to be in pain.

But it's okay. To succeed, some sacrifices are inevitable.

Even her mother didn't understand why she would make such a crazy suggestion, but she knew she wasn't crazy.

She thought of the Taoist priest's words:

She and Qin Sangsang were bound by fate, one strong and the other weak, something she hadn't believed before.

How could she, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, possibly need to compare herself to a half-sister to find happiness?
But now I have no choice but to believe it.

It's because Qin Sangsang lost control that so much trouble happened.

Now all she has to do is get her fate back on track...

"Miss."

Hongxing returned, her face pale and indignant: "I found out that Aunt Qiu had an accident. As soon as Miss left, she started complaining of stomach pain, and Master sent someone to find a doctor."

Qin Qionghua was not surprised; this was Aunt Qiu's biggest asset, and it was perfectly normal for her to use it.

"What else?"

“And…” A struggle flashed in Hongxing’s eyes. She was angry when she thought of what she had just heard, but she dared not say it.

But Qin Qionghua wasn't someone she could easily fool: "Speak!"

“Yes…” Hongxing’s heart skipped a beat from the shout: “Some people say… that the child in Miss’s and Aunt Qiu’s wombs is incompatible, which is why one accident after another has happened…”

"presumptuous!"

Qin Qionghua was furious.

She was the legitimate daughter, and no matter how favored Aunt Qiu's child was, it was still just an illegitimate son. Even if they were incompatible, it was still deserved to kill her!

"Such alarmist talk is something that the servants of Qingqiu Courtyard should be properly disciplined."

Hongxing lowered her head and dared not speak.

After Qin Qionghua finished venting her anger, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind—

In the past, this kind of bad reputation clearly belonged to Qin Sangsang...

Her heart skipped a beat, but it only strengthened her resolve. She knew she couldn't be soft-hearted.

"Go back and bring the ginseng that your uncle gave you to Aunt Qiu."

"How about that?"

Hongxing instantly forgot about bowing her head and pleaded, "That was specially given to you by your uncle, Miss, how can you let it go to someone else..."

“I am in good health and do not need it for the time being. Aunt Xu’s father values ​​this pregnancy very much. As her daughter, I can’t do anything else, but it is good to do my part.”

Hongxing wanted to ask her mistress if she was alright, but instead received a cold glare from her mistress.

She quickly replied, "My lady is very filial to my master, and he will surely know it."

Qin Qionghua didn't say anything: "Let's go, let's go back first."

Not long after they left, a person emerged from behind the flower bushes, looking in the direction the two servants had gone, his brows furrowed.
-
"Miss, Miss Qin..."

Qin Su was half asleep when she was awakened by a cautious call.

She slowly opened her eyes, and the book in her hand fell to the ground.

With a "thud," she became fully awake.

Opening her eyes, she saw the maid standing in front of her with a worried expression. She yawned slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"

The maid breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that she was awake: "Miss, the steward is outside requesting an audience."

Qin Su: "Hmm?" Qin Su knew that this housekeeper was not someone who spoke without reason. He would only come to her door when he needed something and rarely bothered her.

"Okay, I'll go change my clothes and then go out. Tell the housekeeper to wait a moment."

Qin Su got up from the soft couch as she spoke.

As soon as she came down, her toe kicked something, and when she looked down, she saw it was the storybook that had just fallen.

The maid saw it too and quickly knelt down to pick it up.

Qin Su glanced at it, then looked away.

The tyrant, having somehow heard that she was illiterate, insisted on teaching her to read.

They even tried to charge tuition fees.

Unexpectedly, although the original owner had only studied with the tutor hired by the Prime Minister's mansion for a few days, he was an illiterate person in the eyes of outsiders.

But that can't compare to the fact that she has a childhood sweetheart.

Murong Jing knew that Qin Sangsang was pitiful, so when he came to the manor, he would secretly bring her books and teach her to read and write.

This is a sweet bond between the two.

Although it was just a spur-of-the-moment teaching, after several years of persistence, and considering that the original owner was intelligent and eager to learn, she was not as useless as outsiders thought.

Therefore, it is basically impossible for someone to achieve their goal.

The man was almost consumed by jealousy when he learned that she was literate.

He directly threatened to beat Murong Jing up again.

Although Qin Su didn't have a good impression of the unlucky male lead, she still said to him, "Forget it, Brother Murong was just trying to teach me out of kindness."

Then, the phrase "Brother Murong" almost made the tyrant die of anger on the spot.

"Brother Murong?"

Chu Jiang looked at Qin Su, who was smiling, but her eyes were particularly frightening.

Qin Su blinked, looking completely innocent: "Yes, that's what I've called him since I was little, you know that."

The more she acted this way, the tyrant's anger flared even more.

"You miss your Brother Murong so much? Should I ask him to come and teach you again?"

Qin Su almost laughed, but still said seriously, "No, didn't you say he's recovering from his injury? This is too much trouble at this time... huh?"

"What's the trouble?"

The man grabbed her hand and pressed her down on the bed, his expression sinister, like a ferocious beast ready to devour her: "You feel so sorry for him?"

Qin Su: "One should not repay kindness with enmity."

Chu Jiang gave a forced smile: "It's alright. Just burn more paper money for him after he dies, so he'll have a mountain of gold and silver in the underworld. He'll be grateful to you."

Qin Su couldn't hold back this time: "I'd rather hate you to death, you stole him... and..."

Chu Jiang's hearing was exceptionally sharp at this moment: "What would I take from him?"

Qin Su glared at him twice, then looked away: "What do you think?"

Chu Jiang: "I can't think of anything, you tell me."

Helpless, she could only offer a low explanation. The man's face was initially blank, but after he realized what she meant, a smile finally appeared on his face.

"Okay, that's all."

Qin Su nudged the man's shoulder, signaling him to move aside: "I've said it many times, Prince Murong... Prince Murong treats me like a younger sister. When I get married, he will even add to my dowry."

These words only made Chu Jiang's face darken further.

He remembered something similar that someone had said to him before, which almost made him furious.

"Do you ask everyone you meet if they want to do your wedding?"

He grabbed the girl's pointed chin, his eyes glaring menacingly.

What he really wanted to ask was: How many good friends do you have? How many good brothers do you have?
He wished he could cut her off from everyone.

"You're not allowed to see him anymore, understand?"

I thought the little girl would obediently nod and listen, but to my surprise, she shook her head and said, "No."

"What did you say?" Chu Jiang wondered if he had misheard.

"No means no."

Qin Su closed her eyes and covered her ears, looking like she was determined to play dumb to the end.

"Say it again! Okay?"

"No, no, no..."

The two of them fooled around for a while, and no matter how the tyrant threatened or tempted her, she refused to break off all ties with the others, which made him so angry that he almost wanted to lock her up.
-
Imprisonment was out of the question, so Chu Jiang tried a different approach:
We were childhood sweethearts, and I taught you to read and write, right?
I'll do it too!

No way, he's no match for that fickle, womanizing weakling!
That's why we've seen all sorts of children's literacy books and popular storybooks and travelogues suddenly appearing around us these past few days.

Qin Su naturally had no objections.

Or rather, she was happier than anyone else as long as the tyrant was interested in any person or thing and was willing to put in the effort.

As for his desire to be her tutor?
Whatever. Someone wants to be a free human voice reader, has a nice voice, and is expensive. Why wouldn't she be happy to do it?
-
"Butler He."

Butler He, who had been pondering how to deliver the message in the hall, immediately stood up straight when he saw the person emerge: "Miss Sangsang!"

Qin Su, however, immediately saw through the tension beneath the other person's smile. Realizing something was amiss, her smile faded slightly: "Butler He said he has important business, is it He..."

"Miss Sangsang, the old lady's house in Chongxian Lane has been burned down."

The smile on Qin Su's face vanished instantly at Butler He's words: "What did you say?"
-
Chunfeng frowned, pacing back and forth in the courtyard, glancing occasionally toward the gate.

She just went out for a walk today, and she received some outrageous news—

The house they had been living in caught fire just a few days after they moved out!

Moreover, the fire was very strange; it only burned their area, while the walls of the neighboring houses were only smothered!
Is this a fire?

This is clearly arson and murder!

She couldn't even imagine what would have happened if Miss Sangsang hadn't suddenly moved Aunt Xu's house; the place that burned down yesterday would probably have been...

If it weren't for the worry that Aunt Xu would be frightened if she woke up and couldn't find her, Chunfeng would have already gone to the Prince's residence to look for her.

"Sister Chunfeng, the lady is looking for you."

Just as he was lost in thought, a reminder came from behind him from his maid.

Chunfeng immediately snapped out of her daze: "I'll go right now."

But in his heart he was thinking: The message was sent back a long time ago, why hasn't anyone come yet...?
-
Chu Jiang sensed something was off as soon as he returned.

Just as I was about to ask what had happened, the door suddenly opened, and a familiar, slender figure walked out.

He subconsciously smiled and walked towards her, only to hear the maid's anxious voice from inside the room: "Miss Sangsang, please slow down. The doctor said you need to rest well and shouldn't move around too much..."

Chu Jiang's face instantly darkened: "What's wrong, doctor?"

Qin Su kept her head down and walked forward, but after only two steps, her arm was suddenly tightened and she was pulled back.

She looked up, her face pale, and when she saw who it was, she froze for a moment, then tears suddenly streamed down her face: "You're back. Something happened to Mother."

Seeing the little girl's tears, Chu Jiang's heart tightened: