Qin Shuying took the towel Luye handed her and wiped the sweat from her face. After pacing slowly for a while to catch her breath, she finally said, “Luye, call Hongjuan to help with my hair.”

  Luye acknowledged the order and left. Soon, Hongjuan arrived.

  Huiqin rarely entered the room; most of the time, it was Nanny Fu, Luye, and Hongjuan who attended to Qin Shuying.

  “Miss, how would you like your hair styled today?” Hongjuan asked, looking at Qin Shuying in the mirror.

  “Cough, cough… Sister Hongjuan, I’ll leave it up to you.”

  The energetic and spirited demeanor Qin Shuying had dispyed earlier vanished immediately, repced by a timid and indecisive air.

  Hongjuan sighed softly, offering subtle advice, “Miss, although you’re not in the best health, you still need to host guests. In my opinion, a double bun would add a touch of youthful charm while maintaining a steady and dignified appearance…”

  Hongjuan’s suggestion was thoughtful, and Qin Shuying silently approved in her heart.

  “The plum blossom bun is most suitable for the Seventh Miss—let’s go with that!” Huiqin burst into the room, speaking loudly.

  Hongjuan frowned slightly, casting a displeased gnce at Huiqin. Ignoring it entirely, Huiqin gred back at Hongjuan and added, “Hongjuan, Nanny Zhang from Madam Xu’s side was just looking for you. She said they’re short-handed today and need your help.”

  Without hesitation, Hongjuan refused, “I can’t leave the miss’s side…”

  Huiqin cut her off, “Hongjuan, are you trying to make the miss seem unfilial?”

  Hongjuan sneered, “I don’t see how serving the miss makes her unfilial!”

  Huiqin was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting the usually quiet Hongjuan to retort so sharply.

  Just then, Nanny Zhang’s voice boomed from outside the door, “Seventh Miss, Madam Xu is short-staffed today, so I’ve come to borrow someone from your courtyard. Hongjuan has always been reliable and attentive. Seventh Miss, are you willing to let her come and help?”

  Without waiting for an invitation, Nanny Zhang barged in, her loud voice filling the room. The disrespect shown to Qin Shuying, as the supposed mistress of the courtyard, was appalling. However, Qin Shuying had grown accustomed to the rudeness of the maids and servants in Spring Garden, as well as Nanny Zhang’s domineering attitude.

  Hongjuan fixed Qin Shuying with a resolute gaze, silently imploring her to refuse.

  But Qin Shuying, wearing a slightly ingratiating smile, stepped forward and said, “Nanny, what are you saying? Madam Xu has always taught us to prioritize the bigger picture. I’ve kept that in mind. Hongjuan, go with Nanny Zhang, and remember to do your best.”

  “Miss…” Hongjuan tried to argue, but Qin Shuying’s expression darkened. “What? Am I the miss, or are you?”

  The words were harsh. Hongjuan’s determined gaze quickly shifted to one of disappointment. She had no choice but to follow Nanny Zhang out.

  “Miss, stop watching and let’s get your hair done. The guests will arrive soon,” Huiqin said, shoving a second-css maid toward Qin Shuying.

  Meanwhile, Huiqin unfolded the new clothes Madam Xu had recently made for the young dies of the third branch, all in styles and colors she had personally chosen. Qin Shuying had selected a pale moon-white dress.

  With her eyes closed, Qin Shuying allowed Huiqin and the second-css maid to fuss over her appearance. Internally, she sneered coldly.

  The second-css maid worked quickly, finishing her hairstyle in no time. Huiqin also prepared the dress. Under their joint efforts, Qin Shuying’s makeup was done, and she was dressed impeccably.

  In the mirror, Qin Shuying stared at herself, sporting an outdated plum blossom bun adorned with a single gold hairpin. Her face, yered with an excess of pale powder by Huiqin, looked ghastly and devoid of spirit. Paired with an old-fashioned, almost white outfit, her appearance was more fitting for a funeral than for attending a birthday celebration.

  In her past life, even though Qin Yaoyao was a concubine-born daughter, she carried herself with dignity and elegance. The Old Madam treated her fairly well, even if not as affectionately as the legitimate daughter. What should have been hers was never withheld. Moreover, Qin Yaoyao was skilled in navigating retionships, often showing filial piety to the Old Madam and being well-acquainted with her preferences and habits. The Old Madam appreciated girls who understood etiquette and propriety and had a deep disdain for those who were thoughtless or disrespectful.

  To appear at the Old Madam’s birthday banquet dressed like someone in mourning? Madam Xu clearly intended for the Old Madam to abandon her entirely.

  “Perfect!” Huiqin excimed in admiration.

  Luye, who had just returned from fetching something for Huiqin, entered the room and froze at the sight of Qin Shuying in the mirror. After a moment of shock, she cautiously asked, “Miss?”

  “The guests are arriving soon. We can’t dey any longer,” Huiqin said dismissively, ignoring Luye entirely. As she spoke, she instructed someone to fetch a small hand warmer and a thick cloak for Qin Shuying. “The miss has a frail constitution and can’t tolerate the cold since winter began. See how considerate I am? I even prepared a hand warmer.”

  “Miss…” Luye’s voice was tinged with sadness. With so many guests, allowing others to see the miss looking so sickly—and dressed like she was mourning—would surely ruin her reputation. Who would dare marry her after this? Among the guests today was Madam Liu, whose son, Liu Junqing, was the fiancé arranged for Qin Shuying by her te father.

  But Qin Shuying seemed unfazed by Luye’s concerns. Instead, she smiled brightly and said, “Luye, it’s so cold today. I was worried about the chill, but Sister Huiqin thought of everything. With this, I can even py with Sixth Sister and the others for a while. I haven’t left Spring Garden in such a long time!”

  Seeing Qin Shuying’s look of eager anticipation, Luye turned her head away, wiping her eyes. She said nothing more.

  Huiqin, pleased with herself, draped the cloak over Qin Shuying’s shoulders and supported her as they left the room. Before stepping out, Huiqin gave Qin Shuying one st once-over and smirked with satisfaction. The meddlesome Nanny Fu had conveniently been sent away by Madam Xu under some pretext; otherwise, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

  Qin Shuying smiled as well. Madam Xu’s intentions were clear—she wanted to ruin Qin Shuying’s marriage prospects. But what Madam Xu would never suspect was that Qin Shuying welcomed it.

  To Qin Shuying, men in this world were heartless and unreliable. She had no intention of marrying in this lifetime. Her sole focus was on “repaying” Madam Xu in full.

  She had been fretting over how to rid herself of Liu Junqing, and now Madam Xu had conveniently orchestrated this scene for her. How could she not py along? However, the highlight of Qin Shuying’s pn for today wasn’t this drama, so Madam Liu’s impression of her mattered little.

  Even Nanny Fu’s sudden absence was something Qin Shuying had arranged in advance. Although Nanny Fu had strongly opposed it, she couldn’t go against Qin Shuying’s wishes and had begrudgingly complied.

  To Nanny Fu, the Liu family was the most reliable connection for Qin Shuying aside from the Old Madam. She had repeatedly reminded Qin Shuying to make a good impression on Madam Liu, especially st night, when she had emphasized the importance of today’s appearance.

  Qin Shuying understood Nanny Fu’s concerns but had no intention of following her advice. Instead, she pcated Nanny Fu with repeated assurances that she would take things seriously.

  Having died once, Qin Shuying saw through the fickleness of human retionships. Liu Junqing’s father, Liu Gongshan, was a fourth-ranked magistrate and had only one legitimate son. How could Madam Liu allow her precious son to marry an orphaned girl? Even if Qin Yongzhou had saved Liu Gongshan’s life and shared a deep friendship with him, that meant nothing now that Qin Yongzhou was dead. Madam Liu’s pillow talk would carry far more weight than past favors.