“Show father in!” said Qin Wanru. After being confounded a moment, she reacted quickly and stood up. Nobody caught sight of the hint of gloom in her eyes. “How he could come here so quickly? It seems that it is true!”

Her last uncertainty disappeared and transformed into a chill that crept into her heart, which made her feel cold and bitterly disappointed…

Qing Yue turned and ran outside quickly.

Shui Ruolan wanted to stand up but Qin Wanru reached out and sat her down. She said, “You’d better sit down, mother!”

During their talk, the little servant girl opened the door curtain and then Qin Huaiyong strode into the room. Seeing Shui Ruolan sitting here, he was stunned and then walked toward her.

Shui Ruolan stood up and bowed sideways to him. Qin Huaiyong reached out to stop her.

“Why are you here?” asked Qin Huaiyong.

“Because Young Lady Qi just had a fight with Yuru again,” said Shui Ruolan. She sat down and sighed.

“I will handle it. You said you felt uncomfortable yesterday, didn’t you? You’d better go back and have a rest. I will let Wanru tell me,” said Qin Huaiyong with concern.

Shui Ruolan looked at Qin Wanru. Qin Wanru nodded in agreement without saying anything. Shui Ruolan then said, “Well I am very tired today so I shall take a rest now!”

Shui Ruolan stood up. Qionghua, who just stood beside her, caught her quickly. Shui Ruolan was so nervous just now that she didn’t feel tired or dizzy at all. Now that she was finally able to relax, tiredness overwhelmed her.

“See you mother!” said Qin Wanru. She bowed sideways to Shui Ruolan. Then Shui Ruolan helped her up lightly and watched her, seemingly about to say something. However, keeping silent, she just reached out, patted Qin Wanru on the shoulder lightly, and left with Qionghua.

Qin Huaiyong sat down in the seat of honor, pointed at a chair beside and said, “Wanru, have a seat and tell me what happened!”

“Yes, father!” answered Qin Wanru in a low voice. She sat up straight, squeezed her handkerchief, and lowered her head.

After Yujie brought Qin Huaiyong a cup of tea, she then stood erect behind Qin Wanru, which made her appear docile.

Qin Huaiyong frowned and asked very directly, “Wanru, do you know why they had a fight?”

“I don’t know much about it. I only saw that everything was in great chaos. Mother wanted to ask, but Young Lady Qi just ran outside, and sister just…” Qin Wanru paused. Although she lowered her head, her pale face could still be seen.

“Yuru becomes more and more headstrong now! Lady Qi lives here and Yuru should be tolerant. But she just led to this! Wanru, you’ve worked hard!” said Qin Huaiyong angrily.

“It is okay but I… I just have a question…” said Qin Wanru. It seemed that because of Qin Huaiyong’s soft attitude, Qin Wanru was emboldened, so she raised her head and looked at Qin Huaiyong.

Qin Huaiyong replied madly, “Just let me know. I will answer you. Compared with your headstrong sister, you are much thoughtful. Don’t worry. I will punish her by having her copy the Daughter’s Rules and Woman Precepts later! She is a lady, but she not only fought with others but even cursed her sister so rudely!”

666

He banged on the table very heavily, making the cups jerk up and spill water. He seemed so crazy.

Qin Wanru shot a glance at Yujie. Then Yujie came forward with a cleaning cloth, wiped the table, took the cup away, and asked other servants to make new tea.

“Father, am I… am I not your natural daughter?” asked Qin Wanru. She clenched her handkerchief and lowered her head again, seeming to be really sad.

“What? No! I just told you that your sister has become headstrong. She not only always fights with Lady Qi but also she takes it out on you, her natural sister!” shouted Qin Huaiyong with his face turning livid.

The pulsing blue veins on his forehead branching out showed that he had really gotten mad.

Seeing this, Qin Wanru almost believed him.

Raising her eyes, Qin Wanru asked with uncertainty, “Father, why would sister say so?” It seemed that she was able to listen to Qin Huaiyong.

“She has always made troubles recently, which makes me angry. So I scolded her and praised you especially. She might be jealous of you because she thinks that I prefer you over her,” explained Qin Huaiyong with a livid face. He kept thinking that he had spoiled his eldest daughter. How dare she speak so carelessly!

“Madam Di must have told Qin Yuru something and made her say so. It is Madam Di again. She was a young lady from a noble family with a good manner before. Now it seems that she is not a good wife!”

“Will big sister tell others that I am not your natural daughter?” said Qin Wanru, seeming like she had believed Qin Huaiyong. She raised her head and looked at him purely and respectfully. Her eyes were as clear as transparent water drops.

Qin Huaiyong calmed down and promised her. “Don’t worry about that! I will give her a lecture!”

“But, if… if she broadcasts this at the banquet… then what should I do?” asked Qin Wanru hesitantly. She kept clenching the handkerchief in her hand, showing that she really felt anxious about it.

The banquet was the one that would be held in the Marquises’ Mansion of Fengyang. Madam Di had decided not to attend, but Qin Huaiyong thought it was inappropriate. He wanted to have Shui Ruolan take his two daughters to attend the banquet. But now, seeing Qin Wanru’s anxious look, he thought that it would be better not to allow Qin Yuru to go there in case she would cause some other troubles.

“But if Qin Yuru doesn’t attend, then nobody in the inner court could talk to people from Duke Yong’s Mansion. Without Madam Di and Qin Yuru, it would be very difficult to ask Countess Yongkang to take Shui Ruolan and Qin Wanru to attend the banquet. In addition, it is inappropriate because Madam Di comes from Duke Yong’s Mansion.”

“Don’t’ worry, Wanru. I will give her a lecture later. I will ask her not to say too much at the banquet. It is the first time for you to attend a banquet so we have to make others think that our ladies have a good relationship,” said Qin Huaiyong softly.

Qin Wanru blinked her eyes and quickly realized that they were talking about two different banquets. Then she decided to take this chance to tell Qin Huaiyong about Rui’an Great Elder Princess.

“Father, you are talking about the banquet of the Marquises’ Mansion of Fengyang, aren’t you?” asked Qin Wanru confusedly. She blinked her eyes deliberately and said, “I’ve heard grandma saying that it would be better for everyone not to attend!”

“How could we not attend? Countess Yong is your big sister’s close relative. Nobody can eat his words. If Madam Di doesn’t go, then have your mother take you and your sister to attend. Just have your sister tell your aunt!” Qin Huaiyong thought that Qin Wanru was afraid of Qin Yuru saying something, so he said softly, “Your sister will not do that anymore.”

Qin Wanru bit her lips and said softly, “Father, when I went to Huaguang Temple, I met Rui’an Great Elder Princess. She told me that she likes me and she would send a banquet invitation card to me!”

666

“Rui’an Great Elder Princess?” asked Qin Huaiyong. He was stunned, then became very happy and asked again, “Is it really Rui’an Great Elder Princess?”

“Yes. Mother also saw her. She said she would invite us to the banquet,” said Qin Wanru, smiling. A hint of happiness appeared on her pretty face. She said, “That day, Great Elder Princess said she felt destined to meet us when she saw mother and me!”

“Only you two?” asked Qin Huaiyong with his face turning black. The smile on his face disappeared gradually.

“Yes, father! Should we go there?” asked Qin Wanru hesitantly. She seemed to be hesitant, which conformed to what an 11-year-old girl would do.

It was her first time in the capital city. Thus, she surely didn’t know what to do because she was not familiar with others and this city.

“But only your mother and you…” Qin Huaiyong glanced at Qin Wanru. The last uncertainty vanished. He frowned and tried his best to think about the feasibility of this thing.

If Qin Wanru and Shui Ruolan could get Great Elder Princess’s appreciation, it would surely be a good thing. But if Shui Ruolan attended while Madam Di didn’t, would Duke Yong’s Mansion complain about it?

“Father, do you want us to refuse?” asked Qin Wanru very confusedly. “Then I will tell Nanny Yu not to receive Great Elder Princess’s invitation card!”

“You don’t need to do that. Receive it. The princess appreciates you, so you must attend the banquet!” said Qin Huaiyong, reaching out. Nobody dared to refuse receiving Great Elder Princess’s invitation card.

“Then why are you so hesitant? You don’t want mother and me to attend, do you?” asked Qin Wanru. She felt confused and blinked her eyes.

“Not exactly. How about taking your big sister to attend?” asked Qin Huaiyong tentatively.

“I am afraid that the princess would be angry if we bring one more person!” answered Qin Wanru uneasily. Her eyes were wavering, seeming to not know if she was right.

She would not bring Qin Yuru, or at least she would not allow Shui Ruolan to bring her. She also would not let Qin Yuru attend the banquet with the invitation. She knew Qin Huaiyong would not agree but after she highlighted the importance of Great Elder Princess, Qin Huaiyong had to consider her words carefully.

Then Qin Yuru’s words today gave her the chance!

A chance to make Madam Di compromise!

In addition, when Shui Ruolan told Qin Huaiyong that she was pregnant, her place would be more important in Qin Huaiyong’s heart.

“Then you two go!” said Qin Huaiyong. He thought about it for a while and found that there was no better way. He also knew it was not such a difficult thing.

He feared that Madam Di would cause troubles at first. But during the fight, Madam Di had spoken to others carelessly, leading to Yuru’s nonsense, which almost brought the truth to light. Considering this, Madam Di would not dare make troubles now.

“I surely appreciate it, father!” said Qin Wanru. Finding out that Qin Huaiyong had no doubts, she stood up and bowed sideways to him very happily, seeming to not care about the unpleasantness. Qin Huaiyong finally relaxed and thought that he made the right choice.

Nanny Yu’s voice suddenly came outside the door curtain. “Second Lady! Second Lady! An invitation card from Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion just arrived!”