Chapter Seven: Defending against the day and night, but it is difficult to guard against the thief within the home

The woman had somewhat pale skin, with elegantly arched eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding an air of refined elegance and scholarly grace. She wore a simple long robe of finely woven blue satin embroidered with moon orchids, and adorned her hair with a few ancient jade hairpins, which were not extravagant. However, her demeanor carried the poise of a distinguished lady. She was none other than Madam Shen, the legitimate wife of the third master, Qin Shoude.

Aunt Jin is regarded as a thief by those people every day, and now they are on guard day and night, as it is difficult to guard against a thief within the home. The backyard is on fire, which is truly quite amusing

Aunt Jin furrowed her brows slightly: "Old Jin said that the master still has blood clots in his brain and is not clear-headed. He will only believe what he wants to believe, even if those beliefs are illogical. But he is willing to believe them, so now that girl Chu Yu cannot be touched."

With the fortuitous event of marrying the young lady of the Southern Sky Weaving Tower in his early years, his family wealth further increased. His two younger brothers also married daughters from prominent families in the capital and a renowned embroidery family from Xiangnan, respectively. Thus, the Qin family gradually became prominent in the field of weaving and embroidery.

Liu Erfu had a heart-shaped face, with willow-leaf eyebrows and slightly upturned eyes, possessing a certain enchanting beauty. Coming from a prominent merchant family in Xiangnan, she slowly withdrew her gaze from Chu Yu and said with a smile: "Uncle, although my aunt passed away early, has Qinshi ever caused you or us elders any worry since childhood?"

If she poses a threat to Third Master, I would risk my life to let my master decide, and I will ensure she meets her end by the sword

Aunt Jin and Jin Yao exchanged a glance, each seeing a gloomy and cold light in the other's eyes

Is there an ice bowl? The previous one.

Seeing that Qin Sheng was indifferent and did not pay him any attention, he was so angry that his beard trembled, yet he felt helpless. He could only turn his face in anger and glare at Chu Yu, who was standing behind Qin Sheng, and shouted: "You, who exactly are you? How could I possibly have a sister like you!"

It is said that peonies symbolize wealth and nobility, and her morning glories, nurtured in the luxurious soup pool, have also become increasingly vibrant, not in vain for the fears and anxieties she has endured.

Lord Qin let out a silent sigh

Ahem. The previously silent Master Liu San suddenly cleared his throat. Dressed in a plain blue satin robe, he appeared exceedingly refined.

He looked at the still calm and composed Qingsheng, feeling increasingly unable to see through this son of his

Chu Yu listened for half a day in utter boredom, secretly cursing under her breath—after all the talk, it was nothing more than the clichéd notion that she harbored malicious intentions

Seeing this, Qin Shouli, whose small eyes were squeezed by his obesity, flashed a hint of impatience, but quickly concealed it, merely glancing at his wife, Madam Liu Er.

"In the end, they still came. It has only been a few days since the old man had an incident, and yet some people could not wait any longer." Jin Yao's peach blossom eyes glimmered with a cold fire.

Qin Sheng held a teacup in his hands, leisurely savoring the milk froth inside, yet he remained silent

However, she once again confirmed that the beautiful head of Qingsheng must have been smashed by her, and her biological father was almost furious, insisting that he would recognize a thief as his mother... uh, he strongly insisted on recognizing her as his mother

With the emergence of the extraordinary talent Qin Sheng, the Qin family's embroidery workshop flourished throughout the world. Furthermore, he took charge of the textile production in Jiangnan, and nearly all of the clothing and necessities for the Tian family across the four seasons were handled by the Qin family. Consequently, Qin Sheng was naturally revered as the head of the Qin family

... ...

Upon hearing this, Lord Qin was somewhat speechless. Indeed, his son was exceptionally worry-free. Any decision he made, even if it seemed utterly unreasonable at the time, had never been wrong in hindsight. The current standing of the Qin family was entirely due to Qin Sheng's capabilities

Chu Yu observed with her eyes, her nose, and her heart, ignoring the pressing questions from Master Qin, secretly mocking him—heh heh, Master Qin, what does having more sisters matter, your son has actually arranged a wife for you

Prepare some more snacks

When Lord Qin heard the word 'mother', he tightened his grip on the chair, instinctively glancing at Qin Sheng. However, he found Qin Sheng still wearing a calm expression, as if he had heard everything yet also as if he had heard nothing at all. Just a moment ago, he had felt a complex mix of emotions and had secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Madam Shen San and Madam Liu Er exchanged a glance, then quickly averted their eyes. Madam Shen San said lightly: "This matter is also easy to handle. We can either send the miscreants to the authorities or expel them from the Qin family. Since Qin Sheng has sustained an injury to his head, he should naturally be well taken care of. All external affairs can be temporarily entrusted to the elders of the family to manage, and we will discuss further once he has recovered."

Outside the residence, the qin and sheng are used to handle official business, while inside, the two households manage the affairs of the family. The elder master Qin, who was originally not adept at business, has taken the easy route by opening a martial arts school to recruit disciples, engaging in swordplay and staff techniques. He has not concerned himself with family matters, both internal and external, for many years, and is even unable to keep his own son in check.

Chu Yu stood behind Qin Sheng, watching the scene before her with a heart full of sarcasm

Madam Shen San was born into the prominent Shen family as a legitimate daughter, and she was renowned as the foremost talented woman in the capital during her time in the inner chambers. Although she does not manage the household affairs now, she serves as the head of the Feilu Academy in Jiangnan, earning great respect from both her family and the community, and her reputation for talent is well-known throughout Jiangnan. Shen Zhi Nuo is indeed a descendant of Madam Shen San's family.

It is as if one has truly returned to the youthful exuberance of being thirteen, yet it is not entirely the same as it was back then; even those close to him cannot grasp the current modus operandi of their master

She lowered her bright, beautiful eyes and maliciously stared at the back of Qin Sheng's head

Although ... ...

It is truly interesting; ostensibly, it is to expel her, this 'thief', but in reality, it is about seizing power. It seems that this renowned musician from Jiangnan cannot escape the farce of power struggles and profit-seeking.

In the attic, Jinyao coldly watched Chuyu, who was enjoying the service of the maids under the big tree in the yard: "Calling herself 'Miss', does she really think she is a master? Do we just allow that shameless maid to act tyrannically here?"

I just don't know how the main character in the play will fare

Outrageous, outrageous, when did you acquire such an unknown aunt? Are you trying to drive your father to his grave!" A middle-aged man, around fifty years old, with a square face and wide mouth, looking extremely serious and composed, angrily slammed his hand on the table, directing his ire at the qinsheng sitting to his left

Madam Liu Er gracefully rose and said: "Uncle, rest assured, I have accompanied my father throughout our family business since I was a daughter at home, learning to manage accounts. There is nothing I do not know."

While the two were conversing, suddenly Shui Yao hurriedly came to report: "Aunt Jin, the leader, and the esteemed master of Fenghe Courtyard have sent someone to look for the master and Miss Chu..."

Aunt Jin clasped her hands into her sleeves, and in her slender eyes lay an unfathomable chill: "As time goes by, some servants forget their own status and constantly seek to rise above their masters."

The breeze flows through the courtyard, the towering trees reach the sky, the Taihu stones are rugged and exquisite, and a touch of ancient decor reveals the owner's exceptional taste

Aunt Jin couldn't help but feel a headache at the thought of this

Whenever he thought of his master, who was both wise and powerful, resembling an immortal being, being summoned and commanded by Chu Yu, the sword in his hand would instinctively desire to strike down.

It is Miss Yu

At this time, Lord Liu San holds the official position of governor, serving as the parental official of Yun Prefecture, and is also the superior of Old Hu

Old Master Qin Er immediately bounced up like a plump ball, smiling at Old Master Qin Da and saying: "Elder brother, rest assured, my embroidery workshop has never been unprofitable. Business matters are all interconnected, just like a hundred veins flowing together, especially with Liu Niang's support."

The middle-aged man is indeed the father of Qin Sheng, and he is also Qin Shouzheng, the head of the Qin family. The Qin family was originally a prestigious literary family in Jiangnan for a hundred years, but it gradually fell into decline. In the generation of the straightforward Qin Shouzheng, he had little interest in literature and instead revered martial prowess. He took up arms and rose to the position of general in the Jiangnan Pacification Office, but eventually retired due to a chronic illness.

Lord Qin secretly glanced at Qin Sheng, noticing that he remained silent, resembling a white jade Guanyin in a temple, indifferent to worldly matters. He couldn't help but feel worried, wondering if Sheng had truly become foolish as his second and third brothers had suggested.

Yes, Miss Yu

Your lord has gone to stew sweet soup and is not here

In the hall, on the left and right sides, sat a pair of similarly middle-aged couples adorned in luxurious attire, who were the second and third branches of the Qin family. Upon noticing this, a stout man sitting on the left stood up and, addressing Lord Qin in a cordial manner, said: "Elder brother, you should take care not to let your temper affect your health; I believe Qin Sheng must have his reasons for acting as he does."

Although Chu Yu recognized this governor, knowing that he was from the Qin family, she would not take any reckless actions.

Lord Qin hesitated for a moment, looking at Qin Sheng, unable to make up his mind.

"Second brother, do not defend Sheng'er; I want him to speak for himself." Master Qin slammed the table hard with a 'bang'.

Upon hearing this, Lord Qin hesitated slightly: "This... but the third brother is still in the officialdom, and the second brother has never taken over the entire business affairs. I fear that for the time being..."

The elder of the Qin family furrowed his brow and said, "What shall we do now?"

Madam Shen San looked at Lord Qin Da and said, with neither humility nor arrogance: "Uncle, regarding Zhi Nuo's matter, we can publicly say it was an accident, but so many people present that day heard Qin Sheng actually call that girl 'mother.' If we continue to let him act as he pleases, would it not be a great joke for the world, making people laugh at the Qin family as if we are a target for any petty individual to covet?"

Over the years, the master has already achieved a level of mastery that is unparalleled, with a complexion like that of Guanyin and a heart as deep as the ocean, displaying no emotions on the surface. In the blink of an eye, enemies have turned to ashes, yet in recent days, how many times has the master been moved to anger for this girl?

At this moment, a cold female voice suddenly rang out: "Times have changed; I heard that you were injured in the fire at the qin and sheng venue. Many things can no longer be remembered, and it is possible to be deceived by petty individuals. Otherwise, how could you have harmed Miss Shen?"

But the master said, you cannot eat too much ice

Lord Qin likely did not expect that even Chu Yu would not regard him highly. His face turned ashen, yet seeing Qin Sheng sitting beside Chu Yu, he did not dare to truly confront her, only fuming with anger and glaring.

Chu Yu lazily stretched and looked at her recently fair and tender hands scattered on the ground, then leaned on the small couch and closed her eyes to rest.

Zhi was accustomed to seeing Chu Yu dressed in plain clothes like a youth, and he had never paid attention to such an inconspicuous presence as Chu Yu, so he naturally could not recognize him

He said with a faint smile: "I have some connections in the officialdom, and at times like this, one must always look after one's own business."

Lord Qin looked over and saw the slender woman who had been silent in the lower right stand up. He furrowed his thick brows and said, "Sister-in-law, wasn't it said that the incident was an accidental injury?"

At this moment, the main hall was filled with a cacophony of noise, with anger echoing throughout. The servants all shrank their heads, not daring to make a sound.