Though he also gained benefits, it wasn’t nearly as much as Qin Siyuan and Sixth Master Gu.

Thinking about it made Lin Ziqi somewhat resentful, always feeling like he was making wedding dresses for others.

Hearing their conversation, Qin Heng felt uncomfortable and stood up, saying: "Second brother-in-law is ill today and probably can’t go, will Second Sister go? Mother at home is still thinking of you. Eldest Sister has matters at home and cannot come. Father is just having a few close people over for dinner to avoid gossip."

Although Qin Jijiu was happy, he still cared about the family of his in-laws hosting a funeral, so he merely invited his daughter and son-in-law for a meal.

Qin Wan immediately said, "Of course I need to go back,"

Lin Ziqi frowned.

Qin Wan added, "Husband has cousin to help take care of the medicine, I will go back and inquire about the poetry contest."

Hearing this, Qin Heng felt something was unusual, and glanced at Lin Ziqi with a frown.

Lin Ziqi hurriedly said to Qin Wan, "Are you going to take the maid from the kitchen back home too? With her there and mother at home, there’s no need for cousin to worry. I made it clear that day, don’t say such things in the future, people might think we are being stingy and treating relatives as servants."

Qin Wan merely smiled faintly.

Qin Heng stood up and said, "I will go bid farewell to Mother-in-law, Second Sister, pack your things and leave."

Qin Wan responded.

Lin Ziqi said, "Wan’er, I have something for you to give to Father-in-law."

After Qin Heng stepped out, Lin Ziqi whispered to Qin Wan, "Gather information subtly, find out who’s planning for Sixth Master Gu and who’s advising Qin Siyuan."

They were still in the same boat, so Qin Wan naturally agreed.

Yanhong had already packed the items as well, and Qin Wan had no time to look at the things Qin Heng had brought; she simply put them in her room and told the young maid to watch over the room.

Lady Yu found various excuses to linger nearby, wishing her eyes could stick to Qin Wan.

Yanhong observed this and couldn’t help but curse lightly, while Qin Heng’s accompanying servants took the rattan box from Yanhong’s hands, and everyone headed out.

As they left the Lin Family, Qin Heng whispered to Qin Wan, "Second Sister, is that woman Second Brother-in-law’s cousin? She doesn’t seem like a quiet person."

Qin Wan was quite surprised and asked, "How can you tell? When she first arrived, I felt sorry for her coming from the countryside, being divorced at a young age, but later realized she’s trouble."

Qin Heng frowned and said, "Second Sister, your behavior and speech have become increasingly temple-like. How will you ever become an official’s wife?"

Qin Wan spat, "Who knows if that day will ever come? As the saying goes, three women make a drama. If I remain naive, they might devour me whole."

Yanhong chimed in, "Indeed, the young master at Jiujie Mansion knows nothing of worldly dangers, nor does he understand our life in the Lin family. Whatever Miss does, the old lady disapproves, always asking for money. Even when given money, we get nothing good in return. Whenever Master returns, the old lady speaks ill of Miss, preparing lavish meals... When Miss says anything, he assumes she despises the old lady. Now there is a cousin added to the mix, making it even worse."

Qin Heng sighed and said no more.

This life, Second Sister chose herself. What can be said?

Mother kept saying that Second Sister was passing on a good life, suggesting she wasn’t thinking straight and would definitely regret it later.

But regretting now won’t change anything.

Moreover, Qin Heng observed that Eldest Brother-in-law had a personality that matched Eldest Sister’s, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the same with Second Sister.

Father was right; everyone has their own karma.

As a brother who isn’t scholarly, he will rely on his brothers-in-law in the future; therefore, he shouldn’t meddle.

After the Lin family left, Mrs. Lin’s expression soured. First, she vented her anger in the kitchen, scolding the cook until she cried, and moved to Lin Ziqi’s study door, continuously nagging: "Marrying a wife who sides with her natal family, even taking cured mandarin fish. If she manages the household, she might send even a stalk of rice back to her family."

Lin Ziqi was already annoyed and, hearing his mother’s nagging, angrily said, "Isn’t her dowry all in your hands? What more do you want?"

Mrs. Lin, feeling provoked, immediately sat on the ground crying.

"What’s the point of living? I raised a son who forgets his mother after marrying. She’s a noble lady from Jiujie’s family and can’t be told anything, while I’m seen as an annoying old woman."

Headache after headache assaulted Lin Ziqi, who couldn’t stand it any longer. He picked up a brush washer from the table and slammed it on the floor.

"Crash."

Mrs. Lin’s crying paused.

On the side, Lady Yu, unsure whether to console or fuel the fire, said, "Why break things again?"

Originally wanting to provoke further, saying Qin Wan seemed to guard items like thieves with those brought from her natal family in her room, upon hearing the sound of things breaking, she hurried in and saw Lin Ziqi pale-faced and sweating heavily.

"Cousin, cousin, what’s wrong?"

...

Qin Wan followed Qin Heng into the Qin Mansion, where Mrs. Cui greeted them and asked, "Why didn’t Mr. Lin come?"

Qin Heng replied, "Second Brother-in-law is sick, so I brought Second Sister back."

Mrs. Cui’s expression turned a bit sour and reprimanded, "Mr. Lin is sick, you should stay and take care of him. Otherwise, your mother-in-law will find fault."

Qin Wan said, "He has a chronic condition, flaring up occasionally. At first, we were all worried, but now even his mother doesn’t care. When my cousin and younger brother have an audience with the Emperor, should I not return? Moreover, neither my mother-in-law nor he said anything about it and even allowed me to bring some things back."

Only then did Mrs. Cui feel relieved, and upon noticing the rattan box, she asked, "What’s inside?"

"It’s mandarin fish my mother-in-law cured, perfect for making pungent mandarin fish, we can add a dish."

Knowing she wasn’t financially comfortable, Mrs. Cui felt sympathy and said with a smile, "These are good things. Your father hasn’t been eating well recently and said he’s missed this taste."

Mother and daughter held hands and chatted, sending Qin Heng off ahead.

Qin Wan asked, "Who has been invited from the family?"

Mrs. Cui answered, "Just those from your father’s side, along with a few students, only enough for one table."

Qin Wan fell silent.

Mrs. Cui said, "Help me entertain the women later, it’s just a family dinner, eating and chatting, and hardly any drinking."

Qin Wan scoffed, "I know, it’s because of the Marquis Mansion, right? Mother, Si Yuan is really fortunate, how did he earn the Emperor’s favor? I heard that it was because of Si Yuan that the Marquis and the Yelv people played polo together, but Brother Heng wasn’t very detailed, could mother tell me what happened exactly?"

At the moment, since the guests hadn’t arrived, Mrs. Cui explained.

Qin Wan sighed, "Mother, when people are lucky, things are different indeed. Who’s planning for Sixth Master Gu and Si Yuan?"