Xie Yue put on the airs of a butler when he reached the front hall. He lifted his chin and considered the Qin women out of the corners of his eyes, a tight expression on his face.

"You're the ones who are looking for the Qin miss?"

The old dowager was wearing a semi-worn cotton jacket and had a brown cotton cape flung around her shoulders. She immediately rose when she saw the arrogant Xie Yue dressed in brocade.

"This must be the senior butler." The old dowager curtsied. "I've made this trip for the purpose of welcoming my granddaughter back."

The second madame was supporting the old dowager and curtsied as well.

Xie Yue declared c.o.c.kily, "Do you think this is still your Great Yan? This is the Great Zhou capital, the manor of the Faithful Prince of the First Rank! You Qins are the hated enemy of my prince! Your miss is here to pay off a debt! She wants to go back? Not going to be that easy!"

The old dowager's heart skipped a beat. What she was most afraid of had finally come to pa.s.s!

They were now in Great Zhou territory. With Pang Xiao's status, he could eat them alive. If he wanted revenge, no one would speak a single word of protest if he exterminated the Qin clan, to say nothing of carrying off Qin Yining.

Terror slowly enveloped the Qin matriarch the more she thought of this. She started trembling involuntarily.

Qin Huaiyuan's whereabouts were still unknown—they didn't know if he was dead or alive! If her eldest son was no more, who knew if the Qin family would prosper again, even if her second and third son was still with them. And now they'd even attracted this demon? Would they know any peace in the future??

That d.a.m.n girl is too utterly useless! Didn't she beguile Pang Zhixi perfectly before? Why is revenge cropping up in his mind again??

Sweating profusely, the old dowager cursed her granddaughter heartily and almost started crying.

Just as her thoughts and emotions were a jumbled mess, the second madame lightly pinched the back of her hand.

The slight twinge of pain brought the old dowager back to her senses. When she suddenly recalled what they were here for today, she felt increasingly uncertain. But the words still had to be said, or the entire family was doomed!

"This, this is inappropriate. Our granddaughter Yi is a proper n.o.ble daughter. She can't be carried off just like this. Even if there is some sort of feud between us, taking revenge straight to our faces is fine. You can't disparage a girl like this."

The old dowager used a sleeve to wipe away the fine sweat beading her forehead. Though her voice was trembling, she forced composure onto herself. "We must take granddaughter Yi with us today. Even if we don't say anything, His Majesty won't agree to any of this."

Xie Yue had been carefully observing the Qin matriarch's expression. The old woman barely seemed concerned about her granddaughter at all. When she'd heard that the prince wanted to take revenge, some hints of resentment had actually appeared on her face!

It was tragic to have a grandmother like this. She seemed to be so nervous and afraid for another matter entirely.

Skepticism reared its head when "His Majesty won't agree" was uttered. Xie Yue faked anger and denounced, "How dare you, just listen to you talk! You're just surrendered war captives—are you trying to throw your weight around here? His Majesty won't agree? His Majesty doesn't even know who you are! Don't try to scare me with this kind of frippery!"

The old dowager was shocked by how rampant and unbridled this butler was. She'd never suffered like this before, and their very lives would be forfeit if they didn't leave with Qin Yining today!

Thus, the Qin matriarch retracted her worry and fear to retort furiously, "Don't you be so overweening! His Majesty will be holding an imperial selection next year—I've already signed my granddaughter up for it! Her name's been submitted! What, does your prince want to fight the emperor himself for a girl?"

What? The imperial selection?

Xie Yue's expression remained unchanged, but tidal waves of emotion crashed in his heart. This old dowager didn't care much about her granddaughter, but she sure wasn't shy when it came to using the younger generation!

Here in accompaniment, Bingtang, Jiyun, and Qiulu were also stunned.

The three of them had travelled together, only b.u.mping into the Qins before entering the city gates. The old dowager, second and third elder master had been bedraggled and filthy. Fortune had treated them much more harshly than the three girls. The three maids had been privately wondering what had happened to the Qins.

And now, not only had they failed to get any useful information, but the old dowager had sold off Qin Yining for her own fortune and glory!

Having said her piece, the old dowager was at ease.

The second madame also heaved a sigh of relief and addressed Xie Yue politely. "Niece Yi is to partic.i.p.ate in the imperial selection and serve the emperor. It would be inappropriate for her to remain in the manor. I think even the Faithful Prince of the First Rank wouldn't fight the emperor for a girl, right? We're all His Majesty's subjects. Loyalty is of utmost importance. Please have niece Yi brought out so that we can bring her back and teach her well, so that she isn't all thumbs when she serves His Majesty."

Xie Yue had a most intense dislike of these two women by now. It could be heard from their tones that they didn't view Qin Yining as a human being at all, but a mere chip with which to reach their goals.

Halfsies!