Turning, she looked at Qin Yuanzhang and said, "Father, I thought my third sister was sensible and had grown up pampered. She's also the most talented woman in the capital. I thought she would surely marry someone second only to the Emperor, or at least a prince. How did she end up as a concubine for someone?"
Her words caused everyone in the hall to be lost in their own thoughts!
Madam Zhang almost burst into laughter, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she giggled!
Madam Min looked extremely embarrassed, while Qin Yu's face was filled with indignation, feeling she had suffered an unprecedented humiliation!
Ming Xiajing also sensed the aura of disgrace. "What's wrong with Qin Yu marrying me? I am the legitimate son of the Ming family, and I will inherit the marquis title. Qin Yu won't be at a disadvantage marrying me!"
"Whether I can inherit the marquis title, I don't know. But what I can be sure of is... the child my third sister gives birth to will be illegitimate. Even if the marquis mansion has a title, it won't be given to a son born to a concubine!"
This blow was undoubtedly a fatal one for Qin Yu!
Qin Yu secretly clutched her skirt tightly!
Yes! What this lowly Qin Yun said was right. She was a concubine, and her future children would naturally be of low status. Even if they were pampered and raised with love, they would ultimately be illegitimate!
Just like her, even though she grew up in the Qin mansion with silks and fine food, because she was born to a concubine, she could not be the main wife when getting married. She could only be a concubine! This was a symbol of status!
She didn't want to be a concubine!
But now was a special time, and she couldn't refuse Ming Xiajing!
Special times called for special measures!
Agreeing to the proposal now was a move born of desperation! She had to stabilize the Ming family first! She had her own plans later!
Ming Xiajing was displeased. "As long as Yu'er marries me, I will find a way to elevate her to the status of a principal wife. Our future children will naturally be legitimate. Besides, this is the business of my Ming family, and you don't need to worry about it!"
"Ming Xiajing, I am Qin Yu's second brother. Now that you two are together, shouldn't you call me second brother?"
Qin Yun smiled and approached Ming Xiajing, saying, "Good boy, call me second brother!"
Ming Xiajing took a step back and ignored him!
This Qin Yun still wanted to take advantage of him? No way!
Ming Xiajing ignored him, but Qin Yun was not annoyed! She had returned to the mansion today precisely to add insult to injury and humiliate the second branch of the family!
Now that her objective was achieved, she was naturally delighted!
"Father, what do you think of this matter? I truly never expected my third sister to marry as a concubine!" Qin Yun shook her head with feigned heartbreak.
Qin Yuanzhang had nothing to say. He sighed, "This is her choice, and it is her fate. I don't want to mention it again!"
Then they proceeded to discuss the wedding date.
Qin Yun was not interested and left with an excuse!
The day of Qin Yu's wedding was set for two months later!
This timeframe was neither too short nor too long.
Upon returning to her small courtyard, Qin Yun quietly summoned Qingshan!
"Master, what are your orders?"
"Last time you found out that Mr. Jin and Madam Min knew each other very early on. How early was that?"
Qingshan recounted, "I went to Madam Min's hometown. From the mouths of the older generation, I learned that when Madam Min was young, she was very close to a man. This man was called Guangda, and he grew up with Madam Min. They were childhood sweethearts!"
"Guangda?" Qin Yun asked curiously. "Could it be that this Guangda is the current Mr. Jin?"
Qingshan said, "I heard that Guangda at that time was tall and thin, with a delicate appearance. He had attended an academy for two years and was literate!"
"If I'm not mistaken, that Guangda is Mr. Jin in disguise!"
Qin Yun nodded in agreement. "So, these two are old flames! No wonder the second branch has inexhaustible money! They even arranged for personnel to be in the mansion!"
Her father was quite captivated by Madam Min when he was young!
"Does Master have a plan?"
Qin Yun smiled. "Find a way to steal all the account books of the Qin mansion and replace them. This matter must be handled with extreme caution!"
"Additionally, find a few calligraphers to forge copies of all the stolen account books. Put the fake account books back. As long as the real account books are in our hands, it doesn't matter if he's Guangda or Mr. Jin, they won't be able to cause any trouble!"
"Yes, Master."
"Go. You must complete the mission. There can be no mistakes," Qin Yun said sternly.
Qingshan nodded and then disappeared.
Qin Yun stayed in the courtyard for a while, feeling that she couldn't just wait for things to happen.
She knew some of the Qin family's businesses, but not all of them.
It seemed she needed to talk to Qin Yuanzhang.
Leaving the courtyard, Qin Yun headed straight for Qin Yuanzhang's study!
At this moment, Qin Yuanzhang was in a fit of anger, specifically about Qin Yu's situation.
To calm himself down, Qin Yuanzhang chose to practice calligraphy, as it could help him regain his composure quickly.
"Bang bang bang!" Qin Yun knocked on the door and entered!
"Father is practicing calligraphy?"
He looked up!
He saw Qin Yun standing at the doorway. "You're here!"
Qin Yun walked closer to Qin Yuanzhang and praised his calligraphy, "Father's handwriting is indeed beautiful, strong and vigorous!"
Qin Yuanzhang put down his brush and looked at Qin Yun. "Why did you think of coming to the study to find me today? Is there something?"
It seemed her father wasn't completely clueless!
"Father, the imperial examinations are in two days. Do you still stand by your word?"
Qin Yuanzhang thought for a moment, then remembered what Qin Yun was referring to!
He stroked his beard and smiled, "Don't think that cramming at the last minute will be useful. If you can truly make it onto the list, Father will naturally keep his word!"
"Father is indeed straightforward! But...!" Qin Yun scratched her head, looking troubled again!
"But what?"
"Father, your child wants to familiarize herself with our Qin family's business dealings, or shops, or something like that?"
Seeing Qin Yun having such an idea, Qin Yuanzhang was very pleased.
"Alright, I'll have Mr. Jin from the accounting department come over. He'll take you to familiarize yourself tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yun hurriedly stopped him. "Father, no. This matter, your child only wants to learn from you!"
Qin Yuanzhang was puzzled and asked, "What's gotten into you today? Why are you so stubborn?"
Qin Yun stepped forward, linked her arm through Qin Yuanzhang's, and pouted, "Father, didn't your child go to Lanshan Academy for a while? Now that I've finally returned home, I just want to spend more time with Father and not be disturbed! Is that not allowed?"
"Hahahaha, good, good, good. Father will tell you about the Qin family's shops!"
The father and son went to the soft couch and sat down gently.
Qin Yun perked up her ears to listen!
Qin Yuanzhang spoke earnestly.
"Our shops mainly deal in fruit wine! We also have several wineries. Father's businesses aren't many, just these!"
Just this?
And that's it?
"Father, how many wineries do we have?"
Qin Yuanzhang said, "Three!"
"And do the wineries primarily sell fruit wine?"
"Yes! That's all there is. Do you feel pity for Father, that he hasn't saved much for you?" Qin Yuanzhang smiled helplessly. "The wineries haven't been making much money in recent years, and coupled with the monthly salary, we can barely get by!"