The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

Xia Mianwan asked calmly: "Why is this?"

Qin Qinqing was a little flustered, but she managed to conceal it very well, and Miss Qiu didn't notice at all.

"I... fell into the water today and was rescued by the prince. So many young ladies saw it. Cousin, you have to make the decision for me!" Qin Qinqing knew that Xia Mianwan hated her behavior, but she had no other choice. She wanted to marry a man who could let her do whatever she wanted, especially after seeing Princess Yi'an's attitude towards Xia Mianwan at the banquet today, this thought has been lingering in her mind and could not be dispelled no matter what.

The prince Xu of Duke Xu's mansion is young and promising, and will inherit the title in the future. She can't think of a reason not to marry him.

What's more, she had seen Master Xu's appearance, and he was really good.

What Qin Qinqing hadn't expected was that Master Xu was actually already discussing marriage with Miss Qiu. If that were the case, it would be a bit troublesome.

Miss Qiu now understood that Qin Qinqing was going to blame the prince and the Xu family and use the Qiu family as scapegoats.

Miss Qiu looked at Xia Mianwan helplessly. She also wanted to see how Xia Mianwan would handle it.

Xia Mianwan smiled and said, "Miss Qiu, can you step aside for a moment? I have something to discuss with my cousin."

Of course Miss Qiu didn't want to leave, but she had to leave at this time, so she nodded, got up and went out.

After Miss Qiu left, Xia Mianwan's eyes turned cold. "Qin Qinqing, are you not going back because you fell down on purpose today? Do you want to blame Master Xu?"

Qin Qinqing knew that she couldn't hide it from Xia Mianwan, and she also knew that if she wanted to successfully marry Master Xu, she would need Xia Mianwan, the mistress of the Pei family, to step in. So she simply didn't hide it and nodded, "Yes, cousin. Who made you think that I can't marry into a wealthy family? You didn't help me, and my mother didn't help me either, so I resorted to this desperate measure."

"Marriage is a union of two families. You insist on doing this. Have you ever thought that even if you really succeed in marrying him, the Xu family and Master Xu will not treat you sincerely. Not only that, you have schemed against Master Xu, so the Xu family will put all the blame on the Pei family. Have you ever thought about how sad it will be in the future when you live in the Duke's Mansion without the support of your natal family?" Xia Mianwan was still indifferent, with no expression of emotion on her face.

Qin Qinqing didn't understand all this. She came to Pei Mansion a long time ago. She didn't believe that if something really happened to her one day, Pei Mansion would ignore her.

From the way Xia Mianwan looked at Qin Qinqing, she could tell that Qin Qinqing didn't care at all whether it was difficult for the Pei family.

"Since you... are unjust to the Pei family, then the Pei family doesn't need to give you face at all. You have made no contribution to the family, and you are just a useless chess piece. Auntie defended you so much, but you are still so ungrateful. Let me ask you one more question, do you want to go back with me now?"

Qin Qinqing shook her head and said, "I won't go back no matter what you say."

Xia Mianwan was amused. "Do you think that today's situation can really go as you wish? Do you think Xu Shizi will really marry you?"

"Why can't I do it? I have been brought up by my parents since I was young, in the cold winter and hot summer, without a single day of rest. I am also the daughter of a fourth-rank military commander, why can't I do it?" Qin Qinqing was unwilling to accept it, she was really unwilling to accept it. If Pei Yanxu couldn't do it, then she only wanted to be the best person.

"Although Miss Qiu and Master Xu have not officially gotten engaged, the marriage between the two families has been almost discussed. You have intervened at this time, and although it has caused trouble for Master Xu, your reputation will also be ruined. It is impossible for you to be his wife, and it is also impossible for you to be his wife. But being a concubine... is still possible." Xia Mianwan said.

Qin Qinqing was startled. She couldn't be a concubine. She absolutely couldn't be a concubine under such circumstances. Otherwise, she would make enemies with the mistress in the Xu family's backyard and would not be able to survive no matter what.

"Plop" Qin Qinqing knelt straight down in front of Xia Mianwan, "Cousin, I beg you, help me, I don't want to be a concubine."

Xia Mianwan said: "Then you can go back with me."

Qin Qinqing grabbed Xia Mianwan's skirt and said, "Cousin, I beg you, just this once, please help me. I only want to marry Master Xu as my wife. If I become a concubine, how can I survive under Miss Qiu? Besides, in terms of status, my father is a fourth-rank official in the court, and my cousin is even the prince's tutor. How can I not be worthy of the Xu family?"

Xia Mianwan was really amused by Qin Qinqing's confidence: "You really have to go to your cousin when you have problems, and go to the Pei Mansion when you have nothing to do... Qin Qinqing, do you think I would be stupid enough to be controlled by a little girl like you?"

Qin Qinqing was still wondering what Xia Mianwan meant by that, but Xia Mianwan had already pinched her chin and forced her to raise her head. "I'll ask you again, do you want to go back with me now?"

Qin Qinqing's eyes were too stubborn to be true. "I won't leave, and cousin, please don't block my future."

Xia Mianwan looked at the little girl who had gone crazy with a dark look in her eyes.

"The Pei family won't stand up for you, so do you still want to stay here?" Xia Mianwan asked.

Qin Qinqing nodded and said, "You don't really care about me, and the Pei family doesn't really care about me either. If you really care about me, why would you listen to my mother and marry me to a young scholar?"

Xia Mianwan simply admired Qin Qinqing's logical self-consistency. She loosened her hand, clapped her hands, and said with a smile: "Since you have never felt grateful in your heart, the Pei family doesn't need to consider you anymore. With your determination to get rid of the donkey after it has done its work, if you are really allowed to enter the Xu Guogong Mansion, it will be a real disaster for the Pei family."

Qin Qinqing didn't believe that Xia Mianwan could really do anything to her, so she stood up and prepared to open the door.

Xia Mianwan shouted loudly: "Ruzhu!"

Ruzhu opened the door and came in. Xia Mianwan looked at Ruzhu and said softly, "Ruzhu, my cousin is crazy and hurt me. Knock her out and bring her back to Pei's house."

Qin Qinqing was horrified when she heard this. Before she could say anything, Ruzhu hit her on the neck with a palm from the back and knocked her unconscious.

"Let Rumeng take the eldest and second daughters back first, and then bring a few strong maids from home to take Miss Cousin back."

"Young Madam, I can take my cousin back." Ruzhu didn't understand why Xia Mianwan had to go through so much trouble.

Xia Mianwan said coldly: "No need, just do as I say."

Ruzhu stopped asking.

For a moment, Xia Mianwan wanted to kill Qin Qinqing. Living in a muddleheaded way would only bring trouble to the family. But... she couldn't do that.

Xia Mianwan suppressed the anger in her heart and sat at the table waiting for someone from the Pei family to arrive.