Chapter 10: One Should Know How to Keep a Low Profile

"If you want to eat well, bring silver."

Xie shi stared at Qin Liuxi's slender, white fingers, her face flushing a deep red.

Money? Where would she get any money?

Even if she had some, it was only a tiny amount. She didn't dare take it out to supplement their meals casually; otherwise, if she ever needed silver in the future, she truly wouldn't have a single cent to her name.

"What? What silver!" Her eyes darted around as she stammered, "You know perfectly well what our family's situation is. How could I have any silver!"

Qin Liuxi laughed. "Oh, so Second Aunt has finally woken up. You know the Qin family's situation now. I thought you were naturally optimistic—that even knowing the truth, you'd just carry on living the old life, surrounded by servants and feasting on delicacies!"

These words were like a slap to the faces of everyone present, stinging and harsh, forcing them to face reality.

Indeed, the Qin family was no longer the household of a high-ranking third-grade official; they were now ordinary commoners whose property had been confiscated. Not only could they no longer live the high life with people serving them—spending their days discussing new jewelry designs from silver shops, new patterns from garment workshops, or getting tired of eating mountain delicacies—but all those seemingly extravagant things had vanished from their lives.

The crowd glanced at the dishes on the table, and a chill ran through their hearts. If they couldn't live a life of wealth, they might not even be able to afford these meat dishes. Since the men of their families had been exiled, who among them—the helpless women and children—could earn silver?

Panic and bewilderment descended upon them once again like heavy storm clouds, leaving them breathless.

Xie shi felt humiliated by the confrontation.

However, she quickly darkened her expression. She was, after all, an elder; this girl truly had no sense of hierarchy.

Just as she was about to speak, Qin Liuxi turned her gaze toward Qin Mingyue and asked, "Little sister, have you recognized the current situation? It's fine to consider yourself a noble young lady, but you must also account for the circumstances, wouldn't you agree?"

Failing to recognize the situation was a serious matter. Looking at Qin Mingyue, her eye sockets were sunken, as if her eyes were receding into her face. In physiognomy, this was considered the "Spouse Palace"; a sunken area suggested an unhappy marriage. This cousin was fickle of mind and prone to sudden shifts in emotion; her future marriage prospects were likely to be poor, and her household would be restless.

Qin Mingyue stiffened. She gritted her teeth and said in a thin voice, "Even if I am not a noble lady, neither is Eldest Sister."

They were all members of the Qin family; they were one and the same. If they had fallen from grace, so had she. She was merely a commoner, and furthermore, a concubine's daughter registered under the legal mother's name. How could she be any more noble than anyone else?

With this thought, Qin Mingyue puffed out her chest.

"Oh, I am a bit different from you. I have always viewed myself as an orphan!" Qin Liuxi said nonchalantly.

Qin Mingyue: "!"

Madam Wang and Concubine Wan: "..."

*We are standing right here in the flesh!*

Xie shi, however, seized the opportunity to speak. "Sister-in-law, look at this! This girl truly needs proper upbringing. Aren't her words a curse upon you and Big Brother?"

Qin Liuxi gave a cold snort.

They had left her in the ancestral home to be raised at such a young age, and now they had the nerve to talk to her about upbringing? She wanted to see who would dare bring that up!

Madam Wang said, "Second Sister-in-law, Xiyao has a point. Our Qin family is no longer the Qin family of the past. We must live frugally rather than enjoying the wealth we once had. If you truly want extra dishes, you could take out some of your private savings and have Auntie Li cook them for you."

"Your sister-in-law is right!"

A weak voice sounded from the doorway.

Everyone looked up to see Old Madam Qin being supported into the room by Nanny Ding. They all rose in unison to pay their respects.

"Grandmother."

"Greetings, Old Madam."

"Mother." Madam Wang stepped forward to support her, her voice filled with concern. "Why have you come?"

Old Madam Qin sat in the seat of honor, scanned the room, and spoke with an air of majesty. "If I didn't come, you would all forget that we are the Qin family, whose property was confiscated by the Emperor, and who ought to live with our heads bowed."

(End of Chapter)