The third branch was currently run by the female members of the family, so most of the condolences from the noble families of Qianzhong Circuit were from their female representatives. This small hall had clearly been set up in the last two days, and the furnishings within were certainly not something a fallen third branch could afford.
As for the tea, pastries, and fruits served to guests, they were likely purchased by the servants of the Qiu estate. Even the maids, matrons, and young servants, including the cooks, had been temporarily assigned from the Qiu estate by Madam Wu, ensuring that no faux pas would be made in front of the mourners.
"Miss Zhan, this way please." Madam Xu tried her best to suppress her smile. After all, the family was in mourning, and no matter how much she wished to curry favor with Zhan Feiyu, she couldn't appear overly cheerful.
Madam Wu, accompanied by Granny Dong and her head maid, also emerged. Unlike Madam Xu's overly eager demeanor, Madam Wu wore a gentle smile, her bearing graceful and composed.
Zhan Feiyu had met Madam Wu once before when she visited the Qiu estate. However, Zhan Feiyu had first gone to Lord Qiu's study, and her visit to the inner chambers afterward felt more like a formality. She had only stayed for about fifteen minutes, conversing briefly with Madam Qiu.
Zhan Feiyu bowed first, "First Madam."
After a round of polite greetings, Zhan Feiyu set down her teacup and looked at Qiu Jingyuan, who sat beside her with a pale complexion. "Miss Qiu, please accept my condolences."
Despite her attempts at composure, Zhan Feiyu could still sense the resentment in Qiu Jingyuan's bloodshot eyes. It seemed she blamed Zhan Feiyu for her mother's death.
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Zhan. My father's fate is unknown, and my mother is now gone... I am all alone and miserable. I might as well have gone with my mother..." Before she could finish, Qiu Jingyuan lowered her head, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief and weeping silently.
Madam Wu remained silent, but Madam Xu's eyes flashed with annoyance. Jingyuan had been so proud and arrogant before. Now, she was good at playing the victim, crying to every female visitor.
Thinking of the strange looks from many of the official ladies, Madam Xu wished she could slap Qiu Jingyuan a few times. With her words, outsiders would think that she, as her aunt, was mistreating and tormenting Qiu Jingyuan, her niece!
Seeing that Zhan Feiyu's expression was calm, Madam Xu finally relaxed a little. She then got up and walked to Qiu Jingyuan's side, gently stroking her head in comfort.
"Jingyuan, you still have your brother Mo Ge'er, and your paternal aunt. Girls should be pampered. No matter how poor the family becomes in the future, your aunt will not let you suffer. Don't cry anymore; it will hurt your eyes."
Qiu Jingyuan didn't answer, her head bowed. She tightly twisted the tear-soaked handkerchief in her hand. She truly hated Zhan Feiyu!
The news of Madam Dou's death reaching home was no less than a bolt from the blue for Qiu Jingyuan. After crying at the yamen and then again at Xiang family's well, she returned home and lay on her bed, feeling only darkness ahead.
However, when rumors outside the hall claimed that her cousin Qiu Huaixin had forced her mother to her death, Qiu Jingyuan's tear-swollen eyes suddenly blazed with excitement.
Her mother was dead, and she was alone. As for Mo Ge'er, her so-called younger brother, he had been adopted by her mother for less than a month. Qiu Jingyuan couldn't be bothered about his fate. Her thoughts were on using this incident to seek refuge with the Qiu family.
If she could be raised by her cousin-in-law, she would be a legitimate daughter of the Qiu family. Then, she wouldn't have to worry about her marriage in a few years. Perhaps her aunt would even prepare a generous dowry for her.
But before Qiu Jingyuan could make any plans, news arrived from the yamen early the next morning: her mother had not died accidentally but had been murdered, and the killer had been apprehended by the Imperial Guards. Qiu Jingyuan felt as if struck by lightning again.
If her mother hadn't been forced to death by her third cousin, how could she seek refuge with the Qiu family using this as leverage? Seeing Zhan Feiyu, the meddling "enemy," Qiu Jingyuan wished she could pounce on her and tear her apart. Why should Zhan Feiyu, who lived a good life and was pampered, obstruct her!
"Jingyuan, your aunt is right. Although your mother is gone, you still have elders in the third branch. You need not worry about the future," Madam Wu also spoke to comfort her, her gentle brows showing a hint of apology as she looked at Zhan Feiyu. "Please forgive Miss Qiu, Zhan. Jingyuan is overcome with grief and has lost her composure."
If Qiu Jingyuan resented Zhan Feiyu for blocking her path, then Madam Wu felt the same!
Accused of causing the death of an elder, her third brother's future was ruined. He would either manage the family's miscellaneous affairs, go into business, or live a life of leisure with no worries about sustenance.
But no matter which path Qiu Huaixin chose, Madam Wu could have been at ease. Moreover, with a father bearing such a notorious reputation, it would be more difficult for her third brother's children to pursue official careers compared to ordinary scholars.
However, before Madam Wu could be happy for two days, the Imperial Guards caught the killer. Madam Dou was murdered, and Qiu Huaixin's name was cleared.
Not only could Madam Wu not be angry, but she also had to pretend to be overjoyed within the estate. If not for her excellent self-control, she would surely be like Qiu Jingyuan now, seeing Zhan Feiyu as a thorn in her side!
"First Madam, you are too kind. Miss Qiu has not been impolite in any way." Zhan Feiyu replied, but her overly calm expression made it clear to anyone that she was merely speaking out of politeness.
Qiu Jingyuan was indeed pitiful. Her father was imprisoned, and her mother had died tragically. In the Great Qing Dynasty, with her status, even with her paternal uncle Lord Qiu, Qiu Jingyuan's marriage prospects would be difficult. Commoners would likely be unwilling to marry the daughter of a criminal official.
In the future, Qiu Jingyuan's marriage would be limited to merchants. Even if she had money, for Qiu Jingyuan, her cousins from collateral branches would marry officials, and Madam Wu and her cousins-in-law would all be wives of officials. She alone would be a lowly merchant's wife, and she would have to bow and scrape to them in the future, as would her children. Qiu Jingyuan would surely be unwilling.
"First Cousin, Aunt, I will... I will go to the back to wash up." Qiu Jingyuan raised her red-rimmed eyes. Seeing Madam Wu nod in agreement, she turned to Zhan Feiyu and said, "Could I trouble Miss Zhan to accompany me? I fear the killer who murdered my mother might also target me."
Madam Wu and Madam Xu couldn't help but be taken aback. Regardless of whether Madam Dou's death was an accident or murder, they had privately speculated on the reasons. Perhaps it was the Qiu family's enemies, with the aim of attacking Lord Qiu by framing Qiu Huaixin.
As for openly attempting to kill Qiu Jingyuan, both Madam Wu and Madam Xu felt it was unlikely. Qiu Jingyuan clearly wanted to speak with Zhan Feiyu in private.
Zhan Feiyu stood up. "Miss Qiu, there's no need to be so polite. I will accompany you. Ah Nuan, you come too."
Since Zhan Feiyu agreed, Madam Wu naturally wouldn't stop them. She watched as they left. Hearing the funeral music and firecrackers sound again from the front, she couldn't help but glance at Madam Xu.
"I'll go to the front to take a look. I'll trouble Sining to look after Jingyuan here." Although Madam Xu held a higher seniority, Madam Wu would be the mistress of the Qiu estate in the future. Madam Xu, as the aunt of the third branch, dared not presume. Even if she still wanted to talk to Zhan Feiyu, she could only leave for now.
After Madam Xu left with her maid, Granny Dong, who was serving them, poured a cup of fresh tea. "Madam, have some tea to moisten your throat. There's still much to be done these days."
Madam Xu could handle the reception of female guests of ordinary status. However, for those official ladies who held imperial titles, their visits were also for the Qiu family and Lord Qiu, a second-rank official. Therefore, only Madam Wu could receive them, and this kind of social interaction was indeed tiring for her.
After drinking a couple of sips of tea, Madam Wu glanced towards the back. "Granny, what do you think Jingyuan is planning?"
"Miss Jingyuan used to not even pay attention to Madam. Now she knows how to plan for herself," Granny Dong said with a displeased tone when mentioning Qiu Jingyuan.
Before the third branch encountered trouble, since Qiu Jingyuan was the only daughter of Qiu Bingde's generation, although other branches had daughters, they were distantly related by blood, exceeding five degrees of kinship. Thus, Qiu Jingyuan became the eldest young lady of the Qiu family.
Although the third branch and the main lineage were in constant conflict, the power struggles between the men did not involve the young ladies. Especially since Qiu Jingyuan was young, and Qiu Huaixin was seven or eight years older than her. This led Qiu Jingyuan to be so pampered that she didn't even respect Madam Wu, her cousin-in-law.
After all, Madam Wu was a daughter-in-law of the Qiu family, while Qiu Jingyuan was a daughter of the Qiu family. Coupled with Qiu Jinyu, who was the most talented scholar in Qianzhong Circuit, Qiu Jingyuan's behavior became increasingly arrogant. However, she dared not do anything to Madam Wu, only finding an excuse to slap Granny Dong.
Madam Wu was furious at the time, but Qiu Jingyuan was still young then, just a child. Granny Dong advised Madam Wu to hold back, but both mistress and servant remembered this grudge.
Now, using Madam Dou's funeral as an opportunity, and because Qiu Jingyuan had to keep vigil, Granny Dong subtly caused Qiu Jingyuan to suffer many disadvantages. Her knees had already been bruised and swollen from kneeling.
If there were any mistakes with the medication, Qiu Jingyuan, being young now, wouldn't notice. But when she reached Granny Dong's age, her knees would likely ache.