Chapter 42: Chapter 44: Lying Low As One Should Chapter 42: Chapter 44: Lying Low As One Should “Chen Pi is your own brother, what kind of sister are you to call your own brother impatient?” Qin Liuxi playfully scolded, saying: “If it had been in the past, both of you could keep up, but now, with such a large group of people in the family who have just arrived not long ago, and with things not yet settled both inside and out, you should help the Lady at home keep an eye on things.”
Qi Huang said: “What sort of person is the Lady, surrounded by capable nannies as she is? Where would she need me? Without me, the Lady could still arrange everything properly. On the contrary, you shouldn’t be without a single maid at your side. Miss, why don’t we buy a couple more maids for their service? We’re not lacking this bit of silver, after all. I plan to follow you closely, I do not wish to handle the affairs of the Chief of Internal Affairs.”
Qin Liuxi teased: “Yo, even the Grand Steward is not willing to do the work? Are you, like your Family Head, not striving for improvement?”
“Following you is my greatest progress,” Qi Huang retorted with slight annoyance. “In my heart, you are my master. How could I leave your side and go serve others instead? Wouldn’t that be getting things backwards?”
“In that case, your master assigns you this task: for this period, stay with the Lady and get the household in order, inside and out. After that, you can follow by my side, inseparable. Does that work for you?”
Qi Huang glared at her.
“We can buy more maids, after all, problems that can be solved with silver are never big problems. But you also know the situation of the Qin family; after the confiscation and exile, this residence is only what the Old Lady could save when she begged for mercy, the remaining place for us to stay. To take a step back, the residence itself is not so important, but if people with intentions know that the Qin Family has returned to the old residence and are living a carefree life surrounded by servants, one black-hearted report, and can you imagine the consequences?”
Qin Liuxi, stroking the rim of the teacup, said: “The Qin family’s disaster was someone’s plot. Once someone with intentions investigates and finds out that, after confiscation, the family is still living comfortably, it’s like ignoring imperial power, a ready-made handle to use against us. What would the Emperor on the dragon throne think when he learns of this? What might occur to him when a whispering advisor reminds him, could his leniency be the reason the Qin family dares so much?”
Qi Huang pursed her lips in silence.
“No one likes having their power and prestige challenged and despised, especially the Emperor. An affront to imperial power is absolutely intolerable. If the Emperor can’t tolerate you, there are plenty of reasons to deal with you, and that could lead to total disaster.” Qin Liuxi said: “The Qin family is still in the eye of the storm; it’s best not to flaunt ourselves and instead keep a low profile, biding our time until this wave passes and we become unnoticeable, and only then may we have a chance at a comeback.”
Qi Huang said: “With you here, how low-profile can the Qin family be?”
“You’re really jinxing me,” Qin Liuxi huffed lightly. “That’s why it’s right that I’m not striving for a higher status, in order to maintain a low profile.”
“So we’re resigned to a life of hardship and self-denial?”
“That’s not acceptable.” Who could bear the hardship? If not, what’s the meaning of living?
Qi Huang felt helpless; it was a case of ‘Officials can start fires, but the common man can’t even light a lamp.’
“Let’s leave it at that. Stay with the Lady for now, and you may also give her some suggestions. The Lady and the Old Lady are just keeping these people in check, that should be quite enough, food and drink also won’t be lacking from them.”
“For a servant like me, what right do I have to advise a housewife? You should be the one to speak. That great lady seems to have plans to go out and find some work for herself!”
“The Grand Aunt of mine?” Qin Liuxi raised her eyebrows slightly.
“Miss, the Madam requests your presence,” came a voice from outside the door.