My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

Chapter 713 - Capítulo 713: 697: Prevention Beforehand

Capítulo 713: Chapter 697: Prevention Beforehand

The Song Family stating that Song Yu Yan and her sister cannot return if they go back left Qin Meiniang so shocked that she even forgot to cry.

Mrs. Wang, being the housekeeper, quickly grasped the meaning behind Qin Liuxi’s words and her brows deeply furrowed with worry.

Qin Liuxi looked at Song Yu Yan and said, “As I recall, apart from you and Yuqing, you only have two brothers, right?”

Song Yu Yan nodded.

“In plain words, the Song Family must have been out of their minds to have given you both to your aunt to bring back. Otherwise, you’d probably be getting married soon,” Qin Liuxi lowered her gaze, said with irony, “To raise a girl to this age then just let her go—whether kept for marriage to someone, that alliance would help your maternal family.”

Her words were indeed venomous and full of sarcasm, and everyone present understood her point all too well.

Indeed, Song Yu Yan was already of the age to discuss marriage. Although her father was a legitimate son from a concubine and her status wasn’t as good as her other cousins, being a legitimate daughter still counted for something. Even if she couldn’t marry into a powerful and prestigious household as a legitimate wife, she could still become a concubine or be part of a continue-marriage arrangements; at worst, marrying a minor official would still be an alliance.

Yet, the Song Family had expelled Qin Meiniang and even driven out two marriageable girls, wasting two good alliances—wasn’t that simply insane?

Song Yu Yan was already panicking. She asked, “So, you’re saying if they ask us sisters to return for the funeral, we’d actually be forced to stay there?”

“People always seek benefits. Both of you sisters are beautiful; whom could you not bring advantages to by marrying? Think from the Song Family’s perspective; if you were them, what would you do? If they really cared for you, why would they abandon you?” Qin Liuxi’s voice was cold.

Song Yu Yan’s face grew even paler. She wasn’t foolish; with their mother divorced, it was impossible for them to re-enter the Song Family for the funeral. It would just be them, sisters, and without their father or mother, wouldn’t they just be at the mercy of others?

She had reached the age of coming of age, and her marriage could be decided at any moment. The Song Family, motivated by profit, could ‘sell’ her for a good price rather than seek a suitable match for her.

“Mother.” Song Yu Yan, somewhat frightened, rushed to Qin Meiniang’s side, her voice choked.

Qin Meiniang was also panicked and looked at Qin Liuxi, “Is what you said true? Initially, it was that vile woman who feared the sisters would dilute her own daughter’s dowry, and clung to their deceased father to drive them out. Now they want them back? No way.”

She held Song Yu Yan tightly, grinding her teeth in anger, though not having received any confirmed news yet, but she was already convinced that Song Liyang, that doomed wretch, was dead.

Qin Liuxi continued, “People come to their senses eventually. With the man of the house gone, leaving only the widowed mother and children, of course, they’d try to pull in as much help as possible, like marriages. With the sons still young, they can only rely on the daughters. In the worst-case scenario, they can still collect a substantial betrothal gift—it’s a guaranteed profit.”

“They dream!” Qin Meiniang’s grip on Song Yu Yan tightened, her voice growing shrill with agitation.

Mrs. Wang, with a serious face, said, “Xi’er’s analysis is not wrong. If Song Liyang really is deceased, the Song Family might indeed do such a thing.”

Humans are self-serving, and the Song Yu Yan sisters, bearing the Song surname, are Song Family women. Given the Song’s heartless nature, selling them for benefits is not beyond them.

Qin Meiniang’s face paled.

Mrs. Xie looked at Qin Liuxi with a complex expression and asked, “Haven’t you been raised in the Daoist Temple since you were little? How are you so familiar with these schemes of the inner house?”

Qin Liuxi looked at her with an expression that read, ‘I’m not as naive as you.’

Mrs. Xie huffed angrily.

The future of Song Yu Yan and her sister darkened at the mention of Qin Liuxi, overshadowing the grief of their father’s death. Compared to having an emotionally detached and abandoning scumbag father pass away, what frightened her most was having her life controlled by others. If she truly had to return to the Song Family, it would feel like entering a pit of fire.

“Mum, what should we do?” Song Yu Yan’s face was filled with despair, not really caring about marrying late, but she didn’t want to be treated like merchandise, randomly ‘sold’ to someone with an unknown background. Who knows what kind of person they could be?

Mrs. Xie then said, “What can we do? Meet force with force and cover water with earth. It’s not to that point yet; perhaps Miss Xi miscalculated…ahem.”

Qin Liuxi chuckled, “It turns out the second aunt can also show off her literary flair. When that time truly comes, it might be difficult to get off the tiger’s back.”

Mrs. Gu said, “Yu Yan and her sister are after all legitimate daughters; if the Song Family truly sends someone to report the death, it wouldn’t be easy for them not to return. Once they return, we won’t be able to protect them anymore. By then, it will be too late. But if they don’t return, the enormous pressure of being unfilial will weigh them down.”

Mrs. Xie curled her lip.

Qin Meiniang’s head felt a bit numb.

“To avoid being manipulated, take control beforehand. This isn’t actually hard. First, the great aunt could take Yu Yan and the others to remarry, even changing their last names. Secondly, setting up a female house isn’t difficult; since the Song Family abandoned them first, you, great aunt, take the initiative to set up a female household, preparing the paperwork to have them take Qin as their surname. Once this is dealt with, even if they return to the Song Family to mourn, those trying to manipulate their marital affairs can’t bypass you, their mother.”

This, changing their surnames, this means cutting off their paternal family line. Quite ruthless.

Old Mrs. Qin looked at Qin Liuxi with a complicated gaze; this granddaughter was decisive and ruthless enough.

Qin Meiniang was taken aback, a female house under her surname?

She hadn’t considered remarriage before; firstly, there was no suitable partner, and secondly, her daughters were already of age, and she feared mistreating them.

But setting up a female house?

She was a divorced woman living in her maternal home out of necessity. With three nuns in the family and future nephews marrying, it was crowded. How could she still have the cheek to stay and live under scrutiny, not to mention the likelihood of conflicts arising?

Living together is easy, but cohabiting is hard, especially for a divorced old lady.

Thus, setting up her own female house was somewhat tempting.

Mrs. Wang pondered for a while, then said, “Xi’s proposal isn’t bad. Setting up a female house, having the children change their surname to follow you, even if the Song Family has ideas, they can’t do it. We need to guard against potential risks.”

“Is it good to change the surname?” Qin Meiniang looked down at Song Yu Yan.

Song Yu Yan clenched her teeth and said, “Mother, whether we are surnamed Song or Qin, we are with you. It was the Song Family who abandoned us first.”

“Fine. They show no kindness, and I shall not be unjust. Then I’ll set up a female house.” Qin Meiniang pursed her lips, her demeanor changing from previous weakness to firmness, and said, “If they dare to target you, I’ll risk my life if I must, to cause turmoil in their Song Family.”

Once decided, there should be no delay. Qin Liuxi took the route of Yu Qiucai and quickly helped the mother and daughters buy a small house, setting up a female house, and Song Yu Yan and her sisters took up the surname Qin Yuyan.

Just three days after they received their documentation, the Song Family indeed sent someone to report the death, asking Qin Yuyan and her sisters to come back to mourn, which made Qin Meiniang and her daughters respect and appreciate Qin Liuxi even more; even Mrs. Xie no longer dared to lose her temper in front of her.