Xiao Dong reluctantly moved over, but Qin Wan, seeing he was just a child, said, "Brother Heng, you’re being more and more unreasonable. If you couldn’t manage, you should have called for a nanny to help, instead of troubling a half-grown child."
Xiao Dong then stood still, smiling mischievously at Qin Heng, his eyes full of mockery.
Qin Heng hastily explained, "I just wanted him to check on Brother-in-law’s head issue. Brother-in-law is lying there, who knows what might happen!"
Qin Wan remained silent.
Qin Heng urged, "Xiao Dong, quickly help check if there’s anything wrong with my Brother-in-law."
Xiao Dong, originally unwilling to treat Lin Ziqi, immediately responded sternly, "Doctors don’t pay house calls. Brother Heng, every profession has its rules. If I break them now and my master finds out, I won’t earn respect in the future, and I’ll ruin my reputation as a future divine doctor."
He put on a small serious face, hands behind his back, speaking with great maturity.
Qin Wan still said nothing.
Qin Heng, annoyed, said, "Alright, alright, I got it, it’s just the Emperor isn’t anxious yet, but the eunuch is, I really am over worrying."
Xiao Dong laughed, "Isn’t there still Sai Bianque? You’re worried no one will treat him? Besides, digging into others’ corners is not a gentleman’s act."
"Right, right, right," Qin Heng summoned a guard to help lift Lin Ziqi, and said with a bitter smile, "I didn’t understand the rules, my fault. Xiao Dong, you’re generous, please don’t be mad at me. I’ll be more careful in the future."
Qin Wan ignored the bickering, bowed with a smile to everyone, and said, "I’ll apologize with my husband later."
She was then surrounded by nannies and maids, following Qin Heng and the others, and got onto the carriage.
Qin Heng said, "Second Sister, today’s events are really Brother-in-law’s fault. Although others schemed first, his behavior suggests even his mother might not be good, I fear your future days will be hard."
Qin Wan initially thought Qin Heng was being unfair for their father, but realizing his concern for her situation, her heart warmed, and she forced a smile, "He made such a mistake, does he still want to dominate me? My father, sister, and brother-in-law are not to be underestimated."
"Exactly! It’s not shameful to rely on a pillar of support, not everyone has such a strong leg to hold onto."
Seeing his sister no longer stubbornly competing with their eldest sister, Qin Heng felt relieved and shared his insight, "If I didn’t know how to rely on support, how could I possibly be studying at the Imperial College considering my academic and personal talents?"
Qin Wan replied, "That’s a matter of being born into the right family!"
Qin Heng said, "Being born into the right family is thanks to father’s strong support, wouldn’t you agree?"
"Yes, yes, yes," Qin Wan replied irritably, turning her face to signal the nannies to settle Lin Ziqi.
Qin Heng said, "If it weren’t for Eldest Sister marrying Eldest Brother-in-law, how could I rely on Sister Baozhu’s support to shine in the Hong Society? Who doesn’t know my good name after today’s ball game?"
"What? Does the ball society have something to do with Gu Baoshu?" Qin Wan raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
Qin Heng realized he misspoke, and said, "Anyway, I’m going to keep holding onto Sister Baozhu’s support, and Eldest Sister’s support too. With Eldest Sister and Eldest Brother-in-law around, even father isn’t worried I’ll be poor and hungry in the future."
Qin Wan dropped her face, "So you’re looking down on me for marrying a poor scholar, is that it? Father and mother haven’t despised me, but you do! Ha! I haven’t eaten a single meal from you, rest assured, even if begging, I won’t come to your door.
Unbelievable, my own brother looks down on people based on appearance."
Qin Heng was choked up, veins stood out on his forehead, eyes wide, "You’re the one who bites Lu Dongbin, unable to recognize a good heart. I think about you everywhere, worry about your future, and you say that about me.
All you care for, while Eldest Sister treats me so well, yet I’m still closer to you, what do I gain from this?"
Getting angrier, he jumped off the wagon and ran off.
"Hey, hey, stop," Qin Wan called twice, but seeing him run away without a care, she too was annoyed, sat down heavily, and her stomach started hurting again.
Bai He hurried to support her, saying, "Miss, you also got anxious. Young Master really has good intentions, why is it that when it comes to you, it’s never right."
Qin Wan said nothing, waited for the stomach cramps to pass, then pounded the embroidered cushion below her and complained, "How was he well-intentioned? He just wanted a kid to treat his brother-in-law, and what Xiao Dong said made me want to laugh, acting all grown-up.
Those who know say he has no sense, those who don’t would say he’s treating brother-in-law’s health as a joke.
Now he talks about relying on support, if not for my forced marriage change..."
Before finishing, Bai He’s mother coughed heavily, and said, "Let’s go to the clinic first. Later when everyone leaves for the grand review, it won’t be easy to go."
Bai He also knew she was being forward, glanced outside and said, "Miss, let’s leave earlier, or it’ll be hard to leave later. You’ve been out for so long tonight, you should get a peaceful pulse for peace of mind."
Qin Yuan weakly nodded.
Their carriage then slowly retreated, with Qin Heng all the way furious, until halfway when he met Xiao Dong waiting, forced a smile, and said, "Why are you waiting for me here?"
Xiao Dong glanced a few times, "Isn’t it for fear you’re mad at me and wouldn’t want to get along well with me in the future."
Qin Heng grinned, "How could I be that petty?"
Xiao Dong said, "Then why are you so upset, your sister gave you trouble?"
Qin Heng couldn’t help but complain, "I really fed my good intentions to the donkey’s liver, Brother-in-law’s head issue is so serious, if you and your master stepped in, it’d definitely be better.
If Sai Bianque was effective, it wouldn’t be dragging on like this?
But my sister insists I’m just a child who doesn’t understand.
Even that being said, I just worry about her future, mentioned relying on support, she turns her back and scolds me for looking down on people based on appearances, even says she won’t beg at my door if she’s in need."
Xiao Dong’s eyes turned, immediately understanding, this must be stirred by Qin Yuan, but didn’t point it out, only said, "Since Sai Bianque is treating Brother-in-law’s head issue, no need to change people. My master now has an order from the Ministry of War of the Secretariat, too busy.
As for me, you know, I’ve got quite a few things on me, and haven’t even graduated yet."
Since his senior sister didn’t take action, they naturally wouldn’t either.
Lin Ziqi’s character is low; it’d be good if he suffers!
Qin Heng nodded, "It won’t happen again, rest assured, I’ll bear some grievances, what else do I expect being her brother, this time unknown, next time I won’t drag you into it."
The two chatted, Qin Heng felt a lot more relaxed, thinking of the arrangements by Gu Baoshu, pulled Xiao Dong towards Ranxiang Inn.
Halfway through, they were suddenly caught up in a scattered crowd, then heard some scholars walking past saying, "With smiling beauties all over the dike, it can’t compare to the dignity of twelve golden hairpins, truly young master Nantang is unmatched."