After hearing about the situation there from Daiyu, the Old Madam raised her eyebrows.

Living like that and still trying to save herself—that temperament had to be called tenacious.

She had been particular about dignity and grandeur her whole life, yet fate gave her such an ending with a crooked face and twisted mouth. This had to be called ironic.

But did she really not know that continuing like this would make the Jia family’s hearts even more chaotic?

Allowing them to fight, when she passed—

Perhaps… she didn’t care.

——

The date of the provincial examination drew closer and closer. Lin Ruhai frequently gave Da Chun extra tutoring.

Though his natural talent wasn’t great, he had one advantage—he was fairly diligent.

He might not write essays that would amaze the chief examiner, but as long as his writing had substance, passing with some ranking wasn’t impossible.

It was precisely because Lin Ruhai was so dedicated that the Silin Gioro family didn’t have such strong opinions about Ying Yu.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the examination. The Old Madam closed herself in the prayer hall and wouldn’t come out. Only after the examination ended did she have someone make inquiries.

Every examination had people who met with accidents—perhaps falling ill, perhaps having their spirits broken from too great a shock. Until she could safely see the person, she wouldn’t be at ease.

After finishing the exam, it was an anxious wait for results.

At this time, Yun Shuyao heard a maid say Concubine Mei had requested she come over. Yun Shuyao was puzzled: “What did Concubine Mei say?”

The maid also didn’t know.

Recently, aside from Da Chun’s situation, there wasn’t much else, was there?

Yun Shuyao put down her brush: “Then let’s go see.”

For someone who didn’t have many days left, Yun Shuyao still had patience.

Having languished in her sickbed for so long, Concubine Mei was very haggard, thin as a skeleton. Little remained of her former beauty.

Concubine Mei leaned there, looking at Concubine Yun on whom time seemed to have stopped, her eyes filled with unstoppable envy.

A healthy body, still beautiful appearance—how wonderful.

“Cough, cough, you’ve come. Please sit.”

She was very polite: “Someone, bring the best tea.”

Watching her gasp for air after just a short sentence, Yun Shuyao imperceptibly furrowed her brow: “No need. You know I don’t care for tea. If you have something to say, just say it.”

If it was to reminisce, they could skip that. They were just ordinary colleagues with a competitive relationship. There was nothing to reminisce about.

Concubine Mei: “Everyone leave first.” At these words, the other attendants withdrew one by one and closed the door.

Yun Shuyao remained impassive.

But Concubine Mei fell silent, only after a good while looking at her and laughing twice: “I thought I wasn’t inferior to you. I never imagined that in the end I’d become like this while you became Madam Yun.”

An imperial mandate.

For her to receive an imperial mandate, only if her son achieved great merit would there be some possibility. She had thought so much about it—if she had a son, how to raise him, how to make the child accomplished. In the end, it all came to nothing!

“I didn’t lose. It’s just that my luck… wasn’t as good as yours.” Concubine Mei gasped again.

In these words was complete unwillingness.

If her luck had been good and her first child was a son, what would Yun Shi matter? What would Chen Yu matter?

The child she bore would be the eldest son!

Holding such great expectations, but it was a daughter. To claim the eldest son’s position, she had even been ruthless with herself and induced early labor. In the end, it was useless.

Not only a daughter but a daughter with poor health. Moreover, after spending several years nurturing her body, there had still been no good news.

Fate was unfair!

The second time, after so long she was pregnant again. This time her luck was even worse—the child was lost before reaching full term, and her own body… was also ruined!

She could feel it herself—she could eat less and less, her energy grew shorter and shorter.

She didn’t have many days left!

Concubine Mei felt fear and anxiety about this approaching death. Now looking at Yun Shi… truly enviable.

“You… have the signs of longevity. You can still live for a long time.” Concubine Mei smiled bitterly, sorrow on her face: “While I—I don’t have much time left.”

Yun Shi could not only live but had sons and daughters, grandchildren, and was respected at home. Even that lofty Old Madam had acknowledged her.

No matter how dissatisfied she herself was, she had completely failed. Now she was dying, beyond treatment, but she couldn’t let go of Ying Yu.

Her son-in-law now had feelings of affection for Ying Yu, but how long could these feelings last?

If her daughter remained childless, when she aged and lost her beauty in the future, would the Silin Gioro family still have a place for Ying Yu?

She wasn’t at ease.

If that happened, her natal family would be too important for her daughter! As long as she had natal family support behind her, she could get by!

So now she lowered her head to Yun Shuyao, her posture very humble: “In the future, you can just wait to enjoy your blessings. Chen Yu is accomplished—in the future he’ll surely be a high official like the master. Luo Yu is a prince’s Ce Fujin. In the future her son will certainly have a title—the position of heir apparent isn’t impossible either. Hah…” Her voice grew lower and lower. Saying so much in one breath, she couldn’t catch her breath.

Hearing this, Yun Shuyao already knew what she wanted to say. She watched her quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Concubine Mei smiled, looking at her face, but suddenly changed direction: “…I used to really dislike you. That high and mighty manner of yours was truly hateful.”

Yun Shuyao was surprised: High and mighty?

Did this term relate to her?

Concubine Mei pulled at the corner of her mouth: “In your eyes, I didn’t exist. The things I said—if someone else heard them they’d get angry. And you? The way you looked at me, sometimes it was like I was some ignorant child.”

“Later I felt that wasn’t being high and mighty—you wanted to be like a Daoist immortal, aloof from worldly concerns. Equally hateful. You didn’t consider me a threat.” This had made her very angry then!

Yun Shuyao: So that’s how you saw me. Well… not entirely wrong.

Aside from a few provocative remarks, Concubine Mei really hadn’t done anything to her. Whether from fear of the Old Madam or other reasons, the result was just that.

Concubine Mei couldn’t help but chuckle: “That’s exactly that kind of look. You… are a woman without a heart.”

“You often smile, but I’ve never seen you angry. If it weren’t for that one time when Luo Yu and Chen Yu were naughty and played by the pond and you scolded them, I’d have suspected you had some illness.”

Yun Shuyao: “…”

That’s called a polite smile, thank you.

I haven’t shown you when I’m usually angry or depressed. Of course you wouldn’t know.

“What do you want to tell me?” Yun Shuyao wanted to sigh.

If she hoped she could look after Ying Yu, why was she now speaking ill of her?

Concubine Mei fell silent. She had said a bit too much, but she felt that if she didn’t say it now, she probably wouldn’t have another chance.

Concubine Mei felt somewhat dejected and somewhat sad. Silent for quite a while, she finally returned to the topic. This time she was more direct: “Can you help me look after Ying Yu? She’s also a child you watched grow up. I won’t ask for your help for nothing—I still have quite a few things.” Most she would leave to her daughter. The rest would serve as bargaining chips.

Luo Yu and her daughter had the best relationship. The two sisters were close in age, often studied together, and had deep affection. If her daughter had problems, she wouldn’t ignore them—it was just that she wasn’t legitimate enough.

Chen Yu was legitimate enough, but after age seven he studied separately from her daughter. There weren’t as many opportunities for interaction, and their feelings were fairly ordinary.

Moreover, the eldest young mistress married in later and had never spent time with her daughter at all. Would she be dedicated for her daughter’s sake? To her, the closest younger sister-in-law was only Luo Yu, then Daiyu. Daiyu had the legitimate position—only her own daughter suffered most.

While the master was still here, if her daughter didn’t fare well he wouldn’t stand by and watch. But after the master passed, it would depend on Chen Yu and Yun Shi.

She knew Yun Shi didn’t like her, and she didn’t like her either. It was just that now there were no other options.

As long as she was willing to care a bit more for Ying Yu, these two people would also follow suit and care more.

Thinking of this, Concubine Mei took out a wooden box she’d prepared long ago from beside her pillow: “Rest assured, I’m not so unrealistic as to demand you must do certain things. How she fares is just changing a possibility. If in the future… she encounters any difficulties, you can give her some guidance.”

Parents plan far ahead for their children. In Yun Shuyao’s mind right now, there was only this phrase.

Concubine Mei was sending her silver. She also understood her somewhat—she knew that if she made strong demands or forced her to agree, the possibility of Yun Shuyao refusing was higher. Therefore, Concubine Mei took a step back.

Lowered her head, spoke of her pitiful state.

If she’d had such a good brain before, she wouldn’t have been so brash for so many years.

Yun Shuyao took it: “I understand.” If she didn’t accept it, Concubine Mei would be uneasy. Now that she accepted it, she could just send it to Ying Yu later.

Her feelings toward this colleague were neutral, but she had no prejudice toward Ying Yu who grew up with her daughter. That was a well-behaved, quiet young lady, different from her mother… Now in this situation, she was mostly implicated by her birth mother.

Seeing she had accepted it, Concubine Mei felt at ease.

Then Concubine Mei began coughing, cough cough cough cough… a continuous string she couldn’t stop. The maids waiting outside were frightened and called out. Yun Shuyao had them come in to give her medicine, then left.

Concubine Mei felt her life was short, so she planned for her daughter, adding a bit of confidence for Ying Yu’s remaining years. Though unnecessary, it was understandable. If Ying Yu were bullied, Chen Yu originally wouldn’t stand by and watch either—that would slap the Lin family’s face, the faces of other Lin family married young ladies.

At this time it was inconvenient for Ying Yu to come over. Yun Shuyao didn’t have it sent over either, but first set it aside to wait for news of the provincial examination.

Once they knew the results, Ying Yu would come over sooner or later.

Learning the results, the Old Madam repeatedly said: “That was close! That was close!”

Da Chun had passed the provincial examination—dead last.

It was somewhat embarrassing to mention, but he was genuinely a provincial graduate now.

He was still young, only in his early twenties. The metropolitan examination—it wasn’t impossible to strive for it.

“Crack, pop, bang…” Outside the Lin household gate, firecrackers were also set off. The joyous atmosphere hadn’t yet dispersed when the next day another piece of good news arrived: “Luo Yu has given birth!”