The tense atmosphere in the room seemed to ease all at once with Fifth Young Mistress’s words. First Young Mistress covered her chest and let out a soft gasp. First Young Master and Fourth Young Master, their faces grave as water, exchanged several glances but said nothing.

Madam Xu’s expression was rather displeased. She let out a cold snort, but before she could speak, Fifth Young Master had already jumped up.

“Father!” He immediately knelt beside Duke Pingguo and kowtowed several times with resounding thuds. “In this matter I also—”

“You shut up!” Fifth Young Mistress’s expression changed instantly. She shoved Fifth Young Master hard, causing even this burly man to lose his balance and collapse to the ground. “You’re grown but completely useless, needing me to worry about everything behind your back. And now at this moment you want to play the hero? Bah! Xu Yu Jing, do you think you’re some hero from the opera stage? This has nothing to do with you, so don’t get involved!”

Madam Xu shifted her posture, the corners of her mouth turning up in a faint smile. She looked toward Seventh Miss, exchanged a glance with the Xu Fengjia couple, then turned her gaze to Duke Pingguo.

But Duke Pingguo’s face had clouded with anger. He said icily, “Enough! Do you think the Xu family’s reputation hasn’t been damaged enough?”

Xu Yu Jing slowly knelt upright again from the floor. He looked at Fifth Young Mistress with almost disbelief.

Fifth Young Mistress was also staring at Fifth Young Master with contempt and disdain. When their eyes met, Fifth Young Master seemed to be seeing Fifth Young Mistress for the first time. His body actually trembled visibly. After a moment’s pause, he said softly, “Father, I…”

But having spoken, he had nothing more to say.

Madam Xu stood up and surveyed everyone in the room. She took the initiative to ask, “Zhang Shi, do you know what crime you’re confessing to?”

A trace of proud smile appeared at the corners of Fifth Young Mistress’s lips. “I know very clearly.”

Duke Pingguo’s expression was solemn as he remained silent. Madam Xu continued, “You’ve already admitted that you bribed the Xiao family and ordered Little Songhua to poison and murder Shanli?”

Fifth Young Mistress raised her head. Looking at Madam Xu, she said very clearly, “Yes, everything was done by me of my own volition. I bribed Wu Xun’s family, embezzled public funds in secret, and fearing that Yang Shanli would audit the accounts, I administered wang bu liu xing and saffron after her childbirth, and ordered Qiu Zhi to tamper with things on the boat… All these matters, mentioned or not, were all arranged by me alone.”

Madam Xu suddenly cast a contemptuous glance at Fifth Young Master.

Fifth Young Master didn’t rise. He remained kneeling beside Fifth Young Mistress, but kept his head lowered without speaking. Only when Fifth Young Mistress mentioned Qiu Zhi’s name did he raise his head to look deeply at her.

Duke Pingguo suddenly interjected with a question, “Then why did you do this?”

In this question, even with all his efforts to conceal it, there was still deep confusion and incomprehension.

Fifth Young Mistress suddenly laughed. She gave Seventh Miss a look that even carried a trace of mockery, a hint of knowing teasing, as if to say: See, someone can actually ask such a stupid question.

Seventh Miss remained still as water, merely watching Fifth Young Mistress without saying a word, not even blinking.

She heard Fifth Young Mistress say, “When Wang Mang usurped Han, when Cao Pi proclaimed himself, when Zhao Kuangyin donned the yellow robe, did anyone ask them? It’s nothing more than—steal a hook and be executed, steal a kingdom and become a lord!”

These words from Fifth Young Mistress rang out with force, even creating clear echoes in the rafters of the study. Even Duke Pingguo and Madam Xu couldn’t help but be stunned.

Duke Pingguo looked at Madam Xu, then at Fifth Young Mistress. He let out a long sigh and sat back in his armchair, wearily rubbing his face.

“Wife, what do you think should be done?” It seemed that in this instant, all the authority and dignity surrounding Duke Pingguo had vanished. He was merely a weary, aging middle-aged man who couldn’t even speak loudly. This question was asked with shortness of breath and lacking conviction, the deep exhaustion within self-evident.

Madam Xu fixed her gaze on Fifth Young Mistress, her expression inscrutable. After a while, she slowly said, “The children are all grown now. We cannot handle this matter without asking their opinion. I think we should all sit down together and discuss a solution.”

Duke Pingguo forced himself to sit up straight. He gave a low acknowledgment, then instructed First Young Master, “Have someone put Zhang Shi under guard, but don’t be too discourteous to her… Just send her back to Shensi Hall.”

He glanced at Fifth Young Master and let out a soft snort. “Lock this unfilial son in the woodshed, and without my word, don’t let him out!”

Then he arranged for Seventh Miss and First Young Mistress, “This no longer concerns you both. Go back and rest.”

Though this matter’s truth had been uncovered by Seventh Miss, it was ultimately Xu family business. Duke Pingguo’s dismissal of Seventh Miss at this moment had far-reaching implications. Seventh Miss couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows, about to speak, when Xu Fengjia suddenly reached out and squeezed her hand.

Fine, with Xu Fengjia and Madam Xu present, the outcome certainly couldn’t be too perfunctory. In any case, the Fifth Branch’s ruin and disgrace was now set in stone. Even if Duke Pingguo wanted to sweep it all under the rug, setting aside Madam Xu and Xu Fengjia, she herself still had countless backup forces that now had justifiable cause to challenge the Fifth Branch.

Giving Duke Pingguo some face was also good.

Seventh Miss stood up, bowed farewell to Duke Pingguo and Madam Xu, and followed First Young Mistress out of the room.

As she passed Fifth Young Mistress, she lowered her head and glanced at her.

Fifth Young Mistress was also looking at her.

Her demeanor was calm, and there even seemed to be a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. Then she was helped up by two servant women and pushed out of the room ahead of the two young mistresses.

From beginning to end, Fifth Young Mistress appeared very compliant.

First Young Mistress and Seventh Miss stood for a while in front of Menghua Pavilion to let Fifth Young Mistress get ahead of them.

Though tonight’s confrontation had been sudden, it had proceeded smoothly with almost no obstacles. The cloud of suspicion that had hung over Duke Pingguo’s manor for three full years had dissipated overnight. But neither of them could possibly feel lighthearted.

First Young Mistress remained silent the whole way, only asking softly as they were about to part, “Sixth Sister-in-law, what do you think… how will they deal with her?”

Seventh Miss paused.

First Young Mistress’s question hit the crucial point. Now that the matter was settled, how to handle the Fifth Branch had become everyone’s focus of concern. Especially since the Fifth Branch had the Grand Dowager backing them… Though the old lady didn’t know yet, by tomorrow morning she would certainly receive word. Not to mention anything else, the matter of Fifth Young Master being locked in the woodshed certainly couldn’t be hidden from the old lady.

“That depends on what Fifth Sister-in-law plans to do to resolve this,” she answered tactfully. “You surely understood Father’s attitude tonight, didn’t you, Elder Sister-in-law?”

First Young Mistress immediately pressed her lips tight. Despite the hot weather, she couldn’t help trembling slightly.

The reason Duke Pingguo had been so urgent to set the tone for the entire affair was precisely to exonerate Fifth Young Master, or at least to leave everyone with the impression that Fifth Young Mistress had acted alone. His urgency, his anger—all hinted at his intentions. This subtext had been understood by Madam Xu, by Seventh Miss, by Fifth Young Mistress, but not by Fifth Young Master.

Or rather, Fifth Young Master had understood but was unwilling to acknowledge it.

Who would have thought that someone who usually seemed just a yes-man, so dissolute he couldn’t be relied on for anything, without a trace of ambition, would at this moment show some responsibility and refuse to let his wife bear all the blame alone…

First Young Mistress had probably thought of the same thing as Seventh Miss. She let out another low sigh and said softly, “Fifth Sister-in-law has always been a ruthless person. I wonder if she can be ruthless enough this time… Alas, what a pity for Fifth Brother, Yu and Hexian.”

Seventh Miss slowly acknowledged this, then added, “Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother’s mother can now rest in peace in heaven.”

Only when Seventh Miss mentioned her did First Young Mistress seem to remember Fifth Miss.

She became somewhat embarrassed and quickly said, “Yes, yes, of course.”

After a pause, she seemed to feel more emotion. “Alas, every family has its difficult scriptures to recite. When the Old Dowager learns of this tomorrow, I fear there will be more commotion. Sixth Sister-in-law should rest early!”

The two sisters-in-law parted in the corridor, each escorted by young maids carrying lanterns back to their quarters.

Perhaps sensing something, Lixia and the other maids like Shangyuan hadn’t rested at all. Instead, they had gathered in the west side room, cracking melon seeds and chatting together. Seeing Seventh Miss enter, they all rose to help her change clothes and undo her hair, then brought hot water to help Seventh Miss bathe.

Only after soaking in the steaming wooden tub did Seventh Miss feel her taut nerves gradually relax. She closed her eyes and slowly let out a sigh, as if trying to exhale all the weariness in her heart. Then she slowly opened her eyes again, letting Lixia scoop up hot water to pour over Seventh Miss’s head, then pick up bath beans for her to use.

“Fifth Sister’s matter finally has a resolution,” Seventh Miss said softly to Lixia while scrubbing herself.

Lixia was washing Seventh Miss’s hair with soapberry water. Hearing these words, her movements paused involuntarily.

Seventh Miss then recounted the whole sequence of events to Lixia in fits and starts.

She carried a trace of sarcasm. “This matter will certainly spread like wildfire starting tomorrow… You need to be prepared.”

Even though Lixia had always had some understanding of the entire affair, hearing the full sequence still made her gasp in amazement. After a long while, she said softly, “Fifth Miss’s unjust death has been avenged. This is a joyful matter. From today on, you have one less burden on your shoulders.”

Seventh Miss revealed a bitter smile. She said softly, “Yes, three years, so many lives… Finally there’s a resolution. And now, who knows how many more lives will be lost.”

She paused, then added, “Tomorrow I need to make a trip back to my natal family—I don’t know when I’ll be able to leave, so have the driver ready at all times to avoid delays from having to hitch the carriage at the last minute.”

Lixia nodded knowingly. The bathing room fell silent for a while before she asked in a low voice, “The Heir Apparent—”

“Fengjia is still at Menghua Pavilion. The brothers are with their parents, discussing how to handle the Fifth Branch.” A trace of mocking smile appeared at Seventh Miss’s lips. “This time, Father-in-law has encountered a difficult problem.”

Not to mention that recently the Fifth Branch had seemed to be rising again, with Fifth Young Mistress and the Grand Dowager energetically performing their double act, molding Fifth Young Mistress into an extremely virtuous household mistress. For such a thing to happen now—not only the Grand Dowager, even Duke Pingguo would lose considerable face. As for how to handle Fifth Young Master in a way that would satisfy the Sixth Branch, please Madam Xu, yet not overly grieve the Grand Dowager—this had become a major problem for Duke Pingguo. And naturally, no one could help him solve this problem. Even with Madam Xu and several sons present, their assistance would be better than nothing.

Though it was midsummer, after a while the water had gradually cooled. Seventh Miss rinsed her hair clean and leaned on Lixia to climb out of the tub. As she stood, her legs felt weak and she nearly couldn’t stand. She mocked herself, “After resolving this matter, I’m so relieved even my backbone has gone soft!”

Lixia laughed softly a few times, then asked, “What about the Xiao family—”

Seventh Miss made an affirmative sound. “The Xiao family, the Xiao family’s matter still has to fall on Mother-in-law.”

She felt somewhat amused and murmured in a low voice, “I promised Little Songhua that her whole family could avoid the death penalty. But in the future… they might wish they had died instead.”

Lixia let out a deep sigh. “You’re only human after all. How can you be thorough in everything? That this matter has reached today’s outcome is already your merit!”

Thinking of the countless innocent people who would be implicated, Seventh Miss also sighed deeply.

“I’m very curious about Fifth Sister-in-law’s mood right now,” she said softly. “With her intelligence, how could she not realize what kind of retaliation awaits the Fifth Branch and the Zhang family next.”

Without waiting for Lixia’s answer, she turned her head toward the window. “And does Fifth Sister-in-law regret it now?”

Through the gauze window, Seventh Miss’s gaze reached the clear summer night sky, where the Milky Way lay like a silvery white silk ribbon, twisting expressively in the night breeze.

Regardless of sorrows and joys, partings and reunions, from ancient times to now, people had gazed upon the same full moon, the same celestial river. The joys and sorrows beneath the heavens—after a hundred years, who would care? Even at this moment, sharing this same starry river, who could fathom what another person was thinking in their heart?

Fifth Young Mistress withdrew her gaze and unhurriedly signed her name at the end of the letter. She selected her private seal from the seal box beside her, breathed on it lightly, and pressed the red mark at the end.

She lifted the letter, blew on the wet ink marks, and handed it to Little Fuchun, whose face was covered in tear tracks, saying softly, “Fold it and put it away once it’s dry.”

Little Fuchun glanced at the little girl sleeping soundly on the beauty couch. Sobbing but not daring to cry aloud, she nodded and shakily took the letter, placing it under the paperweight to dry alongside several other identical small notes.

Fifth Young Mistress stretched lazily, counted on her fingers to ensure nothing was omitted, then stood and said, “It’s about time.”

Little Fuchun was thunderstruck. She straightened up suddenly, glancing at Hexian almost pleadingly, and said through her sobs, “This servant, this servant will wake Miss Hexian…”

Fifth Young Mistress’s gaze also followed Little Fuchun’s to land on Hexian.

At this moment, her eyes finally revealed a trace of reluctance.

“No need,” Fifth Young Mistress said next, turning her head away and saying in a deep voice, “She’s still young. If she sees me, she might blurt it out. That would make things even more awkward! Carry her out!”

Before Little Fuchun could move, she pressed on with another question, “Where is Liao Shi?”

“She’s been asleep long ago, and seems completely unaware of the commotion in the courtyard…” Little Fuchun carefully watched Fifth Young Mistress, saying softly, “Does Young Mistress mean…”

“Tell Fifth Young Master, if he’s still a man, the child in Liao Shi’s belly must not be kept!” Fifth Young Mistress said decisively. “Liao Shi herself cannot be kept either. He knows in his heart how to deal with her.”

Seeing Little Fuchun tremblingly acknowledge, Fifth Young Mistress couldn’t help but sigh again.

“You’ve served me for several years,” she softened her tone and rummaged through the miscellaneous items nearby, pulling out an exquisite small box. She casually opened it, grabbed a handful of jewelry from inside, and stuffed it into Little Fuchun’s hands. “Take these things to protect yourself. Even if Duke Pingguo has any punishment in store, at least you’ll be able to leave more comfortably.”

Little Fuchun’s tears immediately fell again. With trembling hands she accepted Fifth Young Mistress’s reward, contorting her lips into an ugly smile. “This servant… this servant thanks Young Mistress for the reward!”

As she spoke, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed several resounding times to Fifth Young Mistress.

Fifth Young Mistress revealed another cold smile. From beside the inkstone, she picked up a small dagger inlaid with gemstones. With a sharp ring, she drew the blade from its sheath, tested the dagger’s sharpness with her thumb, and said softly, “Don’t forget to arrange the last thing I’ve instructed you.”

Little Fuchun, tears streaming down her face, could only nod. “This servant, this servant will never fail Young Mistress…”

Fifth Young Mistress nodded and urged Little Fuchun, “Hurry and carry Hexian out!”

After Little Fuchun carried the half-asleep Hexian out and closed the door behind her, Fifth Young Mistress stood up and paced back and forth with lingering attachment before returning to sit at the table. With a reverse grip, she drove the blade into her heart without the slightest hesitation.