Shi Ting looked toward the two pomegranate trees behind the courtyard: “If this place were to be missing one of those trees, would it look out of place?”

Zheng Yun was momentarily taken aback, but quickly laughed: “One of them has gone years without flowering or bearing fruit — I’ve been wanting to chop it down for a while.”

The group made their way to the back courtyard as they spoke.

When Zheng Yun heard Shi Ting recount the matter of the venomous gu creature, he could not help but be astonished: “The world is indeed a vast place, full of wonders beyond imagining. So this instrument of harm actually truly exists — it’s fortunate it was discovered. If it had been used to harm someone, the consequences would have been dreadful.”

The two men came to stand beneath the pomegranate tree. Shi Ting studied it briefly and said: “I’ll have someone plant you a different tree in its place.”

Zheng Yun said: “This tree not bearing fruit is probably a climate issue. Bai Jin once told me that Bei Di is no place to grow pomegranate trees, but I refused to believe it and insisted on getting two to tend. The result was that the trees grew tall enough, but one won’t bear fruit and the other won’t flower. Since we’re digging today, might as well dig out both, and I’ll plant two apricot trees instead.”

The two men fetched tools, and before long had chopped down the trees and dug out the roots with spades.

Soaking the roots in water would yield what Grandma Liu had called pomegranate root water — seemingly plain and unremarkable, yet capable of countering the most vicious gu poison. As the saying goes, every poison has its antidote.

With the pomegranate root water prepared, Shi Ting gave Zheng Yun further instructions, after which the two of them returned to the Shi Mansion.

“Don’t tell Mother about this yet.” Shi Ting removed his outer coat and set it aside.

Yan Qing nodded: “I feel the same way. There’s no hurry to tell her until we’ve found out who is behind it all — no need to burden her with worry.”

After washing up, the two of them changed into dry sleepwear and lay down in each other’s arms.

After lying quietly for a moment, Yan Qing suddenly sat up.

Shi Ting looked at her: “What’s wrong?”

“I suddenly understand something.” Yan Qing propped her chin on her hand and gazed at him with bright, clear eyes. In the darkness, there was only a sliver of light, yet the lines of his face were remarkably clear.

“What is it?” Shi Ting took her hand and began to toy with it in his palm.

Yan Qing said: “I could never understand before why Shi Yutong would so suddenly begin targeting me at every turn. Now that I know about Bi Zhu, I finally see the cause and effect.”

She pulled a pillow into her arms, hugging it as she spoke: “The First Madam placed Bi Zhu in Mother’s courtyard right after San Yitai became pregnant. From the very start, the First Madam’s target was the child in San Yitai’s womb. San Yitai is favored, and if she were to give birth to a son, her position would become even more secure. That son, though he cannot inherit the Marshal’s seat, would, given the Marshal’s fondness for him, draw away no small share of the Shi family’s wealth and influence — something the First Madam could absolutely not tolerate.”

“The child in San Yitai’s womb is indeed, from the First Madam’s perspective, a ticking time bomb.” Shi Ting gazed into her eyes. “I had considered that the First Madam might make a move against the child, but I never imagined she could plan it so thoroughly.”

Yan Qing gave a hum of agreement: “The First Madam went to great lengths to find Bi Zhu and place her in Mother’s courtyard, all to bide her time waiting for the right moment. But having arranged Bi Zhu, she still needed a motive — a reason for Mother to want to harm San Yitai. There is no conflict of interest between Mother and San Yitai, and no grudge between them ordinarily. So how could she make it appear natural and justified for Mother to want to harm San Yitai? After I entered this household, the First Madam hit upon a plan: she would have Yan Qin stir up Shi Yutong, and then let Shi Yutong target me at every turn. Given Shi Yutong’s nature, she would inevitably cause an enormous uproar. Once the relationship between me and Shi Yutong had turned hostile, Mother would have a motive to frame San Yitai — namely, to avenge me. In Mother’s name.”

Shi Ting listened, and himself sat up from the bed. “What else has Shi Yutong done?”

Yan Qing blinked, knowing she could no longer conceal it, and told him about the incident with Shi Yutong releasing the venomous snake.

Shi Ting listened, and his eyes darkened involuntarily. “She really dared!”

These three words, he spoke through gritted teeth.

Yan Qing had had no intention of reporting this to him; on the contrary, to spare him worry and anger, she had kept it hidden all along.

Telling him now was merely to help him analyze the First Madam’s intentions.

“Don’t be angry, husband — when you told me about Shi Yutong and Jiang Zelu, you had already helped me greatly. Shi Yutong has no time to bother with me now.” She pinched his hand, soothing his mood.

Shi Ting clasped her hand in return, his gaze filled with tenderness and remorse: “I’m sorry, Qing Qing — I’ve let you suffer.”

Yan Qing shook her head: “When I chose you, I already knew I would face these things — or perhaps things even crueler and more dangerous. If I were given the choice again, I would not hesitate for a moment.”

His hand involuntarily tightened around hers, and he moved to kiss her.

Yan Qing quickly stopped him: “Hold on — I’m not finished yet.”

Shi Ting suppressed the desire within him and smiled: “My lady, please continue.”

“The deeper the enmity between Shi Yutong and me, the more advantageous it is for the First Madam. After all, Shi Yutong represents San Yitai, and I represent Mother. When something happens to San Yitai’s child afterward, Bi Zhu is a person from Mother’s courtyard — and even her distant relative. As long as the First Madam insists it was Mother’s doing, Mother would not be able to explain herself even with ten thousand mouths. And then —” Yan Qing could not help but feel a chill at the thought. “Given the Marshal’s fondness for San Yitai, if this matter were confirmed, how would the Marshal deal with Mother? I’m afraid even you, as her son, would be implicated. The consequences are truly beyond imagination.”

Shi Ting also recognized the gravity of the situation, his gaze darkening by several degrees, his grip on her hand tightening still more.

“My lady, I am truly gratified.”

“Hmm?” Yan Qing blinked, seeming puzzled.

“With you watching over the inner chambers, I can have peace of mind.” Though Luo Huaimeng was not foolish, she set greater store by her associations with the wives of prominent families, and in matters of inner household strife she had always adhered to the principle of not provoking others unless provoked. But just because you do not go looking for trouble does not mean trouble will not come looking for you.

The First Madam’s scheme to kill two birds with one stone was cunningly plotted and exceedingly vicious. Had it succeeded, she would not only have eliminated San Yitai, a thorn in her side, but also rid herself of Er Yitai. At that point, she would have reigned supreme in the inner chambers, with Shi Guang and Shi Qian under her wing, unimpeded in everything.

If the inner household could not be held, then one could only wait for things to fall apart from within, with no time to make amends.

He reached out and ruffled her hair: “All right — stop thinking. Time to sleep.”

Yan Qing lay down beside him: “Shi Ting, what do you plan to do next?”

Shi Ting kissed her on the forehead: “Leave what comes next to me. My lady has done more than enough.”

“Understood.” Yan Qing nestled into his arms and wrapped her hands around his waist. “Good night.”

“You want to sleep already?” Shi Ting blew gently against her ear, clearly still very much awake.

Yan Qing’s inner alarm bells rang out, and she squeezed her eyes shut at once, feigning sleep.

Shi Ting watched her and broke into a smile. His finger lightly traced the tip of her nose, then reached to her waist and tickled her.

Yan Qing couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing: “That tickles.”

“How strange — my lady was asleep, was she not?” Shi Ting tickled her a few more times, drawing out a cascade of laughter. “How does one laugh in one’s sleep?”

“Hateful.” Yan Qing was not about to submit without a fight, and immediately launched her counter-attack — he tickled her, so she tickled him right back.

The two grown children promptly rolled into a tangle on the bed, and as their mutual tickling gradually transformed into mutual kisses, the pink bed curtains fell closed, veiling the rosy warmth of that private spring night.

Three days later, Yan Qing came to Luo Huaimeng’s courtyard to share an evening meal with her.

That day, Yan Qing cooked herself — preparing a dish of cold shredded chicken, deep-fried river shrimp, drunken crab, and stir-fried vegetable hearts.

These were all dishes Luo Huaimeng was fond of, and Yan Qing had noted her preferences over time.

“Don’t just put food in my bowl.” Luo Huaimeng kept a cool expression. “You’ve barely eaten that mouthful of rice — no wonder a gust of wind could knock you over.”

“Thank you for your concern, Mother.” Yan Qing smiled.

“Who said anything about being concerned?” Luo Huaimeng shot her a glance, then immediately shook her head, as if there were nothing to be done with her.

Over their long time together, Yan Qing had come to understand Luo Huaimeng’s temperament thoroughly — what expression meant she was happy, what words meant she was pleased and caring.

Luo Huaimeng was stern and cool-faced with everyone except when in Shi Ting’s presence. Such a person seemed unapproachable on the surface, but was actually not difficult to get along with — far better than those who smiled and plotted behind your back.

After the meal, Yan Qing said: “Mother, the embroidery pattern I was working on yesterday still isn’t coming right.”

Luo Huaimeng looked utterly exasperated, but sighed nonetheless: “Bring it here — I’ll teach you again.”

What Yan Qing wanted to learn was embroidering concealed patterns. Shi Ting disliked gaudy designs on his clothing; all his garments featured understated hidden patterns that only became visible upon close inspection.

Yan Qing and Luo Huaimeng sat indoors doing embroidery, while Murong pulled Xiang Xiu outside for a chat.

“Xiang Xiu, take me for a stroll around the grounds — I’ve been cooped up indoors all day and feel like I’m going rusty.”

Xiang Xiu smiled: “The courtyard is only so big — not much ground to cover. But if Murong Jie doesn’t mind, we can take a turn — consider it walking off our meal.”

The two came to the back courtyard. Murong spotted someone still in the hot water room and said: “That must be Bi Zhu over there.”

“That’s her.” Xiang Xiu glanced over. “Very hardworking, but she doesn’t much like to talk — her personality is a little odd.”

The two passed by the hot water room. Bi Zhu sat motionless before the stove, seemingly oblivious to the heat despite the sweltering summer day.

“It’s so hot — I’ll go in to get some water.” So saying, Murong stepped into the hot water room.

Seeing someone enter, Bi Zhu quickly rose to her feet, head bowed, and gave a slight curtsy.

“Could I have a cup of cold water? It’s terribly hot today.” Murong smiled and asked.

Bi Zhu glanced at Xiang Xiu. Xiang Xiu said: “Well, go quickly and bring a cup of the chilled spring water.”

Bi Zhu turned at once and made her way to a water vat to one side. The vat held blocks of ice, and the water inside came from a natural mountain spring with a natural coolness to it.

Only a grand household like this could afford such luxuries.

Murong took the water cup Bi Zhu handed her and drank it down contentedly, smiling: “Thank you.”

Bi Zhu gave a small nod and turned to put away the cup.

Murong reached into her pocket and set down several pieces of candy: “These are silver-thread swallow’s nest candies that the Seventh Young Mistress gave me — I’ll leave a few pieces for you, Miss.”

With that, Murong turned and left.