Luo Huaimeng asked: “What does Xingzhi have in mind?”

Yan Qing supported her as they walked forward: “Mother, rest easy. The matters within the inner courtyard are ours to handle; the affairs outside will be arranged by him. In short, the Meng family will not go far.”

At that moment, a row of lights suddenly brightened ahead — Luo Huaimeng’s maidservants standing there holding lanterns to await her.

“Mother, look — our path ahead is brilliantly lit.”

Luo Huaimeng listened to her cheerful words and gently sighed: “You, child!”

Though it was an exasperated reproach, within it could be heard a measure of fond indulgence.

The next day, San Yitai drank a bowl of pomegranate root water, and her illness ‘miraculously’ healed. By the afternoon she was able to walk about freely in her courtyard.

In the study, the General was speaking with Shi Ting. Invigorated by San Yitai’s recovery, the General was in fine spirits, his face glowing and his manner animated.

The two were in the middle of their conversation when someone hurried in to report from outside: “General, Minister Meng has arrived.”

The General’s brow furrowed, and he looked at Shi Ting: “The Meng family’s information is indeed swift. Meng Qiu has not even woken yet, and they are already here demanding an accounting.”

The General’s tone was heavy with displeasure. This was their private family matter, not suited for public airing. Yet the Meng family had received word so quickly, which obviously meant there was someone inside Shi Mansion passing them information.

“The Meng family’s hand has been reaching far too long.” The General slapped the table sharply, a boundless rage igniting in his eyes. “Outrageous.”

Having vented against the Meng family, the General gradually calmed and waved his hand dismissively: “Let him in.”

Shortly after, a middle-aged man of around fifty in military attire strode in. His complexion was dark and weathered, his eyes keen and alert, carrying a quality of hardship etched deep by experience.

Shi Ting rose and said: “Minister Meng.”

Meng Xiangyang gave him a nod, then looked toward the General. “General, I have a matter I wish to discuss with you. I must ask Director Shi to withdraw for the moment.”

Upon hearing these words, Shi Ting was about to leave, but was stopped by the General: “Xingzhi is my son. Is there anything he cannot hear? Sit down.”

Shi Ting’s gaze swept between the General and Meng Xiangyang before he walked back to the chair he had been sitting in and sat down again.

There was evident displeasure in Meng Xiangyang’s eyes, but he knew the purpose of his visit. At this moment, it was best not to provoke the General any further.

“General, I have come on my sister’s behalf to offer you an apology.” Meng Xiangyang said: “My sister is thoughtless. I ask the General to be magnanimous. I will go reprimand her myself shortly, and have her properly reflect on her conduct in confinement.”

“Thoughtless? A woman who is even a grandmother, and you call her thoughtless?” The General let out a cold laugh. “Her character is corrupt. She harbored the intention to harm the progeny of the Shi family. This is not thoughtlessness — this is a vicious heart that disregards all human bonds.”

Against this barrage of criticism, Meng Xiangyang clearly found it unacceptable.

He had only this one younger sister, who had been indulged and pampered by their father and himself from a young age. If she wanted the stars in the sky, he would absolutely not give her the moon — Madam Shi’s present temperament was also connected to that excessive indulgence in earlier years.

Yet Meng Xiangyang did not feel that treating his sister well was wrong in any way. Furthermore, their late father on his deathbed had repeatedly urged him to look after his sister without fail, to see to it that she lived out her days in peace and safety.

“General, what exactly do you mean by this? Are you intending to cast off your wife?” Meng Xiangyang’s tone hardened several degrees.

“Oh? Do you think I dare not?” The General’s eyes went wide.

“If the General entertains such a notion, do not blame me for speaking plainly. She is merely a lowly concubine. Is a concubine truly worth the General making such a great fuss over? My sister has been the General’s wife for so many years, bearing his children, managing the inner household. Those on the outside — who does not praise the General’s wife as virtuous and capable? Now the General would cast off his wedded wife for the sake of a concubine. Should this get out, the General may well become the laughingstock of the world, and no small number of people would curse the General for being faithless and unjust…”

“Enough.” The General was furious and cut off Meng Xiangyang’s words sharply. “How bold of you all.”

Meng Xiangyang held his head high, undaunted by the General’s fury: “General, I am merely speaking plainly. Ultimately, it is all for the sake of the General’s reputation and dignity.”

“Very well, very well. You all do everything for me. Very well, very well…” The General repeated ‘very well’ several times, trembling with rage.

“General,” Shi Ting rose at this point: “General, please calm your anger. Though Minister Meng’s manner of speaking is less than courteous, he means no disrespect. Since Minister Meng is here and has spoken of resolving the matter, it is better for the General to hear what proposal he has.”

With Shi Ting acting as mediator, the General’s fury gradually dissipated somewhat. After a moment to collect himself, he waved his hand with impatience: “Very well. Speak. What is your solution?”

Meng Xiangyang considered: “I stand by what I said before — I will go reprimand Meng Qiu, and then the General will order her to remain confined for one month.”

Shi Ting, standing to one side, laughed coldly in his heart. Madam Shi had committed such a grave error, nearly causing San Yitai and her unborn child to die. When it was all exposed, the consequence amounted to nothing more than a scolding and one month of house confinement.

Confinement within her own courtyard — she would lack for nothing to eat or drink, only somewhat less freedom. She might even put on weight over the course of a month.

This punishment was essentially the same as no punishment at all.

“No,” the General said. “Three months.”

Meng Xiangyang stiffened his neck: “General, three months is too long. One month is sufficient.”

Seeing the two at an impasse, Shi Ting had to say: “Why not split the difference — two months?”

In the end, the General and Meng Xiangyang reached an agreement: Madam Shi would be confined for two months, and the matter would be considered settled.

“Two months of house confinement?” Yan Qing listened as Shi Ting recounted the proceedings and was first surprised, then understanding dawned. The General had raised his hand high and brought it down gently on Madam Shi.

Shi Ting washed his face and was taking off the towel.

“The General kept me on purpose to help him smooth things over. He could not truly fall out with Meng Xiangyang — not because he feared him, but because Meng Xiangyang held military power. The General could not easily make an enemy of him.”

“Though the General made a concession this time, he has now thoroughly offended the Meng family.” Yan Qing blinked: “Was it you who had information leaked to Meng Xiangyang? You wanted to create the impression of the Meng family planting informants in the General’s mansion.”

Shi Ting finished drying his face. Seeing her tilt her head up, a smile on her face with a trace of sly cunning, her long lashes fluttering in playful rhythm, he could not resist stepping forward and cupping her fair little face in his hands. He pressed his lips to those rosy ones.

Yan Qing was startled.

This man — could he not just have a proper conversation?

“My wife has seduced me again.” Shi Ting savored every sweet taste to his full satisfaction before reluctantly releasing her, though he pulled her into his lap and held her there.

Yan Qing felt deeply wronged — she had been speaking perfectly calmly, yet somehow it had become her seducing him.

Shameless!

“What are your plans next?” She decided not to bother arguing with him.

Shi Ting said: “The Meng family is not only First Madam’s backing — they are the foundation that First Brother and Second Brother rely on. Therefore, the Meng family must fall.”

“The Meng family’s power is so vast — it cannot be toppled overnight. Setting aside everything else, the military power alone in his hands is enough to awe and intimidate everyone.”

Shi Ting nodded: “True, Meng Xiangyang holds military power. But these troops are different from Li Yongqi’s Li Family Army. The Li Family Army answers only to Li Yongqi’s command alone. But the forces under Meng Xiangyang are garrisoned in various parts of Bei Di, each commanded by their own military commander, who in turn answers to Meng Xiangyang. If it were a direct command structure, it would be hard to crack. But with that extra layer of relationship in between, there is an exploitable opening.”

Yan Qing’s mind was sharp: “You mean to approach those military commanders and break them one by one — in the end leaving Meng Xiangyang as an empty shell?”

Shi Ting tapped her nose: “That is the idea. However, we must wait for the right opportunity. Those military commanders are all shrewd individuals — they are not so easily persuaded to switch sides.”

“Will the General let the Meng family off so lightly?” Yan Qing thought of Meng Xiangyang’s manner and felt that someone with the General’s temper could barely tolerate it. It was a testament to his iron willpower and long-range vision that he had not drawn his gun and shot Meng Xiangyang on the spot.

And the Meng family was utterly audacious. Did they not know the principle that a tree too tall invites the wind to break it? Or had they grown so arrogant they feared nothing?

That, after all, was the General.

“Rest assured, the General will soon make things uncomfortable for Meng Xiangyang.” Shi Ting smiled faintly — he knew the General’s temperament all too well.

“There is one more thing.” Yan Qing ran a finger along his jawline. When he had not shaved, his jaw was somewhat rough to the touch — but she liked this texture.

“Madam Shi is confined for two months. Who will the General entrust the inner household affairs to?”

Shi Ting said: “By rights it should go to San Yitai. But San Yitai is currently with child and not suited to managing the household. In that case, it can only go to Mother.”

“I thought the same.” Yan Qing said: “Rest assured, I will help Mother manage things well. I will give no one an opening to take advantage.”

“With you here, I am at ease.”

The two had guessed correctly. The next day the General made the announcement: Madam Shi was confined to her courtyard, and the inner household affairs would be managed temporarily by Er Yitai.

Upon hearing this news, Madam Shi immediately fell ill.

She had schemed so hard, only to end up benefiting someone else in the end. And this grievance she could only swallow down, burying her resentment.

“Madam, please don’t distress yourself. It is only two months of confinement — the time will pass quickly.” Yingtao offered consolation from one side.

“How did things that were going so well end up like this?” Madam Shi was beside herself with agitation. After crying her fill, she turned her anger outward: “And that useless sister-in-law of mine — she couldn’t even handle such a small thing, let so many pieces of evidence be seized. She really, truly infuriates me.”

Yingtao narrowed her eyes, her voice cooling several degrees: “It was not Third Madam who did poorly — it was Seventh Young Madam who is too sharp. Had this mansion no Seventh Young Madam, with only Er Yitai’s own capabilities, she would have been driven out of Shi Mansion with a beating long ago. When all is said and done, it is all because of Seventh Young Madam.”

Yingtao thought of how Yan Qing had extracted confessions from everyone with just a few well-chosen words, and still felt a chill throughout her body. How could there be such a sharp-minded person in this world — perceptive enough to know the autumn from a single leaf?

Hearing this, a flash of cold venom crossed Madam Shi’s eyes: “It was she — she, that vile creature, who ruined my plans. I will not let her off.”