Du Linghua’s teacup flew straight and true, striking Qian Lan directly on the top of her head. Blood immediately began to pour down her forehead.

Qian Lan’s maid, Xique, was so frightened she screamed. “Mistress!”

Seeing blood flowing from Qian Lan’s forehead, several maids scrambled frantically to press the wound closed. Du Linghua herself had not expected matters to come to this, and she stood frozen, utterly stunned.

For reasons she could not quite explain, she was suddenly terrified — not of Qian Lan, but of the Commander’s fury. If the Commander found out, she had no idea how he would deal with her. After all, he had already been able to send her child to Qian Lan without a moment’s hesitation.

“There is no need to make such a fuss.” Qian Lan rebuked the maids at her side in a firm voice. “It is only a little blood — nothing serious.”

She took a handkerchief from one of the maids and pressed it to the wound herself, her expression entirely composed. “No one is to speak of this matter to anyone. If the Commander asks, you are to say I injured myself by accident. Is that understood?”

The maids exchanged uncertain glances before finally nodding in unison.

Qian Lan pressed the handkerchief to her wound and stepped in front of Du Linghua. “San Yitai, I know you are deeply grieved about Jing’er’s situation. I even pleaded with the Commander on your behalf, but you know his temperament better than I do — once his mind is made up, it is nearly impossible to change.”

Du Linghua narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

“San Yitai, the Commander is thinking of Jing’er’s future as well. The title of legitimate son will always carry greater weight than that of a concubine-born child. Though I have never had a child of my own and have no experience in such matters, I have already engaged two experienced nannies — women who have raised children before and are well-versed in the care of infants. Moreover, I give you my word: even though Jing’er will live in my quarters, you may still come to visit him every day. And more than that — he will continue to call you Mother, and call me Mistress.”

Du Linghua had not expected Qian Lan to be so generous and so thorough in her consideration. She had anticipated and addressed every one of Du Linghua’s concerns, laying everything out with perfect clarity. If Du Linghua now continued to make a scene or throw a tantrum, she would have no grounds to stand on and would only earn herself a reputation for petty jealousy and spite.

In that moment, Du Linghua felt utterly small and powerless before Qian Lan. Qian Lan could take her child from her with ease, and yet still walk away with an unblemished reputation.

She could not believe that this woman — only a few years older than her own daughter — could possess such formidable capability.

Accompanying Qian Lan was Nanny Liu, who now spoke up. “San Yitai, the Eighth Young Master will not suffer even the slightest grievance in the Mistress’s care. You can rest easy. If anything were to happen to the Eighth Young Master, the Mistress would have no way to account for it before the Old Madam or the Commander.”

Du Linghua knew that Nanny Liu was right. Qian Lan should have no reason to mistreat Jing’er — even if the Commander indulged her, she would still have to answer to the Old Madam, and everyone knew how much the Old Madam doted on that grandchild.

Moreover, Qian Lan had promised she could come to visit every day. If anyone intended to do something underhanded, how could they hide it from the eyes of his own birth mother?

In the end, Jing’er was taken away. The courtyard fell suddenly empty and desolate. Du Linghua was too consumed by her grief and sorrow to notice that Shi Yutong had quietly slipped away at some point.

When Du Linghua came to visit Jing’er the next day, she found Qian Lan sitting with Nanny Liu, making small garments for the baby. Jing’er lay in a cradle beside Qian Lan, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

What Du Linghua had not expected was that the Commander would also be there.

“Look how soundly he sleeps — he eats well and sleeps well. What a blessed little one.” The Commander stood by the cradle, his gaze full of tenderness as it came to rest on Qian Lan’s face. “Lan’er, you have taken such wonderful care of him.”

The dazzling smile before her seemed to pierce something deep in Du Linghua’s chest.

The child sleeping in the cradle was her own flesh and blood — yet the scene before her made them look like a family.

What gave them the right to use her child to paint a picture of happiness, while grinding her own heart underfoot?

“I see the Commander is here as well.” Du Linghua composed herself and forced a small smile onto her face as she stepped gracefully forward.

When the Commander saw her arrive, the smile on his face visibly faded. “Why have you come?”

Du Linghua was taken aback, at a loss for how to reply, when Qian Lan spoke first. “I was the one who asked San Yitai to come. Jing’er is her own child — a single day apart is like three seasons to her. I did not want her to endure that longing.”

The Commander looked at Qian Lan with a loving and adoring gaze, taking her hand in his. “You — your heart is simply too kind. Every single person in this house, from top to bottom, sings your praises. But sometimes, you must think of yourself as well. Since Jing’er is now registered in your name, he will come to call you Mother in time — he is your legitimate son. If you allow San Yitai to visit every day, how could that be right?”

These words fell on Du Linghua like a plunge into an icy abyss. She could scarcely believe these words had come from the Commander’s own mouth.

She still remembered so clearly the days when she had first given birth to Shi Yutong, the tender affection and care the Commander had shown her then. And now, in the blink of an eye, the new favorite had replaced the old love. The bitterness of it was something no one else could ever truly understand.

“Linghua, you should also know where to draw the line. Even though Jing’er is your birth child, he now belongs to Lan’er’s name and will be a legitimate son in the future. It would be better for you to come less often.”

Du Linghua was overcome by a mixture of grievance and fury, yet she dared not show the slightest displeasure in the Commander’s presence.

After leaving Zhuoxin Garden, Du Linghua immediately came upon Shi Yutong, who stepped forward and said, “Mother, has that vile woman joined with the Commander to scheme against you again?”

Du Linghua grasped her daughter’s hand and suddenly broke into wretched sobs. “Yutong, Mother has utterly lost the Commander’s favor. From now on, it will be just the two of us, depending on each other.”

“Mother, do not despair. That woman dared to take Jing’er in — she will have to face the consequences. Just wait and see. She will pay for this very soon.”

Two days later came the Shi Family’s household banquet, and as was customary, the family gathered together for the meal.

At the dining table, the former Shi Mistress, Meng Qiu, and Shi Qian were absent; in their place sat the new Mistress, Qian Lan.

The Shi Family’s line of descent was not particularly flourishing. Of all the sons the Shi Old Madam had borne, only the Commander had survived to adulthood. Although the Commander had taken several concubines, they had given him only four sons, of whom one had vanished without a trace and one was still in swaddling clothes.

For today’s banquet, the Shi Old Madam had actually come in person — an occurrence as rare as the sun rising in the west.

Yan Qing glanced at the Old Madam, then looked toward Shi Ting.

The Shi Old Madam’s sudden attendance at the family banquet was surely not for the simple pleasure of socializing.

And indeed, when the banquet had progressed to its midpoint, the Old Madam set down her chopsticks, and her gaze fell with measured composure upon Luo Huaimeng, who sat diagonally across from her.

“Er Yitai, what kind of mother-in-law are you being?”

Faced with the Old Madam’s sudden rebuke, Luo Huaimeng seemed briefly startled — but she had long since grown accustomed to all manner of difficulties. Having weathered even the hardest of times, nothing now could disturb so much as a ripple in her heart.

“I am not sure what matter you are referring to, Mother.”

The Old Madam’s voice was stern. “The Seventh Young Mistress has been married into this family for nearly half a year, and there is still not a hint of movement in her belly. You, her mother-in-law, have not given it a second thought. Do you wish to see the Shi Family ridiculed and our line of descent fail to flourish?”

A pronouncement of this weight caused even the Commander to pause in surprise.

Yan Qing had sensed that the Old Madam’s unexpected arrival boded nothing good — she had simply not anticipated that the matter would concern herself.

Beneath the table, her hand was suddenly enveloped by a warm and broad palm. He drew her hand onto his own knee and gently kneaded it.

Yan Qing understood he was urging her to remain calm and composed, so she replied by lightly tracing a finger across the center of his palm.

The Commander ordinarily paid no attention to such domestic matters. Had the Old Madam not raised the issue, the thought would never have crossed his mind.

He had only just welcomed a new son and had no inclination to concern himself with grandchildren.

“Grandmother.” Before Luo Huaimeng could speak, Shi Ting looked over with a calm expression. “We are grateful for your concern. But this matter has nothing to do with Mother.”

“Then who does it concern — your wife?” The Old Madam had never been particularly fond of Luo Huaimeng to begin with, and after everything involving Shi Qian, she found it difficult to look upon Shi Ting with much warmth either. Though they were both her grandchildren, she drew clear distinctions.

“The fault is mine,” Shi Ting said plainly. “It has nothing to do with Mother or with Qing Qing.”

Yan Qing instinctively turned to look at him. Her heart gave a small, painful squeeze. In truth, their reasons for not wanting a child were known to Luo Huaimeng, who had also expressed her support.

They were in the midst of tumultuous times, with power struggles and internal strife that left no room for a single misstep before disaster could strike. At a time like this, neither of them wished for a child to share the burden of their circumstances. When that child came into the world, they wanted it to grow up in sunlight — free and without care.

The Old Madam’s brow furrowed. “Xing Zhi, what do you mean?”

“There is a problem with my health,” Shi Ting said. “I am currently receiving treatment.”

The Old Madam had not expected this turn of events and was momentarily at a loss for words.

Her own grandson’s health had failed, leaving his wife unable to conceive — and now, who was there to blame? She had intended to take out her frustration on Luo Huaimeng, but Shi Ting had stepped forward and taken everything upon himself.

Before all these people, he spoke with composure and ease, showing not the slightest trace of shame or embarrassment.

This time, it was the Old Madam who was left with nothing to say. The situation grew awkwardly, wordlessly tense.

“Seventh Brother, I know a specialist in this area.” Shi Guang suddenly spoke up with a show of concern. “I will introduce him to you sometime.”

“Thank you, Second Brother.” Shi Ting gave him a slight nod.

Seeing Shi Ting’s composed expression, Shi Guang said nothing more. It was his interjection, however, that drew the Old Madam’s attention back to him.

“Wei Zhi, you should also make some effort. A true man of stature need never want for a wife — the inner chamber cannot remain empty forever. Among the great families of Shun Cheng, young ladies large and small — whoever catches your eye, just tell your grandmother, and I will see to it for you.”

Shi Guang quickly replied, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

The Old Madam made a sound of acknowledgment, and her glance drifted almost imperceptibly over Yan Qing before moving on. Though it did not linger, Yan Qing caught it with keen awareness.

That old woman — just what scheme was she hatching now?

—