Shi Guang listened as Qiucao spoke beside his ear, turning a snuff bottle over and over in his hand.

“This should be true.” Qiucao said. “That Honghua, upon hearing she might become a concubine, practically told me everything she knew without hesitation — she poured out a number of Er Yitai’s little secrets, though none of those were of much use to us. But the matter of the Young Mistress being pregnant came as quite a shock to me.”

Shi Guang gripped the snuff bottle in his hand, his eyes deep and still as a pool.

Not knowing what he was thinking, Qiucao could only continue: “The old mistress has always been worried about the Young Mistress’s belly. The Young Mistress herself is also hopeless — she’s been married in for so long and there’s been no movement. Now that she’s finally conceived, the Young Marshal has gone away to another region and his fate remains unknown. If you ask me, this child is cursed from birth — ever since it appeared, there’s been nothing but disaster after disaster.”

“What’s your thinking?” Shi Guang suddenly said quietly.

Qiucao’s eyes shifted. “Second Young Master, you and the Young Marshal are mortal enemies. In the end it will come down to a fight to the death. If the Young Marshal dies at your hands, his son will inevitably seek revenge against you. As they say, cut the weeds and pull up the roots — everything connected to the Young Marshal must be eliminated.”

Qiucao carefully watched Shi Guang’s expression, and seeing no opposition to what she had said, she grew bolder: “Whether it’s Er Yitai or the Young Mistress, none of them can be allowed to remain — especially the Young Mistress. She is so clever and cunning, and secretly she has helped the Young Marshal accomplish no small number of things. Keeping the Young Mistress alive is like keeping a time bomb. She will surely destroy Second Young Master’s great enterprise.”

“Are you jealous of her?” Shi Guang suddenly raised his head. The cold, menacing look in his eyes made Qiucao’s heart seize with fright.

She had stayed by Shi Guang’s side for so long — how could she not know the twisted kind of feeling he harbored for Yan Qing? But it was precisely because of this that she lived in constant fear.

In all the years Shi Guang had been with her, he had never truly let anyone in. As time wore on, she had naturally begun to harbor certain fantasies she ought not to have. Now that she was also pregnant — and both the doctor and experienced matrons who had examined her said she was carrying a boy — her ambitions had swelled even further.

She wanted the position of principal wife. She wanted to become the future Marshal’s wife. And for that goal, she had to remove every obstacle in her path.

Facing Shi Guang’s gaze, Qiucao recovered from her momentary shock and quickly said: “The Young Mistress is both beautiful and clever — what woman wouldn’t envy her? But I am thinking entirely of Second Young Master’s interests. I simply don’t want anyone to threaten him in the future.”

Shi Guang gave a cold laugh and did not immediately respond.

Seeing that he was not angry, Qiucao continued: “As long as Second Young Master gives the word, Qiucao guarantees this matter will be handled cleanly and completely.”

“I only want the child’s life. Her person — you are not to touch.” Shi Guang set the snuff bottle down on the table and warned coldly: “If she loses so much as a single hair, I will hold you solely responsible.”

“Yes.” Qiucao swallowed nervously and lowered her head.

Shi Guang rose and said: “You should rest early too. Have the maids come in and take good care of you. You’re carrying a child yourself — be more careful in everything you do.”

Shi Guang’s show of concern left Qiucao feeling deeply moved, her face unable to conceal her elation — even though she knew full well that Shi Guang only cared about the child, not about her.

“That will be all.” Shi Guang swept up the hem of his robe and stood to leave.

Qiucao kept her eyes on him until he disappeared from view, then turned and went back inside.

“Qiucao.” The maid who attended her, Qingmei, stepped forward and poured a cup of hot water. “Have some hot water.”

Qiucao took it and glanced at Qingmei. “Go buy some medicine.”

“What medicine?”

Qiucao said: “The kind that can kill both mother and child with a single dose.”

Qingmei was aghast. “But didn’t Second Young Master just say he couldn’t harm the Young Mistress?”

“It is precisely because of that that I cannot let the Young Mistress live.” Qiucao’s dark eyes gazed into the pitch-black night outside the window. “Second Young Master has never been able to stop thinking about the Young Mistress. Once he fully takes Shun Cheng and becomes master of Bei Di, the first thing he will do, I imagine, will be to take the Young Mistress as his wife.”

“But — that’s impossible, isn’t it? The Young Mistress is his younger brother’s wife. What kind of man takes his younger brother’s wife as his own?”

“When the world belongs to him, will he still care about the distinction of a sister-in-law? By that point, he can marry whoever he wants — who would dare say a word against him? You and I both know his violent temper. No one is going to invite trouble over something so minor.”

Qingmei twisted the hem of her robe in her hands, filled with worry. “If that’s truly how it goes, then you’ll have to take orders from the Young Mistress again.”

“Exactly. And as a concubine, I’d be subordinate to the principal wife, and a disfavored one at that. If the Young Mistress truly marries Second Young Master, what place will there be for me and the child in this mansion?” Qiucao’s eyes gleamed with a vicious light. “That is why I must see this through completely — I must not give the enemy a chance to breathe, and must eliminate any future threat entirely.”

When she had finished, she took Qingmei’s hand. “Though you are my maid, I have always treated you as a sister. I have promised you that once the situation settles and Second Young Master has seized power, I will have him take you in as a concubine as well — and then we can truly call each other sisters in every sense. You’ll have maids and servants of your own to attend you, and whatever you need to eat, wear, or use, if I have it, so will you. But the prerequisite for all of this is that the Young Mistress must absolutely not become the principal wife — because if she does, she will make our lives impossible. This is no longer just my affair, but ours together. Qingmei, do you understand?”

When Qiucao had once set her sights on Shi Guang, it had not been on account of her looks, but because of her tongue — a tongue capable of moving people’s hearts. She knew how to attach herself to the powerful and read people’s minds, and so she understood what others needed and yearned for. Seize that point, and convincing others to work for her was effortless.

Yan Qin before, Honghua after, and Qingmei now — they were all the same kind of person. They liked wealth and splendor. They did not want to live below others.

Qingmei, upon hearing this, clasped Qiucao’s hand in return, her expression filled with absolute resolve. “Qiucao, rest easy. Your affairs are my affairs. From this moment on, Qingmei places her future entirely in your hands.”

Qiucao nodded firmly. “Don’t worry. If Second Young Master questions us, we’ll say the Young Mistress’s constitution is too weak and she couldn’t withstand the medicine — so both mother and child died. Even if he wants to blame me, he must consider the child I’m carrying. He can be heartless toward me, but he would never kill his own flesh and blood.”

Qingmei felt Qiucao’s reasoning was sound. Whatever the case, this was something that had to be done. There was no turning back for them now.

The following night, Honghua lay on her bed and heard that bird call again.

She knew this was Qiucao’s signal passing word to her, so she dressed and prepared to get up.

“Honghua, where are you going?” The young maid sleeping next to her heard the movement and rubbed her eyes.

Honghua said: “I’m going to use the outhouse.”

“Oh.” The young maid murmured drowsily and closed her eyes again. “It’s dark outside, Honghua — light a kerosene lamp.”

“Alright.” Honghua felt this young maid was a real nuisance. She watched her turn over and go back to sleep, then crept quietly out of bed.

Honghua came to the small door and, seeing no one nearby, pushed it open and slipped out.

Waiting on the other side was not Qiucao, but her maid Qingmei.

Honghua and Qingmei knew each other, though not well. Honghua, riding on the prestige of her mother’s position in Er Yitai’s courtyard, had always cut a respectable figure among the Shi Mansion’s servants. A minor maid like Qingmei was naturally beneath her notice.

Thinking that she would soon become Shi Guang’s concubine, Honghua looked at Qingmei with a certain air of superiority — and Qingmei’s thoughts mirrored hers exactly, both of them dreaming of overnight transformation from maids to phoenixes perched on high branches.

“Honghua, come with me.” Qingmei walked ahead carrying a lantern.

Honghua disliked this tone of Qingmei’s very much, but Qingmei represented Qiucao, so she had no choice but to swallow it for now.

Ever since Qiucao had spoken with her yesterday, Honghua had spent the whole day mapping out her future.

She would have endless beautiful clothes, a different outfit to wear every single day. Countless gold and silver jewels, the kind that gave her a headache every morning from not knowing which set to choose.

Wherever she went, maids would greet her with bows, calling out “concubine” in respectful voices.

If she performed well and won Second Young Master’s favor, becoming his cherished consort — even the pregnant Qiucao would have to bow her head before her.

Honghua had not been able to close her mouth from smiling all day, and so she quietly endured Qingmei’s rudeness. Her only thought was those four words: there would be time enough later.

Once she became a concubine and earned his favor, a minor maid like Qingmei would be entirely at her mercy.

Qingmei led Honghua to the same small courtyard as before. After closing the door, she asked guardedly: “No one noticed, did they?”

“It’s so late — everyone’s asleep.” Honghua said eagerly: “Did Second Young Master want to see me?”

Qingmei laughed inwardly. This Honghua truly had gone mad with ambition, still fantasizing that Second Young Master would personally come to her. She should take a good look at herself.

“This is from Qiucao.” Qingmei took out a small paper packet from her robe.

“What is this?” Honghua asked in puzzlement.

“Never mind what’s inside. All you need to do is put it in the nourishing soup that your mother is preparing for the Young Mistress.”

Even a girl as slow-witted as Honghua understood Qiucao’s intent in that instant.

“You — you want to harm the child in the Young Mistress’s belly?” Honghua shook her head instinctively. “No, no — I can’t do this. I can’t harm the Young Mistress.”

Qingmei had fully anticipated her refusal and said: “This is the first task Second Young Master is entrusting to you. Are you really going to refuse?”

“I—” Hearing Qingmei invoke Second Young Master’s name, Honghua began to waver.

Qingmei continued to persuade her: “This is a golden opportunity for you to distinguish yourself before Second Young Master — you must seize it firmly. Qiucao has said it clearly: as long as you successfully carry out this task, Second Young Master will immediately take you in, and you will be a concubine in name and right.”

Qingmei pressed the medicine packet into Honghua’s hand and smiled. “Between you and wealth and splendor stands only this one packet of powder. How you choose is entirely up to you.”