On the ninth day of the second lunar month was the day of Qin Shuying’s coming-of-age ceremony.

On this day, Dong Shi brought Qin Yue to the new Earl of Pingxi’s mansion. After being seated, they soon saw Princess Yongjia and Princess Liang.

One was the honored guest, the other the presenter.

Such a level of ceremony could hardly be found anywhere else in the capital. Liang Qiong’s eyes reddened with anger, while Dong Shi was extremely envious and admiring.

After the coming-of-age ceremony concluded, Princess Yongjia even lingered at the Liang family for half an hour before leaving. No one knew what Princess Yongjia and Qin Shuying had discussed.

After Princess Yongjia left, Qin Shuying sat by the window in a daze for a long time.

Liang Zhe had too many matters at his garrison. Once the coming-of-age ceremony ended, he hurriedly returned to his post, as the Mu family affair was about to yield more clues. Though he was reluctant to leave Qin Shuying, he understood the priorities.

The next day, just as Qin Shuying finished handling the major household affairs, Hong Juan hurried in saying: “Eldest Young Madam, Sister Xiangqin is here!”

Hong Juan’s tone was urgent. Xiangqin’s arrival seemed panicked, which could only mean something had happened to Old Madam Qin. When she had returned last time, Old Madam Qin’s health hadn’t been very good.

Qin Shuying jumped up, her voice trembling with unconscious fear: “Where is she?”

Xiangqin had already rushed in, her eyes red, and dropped to her knees with a “thud”: “Seventh Young Madam, this servant secretly ran out to see you. Please return to see Old Madam…”

Qin Shuying understood immediately. Without time to think, she hurriedly had Hong Juan summon Hui Yun, Bai Yun, and Lu Ye. Forgetting even to put on her cloak, she rushed straight to the main gate.

Outside, goose-feather snow was falling heavily, with the world wrapped in white.

Fortunately, the Earl of Pingxi’s mansion had tall, sturdy carriage wheels. Under Qin Shuying’s constant urging, the coachman drove particularly fast, and they soon arrived at the Qin mansion.

Entering the Qin mansion, Qin Shuying lifted her skirts and flew toward Xuan Hall.

Just as she lifted the curtain to enter, she heard Xu Shi speaking inside: “…Though Seventh Girl cannot bear children, having Third Girl’s son raised by her would be the same. After all, there’s still a blood connection…”

Qin Shuying quickly entered, gasping for breath. She swallowed and barely managed to say: “Elder, Elder Madam!”

Xu Shi hadn’t expected Qin Shuying to overhear her words. Her eyes swept over the silent maids behind Qin Shuying, secretly cursing that Qin Shuying had bribed people in Xuan Hall—not only did someone risk punishment to send word to Qin Shuying, but no one had warned her when she was speaking here.

Yet she smiled: “Oh, speak of Seventh Girl and Seventh Girl returns. Come quickly and persuade your grandmother. She’s worried that you’ve been married for almost half a year with no movement in your belly. Knowing you cannot bear children, she was so angry that phlegm blocked her throat and she cannot speak! Sigh, speaking of it, Old Madam’s illness is all because of you…”

Dong Shi and Ye Shi were both present. Hearing these words, they both looked away.

Qin Shuying couldn’t spare time to argue with Xu Shi and bent down to look at Old Madam Qin.

Old Madam Qin lay against the pillow, eyes half-closed, gaunt and lifeless, appearing so thin she seemed reduced to almost nothing. Qin Shuying’s nose immediately stung: “Grandmother! I’ve returned, Grandmother…”

Hearing Qin Shuying’s voice, Old Madam Qin’s eyes suddenly opened, and a spark of spirit flashed in them: “Er… Shuying, you’ve returned.”

Xu Shi, Dong Shi, and Ye Shi were all stunned. Hadn’t Old Madam been unable to speak? She had been deceiving everyone all along, preserving her strength to wait for Qin Shuying’s return!

Qin Shuying was so surprised and delighted that tears immediately filled her eyes: “Grandmother, it’s me. I’ve returned!”

Old Madam Qin waved her hand: “All of you go out. I want to speak with Shuying. Nanny Gu, watch the door.”

She was quite lucid indeed.

Xu Shi’s eyes rolled as she said: “Old Madam, how can this be proper? Since you’re awake, let your daughter-in-law serve you…”

Qin Shuying turned and shouted: “Didn’t you hear Grandmother’s words? Get out!”

Xu Shi’s shoulders shook twice at this shout: “Seventh Young Madam, you…”

Qin Shuying said to Hui Yun: “Hui Yun!”

Hui Yun stepped forward, grabbed Xu Shi, and threw her onto the chair by the door: “Madam Qin, do you need me to throw you again?”

Xu Shi stared blankly at Hui Yun, not understanding how she had instantly moved from bedside to the doorway. Only the dizziness in her head and her disheveled, awkward clothing reminded her that she had just been thrown here by an extraordinarily strong maid in front of so many people.

Xu Shi cried out: “You…”

Hui Yun walked toward Xu Shi, her eyes dark and mysterious, raising her right hand. Xu Shi felt a chill down her spine and quickly got up, lifting the curtain to leave.

Dong Shi and Ye Shi hadn’t expected Qin Shuying to be so harsh. Not daring to say more, fearing Hui Yun might throw them into the snowy courtyard outside, which would be utterly humiliating.

Once everyone had completely withdrawn from the room, Old Madam Qin gently stroked the top of Qin Shuying’s head: “Child, don’t be sad. Everyone has this day. Seeing that you can stand strong and independent in this world, Grandmother can rest at peace.”

After saying this, Old Madam Qin breathed heavily several times. Qin Shuying’s tears fell like rain—she knew this was Old Madam Qin’s final rally.

Old Madam Qin was beyond saving.

After a while, she heard Old Madam Qin softly call: “Er girl.”

Qin Shuying was startled, looking at Old Madam Qin through tearful eyes, her mouth agape in surprise.

Old Madam Qin breathed heavily several more times, smiling: “Silly child.”

Qin Shuying let her tears flow freely: “Grandmother… your unfilial granddaughter is Yaoyao… Grandmother, your granddaughter is unfilial…”

How shrewd and intelligent Old Madam Qin was—she had probably long ago noticed something strange. But she had never treated her like a monster, instead protecting her with all her might.

The sour, swelling sadness in Qin Shuying’s heart was like the rolling goose-feather snow outside, wrapping her entire being so tightly she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t find an outlet.

Old Madam Qin looked at her with loving eyes: “Silly girl, Grandmother knows. Child, promise Grandmother one thing.”

Qin Shuying nodded: “Grandmother, tell me, tell me. I’ll promise you anything.”

Old Madam Qin breathed for a while longer before saying: “Child, promise Grandmother you’ll live well with Ziyu. Don’t give up.”

Qin Shuying could hardly see Old Madam Qin’s face through her tears, crying uncontrollably, unable to suppress her sobs. Tears and mucus flowed freely, and she trembled so violently she could barely kneel.

She had thought Old Madam Qin would ask her to forgive Xu Shi and the others, but Old Madam Qin’s dying wish was for her to live well and not give up happiness.

“Grandmother, I promise you, I promise. Grandmother, you promise me too—don’t leave. I only have you, only you…”

Old Madam Qin looked at her lovingly, her gaze full of warmth, saying intermittently: “Girl, do what you want to do, be, be happy…”

Qin Shuying struggled to suppress her crying, her chest heaving violently, not daring to interrupt Old Madam Qin’s words.

“Live well…”

After saying this, Old Madam Qin closed her eyes.

“Grandmother!” Qin Shuying collapsed onto the bed: “Someone come, someone come…”

Nanny Gu, Xiangqin, and others swarmed in. Qin Shuying’s eyes were swollen as she stared blankly at the people coming and going in the room. A physician came, as did Qin Yongtao, Qin Kaiyu, and others…

Old Madam Qin was only unconscious then, but by nightfall, she had finally passed away.

Having cried for so long, Qin Shuying stood in the courtyard of Xuan Hall, looking at the continuously falling snowflakes in the pitch-black sky. Her heart felt hollow—she hadn’t yet made the underfloor heating she had prepared for Grandmother…

But there would never be another chance…