Dong Shi knew about the entanglement between Xu Shi and Qin Shuying, so naturally she didn’t believe that Qin Shuying would truly feel sad and grieved for Xu Shi.

Dong Shi only thought that since Qin Shuying’s status was different now, coming to visit Xu Shi would ultimately be very beneficial for Qin Shuying’s reputation.

Qin Shuying turned to nod at Dong Shi, then pretended to tuck in Xu Shi’s blanket while saying in a low voice: “Mother, this debt isn’t settled yet. You mustn’t die.”

Xu Shi’s eyes had already stiffened to the point where they couldn’t move.

At this moment, a woman with an aged face wearing neat, clean clothes entered. She greeted Dong Shi and Qin Shuying: “Madam, Seventh Young Mistress, this concubine has come to serve the old madam.”

Dong Shi smiled as she introduced her to Qin Shuying: “Shuying, this is Concubine Liu.”

Concubine Liu was also one of Qin Yongtao’s concubines.

Qin Shuying smiled faintly: “Concubine Liu, we haven’t seen each other for several years, and today we meet again. Has Concubine Liu come to serve aunt? Just right – aunt has been crying continuously just now. Concubine, please go over and take a look.”

Concubine Liu smiled: “This concubine will go check on the old madam right away.”

With that, she walked past Qin Shuying to Xu Shi’s bedside, leaning down with a smile to look at Xu Shi.

Qin Shuying chatted with Dong Shi, while Concubine Liu leaned down to wipe Xu Shi’s tears and said quietly: “Old Madam, how does it feel to not be pregnant yet have people say you are pregnant?”

Xu Shi had already been shocked to the extreme by Qin Shuying’s words, her eyeballs already stiffened and unable to move. Now, Concubine Liu’s words successfully made her close her eyes.

Concubine Liu unhurriedly tucked in the corners of Xu Shi’s blanket, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“Old Madam, this concubine has already informed the master that I will serve you daily from now on. Look, we sisters have deep sisterly affection after all. Even in our old age, it’s still this concubine keeping you company.”

Xu Shi’s eyelids twitched violently as she gasped heavily, making whimpering sounds from her mouth.

However, Dong Shi had already been led to the doorway by Qin Shuying and couldn’t see this scene at all.

Concubine Liu smiled very gently.

Qin Shuying said a few more words at the door before leaving with a sorrowful expression.

Once in the carriage, Qin Shuying threw her handkerchief on the ground: “Ziteng, burn this handkerchief later.”

Ziteng hummed in acknowledgment, then asked: “Madam, will Xu Shi die?”

Qin Shuying laughed coldly: “Dying so quickly would be too good for her. She needs to watch herself lose everything like Lu Changxuan did, with her heart and liver burning, only then would it match what she has done.”

Ziteng leaned her head against Qin Shuying’s side. Qin Shuying gently patted her shoulder and softened her voice: “Ziteng, elder sister isn’t ruthless and merciless. If elder sister doesn’t do this, she’ll never have peace in this lifetime.”

“Elder sister, I know.”

Xu Shi had caused the deaths of so many people. If she, Qin Shuying, didn’t avenge these relatives, didn’t avenge her past life’s self, she would never have peace of mind.

The two held hands and remained silent for a long time.

Xu Shi wasn’t actually pregnant, but had been given a strange drug. After taking it, she constantly felt nauseous and her menstrual flow was blocked, making it appear as if she were pregnant.

This vicious drug wasn’t administered by Qin Shuying, but by Concubine Liu.

Concubine Liu had given birth to a daughter, the Qin family’s Fourth Miss, who was three or four years older than Qin Lulu.

Several years ago, Xu Shi had arranged a marriage for Fourth Miss. The other party was a merchant’s son even inferior to Sun Qingping – unlearned and unaccomplished, frequenting brothels. Before even taking a wife, he already had several concubines.

That family had caught Xu Shi’s eye because they were extremely wealthy, saying they could provide tens of thousands of taels of silver as betrothal gifts.

Fourth Miss had a strong character and firmly refused.

Xu Shi locked Fourth Miss up.

Before long, she claimed Fourth Miss was pregnant, saying it was that man’s child. No matter how Fourth Miss tried to explain, she couldn’t escape Xu Shi’s control.

Coincidentally, at that time Old Madam Qin was bedridden with serious illness due to the deaths of Qin Yongzhou and his wife, so Xu Shi easily deceived Old Madam Qin.

Qin Yongtao wanted that family’s wealth, and hearing that Fourth Miss had already had improper relations with the man, he scolded Fourth Miss without asking many questions.

Fourth Miss, having a strong character, killed herself by ramming her head against a wall.

Concubine Liu kowtowed before Qin Yongtao until her forehead bled, but still couldn’t clear her dead daughter’s name. Carrying grief, indignation, and deep hatred, Concubine Liu chose the life of a Buddhist nun, staying long-term at mountain temples, ostensibly praying for the Qin family’s wellbeing, but actually avoiding Xu Shi’s persecution.

Only this way could she barely preserve her life.

But this didn’t mean she forgot this hatred.

So Concubine Liu, who already had some knowledge of medicine, studied drugs in the mountains.

That drug was the same vicious medicine that made Fourth Miss appear pregnant.

Fourth Miss, because Xu Shi had schemed to give her that drug, didn’t have her monthly flow during her menstrual period, and often felt nauseous, appearing as if she were pregnant.

Even physicians could diagnose a slippery pulse.

Back then, Concubine Liu had risked her life to obtain a small amount of the drug from Xu Shi. Though she knew this was evidence of her daughter’s poisoning, she knew she couldn’t present it as proof.

First, the amount of drug was too small – once used, there would be nothing left. Second, this drug was harmful, so who would be willing to test it? Third, even if she asked a physician to identify it, Qin Yongtao would absolutely refuse to summon a physician to cover up the scandal.

So Concubine Liu kept the drug, studying it intently over the years, finally managing to create this type of drug.

Qin Shuying had long planned to deal with Xu Shi, but hadn’t found a better method.

Having someone assassinate Xu Shi would be too easy for her. But making Xu Shi spend her remaining life in pain without being discovered wasn’t so easy to achieve.

So she had long thought of Concubine Liu, and had sent people to contact her last year. Concubine Liu was initially wary, but gradually agreed to join forces with Qin Shuying.

But at that time, Concubine Liu didn’t have the drug either, as creating such a drug wasn’t easy.

At the beginning of this year, Concubine Liu sent word to Qin Shuying that the drug was finally ready, asking when Qin Shuying could help her return to the Qin family – she wanted to personally send Xu Shi to her death.

Qin Shuying initially couldn’t find a good opportunity either. When Old Madam Qin died, Concubine Liu proposed returning to the Qin family, and Qin Yongtao agreed to bring her back.

After Concubine Liu returned, with Qin Shuying’s help, she quickly had several trustworthy people and found an opportunity to act against Xu Shi.

Thus, Xu Shi, like Fourth Miss years ago, was diagnosed with pregnancy. Then she watched her husband and son want to kill her to cover up the scandal.

Moreover, she could receive care from her old sister Concubine Liu – truly not wasting Xu Shi’s scheming and insatiable greed from years past.

This kind of ending was the best for Xu Shi.

Wasn’t it?

Xu Shi, this is just the beginning. You’ll have plenty more to endure ahead.