Liu Chang exited He’s shop with a gloomy face. He glanced at Qiushi coldly and said, “Shut up! Follow me back to the tavern immediately.”

Qiushi gaped in surprise, “Aren’t we going home first?”

Liu Chang replied indifferently, “There’s no rush. More important matters await.” If the child wasn’t dead, hurrying back might have some use. But since he was already gone, there was no point in rushing. Sooner or later, it would be the same.

With his master’s attitude, Qiushi saw no need to dwell on sad memories or pretend to grieve for a young child. He wiped his tears and accompanied Liu Chang to the “Mi Ji” tavern without further comment.

Upon entering the tavern, Liu Chang went upstairs. Reaching a private room, he pushed the door open without knocking and addressed the person inside, “The He family will certainly do everything to secure this deal. You can start preparing the next step.”

The person inside laughed, “How can you be so sure? They’re experienced businesspeople, known for their caution.”

Liu Chang replied confidently, “I just know. Just do as I say and don’t ask questions. You’ll be well rewarded when it’s done.” Everyone has their temperament. If he hadn’t made this trip, the He family might not have been so determined to close this deal. Now that he had shown interest, they would certainly not give up easily. Judging from Mudan’s reaction, it was almost certain that this deal would happen. The He family was currently short-handed; if not now, when?

After making arrangements at the tavern, Liu Chang returned home. As soon as he entered, Biwu dropped Qi’er from her arms and rushed over to him, wailing. She grabbed his waist, her hair disheveled and face tear-stained, looking up at him, “My lord, you must seek justice for Qi’er! It must be her, it must be her. My poor Qi’er, you died so unjustly…”

Liu Chang patted her shoulder reassuringly. He glanced at Qi’er’s small body, feeling a pang in his heart. With a stern face, he asked, “Who made the glutinous rice balls, and who fed them to him? Drag them out and beat them severely!”

Madam Qi, her eyes red and swollen, said coldly, “No need to ask. It was all done by his wet nurse. She’s already dead.”

Liu Chang was stunned, “How did she die?”

Madam Qi was heartbroken, hating Qinghua, frustrated with her useless subordinates, and resenting Liu’s father for causing so much trouble. She felt dispirited and didn’t bother to answer him, only lowering her gaze to fiddle with her prayer beads and murmur Buddhist chants. Yu’er, tightly hugging Jiaoniang, stood nearby and whispered, “As soon as the young master stopped breathing, she ran into a wall and died.”

So there was no trace left? What a neat “accident.” Liu Chang gritted his teeth, vowing revenge.

Biwu, seemingly possessed, lunged forward and grabbed Liu Chang’s sleeve, crying out, “My Qi’er was always healthy. When He Mudan was here, nothing ever happened. Why did this suddenly occur when she was about to enter the family? It must be her. Qi’er offended her that day… She first took the life of Yutong’s child, and now Qi’er’s… She’s a poisonous woman! You can’t let her enter the family. You absolutely cannot!” She pointed at Jiaoniang, her tone icy and certain, “If you do, mark my words, Jiaoniang will be next!”

Yu’er held Jiaoniang tighter, shuddering.

“Silence!” Liu Chengcai glanced worriedly at Liu Chang, fearing he might suddenly change his mind about marrying Qinghua. He frowned and scolded, “Qi’er simply choked to death. How dare you spread baseless rumors? This is a marriage decreed by the Emperor himself. How can an ignorant woman like you gossip about such matters?”

Biwu, thinking that with her beauty ruined and her son dead, she had nothing left to lose, abandoned her usual fear of Liu Chengcai. She shouted, “Master, Madam, although Qi’er was born of a concubine, he was still your grandson, your flesh and blood. Everyone knows his death is suspicious. What does it matter if it involves the royal family? If you’re real men, you should seek justice for your flesh and blood…”

Liu Chengcai cut her off sharply, “Silence! I’ll overlook your outburst considering your grief, but I forbid you to slander others. Someone, take her back to her room! Don’t let her out without my permission!”

Biwu wailed, turning to Liu Chang, “My lord, I’ve served you for many years, always accommodating your wishes without ever going against you. From the moment Qi’er could speak, he called you ‘Father’ dozens of times every day! Even if you don’t care for my years of devotion, think of him as your flesh and blood, losing his life at such a young age…”

Liu Chang felt a pang of sympathy seeing her pitiful state, remembering their past intimacy. Still, he hardened his heart and said, “Take the concubine back to her room and call for a doctor.” He then turned away from Biwu, focusing on arranging the funeral. When Liu Chengcai tried to speak to him several times, he pretended not to hear. Liu Chengcai had no choice but to leave.

Biwu cried herself to exhaustion, lying dejectedly in her room. When Yu’er, Xiansu, and Yutong came to see her, she only looked at them with a cold laugh, “You’ll all end up like me.” As she spoke, she stared at Yu’er, who felt chilled and quickly found an excuse to leave. The other two, who had often clashed with her when she was favored, also left.

Biwu buried her face in her pillow, crying uncontrollably, cursing Princess Qinghua countless times, and then blaming Liu Chang for being heartless. Exhausted from crying, she suddenly heard footsteps. Liu Chang sat down beside her, not consoling her, but saying, “You’ve been with me for a while, I won’t let you suffer for nothing. I ask you this: if you want to leave, take some money and clothes and go. If you want to stay, you must endure and be careful. One day, we’ll avenge our son.”

Surprised by his words, Biwu stopped crying and stared at Liu Chang for a while before bursting into tears again, clutching his sleeve, “My lord! I don’t want money. Where could I go if I left? As long as you keep your last promise, everything will be fine.”

Seeing her eyes swollen like walnuts, her hair disheveled, and her face pale, Liu Chang took a handkerchief to wipe her face. As he did so, Biwu had other thoughts, leaning into his embrace and whispering, “My lord, I only have you now. I’m helpless. Please give me another child to rely on.”

Her son had just died, yet she was thinking of having another child, even in the mood for such things. Liu Chang stiffened, feeling disgusted, but couldn’t find the words to refuse. It seemed reasonable that she would want another child to replace the one she lost, and he did need a son not born of Qinghua. But at this moment, he truly didn’t want to do this with Biwu. As he was trying to find a tactful way to refuse, he heard a commotion outside. Princess Qinghua had come to pay respects upon hearing of Qi’er’s death and was asking to see him.

Liu Chang quickly pushed away Biwu’s hands from his waist and stood up, saying, “I’ll go see. You rest. Now isn’t the time. When you’re better, we have plenty of time ahead. I’ll surely give you another child.” He called for maids to attend to Biwu and give her medicine.

Biwu stopped clinging to him and lay back on the bed, sobbing herself to sleep.

Liu Chang went out to find Princess Qinghua dressed in plain clothes, sitting with Liu Chengcai. Liu Chengcai was very polite, but Madam Qi was nowhere to be seen. Hearing movement, Qinghua looked up at him, her face full of sympathy, “Where’s Biwu? How did this happen? Such a sweet child, it’s truly a pity.”

Liu Chang coldly observed her, detecting a hint of poorly concealed triumphant glee in her expression. Inwardly, he wanted to tear Qinghua to pieces, but he maintained his composure as he sat beside her, saying indifferently, “It was his fate. He lacked good fortune; we can’t blame others.” He leaned back in his chair, playing with a jade ring on his finger, glancing at A’jie.

A’jie looked at him briefly, then lowered her head to fiddle with her sash.

Seeing Liu Chang’s apparent indifference and lack of intention to investigate, Qinghua felt more at ease. Deciding to exercise her future authority as the Liu family’s mistress, she said, “I’ll go see Biwu.”

Isn’t she asking for trouble? Liu Chang smirked, “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you here.”

Liu Chengcai wanted to intervene, but a fierce glare from Liu Chang made him leave in frustration, unwilling to deal with these sordid affairs.

As soon as Qinghua left, Liu Chang also went to the back. Shortly after, A’jie came over furtively. Liu Chang grabbed her wrist and said in a low voice, “Well done! Not even a word to me about such a big event. Your heart is as cruel as hers! Do you also want to help her keep me under control, cutting off my lineage?”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell you,” A’jie pleaded. “She didn’t tell anyone. It was arranged in secret, and I only found out this morning. I was worried she might already be pregnant and was on guard.”

Liu Chang paused, then made a quick decision, “Don’t send anyone to pass messages for a while. Cut off all communication. If there’s anything, I’ll send someone to find you. Now, hurry back.”

A’jie left hurriedly.

Liu Chang stood for a moment, then heard that Pan Rong had arrived. He rushed to the front to meet her, keeping an ear out for any commotion from the back. He saw Pan Rong looking fresh and vibrant, seemingly living well. Feeling a twinge of jealousy, he said sourly, “I haven’t seen you for a while. I sent people to look for you, but you were nowhere to be found. I only heard that you’ve dismissed several beautiful concubines and suddenly become abstinent. What have you been up to?”

Pan Rong replied, “A’xin is pregnant and felt bored at home, so she went to stay at the villa. It’s rare for her to be in a good mood, so of course I’ve been keeping her company.” As she spoke, her expression revealed happiness and contentment.

Liu Chang had always known about their relationship. Once they were in similar predicaments, but now Pan Rong was living comfortably while his household was in chaos. Liu Chang felt a wave of gloom but forced a smile, “Congratulations on finally achieving your heart’s desire, living in harmony. Weren’t things unsettled before? How did it improve?”

“It’s all thanks to He Mudan’s mediation. I never expected her to be so kind-hearted and understanding. We truly benefited from her help.” Seeing Liu Chang’s strange expression, Pan Rong quickly changed the subject, lowering her voice, “What’s going on here? How did things suddenly turn out like this? I saw the Princess’s carriage outside, but where is she?”

Everything seemed to be connected to He Mudan. First, Biwu said if Mudan were still here, Qi’er wouldn’t have died. Now Pan Rong was crediting Mudan for mediating… Liu Chang fell silent for a moment, then sneered, “Green bamboo snake’s mouth, yellow wasp’s tail sting. She’s busy comforting Biwu now, playing the role of a good person.”

Having known each other for years, Pan Rong understood without further explanation. She widened her eyes, “She hasn’t even officially entered the family yet, and she’s already acting like a home-wrecking demon. How can you endure this?”

Liu Chang felt increasingly uncomfortable, “What else can I do? I have no evidence. Even if I did, aren’t such incidents common? Whoever gets punished for them?”

Pan Rong was speechless for a moment, looking at him sympathetically, “Then what will you do in the future?”

Liu Chang replied darkly, “We’ll see who outlasts whom.” He vowed to make her life unbearable, to ruin her reputation.

Pan Rong hesitated, then said softly, “If you had known earlier, you…”

Liu Chang interrupted impatiently, “If I had known earlier, would I have let things come to this?”

They sat in silence, drinking tea. Soon, several of Liu Chang’s friends arrived, having heard the news. They all gathered to drink tea. Suddenly, Nianer flashed by the curtain. Qiushi quickly followed her out and returned moments later to whisper in Liu Chang’s ear, “Concubine Biwu tried to stab the Princess with scissors. She’s been subdued by the Princess’s attendants and tied up in the back. They’re asking Madam how to deal with her. The Princess’s hand was slightly cut, and Madam was at a loss. She’s requesting your presence.”

Liu Chang felt short of breath. He had hoped Princess Qinghua would face some trouble with Biwu, but he never expected Qinghua to have such intentions, aiming to eliminate the problem. He had fallen into her trap. He couldn’t let her have her way. After a brief contemplation, he gave Qiushi some quiet instructions. Qiushi left to carry out the orders while Liu Chang remained seated, pretending nothing was amiss.

Soon, a commotion broke out. The incident had been exposed. Biwu, disheveled and seemingly deranged, ran out and knelt before Liu Chang, crying and begging for mercy. She then embraced Qi’er’s body, wailing loudly. Princess Qinghua didn’t appear, but her attendants rushed out furiously, demanding Biwu be punished and pressing Liu Chang to take a stand. The guests looked at each other, unsure whether to stay or leave.

Liu Chang seized the opportunity to plead for Biwu, saying she was grief-stricken and temporarily out of her mind, asking Princess Qinghua to be understanding. The attendants, following Qinghua’s instructions, firmly refused to relent.

Biwu knelt on the ground, crying heart-rendingly, looking utterly pitiful. Led by Pan Rong, the guests began to speak up for her, asking to see the Princess. The attendants insisted the Princess was too shocked to come out.

The guests sighed, remarking that royal ladies were indeed untouchable. Inside, hearing the reports, Princess Qinghua realized she couldn’t maintain her act. She had to emerge, pretending to be shaken. She walked out unsteadily and, in front of everyone, personally pardoned Biwu but insisted she move out to prevent her from harming others in her unstable state.

Biwu clung to Qi’er, crying as if her life depended on it. Her words seemed strange, causing the guests to sigh inwardly and grow suspicious. Liu Chang looked extremely frustrated, enduring as Princess Qinghua wielded her authority. Each guest left with a sympathetic look towards him. He felt utterly stifled but had no choice but to endure.

Finally, in the evening, Princess Qinghua left. Madam Qi unleashed her anger on Liu Chang, crying and scolding him for not being man enough to protect his mother, son, and women, allowing them to be bullied by the venomous Qinghua. Liu Chang, unable to breathe, stormed out, passing by Liu Chengcai without a word, only glaring at him.

He went to Yu’er’s room and drank himself into a stupor. Waking up in the middle of the night, he saw Yu’er sitting alone by the window in the dim lamplight, looking desolate. He softened his voice, “Yu’er, why aren’t you sleeping?”

Yu’er turned to look at him, her eyes red, and said softly, “My lord, I have a request.”

Seeing her unusual expression, Liu Chang raised his voice, “Speak quickly!”

Yu’er knelt, sobbing quietly, “My lord, today one of the Princess’s attendants asked me if you’ve been staying in my room these days…” Before she could finish, there was a loud crash as Liu Chang smashed a jade pillow, his eyes bloodshot, gritting his teeth in silence.

When he calmed down, Yu’er continued, “I’m not afraid for myself, but Jiaoniang, she’s so young…” Tears streamed down her face as she kowtowed, “Please protect her.”

Liu Chang glared at Yu’er fiercely, “How do you want me to protect her?”

Yu’er said softly, “Biwu is living alone outside, lonely and pitiful. Let me go keep her company.”

Liu Chang sneered, “If you go out with her, aren’t you afraid someone will cut off your supplies and frame you with false charges?”

Yu’er cautiously replied, “As long as you look after us, considering our past relationship, I don’t think it will come to that. Even if we become poor, as long as we can protect our daughter, I’m willing.”

Each seeking their path to avoid disaster, this family would soon be under Qinghua’s complete control. He couldn’t even decide whom to favor. In the past, when Mudan was here, didn’t all these concubines eagerly await his visits? They used various tactics to please him, making him pity them, hoping he would stay an extra night. Wherever he went, he was the center of attention. Now, his presence had become a burden, something they feared most…

Liu Chang felt both humiliated and hateful. His anger burned fiercely as he glared at Yu’er, “It’s not just to protect your daughter, but to save your own life, right? Did her attendants suggest this to you? Since you’ve already sided with her and followed her every word, why bother asking me?”

Yu’er wept, “My lord, I’ve been with you for years. You know my character. When Madam He was here, everyone bullied her, but I never did. I always kept to my place. After she left, even when others had their agendas, I still maintained my position. In this situation, what else can I do? If I take Jiaoniang and stay out of the way, it will be less troublesome for you. Please pity Jiaoniang. I carried her for ten months and have raised her until now. A thousand days and nights of hard work. You are my husband and master. How could I side with her? If you don’t want me to leave, I’ll stay with you until the end.”

Liu Chang suddenly felt it all meaningless. He waved his hand weakly, “Just go, all of you.”

Yu’er quickly kowtowed to him several times. Not daring to pack her things, she sat with him, both staring at the cold lamp until dawn began to break. Then they parted ways, each to their affairs.

After burying Qi’er, Liu Chang personally visited Prince Wei’s mansion to discuss his marriage to Princess Qinghua. He didn’t mention any of the household issues, only promising to treat Qinghua well and put on a good show in public and private. Prince Wei was delighted and invited him to stay for dinner. They discussed many matters. Liu Chang flattered and pleased the Prince, who was overjoyed, remarking that he never knew Liu Shu was such a talented man, finding they had so much in common.

When Princess Qinghua heard about this, she smiled smugly, assuming Liu Chang had submitted. She said to her attendants, “Men are born this way. Smile at them, and they jump like monkeys, not knowing their place. If I treated him like He Mudan did, he wouldn’t take me seriously. Now that he knows my power, I can slowly and carefully deal with him. I may not make him drink urine like his father Liu Shangshu, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t dare act recklessly.”

These words reached Liu Chang’s ears, infuriating him. He paced furiously in his room countless times before finally swallowing his anger. He began to spend less time at home. After leaving his official duties each day, he would gather colleagues or noble clan members to visit “Mi Ji,” exchanging drinks, listening to songs and music, quietly cultivating relationships.

One evening, as they had just seated themselves in the tavern, Qiushi entered and gave Liu Chang a signal. Liu Chang quickly excused himself and went to another room. Standing by the street-facing window, Qiushi whispered, “The He family’s sixth young master was just taken home.”

Liu Chang’s eyes lit up, and he raised an eyebrow, “Tomorrow, don’t follow me. Stay here and watch who comes to guard the incense shop.” As he spoke, he saw Mudan riding past the tavern, wrapped in a large red brocade cloak lined with sable fur, looking calm and composed. She seemed to be hurrying home to see Sixth Young Master and have dinner with the family.

As Liu Chang watched Mudan’s figure disappear, he said, “Tomorrow, send someone to discuss this business with He Sixth. He owes so much money and has lost so much face, he’ll surely want to earn back the money and reputation before his brother and sister.”

Meanwhile, Mudan returned home to find most of the family gathered in the main hall. Madam Cen sat in the place of honor, with the Sixth Young Master prostrate at her feet, crying and repeatedly admitting his mistakes, swearing never to offend again. He begged Madam Cen to let him return to managing the shop and make amends.

Madam Cen said indifferently, “You’ve just returned and are not well. Rest for now, and we’ll discuss it later.” Concubine Yang, hearing this, grew anxious and said, “Letting him oversee things is better than having Daniang, a young woman, run around in wind and snow. Moving about will help him regain his strength.”

Hearing this, the Sixth Young Master immediately looked at Mudan. So Mudan had already taken over the incense shop’s business?