In early November, every household in the capital had begun preparing for winter, yet the Chengyang Marquis Estate appeared exceptionally quiet. Ever since Jiang Xingjian had donned his armor and departed for battle again, everyone in the estate from top to bottom had been on edge, fearing the scene from years ago would repeat itself.

Mother Jiang spent every day in the small Buddhist hall chanting sutras and praying to Buddha. Lin Jiayue only stayed in her room to protect her pregnancy, going nowhere. Even when Huai Su occasionally wanted to see her, she was too lazy to meet, spending all day idly confined in Longxiang Studio, casually flipping through the books Song Wan had left behind.

With Jiang Xingjian absent from the estate, she seemed to have lost her fighting spirit, unable to muster any energy. Only when Jiang Xing was present would she force herself to accompany her in reading, writing, embroidery, or braiding cords.

Mother Jiang had originally looked down upon the child in her womb, but recently she had frequently sent the estate physician to check her pulse for safety, which had made Lin Jiayue increasingly irritated.

If Jiang Xingjian hadn’t left the capital, this little thing in her belly would probably be long gone already.

Lin Jiayue gently touched her swollen abdomen, a flash of struggle and tenderness crossing her eyes.

“Concubine Lin, Shopkeeper Xu from the general store requests an audience.”

“To see me?”

Qi Shun’s wife nodded. “This old servant also found it strange. When asked what the matter was, he wouldn’t say. Shall this old servant accompany you to see him?”

“Let’s see him. Perhaps there’s some problem with the shop.”

She walked out with an indifferent expression. Qi Shun’s wife watched her demeanor and behavior, feeling it was strangely familiar.

Shopkeeper Xu was the general manager of the marquis estate’s general store in the capital, a thin and wiry old man past his sixtieth year. Lin Jiayue had only met him once when the shop opened, accompanying Jiang Xingjian. For him to now seek her out was truly perplexing.

Leaving Lanting Courtyard, Lin Jiayue walked slowly toward the small pavilion near the hanging flower gate. Though winter hadn’t yet arrived, she still felt somewhat cold.

Tightening the cloak around her, she looked at the old man before her with a bored expression.

Shopkeeper Xu didn’t say much either. He simply handed her a package in his hand. “A customer said there was a problem with goods from the shop and told this old servant to personally deliver this item to the proprietor.”

“With the marquis absent, this old servant thought this item should rightfully be given to Concubine Lin.”

Lin Jiayue frowned and took the item, opening it casually. Inside were several miscellaneous objects. She couldn’t make out any problems, but the tattered piece of clothing at the very bottom caught her attention.

“What is this…”

Unfolding the garment, Lin Jiayue glanced over it and suddenly her expression changed.

Seeing her reaction, Shopkeeper Xu knew she understood in her heart. After bowing, he left a message that she could summon him if there was anything, then turned and departed.

“What’s wrong with these items? This old servant didn’t notice anything.”

Lin Jiayue gathered those items together, her expression bland. “There’s a flaw in the mold the craftsman made. I’ll take it back to my room to examine.”

Returning to her room, Lin Jiayue laid the garment flat on the table, then found paper and brush to copy down all the contents written on it. After clearly reading the information Jiang Xingjian had transmitted, she slumped into a chair in a daze.

Even if this item had been sent to the capital by eight-hundred-li express delivery, it would still take over ten days. By now, Jiang Xingjian and the Crown Prince’s people might have already been completely annihilated.

Lin Jiayue tossed the paper and brush in her hand onto the table with a contemptuous sneer.

But as she sneered, she couldn’t help but shed tears.

What if… what if they weren’t dead yet and were still desperately holding on?

Thinking of how the message said Jiang Man had already been brutally tortured to death, Lin Jiayue bit her lip, unable to calm down for a long while.

She thought she hated Jiang Xingjian and hated Jiang Man, even painfully hated everyone and everything in the entire Chengyang Marquis Estate. She thought that even a single stone or blade of grass in the Chengyang Marquis Estate, she would hate.

But why…

Why, upon learning that Jiang Xingjian was trapped at Su River and that Jiang Man had died for such an absurd reason, did she only feel shock without the slightest satisfaction?

Lin Jiayue touched her abdomen, her eyes full of painful struggle.

“Sister Yue.”

Jiang Xing pushed open the door. Just as she tentatively peeked her head in, she was startled by Lin Jiayue suddenly rising and striding quickly toward the door. She was just about to ask when she saw Lin Jiayue already clutching her belly and running out.

“Be careful of your body…”

Just as she left Longxiang Studio, Lin Jiayue was stopped by Qing Wei.

“What is Concubine Lin doing? Be careful of your body.”

“Quick, I must enter the palace to see Song Wan.”

Lin Jiayue opened her eyes wide, her heart bitter.

Who would have thought that after experiencing life, death, and betrayal in a foreign land, the only person she trusted when facing major matters would actually be Song Wan?

Qing Wei had originally been a palace ceremonial official and had managed estate affairs for a long time. Some time ago, Jiang Xingjian had taken her into his household, though at that time he had only written her into the estate registry. That was right when the old matriarch had passed away and the estate was still in mourning. If the marquis estate hadn’t encountered successive troubles and Qing Wei’s status hadn’t been truly awkward, this measure probably wouldn’t have been taken.

Perhaps precisely because of this, neither she nor Lin Jiayue harbored any hostility toward each other. Though there were occasionally small conflicts between them, on major matters the two could still keep their heads clear.

“I’m afraid it won’t be easy to arrange.”

Qing Wei said, “A concubine’s status is too low to submit a calling card to enter the palace. If there’s truly an urgent matter, we can only have a palace mistress summon you. But Song Chenghui’s rank is also low—she has no authority to summon people from outside the palace.”

“If you truly have urgent business, I might be able to ask someone to inquire with Noble Consort Yun. If Noble Consort Yun consents, you might be able to meet Song Chenghui.”

“No, we cannot see Noble Consort Yun.”

With Jiang Xingjian and the Crown Prince in trouble, only Third Prince Shen Qianbai remained in court. If the Crown Prince’s party all perished at Su River, Shen Qianbai could directly ascend to power!

Asking her to use the empire as a wager to test human nature—she couldn’t do it.

Lin Jiayue grabbed Qing Wei, anxiety showing in her eyes.

“This…”

After pondering for a moment, Qing Wei said, “Then Concubine Lin can only seek the old madam.”

Mother Jiang held an imperial mandate. If she wished to see Song Wan, she could simply submit a calling card to enter the palace. No one should obstruct her.

“The old madam?”

Lin Jiayue froze, her heart bitter.

To her, Mother Jiang was even less reliable than herself.

But at this moment, there could be no more delays. Every moment of delay might mean more deaths.

Lin Jiayue gritted her teeth and turned to head toward Mother Jiang’s Jiangxiang Courtyard.

“What are you doing acting so flustered?”

Mother Jiang was meditating in the small Buddhist hall when Lin Jiayue suddenly pushed open the door, startling her into raising her eyebrows sharply.

“All of you, go outside. I have matters to discuss with Madam.”

Lin Jiayue looked at the maids and servants in the room and sent them all out. Nanny Li was dissatisfied in her heart and was just about to scold her a few words when Lin Jiayue shouted loudly for her to get lost.

“Mother, something has happened at Su River.”

Having pushed everyone out, Lin Jiayue said tearfully, “His Majesty ostensibly sent the marquis to Su River, but secretly reached an agreement with Nanqing, withdrawing all the garrison forces from Su River. Now only an empty shell remains.”

“Moreover, Consort Jiang was secretly sent by His Majesty into the hands of the Nanqing princess and has long since been tortured to death.”

“His Majesty has made up his mind to end the Chengyang Marquis Estate’s life. We cannot sit and wait for death.”

“I must enter the palace to see Song Wan. Mother, please help me!”

“Help me!”