Yan Qing waited through the entire night without seeing Shi Guang make any further move. The doctor had left and did not return.

She understood that Shi Guang was suspicious by nature and would not let go of his doubts easily. But this time, she was more inclined to believe that Shi Guang was simply stretched too thin — he had no time to spare for her affairs.

By the time the next morning came around, the roosters crowed, and the Shi Mansion, blanketed as it was in a tense, anxious atmosphere, began to stir awake with the sound of the cock’s call.

“Miss, look who has come!” Jing Zhi’s voice rang out with delighted surprise.

Second Concubine Mother’s voice reached them before she did.

“Mother?” Yan Qing went happily to meet her.

“Go back and lie down. What are you getting up for?” Second Concubine Mother said before she had even drawn close.

“Mother, how did you come over?” Yan Qing said with a smile. “Shi Guang actually permitted you to leave your courtyard?”

“Second Concubine Mother and Shi Guang do still share some affection between them, however small,” said the woman beside Second Concubine Mother. She held a clay pot cradled in her arms, resting on a tray beneath, from which a quiet waft of fragrance drifted.

“Shi Guang was young when I looked after him,” Luo Huaimeng said. “Perhaps he remembered that old bond.”

“He would not be that kind-hearted,” Yan Qing said, lowering her eyes.

“Are you suspicious of something?” Luo Huaimeng noticed the expression on Yan Qing’s face and asked, “He only let me come and see you. We cannot do much — it should not get in the way of what he is doing.”

“Shi Guang is not the sort of person who does anything for anyone without reason. Whatever fond memories he has of you from his childhood were probably cast to the back of his mind long ago.”

“The Second Young Master also sent someone to follow along,” the older woman beside her said. “There should not be anything to worry about.”

Yan Qing had no desire to spend too much time speculating about Shi Guang’s motives. Being able to see Luo Huaimeng was, of course, a genuine comfort to her.

“How have these past two days been? Are you feeling unwell in any way?” Luo Huaimeng drew Yan Qing down to sit at the head of the bed, her face filled with tender concern.

“No,” Yan Qing said with a smile, shaking her head.

Luo Huaimeng caught sight of the framed photograph on the dressing table — a picture of Yan Qing and Shi Ting together — and her eyes reddened involuntarily. “As for Xing Zhi, do not worry too much about him. From the time he was small, he never gave anyone cause to worry. When he was alone overseas, I truly could not sleep at night. I know he must have suffered greatly — but I also knew he was capable of getting through it. I was an irresponsible mother, leaving the child behind in a foreign country like that.”

“You sent him away for his own sake,” Yan Qing said, reassuring her. “He understands that.”

With the way the First Mistress was, how could she have allowed a son not of her own blood to live under the same roof? And Luo Huaimeng, without backing or support, had no means other than to draw close to and please the First Mistress. If Shi Ting had not been sent away, he might not have survived in the Shi Mansion.

This place, for all its surface grandeur, was in truth a demons’ den — one that devoured people without blinking an eye.

“I know he does not blame me, but I still feel guilty,” Luo Huaimeng said with a sigh. “All these years, he has never once given me cause to worry. Whatever difficulty he encountered — no matter how great the problem — he has always been able to resolve it on his own. So you must believe in him. Believe that he will come home safely. Believe that we will all come through this unharmed.”

“I believe it,” Yan Qing said, her eyes growing red. “I believe he will get through this and restore peace to Bei Di.”

“Young Mistress, drink your soup first,” the older woman said gently from the side. “This soup must be drunk while it is hot. Once it cools it will change in taste.”

“Look at me, I forgot something so important,” Luo Huaimeng said with a laugh. “Drink the soup first. Old Wang Mama was up at four in the morning to start simmering it.”

Wang Mama opened the clay pot. The aroma of the chicken broth came wafting out immediately.

The broth had been made from an old hen braised long and slow. Not a single drop of oil was visible on the surface — a testament to the skill of the one who had made it.

“Wang Mama is an expert at making broths. When I was recovering after childbirth, she was the one responsible for all my soups and meals,” Luo Huaimeng said.

“I have been fortunate,” Wang Mama said with a smile. “I have had the blessing of serving Second Concubine Mother, and now I get to serve the Young Mistress.”

Yan Qing took the porcelain bowl and soup spoon, blew gently across it, and under Luo Huaimeng’s watchful gaze, began drinking in small sips.

Just then, a murmur of voices drifted in from outside — the tone unfamiliar.

Yan Qing glanced toward the door. “Who is out there?”

“It is my daughter, Hong Hua,” Wang Mama said quickly. “She has been doing needlework since she was small and has become quite skilled. I had her make a couple of padded vests for the Young Mistress, and brought them along today.”

“Thank you,” Yan Qing said with a smile. “I was just in need of a padded vest.”

Wang Mama naturally understood that Yan Qing lacked nothing. The Yan family was among the wealthiest in Shun Cheng — her clothing had long since piled up in abundance. Yan Qing was simply being gracious, and giving face to the Young Mistress was giving face to Second Concubine Mother.

Hong Hua stood outside talking with Jing Zhi, her eyes wandering here and there as she chatted.

It was her first time coming to Tiaolan Court. She was captivated by the small courtyard — not large in area, yet its layout was distinctive and meticulously refined.

“Let me go get some melon seeds for you to snack on. I just roasted them a few days ago — they smell wonderful.” Jing Zhi said and got up to fetch them.

Hong Hua, with nothing to do, began looking around the small reception hall, seemingly curious about everything.

At this moment, the conversation from inside the room caught her attention. She had only been curious, and so she quietly edged closer.

“Second Concubine Mother is treating the Young Mistress like a woman in confinement after childbirth,” Wang Mama said with a laugh. “Young Mistress is only pregnant — she is not resting in confinement yet. There is no need to drink chicken broth every day. If she supplements too much, it may actually not be good for the baby.”

“I was just being too anxious,” Luo Huaimeng said with a laugh. “I only thought of how thin she is and wanted her to eat more and drink more.”

“Young Mistress has a strong constitution and has had few pregnancy symptoms. Second Concubine Mother, rest easy,” Wang Mama said reassuringly.

“Wang Mama herself gave birth to four children and is the most experienced of all. If she says there is no need, then there is no need,” Luo Huaimeng said. “I only want Xing Zhi to come back soon. If he knew, he would certainly be overjoyed.”

Luo Huaimeng let out a soft sigh. “I hope this child will be a little star of good fortune — one that can bring peace back to Shun Cheng. Alas, if this war breaks out on a full scale, it will be the common people who suffer.”

“Mother, do not worry. Once Shi Ting returns, all of this will be over.”

As the few of them talked, Hong Hua had already caught every word of the conversation inside clearly.

“No wonder Mother had to braise an old hen — so the Young Mistress is pregnant,” Hong Hua moved away from the doorway and went back to the seat she had been sitting at before, muttering to herself, “What an ill-fated time to be born. War is about to break out here, and who knows what will become of this place.”

“Here are the melon seeds,” Jing Zhi came in carrying a small bamboo tray. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Thank you, Sister Jing Zhi.” Hong Hua’s face lit up at the sight of the melon seeds.

For maids like them, all their daily necessities depended on what the mistress chose to give. Even melon seeds and snacks were not freely available.

For Hong Hua, getting to eat melon seeds was a moment of incomparable happiness.

Second Concubine Mother had not been sitting long before Squad Leader An’s voice came urgently from outside. “Second Concubine Mother, it is getting late — you really cannot make things difficult for me.”

The moment Luo Huaimeng heard his voice — like an executioner’s summons — she frowned with instant distaste.

Yan Qing held her hand and said, “Mother, you should go back. The fact that Shi Guang allowed you to come even once is not nothing.”

“You are right, Second Concubine Mother,” Wang Mama added. “Let us not butt heads with the Second Young Master. Perhaps he will let us come more often.”

“All right.” Luo Huaimeng rose to her feet, still not fully at ease. “You must take good care of yourself. Keep things in perspective. Xing Zhi will be all right.”

“I know, Mother.” Yan Qing walked Luo Huaimeng to the doorway, her reluctance plain. “You too — be careful with your health. Remember to keep taking your medicine.”

“The Young Mistress and Second Concubine Mother are truly like mother and daughter,” Wang Mama said from the side, looking on with warmth.

Luo Huaimeng patted Yan Qing’s hand and offered a few more words of parting before finally turning to leave.

Yan Qing watched them until they had passed through the courtyard gate, and still she had not looked away.

“Miss, what are you looking at? Second Concubine Mother and the others have already left,” Jing Zhi asked, puzzled.

“Wang Mama’s daughter,” Yan Qing said. “How long has she been in the Shi Mansion?”

Jing Zhi thought for a moment. “Half a year. I asked when we were chatting just now. That girl likes to take advantage of small opportunities — while I was not looking, she stuffed all the melon seeds I gave her into her pockets, as if I did not know. Wang Mama herself is a good person — always faithful to Second Concubine Mother and frequently giving us little treats. I would not have expected her daughter to be this kind of person.”

Jing Zhi had a strong dislike for people who enjoyed taking advantage of small kindnesses, even though Hong Hua did not appear to have any ill intentions.

“No one is perfect,” Murong said from the side. “She is Wang Mama’s youngest daughter, and Wang Mama has always doted on her — some spoiling was bound to happen. It is just a few melon seeds, though. If you wanted to give them to her, just give them.”

“It is not the melon seeds I mind.” Jing Zhi pursed her lips.

“Miss, do you think she has some problem?” Murong asked, alert.

Yan Qing shook her head. She had not really noticed anything particular about her — it was simply that her instinct put her on guard around someone she was unfamiliar with.

“Miss, do not worry. This Wang Mama has been beside Second Concubine Mother for decades and is the most loyal of all. She would never betray you.”

Yan Qing had every confidence in Wang Mama. The fact that Luo Huaimeng had brought her along spoke to the trust she placed in her.

Luo Huaimeng had always been this way — treating those around her with unconditional kindness. Inside the Shi Mansion, everyone knew that the servants in Second Concubine Mother’s quarters were treated the best.

And it was precisely because of this — because Luo Huaimeng had no wariness toward those close to her — that the incident with the poisonous Gu had happened the last time.

Yan Qing had no wish to suspect Hong Hua. It had been nothing more than an instinctive question.

Right now she did not want to dwell on these matters. What she most wanted was news of Shi Ting.

But trapped as she was in this narrow cage, how was she to know that he was safe?

%%%