“Madam—”

Lady Liu steadied herself and instructed her trusted old woman: “Go fetch Fourth Miss.”

Soon, Fourth Miss Li Yan came in, her cheeks rosy: “Mother called for me? I was just playing shuttlecock with Sixth Sister.”

“Yan’er, come sit down.” Lady Liu pointed to the small stool beside her.

Sensing something was wrong with Lady Liu’s expression, Li Yan put away her smile and sat down properly, nervously clasping her hands.

“Concubine Bing is with child.”

“Madam—” Lady Liu’s words shocked her trusted old woman, who couldn’t help but cry out.

Fourth Miss was still young – why tell her such things?

Lady Liu smiled self-mockingly and spoke plainly: “Fourth Miss should also know about such matters.”

The trusted old woman dared not speak again.

“Mother, if Concubine Bing is pregnant, won’t Grandmother send her away?” Li Yan’s palm-sized face turned deathly pale as she asked with wide, watery almond eyes.

Lady Liu felt both heartbroken and comforted.

That her eldest daughter could think of this was at least some consolation.

“Mother, is that right?”

Lady Liu nodded: “Yes, though your grandmother is fair, since Concubine Bing is pregnant and the child is innocent, she can’t just send Concubine Bing away like that. Yan’er, you must remember – this isn’t your grandmother’s fault.”

Li Yan nodded obediently: “Mother, I understand. It’s all Father’s fault!”

Lady Liu smiled bitterly: “Yes, your father is single-mindedly doting on Concubine Bing. What can others do?”

“Mother—” Li Yan couldn’t help but cry.

She didn’t know how to help her mother.

At this moment, she felt so useless.

Why was Third Sister so capable when they were the same age?

“Yan’er, ordinarily, elder matters shouldn’t involve you, but you’re already fourteen this year and will soon be discussing marriage. Mother doesn’t want to raise you as a delicate flower that’s never seen wind and rain, only to let others manipulate you in the future.”

Li Yan nodded gently.

“Yan’er, remember this – most men in this world are unreliable. After women marry, they’re confined to the inner quarters with limited vision, making them easily blinded by temporary gains and losses. In such situations, what do you think should be done?”

“I… I don’t know…”

In her memory, Mother was shrewd and capable, with good feelings toward Father. Who knew that in just a few years, Father would change?

If people changed, what should be done?

Lady Liu gazed at her eldest daughter and sighed softly: “Mother will now tell you what your maternal grandmother once told me – when you don’t know what to do, don’t pretend to be stronger than you are. Just follow someone wise.”

“Someone wise?” Li Yan murmured.

“Yes, your Third Sister is that wise person.” Lady Liu wiped the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief. “Yan’er, come with Mother to visit your Third Sister.”

Lady Liu brought Li Yan to Qiao Zhao’s quarters.

Qiao Zhao instructed A’Zhu to serve tea.

After A’Zhu served tea and withdrew, Lady Liu spoke: “Second Aunt came today because there’s something I want to discuss with Third Miss.”

“Please speak, Second Aunt.”

“Concubine Bing is with child.” Lady Liu looked ashamed. “Ordinarily, an aunt shouldn’t discuss such matters with Third Miss, but I know Third Miss is knowledgeable and understands medicine. Second Aunt just wants to ask – Concubine Bing drank the contraceptive decoction, so why is she still pregnant?”

She really couldn’t understand. Could it truly be Heaven’s will for Concubine Bing to stay?

Hearing that Concubine Bing was pregnant, Qiao Zhao was slightly surprised.

Concubine Bing was Li Guangshu’s concubine. For such a pregnancy matter, Old Madam Deng naturally wouldn’t specifically mention it to Qiao Zhao, an unmarried young lady.

Thinking of the situation Shao Mingyuan’s people had investigated, Qiao Zhao became suspicious. After pondering for a moment, she asked: “Second Aunt, could you show me the contraceptive decoction Concubine Bing has been taking?”

“That’s no problem. The contraceptive decoction was prepared on Old Madam’s orders. Each time, the medicine dregs are collected by the two old women serving Concubine Bing and sent to me.”

Thinking of those bowls of medicine dregs, Lady Liu gritted her teeth with even more hatred toward Li Guangshu.

That scoundrel – even during their most passionate times, it was never this frequent!

Soon, Qiao Zhao saw the medicine dregs Lady Liu had sent over. She stirred them with her hand and lowered her head to sniff.

“How is it?” Lady Liu asked nervously.

“There’s nothing wrong with the contraceptive decoction.”

Lady Liu looked dazed: “Could it be Heaven’s will?”

Heaven’s will?

Qiao Zhao shook her head.

Any so-called Heaven’s will couldn’t be separated from human intervention.

For Concubine Bing to become pregnant while taking contraceptive decoction, one possibility was frequent intimacy – the decoction’s effectiveness wasn’t absolute, making this purely accidental. The other possibility was that someone had tampered with things.

Considering Concubine Bing’s special background, she leaned toward the latter.

“What about the two old women serving Concubine Bing?”

“Old Madam felt they were negligent in their duties and punished them by making them work in the courtyard.”

Working as a sweeping woman in the courtyard was naturally less comfortable than serving a concubine.

“I’d like Second Aunt to investigate the recent family situations of those two old women.”

Lady Liu was startled: “Third Miss suspects those two old women have problems?”

Qiao Zhao smiled, not avoiding the topic in front of Fourth Miss Li Yan: “Second Aunt, Concubine Bing’s pregnancy is suspicious to begin with. If you don’t accept this as Heaven’s will, then let’s first treat this matter as someone having tampered with things. For Concubine Bing to become pregnant, there are only two possibilities – either she took medicine to counteract the contraceptive decoction’s effects, or she never drank the contraceptive decoction at all.”

Lady Liu couldn’t help but nod: “Third Miss is right.”

“I remember Grandmother saying those two old women should watch Concubine Bing closely. That being the case, if Concubine Bing wanted to take medicine to counteract the contraceptive decoction or avoid drinking it, she couldn’t hide it from their eyes. But the two old women never reported any unusual circumstances to Grandmother. What does this indicate?”

Anger flashed in Lady Liu’s eyes: “It means the two old women were bribed by her?”

Qiao Zhao nodded: “Assuming Concubine Bing’s pregnancy was artificial, regardless of which method she chose, the two old women couldn’t escape involvement.”

“I’ll investigate!” Lady Liu slammed the table.

“Second Aunt, it’s best not to alarm Second Uncle about the investigation.” Qiao Zhao reminded her.

After initial bewilderment, Lady Liu quickly nodded.

She should have realized – how could Concubine Bing bribe the two old women without Li Guangshu’s help?

Having helped Old Madam Deng manage household affairs for years, Lady Liu naturally had some connections and quickly learned about the two old women’s family situations.

“Old Woman Zhang’s youngest son is a gambler who lost a large sum during New Year’s. Originally, he was fighting terribly with his wife, but recently their home has been peaceful. Old Woman Wang’s husband is a consumptive who’s been bedridden for years, but lately his health has improved. My spy quietly investigated and someone visiting Old Woman Wang’s house spotted her husband eating ginseng…”

Speaking to this point, Lady Liu’s tone was already quite certain: “Both families’ conditions suddenly improved simultaneously. What trickery is involved is already obvious.”

Qiao Zhao nodded secretly.

That Lady Liu could investigate these matters so quickly showed that her abilities were not weak.

“But even if those two old things bite their tongues and refuse to admit anything, there’s no way to handle them.” Lady Liu sighed.

“Second Aunt, have Old Woman Wang come to Jinrong Courtyard. I’ll question her.”