The Li family’s West Residence was small, with the Yahe Courtyard where the first branch lived nearly adjacent to the Jinrong Courtyard where the second branch resided.

Originally, Li Guangshu should have received an appointment after the first month, but with Jiang Tang’s death, the high officials of the Personnel Ministry dared not show their faces before Emperor Mingkang, so the matter was delayed.

Li Guangshu was naturally anxious, running around making connections all day, not returning home until dark.

This was precisely convenient for Lady Liu’s actions.

In the warm chamber of Jinrong Courtyard’s main hall, the underfloor heating had just been removed. With no windows open, the airtight room was dimly lit and stuffily warm.

Old Woman Wang walked in with her head lowered. The medicinal smell filling the room made her unconsciously slow her steps, her expression gradually showing hesitation.

This medicinal smell was too familiar – it was the same as the odor that permeated her home year-round.

“Cough, cough—” A cough came from within.

Old Woman Wang instinctively looked up and saw Second Madam Liu with a waxy complexion lying sideways on the kang, her head wrapped in a headband, her disheveled hair looking messy.

Old Woman Wang was startled.

In their previous impression, this Second Madam was shrewd and capable, much stronger than the First Madam at Yahe Courtyard. How had she become like this so suddenly?

“This servant greets Second Madam.” Old Woman Wang suppressed her unease and paid her respects.

“Sit down.” Lady Liu said weakly.

Old Woman Wang looked nervously at the small stool.

“Don’t be nervous. I called Old Woman Wang here just to ask some casual questions. Cough, cough, cough—”

When Lady Liu coughed, Old Woman Wang felt her heart clench, involuntarily reminding her of countless nights of accompanying coughs.

“Old Woman Wang, you’ve served Concubine Bing for some time. Can you tell me what that concubine likes to do in her daily life?”

“Concubine Bing likes to read in her daily life, and sometimes plays the qin…”

“I see, reading and playing music – no wonder the master is willing to visit her. Unlike here, where I’m busy with household matters inside and out all day, managing the master’s daily needs and worrying about the children’s situations…” Lady Liu couldn’t continue, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and coughing violently.

“Second Madam—” Old Woman Wang clutched her clothes’ hem, at a loss.

Lady Liu removed the handkerchief, and Old Woman Wang’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of bright red.

She was too familiar with what this meant, and her face immediately turned pale with fright.

Soft footsteps approached. Old Woman Wang instinctively turned her head and saw a young girl with double buns carrying a medicine bowl.

The girl kept her eyes lowered, her expression unclear in the dim light. Perhaps because of this, Old Woman Wang found herself straining to see more clearly.

Why couldn’t she immediately recognize which young miss this was?

She looked like Fourth Miss, but also like Third Miss.

As the girl passed by Old Woman Wang, the strong medicinal smell flooded directly into her nostrils.

Smelling this scent, Old Woman Wang felt even more familiar with it.

The girl’s gentle voice rang out: “Please drink your medicine. There’s ginseng in it, which is most effective for your current condition…”

Old Woman Wang listened in a daze, her heart seeming to skip a beat.

Just then, the girl suddenly turned to look at her, her ink-black eyes rippling with light like a deep pool, as if they could draw one’s soul in.

“People bedridden with chronic illness have weak bodies, like this oil lamp – as the oil gradually burns out, the flame slowly dims, and there will come a day when it’s extinguished…”

Only then did Old Woman Wang notice an oil lamp not far from her. It was this lamp that made the dark room appear dim.

Under her gaze, the lamp’s flame flickered and jumped.

Old Woman Wang’s gaze gradually became vacant.

Lady Liu watched coldly from the side, her mouth agape in amazement, but she dared not make a sound to disturb Old Woman Wang and Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao suddenly glanced at Lady Liu.

Lady Liu remembered Qiao Zhao’s instructions and began coughing softly into her hand.

She coughed very lightly, as if desperately suppressing it. Not only did it not alert Old Woman Wang, but her expression became even more confused.

“When the lamp oil is burning out, more oil must be added. It’s the same for weak and sick people – if they can eat ginseng for some time, much vitality can be restored. Old Woman Wang, don’t you agree?”

Old Woman Wang nodded, her voice flat and emotionless: “Yes.”

“But where does the ginseng come from?” the girl asked even more gently, with deep concern.

“Yes, where does it come from?” Old Woman Wang repeated.

“It can only be bought with money.”

Old Woman Wang nodded: “Yes, it must be bought with money.”

“But you’re just a servant woman. With your husband taking medicine year-round, where would you have spare money to buy ginseng?”

“No spare money, no spare money…” Old Woman Wang’s face showed anxiety.

“Then tell me, who gave you the money to buy ginseng?” the girl asked casually.

“It was…” Old Woman Wang’s face showed a flash of struggle.

Lady Liu didn’t dare breathe, gripping her clothes tightly with both hands.

“Who was it?” The girl wasn’t hurried, still asking gently.

“It was Second Master!” Old Woman Wang said it all in one breath.

Crash! Lady Liu knocked over the medicine bowl.

Medicine spilled all over the floor, releasing a strong medicinal fragrance, and Old Woman Wang instantly snapped awake, the confusion in her eyes fading as clarity returned.

Qiao Zhao sighed inwardly.

Although she had instructed Second Aunt not to make any interfering sounds, there would still be uncontrollable accidents.

For Second Aunt, even though she had harbored suspicions about Concubine Bing’s pregnancy, deep down she might have held onto a trace of hope. When she heard with her ears that Second Uncle was involved, how could she remain unmoved?

“Third Miss—” Lady Liu looked chagrined.

Qiao Zhao nodded reassuringly at her, then turned to look at Old Woman Wang coldly: “Old Woman Wang, you just said the money to buy ginseng was given by Second Master. Why would he give you this money?”

“Did I say that?” Old Woman Wang looked surprised and suspicious.

Qiao Zhao raised her chin slightly, her tone cold: “Second Master gave you money to buy ginseng so you would turn a blind eye to Concubine Bing not drinking the contraceptive decoction, isn’t that right?”

Old Woman Wang stepped back, frantically denying: “No, no—”

“You just admitted it, and Second Madam heard it with her ears!” Qiao Zhao pointed at Lady Liu. “Old Woman Wang, look carefully – what has Second Madam become now? You only thought about using ginseng to nurture your husband’s health. Didn’t you think that doing such treacherous things would harm others?”

“I—” Old Woman Wang glanced at Lady Liu, her gaze flickering.

Qiao Zhao didn’t give her a chance to catch her breath, continuing: “Accumulating virtue and doing good brings blessings. Old Woman Wang, acting this way will bring retribution upon those you care about—”

“I’ll tell, I’ll tell!” Old Woman Wang frantically interrupted Qiao Zhao’s words, collapsing to the ground and covering her face in tears. “The money was indeed given by Second Master, instructing us to help Concubine Bing conceal not drinking the contraceptive decoction… Second Madam, you can punish this old servant however you wish, just don’t drive me out. This old servant still depends on monthly wages to buy medicine for the one at home…”

Hearing Old Woman Wang’s confession, Lady Liu breathed a heavy sigh of relief. After dismissing Old Woman Wang, she patted her chest in lingering fear: “We nearly failed at the crucial moment. That scared me to death.”

Seeing Qiao Zhao’s calm expression, Lady Liu grabbed her hand: “Third Miss, what exactly happened just now?”