It had already been ten days since giving birth—how could there still be bleeding?

The Grand Madam hurriedly grasped Fifth Lady’s hand and asked softly, “Does it hurt? How strange—why did the bleeding suddenly start again?”

Though she said this, neither of them was particularly panicked. Postpartum bleeding was a common occurrence—embarrassing, but not unusual.

Fifth Lady opened her mouth to answer, but her brow furrowed. Another gush of blood flowed from below, and in an instant, the area beneath her had bloomed into a patch of red.

Only then did the Grand Madam become somewhat alarmed, asking in rapid succession, “Should we call a physician? Does it hurt?” She waved at Seventh Miss, “You should step out for a moment!”

For an unmarried young lady, it truly wasn’t convenient to watch Fifth Lady change clothes.

Seventh Miss had no choice but to rise and leave the room.

But her heart was heavy with worry, her brow tightly knit.

Unexpectedly, she thought of that bowl of medicine the Grand Madam had fed Fifth Lady.

It shouldn’t be that—drinking it here and having it take effect immediately there, even a fool would suspect that bowl of medicine. Following the trail to investigate further, whoever drugged her would be easily exposed.

Otherwise, why hadn’t the Grand Madam dared to give Ninth Aunt a full dose of nameless poison back then? In great households, the servants who purchased and prepared medicine could all be traced. Even if one wanted to poison someone, this certainly wouldn’t be the method.

Besides, it took time for medicine to take effect… Perhaps it was just a coincidence?

But where in the world were there so many coincidences—taking medicine here and bleeding there… and in unstoppable quantities!

Her heart turned cold, not daring to think further.

Seeing the maids in a panic, rushing in and out of the western suite, she simply beckoned to Chunfen.

“Go in and bring out the bowl of medicine Fifth Sister just drank. Keep it safe!”

As she pondered, she gave instructions, then stood and swept a glance into the inner chamber.

Fifth Lady hadn’t brought many dowry maids—only six. The remaining ten-plus servants were all provided by Duke Pingguo’s manor. Now that chaos had erupted in the room, people crowded inside and out—Seventh Miss looked in and saw a little maid carefully moving the medicine bowl from the bedside table to one side.

“Who is that maid?” She gripped Chunfen’s arm tightly.

Chunfen followed Seventh Miss’s gaze and looked in, somewhat surprised. “That’s, that’s a little maid who does sweeping in the courtyard. Our miss saw she was clever and promoted her to do odd jobs in the room…”

Seventh Miss released her hand and urged, “Don’t let the medicine spill!”

Chunfen’s face went pale with fright. Trembling, she responded and entered the room, first placing the small blue and white porcelain bowl into a small cabinet in the main room, then locking it. “Sev—Seventh Miss…”

Seventh Miss forced out a smile and gently reassured Chunfen, “Better safe than sorry… Don’t be afraid. Perhaps nothing’s wrong at all?”

She sent Chunfen away. “Go about your business!”

She sat at the table observing the movement in the room, from time to time hearing anxious murmurs: “Can’t stop it?”

“Quick, change the cloth.”

“Has the wood ash arrived?”

The Grand Madam’s thin crying voice followed, and midwives entered one after another, their expressions solemn. Two or three elderly physicians hurried into the inner chamber in small running steps…

Seventh Miss’s heart grew tighter and tighter. Unable to restrain herself, she stamped her foot, no longer caring about taboos. She rose and rushed into the inner room in two or three strides, only to see Fifth Lady’s bedside black with people, all bearing anxious expressions. In the center of the crowd, an old physician sat with a grave expression, taking her pulse in silence, while others examined Fifth Lady’s eyelids and lip color. The Grand Madam sat beside Fifth Lady, already completely at a loss, crying herself into a tearful mess. Fifth Lady’s face was deathly pale, eyes closed as she allowed everyone to attend to her, seemingly without even the strength to speak.

At a time like this, what use was just crying!

Seventh Miss stamped her foot, about to go in and shake the Grand Madam awake, but didn’t dare disturb the physician. She could only retreat to the wall, head bowed in thought. After another long while, the old physician sighed deeply and said in a low voice, “Madam should take a prescription and see how it goes.”

He rose to pack his medicine box and conferred in low voices with several colleagues, their expressions extremely grave.

The room immediately exploded in low murmurs.

Outside, there suddenly came light, scattered footsteps. Seventh Miss looked out to see an eleven or twelve-year-old girl standing in the doorway peering in, her face full of astonishment. When their eyes met, both froze. The girl lifted the curtain and entered, asking Seventh Miss in a low voice, “Elder Sister, what’s happened?”

She was dressed luxuriously, not like a servant—it was said the Xu family also had several concubine-born daughters. This was probably one of them coming to visit Fifth Lady. Seventh Miss’s mind was in chaos. She replied perfunctorily, “The Heir Apparent’s wife is probably…”

She swallowed the second half of the sentence, not daring to speak it aloud.

Outside came more hurried footsteps. The curtain lifted and Madam Xu entered the inner chamber, her expression grave. As soon as she entered, she demanded sternly, “What’s going on! How did things suddenly become so bad when everything was fine?”

The physicians had been conferring in low voices, but seeing Madam Xu arrive, they all breathed a sigh of relief. The lead physician stepped forward. “Madam, a word in private.”

Seventh Miss’s heart sank as if falling into an icy pond. She nearly couldn’t catch her breath.

It seemed Fifth Lady was probably…

She walked quickly forward, squeezed through the crowd, and approached the Grand Madam. Using her clothing as cover, she pinched hard under the Grand Madam’s ribs and whispered, “Madam, this is not the time to cry!”

The Grand Madam started, and indeed stopped crying. Looking around and seeing several physicians surrounding Madam Xu in conversation, she rose and parted the crowd, walking to Madam Xu’s side to listen carefully.

Seventh Miss took the opportunity to sit beside Fifth Lady, grasping her hand. Fifth Lady moved slightly, her long lashes trembling weakly a few times before she opened her eyes and turned her head to look at Seventh Miss.

“How, how could this happen…” Her eyes were vacant. In less than half an hour, her face had lost all color. “Seventh Sister, how could this happen…”

Seventh Miss’s heart felt as if cut by knives. Fifth Lady didn’t wait for her answer before closing her eyes again and sinking into deep sleep.

In the distance came Madam Xu’s cry of alarm. The Grand Madam made no sound but fell backward, collapsing to the ground unconscious.

#

Before mid-afternoon, Fifth Lady was already failing.

Her face like gilt paper, unconscious, unable even to take medicine. The Grand Madam woke several times, saw her condition, and fainted again from crying.

Old Madam Ni and several sisters-in-law, along with household relatives, all came to visit. Inside and outside Mingde Hall were filled with people. The Grand Madam could only be sent to the east inner chamber to rest with her two little grandsons. Seventh Miss was also sent out of the western suite by Madam Xu, told to look after the Grand Madam properly.

Fifth Lady no longer had the strength to rise and change clothes. Inside and outside the western suite, everything was permeated with the smell of blood.

Old Madam sat for less than the time of one incense stick before feeling unwell. Madam Xu, along with Fifth Young Madam and Fourth Young Madam, hurriedly arranged a heated sedan chair to send the old lady back to Leshan Residence.

Fourth Young Madam volunteered to care for the old lady. “I won’t add to Mother’s troubles!”

First Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam both sat in the main hall. First Young Madam arranged matters in Mingde Hall while Fifth Young Madam had already called servants in to prepare funeral arrangements and sent people to inquire about coffins.

In the east inner chamber, Seventh Miss heard her low and calm voice speaking, and couldn’t help but feel a chill in her heart.

Great households certainly needed someone capable of handling affairs, but wasn’t Fifth Young Madam being a bit too calm?

Elder Madam Min stayed with Madam Xu in the western suite looking after Fifth Lady. Since she hadn’t completed her confinement month, all men were strictly forbidden from visiting. Duke Pingguo sent matrons back and forth to relay messages. By mid-afternoon, they had also invited Quan Zhongbai to take her pulse.

The Grand Madam had been unconscious, but when Seventh Miss pinched her twice and she heard that Divine Physician Quan had come, she found strength from somewhere, stood up at once, and followed the young physician into the room with Seventh Miss in tow, sitting down heavily beside Fifth Lady. She couldn’t even spare a thought for the words “avoid” or “withdraw.”

Most present were married women anyway. First Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam supported Madam Xu on either side as she took her seat in the grand tutor’s chair by the bed. All three faces bore no expression, like clay sculptures or wooden carvings, staring blankly at Quan Zhongbai.

Seventh Miss took just one look at Fifth Lady and could hardly breathe. She quickly turned her head away. Seeing her legs go weak, Elder Madam Min grasped her arm and whispered, “Perhaps there’s still hope.”

But just looking at Fifth Lady’s complexion, one could see her life force was already faint… Postpartum hemorrhage was serious even in modern times, let alone with Fifth Lady bleeding so torrentially…

Quan Zhongbai seemed to have just come from the palace. Though he still wore that expression of breezy calm, his clothes were somewhat disheveled from rushing, and despite the cold weather, sweat had formed on the tip of his nose. The Grand Madam stared at him urgently, as if looking at a living Buddha. As soon as his needle went in, Fifth Lady would revive.

For a moment, the room fell into an abnormal quiet—but this quiet was more like emotions concentrated to the extreme, the calm before boiling over.

Quan Zhongbai lowered his eyes and concentrated on taking the pulse. In just moments he released her hand, his face bearing thin anger. He swept a glance over everyone in the room, his gaze pausing slightly on Seventh Miss before moving on.

“Her constitution was already frail. Who gave her blood-activating medicine after childbirth? The internal injury hasn’t stopped yet, and she hemorrhaged all at once… I’ll try inserting a needle!” His voice was like a layer of thin ice, freezing enough to raise goosebumps.

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the room immediately changed.

Elder Madam Min couldn’t help but gasp and looked toward the Grand Madam.

But the Grand Madam couldn’t care about anything else. She only looked eagerly at Quan Zhongbai, as if he were her only hope—that once this needle went in, Fifth Lady would truly revive.

Madam Xu’s expression was dark as water, her viper-like gaze passing one by one over everyone in the room…

But Seventh Miss’s heart sank. If Elder Madam Min hadn’t been supporting her, she wouldn’t even have been able to stand.

In her several consultations with Quan Zhongbai, she had never heard such a tone from him…

Immediately a maid brought burning moxa. Quan Zhongbai indicated the Grand Madam should roll down Fifth Lady’s collar, and he gently inserted a needle into her fair neck, then inserted several more needles in her palms and soles. He tested Fifth Lady’s pulse point again, then shook his head, his expression ugly to the extreme.

“It’s no use.”

He quickly pulled out the silver needles. “With this much blood loss, even immortals couldn’t save her.”

The Grand Madam collapsed again with a thud. Without looking, Quan Zhongbai steadied her with one hand while raising the other, pulling up the Grand Madam’s sleeve. A silver needle went smoothly into her elbow. He pinched her philtrum and twisted—though the Grand Madam’s face turned blue-green, she at least didn’t faint again.

She couldn’t even spare time to cry, just sat there dazed, her face like a mask, neither grief nor joy visible anymore.

Madam Xu’s voice trembled. “How, how much longer can she hold on…”

While packing his medicine box, Quan Zhongbai said flatly, “I’m afraid just this little while.”

Hearing these words, Seventh Miss felt the world before her eyes begin to slowly float, colors fragmenting. She looked at the thin, small woman lying quietly on the bed, slowly closed her eyes and opened them again, only feeling this dream was too real.

Still so young.

Still so young!

The voices by her ear slid past like water. Seventh Miss only vaguely heard Quan Zhongbai’s voice: “I can make her wake to say a few words… but she can’t hold on long.”

The Grand Madam suddenly wailed loudly. First Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam cried out in unison, “Mother, Mother!”

In the chaotic western suite, nothing more was real. Everything was just an illusory dream.

Fifth Lady had been pampered since childhood, regarded by her parents as a treasure in their palms. How could such a thing possibly happen to her? This dream was truly laughably realistic.

Someone pushed her hard. Seventh Miss snapped awake.

Everything before her was real—more real than could be. Quan Zhongbai stood by the bed beckoning to her. “The Heir Apparent’s wife wants to speak with you.”

First Young Madam, Fifth Young Madam, and Madam Xu had gone somewhere. Elder Madam Min supported the dazed Grand Madam, moving her to sit in Madam Xu’s position. Fifth Lady had already opened her eyes. Those eyes that had been so spirited and lively had now scattered into two large black crystals. She was straining to turn her eyes, looking at Seventh Miss.

As if plunged into a barrel of ice water, all emotions disappeared. Seventh Miss took a deep breath, walked quickly to Fifth Lady’s side in a few steps, and grasped her hand.

Fifth Lady’s hand was already bone-cold.

“Take care of… Silang… Wulang.” Her voice was as light as a sigh. Seventh Miss had to lower her head close to her lips. “Seventh Sister, Si… lang, Wulang… Mother… useless, Second Sister… Father… relay words…”

Seventh Miss slowly nodded.

“Good.” She solemnly promised. “I’ll definitely relay the message.”

Behind her came several sounds. Quan Zhongbai moved from the bedside to the Grand Madam’s side.

Seventh Miss paid no attention. The entire world contained only her and Fifth Lady.

Fifth Lady breathed with difficulty for a few breaths, then murmured, “The one who harmed me… won’t spare the children…”

“We’ll definitely find the culprit.” Seventh Miss answered softly. “Silang and Wulang will be fine. Don’t worry. There’s Cousin, Third Aunt, Father, Mother, Second Sister, and me—we’ll definitely let Silang and Wulang grow up safely…”

Fifth Lady relaxed. In her black crystal-like eyes, tears gathered for the first time. “I was never good to you.” She said softly, gripping Seventh Miss’s hand tightly. “I’m sorry… I wronged you… the new clothes I owe you… I’ll repay you in the next life! Don’t take it to heart, don’t remember my wrongs…”

Seventh Miss could hold back no longer. Tears streamed down like rain.

“You were already very good to me.” She said softly. “You were very good to me.”

Fifth Lady smiled with difficulty, gazing at Seventh Miss. She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Seventh Miss thought she no longer had strength to speak and felt afraid for a moment. But Fifth Lady tightened her grip on her hand, as if organizing her words, just not knowing how to begin for the moment.

She understood at once.

“He’s well.” Without thinking further, she leaned close to Fifth Lady’s ear and whispered. “He and His Majesty are completely innocent. What outsiders say is all nonsense.”

She hesitated, then added another sentence: “He still remembers you. That year when he returned and learned you’d been betrothed, he was very sad.”

Fifth Lady smiled at once.

This smile carried some vitality, some rippling light—yet ultimately, with lamp oil and wick exhausted, it also bore irretrievable decline, like a flower’s bearing just before it finishes blooming.

She released her hand and requested softly, “The children… let me see the children.”

Naturally someone went to fetch the children. Seventh Miss rose to help the Grand Madam up, letting her sit beside Fifth Lady.

Quan Zhongbai went out again to do something unknown. Soon, the two young madams supported Madam Xu as they slowly entered. Wet nurses carrying the twin babies followed closely behind. Fifth Lady found strength from somewhere and actually tried to sit halfway up to hold the two children—but having risen only halfway, her strength was already exhausted.

The Grand Madam hurriedly embraced her, tears streaming down again, unable to speak coherently.

Fifth Lady was calmer instead. She looked at the Grand Madam with longing, straining to speak, her voice as small as a mosquito’s buzz. “Mother, I, I’m so reluctant… I haven’t been filial to you yet… only after raising children does one understand parental grace, I…”

She turned her gaze to look at her sons. As soon as she moved, her whole body shuddered. Her neck went soft and she fell backward onto the pillow.

Quan Zhongbai stepped forward and withdrew a silver needle from the baihui point in her hair. His hands passed emptily over Fifth Lady’s eyes, closing them. He said in a low voice, “Everyone, please accept my condolences.”

Seventh Miss’s whole body turned cold. In her heart, one sentence echoed over and over:

Still so young!

—

**Author’s Note:** Yesterday’s chapter had one passage revised.

“Neither Fourth Young Madam nor Fifth Young Madam had boys under their care. The Xu family men were away on official business or at war year-round, breeding a household of resentful wives. Currently, all three grandchildren in the manor were born to First Young Madam”

Changed to:

“Neither Fourth Young Madam nor Fifth Young Madam had boys under their care. The Xu family men were away on official business or at war year-round, breeding a household of resentful wives. Currently, all three male grandsons were from the first branch”

Also, a previous chapter said Fifth was a 15-year-old Heir Apparent’s wife—that was a typo. She was a seventeen-year-old Heir Apparent’s wife.