Seventh Miss immediately frowned and stopped in her tracks.

That the Grand Madam, heartbroken over her deceased daughter, refused to let the matter rest was not surprising.

If she were in her position, probably everyone in the Xu family would have become objects of hatred by now—relatives turned into enemies. The several possible culprits—she would want to subject each one to death by a thousand cuts to vent the hatred in her heart and comfort Fifth Lady’s departed spirit in heaven.

But in this life, the four words “gratifying grudges and enmities” were the most tempting yet precisely the most difficult to achieve. If Fifth Lady hadn’t left behind children, that would be one thing. But now there were still two little nephews surnamed Xu, barely ten days old and already motherless…

Truly a human tragedy!

Seventh Miss sighed deeply, as if trying to exhale all unfairness and pent-up anger, before instructing Lixia softly: “Go find Steward Niu and have him send word to the Sun family. Invite Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law to come over! Say that Madam has grieved excessively and lost her senses. Please ask Second Sister to come help persuade her.”

Though observing mourning at home and unable to go out except for major matters, a biological younger sister’s death was already major enough. Besides, it was obvious now that the Grand Madam, overcome with grief, had lost all reason, saying over and over she would go to the Xu household and fight them to the death…

Lixia hurriedly agreed and rushed out of the courtyard. Seventh Miss sighed again before quickening her steps and entering the room.

Inside the east inner chamber was complete chaos. The marble screen had toppled to the ground, taking the small ebony round table with it. The celadon tea set on top had shattered all over the floor. The Grand Madam, disheveled like a crazed tiger, was being held by several matrons working together but still struggled constantly, shouting from time to time: “Who dares stop me! I’ll fight them to the death!” She already showed some signs of madness.

The Grand Master’s face was frosty. Half his outfit was soaked with tea. Supporting himself against the curio cabinet, he still argued with the Grand Madam: “Fight then! Go fight! See how many you can fight to death!” Their usual mutual respect had completely vanished.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but sigh again. She raised her voice.

“Father, Mother! Is this the time for such quarreling? Fifth Sister’s body is barely cold, and the two little nephews’ futures are uncertain… If we don’t find the culprit, I fear there will be another funeral in a few months. Children under a year old are most prone to early death!”

Her clear, cold voice immediately slowed the Grand Madam’s struggling.

Seventh Miss quickly shot meaningful glances at the young maids, urging softly: “Quickly bring the medicine Physician Quan prescribed!”

With great difficulty, using both soft and hard tactics, half persuading and half forcing the Grand Madam to take the medicine, the medicine soon took effect and the Grand Madam fell back into deep sleep. Only then was the situation controlled. Seventh Miss consulted the Grand Master: “Yesterday Mother fainted several times, and now her mind is like this… Should we ask Physician Quan to come take her pulse?”

The Grand Master looked very unwilling. After a long while he finally nodded, instructing Lidong: “Have Steward Zhang take my calling card… If Quan Ziyin isn’t at the palace, he must be at his Fragrant Hills villa. Check both places!”

The room finally gained some order. Maids came forward to tidy up, and they asked the Grand Master to go to the washroom to change clothes. Father and daughter sat facing each other in the east side chamber, momentarily at a loss for words.

The Grand Master’s face was full of worries. After pondering for a long time, he blamed Seventh Miss: “Regarding yesterday’s matter, I’ve heard everything. You were too senseless!”

Seventh Miss hadn’t expected to be scolded instead and couldn’t help but freeze.

She raised her eyes to look at the Grand Master.

The Grand Master’s face was gloomy—this former frontier official, now Grand Secretary, also seemed to have lost his composure over his daughter’s early death.

“Once Little Fifth married into the Xu family, she became a Xu family member. By having Quan Ziyin taste the medicine in front of your Third Aunt, aren’t you showing distrust in her? The relationship between our two families was already awkward—”

Seventh Miss could no longer restrain herself. She raised her head and interrupted the Grand Master’s words for the first time.

“Fifth Sister is also your biological daughter!”

She had never looked down on the Grand Master like this before.

Previously in the Northwest, when the Grand Master ignored Ninth Aunt and herself, she had never blamed her father. With many daughters in the family, he inevitably couldn’t care for them all. Seventh Miss had no feelings for the Grand Master, so she had no expectations either.

Over these years she’d been grateful the Grand Master provided her with fine clothes and food. She asked for little, and though the Grand Master gave little, Seventh Miss was satisfied. Thus father and daughter actually had some mutual understanding. After years together, they weren’t without affection.

But the Grand Master’s words truly displayed his selfishness in full.

The Grand Master was immediately speechless.

He scrutinized Seventh Miss’s expression carefully. After a moment, he gave a cold laugh.

“Do you think Father’s heart doesn’t ache over Little Fifth dying young? Do you think Father has no place for Little Fifth in his heart?”

He lowered his voice further: “But Yang Shanheng, if you think everything can be done according to one’s temperament, then I’ve completely misjudged you. Doesn’t your Third Aunt know there’s something suspicious about Little Fifth’s death? Doesn’t she know to privately verify what’s wrong with that bowl of medicine? Did it require you to overstep your bounds, embarrass her in front of everyone, drag out the ugly matter for public discussion, and make your mother go mad and turn against the Xu family? Usually you seem so capable—how is it that at the critical moment you only make things worse! How will our two families interact in the future?!”

Seventh Miss stared coldly at the Grand Master and slowly drew a breath.

Only now did she understand why the Grand Madam looked down on the Grand Master so much.

Even with things escalated to this point, he still thought about not making Madam Xu uncomfortable, not wanting to break with the Xu family…

She’d always known that years of making a living alone had made her calm to the point of cold-bloodedness. Sometimes she wondered if she was too heartless.

But facing the Grand Master, Seventh Miss finally understood what true coldness meant.

Perhaps in the Grand Master’s heart, except for Ninth Brother, everything came after political interests—even his biological daughter’s death was the same.

“Third Aunt is after all the Xu family’s mistress. Setting aside that she’s seriously ill and probably powerless to find the culprit, even if Third Aunt rallied her spirits to solve this case,” her tone was clear and calm, “the mastermind behind Fifth Sister’s death is one of only a few—either a daughter-in-law or an elder. No matter how much Third Aunt loved Fifth Sister, she couldn’t possibly break with her in-laws over this. Could it be Father thinks the culprit who killed Fifth Sister should just receive a little punishment and the matter ends there?”

The disdain in her words was clearly audible. How could the Grand Master not hear it?

His brow twitched, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth trembled slightly: “To make someone receive punishment doesn’t necessarily require making a big scene!”

Seventh Miss bit her tongue sharply, knowing that with such different views there was no possibility of reconciliation. Continuing would only add to the chaos. She bit back the rebuttal about to escape and forced out a smile, saying softly: “Little Seven is dull-witted, not as thoughtful and far-sighted as Father. Unfortunately, Father wasn’t there at the time…”

She forcibly swallowed the sarcasm that followed.

The Grand Master was clearly still angry. Though he didn’t catch the meaning in Seventh Miss’s words, he wanted to say more.

He looked at Seventh Miss’s calm expression and suddenly felt disheartened.

His daughter had grown up, long past the age of living under his thumb.

If they truly fell out and dredged up past events, things would only become messier. In the end, who didn’t have grievances in their heart?

“Forget it.” He waved his hand. “For now let’s prioritize your mother. We’ll discuss more after Physician Quan comes to take her pulse!”

Just as he finished speaking, Steward Niu came in to report: “Duke Pingguo has sent a calling card saying he wishes to pay a visit…”

The Grand Master quickly rose and followed Steward Niu out in rapid steps, no longer bothering with Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss let out a long breath, then wearily covered her face, burying it in her hands. After a long while she raised herself and tested her forehead temperature.

Lidong had just brought in tea. Seeing Seventh Miss’s action, she was startled and asked carefully: “Seventh Miss, are you…”

“I have a slight fever.” Seventh Miss maintained her composure with effort. “I need to go back and rest. Pass word to Nanny Liang to have her call a physician to prescribe medicine for me…”

Lidong tested Seventh Miss’s forehead and was greatly alarmed. She quickly helped Seventh Miss lie down on the kang, saying softly: “Yes, yes, I’ll send for someone right away. You rest first, don’t worry, don’t worry…”

Seventh Miss thus fell into deep sleep.

#

When she woke again, her nose was congested and her face hot. As soon as she sat up she sneezed twice. Her head cleared, but the back of her skull hurt like needle pricks, and her ears buzzed.

As soon as she moved, two people came to support her, and someone gently urged: “Miss, open your mouth and drink some water.”

Seventh Miss opened her mouth and slowly drank a cup of clear water flavored with Hangzhou white chrysanthemum, asking in a low voice: “Has my fever broken?”

Lixia’s voice carried a note of reverence: “Master Quan came and inserted two needles, and the fever broke.”

She paused, then continued: “Master Quan also said to ask Miss not to be overly sorrowful… Your temperament is already introverted. When you have emotions but don’t express them, keeping everything accumulated in your heart, you easily fall ill from worry. A few more such fevers and the vitality you’ve worked so hard to recuperate will weaken further.”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but exhale deeply.

Quan Zhongbai was like an immortal—everything he said was right, all with good intentions. But she was just an ordinary person, entangled in mundane affairs. How could she possibly achieve a worry-free mind?

“Did you thank Physician Quan for me?” She leaned back against the pillow, her voice as small as a mosquito’s buzz. “If not for his prescriptions, we probably wouldn’t even have our current health.”

Lixia smiled knowingly and tucked in Seventh Miss’s quilt corners. “I’ve already conveyed your thanks privately. Physician Quan said that physicians are like parents—this is what he should do.”

She showed some worry, pursing her lips toward outside the bed curtains. “We haven’t moved you… Second Lady just returned with Second Master. She cried for a while earlier and is now arguing with Madam.”

Seventh Miss froze, only then hearing the faint sounds from outside the curtains.

Second Lady’s voice was clearly among them.

She seemed very agitated, her tone high-pitched and cold. The Grand Madam shouted regardless. Though Seventh Miss couldn’t hear what they were saying clearly, she didn’t need to listen to know they must be arguing about Fifth Lady’s death.

Suddenly she felt somewhat uncertain whether what she’d done was right or wrong.

Immediately, she remembered Old Madam Ni’s smile.

Seventh Miss’s eyes instantly hardened.

Even if Madam Xu wanted to seek justice for Fifth Lady, she still had a mother-in-law above her. Great noble families valued reputation as life itself—she might not have the courage to pursue the matter.

If she didn’t make a scene, the probability of Fifth Lady dying in vain was probably fifty percent.

The remaining fifty percent depended on whether Xu Fengjia could return in time—with his temperament, he definitely wouldn’t let it rest.

But Guangzhou was too far from the capital. Even if he rushed back day and night, he might not find any clues…

Having promised Fifth Lady to find the true culprit, she had never intended to let this matter slide.

But the Grand Master’s words suddenly returned to Seventh Miss’s mind, making her want to sigh again.

“Life is truly difficult!” She sighed to Lixia softly. “Finding a path that satisfies all sides—how easy is that to say!”

Lixia looked puzzled—yes, however clever she was, her understanding of the Grand Master couldn’t match even a fraction of her own.

Seventh Miss sighed again.

The sound outside the curtains suddenly diminished. Soon, light footsteps paced into the east side chamber. Lixia rose to pay respects.

“Second Lady.”

Second Lady lifted the bed curtain, and a pair of eyes filled with fierceness appeared before Seventh Miss.

The two sisters looked at each other for a moment, both speechless.

“Second Sister.” Seventh Miss sighed again and called softly.

Second Lady’s tears spilled from her eyes.

Her appearance was merely pleasant ordinarily. Now at twenty-five or twenty-six, though in her prime youth, her features were severe, already bearing the dignity of a marquis’s wife.

This crying actually made her look exceptionally young, appearing just over twenty, like a young lady newly exposed to the world, uncertain about everything.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but shed a few tears in sympathy. Lixia frowned deeply and came to persuade: “Physician Quan said you mustn’t cry now. If you cry you’ll probably develop a fever again…”

Second Lady quickly wiped her eyes and forced a smile. “It’s my fault for troubling Seventh Sister instead.”

The two sat facing each other in a daze, neither knowing what to say.

Lixia tactfully withdrew from the room.

Seventh Miss half sat up and gestured toward the east inner chamber with her head, raising her eyebrows at Second Lady questioningly.

Second Lady gave a bitter smile. “I heard Mother personally fed that bowl of medicine to Little Fifth, so she especially can’t calm her emotions. Though after persuasion she’s given up the idea of going to make a scene personally, she still sent Nanny Wang over… I couldn’t stop her!”

Seeing Seventh Miss’s surprise, she explained: “Mother had Nanny Wang scold on her behalf, starting with Old Madam. She’s to scold Old Madam for lax household management, for raising heartless, conscienceless household members who caused Little Fifth to die in vain.” Her voice choked again on the last few sentences. “She also wants Nanny Wang to scold Third Aunt, but I think even if Nanny Wang dares to actually scold, she definitely won’t dare scold Third Aunt. So things won’t be too ugly.”

Fifth Lady truly inherited everything—she got the Grand Madam’s entire temperament.

Seventh Miss hadn’t expected that when anxious, the Grand Madam could also be so unreasonable, completely disregarding face.

Though satisfying, it ultimately accomplished nothing. Going to insult Duke Pingguo’s mother was a serious offense to the Xu family’s face. Even if Duke Pingguo and his wife didn’t mind, Imperial Consort Xu might not be so forgiving.

Seventh Miss lowered her eyes and sighed.

In this life, truly, how much helplessness there was!

“I’m afraid Nanny Wang won’t dare either…” She chose her words carefully.

Second Lady smiled bitterly. “If she doesn’t scold she’ll be sold. Whether she dares or not, she’ll have to dare.”

Just looking at Second Lady’s bitter smile, one knew she couldn’t hold the Grand Madam back either… The current Grand Madam was like a wounded wild beast whose bloodlust had been aroused. Without a killing spree, she would never calm down.

Seventh Miss wanted to say something but found her words pale and powerless.

Human life and death couldn’t be covered over with a few comforting words.

Probably even if the Xu family sincerely apologized and the Grand Master insisted on reconciliation, the relationship between the Xu and Yang families would still decline for some time from now on. Unless the Xu family could immediately produce the culprit, and this culprit had a convincing motive for the crime…

What she’d done at the Xu household had truly gambled the alliance relationship between the Xu and Yang families!

Given the Grand Master’s temperament, merely blaming Seventh Miss with a few words was already being polite—with reform imminent, the Yang family already faced considerable pressure. Growing distant from the Xu family would only leave them more isolated and helpless. This, after all, was a major matter concerning the entire Yang family.

But Fifth Lady was still so young!

“Second Sister… I…” She couldn’t help asking in a low voice. “At the Xu household, did I… do wrong?”

Second Lady froze. She wasn’t confused—clearly she already understood the whole affair.

She took a deep breath and looked frankly at Seventh Miss: “If I were you, I would have been a hundred times more extreme.”

Yes, people were ultimately emotional creatures.

Seventh Miss immediately thought of Ninth Aunt.

Thought of that night in the Northwest…

She shook her head lightly and pinched her tiger’s mouth, letting the slight pain help her calm down.

Matters had to be handled one by one.

“Now it depends on the Xu family’s attitude.” She softly drew her conclusion.

Second Lady clenched her fists and lowered her head, gently placing her hands on her thighs, her expression gloomy.

“This matter—if we don’t investigate it thoroughly, not just Mother, even I won’t let it rest.”

She opened her hands again, revealing a disdainful smile. “A mere Imperial Consort—is she so remarkable? Our family also has influential backing in the palace who can speak up!”

Seventh Miss suddenly realized that though the Yang family seemed beset by crises and couldn’t compare to the Xu family’s deep foundation, the Xu family might not dare to truly break with the Yang family.

Her prediction was correct.

As soon as Fifth Lady’s seventh day memorial passed, the Xu family sent someone to deliver the true culprit.

Or rather, it would be more appropriate to call them the most suitable culprit.