Seventh Miss suddenly found herself speechless.

The old mama?

How could it be the old mama!

Yu An looked at Seventh Miss. For a moment she didn’t speak either. She closed her eyes again, pressing her forehead, clearly trying hard to recall the circumstances at that time. After thinking for a long while, she finally said with certainty, “It was definitely the old mama, no mistake. At the time, because I was listening to her chatting casually with Xiao Songhua, I didn’t hear what Doctor Zhong and Sister-in-law were saying.”

Seventh Miss bit her lower lip, trying her best to remain calm while rapidly running through countless possibilities in her mind.

She breathed a sigh of relief and said decisively, “This matter definitely wasn’t the old mama!”

If the old mama wanted to harm Fifth Miss, she would never use such clumsy methods.

Just from how many times Madam Xu had sent the old mama to deliver messages and items to her, one could tell that the old mama’s standing at Qingping Garden was probably higher than that of ordinary young madams. With her status, if she wanted to harm Fifth Miss, there was no need to be so hasty, much less use such obvious methods as mixing things into medicine. Never mind anything else—she could simply slip in some poison that even immortals couldn’t cure at an opportune moment, and Fifth Miss would surely die in a few days. It would leave no trace, and when investigated afterward, where would anyone even begin to look? Why create such a commotion?

Moreover, the old mama was like Grand Madam’s Nanny Liang or Seventh Miss’s Lixia—her honor and disgrace were intimately connected with the Sixth Branch’s reputation. What motive would she have to harm Fifth Miss?

Seventh Miss shook her head, stood up, and apologetically said to Yu An, “Though you shouldn’t be exposed to cold wind, this matter is ultimately of great importance—I must still ask Fifth Sister to come stand with me at Mingde Hall for a bit.”

Yu An’s expression became solemn. She stood and said, “Sister-in-law needn’t say more. Being able to contribute even a little toward the late Shanli Sister-in-law is Yu An repaying her kindness and care…”

The two sisters-in-law summoned maids to drape cloaks over them and paced back to Mingde Hall through the light snow.

Upon entering Mingde Hall, Seventh Miss led Yu An directly into what had been Fifth Miss’s birthing room.

After all, someone had died in this room—a young person who died prematurely—which was inauspicious. Since Fifth Miss’s death, it had remained sealed. Even the furnishings hadn’t changed much. Only items like chair covers and bedding had been removed. The entire room was empty. Even though Mingde Hall had floor heating, it still contained a trace of cold, gloomy air. Many objects had already accumulated a light layer of dust…

As soon as Yu An entered the room, she shivered. She stared at Fifth Miss’s former embroidered bed, her face showing countless indescribable expressions. After a long while, she slowly said, “Truly, things remain but people have changed—”

Being young and warm-hearted, before she finished speaking, tears were already falling.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but sigh along with Yu An before asking, “Can you remember where you were standing at the time? You encountered Doctor Zhong face-to-face, so presumably…”

Yu An recalled while pacing back and forth. Finally seeming to settle on a spot, she stood beside a large cabinet near the partition wall by the door entrance, saying softly, “Xiao An was standing here, that’s correct.”

Before Seventh Miss could continue questioning, Yu An showed a thoughtful expression, muttering something while turning in different directions. When Seventh Miss moved closer to listen, she heard her softly reciting, “How is Young Madam? Have you been finishing all your medicine lately? When you use that ginseng I sent someone to deliver last time, be very careful—it’s old mountain ginseng from the northeast, worth its weight in gold…”

Seventh Miss was also startled: she hadn’t expected Yu An to have such an exceptional memory, remembering conversations from years ago so clearly.

“Why hasn’t Doctor Zhong come out yet? Aiya, you little girl—it’s not that I’m putting on airs, but when listening to people talk, why do you keep looking inside? Have you never seen a physician in your life? Finally one comes and you stare like that—is there some illness no one will treat for you—”

As Yu An murmured, she finally turned toward a direction and said confusedly, “The voice seemed to come from here.”

She pointed to a small empty space beside the door curtain.

Seventh Miss immediately let out a long sigh.

No wonder some said that truly perceptive people were less than one in a hundred.

If Yu An had been able to hear Doctor Zhong’s words at the time and also noticed the meaning in the old mama’s words, perhaps Fifth Miss’s case would have been solved long ago.

She patted Yu An’s shoulder and said softly, “Don’t you understand yet? The person who heard Doctor Zhong speaking was Xiao Songhua.”

Yu An thought again and seemed to finally connect several things. She stood there dumbly, her face showing a horrified expression. After a long while she said, “But Xiao Songhua’s entire family—they’re also—they’re also from Mother’s dowry, and she’s very close with the old mama. Otherwise, how could she work at Mingde Hall? Why else would the old mama speak to her in such a casual tone…”

Though Yu An was usually quiet, she actually knew quite a bit about household personnel matters.

Seventh Miss’s heart stirred. She looked at Yu An but then dismissed her own thought.

Better to let Yu An live peacefully! Some matters weren’t something a young concubine-born daughter should become involved in casually.

She grasped Yu An’s hand and said softly, “Good Fifth Sister, you’ve already done what I asked you to do—from now on, don’t mention this matter anymore. Just treat it as if it never happened.”

She already knew Yu An’s thoughts weren’t particularly quick in this area. Seeing Yu An’s face show confusion, she explained more clearly. “No matter who’s behind this matter, they’re truly unconscionable. You’re an unmarried young lady—it’s really not good for you to be implicated.”

“But what about you, Sixth Sister-in-law—” Upon hearing this, Yu An instead became concerned for Seventh Miss first.

Seventh Miss smiled somewhat helplessly. “I have no choice. This matter must be thoroughly investigated. But you’re different. The Xu family is only your natal home. One day, you’ll marry out.”

Yu An’s face reddened. She said softly, “Sister-in-law is looking out for me… Yu An understands. Thank you, Sister-in-law, for considering my welfare.”

Seventh Miss smiled slightly at her. “We’re both concubine-born daughters. Knowing the hardships of being one, we should naturally look after each other.”

Yu An nodded, then looked around, carefully examining the room’s furnishings. After a long while, she took a deep breath and said softly, “My mother… died of difficult childbirth when giving birth to me.”

Seventh Miss was taken aback before hearing Yu An continue, “Children without birth mothers always have harder lives, unlike Second Sister and Third Sister who both had birth mothers to look after them—it’s only in recent years that they passed away. I was thinking that the late Sixth Sister-in-law probably, like my mother, couldn’t let go of her children in this world even in the underworld…”

She turned back, glanced shyly at Seventh Miss, and said in a low voice, “Yu An thinks that if the late sister-in-law has knowledge in the afterlife, she probably still hopes most that Fourth Son and Fifth Son can grow up safely and happily, and hopes that Sister-in-law can…”

She bit her lip again and didn’t continue.

Seventh Miss’s emotions surged for a moment. After a long while she finally found her voice.

“Fifth Sister is truly kind-hearted,” she sighed. Seeing Yu An about to demur, she quickly added, “Understanding how to empathize with others—that’s having a bodhisattva’s heart.”

Yu An smiled shyly, lowered her eyes to look at her toes, and said softly, “If Sister-in-law weren’t also kind-hearted, Yu An wouldn’t dare say such things.”

Seventh Miss then shifted her gaze toward the light coming through the doorway. The sky was darkening, and candles had already been lit in the east second room. The laughter of Fourth Son and Fifth Son faintly drifted through.

After all, Fifth Miss was already dead. She could no longer provide the children with her own care. Yu An was subtly reminding her, hoping she could give Fourth Son and Fifth Son some genuine maternal love rather than treating the two of them merely as a responsibility.

Having grown up without a birth mother herself, Yu An was truly observant in this regard. And she was willing to risk provoking Seventh Miss’s anger to speak up for Fourth Son and Fifth Son—two children who couldn’t yet possibly understand what she was doing for them.

Seventh Miss suddenly felt considerably more fondness for Yu An. Though she wasn’t particularly attractive and her mind wasn’t especially sharp, she had a kind heart.

But many things were always easier said than done… Moreover, having witnessed Grand Madam’s awkwardness, Seventh Miss always had a small knot in her heart that wouldn’t go away.

She rallied her spirits and greeted Yu An, “Perhaps stay and eat dinner with me tonight—”

But Yu An firmly preferred to return to Lütian Hermitage. Seventh Miss had no choice but to personally see her to the door, instructing Shangyuan and Lixia to accompany Yu An back carefully. She grasped Yu An’s hand, looked into her eyes and silently nodded, then leaned against the doorway watching Yu An’s figure gradually dissolve and disappear in the light snow.

Turning back, her face immediately became somber. She instructed Zhongyuan, “Have Bai Lu come see me immediately!”

Bai Lu quickly entered the west third room and paid her respects to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss didn’t beat around the bush at all, asking Bai Lu directly, “You have a grasp of the personnel matters inside and outside Mingde Hall, don’t you?”

How shrewd was Bai Lu? Seeing Seventh Miss’s unusual expression, she immediately became serious. “If Miss has any instructions, please feel free to give them.”

Seventh Miss asked while pondering, “Does the name Xiao Songhua ring a bell?”

“This was a menial maid in the late Fifth Miss’s quarters.” Bai Lu didn’t hesitate at all. “Her parents are alive, and she has one or two uncles and aunts also serving in the household. Her older generation ancestors worked at the Qin family and are now working on the estate, though they don’t have very heavy duties. It’s mostly just a title… As you know, that batch of people from the original Mingde Hall, except for Guyu and Chunfen, are all still held on the Duke’s wife’s dowry estate. Normally no outsiders are allowed to see them, and they’re not permitted to see each other either.”

Madam Xu’s arrangement was naturally to facilitate Seventh Miss’s investigation.

Seventh Miss breathed out and said in a low voice, “Go discreetly inquire—you can ask the old mama. No one would know this matter better than the old mama. When the case was investigated, she definitely participated—ask what specific duties she had when Fifth Sister had her accident. Be careful not to reveal anything. Also investigate this maid’s entire family background thoroughly. Don’t rush it. Be sure to do it meticulously. Report back to me the moment you have any progress. And again, be extremely low-key.”

She paused, then added meaningfully, “This maid may very well be the insider at Mingde Hall—if people learn of our movements…”

Bai Lu was shocked and alarmed. She quickly knelt down. “This servant will definitely be careful!”

Seventh Miss nodded, supporting her forehead. Countless thoughts swirled in her mind like a whirlpool. She said wearily, “Good, then go get busy. There’s much to do before New Year’s, and you’ve worked hard…”

After a few more words of consolation, she sent Bai Lu away. She then retrieved her quill pen and wrote frantically in her notebook—thousands of characters in simplified Chinese and English that only she could understand. Only then did she stop and draw a relationship network diagram, staring at it in deep thought.

After an unknown period, commotion suddenly arose outside. Guyu’s voice carried into the room, “Little ancestor, Seventh Concubine is busy!”

Then came Fifth Son’s wheedling voice, “I want to, I want to!”

Children really changed daily as they grew. Fifth Son had grown considerably in the past half year. Now when he spoke, he was already quite coherent.

Seventh Miss suddenly came back to her senses. She hurriedly closed the notebook and stuffed it into a cabinet before calling out, “Guyu, come in.”

Someone opened the door for Fifth Son. Two children immediately rushed into the room—Fourth Son was also there, just following silently behind Fifth Son.

“Seventh Concubine.” Fifth Son put on a timid expression, looking at Seventh Miss somewhat embarrassed. But seeming to feel he had no reason to be so guilty, he lunged forward, throwing himself at Seventh Miss’s knees. “We want to go into that room and look.”

Seventh Miss looked up at Guyu in astonishment. Guyu’s face showed helplessness as she explained softly, “The two children just saw you and Fifth Miss enter the former young madam’s room…”

She showed some sorrow. “They got curious and asked Chunfen and me. We didn’t think much of it and told the children it was the room where the former young madam lived. We didn’t expect that upon hearing this, Fourth Son would insist on going to see—”

The rest was clear. Fourth Son incited Fifth Son, and Fifth Son was easily incited by him. Thus they ended up at Seventh Miss’s door.

Seventh Miss looked at Fourth Son. The child seemed to know his request might be somewhat improper. He was shrinking behind Guyu, looking at Seventh Miss with some trepidation. In his large eyes flickered some childish cunning mixed with some stubbornness. For a moment, he bore a subtle resemblance to Fifth Miss.

She lowered her head to look at Fifth Son.

Fifth Son’s expression was much more righteous, carrying that natural innocence and superiority—he resembled Fifth Miss even more than Fourth Son did.

For a moment, Seventh Miss truly had mixed feelings.

Yu An’s words and Grand Madam’s words became two inseparable threads twisted together in her mind.

After a long while, she forced out a smile and amiably beckoned to Fourth Son, saying gently, “Come, Fourth Son, come into Seventh Concubine’s arms. That room—it’s not that you can’t go in and look, it’s just that no one has lived there for a long time and there’s lots of dust. If we hadn’t needed to retrieve a forgotten item, Seventh Concubine wouldn’t have taken Fifth Aunt in either.” Moreover, someone had died there. The place was unclean and unsuitable for children.

Fourth Son slowly moved into Seventh Miss’s embrace, quietly listening to her explanation.

“When Fourth Son and Fifth Son are a bit older, Seventh Concubine will personally open the door and take you in to look, all right?” After much thought, Seventh Miss could only clumsily push the excuse into the future.

The two children blinked their eyes and looked at each other for a while, seemingly conducting some silent dialogue. Fifth Son suddenly turned his head again and asked Seventh Miss, “Cousin Sun says Seventh Concubine is our aunt… Aunt… is… is Mother’s younger sister. Seventh Concubine, I—where is our mother?”

Guyu’s face immediately showed some sorrow.

Seventh Miss was stunned for a moment before saying softly, “Your mother went… went to a very far place.”

“Will she come back?” Fourth Son finally couldn’t hold back and followed up with a question. On his small face, there was no longer any concealment—it was written full of longing. “Cousin Sun has a mother, everyone has a mother… only my brother and I don’t have a mother…”

By the end of his words, there was finally a trace of tears in his voice. Fifth Son still looked confused, seeming only to feel vaguely lost without understanding what Fourth Son’s question really meant.

This child was truly smart from a young age! Not yet quite four years old, he already knew to compare his family environment with those around him to notice what he was missing!

Seventh Miss swallowed, feeling somewhat helpless for a moment.

Yet they were still so young—they probably couldn’t understand the meaning of death. They only knew that everyone around them had mothers, but they didn’t…

She almost helplessly flashed a glance at Guyu, saw Guyu’s face already streaming with tears, and sighed helplessly again before holding Fourth Son a bit tighter and saying softly, “She won’t come back. She loved you very much, so, so she had Seventh Concubine look after you. Though you don’t have a mother, you have Seventh Concubine—”

Fourth Son suddenly tried to pull away from Seventh Miss, “Seventh Concubine, Seventh Concubine also has Cousin Sun! Seventh Concubine also has… also has Fourth Uncle’s children!”

Seventh Miss suddenly felt she might have managed Mingde Hall a bit too strictly.

It seemed Guyu and Chunfen must have watched the two wet nurses very closely, so no one had educated these two children about the difference between a stepmother and a birth mother. And Fourth Son was already smart enough to understand that “Seventh Concubine” didn’t have the exclusivity that “Mother” did. Any of Seventh Miss’s siblings’ children could call her Seventh Concubine.

Suddenly, she felt a figure flash past the doorway. Looking up, she saw it was Xu Fengjia.

He was standing by the door with his arms folded, watching this scene. His expression finally showed some sorrow.