Seventh Miss didn’t immediately go to the side courtyard to interrogate Xiao Songhua.

“Tell her to think carefully about what the consequences will be if she dares to deceive me.” She calmly instructed Lixia. “Before I finish handling household affairs tomorrow morning, she still has seven or eight hours to think slowly and carefully. Once she’s thought it through, give her food and water, but don’t let her sleep. Don’t extinguish the lamps either.”

A flash of sympathy crossed Lixia’s face, but she quickly resumed her usual calm expression. She nodded and left the room.

Xu Fengjia glanced at Seventh Miss and put down the tangram puzzle in his hands, nodding to Guyu. Guyu stepped forward to collect the two children. “Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master should also go to bed now!”

Fifth Young Master pouted, seeming inclined to act spoiled. Fourth Young Master looked at his parents, then shook his head at Fifth Young Master. He himself took the lead and rushed out of the room first, laughing. “Little brother, come chase me!”

Xu Fengjia and Seventh Miss watched the two children leave the room. For a moment neither spoke. After a while, Xu Fengjia said slowly, “Fourth Young Master is truly much more sensible than his younger brother.”

Only in these past few months had he paid a bit more attention to the two children, unlike before when being close to the children was just a task for him. Seventh Miss also sighed along with him. “Unfortunately, he showed this too late. If it had been earlier, the two children’s ranking would have been clearer.”

“That’s fine too.” A slight smile appeared on Xu Fengjia’s lips. “The future heir can’t be a good-for-nothing. If he can’t even manage his own twin brother convincingly, how will he control his cousins in the future?”

“Like you, going to the battlefield at thirteen?” Seventh Miss was quite dismissive. After thinking, she smiled. “However, without so many concubine-born older brothers, even if Fourth Young Master goes to the battlefield, he can go later. He doesn’t need to be as anxious as you were back then.”

Xu Fengjia smiled but didn’t dwell on this matter. He asked again, “What’s this? You’re not going to the side courtyard now? I thought your instructions just then were only to temporarily lower her guard, then you’d catch her off guard like this…”

Seventh Miss waved her hand, full of confidence. “With Xiao Songhua’s personality, she absolutely couldn’t fail to endure even a few hours. Especially since these past few days, though they’ve been under guard, they haven’t suffered much—at least they’ve eaten their fill and slept well. I calculate that no matter what, she’d need to persist for more than twelve hours before she could feel how difficult this method is. Surrendering at the first watch? Too fake.”

“You mean…” Xu Fengjia narrowed his eyes, saying word by word, “She still wants to create a false confession to frame someone else?”

“I didn’t say that.” Seventh Miss sighed, then said, “It’s just that if she can’t understand from the bottom of her heart how formidable I am, interrogating her will never be smooth. You men have your威棍 to establish authority. But her? She’s a delicate young girl—a few strikes and she’d be beaten to pulp. How could I interrogate her then? Besides, that would be too cruel. This current method, though she’s suffering somewhat, doesn’t cause lasting harm. After resting a few days, she’ll recover.”

Xu Fengjia couldn’t help but laugh. “Given her crimes, sooner or later she’ll either be beaten or sold, or at the very least she won’t escape death. What, do you want to plead on her behalf and release her properly to marry someone?”

“Whether she dies or not isn’t for me to decide.” Seventh Miss couldn’t help but sigh again. “Anyway, while she’s in my hands, I don’t want to make the scene too horrific. You can say I’m falsely compassionate if you like, but anyway…”

She smiled self-mockingly. “This is indeed false compassion.”

Xu Fengjia fell silent. After a long while, he gently stroked Seventh Miss’s hair.

“In this life, many things must be done whether we want to or not.” A rare note of melancholy appeared in the young general’s voice, but he immediately rallied. “If you don’t want to, or feel it’s inconvenient…”

A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes as he said decisively, “Then I’ll do it.”

Seventh Miss’s heart warmed, yet she also felt it ironic. Other people’s romances were all moonlight and romance, but the affection between her and Xu Fengjia seemed to need to be proven through killing and bloodshed.

“Let’s take it step by step.” She remained noncommittal. “When it really comes to the day of beatings, even if you’re unwilling, I’ll definitely come find you…”

#

The next morning when Seventh Miss went to pay respects to the Grand Madam, the Grand Madam asked again about the two beauties Duke Pingguo had bestowed.

“After all, they were sent by the Prince of Minyue. Though they’re servants, we should still treat them courteously.” The Grand Madam’s face was full of impartiality and compassion. “Are their quarters all arranged? Which part of Mingde Hall are they in?”

Because the Fourth Young Madam had felt unwell again this morning, neither Fourth Young Master nor she had come to pay respects. Seventh Miss looked around and saw the Fifth Young Madam with a smile on her lips, seeming unconcerned, talking quietly with Fifth Young Master while holding Hezhi’s hand. First Young Master and First Young Madam were playing wooden statues again. She understood—the Grand Madam had specifically chosen this morning to say these things, and it was definitely aimed at her.

“They’re all settled.” She answered with a smile. “Because there are many matters recently, I haven’t asked where they’re staying. If grandmother wants to know, just ask Lixia.”

She glanced at Xu Fengjia and made as if to call Lixia. Xu Fengjia quickly said, “No need to ask. I had them stay with Concubine Mao.”

The Grand Madam put on a puzzled expression. “Mingde Hall is such a large residence—it can’t accommodate two chamber maids, so they had to be sent to the side courtyard?”

Though she was asking Xu Fengjia, her eyes were on Seventh Miss. Even Duke Pingguo couldn’t help but turn his gaze to look at Seventh Miss, stroking his beard in silence.

“Oh.” But Xu Fengjia still had a nonchalant expression. “Grandmother knows I normally require the most quiet. In the west wing of Mingde Hall, aside from Yang Qi and me, even the maids rarely come in. To have them stay in the east wing? That’s where Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master reside—also inconvenient. Better to have them stay directly in the side courtyard, so everyone can be at peace.”

The Grand Madam was immediately left with nothing to say.

Even knowing it was Seventh Miss’s idea, if she could get Xu Fengjia to say these words, that was her skill.

She glanced at Duke Pingguo and saw he too showed some helplessness. She smiled. “Alright, you young people’s affairs—this old grandmother can’t manage them anymore. Anyway, however Fengjia is comfortable, that’s how to arrange things. That can never be wrong.”

Duke Pingguo glanced at Seventh Miss. Seeing her face calm, seemingly not pleased by Xu Fengjia’s words, he sighed several times inwardly.

Great aristocratic families couldn’t have just one or two heirs. If Yang Shi could bear children, it wouldn’t be impossible to wait until she bore a legitimate son before arranging for others to serve in his bed.

But now she herself couldn’t conceive and wouldn’t let others conceive either. If something happened to Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master, would the Sixth Branch have to adopt a child to continue the line?

His gaze drifted to Xu Fengjia.

Ah, forget it. He was only just over twenty years old—there was still time to wait.

“This year for the Dragon Boat Festival palace audience, Yang Shi, remember to bring some longevity threads into the palace.” Duke Pingguo spoke unhurriedly. “As outer relatives, we shouldn’t have much private contact with the palace women, but Prince An is after all the Dowager Consort’s adopted son. On holidays and festivals, this small token of regard cannot be lacking.”

Seventh Miss immediately responded seriously, “Xiao Qi understands.”

Duke Pingguo’s gaze swept back and forth between the First Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam. He hesitated, then said, “This time, Zhang Shi should also enter the palace to pay respects to the Dowager Consort. Don’t always have only Yang Shi enter the palace alone—it makes you all seem insufficiently attentive.”

The Fifth Young Madam was honored beyond expectation. She raised her head to glance at Duke Pingguo, then looked at the Grand Madam. Seeing the Grand Madam smile and nod at her, she said anxiously, “Yes, Zhang Shi will certainly serve the Dowager Consort well.”

Even the First Young Madam couldn’t help but cast Seventh Miss a worried look.

Since the accounting incident last August, this was the first time Duke Pingguo had publicly elevated the Fifth Branch again in front of everyone.

In such feudal great families, the family head’s preferences were almost everything. Now that Duke Pingguo was clearly viewing the Fifth Branch with renewed favor, the Sixth Branch’s greatest backer Madam Xu was recuperating away from home, and the Grand Madam clearly stood on the Fifth Branch’s side—the Sixth Branch’s days would probably become difficult.

But Seventh Miss didn’t care at all. She appeared perfectly at ease, looking at the Fifth Young Madam with gratification, as if very happy about the Fifth Young Madam’s renewed favor. “This year I’ll have company entering the palace!”

Instead, Xu Fengjia showed a slight trace of dissatisfaction, though this emotion also quickly dissipated, leaving only faint traces at the corners of his eyes and brows.

Coming out of Leshan Residence, Xu Fengjia had matters to attend to at his command post. Seventh Miss sent Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master to the family school, then distributed household trivia in the west five rooms. Only then did she unhurriedly enter the side courtyard. By timing, it was exactly one day since she’d interrogated Xiao Songhua yesterday.

Though ancient interrogations also included preventing prisoners from sleeping, no matter how strictly guarded, in dark cells prisoners could always find opportunities to doze off. But with constant illumination, shining bright lamps on the subject’s eyes—this gave people no way to rest, yet they weren’t tired enough to ignore the lamplight and doze off. Being suspended in this in-between state was truly extremely uncomfortable.

Sure enough, after just one day, Xiao Songhua looked like a completely different person. Not only was her face swollen and her hair disheveled, but her expression carried three parts confusion and three parts agitation. Seeing Seventh Miss enter, she didn’t even pay respects, just mechanically shifted position in the chair, as if trying to avoid the lamplight shining directly in her eyes.

Seventh Miss didn’t waste words with her either, but said lightly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to confess? Then confess.”

Xiao Songhua raised her eyes again, seeming to gather her energy to carefully examine Seventh Miss. Seventh Miss let her look.

Fundamentally, this interrogation was a psychological contest between the two of them. The reason she was so confident about interrogating Xiao Songhua was mainly because their social positions differed greatly. From any angle, crushing through Xiao Songhua’s psychological defenses was only a matter of time.

However, without any physical evidence now, if Xiao Songhua dared to lie, it would certainly bring great inconvenience to Seventh Miss.

How to completely destroy Xiao Songhua’s psychological defenses had become her current urgent priority.

Therefore, she didn’t avoid Xiao Songhua’s gaze but naturally assumed an arrogant attitude, as if she already had everything in her heart and didn’t particularly care about what Xiao Songhua was about to say.

Xiao Songhua lowered her eyes again. This energy-depleted little maid’s eyelids trembled. She said quietly, “May this servant dare to ask the young madam why you’ve listed this servant as a primary suspect and must inflict such torture to force this servant to speak?”

Though Seventh Miss had no interrogation experience in her previous life, she’d at least read a few related books and knew at this moment she absolutely couldn’t be deceived by Xiao Songhua into revealing the clues she knew. She smiled noncommittally. “You guess.”

Xiao Songhua bit her teeth tightly and fell silent again for a moment before saying quietly, “This servant… did add something to the former young madam’s medicine.”

This was the first time she’d admitted to this crime.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but feel energized. Suppressing the tension and excitement in her heart, she responded lightly, “Oh?”

Xiao Songhua raised her eyes again, timidly glancing at Seventh Miss, and said with a bloodless face, “However, behind this matter, naturally someone gave instructions… This person… this person is the First Young Madam!”

Seventh Miss’s pupils contracted. She bit her lip and didn’t speak for a moment. Instead, Xiao Songhua seemed to find courage and began recounting intermittently.

“That day, this servant went to Qingping Courtyard to fetch medicine for the young madam and encountered the First Young Madam on the road. The First Young Madam seemed to have just come out of Leshan Residence. When she saw this servant, she stopped and asked this servant a few questions.”

She choked up again, her shoulders twitching, tears sliding down her face, looking quite pitiful. “The First Young Madam had two maids with her. The three of them surrounded this servant, and the First Young Madam asked this servant if she wanted to earn money.”

“This servant panicked. The First Young Madam then pulled out a stack of banknotes and stuffed them into this servant’s hands, saying, saying this was payment for this servant’s trouble. As she spoke, the two maids beside her opened the medicine package and mixed something into it. This servant doesn’t know what it was. This servant was panicking when the First Young Madam said again: if this matter was shouted about, it would be this servant slandering her. This matter had no evidence whatsoever. All this servant could do was obediently comply and hide the banknotes well, lest the wealth be exposed and known to others.”

Xiao Songhua’s voice became somewhat broken. Her face showed some fear. “This servant’s heart was very confused. Not knowing what to do, this servant returned to the room in a daze. The nanny brewing medicine snatched the medicine package from this servant’s hands, scolding this servant for being slow while filing the medicinal ingredients… This servant just… just…”

Compared to her composure and calm from a day ago, Xiao Songhua seemed to have become a different person. She lowered her head and wept quietly. “Just never dared to mention this matter again…”

Seventh Miss’s gaze at her gradually grew cold. She said quietly, “You mean elder sister-in-law intercepted you midway, gave you some silver, and mixed other medicinal ingredients into the medicine package. She told you not to speak of it, otherwise without any evidence, your family would certainly suffer. So you were timid for a moment and thus complied with the First Young Madam’s arrangement, is that right?”

Xiao Songhua sobbed while nodding. “Yes… this servant deserves death, this servant was cowardly… but young madam, please investigate clearly—this stack of banknotes totaled one thousand taels. This servant didn’t dare spend it and under cover of night threw it into the water…”

“So your words have no evidence at all?” Seventh Miss asked again. “Then do you know why the First Young Madam would do this?”

Xiao Songhua shook her head and said quietly, “This servant is just a small maid—how would this servant know what a young madam thinks?”

She paused, then sobbed again. “Young madam, please investigate clearly. This servant deserves death, this servant does deserve death, but… but this servant was also coerced by the First Young Madam…”

Seventh Miss said impatiently, “Stop crying! Don’t cry!”

She rested her chin on her hand, pondered for a moment, then asked, “Then what do you guess—why would the First Young Madam do this to harm someone?”

Xiao Songhua clearly paused, as if racking her brains to find an answer. After a moment, she said hesitantly, “This servant isn’t clear either… perhaps, perhaps it was about First Young Master managing the household. The former young madam said several times in front of us that external matters should be handled by the household manager, so perhaps the First Young Madam…”

Seventh Miss hummed, then asked, “So before this incident, were you familiar with the First Young Madam? How many times had you spoken?”

Xiao Songhua shook her head desperately again. “This servant, this servant can’t remember.”

If not for the ropes binding her to the chair, she would almost have slid to the floor. “It seems there was no particular contact.”

“Then why would elder sister-in-law put those two medicinal ingredients in the package—do you know why?” Seventh Miss stared at Xiao Songhua and asked, “Do you understand why?”

Xiao Songhua clearly hesitated. She shook her head again. “This servant doesn’t understand…”

Instead, Seventh Miss relaxed. She leaned back in the chair in a relaxed manner, revealing a disdainful smile.

Fatigue interrogation had after all paralyzed Xiao Songhua’s thinking—she’d still revealed flaws.

Without saying much more, she stood and left the room.