“Fifth Sister-in-law said…” Seventh Miss drew out her voice, appearing to be carefully choosing her words, but her mind was racing rapidly.

There were naturally many ways to extract information, but the method most suited to the current situation seemed paradoxically to be the simplest—direct and straight to the point.

She simply abandoned any thought of using artfully embellished language and plainly recounted the Fifth Young Madam’s letter.

“Fifth Sister-in-law said that although Fifth Brother didn’t participate in the poisoning, he still knew about it.” As Seventh Miss spoke, she observed the Grand Madam’s expression, then slowly continued, “Supposedly, the reason the Wu Xun family was bought off also had… also had Grandmother’s shadow behind it.”

A flash of panic immediately crossed the Grand Madam’s face. She glanced unnaturally at Seventh Miss, then revealed a disdainful expression. “Lady Zhang was deranged. Before dying, she was naturally like a mad dog, biting whoever she caught. You should have torn up such a letter on the spot!”

The Fifth Young Madam’s letter hadn’t actually mentioned the Wu Xun family matter. Seventh Miss said this purely to test the Grand Madam’s reaction to the Fifth Young Madam’s false accusations—The Fifth Young Madam’s usurious lending must have been handled through the Wu Xun family, including the fraudulent one hundred thousand taels of silver, which was also arranged by the Wu family. Such trusted confidants were naturally recruited by her personally and couldn’t be close to the Grand Madam. Otherwise, how could the Fifth Young Madam have entrusted them with matters she was concealing from the Grand Madam?

Getting the Grand Madam’s reaction, she had some measure of understanding in her heart. After pausing, she slowly continued, “Is that so? But Grandmother… Fifth Sister-in-law’s letter also said that regarding the poisoning matter, even you knew about it…”

This time, the Grand Madam’s reaction was somewhat stronger than when she heard the previous accusation. The two walnuts she was playing with in her hand suddenly slipped and nearly fell to the ground.

The Grand Madam hurriedly placed them on the table and smoothed her knife-edge temples before showing anger. “Lady Zhang truly dares to say anything!”

Seventh Miss no longer had any doubts. She had already inclined toward believing what the Fifth Young Madam’s letter indicated, and now she was absolutely certain: even if the Grand Madam hadn’t instigated the Fifth Young Madam to poison, she had definitely given tacit approval beforehand and helped the Fifth Young Madam cover up afterward.

“Indeed, she truly dares to say anything!” Seventh Miss then put on an indignant expression and helped the Grand Madam criticize the Fifth Young Madam. “Such a waste of Grandmother’s usual affection!”

A flash of excitement crossed the Grand Madam’s face. She almost eagerly echoed Seventh Miss. “Usually, my words went in one ear and out the other… She walked this path herself!”

Given the close relationship between the Grand Madam and the Fifth Branch, Seventh Miss’s willingness to give the Grand Madam this way out and help her clear herself was already very face-saving for the Grand Madam.

Seventh Miss spoke with righteous indignation, repeatedly criticizing the Fifth Young Madam’s wrongs. Seeing the Grand Madam echoing her continuously, she slapped the table and said hatefully, “It was agreed at the time to only use wang bu liu xing, but unexpectedly she added an extra dose of saffron herself—”

The Grand Madam, caught off guard for a moment, blurted out, “Exactly—”

As soon as the words fell, she bit down hard on her jaw and looked at Seventh Miss with shock.

The anger on Seventh Miss’s face had already vanished. She gazed at the Grand Madam and slowly said, “It seems what Fifth Sister-in-law said in her letter wasn’t false after all.”

The back hall of Leshan Residence immediately fell into deathly silence.

The Grand Madam aged ten years almost instantly. A complex expression appeared on her deeply wrinkled old face—like crying yet like bitter laughter—but that God of Longevity-like cheerfulness had vanished to who knows where. She seemed to transform in an instant from an anxious yet dignified elder into an embarrassed and haggard commoner woman. Facing Seventh Miss’s pressing gaze, she even felt somewhat ashamed and uncomfortable.

Seventh Miss said not a word, only stared coldly at the Grand Madam. Her bright and clear eyes seemed to speak countless silent accusations, yet also seemed merely to coldly despise the Grand Madam. Suddenly, the relationship between this pair of grandmother and granddaughter seemed to reverse—Seventh Miss, the junior generation, had instead become the dominant one between them.

The Grand Madam suddenly felt deep regret from the bottom of her heart.

If she had known, why did she do it in the first place?

She gazed at Seventh Miss, then as if wounded by that stern bearing, awkwardly averted her gaze, took a deep breath, and pressed that complex and inexpressible feeling to the bottom of her heart.

“I’ve heard enough of your nonsense,” the Grand Madam said haughtily. “Yang Shanheng, you must understand that today you can act tyrannically in the Xu family only because you rely on your father’s and elder sister’s power. But you cannot forget—you’re merely a grandson’s wife. The word ‘unfilial’—you cannot bear it!”

She raised her head high, as if trying to break down Seventh Miss’s psychological defenses. “Regarding Yu Jing’s matter, you must speak whether you want to or not! Otherwise, do you think making this old ancestor unhappy in the inner courtyard will let you live happily?”

At this point, the Grand Madam finally tore off her veil. Her words now carried naked threats.

Seventh Miss lowered her eyes and smiled.

She said softly, “Then Xiaoqi can only wait for Grandmother to make her move and see if I can handle it?”

Though the words contained little contempt, clearly Seventh Miss didn’t take the Grand Madam’s threats to heart at all. She even faced the Grand Madam’s threats with a composed attitude.

Nothing was more frustrating to an enemy than such composure and calmness.

The Grand Madam was very frustrated now. Having gathered all her strength, it seemed to land on nothing. For a moment, she was so angered by Seventh Miss that her vital energy surged, and she rarely showed true anger.

“You—you want to anger this old woman to death, don’t you—” Her voice even alarmed the maids outside the hall. Immediately, several young maids came in to support the Grand Madam. “Don’t get upset! Please sit down—”

From beginning to end, Seventh Miss only sat in place unmoved, smiling as she watched.

With people around her, the Grand Madam gained some confidence. She gazed at Seventh Miss, then softened her tone, even saying somewhat wearily, “Think carefully about this matter yourself! Don’t force Grandmother to complain to the Duke—it’s embarrassing for everyone!”

In the end, these words still revealed sharpness.

“Grandmother,” Seventh Miss lowered her head and said softly, “What was done was done, what wasn’t done wasn’t done. Even Fifth Brother himself may not deny it. Some matters—why must you insist?”

Though her tone was gentle and pleasant, the words yielded not an inch and didn’t take the Grand Madam’s words to heart at all!

The Grand Madam’s face turned ashen with anger. “Good! Good!”

She suddenly swept the dishes and bowls on the table to the floor and said harshly, “Before the Grand Consort, you must be this arrogant too!”

Seventh Miss didn’t even lift an eyelid. She curved her lips and said softly, “Before Fifth Sister, Grandmother must also maintain this momentum—that would be good.”

When it came to verbal sparring, few in the world could match Seventh Miss. The Grand Madam was truly both angry and afraid. Supporting her head, she was about to fall backward. Everyone immediately became busy—pinching her philtrum, pinching the tiger’s mouth acupoint, helping the Grand Madam lie down on the couch. Seeing the Grand Madam half-dead and moaning continuously, a maid boldly scolded Seventh Miss, “The Young Madam is such a steady person—why doesn’t she think about how old the Old Madam is? Can she withstand such anger?”

Seventh Miss’s face immediately showed regret. She quickly stood up. “I’ll send someone to invite Physician Quan right away.”

Once these words were spoken, the Grand Madam had to recover even if she wasn’t well: Quan Zhongbai was Seventh Miss’s relative, and his divine pulse diagnosis was famous throughout the capital. Whether the Grand Madam had been angered into illness—wouldn’t one touch reveal everything?

Truly meeting move with countermove, every possible flaw already mended!

When the Duke of Pingguo inquired later, if the Grand Madam had no real ailment and her pulse was vigorous, he would inevitably ask about the reason for their quarrel. Then when Yang Shanheng produced the letter…

The Grand Madam’s heart didn’t know whether to feel anger or laughter. She moaned weakly and waved her hand, saying softly, “Forget it! It’s nothing! All of you on staff, get out!”

Seventh Miss again caringly tucked in the Grand Madam’s collar. “Grandmother really has no problem?”

The Grand Madam sat up irritably and glared at Seventh Miss. “I’m fine!”

The maids looked at each other, and in the end, they withdrew from the room. Inside, it suddenly quieted again. The Grand Madam’s breathing was sometimes rapid, sometimes slow. After a while, it finally evened out.

“If you want to send Yu Jing to Yunnan, then send him to Yunnan.”

The Grand Madam’s voice now contained countless exhaustion. She closed her eyes, and a turbid tear slid from the corner of her eye. “I’m old. From now on, I can no longer manage affairs in the manor. Do whatever you want—it’s all up to you!”

If Madam Xu had said these words, she would undoubtedly have said them with great satisfaction. But hearing these words from the Grand Madam’s mouth, Seventh Miss only heard deep resentment.

However, she was after all a shrewd old fox—knowing the situation was impossible, the Grand Madam immediately adjusted her emotions and settled for second best, retreating from protecting the Fifth Young Master to self-preservation.

She was originally the old ancestor of the manor, and the Duke of Pingguo usually respected her greatly. As long as the Grand Madam was willing not to make things difficult for Seventh Miss, in what way could Seventh Miss make things difficult for her?

This move of adapting to circumstances and playing it by ear was indeed extremely practiced by the Grand Madam. Even though doing so was equivalent to indirectly showing weakness, indicating she feared Seventh Miss’s methods and all that evidence that might or might not exist, once she withdrew into her shell, Seventh Miss didn’t seem to have much ability to forcibly crack it open.

But Seventh Miss remained neither arrogant nor impatient. She revealed a calm and confident smile and said slowly, “Then Yang Qi thanks Grandmother for her understanding—if there’s nothing else, this granddaughter-in-law will take her leave?”

The Grand Madam sighed long again. She turned over and simply stopped acknowledging Seventh Miss. Seventh Miss also stood up and slowly left the room.

Almost as soon as she left Leshan Residence, a cold smile had already appeared at the corners of Seventh Miss’s lips.

The Grand Madam was old after all. When emotions ran high, she didn’t catch on. This time, she had still gained the upper hand.

However, even though Seventh Miss also inclined toward believing the Fifth Young Madam’s final letter, after confirming that the Fifth Young Madam truly hadn’t lied to her, she still couldn’t help feeling somewhat shocked.

Seventh Miss exhaled. She looked at the sky, then quickened her pace and hurried back to Mingde Hall.

There were still many matters that needed arranging.

#

That evening, the Fourth Young Madam returned to the manor.

This time returning, the Fourth Young Madam didn’t make much commotion. Seemingly knowing the manor had just been through events and couldn’t withstand much disturbance, she only sent someone to Mingde Hall to request two or three small trinkets, then let Seventh Miss pass a peaceful night.

However, the next morning, because the Grand Madam was unwell and had closed her doors to visitors, and Madam Xu had an appointment with the First Madam to offer incense at Tanzhe Temple, with no one to pay respects to, everyone didn’t gather together. After Seventh Miss assigned household duties, she had Lixia watch the house at Mingde Hall while she entered Shendou Hall to visit the Fourth Young Madam.

Entering the seventh month of pregnancy, the Fourth Young Madam’s figure was already quite unwieldy. She was contentedly leaning against the kang, flipping through a newly published story book. Seeing Seventh Miss arrive, she only leaned forward slightly and smiled, “I won’t get up. Sixth Sister-in-law shouldn’t blame me for being rude.”

Seventh Miss looked her over carefully and smiled. “How could I blame Fourth Sister-in-law? I see Fourth Sister-in-law has become much plumper!”

The two sisters-in-law exchanged pleasantries for a while. Seventh Miss sat down opposite the Fourth Young Madam, drinking tea while listening to the Fourth Young Madam talk about several matters during her pregnancy rest at her natal home.

After the conversation reached a pause, somehow both fell quiet. After a while, Seventh Miss slowly said, “Just a few months—I still remember Yu Qiao’s incident as if it were yesterday, yet unexpectedly today the entire Fifth Branch has already…”

The Fourth Young Madam also felt some emotion. Stroking her belly, she slowly said, “Isn’t that so? Matters of the human world truly cannot be understood clearly! Who could have thought the Fifth Branch would be so deranged…”

A trace of disdain and secret joy flashed across her face. “She was just too harsh! If she wanted to be virtuous, fine—but showing off every day like that. Look at today—her own daughter is all alone with no one to care for her! No matter how virtuous, who is she being virtuous for?”

Even though the Fourth Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam had always had conflicts, now that the person had already passed away, to mention the Fifth Young Madam promoting a bed attendant with such indignation… one could see the Fourth Young Madam truly minded others coming to share her favor.

Seventh Miss smiled with her chin resting on her hand, but her gaze involuntarily drifted far away.

She thought again of what the Fifth Young Lady had said while showing off to the First Madam in front of her: “I asked her, I said Fourth Brother still has no children yet, and I have two beautiful maids who haven’t been formally recognized, perhaps…”

The Fifth Young Madam said she only added one dose of wang bu liu xing. Seventh Miss had already been half-skeptical, but after the reverse verification from the Grand Madam’s side, she truly believed that the Fifth Young Madam had indeed only used one medicinal ingredient. After all, she still hoped for the Fifth Young Lady to be ill, not hoped for her to die.

Among the remaining suspects in the manor, there were only the First Young Madam and Fourth Young Madam. Moreover, the purpose of this dose of saffron had become very simple: the perpetrator might not have known saffron would cause the Fifth Young Lady to hemorrhage massively, only taking advantage of its sterilizing effect.

The First Young Madam could naturally also, for her own reasons, want the Fifth Young Lady sterilized. However, her personality was low-key and gentle. After years of contact, Seventh Miss felt she was more the type to act after thorough planning. If there were a conspiracy, it definitely wouldn’t be realized this way. Moreover, try as she might, Seventh Miss couldn’t figure out what benefit making the Fifth Young Lady infertile would bring her: Silang and Wulang were both still lively and active!

If she wanted the Fifth Young Lady dead, she might have reason. But wanting the Fifth Young Lady sterilized—this suspicion seemed rather far-fetched.

The Fourth Young Madam was different.

This woman had a fierce and impulsive personality. Though calculating, she was also someone who acted on emotion, valuing the Fourth Young Master’s favor above all else… The Fifth Young Lady’s words might have precisely struck her reverse scale.

But still that same point: this matter had passed three years ago. Even if the Fourth Young Madam was the culprit, where would Seventh Miss find evidence? Even if she found it, the Fifth Young Madam had already taken all blame. How would the Duke of Pingguo be pleased if she brought up old matters again?

The difficult problem the Fifth Young Madam left after death truly wasn’t easy to solve.

Seventh Miss smiled affectionately at the Fourth Young Madam again.

However, if the Fifth Young Madam couldn’t defeat her while alive, after death, she certainly couldn’t defeat her either.

She said softly, “Has Fourth Sister-in-law heard? On the night Fifth Sister-in-law passed away, she wrote me a letter.”