Although the Grand Master’s actual birthday was still three days away, the Cabinet Elder’s mansion was already far livelier than before. The entire estate was decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments. Despite approaching the twelfth lunar month, fresh flowers and potted plants were displayed everywhere. Looking out from her carriage, Seventh Miss saw that everything had been renovated. She could even see a theatrical stage erected in the small garden from afar. After alighting from the carriage and seeing Xu Fengjia hurry forward to support her, she asked with a smile, “Which troupe have you hired to perform?”

Ninth Brother had already come out to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles. Supporting Seventh Miss on one side with Xu Fengjia on the other, he laughed: “It’s the Qilin Troupe. Ruiyun loves listening to the Qilin Troupe, so I was partial.”

Hearing mention of the Qilin Troupe, Seventh Miss couldn’t help but pause slightly before smiling and shaking off their support. “I’m carrying a child, not crippled. What are you doing? It’s not even snowy ground where walking would be slippery.”

Lixia and Shangyuan had already taken her arms on each side. “Heir, Young Master—we servants attend more carefully!”

Although Seventh Miss didn’t mind, after learning of her pregnancy, Lixia, Shangyuan and the others had discussed and insisted on staying until after she gave birth before marrying. As Lixia put it, “After all these years, Miss has never needed care more than now. We wouldn’t feel at ease handing you over to others like this.”

Their decision naturally suited Xu Fengjia perfectly, and Seventh Miss also felt an extra layer of security was better. Thus the original team remained to serve, with Xiao Huaxi and others still learning proper conduct under Lixia. With more time to spare, everything proceeded much more smoothly.

Laughing and chatting, they entered the room to find it already bursting with flowers. However, looking around, Seventh Miss and her husband had arrived earliest. Behind them, Guyu and Chunfen carried in two more grandsons. Fourth and Fifth Young Masters cried out joyfully in mid-air: “Grandfather! Grandmother!”

After all, there’s special affection across generations. Even someone as reserved as the Grand Master couldn’t help smiling when facing his grandsons. The Grand Madam eagerly stood up and immediately embraced both grandsons. “Grandmother missed you so much!”

Xu Fengjia stepped forward to pay respects to the Grand Master and Grand Madam. As Seventh Miss moved to follow, the Grand Master waved his hand with a smile. “You’re heavy with child—don’t move this time.”

Since their rupture, though father and daughter maintained contact and borrowed each other’s influence when necessary without hesitation, this was actually their first face-to-face meeting. The Grand Master maintained his composure, but Seventh Miss felt somewhat awkward. She smiled faintly and nodded: “Then Little Seventh thanks Father for his consideration.”

“Father and daughter—if Father doesn’t cherish you, who will?” The Grand Master held Fourth Young Master in his arms, rarely showing a touch of sentiment. “The older I get, the more I feel fame and fortune mean little. What’s real is a harmonious family with children and grandchildren filling the hall.”

Whether the Grand Master spoke from his heart or was showing favor to Seventh Miss was impossible to fathom. But once spoken, Ninth Brother and Xu Fengjia naturally echoed repeatedly. Quan Ruiyun touched her belly and exchanged a smile with Seventh Miss, her face full of joy. The Grand Madam was even more delighted, grasping Seventh Miss’s hand and having her sit beside her. “Such good news, yet you kept it from Mother for three months? You deserve a scolding.”

Though the words were reproachful, they conveyed infinite intimacy. Seventh Miss smiled sheepishly. “Divine Physician Quan said I’m weak, so I dared not spread the news—I feared Mother would worry needlessly for me…”

After chatting a while, the Grand Madam sent the Grand Master, Xu Fengjia, and Ninth Brother away. “With you here, the daughters-in-law and Little Seventh can never be at ease. Go outside and discuss your affairs of state. When all the children arrive, everyone can talk together.”

Seventh Miss was manageable, but Quan Ruiyun with her large belly was indeed a daughter-in-law and felt more constrained. The Grand Master took his son and son-in-law to enjoy family happiness elsewhere. The Grand Madam also sent Quan Ruiyun to rest before pulling Seventh Miss into the back hall.

“Your Second Sister still told me about the Mo Shi matter.” Once inside, the Grand Madam immediately dismissed everyone except two trusted servants, Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang, to serve tea. “You handled this very well, but you were still too soft-hearted. When there’s opportunity, you must still get rid of Mo Shi’s child.”

She couldn’t help grinding her teeth. “Doesn’t she fear losing favor most? I’ll make her personally send her husband to another’s bed!”

Seventh Miss hadn’t seen the Grand Madam for quite some time, and meeting now, her state of mind had changed. Hearing the Grand Madam speak this way, she couldn’t help frowning. She looked deeply at the Grand Madam, both hands protecting her belly, and didn’t respond.

The Grand Madam gnashed her teeth for a while longer before telling Seventh Miss, “Regarding the Zhang family, we’ve also made arrangements. Though we won’t say the entire clan is ruined, that branch can never raise their heads again…”

She rambled on asking about the ins and outs of Fourth Young Madam’s matter. Seventh Miss mentioned what she could. The Grand Madam seemed to finally calm down. She patted Seventh Miss’s hand kindly and said quietly, “It’s truly been hard on you in the Xu household.”

She still remembered to care for Seventh Miss: “Why are your hands so cold? Quickly drink some tea to warm yourself.”

While speaking, she had already poured Seventh Miss a cup of tea and brought out several plates of snacks from the warming box. “You may not be able to eat much during the meal. You’re about to start having morning sickness—remember to eat some snacks from time to time.”

Seventh Miss smiled while picking up the tea cup to warm her hands.

“I’m fine. I don’t eat many things normally anyway, and what I usually eat is rather bland, so I don’t seem to be in danger of morning sickness…”

While speaking, Seventh Miss deeply inhaled the steam from the tea.

She also seemingly casually glanced at Nanny Liang, then looked at the Grand Madam.

Nanny Liang’s face was solemn, as if in a bad mood or having eaten something wrong. Seeing Seventh Miss look over, she pressed her lips together.

Nanny Wang’s expression was more natural but also showed little joy, not matching today’s festive atmosphere.

She looked at the Grand Madam again.

She had truly come to understand the Grand Madam too well. For over ten years, her work had been to fathom this woman’s emotions and read her micro-expressions—it had practically become Seventh Miss’s instinct.

Though the Grand Madam still wore that bodhisattva-like benevolent expression, her lips clearly showed a trace of tension, and her gaze kept circling around her own hands as if unintentionally.

Though the tea was fragrant, it didn’t seem to be Seventh Miss’s usual preference. Besides the faint bitter fragrance of tea leaves, there was also a slightly cloying sweetness.

Seventh Miss discovered she wasn’t surprised at all.

Even if she held some position in the Grand Madam’s heart, how could she compare to Fifth Miss or the grandsons Fifth Miss left behind?

She just found it utterly laughable—in this moment, she even had the impulse to laugh aloud.

For over forty years, the Grand Madam had persisted in living in her own world—that truly wasn’t easy!

Seventh Miss casually poured the tea onto the floor, letting the steaming liquid create a wet stain on the blue brick floor.

“You may all leave,” she ordered the two nannies calmly. “I have some matters to discuss privately with the Madam.”

Both Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang’s expressions changed. They looked at the Grand Madam’s face and wanted to say something, but seeing Seventh Miss’s expression, they both closed their mouths. With Nanny Liang in the lead and Nanny Wang following, they slowly withdrew from the inner room.

The Grand Madam’s face showed surprise, embarrassment, and anger. “Little Seventh, what do you mean by this?”

Seventh Miss propped up her chin. She looked at the Grand Madam with great interest and said quietly, “I won’t hide it from the Madam—I’ve always been thinking about how to repay you for that dose of ‘Even Immortals Cannot Save.'”

The Grand Madam’s face immediately turned snow white.

The small parlor fell into oppressive silence.

Seventh Miss almost leisurely appreciated the Grand Madam’s expression—her rare embarrassment, panic, guilt, and surprise. She said softly, “Yes, Little Seventh has known since childhood that Ninth Auntie’s death was because of your medicinal dose. You may not even know that this medicine passed through breast milk into Little Seventh’s body, causing me to be naturally cold-constitutioned and have difficulty conceiving. If Divine Physician Quan hadn’t secretly prescribed remedies for me starting when I was seven or eight, Little Seventh might not have survived to today.”

This time, the surprise crossing the Grand Madam’s face held more authenticity—this noblewoman truly might not have anticipated that the poison of “Even Immortals Cannot Save” would pass through breast milk to Seventh Miss.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Seventh Miss cut off the Grand Madam’s words again.

“Regarding the grievances between you and Ninth Auntie, I’ve already investigated thoroughly. Honestly, the matters of those years are difficult to judge. Apart from poisoning being something I cannot accept under any circumstances, your suppressing Ninth Auntie wasn’t actually wrong. Any legitimate wife in your position would make such a decision. You were just neither ruthless enough nor soft-hearted enough. More ruthless—simply give the full dose of poison, let Ninth Auntie die of sudden illness, or like Fifth Sister, arrange a major hemorrhage right after childbirth. It wouldn’t have led to today’s situation, raising me—this ungrateful wretch who physically resides in the main courtyard but mentally belongs to the south annex. Not soft-hearted enough—simply spare Ninth Auntie’s life and give her some dignity, and there wouldn’t be today’s troubles either.”

These words sounded very much like the Grand Madam’s own tone, which made them all the more mocking. The Grand Madam’s face was full of shock and a thread of helplessness. She wanted to speak but couldn’t say anything. Seventh Miss continued with interest: “So whether to revenge myself on you, and how—I’ve been considering. I even questioned whether you and I are truly so different. If I were you, would I do the same? Without Father’s tacit permission, would you have done it? Should I blame you, Father, Uncle Feng from the Feng family, or even Ninth Brother?”

“I think I finally have my answer.” She gazed at the Grand Madam, almost gazing with a sense of superiority at this noblewoman covered in jewels but with white hair showing at her temples. “For a failure, what need do I have for revenge? Life has already completed its revenge on you. What you value most in life is nothing more than hoping your two biological daughters find good matches, hoping your own position is secure and you can enjoy your twilight years in peace. Yet it was precisely you yourself who caused Fifth Sister’s death with your own hands. Seeking revenge on this person and that—have you never thought to ask yourself why you raised Fifth Sister to be this way?”

“I might as well tell you honestly.” Seventh Miss revealed a disdainful smile. “Fifth Sister died young because she made two mistakes.”

The Grand Madam’s face immediately moved. This noblewoman, like a clay statue, seemed unable to help being drawn to Seventh Miss’s analysis. Though she didn’t speak, her eyes locked onto Seventh Miss’s gaze.

“The first mistake—she shouldn’t have declared she would audit accounts and embarrass the fifth household before even taking her position.” Seventh Miss slowly raised one finger. “The fifth household’s use of Wang Bu Liu Xing was intended to drag down her health so she lacked the stamina to manage the household, giving them more time to manipulate the accounts. This was both vicious and self-preservation.”

“The second mistake—she shouldn’t have ruined relations with Fourth Sister-in-law when her greatest support was in poor health and Grandmother and Mother-in-law were at odds. Once triumphant, she declared she would send Fourth Sister-in-law a bed-warmer, offending Fourth Sister-in-law whose heart held only Fourth Brother.” Seventh Miss raised a second finger. “Fourth Sister-in-law used carthamus purely for revenge—because Fifth Sister mocked her for being unable to bear children, she hoped Fifth Sister would never bear children again either.”

“As Fifth Sister’s younger sister, I truly grieve for her death. But I’m only her sister—the responsibility for raising her lay with the parents. Specifically in our family, Father was busy with political affairs and only had eyes for Ninth Brother. You are Fifth Sister’s mother—if you didn’t teach her, who would?” Seventh Miss said quietly. “Madam, you personally raised Fifth Sister to have this temperament—making enemies everywhere before even securing her position, needlessly offending a powerful enemy at the most difficult time, immediately becoming unruly and shrewish once triumphant, unable to endure hardship or withstand offense, unable even to contain her triumph. If she were your daughter-in-law or your sister-in-law, how would you treat her?”

The Grand Madam’s face gradually flushed red. She opened her mouth and weakly uttered the word “you” before stopping dejectedly. Faced with Seventh Miss’s accusations, she couldn’t even find a single word to respond.

“You hate the Zhang family, hate Mo Shi—you hate with such vigor. You hate the Grand Madam to the bone. But in my view, you should hate yourself most. Did you put your heart into Fifth Sister’s education? Apart from providing her with abundant material goods, did you nurture her? While we were growing up, what were you doing? You were wavering—wanting to use Ninth Brother while guarding against him, thinking about adoption while thinking about establishing the legitimate heir, thinking about Fourth Auntie while thinking about Second Madam. Even toward me, a minor concubine-born daughter, you had to both strike and pull. You thought you held everything in your palm, strategizing brilliantly with everything under control.” Seventh Miss laughed disdainfully. “Yes, you’re truly impressive. Not knowing the past, I held you in wholehearted reverence. Ninth Brother doesn’t remember his birth mother and felt closer to Fifth Sister. Though he also has me as a sister, we didn’t grow up together after all—you tamed him. Wow, you’re truly impressive.”

“You—” The Grand Madam couldn’t bear it anymore. She stood up abruptly, even having the impulse to search for something heavy.

Seventh Miss raised an index finger and said softly, “Shh, don’t be too loud. If Ninth Brother hears, what would we do?”

This sentence was sharp as the world’s most precious sword, piercing the Grand Madam’s throat and immediately silencing her, leaving her speechless.

Seventh Miss knew everything and could summon Quan Zhongbai to testify. The poisoning matter could be revealed to Ninth Brother immediately if she wished.

Her own latter half of life depended on Ninth Brother, on Quan Ruiyun… Even Second Miss in her husband’s family couldn’t do without her brother’s support!

“Even if you were busy, even if you had no time to look after Fifth Sister.” Seventh Miss continued the previous topic. “You should have understood that Fifth Sister’s temperament was absolutely unsuitable for marrying into the Xu family. Why did you still marry her into the Xu household for glory and wealth, for vanity? Wasn’t it because you married down back then, so you held your breath wanting to marry both daughters into prestigious families? How many times did Fifth Sister tell you she wouldn’t marry, that she didn’t even like Shengluan—did you listen? Have you thought about whether she was happy during those days preparing for her wedding?”

The Grand Madam was struck as if by a heavy blow, immediately covering her chest.

“I can tell you, Fifth Sister had someone else in her heart. She just feared your narrow-mindedness and didn’t dare tell her mother. She could only compromise and reluctantly enter the Xu household, just as you did unwillingly back then. Was your nurturing of Fifth Sister for her benefit or your own satisfaction? Madam, you personally destroyed Fifth Sister’s life this way—do you still have the face to hate others?”

Seventh Miss suddenly felt parched. She had talked too much today.

She looked at the Grand Madam and felt a touch of impatience.

What was the point of saying more to such a person? Should she explain point by point all the mistakes she’d made over the years that led to today’s outcome? If she could understand, how could she have ended up in today’s situation?

“I’m too lazy to recount all the past matters one by one.” She said quietly. “When I married, you sent me medicinal materials—I was too lazy to expose you. Now that I’m pregnant, you still think a cup of doctored tea can eliminate the child in my belly. Best if I remain childless forever, only able to raise children for Fifth Sister. Best if I fight endlessly with bed-warmers, strangling illegitimate sons in the womb to ensure Fourth and Fifth Young Masters safely inherit the family business?”

The Grand Madam’s expression changed again. Seventh Miss knew with just one glance that she’d guessed correctly. The Grand Madam truly planned exactly this.

She couldn’t help laughing aloud.

“Madam.” She said softly. “Even if I kept playing dumb, you should have self-awareness. Being stupid to your degree doesn’t matter—what matters is still trying to manipulate a clever person… Your schemes really are too changeable. At six, I could solve problems for you. Thirteen years have passed—I’ve crushed the Xu household’s fourth and fifth branches. Even Old Madam Xu can barely breathe under my pressure. Think about it—are you and I, Yang Qi, opponents on the same level?”

“Before, everyone maintained harmony, and I was too lazy to say much.” She gave the Grand Madam no time to react before continuing slowly. “From today, let’s speak plainly. Previously I flattered you because I wasn’t married and Ninth Brother wasn’t wed. You used me, guarded against me, used Ninth Brother, guarded against Ninth Brother—I endured because I also needed to use you. Even if we were just trading with each other, since I have no feelings for you, naturally I wouldn’t mind your coldness. I even gritted my teeth and endured Ninth Auntie’s matter because unlike you, I cherish my life, I cherish my relationship with Fengjia, even my sisterly bond with Second Sister. I think that in this life, there should always be more love than hate. I can’t keep dwelling on revenge—I must look to the future.”

Seventh Miss paused and raised her voice. “But you cannot be muddled to this degree. Madam, don’t you understand yet? From now on, only you beg me—I don’t beg you. You must beg me, beg me not to tell Ninth Brother about Ninth Auntie, beg me to treat Fourth and Fifth Young Masters well and not touch their positions. Every single day of your latter half of life, you must remember: everything you now possess, if I’m unhappy, can be taken away in an instant.”

Her hand pressed on her lower abdomen again as Seventh Miss lowered her tone. “Ninth Brother’s greatest heartache is not being able to properly honor his birth mother. Though he has feelings for his adoptive mother, Ninth Auntie’s matter remains an irreparable regret. By now, you can see which sister he values most, can’t you?”

“Fengjia and I are harmonious, compatible, and mutually devoted. He’s very grateful I discovered the truth of Fifth Sister’s death. He listens to me completely in household matters. Ruiyun and I get along well as sisters-in-law. She often confides in me, saying Mother-in-law often troubles her. Father needs to use Feng Zixiu’s power and maintain friendly relations with him—he must keep me happy and avoid conflicts with me. Mother-in-law is pleased I’ve stabilized the sixth household’s position and treats me differently, following my every word.” Seventh Miss’s voice grew louder and louder. If not for remembering the child in her belly, she would almost laugh while speaking. “What power do you still have to make things difficult for me? Tell me.”

The Grand Madam was speechless.

She was like the fisherman who left the Dragon Palace and opened the jade box—fumigated by the truth contained within, suddenly transformed into an old crone. Between her eyes and brows suddenly appeared infinite worries, infinite burdens, infinite shock, and infinite confusion. To each of Seventh Miss’s sentences, she seemed only able to listen but not speak, not even having the strength to counterattack.

“If anything happens to my child.” Seventh Miss said softly. “Whether during the ten months of pregnancy or after birth—if he lives, Fourth and Fifth Young Masters are fine. If he dies, naturally someone will accompany him in burial. If I remain safe and sound, that’s best. But if something happens to me too, even if I close my eyes, naturally someone will take them on their journey… I’ll leave these words here—believe it or not, Madam can judge for yourself.”

What could the Grand Madam say now?

Seventh Miss watched this aged, remorseful, speechless face. She suddenly felt completely unburdened.

The knot Ninth Auntie left in her heart seemed to have been untied with these words.

“Do you know what created today’s you? What makes your latter half of life dependent on watching the face of a small, humble concubine-born daughter?” Seventh Miss posed the question quietly, then quickly gave the Grand Madam the answer. “It’s the poison you gave Ninth Auntie. If you had only neglected her, only oppressed her, I might not resent or hate you. But why did you poison her? I’m her biological daughter—how could I not hold a grudge? I know you had no choice, you had your difficulties. I originally didn’t want to speak of these matters and would even outwardly honor you and maintain your dignity—after all, you’re nominally my legitimate mother. Tearing off the mask for no reason—what could I really do to you?

“But you insisted on using the same old tricks, forcing me to speak plainly. Fine, then I’ll tell you. Madam, your latter half of life loses to a dead person. You think she was lowly? No—even in death, she can defeat you.” Seventh Miss turned her head and smiled. “Though she’s dead, the daughter she raised is far superior to the daughter you raised. For decades to come, looking at me, you’ll think of your failure and understand that today’s regrets were created by your own hands.”

She abruptly stopped, containing all the words she wanted to pour out deep in her heart.

No need to make things too clear for the Grand Madam. Letting her maintain her confusion, her ignorance, this fragile stupidity—that was most advantageous for Seventh Miss.

The Grand Madam also said nothing. She opened her mouth, then quickly closed it, as if laboriously digesting Seventh Miss’s words. Her lips trembled slightly, and infinite bitterness slowly appeared in her eyes.

In just this brief conversation, the Grand Madam seemed to have aged ten years. Though she had shown some haggardness before, her expression still carried noblewomen’s habitual pampered ease. But at this moment, the expression on her face was truly complex, wretched, beyond words.

After another moment of silence inside, footsteps and quiet conversation sounded from outside—seemingly Nanny Wang talking to someone at the door.

Seventh Miss stood up and reminded the Grand Madam, “There’s still much to do today. When you’ve thought things through, come out quickly.”

She straightened her back and walked toward the tightly closed door without looking back.

“You won’t.” The Grand Madam’s low, hoarse voice suddenly reached Seventh Miss’s ears.

She turned her head and looked at the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam was also watching her. She looked like a dying old person—the defeat, desolation, and embarrassment in her demeanor almost beyond verbal description. She said quietly, beseechingly, “You won’t, Little Seventh, you… you’re not that kind of person. You… you won’t let Fourth and Fifth Young Masters… you… you’ll treat them well…”

The remaining words made the Grand Madam actually choke up.

Seventh Miss curved her lips.

Whether she would or wouldn’t—the Grand Madam no longer needed to know.

“Well, you’ll have to guess.” She laughed lightly. “Guess whether I will or won’t? Do you dare test whether I will or won’t? Think—if you were me, would you or wouldn’t you?”

Just looking at the Grand Madam’s expression, one knew she definitely didn’t dare.

Not only didn’t dare—she would also have to think about how to repair her relationship with Seventh Miss for the rest of her days, how to ensure Seventh Miss would treat the two stepsons well, how to guarantee Seventh Miss and her child remained safe and healthy. She would spend the rest of her life in fear and anxiety. As Seventh Miss said, her wealth and honor depended solely on Seventh Miss’s mood.

Seventh Miss suddenly thought of Ninth Auntie and her situation in the northwest.

That night, Ninth Auntie needed to kneel and beg a subordinate of the Grand Madam for a way to survive.

And for the rest of her entire life, the Grand Madam would have to kneel at Seventh Miss’s feet, praying for her mercy, her forgiveness.

This was already the best revenge on the Grand Madam.

She opened the door and left the room.

“Second Sister.” She greeted Second Miss. “I spoke with Mother about Mo Shi’s matter… Mother’s mood probably isn’t very good now—she doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

Second Miss immediately frowned. “I told her you’re pregnant now—not to ask you things and add to your worries. Come, First Sister and Third Sister have arrived, and Sixth Sister also sent someone from the palace with gifts. Let’s go out first.”

“So Seventh Sister was hiding here.” First Miss also came looking.

Third Sister’s greeting sounded from afar, along with Ninth Brother’s laughter, Quan Ruiyun’s gentle conversation, Xu Fengjia bantering with Fourth and Fifth Young Masters, the sound of drums and gongs from the distant stage, the sound of firecrackers…

Seventh Miss smiled and walked with First Miss and Second Miss into a scene of splendor.