That’s right.

Yan Sanhe used the words “frame-up” in her mind.

Hua Nation governed through filial piety. No matter how arrogant Madam Mao was as a daughter-in-law, it was impossible for her to speak harsh words that would anger the old lady to death. This didn’t make sense.

Secondly, it was impossible for only Madam Mao to be keeping watch in the outer room.

When a daughter-in-law attended to an illness, it was ultimately just for show, done for others to see. The ones who truly served were the old lady’s personal maids.

Thirdly, just as Madam Mao said—what benefit would she gain from angering the old lady to death? The old lady didn’t control the overall situation of affairs.

The appearance of such gossip could only indicate one problem: someone didn’t want Zhu Xuanjiu, this talented illegitimate son, to become the Zhu Family head.

Yan Sanhe asked, “Are the old lady’s four legitimate sons all still alive?”

Madam Mao replied, “The eldest and fifth son have passed away; the second and third sons are still here.”

Yan Sanhe: “Do you still have contact with them?”

“Dividing the family doesn’t mean becoming enemies—we still have contact. According to the rules passed down from our ancestors, as the family head, one has the responsibility and obligation to care for the other brothers.”

Madam Mao continued, “When the master was alive, he often gathered with them during festivals and holidays. All the seasonal gifts and New Year gifts went through my hands—not a single year was missed. The gift lists are still here.”

Yan Sanhe: “Do they know about Master Zhu’s heart demon?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Mao’s expression immediately became unnatural. “Miss Yan, family scandals should not be publicized—it’s all been kept secret!”

But it probably couldn’t be hidden much longer.

The matter of an illegitimate son taking the position still needed to be discussed.

Yan Sanhe picked up her teacup and leisurely took a sip before asking, “How did the old master pass away?”

“When the old master felt his lifespan was nearing its end, he cast a divination for himself, then summoned his five sons to arrange his funeral affairs.”

Madam Mao said, “As for how he arranged things, I don’t know. The master didn’t tell me either. I only know that after that day, the chief steward began preparing for the funeral.”

A month later, the old master was sunbathing in the courtyard. While basking in the sun, his body suddenly pitched forward, and he was gone.

After the old master died, her husband took the position of family head. After the thirty-fifth day mourning period, the four legitimate Zhu sons successively moved out of the Zhu Manor.

—

Yan Sanhe was about to ask more when there was suddenly a knock at the door.

“Miss Yan, it’s time for the midday meal.”

Yan Sanhe made a gesture toward Li Buyan. Li Buyan pulled open the door and said to the person outside, “Wait half an hour before serving the meal.”

“Yes!”

The door closed.

Yan Sanhe asked again, “When they moved out of the Zhu residence, was there no disturbance?”

“What disturbance could there be!”

Madam Mao leaned her body forward and lowered her voice. “The old master divided all the private savings he’d hidden for a lifetime among the four legitimate sons.”

Yan Sanhe: “Where did you hear this?”

“Once when the master had too much to drink, he accidentally let it slip. I didn’t tell anyone—it went in one ear and out the other.”

Madam Mao sighed. “People must look forward. There’s no point dwelling on the past. Don’t you think that’s the right principle, Miss Yan?”

It wasn’t that you found no point in dwelling on the past.

It was because your own husband was capable.

The family fortune Master Zhu accumulated in his lifetime would only be more than his father’s, never less.

Guarding such a husband was like guarding a treasure.

“That’s the right principle.”

Yan Sanhe casually responded, then asked, “You and Master Zhu had three sons altogether. In choosing the family head of this generation, were there any complications?”

“No complications—it’s always been the eldest son.”

Madam Mao said, “Not only does my eldest look most like his father, his temperament and personality are exactly the same. Moreover, his natural talents are the most outstanding. When he was ten years old, the master declared definitively that the future family head would certainly be him.”

This generation was simple then.

Yan Sanhe: “Three sons, three daughters-in-law. Did Master Zhu choose these daughters-in-law, or did you choose them, Madam?”

Madam Mao: “I selected the people, but the master personally calculated all the birth charts, just as the old master calculated mine back then.”

Yan Sanhe: “Which son did Master Zhu like best?”

Madam Mao hadn’t expected Yan Sanhe to ask this question. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “The master actually favored the second son.”

“Oh?”

Yan Sanhe was slightly surprised.

According to common logic, in a family, the most favored would be either the eldest or the youngest—rarely would the second son be the favorite.

“Why?” she asked.

“The master said the eldest would become the family head in the future and needed to be tempered through thousands of trials—he couldn’t be spoiled. The third son had a lively temperament and was the youngest, so I as his mother would dote on him more.”

Madam Mao’s eyes reddened again. “The master said the second son was a good child who neither fought nor competed—he needed to show him more affection.”

Not only did he dote on the second son, but also on the second son’s wife.

The second daughter-in-law only had two legitimate daughters. He wholeheartedly hoped the second daughter-in-law could bear a son.

“Just because of this reason, the master even set up a child-blessing formation in the second son’s courtyard, but unfortunately…”

Madam Mao suddenly reached out and grasped Yan Sanhe’s hand.

“Miss Yan, after I’ve said so much, have you discovered anything wrong?”

“Not that quickly!”

Yan Sanhe withdrew her hand and looked at her with a cool gaze. “Regarding your master, is there anything else you want to tell me?”

There should be.

Madam Mao racked her brains trying to think.

But the more she thought, the more panicked her heart became.

Apart from those few important matters, she couldn’t seem to recall anything else about the master worth telling Yan Sanhe.

He was busy at the yamen every day.

She was busy in the inner quarters.

The time they could really talk was just the one or two hours between evening meal and late night—and that was only when the man had free time.

What they discussed was mostly household matters—

How were things in their son’s quarters?

How were their daughter and son-in-law?

What gifts to send for the holidays?

What amusing things the grandchildren did today…

“Thirty-four years—we were married for exactly thirty-four years. When I married him, I was still a young maiden, my face so tender you could pinch water from it…”

How had it gone by in a flash—he’d already been gone for over two months.

Madam Mao suddenly felt deeply sorrowful, tears streaming down like rain. “Miss Yan, I can’t remember. I can’t remember anything anymore.”

Yan Sanhe understood this feeling.

In the first few days after Yan Xing’s coffin cracked open, when she began investigating what his heart demon was, her mind started recalling all the little details with Yan Xing.

Who knew that the more she recalled, the blanker her mind became.

Her memories seemed frozen in every languid afternoon—him reading by the window, her practicing calligraphy at the desk, time flowing imperceptibly away in that thick silence.

“Madam.”

Yan Sanhe reached out and patted Madam Mao’s shoulder.

“When days are good, there are no particular things to remember. If you don’t believe me, recall these past two months—I’m afraid you remember every single bad incident firmly in your heart.”

Madam Mao’s crying stopped abruptly as events from the past two months flashed through her mind.

Indeed, every single one was carved into her heart.

“Master Zhu’s calculations were correct. Your birth chart is excellent, your fate is excellent—you’ll never worry about food or clothing for your entire life. The older you get, the better your blessings.”

After saying this, Yan Sanhe looked up toward Li Buyan.

“There’s nothing more to ask. Have someone serve the meal, and also go see if Young Master Pei is done over there.”

“I’ll go now.”