Chapter 420

**Chapter 426: Misfortune (Part 2)**

"The door is locked!" Qin Yi exclaimed in shock, staring at Cui Er. "Who locked it? Why?"

"It was Lin Bo from the marquis's side who brought people to lock it," Cui Er replied, her expression fearful. "They said the fourth young master was frightened, and someone saw the culprit run into the main house. They’re searching every room."

"Heavens above!" Qin Yi clasped her hands together. "Who could commit such a sin! The fourth young master has always been frail—how could he handle such a scare?" She then instructed Cui Er, "I must offer incense to the Bodhisattva and pray for the fourth young master’s swift recovery."

Cui Er, still shaken, murmured an assent and lit a gourd-shaped palace lantern before moving to the heated chamber.

Qin Yi knelt reverently before the statue of Guanyin, bowed three times, and offered three sticks of incense. Rising, she was supported by Cui Er as they entered the inner chamber.

"Did they say when they’d search our courtyard?"

"No," Cui Er whispered. "They only told us to stay inside and not go anywhere. Someone will knock when it’s time."

Qin Yi nodded, yawned, and climbed into bed. "Then let’s rest first. A clear conscience fears no midnight knock."

Seeing Qin Yi so unperturbed, Cui Er gradually calmed down. Though she dutifully attended to Qin Yi’s rest, as a young girl with a curious mind, she couldn’t sleep and instead pricked up her ears to listen for any movement outside.

Xiu Yuan also listened intently.

"Madam, they’ve gone far away now," she reported to Qiao Lianfang after a long while.

Qiao Lianfang, sitting on the bed with a robe draped over her shoulders, frowned slightly. "Help me dress, then."

Xiu Yuan was momentarily surprised.

"If they’re searching, they’ll surely come into the inner chambers," Qiao Lianfang reasoned. "Rather than fumbling in panic and becoming a spectacle, it’s better to be properly dressed and waiting for them."

Finding this sensible, Xiu Yuan called Zhu Rui in to help Qiao Lianfang with her hair and attire.

Qiao Lianfang sat before the mirror, her gaze vacant.

"Madam, what are you thinking about?"

Ever since Mrs. Qiao’s visit, when Qiao Lianfang had asked her to find Xiu Yuan a good match, Xiu Yuan’s lingering anxiety had finally eased, and she had become much more cheerful.

"I was thinking," Qiao Lianfang mused, "Master Changchun’s prediction came true."

At the mention of Master Changchun, Xiu Yuan recalled the child Qiao Lianfang had lost, and her expression darkened.

"Indeed, nothing in life is perfect," Qiao Lianfang said, her tone calm but her words carrying deep melancholy. "Take the fourth young master—before he was even born, he was eagerly awaited. Yet after his birth, he turned out sickly and weak. Yet as the marquis’s sole heir, everyone treats him with reverence. But good fortune never lasts—his birth mother passed away, and his aunt became his stepmother. That might be called a silver lining. And now, for no reason, he’s been frightened… It seems life is nothing but suffering."

"Madam, you’re not entirely right," Xiu Yuan said with a forced smile. "In this world, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Isn’t there a saying about the old man who lost his horse? And another that says, ‘After a disaster comes good fortune.’ I believe once the fourth young master passes this trial, his future will be bright…"

Qiao Lianfang remained silent, watching Xiu Yuan’s lively reflection in the mirror with a faint smile.

Yang Shi set down her embroidery needle and mused, "This plan may be simple, but it works." A glint of admiration flashed in her eyes. "That fourth young master has always been frail, panting after just a few steps—how could he withstand such a fright? Even if his life is spared, his wits may never fully return. Then, with a little neglect in discipline and some misbehavior, his claim as heir would surely weaken."

"So you mean even if the fourth young master survives, he’ll be ruined?" Old Mrs. Yang gasped. "Who would do such a wicked thing, ruining an innocent child?"

Yang Shi smirked. "If he isn’t ruined, how else could others’ children rise?"

Old Mrs. Yang still hesitated. "But… but this is too cruel…"

Yang Shi stifled a laugh.

"Stop talking!" she told Madam Yang. "Go prepare the bed. I'll finish these last few stitches and then sleep too."

"Is this really alright?" Madam Yang hesitated. "What if the people searching the rooms come while we're still in bed..."

"It's fine!" Yang Shi lowered her head and continued stitching the unfinished embroidery pattern. "They'll search the main house first, then Lady Wen, followed by Lady Qin, Lady Qiao... By the time they get to us, it’ll probably be midnight."

Madam Yang thought for a moment and complied.

Yet Yang Shi paused her needlework and murmured, "Besides the mistress, who else could know Zhun'er's movements so well? And who else could command all those maids and older women to do her bidding?"

"I've considered this carefully," Eleven Miss propped her chin on her hand, revealing a wrist adorned with a vibrant green jade bracelet. "This couldn’t have been premeditated. Never mind the maids from the elder madam’s quarters—even the ones on our side wouldn’t obey her orders. Besides, the back gate of elder madam’s quarters is only about thirty feet from the well near the eldest sister’s old residence. For a little maid to spot something, run to report it, and then pull off a ghostly prank to scare Zhun’er—there simply wasn’t enough time!"

Amber’s eyes lit up. "So, madam knows who’s behind this?"

"How should I know?" Eleven Miss chuckled. "I’m just reasoning logically."

Amber’s expression dimmed again.

Eleven Miss also fell into thought.

A maid at the door cautiously spoke up, "Madam, the physician has arrived."

"Oh!" Remembering she had asked Lord Xu to have the physician check her pulse as well, Eleven Miss signaled Amber to lower the bed curtain by the partition and had her pulse read through it.

"Madam’s pulse is strong—likely nothing serious."

Eleven Miss immediately recognized it was Physician Liu. She whispered urgently, "How is the young master’s condition?"

"No need for concern, madam. It’s just severe fright. We’ve burned calming incense and prescribed sedatives. With some rest and recuperation, he’ll recover in time!"

Eleven Miss let out a sigh of relief. After seeing Physician Liu off, she lay down. "Wake me when his lordship returns. I’ll sleep for now. If I stay up too late, I’ll get nauseous again."

Amber acknowledged, trimmed the lamp wick, and sat by Eleven Miss’s side, keeping watch as she slept.

In the western inner chamber of elder madam’s quarters—

Madam Du trimmed the lamp wick and walked to the heated bed.

After administering medicine and lighting calming incense, Xu Sizhun had fallen into a deep sleep.

Elder madam stroked his forehead tenderly and quietly instructed Madam Du, "Go check on Eleven Miss—see how she’s doing now."

Madam Du softly assented and was about to leave when the fifth wife rushed in.

"Mother, how could this happen?" she asked anxiously. "I’ve checked my quarters—except for two maids playing cards during night watch, everyone else was present. No one left." Then she inquired about Eleven Miss, "Where’s Fourth Sister-in-law? Why don’t I see her? Did she return to the main quarters?"

Lord Xu had only asked the fifth wife to search her courtyard as a precaution. Elder madam hadn’t expected any discoveries there either.

"She’s resting in the eastern chamber," elder madam recounted the incident. "...Zhun'er accidentally kicked her in the leg, but thankfully the physician says it’s nothing serious."

"That’s a blessing in disguise," the fifth wife said, a sheen of sweat on her temples. "Otherwise, the household would be in chaos."

"Indeed. If anything happened to Eleven Miss..." Elder madam trailed off, her expression turning pensive.

The fifth wife understood.

If anything befell Zhun'er and Eleven Miss were also gone, the main line of the Yongping Marquis’s family would be completely gone.

She studied the Elder Madam’s somewhat gloomy expression, thinking of a cheerful remark to lighten the mood, when the Elder Madam suddenly said, “Fourth Young Master, Little Five, and Song Sister are home alone—you should return early.”

After all, this was the Fourth Household’s disgrace; it was only natural that the Elder Madam would prefer not to be involved.

Fifth Madam obediently replied, “Yes,” and took her leave.

Outside, drizzle had begun again. Under the glow of lamplight, the rain fell as fine as Xiu Yuan’s embroidery needles.

*Wasn’t she supposed to be unwell all along? How is it that after being kicked, she seems perfectly fine… Logically, Lady Eleven is pregnant—whether it’s a boy or girl remains unknown—so there would be no reason to harm Zhun’er for now. Yet things in this world often unfold unexpectedly, catching people off guard and causing panic and missteps…*

Pondering these thoughts, her steps unconsciously slowed.

Lotus, holding the umbrella, didn’t know where Fifth Madam intended to go. Seeing rain drifting in and dampening her skirts, she whispered, “Madam, where are we going?”

Fifth Madam snapped out of her reverie and looked up, noticing the swaying green bamboo behind the floral wall.

“To Second Madam’s quarters!” At this moment, she longed for someone to talk to.

“Yes!” Lotus replied, accompanying her to the Second Madam’s residence.

Second Madam had not yet retired, seated at her desk writing something. Upon hearing of Fifth Madam’s visit, she couldn’t hide her surprise and received her in the sitting room.

“Second Elder Sister, there’s something you may not yet know,” Fifth Madam recounted everything she knew. “…What do you think? With such a serious matter in the Fourth Household, how should we, as family, act tomorrow when we meet?”

“Don’t air the family’s dirty laundry,” Second Madam replied. After an initial flicker of shock upon hearing that Xu Sizhun had been frightened, she remained composed. “What happens in the Fourth Household concerns you and me as well. We’ll simply follow the Elder Madam’s lead.”

Unhappy with the response but sensing Second Madam’s reluctance to discuss further, Fifth Madam made small talk for a while before rising to take her leave.

Jasmine escorted Fifth Madam out, and Second Madam remained seated silently for quite some time before returning to her study.

“Madam, you should rest early,” Jasmine urged. “The Elder Madam will surely call for you first thing tomorrow morning.”

Only then did Second Madam set down her brush.

As Jasmine helped her prepare for bed, she hesitated several times.

“What is it?” Second Madam finally asked directly.

Jasmine paused for a long moment before cautiously speaking. “Madam, do you think… the Marquis suspects Fourth Madam?”

Second Madam laughed softly. “Why would you think that?” Then, giving her a pointed look, she added, “If the Marquis ignored it entirely—that would mean he suspects Fourth Madam.”