Chapter 421

**Chapter 427: Affection and Duty (Part 1)**

Jiexiang [a maid’s name] looked at the Second Wife in confusion.

The Second Wife said indifferently, “Think about it—*you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs*. If the Marquis didn’t trust Lady Fourth, he would act just like before—not only refusing to investigate, but helping to hush it up and find a way to quickly sweep everything aside.” She wore a thoughtful expression. “The Marquis may appear gentle on the surface, but deep down, he is quite self-assured. Knowing that someone entered the main residence, he not only insisted on investigating thoroughly but also summoned Lord Fifth to assist, conducting the search openly. And the first place he searched was Lady Fourth’s quarters. I can’t say much else, but at the very least, he believes Lady Fourth has absolutely no connection to this matter. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted her to Elder Madam at a time like this… If you ask who our Marquis trusts most, it’s probably Elder Madam!” She suddenly smiled. “Let’s hope our Marquis hasn’t misjudged this time! Otherwise, with things blown so far out of proportion, there’ll be no way to contain the fallout!” A hint of mockery flickered in her eyes.

Jiexiang, recalling past events, fell silent.

The room grew quiet, the sound of rustling bamboo leaves surging like waves outside.

Madam Du stood before Elder Madam, listening to the patter of rain against the leaves. Despite her years of experience, she couldn’t suppress a shiver of unease.

“He’s asleep,” Elder Madam murmured, glancing down at Xu Sizhun.

“Yes,” Madam Du replied, her voice more cautious than usual. “Amber said Lady Fourth was exhausted. Once she learned the young master was unharmed, she fell asleep reclining on the chaise longue. Seeing how deeply she slept, I didn’t have the heart to wake her.”

A sharp glint flashed in Elder Madam’s eyes as she stood. “Come, let’s go see her.”

Madam Du dared not speak and followed Elder Madam to the east wing.

The dim, flickering lamp cast a soft glow over the tranquil room, illuminating Eleven Miss’s face, serene in sleep.

Elder Madam stood before the couch, gazing for a long while before retreating silently, just as she had arrived.

Amber let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Elder Madam paused in the main hall.

“Go to the main residence and see how the investigation is proceeding,” she ordered, her expression stern.

Madam Du murmured an acknowledgment and hurried out.

Left alone, Elder Madam remained standing for a long moment before slowly retreating to the inner chamber.

Xu Sizhun slept soundly. Elder Madam gently sat beside him, straightened his blanket, then leaned back against the pillow with closed eyes.

The lamp flickered with a soft crackle.

Madam Du crept back in.

“Elder Madam,” she said, unable to hide the worry in her voice, “Lord Fifth found a mask behind Yanrong’s room.”

Elder Madam’s eyes snapped open, piercing as a dagger in the shadowy room.

“What did the Marquis say?”

Madam Du hesitated before replying in a low voice, “The Marquis called for more digging.”

Elder Madam slowly closed her eyes again.

Was he continuing the investigation because he was confident it wouldn’t implicate Eleven Miss? Or was he simply fed up with these repeated incidents?

The clock in the room struck nine.

After a long pause, Madam Du suggested hesitantly, “Elder Madam, this isn’t something that can be settled quickly. Perhaps you should rest first. I’ll look after the young master. When he wakes tomorrow morning, you’ll need to oversee us in easing his shock.”

Elder Madam shook her head lightly. “I’ll stay here,” she said firmly.

Madam Du didn’t dare say anything else and fetched a thin quilt to drape over the elder madam.

The elder madam murmured, “Do you think… this matter has anything to do with Eleven Miss?” Her voice was laced with suspicion.

Madam Du’s hair stood on end.

“The fourth madam is clever,” she weighed her words carefully. “She wouldn’t do such a thing!”

She praised her cleverness but not her kindness.

The elder madam turned her gaze toward Xu Sizhun.

“This boy…” she sighed, her voice tinged with regret, “is truly unlucky.”

Madam Du couldn’t decipher the elder madam’s thoughts and whispered in consolation, “How could the fourth young master be unlucky with the elder madam by his side? Please set your mind at ease. Master Changchun warned that the fourth young master would face three trials—this must be the stroke of bad luck he mentioned. Once he gets through this, everything will improve…”

The elder madam wasn’t really listening. Before Madam Du could finish, she suddenly asked, “If this matter truly involves Eleven Miss, should I look the other way… or step in?”

In her youth, the elder madam had been hot-headed and strong-willed. But after the death of the second master, the old marquis’s downfall, and the marquis being banished to their ancestral home… a series of misfortunes gradually softened her temper. Yet, she was still as stubborn as ever. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths with Yuan Niang, traveling everywhere seeking cures, until finally giving birth to the fourth young master. At heart, the elder madam couldn’t bear the thought of having no rightful heir. Now, in her old age, she’d become as unpredictable as a child. While others might not notice this change, Madam Du understood it well.

If the elder madam had truly decided to intervene, she would have sent Madam Du to investigate long ago. She hesitated because she feared Eleven Miss might be involved, so she wanted to sweep it under the rug. Yet, thinking of Xu Sizhun—who had grown up motherless under her care—she felt a twinge of guilt and couldn’t make up her mind.

If the elder madam had a clear stance, it would be easier. But her indecision carried grave implications, and Madam Du dared not get further involved.

“Probably not,” she said evasively. “The marquis and fifth master are already investigating. We should have news by morning.”

The elder madam didn’t need Madam Du’s answer. Whether to intervene or not was a dilemma—she only wanted to strengthen her resolve.

“Whether she’s involved or not,” the elder madam murmured, “just her calm demeanor shows she can handle the responsibilities of this household. I’m old, and after all, she is merely a sister-in-law… Without real authority, things fall apart…” Her gaze returned to Xu Sizhun’s sleeping face. “…But what of this child… Should we truly leave him to fate…?” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “What’s meant to be will be. This… was my mistake…”

Weighed down by thoughts, Eleven Miss tossed and turned in her sleep.

After resting for two hours, she awoke.

Turning her head, she saw Amber sitting dazedly by the couch.

“What time is it?” Eleven Miss asked softly.

Amber startled, then composed herself and checked the standing clock. “It’s almost eleven.” Then she turned to pour Eleven Miss a cup of warm water.

After drinking, Eleven Miss lazily asked, “Any news from over there?”

Amber hesitated before whispering, “I heard from the servants that fifth master found a mask behind Yanrong’s quarters.”

Eleven Miss stiffened and sat up. “What did the marquis say?”

“The marquis,” Amber faltered, “ordered further investigation.”

Eleven Miss froze. After a long pause, she leaned back against the daybed, the corners of her lips curling into a faint, irrepressible smile.

Amber thought it was odd.

After such a major incident, her mistress wasn’t rushing to find a solution but instead seemed utterly unperturbed.

Eleven Miss then instructed, “See if there’s anything to eat. I’m feeling peckish.”

Amber was stunned.

Lady Eleven said, "How can I work later if I don’t eat my fill?" She laughed and urged, "Go on, now!"

She was unusually lively and cheerful in both speech and manner, showing no sign of worry.

Amber, baffled, told the maid outside to go ask. The maid dared not delay and hurried off to inform Madam Du.

Madam Du gaped: "She’s hungry?"

The mask found behind Yanrong’s room had been shared with Lady Eleven by Madam Du, following the elder madam’s instructions.

She glanced toward the elder madam.

The elder madam nodded slightly, her gaze lingering on Xu Sizhun before a hint of determination flickered across her face. "Find out what she’d like to eat and have the small kitchen prepare it for her!"

Madam Du acknowledged and left.

"No need to fuss," Lady Eleven said with a smile. "Just bring whatever was prepared for the elder madam from the small kitchen—it’ll hold me over." Then she asked, "Has the elder madam retired? How is Chun Ge?"

"The Fourth Young Master took his medicine and has already fallen asleep," Madam Du replied, recalling the elder madam’s instructions. She added with a smile, "The elder madam has also nodded off beside him." Considering that lighting the stove would take too long, she had the maid fetch the wolfberry, lotus seed, ginseng, and black chicken soup along with the yam cake—both nourishing and easy to digest—that had been prepared earlier for the elder madam.

Lady Eleven moved to sit on the kang by the window. She had just taken a few sips of the soup when a noise erupted outside.

Amber was about to step out when Lord Xu pushed the curtain aside and walked in.

They both froze at the sight of each other.

One thought that, given the unexpected situation, the investigation would surely take longer—never expecting him back so soon. The other remembered leaving her alone in the eastern chamber; though Physician Liu had said she was fine, he had still felt uneasy, only to find her now digging in like nothing was wrong.

"Hungry, my lord?" Lady Eleven was the first to recover. "Soup’s just the thing for late nights!"

"Oh!" Lord Xu, taken aback, quickly regained his composure. "You eat. I’m not hungry." His eyes then drifted to her abdomen.

Lady Eleven quickly reassured him, "Don’t worry, my lord. Physician Liu said I’m fine. I feel well too." She then recounted what had happened after he left.

Hearing that she had even taken a nap, a faint smile flickered in Lord Xu’s eyes as he sat on the kang opposite her. "That’s good."

Sitting closer, Lady Eleven noticed his hair still damp. She called to Amber, "Bring warm water for his lordship to freshen up."

Amber obeyed and left.

Seeing that Lord Xu did not object, Lady Eleven knew he wasn’t planning to leave right away. After tea was served, she asked, "Have you seen Chun Ge yet, my lord?"

"Yes," Lord Xu took a sip and exhaled deeply, his face lined with worry. "We’ll only know how he fares when he wakes tomorrow."

The implication was that Xu Sizhun’s condition remained uncertain.

Lady Eleven fell silent.

Amber returned with the water.