Chapter 425

**Chapter 431: The Crossroads (Part 2)**

Second Madam was as poised and efficient as ever. Entering the room, she immediately asked, “How is Zhun’er now?”

Lord Xu gave a brief update and led her to the heated bed where Xu Sizhun lay sleeping.

In just one night, Xu Sizhun’s face, which had recently gained some roundness, had hollowed again.

Second Madam sat by the heated bed and stroked Xu Sizhun’s forehead tenderly before asking Eleven Miss, “Where’s Mother?”

Before she could finish speaking, Elder Madam emerged from the washroom. “You’re here, Zhen!” she said, weariness in her expression.

Second Madam hurried forward to support her.

Elder Madam sat down on the armchair beside the bed and, noticing Eleven Miss trailing behind Lord Xu, quickly gestured to the armchair opposite her. “You sit too. You’re carrying a child now—think not just for yourself but for the baby.” She then asked, “Are you hungry?” Without waiting for an answer, she turned to instruct a young maid, “Go and have the older women set out breakfast. The Fourth Madam mustn’t go hungry.”

The maid scurried off to obey.

Everyone gathered around Elder Madam and took their seats.

Xu Lingkuan and his wife arrived.

Since Xu Sizhun was ill, the Fifth Madam left Xin Jieer behind—“…afraid she might disturb Zhun’er.”

More likely, they feared Xu Sizhun might frighten Xin Jieer.

Everyone understood the unspoken reason.

Xu Lingkuan turned to Lord Xu. “Fourth Brother, should I take a few days off? If anything comes up, I can help run errands.”

“No need,” Lord Xu replied sternly. “Go about your duties as usual. A fuss would only attract prying eyes.”

Xu Lingkuan thought briefly before murmuring assent. “Understood. Then if there’s anything, just give me your orders.”

Lord Xu grunted in acknowledgment. Meanwhile, Elder Madam, watching the brothers exchange words and recalling Xu Lingkuan’s commendable performance the night before, looked comforted. She urged him to “do well in his duties” before the older women finished setting out breakfast. Du Mama returned moments later. “I’ve already arranged a carriage to fetch the Fourth Young Master’s wet nurse.”

Elder Madam sighed and nodded, leaving Du Mama to tend to Xu Sizhun while the rest went to the eastern chamber for breakfast.

Xu Lingkuan had official duties, and the Fifth Madam, eager to avoid entanglement, shot Second Madam a glance. However, Second Madam showed no intention of leaving, so the Fifth Madam didn’t press the matter. Instead, she claimed Xin Jieer was home alone and left with Xu Lingkuan.

Lord Xu then left Eleven Miss in Elder Madam’s care. “The matters in the main house aren’t settled yet. Once things calm down in a couple of days, I’ll come fetch Eleven Miss.”

He locked eyes with Eleven Miss for a moment before taking his leave of Elder Madam.

Elder Madam, Second Madam, and Eleven Miss returned to the inner chamber and sat by the heated bed. Only then did Second Madam ask, “What exactly happened?” She then recounted the Fifth Madam’s visit to her.

Elder Madam didn’t hide anything and told her everything.

Upon hearing that witchcraft paraphernalia had been found in Qin Yi’s quarters, Second Madam looked horrified. “Has she gone mad?” Recalling Qin Yi’s occasional erratic behavior in recent years, she shook her head slightly. “Her nerve is unbelievable.”

Second Madam thought of Xu Siyu.

As an infant, he had never cried or fussed, lying quietly on the kang and giggling whenever someone approached. As he grew older, he became mischievous. When sent to her later, he couldn’t sit still for even a moment—dozing off over his books the moment he opened them. She had smacked his palm with a ruler, but he stubbornly pressed his lips together, refusing to apologize no matter what. Now, having returned from Le’an, he greeted her with impeccable courtesy, discussing scholarly matters with refined grace, all his emotions buried so deep in his eyes that one might miss them entirely…

Her eyes suddenly stung.

With such a birth mother, how must he feel?

Second Madam lowered her head, blinking rapidly. When she looked up again, her face was its usual calm self.

"Then that means Yanrong is still locked up in the side room?" she asked Eleven Miss. "With matters like these, the longer it drags on, the more gossip and rumors will spread. Some people just love drama for drama's sake—they’ll make up stories even when nothing’s happened, let alone when your maid is genuinely involved. In my opinion, we must quickly find an excuse to release Yanrong!" Her tone was sincere, tinged with concern. "And Yi Yiniang too. We must send a fast messenger to Third Young Master with a letter. No matter what she says, the fact that she concealed the truth is already inexcusable. Still, she did serve Third Young Master for years. Though the elder madam can decide, Third Young Master should at least be informed. How to deal with Yi Yiniang must be discussed with him and his wife."

Second Madam’s considerations were thorough, and Eleven Miss agreed with her approach. However, this matter needed to be discussed with Lord Xu first.

"Second Madam is right," she said tactfully. "His Lordship has already gone to handle it. Besides, I’m not entirely clear about what happened yesterday. Anything I say now would likely be incomplete. It’s better to follow His Lordship’s lead."

Second Madam understood the implication and knew the topic was best dropped. With a smile, she said, "That’s good then," and shifted the conversation, turning to the elder madam with concern. "Mother, you’re getting older, and Fourth Sister-in-law is pregnant. Fifth Sister-in-law is also worried about her daughter. Since I have nothing pressing, why don’t you and Fourth Sister-in-law rest? I’ll keep an eye on Chun Ge here."

The elder madam didn’t stand on ceremony and replied, "Very well." Then she said to Eleven Miss, "Go take another nap. I’ll rest too. Yizhen can watch over Chun Ge here."

Eleven Miss, mindful of the strain on her unborn child, thought briefly before agreeing with a smile. She thanked Second Madam and, attended by Zhuxiang and Lv Yun, retired to the eastern side room to sleep.

The elder madam went to rest in the warm chamber.

Eleven Miss woke naturally just before lunchtime.

As Zhuxiang helped her freshen up, she whispered, "Sister Hupo sent a maid with a message. His Lordship went to the main house early this morning. Without saying much, he had Yanrong released and then ordered Steward Bai to send a few sturdy older women to detain Yi Yiniang. He wrote a letter, used his official name card, and had it sent via the government courier system—six hundred miles at top speed—to Third Young Master in Shanyang. The whole household is buzzing, saying Yi Yiniang was the one who frightened the fourth young master. They’re also saying that since Yi Yiniang has no children and was abandoned in the capital by Third Madam, she’s become unhinged, snapping at anyone she meets!"

Eleven Miss wiped her brow. "Do the servants really believe such talk?"

"Whether they believe it or not, who knows?" Zhuxiang suppressed a laugh. "But everyone’s talking about it, adding their own embellishments, each convinced they’re telling the truth. The stories grow wilder by the minute. Even the time Yi Yiniang punished a maid for breaking a bowl by making her kneel in the yard is now being spun as her being power-hungry, acting like the mistress while Third Madam was away, nitpicking over petty matters. They even say once, Yi Yiniang clearly ordered steamed eggs from the kitchen, but when they were served, she insisted she’d asked for fried quail—and made such a scene over it. Some say her mind must’ve already been slipping then!"

Silence truly lets rumors run rampant.

"And Qin Yi?" Eleven Miss mused. "How is she being dealt with?"

"The marquis hasn't taken any action," Zhuxiang said, admiration flickering across her face. "Amber mentioned that this morning the marquis had Song Mama relay a message to the concubines, saying that the fourth young master had been frightened and that the madam would be staying at the elder madam's to care for him, so the morning and evening greetings would be excused for the next few days. When Song Mama went to Qin Yi's courtyard, Qin Yi looked sallow, with medicated plasters on her temples, as if she had fallen seriously ill—she seemed to have aged ten years overnight. She was trembling like a frightened bird. She grabbed Song Mama and begged for a doctor, saying she was about to die, and also asked Song Mama to send word to the second young master in Le'an, pleading for him to return and see her one last time." Zhuxiang's expression darkened slightly. "As for Cui'er, the moment Song Mama entered, she clung to her legs, swearing she knew nothing about Qin Yi's affairs, let alone her family. She begged Song Mama to ask the madam for mercy—to grant her a cup of poison rather than implicate her family, swearing she'd repay the madam's mercy in her next life, even as a beast of burden."

Eleven Miss was silent for a long while before murmuring, "Tell Cui'er that if she wants to be granted poison later, she must say nothing now."

Zhuxiang nodded.

The two quietly did her hair and dressing before heading to the elder madam's inner chamber.

The second madam sat by the kang reading, while Xu Sizhun was still asleep.

Seeing her enter, the second madam set down her book, pointed to a lit incense burner in the corner, and whispered, "Earlier, Chun Ge was restless, so Madam Du held and soothed him for a long time. I lit some homemade sedative incense."

Eleven Miss nodded, and the second madam gestured for them to step outside to talk.

They took seats in the western chamber.

"After much consideration," the second madam said, "I believe we should send word to Yuge."

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Xu Siyu had grown up under the second madam's care. Given Qin Yi's situation, it was only natural for her to consider how to comfort Xu Sizhun. Eleven Miss herself had also been pondering this issue.

Now that the second madam brought it up, she wanted to hear her thoughts.

She weighed her words carefully. "What do you suggest, Second Sister-in-Law?"

The second madam mused, "Yuge is not a child anymore, and he studies under Mr. Jiang. I think we should tell him the whole truth. Knowing the details will prevent him from hearing rumors later and dwelling on them, which could damage his relationship with the marquis. Secondly, he'll understand his current position—even if Qin Yi whispered things in his ear, they were just empty illusions. It’s better for him to focus on his studies and find his own path."

"Thirdly, since he's in Le'an, if he struggles to make sense of it, he can seek guidance from Mr. Jiang. With Mr. Jiang’s counsel, he won’t fall into despondency."