Chapter 436

**Chapter 443: Return to the Mansion (Part 1)**

Eleven Lady and Lord Xu were teased by Grand Madame and Madam Du, yet they never quite understood why.

After breakfast, Xu Siqin, Xu Sijian, and Xu Sijie came to visit Xu Sizhun. Grand Madame summoned Lord Xu and Eleven Lady to the eastern side chamber to sit.

"Yi Yiniang has gone, and Qin-ge and Jian-ge are living in the outer courtyard, so the third household’s quarters are now empty," Grand Madame said with a smile as she reclined on the couch. "I think, given our third daughter-in-law’s sharpness and capability, she must have already packed away everything valuable in the house. There’s no need to worry about anything being taken." She then glanced at Eleven Lady. "I suggest you assign a couple of maidservants to keep an eye on the incense tables and garden stools—that should suffice."

It was rare to see Grand Madame in such high spirits, even jesting about the third lady.

Eleven Lady responded with a smile, "Yes." Grand Madame nodded slightly before gradually sobering. "I heard that Qin Yi in your household has been unwell lately?"

Eleven Lady was momentarily startled and instinctively looked toward Lord Xu.

Lord Xu remained expressionless, though he did not respond to her as keenly as he usually would.

Eleven Lady sighed inwardly and was about to reply when Grand Madame continued, "Illness should be treated early to prevent it from worsening. You must take this seriously. Remember, besides Qin Yi, your courtyard also houses Lady Wen, Lady Qiao, and Yang Shi. Especially Yang Shi—she was bestowed by the late Empress Dowager, so we must be even more careful. If Qin Yi doesn’t improve in a couple of days, have her temporarily move to the Junzi Pavilion in the back garden. If she still doesn’t recover, send her to the villa near Luoyeshan for some time. We don’t want Yuge to return and see his mother ill and crowded among the other concubines—it would upset him."

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Eleven Lady hesitated before answering, "Yes," though her eyes still flickered toward Lord Xu.

Lord Xu was looking at her.

Their gazes met in midair.

Lord Xu gave her a slight nod.

Not long after Yi Yiniang left, Eleven Lady returned to her own courtyard.

The concubines came one after another to pay their respects.

Eleven Lady asked Qin Yi, "You mentioned feeling unwell some time ago—have you improved since then?" She added, "You look rather pale."

Qin Yi wore a white silk blouse under a crimson sleeveless vest, which only accentuated her haggard appearance.

"Thank you for your concern, madam," she replied hastily. "You advised me to seek treatment if I was ill, so I took some thirst-quenching pills. I feel much better now."

Eleven Lady nodded slightly before turning to Lady Wen. "The Double Sixth Festival is approaching, and coincidentally, I’ve been busy at Grand Madame’s place. How are the preparations for Qiu Hong’s wedding? Has the location been decided?"

Qiu Hong’s parents had followed Lady Wen from Yangzhou. With Grand Madame’s approval, they were not registered under the Xu family’s household. However, since Lady Wen had no dowry, they had been supported by the Wen family, helping her manage outside ventures. After Lady Wen fell out with the Wen family, they demanded Qiu Hong’s family return to Yangzhou. Her father, claiming "no servant can serve two masters," left Qiu Hong to serve Lady Wen while he resigned from his position. On the surface, he opened a dry goods store in Jinan, but in reality, he continued to manage Lady Wen’s external affairs. Since Qiu Hong’s wedding was arranged hastily and her father was away on business, Lady Wen had no property to use for the ceremony and could not hold it within the mansion. Hence, Eleven Lady’s question.

Lady Wen smiled apologetically. "This is my fault. Seeing how busy you’ve been, I didn’t want to trouble you, so I didn’t explain the details earlier. Qiu Hong has taken Song Mama as her foster mother and will be married from Song Mama’s quarters. As for the wedding, both sides have already made all the preparations—we’re just waiting for the propitious date for the bride to enter the groom’s household."

Yang Shi congratulated Lady Wen and said she would later contribute to Qiu Hong’s trousseau.

"Weddings are meant to be lively," Lady Wen replied brightly, wasting no courtesy. "I’d love for all of you to come and celebrate with us."

Ever since hearing this morning that Yi Yiniang had been sent to Shanyang, Qin Yi’s restless heart had finally settled, as if she had swallowed a soothing draught.

Back then, when Aunt Tong had died along with her unborn son, every clue pointed to Eldest Miss. Yet, whether it was Lord Xu or Grand Madame, for the sake of the reputation of "Lady Yongping," they not only hushed it up but also carried on as if nothing had happened.

Now, though the curse incident involved her and Yi Yiniang, the discovery of the mask used to frighten Xu Sizhun behind Yanrong’s quarters meant Eleven Lady couldn’t escape blame either. For the sake of "Lady Yongping’s" reputation, Lord Xu would surely find a way to downplay the matter, turning a major issue into a minor one, and then into nothing at all.

Subsequent events unfolded exactly as she had predicted.

First, Xu Sizhun’s fright was attributed to sheer ill luck, burying the curse incident. Then, Yi Yiniang of the third branch became the fall woman, clearing her, Yanrong, and Eleven Lady... According to her expectations, Lord Xu would next publicly banish Yi Yiniang to the alleged Shanyang, silently eliminate Yanrong and the others, and finally settle her fate.

If she were like Yanrong, merely a maidservant, she would naturally be quietly executed. If she were like Yi Yiniang, without a son, she would surely only be sent away. But she was neither—she was a concubine who had borne a son.

If this son had grown up under the care of his principal wife, he would likely look down on her, and her life or death would mean nothing to him. If this son had been raised by wet nurses, he would probably be distant from her, and her fate would at most elicit a sigh. But that wasn’t the case. Back then, Eldest Daughter had been wholly focused on bearing her own child and had never spared a thought for them, mother and son...

Even a fierce tiger does not devour its own cubs.

With this bond, if Xu Lingyi wanted to force her to drink poison, he would have to justify it openly—not only justify it but also withstand scrutiny. Yet the charge of sorcery could never be spoken of publicly.

Otherwise, if Xu Siyu were to kick up a storm... the Xu family simply couldn’t afford the shame!

This was fate—just like when Aunt Tong miscarried, just like when Qiu Luo nearly died... This was fate, the kind one couldn’t help but believe in.

And she had this fate!

Thinking of this, Qin Yiniang’s smile brightened considerably.

She echoed Lady Wen’s words: “As long as you don’t mind the noise, we’ll all come to celebrate with you!” Her mood was so cheerful.

Lady Wen found it rather odd. Though her expression remained unchanged, her eyes darted toward Madam Xu.

Madam Xu wore a faint smile, unchanged from her usual demeanor.

Lady Wen felt somewhat uncertain.

Xu Sizhun’s terror clearly had something to do with Qin Yiniang, yet now, instead of being confined, Qin Yiniang was free to come and go. Was it like the incident with Aunt Tong all over again—because it involved Madam Xu, the matter would simply be swept under the rug?

“You’re all coming to contribute to Qiu Hong’s trousseau—how could I possibly mind the noise?” Lady Wen prattled on cheerfully, then brought up Amber’s wedding, saying that once Qiu Hong’s affair was settled, she would devote herself to arranging Amber’s marriage, ensuring it would be even grander and more lavish than Qiu Hong’s. Lady Yang and Qin Yiniang chimed in, and the atmosphere in the room grew lively, smiles appearing on everyone’s faces. Only Qiao Lianfang remained silent on the sidelines.

She was preoccupied with Xiu Yuan’s plight.

Last time she went to see Madam Du, though Madam Du had received her warmly, she had either claimed she was too old or deflected deftly by saying she didn’t know any suitable young men.

No good news had come from her mother’s side either—either the families were destitute, or the fathers or brothers held minor positions in the Cheng household while the men themselves had flaws.

How could she marry Xiu Yuan off to someone like that?

Her mother, however, said she was seeing things clearly.

They had no dowry to give Xiu Yuan, no connections to offer her. Matchmaking required leverage they lacked—what decent family would be willing under such circumstances?

Qiao Lianfang mused with a silent sigh.

A young maid came in to announce, “Madam Xu, Cao An’s mother is here!”

Everyone was surprised.

Cao An’s mother was merely a sweeper from the outer courtyard.

“Let her in.” It seemed Yanrong had sent word for the Cao family to come and claim her.

Swift in action yet prudent in character—Madam Xu couldn’t help but feel it was a pity.

After Cao An’s mother left, Lady Wen immediately seized the opportunity. “Madam, I never expected you to agree to the Cao family’s request. But since you have, I’ll say something that may not sound pleasant but is fair and reasonable. Since Cao’s father suffers from grave illness and the family fears he may not last long, they want to bring the bride home sooner.

Why not, after marrying off Qiu Hong, simply let Yanrong go as well? That way, if anything unfortunate happens, Yanrong won’t be delayed another three years.”

Madam Xu pondered for a moment before replying solemnly, “You make a fair point.” And so the matter was settled.

But Qin Yiniang began to feel uneasy again. Why was Yanrong spared?

Did Lord Xu have something he didn’t tell his wife? Or did Lord Xu never intend to punish Yanrong at all?

Then, what about Yi Yiniang… Could she really be sent back to Shanyang?

The situation had completely deviated from what she had expected. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, filled with a sense of impending doom.

After thinking it over, she got up and quietly wrote a note: “Something major has happened at home. Come home right away.” Early the next morning, she took out twenty taels in silver notes from her chest and handed them to Cui Er, saying, “Get this letter delivered to the second young master. If he returns, there will be a generous reward!”

Cui Er turned around and gave the letter to Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss had Amber personally deliver it to Lord Xu.

Lord Xu glanced at it and had Amber return it to Eleven Miss, saying, “Let her send the letter out. This way, I can discuss the matter with Yuge later.”

Eleven Miss’s face fell as she told Amber to return the letter to Cui Er: “If there’s no one to deliver it immediately, find a way to help Qin Yi pull some strings.”

Amber acknowledged and left.

Cui Er then successfully delivered the letter.

Qin Yi, now somewhat calmer, spent the entire day chanting the Lotus Sutra in the warm chamber for Yi Yiniang.

Unbeknownst to her, however, the carriage carrying Yi Yiniang had just left the capital’s borders when it collided with another oncoming carriage. Yi Yiniang’s carriage overturned into a nearby ditch. In terrible misfortune, she plunged headfirst into the water. By the time the carriage was pulled out, Yi Yiniang was already dead.