Chapter 441

**Chapter 448: Return to the Manor (Part 2)**

Qin Yi suddenly wrenched her hand from Xu Siyu’s grasp. “No, no, no, you’re not the second young master. The second young master is still in Le’an! That wretched Cui Er gave my letter to the elder madam—I know she did! She was scared I’d make her pay, so she hung herself. I know everything, I know everything, but I won’t tell you…” Her expression grew increasingly frantic, and by the end, an eerie smile twisted her skeletal face, sending a shiver down the spines of Lian Jiao and Xiao Luzi, who had followed Xu Siyu inside. The two exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether they should stay or go. When they turned back, the door had somehow closed behind them, and the servant woman who had led them in had vanished.

Xu Siyu’s heart twisted in agony. He clambered onto the bed and grabbed Qin Yi’s hand again. “I’m Yuge, I really am Yuge. I rushed back as soon as I got your letter. If you don’t trust me, feel my head.” He lowered his head and guided her trembling fingers through his hair.

There was the long scar—from a childhood tumble while raiding a bird’s nest, an accident that had nearly cost him his life.

“You are the second young master, you are the second young master!” Qin Yi cried out in wild joy, pulling Xu Siyu into her embrace. “I knew it. I knew you’d come back. You’re not like the others who scorned me for my humble roots. You knew I was sick, so you came back to see me…”

Suddenly, her expression sharpened with alarm. “Who else is there? Who else? Did the elder madam send someone?” Fear flickered across her face.

Qin Yi lived in terror of the elder madam, certain she was powerful enough that a mere displeasure could doom all the concubines, maids, and servants. But in reality, everyone answers to someone. To Qin Yi, the elder madam was an untouchable figure whose whims could decide life or death. Yet even the elder madam had her own superiors—the emperor, the empress—and the weight of the Xu family’s century-old reputation to uphold. As Mr. Jiang had once said, a person’s vision determines the breadth of their mind.

Xu Siyu tenderly brushed Qin Yi’s tangled hair back. “There’s no one else. Just Xiao Luzi and Lian Jiao. They came with me to see you.”

Instead of relaxing, Qin Yi grew even more agitated. “Get them out! Now!” she screamed, then lowered her voice to a whisper, leaning close to Xu Siyu. “Let me tell you, those maids and lackeys will turn on you in a heartbeat. Look how well I treated Cui Er, and she still betrayed me… None of them can be trusted.”

Xu Siyu shifted uncomfortably.

Back then, all his maids and older women had been handpicked by Eldest Miss, indulging his every whim. Back then, he was too young to understand their motives. Later, as he grew older and studied under his second aunt, he recognized the dangers but lacked the power to change anything. He’d been grateful when his second aunt recommended Xiao Luzi, who proved not only loyal but also discreetly pointed out oversights—unlike the usual sycophantic or spineless servants.

Qin Yi’s words would cut Xiao Luzi deep!

At that thought, Xu Siyu glanced back.

The room had gone quiet. Xiao Luzi and Lian Jiao had vanished.

Xiao Luzi was quick on the uptake—maybe he’d slipped out?

The thought inexplicably eased Xu Siyu’s mind.

From the moment they entered, Xiao Luzi had sensed something off about Qin Yi. But she was, after all, the second young master’s birth mother. Surely, he wouldn’t want others to see her in such a state.

He gave Lian Jiao’s sleeve a subtle tug, hinting they should go.

But Lian Jiao remembered Amber’s warning: “Qin Yi’s lost her grip on reality. Stay close to the second young master in case she lashes out and hurts him.”

She pulled Xiao Luzi aside and relayed Amber’s words: “One’s sane, the other’s mad; one’s his mother, the other…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Luzi heard Qin Yi accuse Cui Er of betraying her.

“Quick, behind the screen,” he whispered urgently. “If Qin Yi acts out… you pull the second young master away, and I’ll stop her.”

Lian Jiao gave a quick nod, and they ducked behind the drapes by the screen.

Xu Siyu murmured soothingly to Qin Yi, “Easy now. They’re with me. Auntie, you can say whatever you need to.”

Qin Yi had always distrusted those around her, convinced they harbored ulterior motives. In his view, while some might be overly ingratiating, outright schemes to harm her were unlikely. Under Eldest Miss’s rule, such things might have happened, but Eleven Miss had too much pride to play dirty—she disdained petty victories.

But Qin Yi let out a strange cry and shoved Xu Siyu away.

“You’re not him! You’re not my boy!” she howled, shrinking back into the corner of the bed, clutching the blankets tightly. “My son would never say such things to me! I know, I know everything. You’re pretending to be him to trick me…”

“Aunt!” Xu Siyu stared at her in shock, realizing something was terribly wrong.

Watching her cower like a frightened child, he hesitated only a moment before carefully moving closer.

“What’s wrong?” he asked gently. “You wrote me, remember? Said your heart was acting up, begged me to come home? Why don’t you remember now?”

Qin Yi tilted her head, frowning in thought.

Xu Siyu’s voice softened further. “Do you remember? When I was little, we had a promise.” As he spoke, he instinctively glanced behind him. “That year, the osmanthus bloomed beautifully. You secretly made osmanthus-infused sugar and buried it under the tree. During the Spring Festival, you took it out to make osmanthus pastries. Elder Madam had placed me under Second Aunt’s care, so you didn’t dare visit my rooms freely. But during a heavy snowfall, when no one else was in the courtyard, you hid the pastries inside your clothes and secretly brought them to me. You kept reminding me not to tell anyone—if Elder Madam found out, you wouldn’t be allowed to see me again. To this day, I’ve never told anyone. Have you ever mentioned it to others?”

Qin Yi listened, her face softening into a gentle smile. “I remember. It was winter, and I was afraid the osmanthus pastries would get cold and lose their flavor. I tucked them inside my undergarments, and when I got back, my chest was red from the heat.” Her unseeing eyes roamed over Xu Siyu’s face. “I never told anyone either. You’re the second young master… the second young master…”

Xu Siyu tightened his grip on her hand. Remembering his father’s words—that Qin Yi was dying—his eyes grew slightly moist. “Do you have any words of advice for me? I’ll keep them to myself, just like before!”

Qin Yi laughed at this.

She pushed aside the blanket covering her and clutched Xu Siyu’s hand, her unseeing eyes shifting nervously. “Be quiet, let me listen—is anyone there?” She adopted a listening posture, staying still for a long moment before straightening up solemnly. “I’ve checked—no one’s here!” Then, following Xu Siyu’s arm, she groped her way to his shoulders, straightening his posture with a serious expression. “Second young master, listen carefully. This is very important.” She paused, her tone growing even more grave. “You are the true heir of Yongping Marquis’s household!”

Here we go again…

Xu Siyu couldn’t help but sigh deeply, replying helplessly, “Qin Yi, I’ve told you many times. Though I’m the eldest son, I’m a son by a concubine. The heir must come from the principal wife. That’s the rule—”

“No, no!” Qin Yi retorted loudly. “That means nothing! Just like the emperor—who becomes emperor is decided by heaven’s will. Who becomes the heir of Yongping Marquis’s household is also heaven’s will. You are the one chosen by heaven to be the heir. In the future, you will be Yongping Marquis, inheriting the Xu family’s generational wealth…”

“Qin Yi!” Xu Siyu shouted, as if trying to wake his birth mother from a dream. “Xu Sizhun is already the heir. Father has already named Xu Sizhun as the heir!”

Qin Yi only giggled in response.

“I told you, that doesn’t count.”

Xu Siyu’s heart lurched.

He recalled his father’s words before his visit: “Your birth mother is short-sighted and has made some mistakes. But given her deathbed condition, I won’t pursue it further. I know you’re anxious—go see her first. When you return, we’ll talk properly, father and son.” He also remembered how his grandmother had been stricter with him than usual, how Eleven Miss had averted her eyes, and how Xu Sizhun had suddenly fallen ill…

“What have you done?”

The accusatory question slipped out before he could stop it.

“I’ve done nothing!” Qin Yi laughed, her high-pitched giggling unsettling. “Absolutely nothing!”

Xu Siyu stared at her blankly as memories swirled through his mind like a kaleidoscope.

“Listen to Second Aunt and learn well from her. She’s a woman who manages the outer courtyard—a capable woman. When the marquis sees you understand even outer courtyard affairs, he’ll realize who truly upholds this household.”

“Your father won a battle—he must be in high spirits. He’s bold, so he likes bold people too. When you greet him later, don’t show fear. If you do, he won’t like you. Don’t be like Chun Ge.”

“In this household, Elder Madam holds the highest authority. As long as you please her, even your official mother can’t touch you!”

“What are you afraid of? You’re smarter than Chun Ge, more capable than him… So what if he’s the legitimate son? You’re still the eldest!”

A cold sweat formed at his temples.

“Qin Yi,” Xu Siyu’s voice was hoarse, “you… have you…”

Have you done something to harm Xu Sizhun?

Yet a sliver of hope lingered in his heart.

No. Though Qin Yi had always wished for him to become the heir, she had only ever whispered her hopes in front of him. Around Elder Madam and Second Aunt, she was like a mouse facing a cat—too afraid to even breathe loudly. Others might not know, but he did.

Qin Yi grinned at him. “I’ve done nothing! Truly, I can swear before the Bodhisattva. I’ve done nothing! If I had, your father would’ve found out back when Aunt Tong died. Would he have let me live till now?”

At this, she seemed to recall something and began giggling uncontrollably again.