Chapter 443

**Chapter 450: Obsession (Part 2)**

Xu Siyu let out a long sigh.

At least, Qiu Luo’s death had nothing to do with Qin Yi!

“At the hour of Rooster (around 5–7 PM), Qiu Luo gave birth to a baby boy!” Qin Yi murmured. “A little maid came to report the news, and the Second Madam wanted to see the child. I also wanted to go. As usual, I followed behind her. When she noticed me, she didn’t say anything, so I just followed her to the primary wife’s quarters.

“Just as the midwife had said, the primary wife was holding the child in the western side chamber’s resting area. The elder madam, the marquis, Third Young Master, Fifth Young Master, Third Madam, and all the attending maids and older women—except for Madam Tao—were present. When we entered, the primary wife seemed very pleased and brought the child over for the Second Madam to see. I took the chance to peek—the child was thin and small, looking no more than three or four pounds. It lay limply in the primary wife’s arms, like a wilted plant, weak and listless.

“The Second Madam gave it a brief glance and casually remarked something like, ‘This child looks quite delicate.’ Then a little maid rushed in, saying Qiu Luo was hemorrhaging uncontrollably after childbirth, and Madam Tao, who was tending to her in the birthing room, urgently requested a physician.”

Though he already knew the outcome, Xu Siyu still listened intently when hearing about the past events.

“Everyone was shocked,” Qin Yi continued. “Third Madam even exclaimed, ‘She was fine just now—how could she suddenly start hemorrhaging?’ Everyone in the room turned to look at the primary wife. Only the Second Madam glanced at me before lowering her head to drink tea.

“The Second Madam was always intimidating. I didn’t know why she looked at me—I was terrified… I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to see Qiu Luo… When the primary wife first married into the household, Qiu Luo was only seven or eight years old, but already strikingly beautiful—prettier even than Biyu (a jade metaphor for beauty). Now, having earned the primary wife’s favor and given birth to a son, she would almost certainly be promoted to concubine. If she bore another child…

“I didn’t dare look at the Second Madam and stood there, frozen in place, holding my breath. Then I heard the primary wife order someone to fetch a physician and tell the elder madam that she would go to the birthing room to check on things.

“The elder madam stood up and told the primary wife, ‘Since you’re busy, let’s all disperse for now. We’ll return in two days for the child’s Thirdday Ceremony.’ Then she turned to the Second Madam and said her back was aching again. Last time, the Second Madam had helped massage it, and it felt much better—this time, she wanted her to do it again.

“Third Madam immediately stepped forward to support the elder madam, asking where it hurt and if it was serious. She mentioned she had a sandalwood massage mallet inlaid with white jade, a dowry item from her family, said to be especially good for the elderly. She fussed over the elder madam. Fifth Young Master also tugged at the elder madam’s sleeve and asked questions. For a moment, Qiu Luo’s matter was forgotten as everyone escorted the elder madam out.

“The Second Madam then instructed Jiexiang to take me back to my room, adding that I should help finish grinding the remaining ink.

“Fifth Young Master curiously asked, ‘What do you need ink for at this hour?’

“The Second Madam replied that she wanted to add pomegranate flower juice to the ink to see if it would make the color more vibrant.

“Fifth Young Master immediately clamored that if the ink turned out well, she should give him a couple of sticks.

“They bantered lightheartedly as they headed to the elder madam’s quarters. No one paid me any further attention… I followed Jiexiang back to my room.

“Jiexiang brought me a stool, and I sat at the desk grinding ink. It wasn’t until very late, when the third night watch sounded, that the Second Madam returned. Seeing I was still grinding ink, she nodded and let Jiexiang attend to her as she went to the washroom to freshen up.

“I had been grinding ink for several days already, and my eyelids drooped with exhaustion. I didn’t know what to do—if I kept going, my hands would ache unbearably; if I stopped, I feared angering the Second Madam. After much hesitation, I gathered my nerve, set down the inkstick, and tiptoed to the washroom.

“The Second Madam was speaking to Jiexiang, but when she heard movement, she immediately stopped and looked over—her face darkened. Seeing it was me at the door, her expression softened slightly, and she asked what I needed. I stammered out an explanation. The Second Madam told Jiexiang to rest with me and just call a little maid to help her freshen up instead.

“Jiexiang hesitated but eventually went to rest with me.” At this point, Qin Yi’s expression turned smug. “Actually, I caught what the Second Madam said to Jiexiang.”

Ever since stepping into this room, it felt like pushing open a door sealed for ten years—not only were there thick cobwebs, but unseen things seemed to rush at him.

Now, it involved the Second Madam as well!

Xu Siyu clenched his fists. “What did the Second Madam say to Jiexiang?”

“Just one sentence.” Qin Yi’s smugness deepened. “The Second Madam hissed, ‘Madam Tao found rhubarb in the chicken soup she served to Qiu Luo.’” She chuckled. “Do you even know what rhubarb does?”

Xu Siyu gave a slight shake of his head.

But he knew the Second Madam understood some medicine. If she thought something was amiss, then there must be a problem.

Qin Yi couldn’t see it, but her thoughts aligned with his. “I had no idea what rhubarb did, but seeing the Second Madam’s grim expression, I knew it couldn’t be anything good. I lay in bed, unable to sleep, afraid to toss and turn lest I disturb Jiexiang beside me. My mind raced over the poisoned soup, Qiu Luo hemorrhaging after childbirth, and that frail baby… I watched helplessly as dawn broke, wondering why there was still no word… Just as I grew restless, a maid burst in, gasping that Qiu Luo had bled to death.” She smiled. “The frail child soon followed.”

Xu Siyu remained expressionless.

If his timid birth mother, Qin Yi, could kick Aunt Tong when she was down, why wouldn’t his haughty main wife turn vicious? By now, nothing shocked him anymore.

Xu Siyu heard himself speak in a calm, almost wooden voice: "To ensure the child would only remember the nurturing grace and not the birth grace, Madam Tao gave Qiu Luo chicken soup laced with rhubarb. As a result, the mother died, and the child was too weak to survive either!"

Qin Yi nodded. "Second Master, isn’t this heaven’s will?" She groped for Xu Siyu’s arm. "I come from a humble background, with ordinary looks. It was only because I was dutiful that the elder madam transferred me to the marquis’s quarters. By chance, I was made his bedchamber attendant. Normally, once the marquis married his rightful wife and had legitimate heirs, and as I grew older without bearing children, I would most likely have been dismissed and married off to someone at random. But who could have imagined? First, the madam miscarried when the Second Master passed away without an heir. Then, as the old marquis lay critically ill, my medicine was stopped..." She paused slightly, skipping over some details. "I feared that if I bore a son, he wouldn’t be the eldest. Then came the incident with Aunt Tong. I feared the madam would elevate Qiu Luo’s son to suppress you—and that child died young. I feared Master Changchun would pray for the madam to bear a son, and indeed, Chun Ge was born frail. Whether he’d survive was uncertain, and it drained the madam’s vitality in the process. That day, I merely intended to bury what Zhu Daopo had given me where Chun Ge would pass daily, as she instructed. But just as I finished burying it and stood up, I encountered Chun Ge wandering outside unattended with a maid. Terrified, I hid behind a large tree, worried they’d see me. Yet instead, they were the ones frightened, clutching each other in fright... Don’t you think this is fate?"

"What did you say?" Xu Siyu’s expression changed drastically, countless thoughts flashing through his mind. He grabbed Qin Yi’s arm. "What Zhu Daopo? What did you bury? And what does Chun Ge’s illness have to do with you?"

His questions came rapid-fire, aggressive. Qin Yi froze, only letting out a shriek after a long pause, struggling to free her arm from his grip.

Lian Jiao, hiding behind the curtains, nearly rushed out but was caught by Xiao Luzi.

"Don’t! Absolutely not!" His voice was weak, his face drenched in sweat, as if he were deathly pale.

Lian Jiao opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but Xiao Luzi covered it, whispering in her ear, "Say nothing, nothing at all... We must find a way to leave quietly."

At first, Xu Siyu was startled. He hadn’t expected Qin Yi to react so strongly to his words. He also feared someone might enter and overhear. But when the room remained silent, he realized the servants had already withdrawn as instructed, and he relaxed. He spent a long time soothing Qin Yi with gentle words, finally calming her down.

Yet everything Qin Yi had just said burned into his heart, tossing him with turbulent thoughts.

Was this the "misfortune" his father had referred to?

At this thought, his lips pressed tightly together.

A nobleman acts with purpose and restraint.

Rather than avoid it, it was better to understand.

At the very least, he could take the initiative when speaking with his father.

With this in mind, Xu Siyu softened his voice and asked Qin Yi, "What did Zhu Daopo give you?"

Qin Yi immediately grew wary. "N-nothing! She gave me nothing!"

What was it that had her so guarded?

Xu Siyu grew even more suspicious but knew pressing further would yield no answers. After a moment’s thought, he changed the subject. "So, you frightened Xu Sizhun?"

"Lower your voice!" Qin Yi’s cloudy eyes shifted nervously as she whispered, "You mustn’t tell anyone about this."

Xu Siyu nodded. "I won’t."

Qin Yi hesitated, then beckoned him closer. "Come here, I’ll tell you."

Xu Siyu leaned in.

Qin Yi whispered, "I frightened Chun Ge to his death. The marquis was furious. The madam’s pregnancy was unstable, and she miscarried." Her lips curled in grim satisfaction. "Second Master, now you are the marquis’s only son again—the heir to Yongping Marquisate, the next Yongping Marquis!"

Xu Siyu stared at Qin Yi in disbelief, gaping soundlessly.