Chapter 643

Chapter 651: Falling (Part 1)

Eleventh Miss gazed at Third Sister-in-Law Luo, whose eyes were filled with eager anticipation, unsure whether to laugh or rage.

She was actually helping Wang Chengzu and Ten Miss compete for household authority.

This Wang Chengzu truly had audacity, urging his uncle to help suppress his own mother.

At the thought of this, Eleventh Miss couldn’t help but shudder.

First, he personally delivered wedding invitations to the Luo family, using the opportunity to ease tensions between them. Then, during the wedding, he went out of his way to warmly entertain Ten Miss’s maternal relatives, achieving his goal of engaging with the Luo family. Now, his true intentions were revealed.

If he hadn’t been so impatient, if he hadn’t chosen Third Young Master Luo, who lacked influence in the family, how different might the situation have been?

Ten Miss had practically raised a wolf in her own home (a reference to an ungrateful villain in Chinese folklore).

As for Third Young Master Luo and Third Sister-in-Law Luo, their eagerly championing Wang Chengzu was downright contemptible.

“How strange!” Eleventh Miss said bluntly. “Ten Sister is a widow—whether her actions are convenient or not, the Wang family hasn’t said a word. Yet here’s Third Brother, presuming to dictate, meddling in the affairs of Duke Mao’s household!”

Third Sister-in-Law Luo was momentarily stunned.

Living in Yanjing, she had a clear understanding of the relationship between Ten Miss and Eleventh Miss, even if others didn’t. This time, Duke Mao had discreetly invited Third Young Master for drinks and hinted that if Third Young Master could broach the matter in front of the Luo uncles and aunts first, he would offer a thousand taels as thanks. That was why she had thought to approach Eleventh Miss—not expecting her help, but merely hoping she would remain silent. Among the relatives, Eleventh Miss held the highest status. As long as she didn’t openly oppose the idea, Third Sister-in-Law Luo was confident she could persuade the rest of the Luo family. After all, the death of the late madam was undeniably linked to Ten Miss.

Yet Eleventh Miss had spoken so sharply.

“Eleventh Aunt, you may not be aware,” Third Sister-in-Law Luo quickly explained, “but just the other day, Duke Mao happened to meet our Third Young Master and mentioned some domestic troubles…”

“Duke Mao is a nephew, young and inexperienced. If he has grievances about family matters and confides in his uncles and aunts, it’s out of respect for you and for Ten Sister as his mother.” Eleventh Miss had no patience for such people and interrupted with a cold smile before she could finish. “Third Brother and Third Sister are elders—they should mediate, not casually suggest that Ten Sister hand over household authority to Duke Mao. He’s only just married. To some, it might seem Third Brother, as an uncle, pities his sister’s burden and wants Duke Mao to shoulder responsibilities early for the Wang family’s sake. But those who don’t might assume Ten Sister has committed some unforgivable sin, so much so that even her own brothers can’t bear it and want her out of the household affairs…”

The implication was damning.

Third Sister-in-Law Luo inwardly regretted her actions.

Had she known this would happen, she should have consulted Fourth Miss first. After all, Fourth Miss and Third Young Master shared the same mother—she would never let him suffer.

“Our Third Young Master absolutely didn’t mean it that way,” she said awkwardly. “It was Duke Mao who mentioned how difficult things have been for Ten Miss all these years, which made Third Young Master think of this idea…”

“That’s precisely where Third Brother and Third Sister are wrong.” Eleventh Miss showed no mercy. “Even if I, as an aunt, have no say in this, even if the Wang family invited me to discuss it out of familial courtesy, they should still consult Eldest Brother’s opinion first. Since when does an uncle act so recklessly? Besides, Duke Mao is still young, and Ten Sister has overseen the estate’s affairs impeccably all these years. There’s never been any mishap due to her widowhood. Handing the household over to Duke Mao, who hasn’t even come of age, now seems far too hasty.”

Her stance was unequivocal.

Then she raised her teacup (a gesture of dismissal).

Third Sister-in-Law Luo’s face flushed crimson. She couldn’t stay a moment longer and immediately rose to leave.

Eleventh Miss shook her head and instructed Amber, “Go to Fourth Sister and relay everything Third Sister said to me, word for word. They share the same lineage—it’s better for her to handle this.” She also wrote a letter for Amber to deliver to Luo Zhenxing at Bowstring Alley.

Amber respectfully agreed but hesitated. “What about Ten Miss?”

“Go and inform her as well,” Eleventh Miss said calmly. “Our relationship is one thing, but in a matter like this, she deserves a warning. Whether she believes it, listens, or acts—that’s up to her.”

Amber left to carry out her orders.

Fourth Miss promptly sent a letter of thanks along with several high-quality silks as a gesture of thanks. However, when Ten Miss heard that Amber had come on Eleventh Miss’s behalf, she barred her from entering.

Amber had no choice but to tactfully convey the matter to Yin Ping.

Yin Ping was alarmed and had Jinlian keep Amber company while she went to plead again. Yet Ten Miss still refused to meet Amber.

"Forget it!" Eleventh Miss felt that Ten Miss was not only eccentric but also absurd. She sighed deeply. "I've done all I could, and my conscience is clear!" Amber gave a bitter smile.

Eleventh Miss temporarily set the matter aside, busy with replacing winter decorations with spring ones in each room, distributing seasonal spring garments, and preparing summer attire... By the time she finished, it was already late February, and she had to start preparing for the Double Third Festival banquet.

"Let's celebrate the Double Third Festival at Floating Fragrance Cove!" the Dowager suggested. "If the weather is nice, we can go boating. If not, sitting in the pavilion at Floating Fragrance Cove listening to the spring rain would be quite elegant."

Ever since that Double Third Festival when Eleventh Miss invited Lady Lin, Lady Zhou, and other younger women to Graceful Spring Pavilion for a "picnic," the Dowager had been fondly remembering it.

"Great!" Eleventh Miss thought that sitting in Spring Viewing Hall every day to watch operas would eventually lose its novelty, no matter how good it was. "Then we'll hold the banquet at Floating Fragrance Cove." She then consulted the Dowager, "What do you think about inviting two female pingshu performers to the mansion? It would add to the festive atmosphere. But I don’t know who the best female pingshu performer in Yanjing is or if she’d be available on the Double Third Festival."

Just then, Amber entered, appearing agitated. Seeing Eleventh Miss and the Dowager in conversation, she didn’t dare interrupt but stood there anxiously, clearly uneasy.

The Dowager, knowing Amber was Eleventh Miss’s most capable and usually composed attendant, called out to her, "What’s happened? Out with it!"

Amber hurried forward to bow to the Dowager and said urgently, "Ten Miss from the Mao ducal estate has suddenly passed away. The Duke specifically sent me to inform you, madam."

Ten Miss from the Mao ducal estate... It took Eleventh Miss a moment to process the news.

"When did this happen?" Her voice sounded sharp to her own ears. "Who came to report the death? Where is the messenger?"

"Could there be a mistake?" The Dowager couldn’t believe it. "She was so young, how could she pass away just like that?" The old lady recalled that Double Third Festival years ago when Ten Miss had been radiant and vivacious, shining like summer sun among a group of meek and humble women... Her tone grew wistful. "How did she pass? Did she leave any last words?"

"I’m not entirely sure," Amber said softly. "The messenger was one of their matrons from the Mao ducal estate. I’ve brought her here..."

Eleventh Miss and Ten Miss were sisters from the same household. By funeral protocol, Eleventh Miss should attend her initial encoffining ceremony. The formal announcement would come after the initial rites, so the Wang family had sent a matron to inform Eleventh Miss first.

Before Amber could finish, the Dowager urged, "Bring her in quickly! Bring her in at once!"

Amber turned and ushered in a matron.

"The madam passed at the hour of the Ox (1-3 AM) this morning," the matron said, her gaze somewhat evasive. "Our Duke sent me early this morning to inform you, madam. Our madam had been bedridden for many years. Even before the Duke married, it was said she wouldn’t last, but she always pulled through. The Duke thought she’d recover this time too. While keeping vigil, he nodded off at her bedside, and then she..." The matron shed a few tears. "Our Duke was inconsolable and could only rest with the help of sedative incense..."

"That poor child!" The Dowager sighed deeply and said to Eleventh Miss, "You should go over right away. If it’s inconvenient tonight, stay there. I’ll take care of Jin Geer."

Eleventh Miss thanked her and left for the Mao ducal estate with Amber.

The Mao ducal estate was already draped in white mourning banners, and the servants wore white hemp cloth around their waists. Though the mourning hall wasn’t fully set up yet, the table covers, mourning cushions, flower pots, and paper votives were all prepared. Some oblivious children were gathered around the effigies, staring.

"They’ve acted quickly!" Amber remarked as she helped Eleventh Miss alight from the carriage.

But Eleventh Miss felt a sudden unease.

Ten Miss had passed at the hour of the Ox. She received the news at Chen Zheng (7-9 AM), and now it was only Si Chu (9-11 AM)... It seemed the Wang family had been prepared, as if waiting for Ten Miss to breathe her last.

The thought made Eleventh Miss shake her head vehemently, warning herself not to indulge in wild suspicions.

Wang Chengzu came forward to greet her.

His eyes were swollen, his expression haggard. His white mourning robes were crumpled, and he looked as limp as day-old greens.

"Aunt Eleventh, you’ve come!" He knelt before Eleventh Miss, tears streaming down. "I'm motherless now. Please treat me as your own son from now on... so I may have a mother to honor!"

Eleventh Miss merely glanced at him and said sternly, "Take me to your mother."

"Yes!" Wang Chengzu, appearing frail, was helped up by those beside him and led Eleventh Miss to the main chamber.

Wang Chengzu’s new bride was dressed in mourning, her eyes red as she sat with another woman.

Seeing Eleventh Miss enter, everyone stood up.

Eleven Miss saw Wang Chengzu's birth mother.

His birth mother lowered her head when she noticed Eleven Miss looking at her.

Eleven Miss walked on without pausing and entered the inner chamber.

In the center of the inner chamber lay a black-lacquered funeral couch, draped with blue Ning silk, upon which rested a woman dressed in dark crimson burial garments.

Slender brows, a broad forehead, a high-bridged nose... who else could it be but Ten Miss?

Her jet-black hair was neatly styled into a peony-shaped coiled bun, adorned with red-gold hairpins, and her face bore subtle makeup. Though thin, she appeared rosy-cheeked and tranquil, as if peacefully asleep.

Eleven Miss stood stunned.