Chapter 3: Exposure

Chapter 3: The Revelation

As soon as Xin He returned, she found an excuse to send Qiong Hua away.

Once the door was closed and she was alone, the composure Xin He had forced herself to maintain instantly crumbled, revealing the terror and anxiety beneath.

The man from that night was actually Wei Mingjin!

Though Xin He had been drugged that night, a brief moment of clarity had pierced through when the sharp pain struck. Breathless, she had looked up and seen his face.

It was a face of sculpted gold and jade.

At that moment, Xin He was a paradox of agony and ecstasy.

Her body felt as if it had been cleaved in two, yet the drug's pleasure instantly soothed the torment. A searing heat then surged within her, making her limbs weak and her skin tingle. Only by pressing herself against the man before her could she find release.

Moreover, the man was strikingly handsome. Spending a night with him was no loss.

In her dazed state, Xin He allowed herself to sink into the moment, even actively cooperating.

It was a night of madness and delirium.

After the drug wore off, despite her discomfort, Xin He fled that wretched place without a backward glance.

To her, everything that had happened there was nothing but a dream.

And since it was a dream, she had to forget it upon waking. But she never expected that a single night would leave her pregnant.

The timing of this child was uncanny. She had intended to use it to secure wealth and status for herself. Yet she never imagined that the man from that night would turn out to be Wei Mingjin.

And now, she was his nominal concubine-mother.

Xin He had heard countless praises of Wei Mingjin—his scholarly excellence, his modest and gentle demeanor, his noble character, pure as frost and snow.

But that night, within the bed curtains where only the two of them existed, the Wei Mingjin she saw was one whose brows carried a dark, severe intensity, even under the influence of desire and drugs.

He was a completely different person from the warm and polished young master she saw today.

Yet Xin He knew they were the same person.

From the earlier interaction, however, it seemed Wei Mingjin had not recognized her.

This was understandable. That night, Wei Mingjin also appeared to have been drugged; otherwise, things would not have spiraled so far out of control.

Previously, Xin He had thought that fortune favors the bold—perhaps taking a risk would pay off. But upon discovering that Wei Mingjin was the man from that night, she immediately changed her mind: while it was true that fortune favored the bold, greed could swallow an elephant. Though she coveted wealth, she had no intention of gambling with her life.

If Wei Mingjin were to learn that she was the woman from that night, he would surely eliminate her to protect his reputation.

Rather than waiting for death, it would be better to follow the original plan: take the severance silver, leave the estate with the other concubines, and flee Qingyuan County as far as possible.

When Xin He touched her flat abdomen again, her feelings had completely changed.

This child should never have come. Now, she could only find an opportunity to be rid of it.

Soon, Uncle Ming, the steward, arrived with a group of people.

Uncle Ming was an old retainer of the estate. It was said that he had once saved Master Wei’s life, so despite his ugly appearance and a lame leg, Master Wei had always trusted him implicitly, entrusting him with all affairs of the household.

After standing still, Uncle Ming stated his purpose: "Concubine Xin, the young master has given orders. From today onward, your daily provisions will be equal to his. These are the additional servants assigned to your courtyard."

With that, the dozen or so people behind him bowed to Xin He in unison.

With so many people watching over her, it would inevitably be inconvenient for her to act.

Xin He gently declined: "I am grateful for the young master’s kindness, but I already have enough people around me. Besides, my courtyard is small and cannot accommodate so many. Please tell the young master for me."

Since Xin He was diagnosed with pregnancy, Second Master Wei had already assigned additional servants to her.

"Concubine, your status is now equivalent to the young master’s. Naturally, you can no longer remain in this small courtyard. The young master has ordered the Cuiwei Courtyard to be prepared. Please move there now."

"There’s no need. I am quite comfortable here."

Xin He now regarded Wei Mingjin as a monster to be feared. She was avoiding him at all costs—how could she willingly move closer to him?

But the steward’s expression brooked no refusal: "Concubine Xin, you are carrying the late master’s posthumous child. If anything were to happen to you, not only would the young master face criticism, but Second Master Wei would also not take it lying down. Please do not make things difficult for the young master or for this old servant."

Though the steward’s words seemed to show concern for Xin He, his loyalty lay with Wei Mingjin.

Wei Mingjin was the son of the principal wife and had been raised under the steward’s watchful eye, so they shared a deep bond.

Xin He’s pregnancy at this critical juncture meant that half of the estate, which should have belonged entirely to Wei Mingjin, would now go to the child in her womb. This had fueled resentment among many of the Wei family’s longtime servants.

But even with their discontent, they still had to carry out their duties.

Xin He wanted to say more, but the steward had already snapped, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and help Concubine pack."

The maids and matrons quickly obeyed.

The steward then turned to Xin He: "Concubine, please."

Xin He had no choice but to move to the Cuiwei Courtyard.

It was Mid-Autumn, but the Cuiwei Courtyard showed no signs of desolation. Instead, hibiscus were in full bloom, and begonias radiant, as if competing in a spring-like display.

The steward stood under the eaves and bowed. "The young master also said that since you are with child, you should focus on your health. There is no need for you to go to the mourning hall anymore. If you need anything, you may send someone to find me at any time."

After speaking, the steward bowed to Xin He and limped away.

The Cuiwei Courtyard, with its blue-tiled roofs, soaring eaves, and winding corridors, was adorned with elegantly arranged rockeries and water features—a world apart from the courtyard Xin He had lived in before.

But Xin He found no happiness.

As Qiong Hua directed the servants in arranging their belongings, Xin He sat alone by the window. A maid in green brought her a cup of osmanthus-infused honey water and murmured, "Concubine, rest assured. Second Master Wei will ensure the safety of you and your child."

Previously, Xin He had only Qiong Hua by her side. This maid had been assigned to her by Second Master Wei after her pregnancy was confirmed.

She was Second Master Wei’s person.

In the past, Xin He would have engaged in feigned courtesy with this maid, but now she only felt irritation.

"Understood. Dismissed."

The green-clad maid bowed and withdrew. Listening to the noise from the front courtyard, Xin He pondered silently: Once Master Wei’s funeral arrangements are concluded, Wei Mingjin will likely begin disposing of the concubines. She must find a way to lose the child before Wei Mingjin releases the concubines from the estate.

Afterward, Xin He continuously searched for an opportunity to act but to no avail.

Wherever she went, she was hemmed in by servants. Those sent by Wei Mingjin and those assigned by Second Master Wei kept a close watch on her, leaving her not a moment to herself.

So, Xin He turned her attention to the food.

But as luck would have it, one of the female servants knew her medicinal herbs. No sooner had Xin He requested a dish than the woman came to report, "Arrowhead is cold in nature and not suitable for pregnant women. Even if Concubine Xin doesn't think of herself, she should consider the child in her womb. It would be better to choose another dish."

Xin He suggested several other dishes, and any that were unsuitable for pregnant women were promptly pointed out by the maidservant.

Xin He gave the woman a string of cash outwardly, but inwardly she felt deeply frustrated and perplexed.

Everyone praised Wei Mingjin for his gentleness and humility, but Xin He knew he was actually a hypocrite. She didn't believe Wei Mingjin would allow this child to be born and compete with him for the family fortune.

Yet, these past few days, everyone in Jade-Green Court had been taking meticulous care of her.

Xin He couldn't understand what Wei Mingjin was really up to.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the Elder Master Wei's funeral.

That day, Xin He was unable to attend the burial. But from the commotion outside, it wasn't hard to guess that Master Wei was given a grand funeral.

After Master Wei's funeral affairs were concluded, the women of the inner quarters were supposed to leave, but Xin He still hadn't found an opportunity to lose the pregnancy.

Just as Xin He was growing increasingly anxious, news of Second Master Wei's special care for her reached the ears of the Second Madame Wei.

Everyone in Qingyuan County knew that Madame Wei had a strong personality and was easily jealous. Years ago, when Second Master Wei was discussing business and happened to visit a pleasure house, a smudge of rouge accidentally ended up on his collar. When Madame Wei saw it upon his return, not only did she scratch his face, but she also went to the man's house who had been drinking with him, berating him for nearly half a day.

In the end, not only did Second Master Wei's business deal fall through, but Madame Wei's reputation for being a jealous harridan also spread.

Yet, far from being upset, Madame Wei proudly told others, "This way, no one will dare to cling to or seduce my husband in the future."

And indeed, as Madame Wei had said, since then, there had been no romantic entanglements around Second Master Wei.

Now, upon hearing that Second Master Wei was involved with his deceased brother's concubine, Madame Wei flew into a rage: "Elder Brother has just passed, and that little tramp dares to seduce my husband? Just watch me scratch her eyes out!"

Madame Wei, who had been laying out breakfast, slammed down her chopsticks and marched out.

Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she happened to run into Second Master Wei, who had come for breakfast.

Madame Wei's anger flared up instantly, and she threw herself at him, sobbing and beating his chest: "Are you even human?! Your brother's body is not yet cold, and you've already taken up with his concubine! Aren't you afraid your brother will come back to haunt you at night?"

The maidservants were startled and hurried forward to pull Madame Wei away.

"Madame, you mustn't!"

By the time the maidservants managed to restrain Madame Wei, Second Master Wei's robes were disheveled, and his face was scratched with several bloody marks.

Looking at his wife acting like a common shrew, Second Master Wei was both angry and exasperated as he defended himself: "Who's been gossiping lies in front of you again? None of this is true."

"Everyone in that residence is talking about the two of you, and I'm the only one kept in the dark. Do you think I'm dead?"

Seeing that Zou Shi was about to kick up another fuss, Second Master Wei had no choice but to yield: "My ancestor, keep your voice down! It's not what you think. Let's go inside and talk."

The servants coaxed and persuaded Zou Shi into the room.

Zou Shi continued to press relentlessly: "Elder Brother has just passed, and you've been assigning extra servants for Concubine Xin, that little slut, and sending her tonics and supplements. If you're not interested in her, then what is it?"

Moreover, she had seen Xin He before—she was stunningly beautiful and bore some resemblance to the woman Wei Jingyao had been engaged to, who had met an early end.

Seeing that the matter had somehow reached Zou Shi's ears, Wei Jingyao thought that if he continued to hide it, Zou Shi might ruin everything. He had no choice but to say, "She's pregnant."

"What?! You even have a child together?!" Zou Shi's anger was almost enough to lift the roof.

Wei Jingyao was fit to be tied.

Zou Shi was still crying: "Wei Jingyao, when you came to propose to me, you clearly promised you would never take a concubine or have children with another woman. You oath-breaker—"

"That's my elder brother's posthumous child," Wei Jingyao interrupted her.

Zou Shi was taken aback, then set her hands on her hips and scolded angrily: "Wei Jingyao, if you're going to lie to me, at least come up with a decent excuse. Your elder brother had a house full of concubines, but all these years, did any of them ever conceive? How is it that now, the moment he's dead and buried, Concubine Xin is pregnant? Who do you think you're fooling?"

Wei Jingyao's face darkened, and he fell silent.

At first, Zou Shi thought Wei Jingyao was lying to her, but seeing his expression, she began to have doubts: "Is Concubine Xin really pregnant?"

"Really."

Zou Shi was struck dumb.

Although they lived in separate residences, Zou Shi had heard that Master Wei had spent a considerable amount of money over the years praying for an heir. Yet, none of his concubines had ever shown any sign of pregnancy. Now that he had passed away, Xin He was diagnosed as pregnant.

"What a trick of fate," Zou Shi sighed, then asked, deeply puzzled, "If she's carrying your elder brother's posthumous child, then why are you coddling her so much?" Making her think the worst.

Wei Jingyao's gaze passed through the open carved window, over their cramped courtyard, and settled on the magnificent upturned eaves of his elder brother's luxurious residence next door, his eyes dark and thoughtful: "Elder Brother is gone. I have to plan for what comes next."

Since the family split, the circumstances of the two brothers had vastly diverged.

His elder brother's business flourished, while Wei Jingyao's declined steadily. In recent years, Wei Jingyao had even had to humble himself and visit his elder brother from time to time, asking for support.

They were brothers, bound by blood. No matter how reluctant his elder brother was, he would still lend him a hand.

But with Wei Mingjin, it was different.

They were uncle and nephew, and he was the elder. If he went to his nephew for help every now and then, regardless of Wei Mingjin's attitude, such behavior would be improper by traditional standards.

Fortunately, Xin He was pregnant.

Whether Xin He gave birth to a boy or a girl, half of his elder brother's estate would belong to the child in her womb.

Wei Mingjin was nearly twenty, too old for Wei Jingyao to control. Xin He, however, was a weak and helpless farm girl. If she wanted to safely deliver the child and secure her child's share of the family fortune, she would have to rely on him.

As Wei Mingjin's elder, Wei Jingyao had a say in the division of the family estate.

Wei Mingjin was ambitious and far from mediocre. Qingyuan County's limited surroundings couldn't hold him; he was destined to make his mark in the capital.

Xin He, however, would remain in Qingyuan County.

When the time came, with a bit of maneuvering, the widow and orphan's share would easily become his.

As Wei Jingyao and his wife were talking, a servant came to report: "Master, someone from next door is here. They said the young master asks for you immediately."

"Did they say what it was about?" Wei Jingyao asked.

The servant stood outside the door and replied: "They didn't say, only that you should go as soon as possible. They seemed in a hurry."

His elder brother's funeral was over and done with—what urgent matter could there be? Could it be that something had happened to Concubine Xin?

At that thought, Wei Jingyao immediately stood up and rushed out.

"Master, at least change your robe before going," Zou Shi called after him.

Earlier, when she had thrown herself at him and pounded his chest, she had mussed up his robes. If he went over dressed like that, he would be laughed at.

But at that moment, Wei Jingyao wasn't about to bother with such things. His only concern was Xin He's pregnancy.

If Xin He's child were lost, then the wealth and prosperity he had planned for would vanish into thin air.

Wei Jingyao rushed over in a frantic hurry, and only when he saw Xin He sitting safely in the main hall did his anxious heart finally calm down.

After Master Wei was buried, all the mourning decorations in the Wei residence had been taken down, revealing the estate’s original appearance.

Vermilion pillars, carved rafters, tiered pavilions and towers, and exotic flowers and trees adorned the surroundings—spacious, magnificent, and exuding an air of luxury and refinement everywhere. The autumn sunlight streamed in through the open doors and windows like scattered gold dust, falling upon the hem of Wei Jingyao’s robe.

Wei Jingyao had rushed over in a panic, and only now, seeing that Xin He was unharmed, did he feel thirsty. As he picked up a teacup to drink, Wei Mingjin spoke with a slightly troubled expression: "I asked Second Uncle here today because there’s a matter I don’t know how to handle, so I’ve invited you to discuss and decide together."

As soon as Wei Mingjin finished speaking, Feng Mo brought a woman in.

Wei Jingyao recognized her—she was one of his elder brother’s many concubines, whether she was the Blossom Concubine or Grass Concubine, he couldn’t quite recall.

"Greetings to the young master, greetings to Second Master." After paying her respects, Concubine Hua suddenly turned to look at Xin He, who was head bowed and eyes downcast.

Abruptly shedding her previous soft and delicate demeanor, she became like a hunter ready to strike. Her captivating eyes fixed on Xin He with excitement and agitation as she pointed at her and declared loudly: "I wish to expose Concubine Xin for mixing up the Wei family’s bloodline, attempting to pass off a wild seed as the late master’s posthumous heir."

*Crash—*

The teacup in Wei Jingyao’s hand immediately fell and shattered to pieces.

Xin He abruptly looked up, staring at Concubine Hua in disbelief.