Chapter 8: The Second Madam Returns to the Mansion

Second Madam Zhou Huajin was dressed in a garnet red, pomegranate-patterned cross-collared thin silk gown with a light pink underskirt. Her hairpin sparkled in her hair, and she was radiating with joy, her face glowing red with happiness.

She was laughing with her eldest daughter, and their laughter could be heard until they entered the room. Upon seeing Qin Xuan, however, she immediately stopped smiling.

“Sister-in-law is here as well.” She gave a slight nod.

After Zhou Huajin and her two daughters paid their respects to the old madam, she had the younger daughter taken outside to play, leaving only the eldest daughter, Fang Zhenzhen, by her side.

Zhou Huajin noticed the strange look on her mother-in-law’s face and immediately asked with concern.

Old Madam Meng didn’t want to continue the conversation, so she simply said she had been bitten by a poisonous insect and had seen a doctor.

Only then did Zhou Huajin look away, still looking worried, and sat across from Qin Xuan.

“Sister-in-law, have we heard any news from my brother?”

Qin Xuan shook her head.

Zhou Huajin sighed, looking somewhat troubled. “It’s also not the right time for Zhenzhen’s marriage. After all, her fiancé is a prince, the son of the favored Concubine Liang. We have no say in postponing it. Otherwise, I would have insisted that Second Master personally lead people to search for him.”

Qin Xuan smiled faintly, “We’ve sent enough people, and the eldest will return safely. The joys in the mansion must go on; we can’t delay the child’s wedding. My son Xunli and Miss Xu’s marriage, I also intend to follow through with.”

Zhou Huajin exchanged a glance with Old Madam Meng.

Old Madam Meng picked up the conversation, “Mother Xuan is right. We should carry on with the celebrations, and the eldest will return sooner. Xunli’s marriage has been delayed a year because of the passing of Master Xu, but he is already 19. It really cannot be delayed any longer.”

“Otherwise, if anything happens, it will really hold the child back.” There was an implied meaning in her words.

Zhou Huajin agreed, “That makes sense. If we calculate the timing, it’s about the same as Zhenzhen’s. One marriage and one wedding—double happiness for the family.”

As they spoke, Fang Yuean skipped into the room.

Huai Ze was introducing her, “[The young lady on the right is the eldest daughter of the second household, Miss Fang Zhenzhen. She is 17, the same age as your elder sister, only one month younger.]”

Fang Yuean stopped in front of her, “Thief.”

Fang Zhenzhen looked at the sparkle in the child’s eyes, a puzzled expression in her gaze.

Qin Xuan quickly spoke up, “An’an, this is your second sister. The other one is your second aunt.”

Fang Yuean immediately smiled and cheerfully said, “I know, I heard Miaoyi call her.” Then she greeted them both.

Zhou Huajin was a bit confused, but only smiled in response.

Fang Yuean continued, “Second aunt, you still haven’t said anything about the child. You’ve spoken to Miaoyi already.”

Zhou Huajin could only give a brief response.

Sitting across, Qin Xuan’s eyes widened slightly.

Zhou Huajin had seen the two children, so it wasn’t as though she only noticed them upon entering.

Why then, did she pretend not to know?

[The scheming ugly woman, opening her mouth wide, wishing that her laughter could be heard in both the East and West Cour, yet pretending not to know that my mother is here. Isn’t she trying to show off to my mother and make it seem like it’s not intentional?]

[She wants her daughter to have a good marriage, proud of herself, contrasting with my current situation—my husband missing and my daughter in trouble—making my mother seem even more unfortunate and not as well-off as you.]

[Let me see if I won’t expose you! I wonder if my mother has noticed yet.]

Qin Xuan felt a bitter pang in her heart.

Before their marriage, they had been close friends, coincidentally marrying into the same family, sharing everything. But who would have thought that, unconsciously, some things had already changed.

Zhou Huajin’s attention was fully on the child’s identity, and she didn’t realize she had exposed herself.

“Mother Xuan, is Er’er really better?” she couldn’t help but ask.

She couldn’t stop herself from muttering that Er’er hadn’t fully recovered and was now speaking so much.

Qin Xuan repeated the story of the soul-collecting treatment, making it clear that she planned to keep the child.

After hearing this, Zhou Huajin glanced at Old Madam Meng.

Qin Xuan noticed Zhou Huajin’s reaction: She knew!

She didn’t just want to compare with me.

Yesterday, the truth of what she had been feeling deep inside was confirmed. Qin Xuan had never wanted to believe that Zhou Huajin was the same as them.

The last bit of expectation shattered, and her heart felt like it was pierced by something, making it hard for her to breathe.

“While treating Er’er is important, we must be cautious not to let Miaoyi think too much about it now that there’s another child.”

Zhou Huajin didn’t know what Qin Xuan was thinking. Her words mirrored Old Madam Meng’s, which further confirmed Qin Xuan’s thoughts.

Qin Xuan adjusted her emotions. “Mother also said something similar. You’ve reminded me, perhaps I’ve been too indulgent with Miaoyi, and with those evil servants leading her astray, she’s refusing to let go of her temper even over such an important matter as treating her sister. Her behavior goes against the Fang family’s values.”

“The most important thing is that we cannot let Miaoyi think her happiness is more important than her sister’s recovery. Mother Huajin, don’t you think so?”

The two women forced a smile.

Old Madam Meng replied first, “Mother Xuan is right. But the more this is the case, the less we can punish Miaoyi. We should talk to her more to avoid any hidden resentment. We don’t want to treat Er’er and cause a rift between you and your daughter.”

Qin Xuan nodded.

After a few more idle words, she left with the child.

Zhou Huajin also had Fang Zhenzhen return and dismissed the servants, leaving only her and Old Madam Meng to speak.

“Mother, what is going on? When did Qin Xuan start believing in ghosts and gods?”

Old Madam Meng’s gaze was fixed on the window frame. “As a mother, what can be done when there is no way out? What is there to not believe?”

She then recounted yesterday’s events, including the matter of the servant being killed in the East Cour, to Zhou Huajin.

“If that’s the case, it will be difficult for us to place people there anymore.” Zhou Huajin glanced at Old Madam Meng. “We can’t let Miaoyi grow up and become estranged from her and Qin’s side. Once she’s older, it will be hard for her to align with us.”

Two years ago, when she noticed her mother-in-law’s special treatment of Miaoyi, she asked and learned about Miaoyi’s identity.

But apart from her and Fang Shuer, the children in the second household still didn’t know.

“Next, should we find a way to eliminate those two sisters?”

Zhou Huajin thought this would please Old Madam Meng.

Old Madam Meng gave her a sidelong glance. “Qin’s people, and the subordinates the second one secretly sent, have all failed to find the eldest. It’s clear that the matter is settled. Now, the only thing left is to get rid of Fang Xunli.”

“Qin hasn’t seen the eldest’s corpse with her own eyes, so she likely still holds onto some hope and doesn’t plan to delay the wedding. We must move quickly with the next steps, so they don’t gain support from the Xu family.”

Old Madam Meng’s eyes slowly shifted. “Er’er has a blessed life, so let her live. As for the other foolish one, whether she’s Qin’s daughter or not, it doesn’t matter. Qin won’t know. Once we take control of the Marquis Residence, who’s life isn’t in our hands?”

She leisurely took a sip of tea. “We have to leave a few people for the first household, to avoid suspicion falling on us.”

Zhou Huajin awkwardly smiled. “You’re right, mother.”

She didn’t dare to say that if Fang Xunli died before Zhenzhen’s wedding, the wedding would have to be delayed for three months.

The wedding would be postponed.

In fact, Zhou Huajin didn’t fully agree with Old Madam Meng. She thought the most important thing right now was to hurry up and marry her daughter into the royal family, so that there would be no lingering uncertainties.

Once her daughter became a princess, their family would be backed by the royal power, and they could use that to their advantage.

As for the Xu family’s elder, with Old Master Xu’s passing and the mourning in the household, what could they possibly do to help Qin?

Old Madam Meng put down her teacup and looked at Zhou Huajin. “How is the situation with Xuze progressing?”

Zhou Huajin pulled herself out of her thoughts and turned to Old Madam Meng. “The people have been found. Don’t worry, mother, everything is going smoothly. It’s all thanks to your foresight in considering that Qin might not delay the wedding, allowing us to prepare in advance. Fang Xunli can’t marry Miss Xu. This year, the Fang family will only have Zhenzhen’s wedding.”

Old Madam Meng spoke in a low voice, warning, “Keep your little schemes to yourself. Don’t let anything slip to Qin Xuan before things are settled!”

Zhou Huajin immediately wiped the smile from her face and lowered her head. “I understand, mother.”

Old Madam Meng stood up and adjusted her clothes. “If you weren’t somewhat obedient and knew Qin Xuan so well, do you think I would let the second son marry you? Stop doing foolish things. Don’t worry about others seeing your petty nature!”

Zhou Huajin watched Old Madam Meng’s retreating figure, clenching the fabric of her skirt at her side, her eyes filled with resentment.

If it weren’t for Fang Shuer pampering his concubines and neglecting his wife, how could she be so subservient to this old woman?