#136: Old Grievances

Wanxiu’s expression shifted, but she quickly composed herself and replied indifferently, “Sister, you’re mistaken again. Back then, it was your own frailty that caused you to lose the child. It had nothing to do with me.”

Linshi pointed at her, her voice sharp. “It was you! Though the physician found nothing amiss in that bowl of lotus seed soup, I know you tampered with it. Otherwise, how could I have miscarried immediately after eating it?” Her voice trembled as she continued, “I will never… never forget the feeling of losing my child. Jichun said… the child had already formed, with hands and feet. When it came out, it was even alive for a moment! If I could, I’d give up everything just to save that child. Since then, every ninth day of the first month, I’ve held a memorial for him. This year was no exception.”

Jichun added, “To inform Second Madam, Mistress began the memorial at the second watch and concluded at the fourth watch. During that time, Miss Wu was with her the entire time.”

Yunyi sighed inwardly. She had encountered Linshi by chance that night as she carried candles and paper money to mourn her child. Linshi had called her over, preventing her from pursuing Chunxiu out of the mansion. What she hadn’t expected was the deep-seated enmity between Wanxiu and Linshi.

Wanxiu sighed sorrowfully. “I never imagined that after all these years, you still haven’t moved past this. From the moment you entered this household, I treated you like my own sister. How could I possibly harm you? Yet ever since your miscarriage, you’ve opposed me at every turn, treating me like your sworn enemy. Do you know how much it hurts to see you like this?”

“Pain?” Linshi sneered. “You’ll only truly understand pain when something happens to Zhiyun!”

Her words darkened Wanxiu’s expression. “Don’t you dare act rashly!”

“Rest assured, I won’t—for now. But as for Meixue, regardless of your reasons, you’d better not trouble her further. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being unkind!” With that, she stormed out, dragging Yunyi with her, completely ignoring Wanxiu’s livid face.

Long after leaving Yuxiu Pavilion, Linshi finally stopped. Her body still trembled slightly. Jichun helped her sit on a nearby stone bench. Yunyi gently said, “The matter with Chunxiu has already been resolved. Third Madam didn’t need to say those things and upset yourself.”

Linshi took a deep breath to steady herself, shaking her head. “These words have been bottled up inside me for so long. It feels good to let them out. Wanxiu…” She clenched her fists tightly, her voice cold. “As long as I live, I will never let her off easily.”

Yunyi cautiously asked, “Second Madam… did she really do such a thing?”

Linshi remained silent, her gaze distant. Jichun answered for her: “At that time, Mistress and Fourth Madam were both pregnant. Mistress was slightly ahead in her term—around five months along by New Year’s. Though her constitution was weak, the physicians took great care, and she herself was cautious, so there shouldn’t have been any issues. Then, Second Madam, who was quite close to Mistress at the time, sent over a bowl of lotus seed soup. Mistress drank it without suspicion. That very night, she began experiencing excruciating abdominal pain. By the time the physician arrived, she was already bleeding. Despite all efforts, they couldn’t save the child—it was gone.” Jichun sighed heavily. “That day, only Second Madam sent lotus seed soup. So it must have been her. Unfortunately, the physicians found nothing wrong with the soup. Moreover, Second Madam knows how to play the victim in front of Lord Taishou and First Madam, so the matter was eventually dropped.”

“So neither Fourth Madam gave birth that year?” Having witnessed palace intrigues firsthand, Yunyi was unsurprised to learn of similar rivalries among the women of this household.

Jichun shook her head. “No. A month later, Fourth Madam also miscarried. Neither made it to full term. Eventually, a servant girl gave birth to a daughter.”

Linshi gritted her teeth. “It was my own fault for being so naive, trusting Wanxiu’s sweet talk, and letting my guard down. That’s how she got to me.”

Yunyi didn’t know how to comfort her and simply said, “The past is the past. Please don’t dwell on it. Everything will get better in time.”

Linshi gazed at her for a moment, then smiled softly. “You’re truly kind-hearted. Though I told you not to reveal what happened that night, you shouldn’t have let others suspect you of murder. In such dire circumstances, would I have blamed you?”

Yunyi smiled faintly. “They only suspected me back then. If it had come to execution, I would’ve had no choice but to betray you, Third Madam.”

Linshi’s eyes softened. “What you’ve done is more than enough to repay my trust.” Rising, she walked into the winter sunlight, marveling, “Who would’ve thought that a wealthy young lady would break her word, while a mere dancer holds steadfast to her promises?”

Yunyi remained silent, lowering her gaze. After a while, Linshi said, “After today’s confrontation, Wanxiu may refrain from openly targeting you. But she’s cunning and excels at striking from the shadows. Be careful. If anything seems amiss, feel free to seek me out.”

“Understood. Thank you, Third Madam, for your kindness.” After Linshi left, Yunyi returned to Yuefang Pavilion. That night, Steward Lin delivered a message: by order of the higher-ups, Yunyi and Jiang Caiping were to forfeit three months’ stipend as punishment. Hearing this, Jiang Caiping panicked. Just the day before her return, her father had broken his leg, leaving him unable to work. They were relying on her earnings to pay for medical expenses. Losing three months’ stipend was devastating.

Knowing Jiang Caiping’s situation, Yunyi retrieved half a string of coins from under her pillow. “Here, take this for now.”

Jiang Caiping shook her head vigorously. “No, I can’t take your money.”

“You call me ‘sister,’ so don’t be so formal. You can repay me gradually once we receive our next stipend. I don’t need much here anyway.” Persuaded, Jiang Caiping gratefully accepted the money but grumbled angrily, “What nonsense from above! Clearly, it’s Second Madam holding a grudge. She can’t stand seeing us thrive, so she punishes us on some pretext. Petty woman!”

Before Yunyi could respond, a knock sounded at the door. Opening it, she found Jichun standing there. Entering the room, Jichun pulled two strings of coins from her sleeve. “Mistress knows your stipends have been docked for three months, so she sent me with this as compensation for your wages. She’ll ensure the remaining payments arrive on time for the next two months.”

Surprised, Yunyi quickly protested, “This isn’t appropriate. Please take the money back, Jichun. Neither Caiping nor I can accept it.”