Old Madam Liu had been eating well and sleeping soundly lately.
In truth, she’d been in this state for quite a long time.
Ever since Liu Wangfei had died, she had stepped into Duke Chu’s residence in an open and aboveboard manner, accepted as his legal wife, and married the man she had loved the most—just as she had always dreamed.
Though on paper Liu Jinghong and Noble Consort Liu were only her adoptive children, the truth was something the Liu family knew all too well.
After Liu Wangfei’s death, Duke Chu had been troubled by guilt. He even had monks from the Imperial Enlightenment Temple conduct several rites, claiming he was plagued by nightmares and unable to sleep.
But Old Madam Liu had never once suffered the same.
When she had been alive, she had lost to her, toyed with and outmaneuvered at every turn—why would dying and becoming a ghost change anything?
Ghosts were a lie. There were no such things. As long as she had a clear conscience, no one could shake her.
That was her belief—until she heard that Liu Wangfei might not have died after all, and that Emperor Yongchang had ordered Qi Zhen to search for her.
Then, for a short while, she did panic a little.
But that didn’t last long.
Twenty years had passed since Yongchang ascended the throne, and Liu Wangfei had been missing just as long. Everything was set in stone now.
Especially since the children born of Noble Consort Liu were growing ever more favored by Emperor Yongchang.
How could a child raised with love and care compare to one lost for years with no emotional connection?
Now that Qi Wang, Liu Jinghong, also knew of the Wangfei’s whereabouts—
If she hadn’t died before, well, then let her die again.
She was destined to win.
As she was chatting with Liu Mingzhu, a servant came in to report someone was requesting an audience.
Lately, because of her injury, Liu Mingzhu had been recuperating. Friends and family had sent all kinds of nourishing tonic ingredients.
Especially Noble Consort Liu, who had sent seven or eight roots of century-old ginseng alone—not to mention deer antler and other rare herbs. The storage room was packed.
Old Madam Liu chuckled, “Seems like you won’t need to gather anything extra for your dowry preparation. Just look how much face you’ve got.”
But Liu Mingzhu didn’t smile. Her face was stiff with cold sarcasm. “What face do I have left now? Everyone looks at me like I’m a joke—God knows how many are laughing behind my back.”
For someone who had never failed before, her first failure was all the more bitter.
Especially for someone like her, who had lived such a smooth and easy life—this disgrace was hard to bear.
Old Madam Liu’s smile faded. She snapped the ginseng box shut and sneered.
Liu Mingzhu saw the contempt on her grandmother’s face and felt deeply shaken. “Grandmother…”
“What a useless girl!” Old Madam Liu slapped her across the face and sneered, “Your parents and aunt spoiled you too much. That’s why you’re so weak—can’t handle a drop of adversity!”
“And this is supposed to be disgraceful?”
“Han Xin endured crawling between a man’s legs. You grew up hearing stories of enduring insult to accomplish great things!” she snapped. “What you’re facing now is nothing! Back then, I gave birth to your father and aunt alone, raised them with bitter tears until they were six or seven, and then had to watch them return to the marquisate and call another woman ‘mother’!”
Thinking of those years, Old Madam Liu was still filled with resentment. “If I had been like you, I’d have long bashed my head in and died! Where would I have gotten to today—reunited with my family and basking in glory?”
Liu Mingzhu was silent.
Old Madam Liu narrowed her eyes. “You’re losing your mind and will just because of a filthy little b*stard? If you fall apart over this, how will you become Qi Wangfei? How will you one day become mother of the nation? Once you’re in the palace, where schemes are everywhere—if you can’t stand alone, how long do you think others can prop you up?”
She paused, then said coldly, “Get out! Reflect on yourself! It’s just a small matter—your father has probably already executed that little rat. What’s there to dwell on?”
The room quieted.
Liu Mingzhu held her face, staring dazedly at her grandmother. Then, suddenly, she knelt and kowtowed: “Forgive me, Grandmother. It was my fault. I disappointed you. But I understand now.”
After a beat, she hesitated and asked, “But… the imperial physician said my health is badly damaged. I may not be able to bear children in the future. If so… can I still become Qi Wangfei?”
Old Madam Liu let out a cold laugh. “Why not?! Qi Wang has Liu blood flowing through his veins! His mother came out of my womb! If I say you can, then you can! What’s the big deal if you can’t have children? The ones born by concubines will still be yours!”
Liu Mingzhu exhaled sharply and nodded with resolve.
At that moment, the housekeeper came in and reported that a man was outside claiming to have information about Liu Jinghong.
Old Madam Liu rubbed her temples. “Who?”
The housekeeper said cautiously, “He says he’s a escort from a escort bureau, hired by someone and that he’s encountered the young master—and now knows his whereabouts.”
Fought with Jinghong?
Old Madam Liu squinted suspiciously, but soon gave a dismissive sneer.
Whether it was true or not, bring him in and ask—simple enough.
If he dared lie to Duke Chu’s household, it just meant he didn’t want to live.
She ordered, “Bring him in. Take him to the Water Mirror Hall.”
The Water Mirror Hall was used to receive outer-court visitors, near the second gate. It kept inner and outer matters separate and was convenient for managing household personnel.
The housekeeper obeyed and soon brought in Huang Wenjun.
Huang Wenjun had arrived that afternoon. By the time he was granted an audience, it was already evening.
Lanterns lit the night—every few steps a lamp glowed along the corridor, even the trees were decorated with swaying lanterns. Who knew how many candles would be burned in a single night?
Huang Wenjun couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.
Crossing the gallery and entering the Water Mirror Hall, he was dazzled. The hall, connecting inner and outer courtyards, had three levels with two buildings front and back linked by an elevated corridor. From afar, the lights shimmered like a glowing dragon as a maid passed overhead with a lantern.
His heart pounded in his chest.
By the time he reached Old Madam Liu, his knees gave out and he fell to the ground with a thud: “Madam, I come to report! I know who killed the shizi of Duke Chu’s household!”
Old Madam Liu had been sipping tea. At these words, her teacup crashed to the floor, and her face changed dramatically. “What nonsense are you spouting?! How dare you speak such lies—you’re courting death!”
Unbothered, Huang Wenjun slammed his head against the floor: thump, thump, thump.
“I speak no lies! I have proof!”
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