After speaking privately for quite some time, Old Madam finally left. Later that night, she ordered charcoal to be delivered immediately and, from her own private treasury, sent one thousand taels of silver and many goods to Zhenhua Pavilion.
That unlucky Nanny Zhang and her entire family were expelled from the household, sent overnight to the estate to do hard labor.
By midnight, news came that Nanny Zhang, beaten so severely and then sent away in the freezing cold, had died upon arrival at the estate — completely lifeless.
Madam Zou spent the night sleepless, choking with rage. She felt she had never endured such humiliation in her life. She was, after all, the Duke’s wife. Yet that old crone had scolded and punished her in front of the younger generation, stripping her of all dignity built over decades.
Madam Zou could not understand who was behind this plot — was it the Second Branch, the Third Branch, or Dou Xueci herself?
That very night, she ordered someone to rush to Yongzhou. She had to investigate what Dou Xueci had truly experienced during those three years to have changed so drastically in temperament!
As for the assassinations in Yongzhou, she had never once been involved. For Dou Xueci to have discovered anything was simply impossible!
But unease and inexplicable fear gnawed at her, and she could not sleep soundly that night.
Two days later.
Dou Xueci continued managing the household. Minor issues arose, but all were handled with ease.
This was precisely the situation she wanted. Her scheme against Madam Zou had been calculated, knowing Old Madam would not impose heavy punishment — only confinement.
With these two months, Dou Xueci believed she could fully seize control of the Duke’s household.
There was another matter: she had no intention of preparing Madam Zou’s birthday celebration. Was Madam Zou even worthy?
So even without Nanny Zhang’s incident, she would have found another way.
“Young Lady, the Empress has sent six taels of blood swallow’s nest. She said your health is poor and you must nourish yourself more.” Mu He entered smiling, holding it as if it were a treasure.
Dou Xueci’s heart warmed slightly. In this world, if there was anyone she could still trust, it was only her aunt, the Empress, and Princess Langhuan.
“Divide it into three portions: one for Eldest Madam, one for Old Madam, and one for Zhuang Wanqing.”
Mu He paused in surprise. “And you won’t keep any for yourself?”
“No, don’t keep any.”
Mu He fell silent for a moment, but said nothing more. Carrying the box, she left again. She had spent so many years in the palace, trained under the Empress herself. Even if she had doubts about her mistress’s orders, she would never contradict them. Those who talk too much die early.
That afternoon, Dou Xueci enjoyed a rare moment of leisure, sitting beneath the veranda, polishing her sword. Yet her eyes could not hide their loneliness. Her hand, injured three years ago during the assassination on the road back to Yongzhou, could no longer lift a sword.
At some point, a figure like a pine tree appeared, standing in the snow.
Dou Xueci’s movements suddenly stilled. Her brows relaxed, and a smile touched her lips.
“Cousin, you’ve returned.”
Zou Yunjian, travel‑worn, still had snow clinging to his temples. Over his broad blue robe, he wore a white fox‑fur cloak. His face was pale, with a faintly sickly look.
At that moment, his eyes lowered slightly, tinged with disappointment. After three years apart, there seemed to be a distance between them. In the past, whenever Dou Xueci saw him, she would run to him like the wind.
He raised his smile again. “Yes, I heard my cousin had returned to the capital. I hurried ten days without rest, yet still arrived late.”
“The snow is heavy. Cousin, come inside. Your health is poor — can you withstand such constant travel?”
Zou Yunjian was born with a congenital weakness. Since infancy, he had lived on medicine, always frail.
Dou Xueci added silently in her heart: *And yet, somehow, he still hasn’t died.*
“I am fine enough. But how is your hand? Three years ago, your letter said the tendon was injured, that you could no longer hold a sword. I was so anxious I couldn’t eat for days, wishing I could fly to Yongzhou.”
The correspondence between Zou Yunjian and Dou Xueci had never ceased. He knew all her circumstances over these years.
“Does it still hurt?” Zou Yunjian’s eyes reddened instantly, gazing at Dou Xueci with deep sorrow.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” Dou Xueci said with a faint smile.
But in her heart, she knew very well — Zou Yunjian was probably pleased.
The Duke had taken three disciples in his lifetime. Whenever Zou Yunjian watched Dou Xueci and the others practice swordsmanship, though he smiled, his eyes were filled with sorrow. He envied Dou Xueci — envied that she could wield blades and spears, ride horses at full gallop, and roam freely across the world. Yet he, though a man, was so frail he could not even lift heavy objects.
Now, Dou Xueci had finally become like him. In her previous life, after becoming a ghost, she had heard Zou Yunjian say more than once that what he hated most was Dou Xueci’s former spirited self — the image of her riding with whip raised, full of vigor.
How foolish she had been, believing he was the only one in the Duke’s household who truly knew her, understood her, loved her. She hadn’t realized he was a venomous snake.
“I’m fine now. Cousin, you needn’t worry. By the way, have you visited my mother yet?”
“Not yet. I had to see you first to be at ease.” Zou Yunjian’s eyes brimmed with affection, almost overwhelming. He added, “I heard what happened in the household. Aunt was truly muddle‑headed — how could she treat you like that!”
His refined face showed a trace of anger, but the next moment, he began coughing.
“Old Madam was too lenient, only confining Aunt. But your grievance — who will you tell it to? Cough, cough… Sister, don’t worry. Whatever others may do, I will always stand by your side, always stay with you.”
Dou Xueci ordered tea to be brought to soothe him. Look at this — in a household full of demons and monsters, here was someone who, against reason, loved her unconditionally. How could one’s heart not be moved?
In her past life, Zou Yunjian had been to her like warm sunlight in the depths of winter, the only light in long, silent nights.
“Cousin’s heart — how could I not know it? As for Mother, Old Madam has already made her judgment. I, of course, do not believe Mother would harm me.”
Zou Yunjian’s gaze grew softer still, his deep affection turning into tender warmth that wrapped around her like silk. “You are always so kind, but you only end up wronging yourself,” he said.
Dou Xueci merely smiled faintly, no longer like before when she would act spoiled before Zou Yunjian, crying and complaining of her grievances.
But unlike Madam Zou’s suspicions, Zou Yunjian simply thought she had grown up, no longer the child she once was. In his view, women were meant to be gentle and obedient.
Indeed, the Dou Xueci of today seemed far more pleasing to his eyes than in past years.
In the end, it was Madam Zou who understood her daughter better.
Zou Yunjian did not linger long. After sitting for a while, he left. Because of Madam Zou, he had come to the capital at the age of eight for treatment and study, and had lived in the Duke’s household ever since. Naturally, there would be many chances to meet again.
“Xuelu.”
Hearing her name, Xuelu quickly came forward.
“Go out and have Zhanqi keep watch on him. If there is any unusual behavior, report it to me immediately.”
“Yes, Miss, I’ll go at once.” Xuelu vanished like the wind. The four shadow guards now seemed far more alive than they had in Yongzhou. Back then, they had been like emotionless puppets, their minds filled only with killing. Now, knowing they had gained freedom, they were like birds released from their cages — curious about everything, interested in everything.
“Miss, you’re having someone watch the young master cousin… is it because he might be up to something?” Liu Yun, having been back in the household for only a few days, already felt there was not a single good person in the world. Her eyes were full of suspicion. The cousin looked so sickly that she thought she could kill him with a single punch.
But as the saying goes: a dog that bites does not bark.