Afterward, Dou Xueci rewarded Zhanqi with one hundred taels of silver as a commendation. She had ordered him to keep watch on Zou Yunjian, knowing there would be turmoil at the polo gathering, and instructed Zhanqi to seize the chance to strike. The injury had to be inflicted openly.
For the founding ancestors of this dynasty had decreed: officials with disfigured faces or crippled bodies were not to be employed.
Unexpectedly, Zhanqi carried out the task so well—he directly broke Zou Yunjian’s leg.
That servant who punched Zou Yunjian and was shoved into a bloody fall was none other than Zhanqi. And that stone that tripped Zou Yunjian and caused his collapse was hurled into place by Zhanqi amid the chaos. Afterward, Zhanqi feigned death from his head wound, leaving no trail to be traced back to a “dead man.”
In her previous life, Zou Yunjian had risen to fame from this very day, soaring upward. But now, Dou Xueci had severed his path to glory, shattering his ladder to the heavens!
Two days later—
Madam Zou secretly changed into the clothes of the nanny of the courtyard and, led by her maid Si Jin, slipped quietly into Yaohua Pavilion.
Since that day, Zhuang Wanqing had been burning with fever, leaving Madam Zou frantic, like an ant on a hot pan.
The old madam’s people kept close watch, and only today had she finally found a chance to come.
“My child, how have you burned up like this? Did your elder sister fail to summon a proper physician for you?” Madam Zou sat at Zhuang Wanqing’s bedside, holding her with tear-filled eyes.
Zhuang Wanqing truly had a high fever, her spirit weak, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural red.
“Mother, don’t worry. Elder Sister treats me very well. These past two days, she even sent me many medicines.”
But Madam Zou did not believe it. Looking at the pitiful girl in her arms, she said, “Foolish child, you still speak for her! I already know what happened at the polo gathering. Now there are even rumors outside, saying you bullied her, the legitimate daughter. If not for her, how could such disgraceful talk spread? And if she truly cared for you, she would have stayed by your side without leaving, and none of this would have happened!”
Madam Zou saw the lingering confusion on Zhuang Wanqing’s face and felt even more sorrowful. Her child was so kind, so guileless—how could she ever contend with Dou Xueci’s cunning?
“Your cousin’s leg is injured. The physician says that even if it heals, he will limp for the rest of his life. Yet in these two days, she hasn’t even gone to see him once. How cold-blooded! Both of you came from my womb, and she is not even half of what you are.”
“This… Cousin and Elder Sister grew up together. She shouldn’t treat him this way. Perhaps, perhaps Elder Sister has been busy managing household affairs and couldn’t spare the time.” Zhuang Wanqing could hardly believe it.
Seeing her still making excuses for Dou Xueci, Madam Zou sighed again. Fortunately, she could protect her daughter herself. Otherwise, in this household, the girl would be devoured alive.
“She can send medicine to you, yet for your cousin, there is not a word of concern. I suspect she saw his leg ruined and began harboring other thoughts!”
Zhuang Wanqing gasped. “If Cousin knew, he would be heartbroken. He has always loved Elder Sister. Now that he cannot enter officialdom, if even Elder Sister abandons him, what will he do?”
A flicker of determination flashed in Madam Zou’s eyes, quickly hidden. She helped Zhuang Wanqing lie back down and tucked the quilt around her.
“You are still ill. These matters need not trouble you. With your mother here, I will arrange everything—for you, and for Yunge.”
In the wavering candlelight, Zhuang Wanqing’s eyes brimmed with tender reliance. She clutched her mother’s hand and obediently agreed.
Leaving Yaohua Pavilion, Madam Zou returned to her own courtyard and changed back into her clothes.
“Si Jin, go call Nanny Zhou here.”
Si Jin answered and left. Before long, Nanny Zhou entered. “Madam, what instructions do you have for me?”
Madam Zou sipped her tea and said calmly, “In the past, Yunge and Xueci exchanged letters. You’ve read them all. Is there anything in them we could make use of?”
Nanny Zhou was Madam Zou’s dowry maid, bound to her since childhood. With just that one sentence, she immediately understood what Madam Zou intended.
“Our young lady is careful beneath her boldness. Those letters were ordinary, nothing improper. If I may speak plainly, the young master and the young lady are blood relatives. Even if rumors spread, it could be dismissed as brother and sister affection—it wouldn’t amount to anything.”
“Careful beneath her boldness? Look at her now, so composed and steady. I suspect all her past wildness was nothing but a façade to deceive us!”
The men sent to investigate in Yongzhou had not yet returned, but Madam Zou now believed that Dou Xueci’s domineering nature in the past had all been an act.
Nanny Zhou, however, did not agree. The young lady had once been free-spirited and unrestrained. Whenever she looked into her eyes, she saw vibrant life, dazzling like the rising sun. But she dared not contradict her mistress.
“Enough. You say the letters won’t serve, but there must be another way. I’ve heard there are medicines that can stir passion…”
“Madam, I fear that won’t work!”
Nanny Zhou added, “Unless it is voluntary, with our young lady’s temperament, even if she were caught in a compromising situation, she would raise a storm rather than agree to marry the young master. Besides, she is the one to recruit a husband. At worst, her reputation may suffer. But with the wealth of the Duke’s household, there will be plenty who won’t mind—men will cling to her like dogs.”
“If this won’t work, and that won’t work, then tell me—what will?”
Nanny Zhou’s smile grew colder as she leaned closer. “Madam, the only way is to strike at the young lady’s heart…”
Outside, the night fog thickened. Only a faint glow from the window flickered in the boundless darkness.
Five days passed, and Dou Xueci still had not gone to see Zou Yunjian.
Early in the morning, she went to pay respects to the Old Madam and had just come out of Shou’an Hall. Passing by the octagonal pavilion in the corridor, she overheard two maids sweeping and whispering.
“Sister Hua, today I received two taels of broken silver. It was a reward from Young Master Cousin. You know my old mother—she’ll snatch even a coin to give my brother for drinking. Please, help me hide it.” The younger maid tugged at the sleeve of the one called Sister Hua as she spoke.
“Alright, I’ll keep it for you. But why did Young Master Cousin reward you? If there’s a way to please him, I’ll go to that courtyard too. Perhaps he’ll give me two taels of silver as well.”
“Not likely. This was payment for buying medicine on his behalf. I heard that ever since Young Master Cousin’s leg was ruined and he can’t sit for the examinations, our young lady has seldom gone to see him. The Eldest Madam is confined, so of course, he’s miserable. Even the servants in his courtyard are greedy, pocketing the medicine prescribed by the physician. With things dragging on like this, how can he recover?”
“So that’s the reason. I’ve heard about it too. And some petty people are spreading tales that our young lady is harsh. But think about it—he’s a cripple now, unable to ever hold office. He’s lived in our household for years already, which is kindness enough. If he had any backbone, he should move out on his own. Does he really think he can marry in? Even if he did, who would take a cripple?”
Dou Xueci’s eyes suddenly glimmered with a trace of amusement.
“That older maid—what duties does she have?”
Liu Yun whispered, “Miss, that girl is called Fourth Sister Hua. Her mother works in the kitchens, and she herself tends the flowers and plants in the outer courtyard.”
“Find an excuse to reward her with some silver. Make sure people know why she was rewarded, but don’t let it be said that it came from me.”