More than six months ago, when Dou Xueci discovered she had been reborn, the very first thing she did was to send two of the shadow guards the Emperor had given her galloping back to the capital.
In her previous life, Madam Zou had schemed to leave her without any foundation or support upon returning home, dispersing all those who had once served her under various pretexts—some even directly executed. Especially her nursemaid’s family…
This time, Dou Xueci acted early. Those who could still be saved were rescued. She gave them a sum of silver to settle elsewhere, for living outside the Duke’s residence was far better than remaining in that man-eating den.
“Thanks to you, young lady. If not for you remembering me even from distant Yongzhou, Ah Xuan’s leg would surely have been ruined. Now, with proper care, he will recover in time for next year’s autumn examinations.”
Dou Xueci clasped Nanny Wan’s hand, a pang of guilt flashing in her heart. “In the end, it was my fault. As long as Brother Nai is safe, I can be at ease.”
Her foster brother Kang Xuan had been falsely accused of stealing silver from the Second Master, and his leg was deliberately broken.
Madam Zou then punished Nanny Wan under the charge of poor discipline, sentencing her to hard labor at the manor.
In her past life, by the time Dou Xueci returned to the capital, half a year had already passed since the incident. Her foster brother’s leg was beyond saving. Later, she forcibly brought Nanny Wan back from the manor and quarreled bitterly with Madam Zou, worsening her reputation.
But ultimately, she still failed to protect Nanny Wan. During the assassination that led to her own death, Madam Zou and her nephew Zou Yunjian shifted the blame onto Nanny Wan. When Dou Xueci awoke from her injuries, Nanny Wan had already been beaten to death.
“Miss, I know how hard things have been for you. How could I ever blame you? Even during those two years I remained in the residence, I often heard news from Yongzhou—how many times you walked the edge of death. Were you hurt? How do you feel now? Did you suffer lasting injuries…”
“Nanny.” Seeing her grow anxious, Dou Xueci gripped Nanny Wan’s hand tighter, her eyes reddening slightly.
These were words Madam Zou had never once asked her since their reunion.
“All is well now. With Nanny back at my side, each day will only grow better.”
Dou Xueci thought to herself: but for those who harmed her, their days would grow ever more fearful, until they descended into Avīci Hell.
Jinxiu Courtyard.
News of Nanny Wan’s return to the residence quickly reached Madam Zou.
“Mother, as soon as Elder Sister came back, she sent people to fetch Nanny Wan from the manor. Could it be she already knew Nanny Wan had been driven out?”
Zou Nianqiu thought the same. But she had beaten and killed the attendants of Zhenhua Pavilion—could there still be spies in the household? If so, then this daughter had truly underestimated her. Could it be that her former arrogance and willfulness had all been an act?
Yet no matter how she considered it, Madam Zou could not believe Dou Xueci had reason to feign. She had never slipped in front of her, and from childhood had showered her with indulgence. Even Zhuang Wanqing had only been brought back after the Duke’s death, when Dou Xueci had gone to Yongzhou, under the pretext of needing company. So, where had things gone wrong?
“Mother?”
Zou Nianqiu was jolted back to herself, forcing a gentle smile as she raised a hand to stroke Zhuang Wanqing’s hair.
“This matter, Mother will investigate carefully. But since Kang Xuan committed theft, Nanny Wan cannot be kept.”
Zhuang Wanqing felt slightly reassured. “Mm. Actually, if Elder Sister wishes to keep Nanny Wan, it’s no great matter. After all, she nursed Elder Sister, and I’ve heard they’ve always been close.”
A sudden cold gleam flashed in Madam Zou’s eyes. “Bah! That lowborn creature—yet she treats her like a treasure.”
“What’s the harm in nursing her for a few years? That was silver spent by the Duke’s residence—an exchange of money, nothing more. What closeness could there be!”
“Mother, don’t be angry. It isn’t worth it over a servant.” Zhuang Wanqing’s eyes brimmed with tender concern, softening Madam Zou’s heart.
In the end, Zhuang Wanqing understood her better. Dou Xueci, like her dead father, was nothing but a block of ice that could never be warmed!
“Good child, today you’ve been wronged.”
“Mother, Wanqing is not wronged. I also understand that today was not the right time for me to step forward.”
Even so, the faint trace of disappointment in Zhuang Wanqing’s eyes did not escape Madam Zou. Her heart ached all the more, her eyes reddening as she pulled Zhuang Wanqing into her arms.
“My child, Mother will surely make it up to you in the future. But now, she has the palace’s protection, and she is the Duke’s only bloodline. If I wish to have you entered into the family genealogy, it must be with her consent. Otherwise, it cannot be done. We must wear her down slowly. Bear with it for now. Tonight, Mother will take you to see her.”
Zhuang Wanqing wrapped her arms around Madam Zou’s slender waist, burying her head against her chest. “Mother, Wanqing knows what to do. I will make sure Elder Sister comes to like me.”
Just as the two were sharing their tender mother-daughter moment, a maid at the gate suddenly shouted angrily: “Blind fool! What are you rushing about for? Be careful not to collide with Madam, or I’ll break your dog legs!”
“Si Jin, what’s all the noise outside?” Madam Zou frowned.
Zhuang Wanqing quickly wiped away her tears, straightened her clothes, and sat properly.
As they spoke, Si Jin entered with attendants, bringing in a servant from the second gate.
“Madam, terrible news! The Eldest Master has been taken by the Capital Yamen. They say he falsely accused someone of theft and even injured them. Now that person has filed charges…”
It was clear this day would not be peaceful.
The news that the Eldest Master from the second branch had been taken away by the Capital Prefecture reached the old madam, frightening her so much that she collapsed in a faint.
Dou Xueci, along with her sisters and the ladies of each branch, all hurried to Shou’an Hall to keep watch over the old lady. Yet strangely, Jin Yudian—usually the most attentive whenever the old madam suffered even a headache or fever—did not appear.
“Whenever Grandmother had the slightest ailment, Second Sister-in-law was always the first to show concern. Why is she absent now?”
This was Dou Mingxi, the youngest daughter of Madam Yao, third in rank.
“Don’t say that, Sister Mingxi. When I passed by Second Sister-in-law’s courtyard just now, I heard quite a commotion inside.” Dou Yanning whispered behind her handkerchief, standing beside Dou Mingxi. She was the fifth daughter of the Dou family’s third branch, a concubine-born girl one year younger than Dou Mingxi.
The third branch had one eldest son, then a younger brother, and five daughters—all born of concubines.
As the two spoke, another uproar broke out outside.
It was Madam Jin Yudian herself, rushing in disheveled, her clothes in disorder, a wound on her forehead, her hair in disarray. Inside, the old madam had just awakened, and Dou Xueci was feeding her medicine.
“Old Madam, it’s hopeless—Second Master wants to kill me! Please, Old Madam, save me!” Jin Yudian wailed, ignoring the full room of people, crawling on her knees to clutch at the old madam’s sleeve.
“What is this? Why such chaos again?”
The maid Zhi Ying, fearful that the old madam might be angered into another collapse, quickly rushed forward to lift Jin Yudian up.
“Second Madam, please rise. The Old Madam has just suffered a shock and is taking medicine.”
But Jin Yudian paid no heed. She shook off Zhi Ying and made as if to dash her head against the wall!
“I won’t live anymore! Second Master wants to beat me to death—I might as well fulfill his wish!”