The sunset spread across the sky in fiery red clouds. In the Zhao Residence’s rear kitchen, the servants were busy preparing dinner.
First Madam Su Fuling, accompanied by two personal maids, carried a basket of food toward the Buddhist Hall.
She wore plain-colored brocade, with only a simply styled jade hairpin tucked at an angle into her coiffure. Her face was slightly round, her skin smooth and luminous. Her features bore a strong resemblance to Zhao Lubai’s, though her expression was gentle and kind.
As she walked, she murmured as if to herself, “The Master really is too much. Third Girl may be a pampered young lady, and she’s in poor health, but how can he refuse to give her anything to eat?”
One of the maids beside her sighed. “Madam is simply too kindhearted. Everyone in the residence knows you treat Third Miss even better than your own daughter, yet she still insists on associating with Concubine Mother. It’s truly heartbreaking.”
A flicker of amusement passed through Su Fuling’s eyes, but her voice was stern. “Enough! Who gave you permission to gossip? Second Miss and Third Miss are both my daughters. Even if one of them has done something wrong, it isn’t your place to judge her!”
By then, they had reached the Buddhist Hall. Through the thin door, Su Fuling called softly:
“Third Girl, are you in there? You must be starving. Mother brought you dinner.”
Inside the Buddhist Hall, Concubine Mother was copying sutras alone. The sudden call startled her, and her hand jerked; a blot of ink marred the page, its characters otherwise written in elegant strokes.
Why had First Madam come at this hour? What would happen if she found out Shuer hadn’t stayed obediently in the Buddhist Hall?
Outside the Buddhist Hall, Su Fuling waited a long while, but when no answer came, she gently knocked twice on the door.
“Why won’t you answer Mother, Shuer? Is it because of what Second Girl did? Do you resent me for it?”
A trace of hurt appeared on her face. “You know what Lubai is like. She’s always rash, and she resents me for treating you better than I treat her. That’s why she never discusses anything with me. If I’d known she was going to make a scene with your father last night, how could I have failed to stop her? Now you, Shuer, won’t answer me—is it because I couldn’t foresee what would happen, and you’re going to turn against me?”
Not a word she said criticized Zhao Yushu, yet the other maids couldn’t hide their indignation.
How kind and compassionate First Madam was! How many principal wives in the world treated their concubines’ children as if they were their own?
And still Third Miss kept her at a distance. It was simply unreasonable!
Inside the Buddhist Hall, Concubine Mother was anxious too. She didn’t know whether to answer or stay silent.
As she frantically tried to think of a way to fob First Madam off, the window behind her soundlessly opened, and a figure slipped lightly inside.
“Mother!” Meeting Concubine Mother’s delighted gaze, Zhao Yushu smiled at her and gestured for her not to worry. Then she answered First Madam, matching words with her:
“What are you saying? Second Sister is Second Sister, and you are you. I know in my heart how you’ve treated me all these years. How could I grow distant from you over something so trivial?”
Outside the Buddhist Hall, the smile at the corners of First Madam’s mouth deepened when she heard this.
“It’s good that you don’t blame Mother. You were so quiet just now that I thought you were angry with me.”
Without giving Zhao Yushu a chance to reply, she pushed the dishes she had brought one by one through the gap beneath the door into the Buddhist Hall.
“Your father truly is angry this time. I don’t dare provoke him while he’s in this mood. Third Girl, take these dishes and eat something. A young lady is still growing—you mustn’t go hungry.”
After a pause, she added, “I’ll also find a way to plead with your father for you. We just need to wait for the right moment, so don’t worry. I’ll think of something.”
Every word was considerate, every sentence spoken for Zhao Yushu’s sake. Who could hear her and not praise her as a loving mother?
But Zhao Yushu caught the scent of Springheart Powder in the dishes she’d sent.
The poison wasn’t very potent, but its effects were vile: it made its victim unable to control her lust, driving her to seek someone to have sex with, no matter the cost.
In her previous life, she hadn’t been locked in the Buddhist Hall, so this hadn’t happened.
Zhao Yushu stared at the poisoned food, her gaze turning cold.
First Madam knew perfectly well that only she and Concubine Mother were in the Buddhist Hall, yet she had still sent them food like this.
She must have another move planned.
Zhao Yushu took the dishes and set them aside, keeping her tone as innocently obedient as ever.
“Thank you for thinking of me, Mother. I’m very grateful.”
Su Fuling replied warmly, “I had these dishes specially prepared. You and your Concubine Mother should eat them while they’re hot. Get a good night’s sleep, and by tomorrow morning, your father will have calmed down. Then he’ll be able to let you out.”
Zhao Yushu pressed her ear to the door and listened. Only after she was sure Su Fuling and the others had really left did she turn a cold gaze on the food.
When she saw Concubine Mother reach for it, Zhao Yushu’s expression changed. She caught her by the wrist. “Don’t eat that! There’s something wrong with it!”
Concubine Mother jumped at her scolding. “It looks perfectly fresh. What could possibly be wrong with it?”
Zhao Yushu opened the rear window and dumped all the food outside. Then she brought in a small bundle from outside and unwrapped it, revealing a steaming roast chicken and several of the most popular pastries in the capital.
“Mother, you must be hungry. Su Fuling means us no good. Don’t eat her food—have what I bought for you instead!”
Then she took out two pairs of shoes and the custom-made underclothes.
“And these two things—change into them after you’ve eaten.”
Concubine Mother bit into the roast chicken, looking puzzled. “These hard-soled shoes are what the servant women who do the heavy work wear. Why did you buy them?”
Zhao Yushu had no idea how to explain, so she didn’t bother. “Mother, just trust me this once. Would I ever harm you?”
Concubine Mother thought about it. Her daughter had been acting strangely and mysteriously since yesterday.
Still, it was true that her daughter would never harm her. There was no harm in listening to her this once.
So she asked no more questions and began eating the roast chicken with gusto.
Zhao Yushu wasn’t particularly hungry, but she tore off some chicken and ate slowly beside her.
Once Concubine Mother had eaten her fill and changed into the clothes and shoes Zhao Yushu had brought, Zhao Yushu decided the time was about right.
She picked up a plate, stood, and climbed out through the window of the Buddhist Hall. Then she struck the plate hard against the wall.
With a crash, the porcelain shattered.
Holding the sharpest shard, Zhao Yushu waited silently in the dark.
Concubine Liu, now full, had let Zhao Yushu coax her to sleep. She lay on her side in the Buddhist Hall, her profile lovely in the moonlight.
Zhao Yushu pressed close to the rear window, her slender body almost blending into the darkness as she waited patiently for the moment to come.
At last, two voices reached her from a distance, speaking in low tones.
“Are you sure this is the place? I go in from here?”
“That’s right. There’s a small window at the back of the Buddhist Hall. Climb in through it.”
“Got it. Heh heh heh. Pretty girls, here I come…”
“Wait! Remember what First Madam said. You can do whatever you like with Concubine Liu, but you may only have your fun with that wretched Zhao Yushu. Don’t actually touch her. Just strip off her clothes. Madam has other uses for her body.”
“All right, all right. You know you can trust me. Go report back to Madam. I’ll handle things from here!”
The two figures parted. The old nanny retraced her steps.
The slightly plump man rubbed his hands together and approached the window with a leering grin.
“Pretty girls, have you been waiting long? Don’t be scared. Big brother’s here to satisfy you!”
He reached out to pull himself up to the window. At the same moment, Zhao Yushu, hidden in the darkness, moved.
Taking him by surprise, she struck swiftly, driving the sharp porcelain shard into the most vulnerable part of the back of his neck!