The young girl on the bed lay with her eyes tightly shut, her face pale, occasionally murmuring and crying out "Mother" through her tears.
Qiuyue stood by the bedside, sighing as she looked at Shen Mingtang. "It seems Second Daughter has suffered greatly under Zhou Yiniang. She appears quite composed when awake, but who would have thought she'd be so restless in her sleep."
Qin Shi's eyes revealed heartache.
"How are her wounds?"
Qiuyue shook her head. "This servant found her new clothes, but Second Daughter clearly avoided me while changing, so I didn't go closer to look. However… from a distance, I noticed what appeared to be bruises and injuries on her body, as if she had been beaten?"
"What?" Qin Shi was startled. "Was she treated poorly while living in the palace?"
"Probably not." Qiuyue glanced at the still sleeping Shen Mingtang, slightly bending to approach Qin Shi's ear. "They appear to be old wounds and longstanding bruises, likely inflicted by Zhou Yiniang."
Their Madam had always been tender-hearted. Except for today when she was truly angered by Eldest Daughter's lack of discipline and resorted to physical punishment.
Over the past decade, she had always spoken softly to her children.
She had never even punished servants harshly.
Qin Shi sighed. "Being born from Zhou Shi's womb, she is indeed a pitiful child."
Yu Momo entered from outside.
Having overheard the conversation between Qin Shi and Qiuyue, she quietly assessed that this legal mother Qin Shi had a good heart.
Qin Shi stood up to greet Yu Momo.
They exchanged polite words for a moment.
After seeing Qin Shi off, Yu Momo turned to Qiuyue nearby. "I notice the young lady seems cold with just one quilt. Go fetch another one."
Qiuyue acknowledged and hurried off.
With no one else in the room, Yu Momo quickly walked to the window and tapped on the windowsill.
She lowered her voice, "Is Qingshan there?"
A young man dressed entirely in black gently pushed open the window. "What are your orders, Momo? This subordinate was just about to return to Rui Wang Residence."
Yu Momo said, "Go search the Wang Residence for some scar-removing medicine and health-restoring medicine. Whatever good ones you can find, bring them all here."
Qingshan peered through the window crack in surprise.
He had thought Yu Momo would only stay briefly after delivering Second Daughter Shen home, so he had been waiting covertly at Shen Jia for her to return together.
"I'll be staying at Shen Jia for some time to help the young lady recuperate," Yu Momo explained quietly.
Qingshan clicked his tongue, somewhat amazed.
Everyone knew Yu Momo always maintained an unapproachable demeanor, caring only about Wangye's health while paying no mind to others. Yet now she had taken interest in helping Second Daughter Shen regulate her health.
Though surprised, Qingshan didn't delay in acknowledging the order before turning to leave.
Qingshan returned to Rui Wang Residence.
He went straight to the study in the residence, looking at the man inside.
The man appeared to be just over twenty years old, with a slender build and pale complexion, yet possessing exquisitely handsome features. He was staring fixedly at a goshawk on the desk.
The goshawk stared wide-eyed, its body visibly wavering unsteadily.
Just then, the goshawk suddenly tilted sideways and fell straight toward the ground.
The man swiftly reached out, grabbed the hawk by its neck, and tossed it onto the cutting board.
"What is it?" Xiao Beili asked him.
Qingshan calmly shifted his gaze from the unconscious goshawk, silently noting that this was already the third hawk his master had exhausted into unconsciousness.
"Yu Momo wishes to remain at the Shen residence to help regulate one of the young ladies' health," Qingshan reported. "So she instructed me to return and fetch some tonics."
Xiao Beili nodded. "Go get them."
Qingshan took two steps toward the door but suddenly paused, turning back with a puzzled expression. "Aren't you curious, Master, why Yu Momo chose to stay at the Shen residence?"
He was curious too.
That Second Daughter of the Shen family was merely a minor concubine-born daughter—in principle, she shouldn't require Yu Momo's attention.
"We were mistaken before," Xiao Beili said, rising and circling around the desk to stand with his hands behind his back. "I suspect the Second Daughter is actually the Qin Family's true maternal granddaughter."
Qingshan's eyes widened in shock. "What?"
Xiao Beili continued, "The Qin Family has stayed away from the capital all these years, providing us with substantial funds. They had only one request regarding our return to the capital."
"Right—Old Master Qin asked us to look after his daughter and granddaughter," Qingshan recalled, still confused. "But isn't the Shen family's Eldest Daughter Qin Shi's child? How could…"
Upon their return to the capital, their first task had been to send someone to discreetly observe the Shen family.
They found that Madam Shen lacked nothing materially, but suffered from a heart ailment due to long-standing marital discord—something they couldn't help with.
They had also seen the Shen family's Eldest Daughter. Though her temper wasn't the best, she appeared healthy and thriving.
Thus, his master had set aside the matter of the Shen family.
"That day when Shen Er Guniang rushed to take the sword for me, I felt a mole in the hair at the nape of her neck—exactly like the one on Old Master Qin's neck," Xiao Beili said, tossing a letter from the desk. "This is Old Master Qin's reply, just delivered today."
Qingshan immediately picked up the letter and read it.
When he saw that the letter stated all the grandchildren in the Qin family had a black mole of the same size on the back of their necks, cold sweat broke out on Qingshan's forehead.
"Does Master suspect that Shen Da Guniang and Shen Er Guniang were switched?"
He urgently asked, "Should I inform Madam Shen?"
Xiao Beili hesitated briefly.
After a long moment, he shook his head. "Not yet. We have no evidence. Qin Shi has had no contact with her family for years—she likely wouldn't believe us even if we told her."
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered the young girl who had thrown herself into his arms that day, like a pitiful little fox.
The girl had bitten her lip until it bled from the pain, yet she stubbornly gathered her strength to beg him for three years of protection. Such resilience was rare.
Adversity wasn't entirely bad.
Those who could endure hardship and emerge stronger were truly formidable.
Interest flickered in Xiao Beili's eyes. He wanted to see if this young girl could turn her fortunes around in the Shen family.
Shen Mingtang slept until dawn the next day.
After washing and dressing, Qiuyue escorted her to Qin Shi's room for breakfast.
At the doorway, they encountered Shen Mingyue.
"Why has Da Guniang come?" Qiuyue asked stiffly, still resentful of how Mingyue had upset Qin Shi the previous day and sympathetic to the beating Mingyue had received.
Shen Mingyue's eyes reddened instantly, brimming with grievance. "I came to apologize to Mother."
Qiuyue shot her an annoyed glance before turning to lead both girls to stand before Qin Shi.
Shen Mingyue looked at Qin Shi, tears rolling down her cheeks. She stepped forward, clutching Qin Shi's sleeve, and whispered, "Mother, I know I was wrong to argue with you. Yesterday, I was blinded by the title of County Princess that Zhou Yiniang mentioned—it was all my fault."
She continued, "I've already had my belongings moved back to Jinxiu Courtyard. Mother, I've returned to live here and will surely devote myself to filial piety from now on."
Qin Shi had always doted on her daughter to the core. Already distressed from having struck her earlier, she softened considerably upon seeing her return so humbly to apologize.
However, Qin Shi still remembered how she had insulted Ming Tang the day before.
"Apologize to your sister," Qin Shi said sternly. "What nonsense were you pulling yesterday with all that hysterical behavior!"
Shen Mingyue softly acknowledged the command, a flash of resentment in her eyes that vanished almost instantly.
"Sister, it was all this elder sister's fault," she turned toward Shen Mingtang, her eyes red-rimmed. "I shouldn't have occupied Xiaoxiang Courtyard while still clinging to Jinxiu Courtyard. Why don't I move back and live together with you? We can both care for Mother, alright?"
"Yesterday I was just confused and foolish. Mother isn't angry anymore—are you still upset, sister?" she added.
Seeing her daughter's seemingly sincere apology, Qin Shi couldn't help but feel relieved.
She knew her daughter had a bad temper since childhood, but as long as she realized her mistakes and corrected them promptly, she remained a good child.
Shen Mingtang smiled faintly.
The last time Shen Mingyue spoke so sweetly was in the palace, when she took her hand and said she wanted the County Princess title.
Who knew what schemes she was plotting now.
After brief consideration, she decided to play along.
"How could I be angry with you, elder sister? Since you've invited me, I'd be honored to accept."
What Shen Mingtang didn't voice aloud was: if she really moved in, she wouldn't be moving out again.
If Shen Mingyue could be so thick-skinned, she'd have to learn to be the same.
Seeing her agreement, Shen Mingyue immediately hurried to instruct the servants, as if afraid she might change her mind. "Quickly move Second Sister's belongings to Jinxiu Courtyard."
"Mingyue, you're the elder sister—take good care of Mingtang," Qin Shi added after some thought.
She wanted to see her daughter keeping her distance from Zhou Yiniang.
Jinxiu Courtyard was spacious with plenty of servants, more than enough to accommodate both sisters.
After further consideration, Qin Shi specifically assigned a clever maid from her own staff. "From now on, let Cu'er serve you personally."
Shen Mingtang obediently agreed and thanked Qin Shi.
After breakfast, Qin Shi reminded them again, "You two must get along well. Mingyue, as the elder sister, look after your younger sister more."
Worried her daughter might throw another tantrum, she warned her separately: "Your father is currently aiming for advancement at court. The imperial censors are watching our family closely—you mustn't indulge your whims anymore. If the censors impeach him for failing to maintain household discipline, be careful of your father's anger."
A flicker of impatience crossed Shen Mingyue's face as she nodded. "I understand."
Without waiting for further instructions, she pulled Shen Mingtang out of the room, their departing figures projecting an image of perfect sisterly harmony.