Chapter 005: Madam Truly Loves Him Too Much

She still remembered what had happened at this time in her previous life.

Back then, her adoptive brother, who was far away in Nanjiang, had not yet encountered any mishap. Life was calm and peaceful. After she agreed to let Bai Yuning stay in the mansion, Bai Yuning would come daily with Liu Yandai to pay their respects.

As for Liu Yandai’s temperament—it’s not worth mentioning again. Let’s focus on Bai Yuning alone.

Bai Yuning was an extremely likable young lady—lively, clever, and possessing an elegant appearance. She was well-read and, most importantly, she resembled her mother, who was a close friend of Qin Chanyue. Because of this, Qin Chanyue was quite fond of her.

This was also the reason why, in her previous life, Bai Yuning managed to attract the attention of both young masters in the mansion.

After recalling the events of her past life, a hint of suspicion quietly grew in Qin Chanyue’s heart.

If she wasn’t ill in her previous life, why is she ill in this one?

Falling ill precisely at this moment doesn’t seem like a genuine sickness, but rather a tactic to stay in the Houfu. After all, even if she were gravely ill and on the verge of death, Qin Chanyue would still order her to be thrown out, which would be against propriety—despite Qin Chanyue’s ruthless actions behind the scenes, she always maintained a proper facade. When putting on an act, she never left any handles for others to grasp.

In her previous life, Qin Chanyue never said anything too harsh, perhaps giving Bai Yuning hope of marrying Zhou Yuanting. But in this life, Qin Chanyue had already made her stance absolutely clear. Bai Yuning should know that marrying Zhou Yuanting is impossible. So why would she still go to such lengths to stay in the Houfu?

“Go find a physician to examine her thoroughly,” she ordered with a frown, then added, “Also, assign two people to keep a discreet watch on her.”

The maid below acknowledged the order and left. Qin Chanyue then got up and went to the small kitchen, where she personally prepared a bowl of Golden Thread Fire-Simmered Old Hen Soup. She placed it in a sandalwood food container and carried it to Zhou Ziheng’s side chamber.

She thought Zhou Ziheng wasn’t dying fast enough and intended to add a little more “ingredient.”

Qin Chanyue originally shared a room with Zhou Ziheng. Believing they were deeply in love and should share life and death, she never slept separately from him except during her menstrual period. However, after being reborn, she used “my period has come” as an excuse to move into separate rooms.

Currently, Zhou Ziheng was staying in a side chamber on the east side. One could enter by pushing open the door after walking along the corridor.

Outside the chamber, there was a window view featuring artificial hills, emerald bamboo, and creeping moss. Pushing open the wooden window, one could see the green bamboo swaying outside, rustling over the bluestone slabs.

Qin Chanyue passed through the artificial hills, her skirt hem carrying the fresh scent of bamboo and grass. As she entered with the food container in hand, she saw Zhou Ziheng being helped up by a maid. His movements were stiff and slow, as if he were still somewhat dizzy. His gentle, phoenix-like eyes seemed dazed when they met hers.

“Husband—” Seeing him rise from the bed, Qin Chanyue hurriedly set down the food container with a look of panic and rushed over to support him. Her bright, delicate face was full of concern as she asked softly, “Husband, you are seriously ill. Why are you getting out of bed?”

Zhou Ziheng steadied himself with her arm and rubbed his temples. “I still have official duties to attend to.”

In truth, he didn’t have official business; it was simply time in the afternoon to go accompany Fang Qingqing.

His Qingqing was so delicate and helpless that he couldn’t bear to go a single day without seeing her.

“But husband, you are still ill. The physician said your illness is due to overwork, compounded by catching a chill from yesterday’s rain. If you’re not careful, it could worsen in the future.” Qin Chanyue’s face showed even more distress as she supported him. “Please rest from your duties for just one day.”

Seeing Qin Chanyue’s gentle and tender demeanor, Zhou Ziheng’s initial intention to leave was also swayed.

Very well, considering Qin Chanyue’s attentive service, he would not accompany Fang Qingqing today.

Zhou Ziheng, who had already stood up, allowed himself to be guided back down by Qin Chanyue’s hand. Not content with merely helping him lie back on the couch, she personally fetched the food box nearby and began feeding him with a spoon.

Today, Qin Chanyue wore a deep emerald-green brocade gown with crossed collars, cinched at the waist with a red silk sash adorned with gold and jade. Her voluptuous figure, like a full-blown peach blossom, perfectly complemented the vibrant colors. Amidst the interplay of red and green, her radiant face shone brightly.

The harsh afternoon sun was partially filtered by the silk window gauze, allowing only a slender beam to slip through, illuminating her face. It cast a cool glow on her crimson lips and snow-white skin, while the gold and jade ornaments in her hair shimmered with each movement. At a glance, it was clear she was a noblewoman of high status.

Yet, in his presence, she never put on airs. The moment she saw him, she softened like a supple branch, clinging to him and acting coquettishly.

Zhou Ziheng took a satisfied sip of the soup.

The soup had been simmered for a long time, savory and rich on the palate. Leaning back against the gold-embroidered jade-soft pillow, he savored it quietly.

After drinking the soup, he gradually felt dizzy and unusually drowsy, closing his eyes to rest.

Qin Chanyue watched his sleeping face quietly, personally tucking the blanket around him and gently patting it.

As Zhou Ziheng drifted into slumber, feeling the weight and warmth of Qin Chanyue’s hand resting on him, he couldn’t help but marvel at how deeply she must love him.

If not for love, why would someone as proud and noble as Qin Chanyue humble herself so?

To the maidservants observing from the side, these thoughtful gestures were proof of their affection.

“The Madam treats the Master so well.”

“The Master and Madam share such enduring love, truly enviable.”

Qin Chanyue waited by his side until he was sound asleep before leaving. However, before departing, fearing the maids here might not serve her beloved husband well, she replaced them all with her trusted confidantes. She even insisted on inspecting any medicine before it was brought to the Marquis’s bedside.

Such devotion would earn praise from anyone: with a virtuous wife at home, all affairs proceed smoothly.

The entire visit took about an hour and a half. It was nearly the end of the Wei hour when Qin Chanyue finally returned to Shangyue Garden.

The Zhongyi Hou Mansion was vast, with six courtyards in and out. In the southeast corner stood ancestral halls and pagodas, while the central courtyard featured a tall stone screen wall. Bypassing the pavilions, one could glimpse a lotus pond in the distance. By late July in midsummer, the lotus flowers were in full, delicate bloom.

No sooner had she returned to Shangyue Garden and sat down to rest than an old maidservant arrived at the door, announcing her presence.

“Reporting to the Madam—” This maidservant had been assigned to keep watch on Bai Yuning.

“Hmm.” Qin Chanyue lifted her chin slightly and said, “Speak.”

The maidservant bowed her head and reported in a low voice, “After returning, this old servant kept a discreet watch on Young Lady Bai. She did not notice me. I observed Young Lady Bai swallowing some kind of medicine, seemingly to feign [serious illness]. Moreover, today, Young Lady Bai passed a note to the physician who came to examine her. As I was too far away, I could not discern what was exchanged.”

The Madam seated behind the desk gradually darkened her expression.

She had thought that Bai Yuning came to their Qin Mansion only because she couldn’t let go of Zhou Yuanting and wanted to reconcile with him, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

She recalled some events from her previous life. She only remembered that after she drove Bai Yuning out of the Houfu, Bai Yuning never returned. She had no idea what happened afterward. Thinking about it now, she still couldn’t understand why Bai Yuning had gone to such lengths to stay in the Houfu—what exactly was she trying to do?

And the next moment, the words spoken by the old maid sent a chill down Qin Chanyue’s spine.

“This old servant later sent someone to follow that physician, and from a distance, they saw the physician enter the residence of the Second Prince.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Chanyue felt as if her heart had stopped for a moment. Her ears buzzed at that instant. The old maid in front of her moved her lips, but Qin Chanyue couldn’t hear what she was saying. All she could hear was the roaring tsunami of collapse within her own heart, instantly drowning her mouth and nose, making her feel suffocated.

Suffocated.

Suffocated!

The Second Prince…

Dachen currently had three princes, each born to different consorts. The Crown Prince was born to the Empress, while the Second and Third Princes were born to other consorts. However, the Crown Prince was not favored, and the Emperor doted on the Second Prince. The Third Prince also sided with the Second Prince, allowing the Second Prince, though not the Crown Prince, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Crown Prince in every aspect and even attempt to vie for the throne.

The three princes were constantly at odds, causing instability in the court. Political struggles frequently erupted, with the Crown Prince’s faction and the Second Prince’s faction often clashing violently.

The Zhongyi Hou Mansion and the Qin family both belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction. Now, someone from the Second Prince’s side had infiltrated the Houfu.

A hidden secret beneath the surface had revealed a tiny corner, and the conspiracies intertwined into a vast web. At this moment, Qin Chanyue, who had returned through Chongsheng, finally caught a glimpse of a fragment of it.

Bai Yuning was secretly connected to the Second Prince. She was the Second Prince’s person. She had gone to such lengths to stay in the Houfu, and it certainly wasn’t for the sake of her two foolish sons. Bai Yuning had come to complete some kind of mission.

At this moment, no one knew what the Second Prince intended to do. Only Qin Chanyue, who knew the future, understood that the Second Prince wanted to frame her adoptive brother, Zhennan Wang.

At this juncture, what was Bai Yuning’s purpose?

Qin Chanyue suddenly thought of her dowry—a strategic map meticulously crafted by over a dozen members of the Qin family. The Qin family’s army had used this map for over a decade. Later, when Qin Chanyue married, it accompanied her to the Houfu.

In earlier years, during the battle that wiped out her entire family, even her father’s body couldn’t be found. Only this strategic map was sent back.

The map was slightly damaged and stained with her father’s blood. She held it day and night, unwilling to let it go or return it. Because the map was damaged, the Qin family army created a new one, and the old one remained in her possession. At first, she clung to it day and night, but later, she couldn’t bear to look at it. Seeing the blood reminded her of her father, so she buried the map at the very bottom of her Zhuanglian, pretending it didn’t exist.

In her previous life, she had always known that the leak of the strategic map caused her adoptive brother to suffer consecutive defeats in battle. Back then, she naturally assumed that her adoptive brother’s failures on the frontier were due to issues with his own map. But now, thinking about it, could the problem have originated from her side?

Her adoptive brother had maintained a steadfast vigilance for decades, sleeping with his spear at hand—when had he ever truly relaxed? Moreover, in her past life, despite all her investigations, she had only uncovered a few spies who returned to the Second Prince’s side after completing their tasks near her adoptive brother. She never discovered who had betrayed his strategic map. Instead, it was she who, amidst the wealth and luxury of Chang’an, had grown complacent and easily breached.

So, could it be… that the problem lay on her side?

Just thinking this made Qin Chanyue feel a sudden, sharp pain in her chest, almost causing her to faint.

Her adoptive brother’s death had already been a devastating blow to her. Now, knowing she was the cause, she could hardly sit still.

“Madam?” The matron standing before the desk noticed Qin Chanyue’s face suddenly turn deathly pale and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

After a moment, the Madam seated behind the desk pinched the bridge of her nose and said, “I’m fine. Send a few highly skilled private soldiers to keep a close watch on her. Report everything she does or says to me, but don’t let her notice.”

Qin Chanyue steadied herself and gradually emerged from that state of shock.

“Go to the storehouse and fetch some items to reward Bai Yuning. While there, convey my message to her.” The Madam lifted her face, her peach-blossom features flickering with restraint. “Tell Bai Yuning that since she is seriously ill, she should focus on recuperating. Out of some past affection for her mother, I won’t force her to leave the Houfu while she’s unwell.”

Since Bai Yuning was after the strategic map, she wouldn’t leave without obtaining it. Qin Chanyue might as well use Bai Yuning’s mindset to her advantage.

Every word Qin Chanyue spoke felt as if she were biting into her own flesh.

Bai Yuning… In her past life, she had only thought Bai Yuning had ruined the bond between her and her two sons. Now it seemed Bai Yuning had also destroyed her foundation and caused her adoptive brother’s death.

She didn’t understand! How had she ever wronged Bai Yuning? Back when the Bai family brought trouble upon themselves and faced disaster, everyone in Chang’an avoided them. Even Bai Yuning’s own relatives hurried to drive her away. Only Qin Chanyue, out of past affection, offered her some support. Yet Bai Yuning showed no gratitude and even schemed to harm her.

She had rescued such an ungrateful wretch!

—

At Qin Chanyue’s command, the matron accepted the order and withdrew, heading to the storehouse to fetch some items before visiting Bai Yuning.

Bai Yuning was bedridden with a serious illness, unable to get up. Hearing the matron had arrived, she weakly struggled to rise, managed a bow, and then collapsed to the floor. The matron hurried over to support her, offering comforting words, essentially advising her to rest and recover.

Listening to the matron, Bai Yuning appeared frail on the surface, but inwardly, she felt a surge of delight.

After exhausting every trick, she had finally managed to stay in the Houfu.

Once the matron left, Bai Yuning continued lying on the bed. Her serene and gentle face showed only weakness, but her mind was already planning her next move.

She wanted to enter the inner treasury storehouse of the Houfu to search for Qin Chanyue’s dowry, but this wasn’t something she could accomplish alone. The only person she could turn to and use at the moment was her long-since unfaithful fiancé, Zhou Yuanting.

She couldn’t just lie here. She had to go find Zhou Yuanting.

That night, as darkness fell, Bai Yuning rose from her bed, managing to evade the maids and patrolling private soldiers within the Houfu, heading straight for the ancestral hall in the southeast corner.

At the same time, the second young master of the Houfu, Zhou Chiye, returned from the martial arts school to the estate.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuning moved cautiously through the Houfu, making her way toward the ancestral hall.

The wheels of fate turned and twisted, veering forward through a few bends before continuing along their destined path. Those who were meant to meet would inevitably cross paths.