I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.

Xie Wanqing’s breath hitched, nearly choking her.

Fortunately, only her trusted maid, Hongxia, was in the room; otherwise, she would never be able to clear her name, even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

"Third Brother, what are you doing?"

She had just removed her outer robe and was dressed only in a thin undergarment. How could she possibly be seen like this? And by her own brother-in-law, no less!

"Third Young Master, how could you come in here? Please, get out!" Hongxia hurriedly tried to block Qi Haosong.

What kind of disaster was this? How could the Third Young Master sneak into his sister-in-law’s chamber? If this were discovered, not only would the mistress be ruined, but they, as servants, would surely be put to death!

Xie Wanqing retreated in a panic behind the screen. Qi Haosong, determined to see her, spoke quickly, "Second Sister-in-law, I heard they were wronging you, so I came to check on you."

Xie Wanqing rolled her eyes. Qi Xiuyu’s brother was truly a fool. When she first entered the household, she had tried to win everyone’s favor. He was the only child at the time and was pampered by everyone in the residence, so she had naturally invested much effort into him. But now, Qi Haosong was nearly of marriageable age! How could he be so brazen as to barge into his sister-in-law’s room in broad daylight? Lady Jin was truly absurd to have raised a child like this!

Afraid to raise her voice, she could only whisper, "Haosong, I am fine. Please, leave first."

Qi Haosong realized he had acted on impulse and committed a breach of etiquette, but he was genuinely worried about her. Ignoring her request, he stubbornly replied, "Second Sister-in-law, let me see you. I truly cannot rest easy."

"Second Sister-in-law, many of your servants have been punished, and Second Brother has been flogged. Who is left to take care of you? Hongxia, step aside!" As he spoke, he pushed Hongxia aside and walked into the inner chamber.

Every time he thought of Xie Wanqing’s courtyard standing empty, with no one to serve her, and remembered the blood dripping from her hands that night as she knelt on the ground enduring insults and disdain, his heart ached.

Xie Wanqing hadn't expected Qi Haosong to be so bold, yet she dared not cry out. If someone were to see her and her brother-in-law in such a state of disarray, Lady Luo would have her tied up and drowned in a pig cage!

"I am fine, please don't..." She could only hide further behind the bed curtains. Qi Haosong bypassed the screen and saw the silhouette flickering behind the lowered drapes of the canopy bed. He couldn't help but swallow hard.

Only then did he realize he had been somewhat reckless. But she was his sister-in-law, not a stranger from the outside. Qi Haosong licked his lips and, ignoring Hongxia’s protests, reached out and pulled back the curtains to step inside.

Hongxia was nearly frightened to the point of fainting. The Third Young Master was an absolute menace! The mistress wasn't even wearing her outer robe; how could he possibly see her like this?

Furious, Xie Wanqing covered herself with the quilt and threw a comb at Qi Haosong. "Get out! Is this any place for you to be?"

Hongxia rushed forward, desperately trying to pull him away. "Third Young Master, do you want our mistress to die? Please, I beg you, leave!"

Qi Haosong glanced at Xie Wanqing, looking as if he had accomplished a major task, and began to back away. "Second Sister-in-law, I am relieved to see you are unharmed. I will go now. Rest well, and I will find time to visit you again!"

Xie Wanqing bit her lip so hard she tasted blood, wishing that Qi Haosong would drop dead on his way back to the West Courtyard. Had she ever asked him to see her?

As soon as he left, Hongxia scurried over to the canopy bed, trembling, and took the quilt Xie Wanqing was clutching. "Mistress... this..."

"Nothing happened!" Xie Wanqing snapped, her voice cold and sharp. This matter must never be known by anyone!

"Go and burn all of this," she commanded, gesturing with disgust at the items Qi Haosong had touched. She touched her stomach for a moment, then added, "And bring that bottle of snowflake scar-healing ointment. Help me to the Second Young Master’s courtyard."

Perhaps out of a guilty conscience, she felt an urgent need to see Qi Xiuyu.

***

Outside the Cuiyi Courtyard, Qi Haosong’s heart hammered against his ribs. He ran a few steps before his senses finally returned. The image of Xie Wanqing, stripped of her outer robe and looking panicked, kept flashing through his mind. Her rosy lips, her exposed shoulders...

Qi Haosong stopped by the rockery, his face suddenly flushing red. It wasn't that he was ignorant of worldly matters; Lady Jin was already scouting for a bride for him, and he had a beautiful maid in his quarters meant to warm his bed until he took a formal wife. Yet, the image of Xie Wanqing was like a weed in his heart, tickling and stirring his emotions.

What sister-in-law... If not for his second brother, there would be no such taboo relationship between them.

Qi Haosong clenched his fists, a highly disrespectful thought crossing his mind. Terrified by his own inclination, he shook his head vigorously and ran toward the West Courtyard.

Not far away, Xie Mingyue, passing by, caught sight of him and frowned. "Was that Qi Haosong just now? What was he doing on this side?"

Wutong glanced at the path. "Mistress, that is the direction of the Second Mistress's courtyard. I fear the Third Young Master has just come from the Cuiyi Courtyard."

"Oh?" Xie Mingyue raised her eyebrows, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "He and Xie Wanqing are quite close."

Wutong smiled discreetly. "Mistress, you shouldn't mention it in front of others. When the Second Mistress first entered the household, the Third Young Master was still young, and it happened that the Second Master and Third Old Mistress were away on a long journey. She took care of him for quite some time."

"Truly a deep bond between sister-in-law and brother-in-law." Xie Mingyue gave a light scoff and continued on her way. "Didn't the Marquis's wife ask me to assist in managing the household? Since so many of the servants in Xie Wanqing's courtyard were beaten to death, go and gather the idle servants from the back courtyard; I shall assign some help to her."

Wutong quickly assembled the staff. The servants all knew that the power dynamics in the residence had shifted; as soon as the Eldest Mistress stepped up, she had dealt with the Second Mistress, who had been in charge for years, and even the Marquis's wife no longer targeted the First Branch. Hearing that Xie Mingyue had summoned them, no one dared to dawdle, and they set down their chores to arrive at the Qionghua Courtyard.

Xie Mingyue quickly selected one older maid and two younger ones. For the last one, she looked at Qinghua, who had been working in the small kitchen. Qinghua was one of those who had been drinking and gambling in the kitchen; Xie Mingyue had left her there, waiting for this very day.

Being chosen to go to Xie Wanqing’s courtyard, Qinghua was utterly unwilling. Everyone knew that the Second Branch had lost its power. She was doing well in the Eldest Mistress's courtyard, with food, drink, and light work every day; she had no desire to suffer in the Second Branch.

Qinghua immediately fell to her knees, kowtowing to Xie Mingyue. "Eldest Mistress, please don't send me away! I am willing to serve you like a beast of burden for the rest of my life."

A subtle curve formed on Xie Mingyue’s lips. "Is that so? And were you also serving me like a beast of burden while hiding in the kitchen to drink and gamble?"

Qinghua’s face turned pale, and she looked indignant. "Eldest Mistress, I was originally from the Great Old Mistress's courtyard..." She had been a gift from Lady Yun; did Xie Mingyue dare to touch her mother-in-law’s people?

Xie Mingyue watched her quietly and spoke suddenly, "You were lazy and deceitful in my courtyard, and now you dare to use the Great Old Mistress as a shield? What is this? Do you want me to take you to my mother-in-law’s courtyard and ask her if she still wants you?"

Lady Yun had already been confined to her quarters several times; this Qinghua still didn't understand the situation.

Wasting no more breath, she waved her hand. "Go, all of you. Follow the arrangements I made."

Qinghua left for the Cuiyi Courtyard, utterly reluctant.

Xie Wanqing went to see Qi Xiuyu. His lower body was a mangled mess of skin and flesh, and he had already fallen into a coma. The physician was in the outer room writing a prescription. Xie Wanqing sat by the bed, smelling the thick scent of blood, and felt her heart sink.

A broken bone takes a hundred days to heal; looking at Qi Xiuyu, there was no way he could share a bed with her anytime soon. And if they could not share a bed, where was she supposed to find the "non-existent" child in her belly?