Chapter 18: The Incident
That day, Ming Rong and the others came out of Yuxiang Garden together and went to the main residence to pay their respects.
“Seventh Sister doesn’t look quite as fresh today as the other day,” Ming Fang raised her brows, her beautiful face full of sarcasm. “Maybe Seventh Sister feels her status drops by being with us. Without those noble ladies around, she’s grown slack.”
Does she get uncomfortable if she doesn’t throw a jab every day? Ming Wei thought silently, secretly recalling what she wore today: a light purple half-sleeve robe over a simple pear-blossom white long tunic. It wasn’t lavish but could be considered elegant. Ultimately, it was since the birthday banquet that Ming Fang had been finding fault with her.
“Fourth Sister, that’s not quite right,” Ming Rong put on her kind act, smiling gently. “Our Seventh Sister is naturally charming. However she dresses, she’s always delightful and pretty. Sixth Sister, don’t you agree?”
Was Ming Rong trying to help her? It was more like adding fuel to the fire. Though Ming Wei was displeased, she could only endure it on the surface. The worse the situation looked for her, the more she couldn’t give anyone an excuse to attack.
Luckily, Ming Lian stepped in to smooth things over.
“It’s getting late. As daughters, we shouldn’t keep Mother waiting.” She ignored everyone’s words and simply urged the three of them to hurry along.
Ming Fang snorted and turned to walk ahead of the three.
Seizing the moment while Ming Rong wasn’t paying attention, Ming Wei made a funny face at Ming Lian. Ming Lian gave a helpless smile and pointed toward Ming Fang ahead, signaling her to behave.
Before they could see the Second Madam, the four were led to a side room on the west side to wait for a while.
“Ladies, please rest for a moment. Madam has urgent matters to attend to and will invite you in shortly,” said Feicui, the Second Madam’s chief maid, with a curtsy. She left two young maids to serve tea and hurried off toward the Second Madam’s private quarters.
“What important matters could Mother have that she needs to hide from us?” Ming Fang, the most self-important among the sisters and the daughter of a favored concubine, spoke with typical arrogance.
Ming Wei, however, found her amusing. As if the Second Madam would ever tell her everything. She had already forgotten that she too had once been punished by the Second Madam and made to kneel at the ancestral hall.
Probably that sense of superiority from comparison. Ming Fang did indeed have the easiest days among them all.
“That’s not for us to guess,” said Ming Rong, keeping the proper bearing of a noble lady. “If it’s something we need to know, Mother will naturally inform us.”
Ming Lian and Ming Wei both kept their heads down and said nothing, not getting involved between the two.
Ming Fang angrily sat alone by the window on the brick kang, while Ming Rong asked a maid to bring over a chessboard to play a match with Ming Lian. Ming Wei, never good at such things, sat nearby calmly brewing tea.
As the match between Ming Rong and Ming Lian got underway, Ming Wei watched for a while before pretending to lose interest and stood up. A little maid quickly followed her, as if afraid she’d try to leave.
Ming Wei paced back and forth in the room a few times before finally sitting down on a rosewood round-back chair closest to the door.
Something felt off. When she entered, she had caught a glimpse of two old servant women from the old matriarch’s courtyard—one of them was Granny He, who tended the flowers.
Liu Yi was the Second Madam’s blood nephew...
Her gut told her that the matter of Linghua catching Liu Yi and Miss Cui in their affair was far from over.
In the side room:
Nanny Xu brought Granny He to see the Second Madam. The Second Madam’s heart sank the moment she saw them.
“Greetings, Second Madam,” Nanny Xu, despite long service to the old matriarch, still offered a respectful greeting.
Feeling guilty and wary of her status as the old matriarch’s trusted aide, the Second Madam dropped any pretense of pride and hurried over to support her with a smile. “Nanny, no need for such formality. If there’s anything, just have a maid come say the word. Why make a trip yourself?”
Before Nanny Xu could reply, the Second Madam was already instructing Feicui and the others to bring over a stool and serve fine tea.
This unusually attentive behavior only deepened Nanny Xu’s suspicion that something was wrong.
“You flatter me, truly too much,” Nanny Xu said calmly. “I wouldn’t have come to disturb you, except this concerns the old matriarch and the reputation of the marquis’s household.”
At her words, the Second Madam’s heart began to pound wildly. She forced herself to remain composed. “Please, go on.”
Nanny Xu glanced at Granny He, who immediately poured out the entire incident in detail—from Linghua’s disappearance to being found in the well.
Finally, Nanny Xu summarized, “Originally, I kept silent to protect the old matriarch and the marquis household’s reputation and intended to investigate quietly. But the old matriarch found out and scolded me for being foolish.”
She paused and glanced meaningfully at the Second Madam before continuing, “The old matriarch said that you’re the one managing the household now. Matters like this should be handled by you. A servant like me has no right to interfere.”
Seeing beads of sweat form on the Second Madam’s forehead, she added with heavy implication, “The old matriarch taught us well: the marquis household must never abandon order.”
“Such a thing happened?” The Second Madam’s palms were soaked in sweat, though she put on a surprised face. “Could it be that the little maid was being naughty and accidentally fell into the well?”
She hadn’t expected the old matriarch to have someone dig this matter up.
A maid in her courtyard had died—if it came out, people would speculate whether the old matriarch was cruel to her servants or if the maid had improper thoughts… Either way, it would damage the old matriarch’s reputation.
The old matriarch should’ve covered it up and let it go.
The Second Madam had dared to openly help Liu Yi cover it up precisely because she assumed this.
That day, Liu Yi had told her casually that he had drowned a little maid in the back pond. She’d gone secretly with Nanny Gu and found out it was a maid from the old matriarch’s courtyard.
Furious, she’d scolded Liu Yi for his recklessness. It was then that he told her the full truth, pleading that he had no choice. If it got out, not only would the Second Branch lose face, even the entire Duke’s household would be dragged down.
Liu Yi was the old matriarch’s most beloved grandson. That overindulgence had made him arrogant and fearless. The Second Madam had weighed her options and chose to protect her nephew over exposing him or taking down her rival.
Anyway, Cui was in competition with Concubine Wen—those two canceling each other out made things easier for her. If Cui was implicated, it would damage Liu Yi’s reputation too. In her eyes, her nephew was far more important than some maid.
But things weren’t going as she had planned.
“I’m just a fool. I’ve investigated for days with no result,” Nanny Xu clearly had no desire to get involved and said no more. “The old matriarch only asked me to deliver the message. It’s entirely up to you now.”
What a cunning old woman, pushing all responsibility away. The Second Madam cursed her inwardly but smiled on the surface and agreed.
With the main branch absent, the household management rotated among the three branches. It was now the Second Branch’s turn, and the Second Madam would not allow herself to lose face in front of her sisters-in-law.
And besides, if someone else took over the investigation… it might very well lead straight to Liu Yi.
“Rest assured, Nanny. I’ll give the old matriarch a proper explanation as soon as possible.”
Ming Wei had been listening attentively for sounds outside. About the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, she heard the door open. After a few footsteps, she heard the Second Madam’s voice, respectfully seeing someone off.
Soon, Feicui came to invite the four of them in.
“Mother, are you tired?” After the four paid their respects, Ming Rong asked with concern. “You must be. After organizing the birthday banquet, with everything so perfectly arranged, it must have taken a lot out of you.”
Normally, such flattery would’ve earned praise from the Second Madam. But today, she seemed distracted and listless.
She couldn’t even be bothered to go through the motions and directly told them to leave, leaving Ming Rong red-faced and awkward.
“Your daughter takes her leave.”
Ming Rong forced a smile and led the other three out of the main residence.
The walk back was wrapped in strange silence. Each of the four girls was lost in her own thoughts. Once they returned to Yuxiang Garden, Ming Wei politely declined Ming Lian’s offer to sit and chat, and returned straight to her courtyard with Yue Lin.
As soon as she entered, she saw Tang Li rushing up with a panicked expression.
She struggled to control the fear in her voice and whispered, “Miss, Linghua fell into the well and drowned!”
“Seventh Sister doesn’t look quite as fresh today as the other day,” Ming Fang raised her brows, her beautiful face full of sarcasm. “Maybe Seventh Sister feels her status drops by being with us. Without those noble ladies around, she’s grown slack.”
Does she get uncomfortable if she doesn’t throw a jab every day? Ming Wei thought silently, secretly recalling what she wore today: a light purple half-sleeve robe over a simple pear-blossom white long tunic. It wasn’t lavish but could be considered elegant. Ultimately, it was since the birthday banquet that Ming Fang had been finding fault with her.
“Fourth Sister, that’s not quite right,” Ming Rong put on her kind act, smiling gently. “Our Seventh Sister is naturally charming. However she dresses, she’s always delightful and pretty. Sixth Sister, don’t you agree?”
Was Ming Rong trying to help her? It was more like adding fuel to the fire. Though Ming Wei was displeased, she could only endure it on the surface. The worse the situation looked for her, the more she couldn’t give anyone an excuse to attack.
Luckily, Ming Lian stepped in to smooth things over.
“It’s getting late. As daughters, we shouldn’t keep Mother waiting.” She ignored everyone’s words and simply urged the three of them to hurry along.
Ming Fang snorted and turned to walk ahead of the three.
Seizing the moment while Ming Rong wasn’t paying attention, Ming Wei made a funny face at Ming Lian. Ming Lian gave a helpless smile and pointed toward Ming Fang ahead, signaling her to behave.
Before they could see the Second Madam, the four were led to a side room on the west side to wait for a while.
“Ladies, please rest for a moment. Madam has urgent matters to attend to and will invite you in shortly,” said Feicui, the Second Madam’s chief maid, with a curtsy. She left two young maids to serve tea and hurried off toward the Second Madam’s private quarters.
“What important matters could Mother have that she needs to hide from us?” Ming Fang, the most self-important among the sisters and the daughter of a favored concubine, spoke with typical arrogance.
Ming Wei, however, found her amusing. As if the Second Madam would ever tell her everything. She had already forgotten that she too had once been punished by the Second Madam and made to kneel at the ancestral hall.
Probably that sense of superiority from comparison. Ming Fang did indeed have the easiest days among them all.
“That’s not for us to guess,” said Ming Rong, keeping the proper bearing of a noble lady. “If it’s something we need to know, Mother will naturally inform us.”
Ming Lian and Ming Wei both kept their heads down and said nothing, not getting involved between the two.
Ming Fang angrily sat alone by the window on the brick kang, while Ming Rong asked a maid to bring over a chessboard to play a match with Ming Lian. Ming Wei, never good at such things, sat nearby calmly brewing tea.
As the match between Ming Rong and Ming Lian got underway, Ming Wei watched for a while before pretending to lose interest and stood up. A little maid quickly followed her, as if afraid she’d try to leave.
Ming Wei paced back and forth in the room a few times before finally sitting down on a rosewood round-back chair closest to the door.
Something felt off. When she entered, she had caught a glimpse of two old servant women from the old matriarch’s courtyard—one of them was Granny He, who tended the flowers.
Liu Yi was the Second Madam’s blood nephew...
Her gut told her that the matter of Linghua catching Liu Yi and Miss Cui in their affair was far from over.
In the side room:
Nanny Xu brought Granny He to see the Second Madam. The Second Madam’s heart sank the moment she saw them.
“Greetings, Second Madam,” Nanny Xu, despite long service to the old matriarch, still offered a respectful greeting.
Feeling guilty and wary of her status as the old matriarch’s trusted aide, the Second Madam dropped any pretense of pride and hurried over to support her with a smile. “Nanny, no need for such formality. If there’s anything, just have a maid come say the word. Why make a trip yourself?”
Before Nanny Xu could reply, the Second Madam was already instructing Feicui and the others to bring over a stool and serve fine tea.
This unusually attentive behavior only deepened Nanny Xu’s suspicion that something was wrong.
“You flatter me, truly too much,” Nanny Xu said calmly. “I wouldn’t have come to disturb you, except this concerns the old matriarch and the reputation of the marquis’s household.”
At her words, the Second Madam’s heart began to pound wildly. She forced herself to remain composed. “Please, go on.”
Nanny Xu glanced at Granny He, who immediately poured out the entire incident in detail—from Linghua’s disappearance to being found in the well.
Finally, Nanny Xu summarized, “Originally, I kept silent to protect the old matriarch and the marquis household’s reputation and intended to investigate quietly. But the old matriarch found out and scolded me for being foolish.”
She paused and glanced meaningfully at the Second Madam before continuing, “The old matriarch said that you’re the one managing the household now. Matters like this should be handled by you. A servant like me has no right to interfere.”
Seeing beads of sweat form on the Second Madam’s forehead, she added with heavy implication, “The old matriarch taught us well: the marquis household must never abandon order.”
“Such a thing happened?” The Second Madam’s palms were soaked in sweat, though she put on a surprised face. “Could it be that the little maid was being naughty and accidentally fell into the well?”
She hadn’t expected the old matriarch to have someone dig this matter up.
A maid in her courtyard had died—if it came out, people would speculate whether the old matriarch was cruel to her servants or if the maid had improper thoughts… Either way, it would damage the old matriarch’s reputation.
The old matriarch should’ve covered it up and let it go.
The Second Madam had dared to openly help Liu Yi cover it up precisely because she assumed this.
That day, Liu Yi had told her casually that he had drowned a little maid in the back pond. She’d gone secretly with Nanny Gu and found out it was a maid from the old matriarch’s courtyard.
Furious, she’d scolded Liu Yi for his recklessness. It was then that he told her the full truth, pleading that he had no choice. If it got out, not only would the Second Branch lose face, even the entire Duke’s household would be dragged down.
Liu Yi was the old matriarch’s most beloved grandson. That overindulgence had made him arrogant and fearless. The Second Madam had weighed her options and chose to protect her nephew over exposing him or taking down her rival.
Anyway, Cui was in competition with Concubine Wen—those two canceling each other out made things easier for her. If Cui was implicated, it would damage Liu Yi’s reputation too. In her eyes, her nephew was far more important than some maid.
But things weren’t going as she had planned.
“I’m just a fool. I’ve investigated for days with no result,” Nanny Xu clearly had no desire to get involved and said no more. “The old matriarch only asked me to deliver the message. It’s entirely up to you now.”
What a cunning old woman, pushing all responsibility away. The Second Madam cursed her inwardly but smiled on the surface and agreed.
With the main branch absent, the household management rotated among the three branches. It was now the Second Branch’s turn, and the Second Madam would not allow herself to lose face in front of her sisters-in-law.
And besides, if someone else took over the investigation… it might very well lead straight to Liu Yi.
“Rest assured, Nanny. I’ll give the old matriarch a proper explanation as soon as possible.”
Ming Wei had been listening attentively for sounds outside. About the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, she heard the door open. After a few footsteps, she heard the Second Madam’s voice, respectfully seeing someone off.
Soon, Feicui came to invite the four of them in.
“Mother, are you tired?” After the four paid their respects, Ming Rong asked with concern. “You must be. After organizing the birthday banquet, with everything so perfectly arranged, it must have taken a lot out of you.”
Normally, such flattery would’ve earned praise from the Second Madam. But today, she seemed distracted and listless.
She couldn’t even be bothered to go through the motions and directly told them to leave, leaving Ming Rong red-faced and awkward.
“Your daughter takes her leave.”
Ming Rong forced a smile and led the other three out of the main residence.
The walk back was wrapped in strange silence. Each of the four girls was lost in her own thoughts. Once they returned to Yuxiang Garden, Ming Wei politely declined Ming Lian’s offer to sit and chat, and returned straight to her courtyard with Yue Lin.
As soon as she entered, she saw Tang Li rushing up with a panicked expression.
She struggled to control the fear in her voice and whispered, “Miss, Linghua fell into the well and drowned!”
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