Madam Yang had been distractedly guiding Caiyun with her embroidery when she saw Wang Qinghua burst in from outside, holding a letter with visible excitement. Her own heart instantly soared. "Qinghua, is that a letter from your younger brother?"

Wang Qinghua nodded emphatically. "Yes, Mother. Now you and Father can finally stop worrying. Your brother is doing well in the provincial capital."

Having received confirmation, Madam Yang was overjoyed. She rose and hurried to Wang Qinghua's side. "Quick, quick, Qinghua, read the letter to your mother! Let me hear what Qingchen has written!"

Seeing his mother's state, Wang Qinghua knew she wouldn't be at ease unless he read it immediately. He abandoned his initial plan to wait for Wang Youfu so they could all read it together, and instead began reading to Madam Yang.

Once Wang Qinghua finished reading Wang Qingchen's letter, Madam Yang snatched it from his hand. Wang Qinghua chuckled lightly, rubbing his nose, then asked, "Mother, shall I go call Father in?"

Madam Yang replied without looking up, "Mmm, you go then!"

Wang Qinghua looked at his mother, whose entire attention was fixed on her younger son's correspondence. A wry smile touched his lips as he left to find Wang Youfu, wondering if his father would react the same way upon hearing the news.

Wang Qinghua found Wang Youfu working in their fields. Upon hearing the news that his son, Wang Qingchen, had sent a letter, Wang Youfu indeed became anxious, eager to return home immediately to read his son's words. However, knowing he couldn't instantly be home, he hurriedly asked Wang Qinghua, "What did your brother write? Is he alright? Has he reached the provincial capital? Is he settled in?..."

Wang Qinghua listened to his father's barrage of questions and wasn't sure which one to answer first. "Father, rest assured, Qingchen is perfectly fine. He is already settled in the provincial capital. He and a few of his classmates rented a house together; everything is sorted out, and they've already started studying."

After hearing this, Wang Youfu nodded repeatedly. "Ah, that's good, that he's settled. Alas, thinking about it, none of us adults accompanied your brother to the provincial capital this time. I worried something might happen to him. Now that I know he's safe, I can finally relax."

"Father, you don't need to worry so much. Qingchen didn't go to the provincial capital alone; several people went with him. See? Nothing has happened to them," Wang Qinghua reasoned.

"That's not how you look at it. Nothing happened this time, but who knows about next time?" Wang Youfu countered.

"Father, what you say has merit," Wang Qinghua quickly amended, siding with Wang Youfu. He didn't want to argue with his father, who was already worried enough, and certainly didn't want to add to his anxieties.

When the two quickly returned home, Wang Youfu boomed before even entering the house, "Quick, bring Qingchen's letter here so I can see it, quickly!"

Madam Yang, who had been having Caiyun read the letter's contents again, heard Wang Youfu's shout. She quickly took the letter from her daughter Caiyun's hands, stepped forward, and handed it to Wang Youfu as he entered. "Here, this is Qingchen's letter."

Wang Youfu took the letter handed over by Madam Yang, first reading it from beginning to end, then passed it to his elder son following behind him. "Quick, read it aloud for Father."

Wang Qinghua took the letter handed to him by his father and read it to him once more.

As Wang Youfu listened to his elder son read, he kept nodding, muttering under his breath, "Mm, very good. It's good they found lodging together. Living together means they can look out for each other. That makes me much more at ease."

After Wang Qinghua finished reading, Wang Youfu took the letter back. Although he couldn't read the characters, he stared intently at Wang Qingchen's handwriting.

Seeing his father's behavior, Wang Qinghua remained silent.

Meanwhile, back at the Xia residence in the capital, Madam Xia was taking her afternoon nap. Outside the room, Wet Nurse Gu listened as a servant woman whispered something into her ear. After the woman finished, Wet Nurse Gu pulled a silver ingot from her sash and offered it. "Here, this is a reward from Madam. Work well for Madam in the future, and there will be plenty more for you!"

The servant woman's heart leaped at the sight of such a large sum, but she managed to say sweetly, "Oh, I have always been loyal to my mistress. Please, Wet Nurse Gu, speak well of me to Madam. If Madam requires anything in the future, just assign it to me; I guarantee I will handle it perfectly."

Wet Nurse Gu observed the servant's greedy expression with a hint of disdain, though she kept it hidden. "Of course. In the future, when the mistress needs things done, we reliable people must handle them."

The servant woman grew smug upon hearing this and made no further pleasantries with Wet Nurse Gu. She quickly took the money and left without another word. The woman was known to gamble, and with this money, she immediately began calculating how long it would last her. She also mused that if she helped her mistress with more tasks, she wouldn't have to worry about money in the future.

Wet Nurse Gu watched the servant woman walk away, let out a cold scoff, then turned and entered the room. Seeing Madam Xia still asleep, she decided not to wake her, knowing how busy the mistress had been recently, thinking it better for her to rest.

However, Madam Xia had actually been awake for a while. She had woken up the moment the servant and Wet Nurse Gu began their low murmur but chose not to summon them inside.

"Wet Nurse, is there any news from the staff downstairs?" Madam Xia inquired.

Wet Nurse Gu was startled that Madam Xia wasn't asleep but quickly composed herself. "Yes, Madam. Qian Pozi just reported that the matter has been seen to."

"Oh? So, you mean that wretch has already taken it?" Madam Xia asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Wet Nurse Gu nodded. "Yes, Madam. The servant said the medicine has already been administered to the Eldest Miss."

"Good. As long as she's taken it, that bastard won't be able to cause trouble for much longer," Madam Xia declared, her fierce expression softening slightly.

Wet Nurse Gu remained silent, merely watching Madam Xia. She recalled that the medicine was one Madam had previously used to deal with her husband's concubines. Although the master's harem seemed quiet now, it hadn't always been so. In the past, Master Xia had many concubines, several of whom he favored highly. Relying on his affection, those women dared to disregard Madam. Back then, Madam was still young and hadn't perfected the art of concealing her emotions; her temperament was quite venomous. After a few of them dared to challenge her authority, Madam had the medicine administered to them, causing their health to gradually decline. Initially, Master Xia was quite concerned, as they were his favored women. But as their condition worsened and their complexions grew sallow, Master Xia gradually lost interest and eventually forgot about them, turning his favor to others.

Few women in the inner courtyard were fools; the foolish rarely survived long. Thus, those women naturally suspected Madam was behind the ailments. Consequently, even if a concubine gained favor afterward, none dared to provoke Madam. The few who were once favored withered over two or three years and passed away, ensuring that the remaining concubines feared angering Madam even more.

For Madam to resort to using that medicine again now showed the depth of her current fury. After all, it was Madam's most beloved daughter who had been harmed. Madam had meticulously planned everything for her daughter, only to have it all undone by a mere concubine's issue. Anyone would be enraged by such a situation!

Wet Nurse Gu thought that even if Eldest Miss Xia Wanyu managed to marry into the Fu family, she was destined not to live long, feeling a touch of pity for her. What good was scheming now? What use was gaining temporary advantages when one wouldn't live long enough to enjoy them? Yet, she immediately countered this thought: Xia Wanyu had coveted what wasn't hers, and naturally, she must pay the price for her actions.

Noticing Wet Nurse Gu lost in thought, Madam Xia prompted her, "Wet Nurse, do you think I am too cruel?"

Hearing the question, Wet Nurse Gu immediately looked up at Madam Xia. In recent days, Madam Xia had grown quite thin from worrying about the Second Miss. Seeing this, Wet Nurse Gu shook her head. "No, your old servant does not think so. Those things never belonged to the Eldest Miss, yet she insisted on seizing them; naturally, she must be punished. Furthermore, if anyone deserves pity in this matter, it is the Second Miss. Therefore, your old servant does not find Madam cruel; everything Madam does is solely for the sake of the Second Miss."

Madam Xia sighed upon hearing this. "Alas, I haven't been this resolute in many years. I was just too incensed this time. For something like this to happen in the courtyard under my direct management—if this got out, wouldn't I be laughed to death? But thankfully, I've vented my anger. I believe it won't be long before her body grows weaker and weaker, until she has no strength left at all."

Putting aside the topic Madam Xia and Wet Nurse Gu were discussing, Concubine Liu in the residence had been having a difficult time lately. Concubine Liu had originally been a maid in the household and was well aware of Madam's methods in the past. Thus, upon learning what her daughter had done, she grew extremely worried and kept looking for an opportunity to properly advise her daughter.