This day, Concubine Liu finally couldn't hold back and came to her daughter's boudoir, intending to have a proper talk with her.

Xia Wan'yu watched Concubine Liu approach, a flash of impatience crossing her eyes. She never understood why, but every time Concubine Liu came to see her, it was always to say things she didn't want to hear. Now Concubine Liu was here again; who knew what she was going to say this time.

Concubine Liu certainly didn't miss the impatience in her daughter's eyes, but she suppressed the bitterness in her heart, trying to figure out how to persuade her daughter.

"Wan'yu, you’ve schemed for your second sister's betrothal this time, and the Madam will not let this rest. Listen to your concubine mother and go apologize sincerely to the Madam, saying you will return the match to your second sister," Concubine Liu pleaded.

"What did you say?" Upon hearing Concubine Liu’s words, Xia Wan'yu looked at her as if she couldn't believe it, her eyes wide. "You want me to return the match to Xia Wan'ting? Are you joking? Do you have any idea how much effort it took me to snatch this? And you’re telling me to give it back to the second sister? And to apologize to the Madam? I simply can't understand, am I even your biological daughter? Why are you always siding with others? When will you ever think of me, your own flesh and blood?"

Hearing Xia Wan'yu’s outburst, Concubine Liu felt a pang of sorrow. "Wan'yu, precisely because you are my own daughter, I have come to advise you. Do not oppose the Madam under any circumstances; you do not wish to experience the Madam's methods."

"Hmph! What methods could she possibly have? Let her try them all!" Xia Wan'yu scoffed dismissively.

Concubine Liu looked at her daughter’s careless demeanor and felt a surge of anxiety. For so many years, the Madam had never paid attention to, or rather, never troubled Wan'yu, partly because Wan'yu was not a son and thus wouldn't contend for the Master’s inheritance, and partly because Wan'yu was merely a minor concubine-born daughter, incapable of contending with the legitimate daughter. This is why the Madam had always treated Wan'yu with disdain. It also led Wan'yu to believe the Madam was harmless, showing no fear toward her—precisely what worried Concubine Liu.

"Wan'yu, the Madam's methods are not something you can withstand. I have served as a maid in the Xia Residence for so many years; how could I not know these things? In the past, several of the Master’s favored concubines provoked the Madam and angered her, and later they were all dealt with by the Madam. Do you know where those concubines are now?" Concubine Liu revealed some knowledge she had gained over the years in the Xia Residence.

Xia Wan'yu listened to Concubine Liu’s words but offered no reply, as in her mind, she was destined to become the primary wife in the Fu household. Therefore, the situation of a mere concubine-born daughter angering the main mistress simply did not apply to her future.

Seeing her daughter's lack of concern, Concubine Liu couldn't help but reveal it herself, "They all fell ill, their bodies grew weaker day by day, and then... they were gone!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Wan'yu couldn't help but retort, "Those were concubines. If they angered the main mistress, naturally they deserved punishment."

"But you have also angered the main mistress now!" Concubine Liu raised her voice.

"So what if I have angered her! I want to anger her. I want to steal her daughter's betrothal. I want to make her suffer! Look, I’ve taken her daughter’s match, and she still doesn't dare do anything to me, does she? This marriage was personally declared by my father—he wants me to marry into the Fu family! Hmph! With Father’s decree, I doubt she dares to do anything to me!" Xia Wan'yu snorted.

Hearing her daughter, Concubine Liu’s mouth fell slightly ajar, momentarily doubting if this was truly her daughter. How could she not grasp such a simple matter? She had stolen the legitimate daughter's match; how could the legitimate mother possibly tolerate it quietly?

Seeing that no matter how she persuaded her, her daughter would not listen, Concubine Liu blurted out in frustration, "In short, listen to me: return the match, and then apologize to the Madam. That’s the right thing to do."

Xia Wan'yu reacted with extreme impatience, "Listen to you? And end up like you, swallowing my grievances my whole life? Hmph, I can't do that. Oh, right, I just remembered. I am now officially registered under the Madam’s name, which means the Madam is nominally my mother, and you are merely a concubine. So, from now on, you are not to meddle in my affairs."

Hearing her daughter speak so rudely, Concubine Liu finally couldn't hold back the tears that welled up. She had come solely out of concern for her daughter, only to find her ungrateful and speaking to her own biological mother this way. In that moment, Concubine Liu felt a pain as if needles were piercing her heart.

Concubine Liu clutched her chest. "Enough. I will not interfere in your affairs anymore. You must look out for yourself!"

With that, Concubine Liu stumbled away.

As for Xia Wan'yu, watching Concubine Liu’s retreating back, she felt not a shred of guilt. In her eyes, she had fought hard to snatch Fu Lan from Xia Wan'ting; how could she be willing to give up this match? Should she be forced to marry a mere Juren whose family background was poor? No, that wasn't what she wanted. She was determined to climb higher than Xia Wan'ting. She was already halfway there, and at this rate, she was certain her wish would be fulfilled. After all, those in the capital familiar with the Xia family, or those with sharp intelligence, surely knew the true situation between the Xia and Fu families. By then, which family would dare seek to marry her, the legitimate sister, after this?

The thought brought an uncontrollable joy to Xia Wan'yu.

Meanwhile, Chunlan, standing nearby, observed Xia Wan'yu’s look of delight and formed a deeper impression of her mistress's cold-hearted ruthlessness. She had just driven away her own mother in tears, and now she could sit here thinking and smiling as if nothing had happened. Witnessing this, Chunlan wondered if she, too, should adopt some of her young lady's severity.

Naturally, Xia Wan'yu was unaware of her maid's thoughts, and even if she knew, she likely wouldn't care. She was already immersed in the elation of having surpassed Xia Wan'ting; she could no longer spare attention for anything else.

Back in her quarters, Concubine Liu wept sadly for a long time, which made the maid attending her feel indignant. The concubine mother had gone to speak with her own daughter, yet every time she returned, she was sad for ages; this time, she had been crying for so long that it was clear the Eldest Miss must have said something truly harsh.

The maid felt great injustice on Concubine Liu's behalf. The Eldest Miss was utterly outrageous. To commit an act like stealing her own sister's betrothal—this matter was kept under wraps in the Xia Residence; if it ever got out, she might very well face being drowned in a pig cage. Yet, the Eldest Miss felt smug, believing herself the victor, completely unaware of how long Concubine Liu had been living in fear, worried about how the Madam might retaliate against the Eldest Miss. Instead, Concubine Liu had returned from her visit in tears after trying to reason with her.

"Madam, please don't be so sad. No matter how sad you are, the Eldest Miss doesn't care. What’s the use?" the maid tried to soothe her.

Concubine Liu realized the maid was right, and her weeping immediately grew heavier. "I know she doesn't care about me, her own mother. But how can I stand by and watch her walk down the wrong path without saying a word? I just didn't expect her to think this way."

The maid certainly understood Concubine Liu's deepest anxieties and quickly offered comfort. "If the Eldest Miss won't listen, there's nothing we can do. However, perhaps this time the Madam truly listened to the Master and won't seek revenge on the Eldest Miss?"

Concubine Liu shook her head. "No, she won't. The Madam will certainly make a move. Having been in the Xia Residence for so many years, based on my previous understanding of the Madam, she won't be able to swallow this insult easily. I only fear that when the Madam’s temper flares, she will..."

Seeing that Concubine Liu was about to become distressed again, the maid hastily interjected, "Madam, don't dwell on it. Perhaps the Madam has no intention of doing anything this time? After all, the Eldest Miss is marrying into the Fu family. If something happens to her, it wouldn't look good for our Xia Residence either. I believe the Madam won't make any move."

Although Concubine Liu felt her maid’s reasoning was sound, she couldn't fully set her mind at ease. This was her only daughter, and she couldn't bear for anything to happen to her.

After a moment of thought, Concubine Liu suddenly stood up. "No, I can’t just stand by. Since Wan'yu won't listen to reason, I will go beg the Madam. I will plead with the Madam to forgive Wan'yu."

Seeing Concubine Liu like this, the maid couldn't help but dissuade her. "Madam, if you go plead with the Madam like this, she will surely direct all her anger toward you. You mustn't go!"

"No, I must go. Don't worry, even if the Madam takes out her frustrations on me, I can endure it. I've endured it for so many years; surely I can manage now?" Concubine Liu said dismissively.

"Madam, do you truly believe begging the Madam will be of any use? The Madam is angry with the Eldest Miss. Seeing you will only make her transfer that anger; how could she possibly forget her fury toward your daughter?" The maid didn't want Concubine Liu to walk into danger just to be an outlet for someone else's rage.

Concubine Liu naturally knew that even if she went, the Madam’s anger toward her daughter would not dissipate. However, she couldn't shake the faint hope—what if her pleading actually helped? Therefore, this time, Concubine Liu ignored her maid’s advice and headed straight for the courtyard where Madam Xia resided.

Madam Xia, having dealt with Xia Wan'yu, was in a relatively good mood these past two days. She was currently engaged in needlework with her own daughter. In truth, the embroidery wasn't the main point; the primary purpose was for Madam Xia to use this time to speak more with her daughter, lest the girl start overthinking things again.

When Madam Xia’s maid reported that Concubine Liu had arrived, she felt a touch of surprise. Why would she come at this hour?

Madam Xia glanced at Granny Gu, who also seemed clueless. Madam Xia decided not to ponder it further and simply instructed the maid to lead Concubine Liu in.