Once Concubine Liu was led in by a maid, she saw the Second Miss, Xia Wanting, sitting there, apparently engaged in needlework. Before Concubine Liu could formulate her opening words, she heard Madam Xia ask, "What brings you here at this hour?" Concubine Liu hastily adopted a serious demeanor. "This servant, this servant has come to pay her respects to Madam!" "Pay respects?

Never mind that. You know well that I don't favor you lot crowding my quarters. Don't try to fool me; just say what it is," Madam Xia inquired.

"It is... this servant wishes to beg Madam to show leniency toward the Eldest Miss!" Concubine Liu said, kowtowing several times to Madam Xia. Upon hearing that Concubine Liu had come to plead for that bastard's life, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Madam Xia's face.

Forgive her? How could that be possible? All she could think of now was how to deal with that scourge; how could she possibly let her off?

Besides, the poison had already been administered. Thinking this, Madam Xia chuckled lightly. "What you say is quite confusing.

The Eldest Miss is perfectly fine in the residence; she hasn't caused any trouble. Why would I need to forgive her? I am not one of those main wives who likes to pick fights with daughters of concubines.

Or perhaps, in your view, I am the sort of main wife who delights in troubling the daughters of concubines?" After hearing the Madam’s words, Concubine Liu inwardly lamented. The things the Eldest Miss had done were not spoken of openly, and now the Madam was simply pretending ignorance, making it difficult for her to continue. Concubine Liu could only quickly say, "No, that is not it.

Madam is the most benevolent of all. It is just that the Eldest Miss is still young and doesn't know better; she will inevitably make mistakes. We implore Madam not to hold it against her due to her youth and lack of understanding." Hearing Concubine Liu’s words, Madam Xia found it somewhat amusing.

"Young and doesn't know better? Don't you find that plea rather weak, Concubine Liu? The Eldest Miss is nearly old enough to marry; how can she still use youth and naivete as an excuse for her mistakes?" Concubine Liu fell silent, at a loss for what to say next.

Madam Xia observed Concubine Liu’s expression and remarked, "Though Wan Yu is a daughter of a concubine, she is now registered under my name. She must, after all, call me Mother. If she does something wrong, I certainly wouldn't wish to blame her excessively; after all, it is my failure in instruction, and no one else's fault." Listening to the Madam, Concubine Liu felt that even though the Madam said she wouldn't blame the Eldest Miss for any mistakes, whether she would actually refrain from blaming her remained highly uncertain.

Not receiving a definitive answer from the Madam, Concubine Liu grew anxious. The Madam not agreeing suggested she intended to blame the girl. What was to be done now?

Although Concubine Liu had anticipated this outcome before coming, she was still reluctant to give up hope. At that moment, Concubine Liu’s attention suddenly fixed on the Second Miss, Xia Wanting. What the Eldest Miss had done was a disservice to the Second Miss.

If she could persuade the Second Miss to let go of any resentment toward the Eldest Miss, perhaps the Madam would then spare the Eldest Miss out of consideration for the Second Miss? With this thought, Concubine Liu began kowtowing toward Xia Wanting. Everyone in the room was stunned, having never expected Concubine Liu to turn her appeals toward the Second Miss.

Madam Xia watched Concubine Liu bow to her daughter, imagining the words Concubine Liu might utter next. Fury and exasperation surged within her. That bastard daughter born of a lowly servant has committed a wrong, and my own daughter is being innocently implicated!

My daughter has been utterly ruined by her schemes! And yet, you have the audacity to beg my daughter to forgive that scourge! This is truly an outrage!

Just as Madam Xia was about to intervene, she heard Concubine Liu, while repeatedly hitting her head on the floor for Xia Wanting, plead loudly, "Second Miss, I know the Eldest Miss did terrible things to you, and I know those acts caused you great harm, but I still beg you to forgive her. I know Second Miss is the kindest of hearts; you will surely forgive her, won't you?" Xia Wanting had not expected Concubine Liu to bring the matter around to her. For a moment, she was unsure how to react.

To say she would forgive Xia Wanyu was impossible; after all, no one whose marriage prospects were stolen could genuinely forgive the thief without lingering resentment. Yet, looking at Concubine Liu’s pitiable state, she found herself unable to refuse. Madam Xia glared at Concubine Liu, then said to Xia Wanting, "Ting'er, that is enough embroidery for today.

You should return to your rest!" Xia Wanting was immensely grateful for her mother’s timely intervention. Upon hearing Madam Xia’s words, she quickly gathered her things and left for her own chambers with her maid. After Xia Wanting departed, Madam Xia remained silent, only fixing a harsh glare on the kneeling Concubine Liu.

Concubine Liu flinched, but she could not afford to show fear at this moment. If she succumbed to fear now, not only would she fail to help her daughter, but she herself would face severe punishment from the Madam. Madam Xia slowly sipped her tea, then set the cup down with a heavy thud.

"I recall when I was very young, there was a maid who served me who was quite pleasing to me. However, she had one flaw: she always tried to trick me into bestowing my jewelry and other trinkets upon her. I was very young then and knew nothing, and she managed to wheedle quite a few valuable things out of me.

But later on, my own mother discovered the matter. Do you know what happened to that maid in the end?" Concubine Liu, still kneeling, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. "This...

this servant does not know." "She," Madam Xia said airily, "was ultimately executed by beating for her transgression!" Hearing this, Concubine Liu broke out in a cold sweat, too nervous to articulate a response. Madam Xia was quite satisfied with Concubine Liu's reaction and continued, "After that incident, none of the maids in the residence dared to covet their mistress's possessions again. This is what I wish to caution you about today: do not set your sights on those you must not touch, do you understand?" Concubine Liu nodded, trembling.

"This servant, this servant understands!" "Good. You may leave now and take some time to reflect properly," Madam Xia instructed. Concubine Liu quickly excused herself and hurried out.

Once outside, Concubine Liu felt her entire back was drenched in sweat, clinging uncomfortably to her skin. However, she couldn't attend to that now; she was consumed by the thought that the Madam might not spare her daughter. What was to be done?

Should she appeal to the Master? But even if the Master ordered something, it would be useless, as the Madam's methods were not always evident. If she appealed to the Master, she might even be accused of slandering the Madam.

What recourse did she have? Concubine Liu slowly made her way back while pondering her next move. Meanwhile, in her own chambers, Xia Wanting pondered Concubine Liu's words from her mother’s presence earlier.

Concubine Liu had asked her mother to forgive Xia Wanyu? But neither she nor her mother had truly held much grievance against Xia Wanyu. Moreover, hadn't she already yielded Brother Fu?

The household had already decided that Xia Wanyu would marry Brother Fu. Since everything had turned out as Xia Wanyu wished, why was Concubine Liu still begging her mother like this? Xia Wanting found it baffling, as in her view, Xia Wanyu had gained everything and there was no one in the residence to cause her any discomfort.

Unable to make sense of it, Xia Wanting set the matter aside and turned her thoughts instead to Brother Fu. Her mother had mentioned repeatedly in recent days that Brother Fu was not a man worthy of reliance. At first, she hadn't paid heed, but after hearing it so often, a sliver of doubt had crept into her heart.

Brother Fu had been engaged to her, yet he became entangled with her half-sister. Could Brother Fu truly be the untrustworthy person her mother claimed? Thinking this, Xia Wanting sighed.

In truth, whether Brother Fu was worth trusting now mattered little to her; the person he would eventually marry would not be her. The maid Dong'er, seeing her mistress sighing again, hurried over. "Miss, many of the osmanthus flowers in the garden have bloomed; why don't we go pick some to bring back?" Interrupted from her reverie, Xia Wanting looked up at the maid but showed no annoyance, understanding that Dong'er was merely trying to stop her from spiraling into negative thoughts.

"Perhaps not today. I just returned from Mother's and don't feel like walking out again yet," Xia Wanting replied. "Miss, you stay indoors day after day now; if you never go out for a stroll, won't you become stifled?" Dong'er continued to persuade.

Xia Wanting knew that her mother must have instructed the maids to encourage her to go out and refresh her mind, so she didn't want to make things difficult for Dong'er and agreed, "Fine, let's go for a walk then. Since the osmanthus has bloomed, we can cut some to place in the room. Oh, and send some to Mother as well; she likes osmanthus too." Dong'er was delighted when her Miss agreed.

"Yes, Miss! Let's go right away!" With that, Dong'er supported Xia Wanting as they headed to the garden. Not long after, Madam Xia learned that her daughter had gone out to the garden to clear her head, and she was instantly pleased.

"Who persuaded the young lady to go out?" The servant who reported the news replied that it was Dong'er. Madam Xia said happily, "Nanny Gu, when you go later, please present her with this hairpin of mine. Tell her it is a reward for being reliable in her duties, and assure her that if she continues to serve diligently, I will not treat her poorly." Nanny Gu was also delighted to hear this news and replied, "Yes, I will see that the hairpin is delivered later.

Madam, the young lady seems much better today than before. Should we perhaps instruct the kitchen to prepare an extra dish for her?" "Yes, yes! Tell them to add two of her favorite dishes.

Ting'er hasn't had much appetite these past few days. Now that she seems a bit better, we must encourage her to eat more and build up her strength," Madam Xia quickly agreed.