Volume 1, Chapter 6: Since we are both concubines, why not let the Second Sister do it?

The Marquis of Wen is not a man easily manipulated.

Qin Weishu has been married to the Marquis for over a decade and knows full well that a man who has commanded armies for so long is not to be trifled with. However, because he is often away from the capital, his primary concern is the peace and order of his household. He understands the difficulty of being a stepmother, and is generally considerate toward Qin Weishu, keeping any minor disagreements brief and restrained.

Yet, when it comes to his children, he yields not an inch. He understood the subtext in Wen Yunmu’s words perfectly; while the young man spoke of his own quarters, his meaning was clear: Qin Weishu had been mistreating Concubine Zhao and her daughter.

Though Qin Weishu was furious, she feigned a delicate, apologetic air. As she took a step back to kneel, the Marquis caught her. "There are eyes everywhere in this courtyard. If you kneel to me, it will only give people the impression that we are at odds. I know you are busy; with a household this large, it is inevitable that some things escape your notice. But I am leaving for the autumn patrol in a few days and will be out of the capital. Please, keep the children's affairs close to your heart."

Qin Weishu wiped a hot tear from the corner of her eye. "With your understanding, Marquis, I no longer feel wronged. The truth is, it was Yunxiu who neglected to visit Concubine Zhao’s quarters, which is why she was unaware of the situation. It was never a matter of me mistreating them."

"Oh? And what exactly happened?"

"About ten days ago, it was reported that two servants in Yunxiu’s quarters died of illness. We have been busy recruiting replacements. Since Yunxiu and Concubine Zhao are well-versed in medicine, their attendants must be literate. Most who are literate are from disgraced official families, and screening them takes time. But it is fortunate now—the maids sent by Prince Tang can fill the gap and resolve this urgent need."

"Died of illness?"

"Yes. A large household has many affairs; it is not uncommon for one or two to succumb to illness."

The Marquis did not press further, merely saying, "You have worked hard, Madam."

"It is only my duty."

As Qin Weishu walked beside the Marquis, arm in arm, her mind was in turmoil. Why would Prince Tang choose today of all days to send gifts? And why send people, of all things? Her husband might not mention it aloud, but he surely knew the truth: his son and daughter, along with an outsider, were stirring up trouble—a clear message to everyone that they did not trust their stepmother.

Does a mere Wen Yunxiu deserve to be a piece on this board? She would have to be dealt with sooner or later. If that is the case, better sooner than later, Qin Weishu thought to herself.

"Madam." After the Marquis had finished his grooming and left, and the house had been cleared of servants, Mammy Feng came to report. "The one we took away earlier... spots have appeared on the body."

Qin Weishu paused her work and looked up. Seeing the Mammy fall silent, she continued, "I had a wandering physician examine the body. He insisted it was poisoning; there were toxic spots under the tongue and on the fingertips. He is even willing to testify before the magistrate."

"So, there is no doubt?"

"Rest assured, Madam. There isn't a single flaw."

The poison is truly potent—Qin Weishu traced the rim of her teacup, a touch of triumph in her heart. That mother and daughter, relying on their medical knowledge and caution, had always been difficult to target, and the people she had sent previously had been useless. She had thought there would be no more opportunities, yet who would have expected such a powerful weapon to fall into her hands!

"And the physician?"

The physician? Mammy Feng blinked, momentarily confused.

Qin Weishu slammed her palm onto the table, making the teacup jump and eventually tip over. "Have you gone senile? Did you let him go?"

"No, no! I was afraid you might still have use for him, so I kept him under a pretext," Mammy Feng hurriedly defended herself.

"Leave no witnesses," Qin Weishu said, her eyes narrowing with impatience. "How many years have you been working for me? Does a trivial matter like this still require my instruction?"

"But—" Mammy Feng was puzzled. "Wouldn't we need someone to testify at the magistrate's office?"

"What need is there for a witness? The magistrate has plenty of coroners to investigate. The more people who know, the more trouble it causes. Since he is a wandering physician, he roams the world; it is perfectly normal for him to have tripped and died on some desolate mountain, is it not?" Qin Weishu said, enunciating each word clearly. "Find someone clean-handed to do it."

"Yes, Madam."

After Mammy Feng left, Qin Weishu stood up and plucked two blossoms from the vase. Her own daughter was far too intense; she did everything with such excessive energy, even her flower arranging looked like a clamorous, bothersome spectacle. Young girls—they only ever see the trivialities of romance.

Were it not for greater ambitions, she would never have set her sights on a fickle youth like Wei Yan. But then again, in the course of life, which man is without his concubines? Men like the Marquis are rare. He is a good man, but he loves no one.

"Mother."

Wen Yunwan poked her head in from the outer room. Seeing the joy on her mother's face, she came over to act spoiled. "Mother, can you stop Wen Yunxiu from going to the family school?"

"What is it now?"

"I just can't stand the way she and Wen Yunmu act, fawning over the Prince and the Third Young Master Wei!" Wen Yunwan shook her mother's arm.

Qin Weishu smiled and pushed her daughter toward a small table, picking a preserved plum from a four-compartment snack box. "You were clamoring for these a few days ago. I had some made; taste and see if they are to your liking."

What is so good about preserved plums? They are both sour and cloyingly sweet. Were it not for the Third Young Master Wei, who would care for such things? Wen Yunwan toyed with the sweet, glanced at it, and put it down, continuing to plead with Qin Weishu. "Mother—"

"It seems it is not the plums you love, but rather your desire to outshine those two. Is this for Wei Yan's sake?"

Ye Chuiyun had grown up with those two siblings, as close as kin, and the children had long ago chosen their sides. Moreover, they were royalty; Wen Yunwan knew she could not climb that high, so looking around, only Wei Yan remained as an eligible outsider.

"You cannot handle it yourself, so you come crying to Mother for help? What does Wen Yunxiu have that makes her worthy of competing with you?" Qin Weishu raised an eyebrow. Her own daughter was proving to be a disappointment—a wall that could not be plastered. Wen Yunmu, at least, was the legitimate eldest daughter and had the standing to compete with Wen Yunwan, but to treat a mere concubine's daughter as such a formidable enemy?

"Mother!"

"Be patient. In a few days, she will get what is coming to her!"

"Mother, what are you planning?" Wen Yunwan asked, her spirits suddenly lifted.

"Nothing much. Lu Jia'an, the eldest son of the Lu family, will be coming to the family school soon. If Yunxiu is so eager to be a concubine, being a concubine for the Third Young Master Wei is one thing, but being one for the Lu family is another. A mere concubine's daughter—does she really get to choose?"

"Mother." Wen Yunwan leaned on Qin Weishu’s shoulder, laughing with naive charm. "I heard that the young master of the Lu family is very devoted to his wife and would certainly refuse to take a concubine. But our Marquis's mansion won't let him off easily. If we fight over him just to deal with the Fifth Sister, wouldn't that be a waste of talent? What if he and my Second Sister happen to like each other? What then? He can't possibly take the Second Sister as a concubine, can he?"

"Of course not. How could the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion marry into the Lu family as a concubine?" Qin Weishu pinched Wen Yunwan's chin. "Usually you seem quite slow, but today you’ve come up with a decent idea!"

"Then what about the Second Sister? Will she lose face and throw herself into the river? Or will we force the Lu family to divorce their wife? And if the Lu family really does divorce her, wouldn't Young Master Lu hate the Second Sister to death?" Wen Yunwan laughed, as innocent as if she knew nothing of the world. "Mother, is it more satisfying to die in a river, or to be someone’s legitimate wife?"

"Naturally, it is more satisfying to be a legitimate wife. After all—one gets to enjoy the glory for decades!"

"Mother, you will do it, won't you?"

Qin Weishu tapped the vase. "In the art of composition, you are missing a 'sovereign' element. Go and select one. Choose well, look closely, and learn well."

"Yes, Mother!"