Chapter 75: Murky Doubts and Hidden Inferences

Four days later.

Beside the drooping flower archway of the Pavilion of Knowing Words stood two women. One wore a plain white dress, her face free of makeup, as if in mourning; she was Chu Xiu. The other, dressed as a maid, was also clad in white, and her name was Danxin.

From the day that marriage contract took effect, Danxin had been ordered by the Matriarch to attend upon Chu Xiu. This suited Danxin’s own wishes, and fulfilled the earnest exhortation left by Yun Ci before his death.

Now, seeing Chu Xiu elevated to her rightful place, none felt more bittersweet than Danxin. She grieved that Chu Xiu, a woman like a blossom, would spend the rest of her days in widowhood; yet she rejoiced that her mistress’s union with Chu Xiu had at last found a semblance of completion.

At this moment, Danxin noticed Chu Xiu gazing at the three bold characters above the Pavilion of Knowing Words and cautiously ventured, “Madam, shall we petition the Matriarch to rename the garden?”

The appellation “Madam” still felt unfamiliar to Chu Xiu. She lowered her eyes, returning from her reverie to look at Danxin, and smiled gently. “The name is fine. Why change it? I always look at these characters because they are penned by the Marquis himself.”

Though Chu Xiu knew not why Yun Ci had named the pavilion thus, nor how much the name related to Xia Yanran, it had become a testament to her acquaintance with Yun Ci. When she first met him, she was mute. Yet often, with just a look or a gesture, he understood her meaning, knew what she wished to say. This was the essence of “Knowing Words.”

Now, she dwelt in the Pavilion of Knowing Words as Yun Ci’s widow, bearing the title of the late Marquis’s wife.

“Madam, let us go now, lest the Matriarch grow impatient,” Danxin prompted, worried that too long a delay would incur the Matriarch’s displeasure.

Chu Xiu nodded lightly and walked briskly from the Pavilion toward the Hall of Glorious Brocade. Along the way, many servants and maids bowed respectfully, addressing her as “Madam” with utmost reverence.

Only yesterday, the Yun clan and all within the Marquis’s household had paid her formal respects, and the Matriarch herself had entered her name into the family records, officially acknowledging her as Yun Ci’s widow. Many saw her for the first time yesterday, their expressions momentarily stunned. But Chu Xiu did not know whether their surprise was due to her resemblance to Xia Yanran, or simply her beauty, which had moved the Marquis.

Moreover, yesterday Xia Yanran’s parents had hurried to visit. Upon seeing Chu Xiu, the elderly couple nearly wept aloud, believing their beloved daughter had returned from death. Master Xia publicly confirmed that Yun Ci had once asked the Xia family to adopt Chu Xiu as their foster daughter, quieting some doubters.

Yet Chu Xiu gently declined the offer of adoption. She wished only to uphold Yun Ci’s memory as his widow, not to bask in the Xia family’s favor. She feared, if she became their foster daughter, and someday met the same fate as Xia Yanran, the elderly couple would again endure the pain of losing a daughter.

Fortunately, the Xia family was understanding of her refusal. Master Xia, though tearful, did not insist, and upon hearing she was pregnant, felt comforted, urging her to fulfill Xia Yanran’s unfulfilled hopes and leave an heir for Yun Ci.

Chu Xiu did not know how the Matriarch had soothed the Xia family, but it seemed Master Xia accepted the official account—that Xia Yanran drowned by accident.

…

Her mind wandered as she walked, and as the Hall of Glorious Brocade came into view, Chu Xiu sighed, gathering herself before entering. This time, the Matriarch awaited her in the inner chamber. She had finally earned the right to enter the inner garden, though the price paid was excruciating.

“Greetings, Matriarch.” Knowing herself to be a pawn, Chu Xiu was self-aware enough not to call the Matriarch “Mother.”

Today, the Matriarch also wore mourning attire. Seeing Chu Xiu’s respectful demeanor, she dismissed her attendants and spoke privately. “It’s just the two of us here, so I’ll be frank. You’ve comported yourself well these days—especially in the front hall, where you calmly answered the doubts of the others. I was surprised.”

Chu Xiu lowered her eyes, saying nothing.

The Matriarch continued, “You announced your pregnancy without consulting me. How do you plan to end this charade? Where will you find a child?”

Chu Xiu had claimed pregnancy to force the Yun clan to accept her, confident that Shen Yu, the renowned physician’s apprentice, would vouch for her. But how to resolve this?

She had thought much over these days and spoke honestly, “The one who secretly harmed both Marquises covets the Marquisate. My feigned pregnancy will surely provoke the mastermind to act again. If I leave a deliberate flaw in my story, I might lure them out.”

“You’re mistaken,” the Matriarch corrected instantly. “Anyone who could hide for twenty years and poison both the old Marquis and Yun Ci is ruthless and cunning. If you leave an obvious flaw, they will suspect a trap. You must defend yourself rigorously—the tighter your guard, the more difficult they’ll find it, and the likelier they are to slip when they act.”

Indeed, Lady Xie was shrewd and far-sighted. Chu Xiu bowed her head. “I am grateful for your guidance.”

The Matriarch nodded, then asked, “If the mastermind is patient and takes no action, how will you maintain the pretense?”

“If I discover the culprit before my ‘due date’, I can feign a miscarriage and blame it on them, forcing them to reveal themselves. If not, I’ll find a male infant to raise temporarily, and surely the culprit will act,” Chu Xiu replied, her gaze flickering.

Hearing this, the Matriarch allowed herself a hint of approval and finally smiled. “If you truly bring in a baby boy, are you willing to use him as bait?”

Chu Xiu hesitated, then sighed, “I’ll protect the child as best I can. He is innocent.”

The Matriarch shook her head, worry evident in her tone. “You are still too soft-hearted…”

“But toward the murderer, I will show no mercy,” Chu Xiu replied coldly, her eyes resolute.

The Matriarch raised an eyebrow but said no more, changing the subject. “What do you think of the second son?”

Second Master Yun Qi? Chu Xiu answered without hesitation, “You saw his reaction in the front hall. The matter of Lady Xia’s drowning is surely linked to him.” Now, as Yun Ci’s successor, Chu Xiu was obliged to call Xia Yanran “Lady Xia.”

The Matriarch had long noticed Yun Qi’s odd behavior and agreed with Chu Xiu’s assessment. “Yun Ci said the same before he died… Yanran loved pomp and ceremony, always surrounded by attendants, yet that day she went out with only Zhuoyan, and she was pregnant. Her clothing was plain, unlike her usual style. Yun Ci suspected she was impersonating you to meet someone.”

Impersonating her? Chu Xiu had not known this detail and hurriedly asked, “Whom did Lady Xia intend to meet?”

The Matriarch narrowed her eyes and prompted, “She was impersonating you. Think—who in this household would meet you in secret? Who would respond to your private invitation without suspicion?”

Chu Xiu’s brows furrowed as she quietly reasoned, “As a maid, aside from some conflict with the second master, I had no dealings outside the Pavilion or the laundry room. If I met those from the Pavilion or laundry, it would be openly…”

Her eyes brightened. She looked again at the Matriarch and said urgently, “The second master once… coveted me, and it caused a stir in the household. If I wished to see him, it would have to be in secret, and he would likely accept!”

“You’re not so dim after all,” the Matriarch smiled. “I used to think his frivolity was an act, but if he truly killed Yanran, perhaps I overestimated him.”

The Matriarch fell silent, deep in thought. After a moment, she continued, “If Yanran was killed for her unborn child, then the murderer and the poisoner are likely the same. But if her death was accidental or caused by the second master, then the identity of the poisoner remains uncertain…”

Chu Xiu found the Matriarch’s analysis convincing. Indeed, if Yun Qi used such crude means, he likely lacked the skill to poison.

“Perhaps Lady Xia’s death was not the second master’s doing, but someone deliberately drew him in to shift suspicion onto him,” Chu Xiu suggested.

The Matriarch laughed again. “Now I see why Yun Ci was drawn to you—such a clever child…” She grew pensive. “Yanran was clever too, but only in petty ways, which led to her demise.”

Chu Xiu could not reply and remained silent.

The Matriarch gazed at Chu Xiu, as though seeing someone else through her, the sadness in her eyes deepening. “Yun Ci’s death made me realize much. Perhaps… their marriage was my mistake. Otherwise…” Remembering her husband and only son’s deaths, even the formidable Matriarch had to admit she was growing old.

Looking back, she had indeed made many mistakes. She had refused to acknowledge them at the time, forging ahead stubbornly, but now the consequences were clear…

“Please take comfort, Matriarch. This is fate’s doing. The Yun clan attracts envy, beset by rivals within and without. If blame must be assigned, it should fall upon the poisoner, not on your shoulders,” Chu Xiu knew she was overstepping, but could not help offering solace.

The Matriarch looked steadily at her, then smiled and sighed. “Now it falls to you to comfort me. How amusing.”

“I spoke out of turn,” Chu Xiu apologized.

The Matriarch did not dwell on it, returning to Yun Qi. “Regardless, Yanran’s death is a clue. Follow the thread, and the truth will emerge. If the second master and his mother are innocent, we can exclude them from suspicion.”

Chu Xiu nodded. “I will watch closely.”

The Matriarch gave a quiet assent and was silent for a while. Just as Chu Xiu thought she was weary and was about to take her leave, she heard the Matriarch speak again, “Visitors have arrived from the capital. They will reach Yanlan City tonight and join Prince Mu in paying respects to Yun Ci. As his widow, you should meet them.”

As she spoke, the Matriarch glanced at Chu Xiu, adding, “The visitor is the ninth son of Emperor Tongsheng of Nanxi, newly titled Duke Cheng last year—Nie Peixiao.”