The Xu family’s daughter has blossomed into adulthood.

It was as if Madam Jiang had foreseen something. She hurriedly ordered the maids and old women trailing behind her to remain outside the courtyard, then pulled Xu Guiyi and her companion along, quickening her pace as they entered the inner chamber, intent on uncovering the truth.

Unlike the outer room, the inner chamber was unexpectedly crowded with people.

“Father?” Xu Guiyi was the first to spot the second master, her tone filled with surprise.

But as her gaze swept the room, she realized that not only was the second master present, but also the second madam, the third master, the fourth master and his wife—all gathered with grave, somber expressions.

In the inner part of the room, there was Miss Xu Six, crouched by the bed, face buried in her hands, seemingly on the verge of tears; beside her stood Miss Xu Five and Miss Xu Seven, both appearing bewildered; and on the bed itself, propped up by soft pillows, lay Miss Xu Four, Xu Zhuhua, her face streaked with two clear trails of tears.

What had happened? A thousand questions tumbled through Xu Guiyi’s mind.

Those who ought to be in the front hall greeting guests were now all assembled in the fourth young lady’s quarters, each with a complexion clouded by cold severity. What grave matter could possibly have occurred?

“My child, where have you been? What is wrong with you? Have you fallen ill with some grave disease? Tell your mother, don’t keep everything bottled up inside…” Madam Jiang, upon seeing Xu Zhuhua lying on the bed so haggard and wan, rushed to her side, sat down, and grasped her daughter’s hand, rubbing it incessantly.

“Enough!” A stern and heavy male voice cut through Madam Jiang’s sobs.

“Father?” Xu Guiyi looked at her father, the second master Xu Yan, in confusion. In that single utterance, she caught a hint of anger.

She knew her father, though always strict, rarely lost his temper without cause.

Hearing his daughter call him, Xu Yan hesitated briefly, then strode to her side, his stance reminiscent of a hawk shielding its fledgling. The second madam, Hua, followed her husband’s lead and came to stand by Xu Guiyi as well.

This only deepened Xu Guiyi’s confusion. Xu Yan’s face was shadowed with displeasure as he said, “Madam Jiang, you have failed in raising your daughter, yet you have the face to weep?”

“Second master, if Hua’er is ill, then surely it’s my fault as her mother. But Hua’er is a good child, you cannot speak of her like this.” Madam Jiang began to wail even louder. Unable to bear the sight, the third master stole a glance at his elder brother, then hurried over to support his own wife, afraid she might collapse from grief.

Xu Yan let out a cold, heavy laugh. “Hmph. Why don’t you ask Doctor Hu behind you what illness she’s suffering from?” In the Xu family, Xu Yan’s word was law; even the old madam herself sometimes found him unyielding. At his gaze, Xu Zhuhua, leaning against her pillow, trembled thrice, her face growing even more pallid as she looked to her parents for help.

Madam Jiang wiped her tears, sniffed, and turned to the silent Doctor Hu. “Good girl, tell me, what illness afflicts Hua’er?” Doctor Hu Jing, a woman in her twenties, was often responsible for attending to the ladies of the household.

Pressed by Madam Jiang’s fierce questioning, Hu Jing shrank back a step and lowered her head, her voice slow and soft: “Fourth Miss is not ill… she is, in fact, with child…”

“Nonsense! Doctor Hu, you cannot speak so recklessly—words like that could destroy my daughter. You, as a woman yourself, should know how dangerous such claims are!” Madam Jiang’s angry rebuke struck like thunder, and she took two furious steps toward Hu Jing.

Hu Jing, accustomed to tending the inner chambers, had heard many a family secret. She had long heard of the third madam’s fierce temper, and now saw the rumors were true.

“I do not speak lightly—she is indeed two months along.” Hu Jing’s face flushed crimson. Pretending composure, she finished her words, bowed to Xu Yan, and quickly departed the room.

Understanding the ways of noble households, she excused herself from the family’s private affairs. Yet she did not leave the estate at once, instead waiting by the gate for someone to come instruct her to keep silent.

Upon hearing Doctor Hu’s words, Xu Guiyi was frozen to the spot. With the entire family present, how could Xu Zhuhua have done something so… disgraceful, so unspeakable?

How could she dare?

The Xu family maintained strict discipline; an unmarried daughter engaging in a clandestine affair, much less conceiving a child, was utterly unacceptable. Moreover, Xu Zhuhua had been betrothed a year ago to Xu Yan’s prized student.

Why, then, would she commit such an outrageous act? If she was dissatisfied with her engagement, why had she agreed to it in the first place?

With her last shred of dignity stripped away, perhaps out of pride or shame at having failed her family, Xu Zhuhua began to sob quietly, her cries growing louder and more unsteady, until she nearly collapsed by the bedside.

“Don’t cry, sister—you’re still carrying a child,” urged Miss Xu Six, Xu Zhuning, her own full-blooded sister, stepping forward with deep concern to steady her.

What a display of sisterly affection! Miss Xu Seven sneered, casting a scornful glance as she tugged her complicated-faced fifth sister away from the group, edging closer to Xu Guiyi.

Suddenly, Xu Zhuning’s face hardened with resolve. Taking a deep breath, she sprang up and rushed past the second master and second madam, dropping to her knees before Xu Guiyi with a resounding thud.

Startled, Miss Xu Seven pulled her third sister back two steps, her voice sharp with anger: “What are you doing?”

Kneeling, Xu Zhuning crept forward, clutching Xu Guiyi’s skirt, her expression pitiful and pleading: “Third sister, please save fourth sister—only you can help her…”

“Silence!” the second madam, Hua, commanded in a harsh voice. Her own daughter could not be subjected to such humiliation.

Xu Guiyi felt that everyone in the Xu household was acting strangely today. Her stepmother, usually the picture of kindness, was uncharacteristically stern.

“Sixth sister, why do you say this? I have no idea what has happened—how could I possibly save fourth sister?” Xu Guiyi spoke the truth. She was neither the head of the family nor the old madam and had no power to alter the family’s strict codes. Why insist that only she could save Xu Zhuhua?

Xu Zhuning stammered, “Because… because… fourth sister is carrying the child of Third Young Master Ren.” These rebellious words struck Xu Guiyi like a bolt of lightning. “Sixth sister, you mustn’t say such things lightly…” Her voice faltered, trembling at the end.

Could it be that Third Young Master Ren was the very one to whom she was to be betrothed that day? As far as she knew, there was only one Third Young Master Ren in the Ren family, and in the entire city, only one prominent family bore that surname.

No wonder!

No wonder her father and stepmother had both acted so oddly, no wonder her third uncle’s gaze had been evasive when she entered, no wonder Madam Jiang had come so early to see her newly applied makeup…

So, there had been signs all along.

Xu Guiyi turned away in distress, her elegant brows furrowing tightly together, her features drawn in anguish. She truly could not accept that her cousin and her soon-to-be fiancé had shared a bed—had even conceived a child together…

The two younger sisters at her side hurried to steady her, their faces full of worry, fearing she might act recklessly.

“Third sister…” came a voice heavy with sorrow.

“Third sister!” another urged, anxiety in her tone.

While Xu Guiyi was still lost in confusion, a commotion arose at the courtyard gate. Steward Zhao, with his booming voice, called out for the master: “Second master! The Ren family has arrived—we must go greet our guests.” Unaware of the drama within, he was merely fulfilling his duties, arranging the feast and welcoming the guests.

What excellent timing for this in-law’s arrival!

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhuhua wept even more bitterly, and Xu Zhuning clung tighter to Xu Guiyi’s skirt. “Third sister, for the sake of our bond as sisters, save my sister—without you, she cannot go on.”

Miss Xu Seven’s gaze was fierce. “What use are your tears and sisterly affection now? Your sister shamelessly stole my sister’s betrothed—how dare you weep?” She itched to kick the kneeling Xu Zhuning away.

Chastened, Xu Zhuning dared not utter another word.