That evening, Nanny Zhou carried dinner into the warm chamber. After sending Qinghe away and closing the door, she sat down across from Shi Huai.
“Nine different maids have delivered your meals, and every one of them came from the Marchioness’s courtyard.”
Nanny Zhou’s voice was hushed, her face dark with anger. “I had someone examine the poison in the porridge. It’s a slow-acting poison. After three months of consumption, it will damage all five vital organs, making it look as though the victim died of natural causes.”
Shi Huai picked up the bowl of porridge and held it beneath his nose to smell it before setting it back down. “Is today’s portion poisoned too?”
“Yes.” Nanny Zhou nodded. “I’ve already had someone cook another bowl. It’s being kept warm in the back. Qinghe will bring it over later.”
“What about the xuan paper?”
“The matter with the xuan paper is even stranger.” Nanny Zhou’s brows drew together tightly.
“The person who tampered with your xuan paper wasn’t from the Marchioness’s courtyard. It was someone serving the eldest young lady.”
Shi Huai’s fingers paused briefly. He lifted his head and looked straight into Nanny Zhou’s eyes. “Big Sister?”
“Yes.” There was an indescribable gravity in Nanny Zhou’s voice. “Bizhu, the eldest young lady’s personal maid, entered your study while you were away and searched through your desk.”
Shi Huai leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly against the tabletop as his mind raced.
Shi Lingyi—that seemingly gentle and gracious eldest sister who never said a careless word.
She had come to Shou’an Hall to chat with him and asked about his Second Uncle. He had assumed she was merely gathering information for Madam Liu.
He had never expected her to take matters into her own hands.
“Why would Big Sister search through my xuan paper?” Shi Huai’s gaze turned colder.
“I don’t know, but I suspect the eldest young lady was looking for something.”
Nanny Zhou sighed. “The eldest young lady may appear gentle and mild, but she’s actually much more ruthless than the Marchioness. The Marchioness acts rashly, while the eldest young lady is meticulous. She never leaves anything that could be used against her.”
Shi Huai nodded. He had already realized that Shi Lingyi was far more difficult to deal with than Madam Liu.
Madam Liu was a rabid dog that would bite anyone she saw. As long as you kept out of reach of her teeth, you would be fine.
Shi Lingyi was a venomous snake hidden in the grass. You had no idea when she might suddenly strike.
“Nanny Zhou, why do you think Big Sister wants to harm me?”
Nanny Zhou shook her head.
“I can’t understand it either. By all accounts, the eldest young lady is the Marquis’s legitimate eldest daughter. Once she marries, she’ll belong to another family, and the Marquis’s title will have nothing to do with her. There’s no reason for her to make an enemy of you over it.”
Unless Shi Lingyi had no intention of marrying at all—or perhaps what she wanted was more than merely becoming a member of another household.
“Nanny Zhou, the eldest young lady is thirteen this year, isn’t she?” Shi Huai asked suddenly.
“She is. It’s time to start looking at potential matches.” Nanny Zhou nodded. “But the Marchioness has rejected every family she’s considered. She says she wants someone of suitable status, but those of suitable status look down on the Marquis’s declining household. So the family has been stuck in an awkward position, unable to rise or sink.”
Shi Huai had a vague suspicion in his heart, but it was so outrageous that he needed to think it over carefully.
“Nanny Zhou, has Second Master come by recently?”
“No. The Second Master hasn’t visited in over half a month.” Nanny Zhou shook her head. “I sent someone to ask at the estate. They said the Second Master had gone out, but no one knew where.”
Shi Huai’s brows drew together slightly. Was Shi Yuanping’s disappearance at this particular time a coincidence, or had it been deliberate?
“All right, Nanny Zhou. You’ve worked hard.”
Shi Huai hopped down from his chair and bowed to Nanny Zhou. “Don’t spread word of these matters for now. Keep an eye on the poison in the porridge—just make sure I don’t drink it. As for the eldest young lady, I’ll deal with her myself.”
Nanny Zhou nodded, rose, and pushed open the door.
Qinghe returned from the kitchen with a bowl of hot porridge. Seeing Shi Huai sitting in the chair lost in thought, she set the bowl down in front of him.
“Young master, what are you thinking about?”
Shi Huai picked up the bowl and stirred the porridge with a spoon. Then he suddenly asked, “Sister Qinghe, what kind of person do you think the eldest young lady is?”
Qinghe froze for a moment. After thinking, she replied, “The eldest young lady? She’s very nice. Gentle and mild, and kind to the servants too. Everyone in the household praises her.”
Shi Huai took a sip of porridge. He thought to himself that it was precisely because she was too perfect that she frightened him.
People whom everyone praised as good were often the most dangerous.
Early the next morning, Shi Huai went to pay his respects to the Marquis.
It was a habit he had developed after Grand Madam’s death.
Every morning, he went to the main residence to pay his respects, acting obedient and adorably innocent so that the Marquis would know he was still alive and that Madam Liu had not yet managed to kill him.
Inside the main residence, Shi Yuanzhi was sitting at the table eating breakfast. Seven or eight different side dishes had been laid out before him, an abundant spread of food.
When he saw Shi Huai enter, he put down his chopsticks and, unusually, revealed a smile.
“You’re here? Have you eaten?”
“Greetings, Father.”
Shi Huai bowed properly, then climbed onto a chair and tilted his head as he looked over the dishes on the table. “I haven’t eaten yet. What tasty things do you have here, Father?”
Shi Yuanzhi had a maid add a set of bowls and chopsticks, then placed a bun in Shi Huai’s bowl.
“Go ahead and eat. The kitchen just made these crab-roe buns.”
Shi Huai took a bite and narrowed his eyes at the savory flavor. He thought that although his cheap father was not a good man, the food in the Marquis’s residence was undeniably excellent.
“Father, has Second Uncle come by recently?”
Shi Huai asked while eating his bun, his tone as casual as though they were chatting about the weather.
Shi Yuanzhi shook his head. “No. Your Second Uncle hasn’t come by in more than half a month. I have no idea what he’s busy with.”
“Oh.” Shi Huai nodded and took another bite of the bun. “Father, I want to visit Second Uncle at the estate. I haven’t seen him in a long time, and I miss him.”
Shi Yuanzhi glanced at him and hesitated before answering, “All right. Tomorrow, I’ll have the steward arrange a carriage. Qinghe and Nanny Zhou can accompany you.”
“Thank you, Father.” Shi Huai grinned, revealing two small canine teeth.
Just then, the curtain at the entrance was lifted, and Shi Lingyi entered carrying a tea cup. A faint smile rested on her face.
“Father, your daughter has brought you some tea.”
Her gaze swept over Shi Huai and paused for the briefest moment before returning to normal.
“Little Brother is here too?”
“Good morning, Big Sister.” Shi Huai put down his bun and bowed properly.
Shi Lingyi placed the tea cup in front of Shi Yuanzhi, then turned to look at Shi Huai. Her eyes held a perfectly measured concern.
“Why did you come so early today, Little Brother? Have you eaten breakfast?”
“I have. Father gave me crab-roe buns. They’re delicious.” Shi Huai patted his stomach, looking completely satisfied.
Shi Lingyi smiled and sat down across from him. She picked up the tea brought by the maid and took a sip.
“Little Brother, I heard you’ve been practicing calligraphy recently. How is it going?”
So it begins, Shi Huai thought. She really was paying attention to everything he did.
“It’s all right. Master Meng said my regular script is starting to look quite impressive.”
Shi Huai tilted his head, putting on an innocent expression. “Big Sister, how did you know I’ve been practicing calligraphy?”
There wasn’t the slightest flaw in Shi Lingyi’s smile.
“Everyone in the household knows that our young master is a prodigy. You practice calligraphy and read in Shou’an Hall every day, and you don’t even go to the garden anymore.”
Shi Huai smiled but did not answer. He lowered his head and continued eating his bun.
Shi Yuanzhi set down his tea cup. He looked at Shi Lingyi, then at Shi Huai, and suddenly said:
“Shi Lingyi, your younger brother is still young. As his older sister, you should take better care of him.”
Shi Lingyi’s smile deepened. “Rest assured, Father. Your daughter will.”
Of course she would “take care” of him—well enough to ensure he died without anyone knowing how.
