Volume One, Chapter Six: The Powder of Extinction

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Wutong was startled by the red powder and immediately took Xie Mingyue’s bracelet, slipping out through the back gate of the courtyard.

Xie Mingyue sat inside for a while, noticing no maid came in to replenish tea or water, as if she no longer had a mistress.

She thought about how, over the years, she had neglected managing the household, leaving the servants lazy and inattentive. Clearly, it was time to find a few trustworthy people to promote.

She touched the ledger beside her, took a blank book, made a note, then stepped out of the room to inspect around the courtyard.

The front yard was relatively clean and tidy, but the back, where no one went, was overrun with fallen leaves and wild grass. At a glance, it looked like an abandoned garden.

From the small kitchen behind the house came faint sounds of laughter. Xie Mingyue approached and paused at the door, peeking through a crack to see two older women and two maids gathered around a stove, drinking, their faces adorned with yellow slips, copper coins nearby—they appeared to be playing cards.

Xie Mingyue did not disturb them but listened carefully for a moment before returning inside. When Wutong came back, she questioned her.

“Lady, you must mean Nurse Huang and Nurse Li. When you first came to the mansion, you had only one maid to attend to you. These two nurses were both gifts from the Grand Matriarch, and those two rough maids are originally from the household’s own native servants.”

Wutong’s expression darkened. After hearing this, Xie Mingyue nodded and asked, “Did you find out about the powder?”

Wutong’s face was full of resentment. “The doctor said this medicine is for barrenness. Wearing it for a long time will make one’s constitution increasingly cold, making pregnancy difficult.”

Xie Mingyue chuckled softly—it was indeed a sinister thing.

“Why would the Grand Matriarch do this? Doesn’t she want grandchildren?” Wutong was both angry and anxious.

Xie Mingyue sneered, “It’s not that she doesn’t want grandchildren, she just doesn’t want grandchildren born from me.”

For ten years, she and Qi Jinshan had been at odds so severely that he remained childless at thirty and refused to take a concubine. Yun Shi, Qi’s mother, must have regarded her as a thorn in her side.

Yun Shi dared to give this to her, unafraid that Qi Jinshan would be influenced after contact, precisely because of the friction between her and Qi Jinshan and their seldom interaction.

It seemed her mother-in-law was not as gentle and kind as she appeared. Yun Shi lacked alluring beauty and was not as well preserved as Luo Shi, yet she had stood firm in the household for many years, even matching Luo Shi’s family, which wielded power and prestige.

She was someone even Luo Shi could not control. Aside from her son’s achievements, Yun Shi herself must have her own tactics.

Those two older women were Yun Shi’s people, and the two maids might be her eyes and ears.

Xie Mingyue lowered her gaze, pondering. If that was the case, she would not hold back.

“Give it to me.”

She took the red powder back out of the bracelet and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

“Madam!” Wutong looked at Xie Mingyue anxiously.

“This isn’t the medicine for barrenness?”

Xie Mingyue smiled faintly. “Let’s pretend this never happened. I have my own plans.”

She lay back down on the couch. “Have Nurse Li and Nurse Huang come in to attend to me. You watch the maids as they clean the yard.”

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Wutong left, bewildered. After a while, the two older women grudgingly entered the room.

“The sun rises in the west today; madam actually wants us old maids to serve her.”

Nurse Huang stood before Xie Mingyue with a forced smile, her tone indifferent.

Xie Mingyue looked at them calmly. “Since you are staff in my courtyard, you serve me. I can use Wutong, and I can use you.”

At her words, Nurse Huang and Nurse Li exchanged a glance.

The madam usually lay sickly in her room, yet today, after some fuss, she still had so much strength?

Xie Mingyue ignored their thoughts, took off the bracelet she had just put on, and placed it on the table.

“This bracelet is fine, but it’s too heavy. Nurse Li, put it away and don’t bring it out again. I don’t like wearing it.”

Having said that, she weakly lay back down. The two older women saw the exquisite bracelet and their eyes gleamed briefly.

“Yes, this old servant will go right away.”

Nurse Li dropped her arrogant demeanor and flattered as she picked up the bracelet and went into the inner room.

Xie Mingyue lowered her eyes, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

They had been gambling fiercely in the small kitchen just now, unaware this was sent by Yun Shi’s people.

Moreover, Nurse Li had even bet next month’s allowance—the value of such a bracelet placed before her was enough to tempt anyone.

While ordering the two older women around, Xie Mingyue rested on the couch, contemplating when the plan would unfold.

By evening, Jin He, a servant close to Qi Jinshan, arrived outside the courtyard.

“Madam, Master has returned from his social engagements. He’s heavily intoxicated. Would you like to check on him in the front yard?”

“Qi Jinshan is drunk?” Hearing Jin He’s report inside, Xie Mingyue felt a secret joy.

A drunk man’s tongue loosens, a perfect opportunity to fish for information.

Besides, she wasn’t in the courtyard, which gave the two older women a chance to act.

“Let’s go.”

She draped the pink cloak over her shoulders, left Wutong to guard the room, whispered a few instructions, and followed Jin He to Qi Jinshan’s courtyard.

Yu Jiang was inside attending to him. Seeing Xie Mingyue arrive, she immediately gave Jin He a thumbs-up.

Impressive, even madam has come.

“Put down the sobering soup and everyone else, please leave.”

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Once the door was closed, Xie Mingyue looked at Qi Jinshan seated on the couch.

There was a faint scent of wine on him, his jade-like face flushed with a tipsy red.

In the prime of life, his appearance was even more striking than ten years ago. Back then, Qi Jinshan’s handsome face had already stirred the hearts of some noble ladies; now, he was even more refined and ethereal. Gazing at him up close, Xie Mingyue’s heart was filled with complex emotions.

With his background and skills, could such a young and powerful minister truly be devoted to only her?

Lost in thought, her wrist was suddenly grasped.

“Madam.” The man’s eyes half-closed, his breath hot, his large palm stroking her fingers. “Who told you to come?”

“I heard you were drunk, so I came to check on you.” Xie Mingyue could not read the emotion in his voice. She tried to pull her hand back but failed as he gripped tighter.

“Let me go.” She tugged at his hand.

Qi Jinshan applied a little force, and Xie Mingyue gasped softly as he pinned her down on the couch.

She struggled with embarrassment and anger. “Qi Jinshan, what are you doing?”

He propped himself over her, feeling the softness beneath him, exhaling hot breath.

“Don’t move.”

His voice was low and stern; a sharp edge appeared between his brows. Silenced by him, Xie Mingyue immediately regretted it.

They were no ordinary couple. Between her and Qi Jinshan lay a decade of deep-seated grievances and wounds that could not be washed away. How could she have so easily trusted he would not hurt her?

Seeing the woman lying stiffly on the couch, her face clearly resistant, a shadow passed over Qi Jinshan’s eyes.

He drew a deep breath and sat up, his gaze clearing somewhat.

“Let Yu Jiang come in to attend to us.”

Xie Mingyue quickly climbed up from the couch, retreating warily to the side.

She glanced at the soup on the table, pursed her lips, and took the initiative to pick it up.

“It’s fine. I’ll feed you the sobering soup.”

She still needed to coax information from him. With Qi Jinshan in this state, clearly intoxicated, she could not leave.