Being a second wife is difficult: I'm busy raising children in the Earl's mansion.

Jiang Wan returned to the East Courtyard from Ruige. The courtyard was quiet and the evening breeze rustled through the branches and leaves under the corridor.

Having had a deep conversation with Mrs. Fang just now, she had already figured out all of her plans.

Fang Shi seemed to have made a successful plan, wanting to use Cui'er's unborn child to solidify her position as the second wife and protect her dignity and power for half her life, but in reality, she was in a passive position at every turn.

She could decide the fate of her child, but she never dared to confront Cui'er's whereabouts. This hesitation was her biggest flaw.

As Jiang Wan stepped into the main room, she felt the chill from the outside wind and immediately whispered a summons to her maid.

"Qinghe, go and call Qiutang here."

Qinghe acknowledged and withdrew, then led Qiutang inside a moment later.

Qiu Tang was her trusted maid, who was skilled at doing things in secret and never boasted or spoke much.

Jiang Wan explained clearly, word by word: "Go quietly to the secluded courtyard and the forbidden area, meet with Cui'er alone, and ask her for me—"

"Are you willing to trade the child in your womb for a worry-free life for the rest of your days? If she is willing, I will arrange a safe and secure place for her, and she will no longer have to suffer the hardships that plague the Earl's mansion."

Qiu Tang bowed her head and accepted the order, without a trace of surprise in her eyes.

Having followed Jiang Wan for a long time, she knew that her mistress acted fairly and would never easily take the lives of the weak, always leaving room for maneuver in everything.

"I've got it. I'll leave now and won't disturb anyone else."

After saying this, Qiu Tang bowed and took her leave. With light steps, she discreetly made her way to the secluded courtyard where Cui'er was being held, taking advantage of the cover of night.

The secluded courtyard was quiet and deserted, with no one coming or going. Days of staying alone behind closed doors had long since worn away all of Cui'er's anxiety and hope.

Since the day she was confined to her home, she has been filled with anxiety and unease every day.

She had asked someone to send a letter to the first wife for help, but there was no response for a long time.

She had already tacitly accepted that Jiang Wan was unwilling to interfere in the affairs of the second branch of the family, and had long given up the idea of ​​rescuing her. She only felt that her own background was adrift, and that she would eventually become a victim of the power struggles within the mansion.

Either the child is sold off at will after birth, or the child is taken care of by the Fang family before even being able to be saved.

In her desperate situation, Qiu Tang's quiet visit was like a ray of light falling from the sky.

She watched as Qiu Tang took some loose silver to bribe the old woman guarding the house. The old woman was quite sensible; she pocketed the silver and said she had an upset stomach and would probably have to squat for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. After saying that, she clutched her stomach and walked away.

Taking advantage of the moment, Qiu Tang slipped into the forbidden area and relayed Jiang Wan's words to her verbatim.

Upon hearing these words, Cui'er was terrified. She suddenly looked up, and the gloom that had been building up in her eyes for days vanished, replaced by an unbelievable joy.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, her throat tightened, and she stood there stunned for a long time before she regained her composure.

What she sought was never wealth or status, but simply a stable life.

Staying in the Earl's mansion would be a violation of the rules for a maid, making her the most awkward member of the second branch of the household. From now on, she would have to be mindful of others' opinions every day and endure gossip and criticism within the mansion. Separation from her son and being controlled by others would be inevitable sooner or later.

But if it could earn her freedom and allow her to escape this restrictive mansion, even if it meant giving up the right to raise her own children, it would be worth it.

The child could stay with the second wife, where she would be protected by the title of mistress, and grow up in comfort and dignity, which was far better than following her in a life of hardship and displacement.

And she was finally able to break free from all the shackles and have a new life of her own.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Cui'er nodded heavily, her tone firm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

"Please inform the First Madam that I am willing! As long as it brings me a peaceful and free life for the rest of my days, I will obey the Young Madam's arrangements without a single complaint, and I will never regret it in this life!"

The gloom that had been building up for days finally dissipated, her eyes regained their light, and the huge weight that had been hanging over her heart was finally lifted.

After completing her task, Qiu Tang did not linger and immediately returned to the East Courtyard to report back.

After hearing Qiu Tang's reply, Jiang Wan remained calm, having already anticipated this outcome.

She understood Cui'er's situation all too well.

As a lowly maid, she was powerless and her life was like a floating duckweed; she never had the right to choose for herself.

For Cui'er, the best outcome she could grasp at the moment was to exchange a life of peace and freedom for a sacrifice.

In contrast, Fang, who seemed to hold power and control the overall situation, was actually trapped by his own obsessions and worldly rules.

She had secured her title and status, but she could never overcome the hurdle in her heart. She couldn't bear to completely mistreat the servants who had been with her for many years, nor could she accept their existence with equanimity.

Being caught in a dilemma and hesitating repeatedly will only lead to self-imposed confinement.

Jiang Wan let out a soft breath, no longer dwelling on the interpersonal entanglements of the second branch of the family.

People's choices and preferences are determined by their own circumstances. Others may offer some pointers, but ultimately, only one can truly understand things for oneself.

The night passed quietly, and the next day dawned in the blink of an eye.

The morning light pierced through the window and spilled into the room, dispelling all the gloom of last night.

Just as dawn broke, the craftsmen from the outer courtyard made a special trip to the door, presenting two specially made earthen bricks that had been pried out from the foundation of the old Gu family compound.

The bricks are loosely textured, with a smooth marble veneer on top. They appear neat and hard, but there are hidden secrets inside.

The servant presented the bricks and bowed, saying, "Madam, these are the original bricks taken from the cracked foundation of the old courtyard."

The craftsman put down the bricks and stepped aside to wait. Jiang Wan gave him a reward and instructed him not to spread the word.

The craftsman weighed the purse in his hand, bowed deeply, and promised that he would not utter a word about it before leaving. All the other craftsmen in the courtyard received their keep-keeping money and dispersed.

Jiang Wan asked Qinghe to see the person out, then lowered her eyes to look at the bricks on the table, her gaze slightly somber.

She then sent someone to invite Doctor Li over.

Doctor Li has had a relatively peaceful stay at the manor these past few days. With the permission of the old lady and Jiang Wan, he set up a free clinic stall next to the manor, providing medical care to the local common people every day without charging any fees.

In his spare time, he would also discuss medical principles with the female physician Liu in the mansion. Even Xiao Xia Hua, the apprentice beside the female physician Liu, had received guidance from Physician Li and her medical skills had improved considerably.

Before long, Dr. Li arrived as invited.

She bent down to examine the two broken bricks closely, picked up a few clods of earth with her fingertips, and sniffed them lightly. She examined them repeatedly, her expression gradually becoming serious.

After a moment, Dr. Li straightened up and spoke with certainty.

"Madam, these mud bricks are no ordinary foundation-building materials. They are made by mixing a large amount of finely ground musk powder evenly with the mud.

"Musk is potent, invigorates blood circulation and dissipates qi, and its light and loose texture, when mixed into bricks and soil, will completely destroy the soil's compactness. Although the outer layer is covered with precious marble, making it appear solid and orderly, the internal foundation is already loose and hollow."

A chill crept into Jiang Wan's eyes as she instantly understood all the oddities.

No wonder the Gu family spent a lot of money to renovate the courtyard and used fine marble to pave the floor, but the foundation collapsed and the floor tiles cracked and leaked within just three years.

It wasn't that the craftsmen cut corners, nor that the foundation wasn't solid; rather, it was a malicious scheme hidden from the very beginning, starting with the materials used for the foundation.

Dr. Li then added, revealing a deeper hidden danger.

"In addition, musk has a unique scent that easily attracts ants and insects. Over the years, these insects and insects will bore into and gnaw at the soil, making the foundation increasingly hollow and loose. Eventually, the walls of the house will be damaged and leak."

Every word and phrase confirmed my suspicions.

This is no ordinary renovation; it is clearly a meticulously planned and long-term conspiracy.

Dr. Li looked at the broken brick in his hand with a solemn expression.

"This brick is highly suspicious and harbors malicious intent. May I take it back to my residence for a thorough examination to determine if it contains any other poisons?"

"Go ahead." Jiang Wan nodded slightly, her tone calm. "Investigate carefully and report back immediately with the results."

Dr. Li bowed and took his leave, carrying the broken bricks with him.

Jiang Wan was left alone in the room, her mind filled with swirling doubts.

She could never understand the logic behind it.

Musk has always been a taboo item for women, and ordinary women would avoid it like the plague. It was often used to induce abortion and break the cycle of pregnancy, which was extremely harmful to pregnant women.

When the Gu family laid the floor tiles in this courtyard, Gu had already given birth to two sons, Lu Zhao and Lu Wan, and had not conceived for many years, so there was no need for her to worry about the musk harming her health.

At that time, Gu was ill for a long time and the Gu family suspected that there was something strange underground. Wen Cai specially broke all the floor tiles in the courtyard and renovated it. On the surface, it was to protect Gu and investigate potential dangers.

Although nothing unusual was found at the time, the floor tiles that were pried up during the renovation of the old courtyard now contain musk mixed in with the mud bricks.

The Gu family spent a lot of money, seemingly for the purpose of investigation, but in reality, they used musk mixed with soil to build the foundation, thus destroying the very foundation of their courtyard.

What is the purpose of such a harmful and self-defeating act?

If it wasn't to harm Mrs. Gu, then what was the real purpose of this courtyard full of hidden musk foundations?

Countless questions swirled in my mind, shrouded in layers of mist, making it impossible to fathom.

Just as Jiang Wan was deep in thought, the gentle voice of Granny Gui from outside the courtyard interrupted her thoughts.

"Madam, Songhe Hall sent someone to deliver a message that the young mistress of the Shen family has specially sent someone to give gifts to the children in the mansion. The old lady requests your presence."

Jiang Wan suppressed the chaotic doubts in her heart, composed herself, and got up to go to Songhe Hall.

The warm room was cozy and inviting, and an exquisitely crafted embroidered scroll was laid out on the table.

It is a complete "Nine-Nine Cold-Dispelling Chart". It looks like top-notch Suzhou embroidery stitches, which are fine and even, with elegant and refined color matching. Every stroke of the pattern is exquisite and unparalleled.

The messenger said that the embroidery was personally embroidered by Madam Shen, who had been preparing for a long time. Now that the first batch was finished, she thought of Jiang Wan and the children, so she sent someone to deliver it to them.

The Nine-Nine Cold-Dispelling Chart is a folk custom that records the weather changes during the "Nine Cold Days" starting from the winter solstice. A stroke is added each day, and after eighty-one days, the chart is completed, and the cold winter is over.

However, the rule of adding strokes every day is no longer strictly followed. Although the picture is still the same, the meaning has long been transformed into a wish to pray for the children and wish them to get through the whole winter safely.

Madam Shen embroidered this picture in advance and sent it over, not because it was the right time, but because she wanted to use the picture as a way to send her blessings of peace and health to the children first.

The old lady gently traced the embroidered patterns with her fingertips, her eyes and brows softening.

"It seems you and Mrs. Shen get along very well after your chance encounter at the Temple of Gratitude last time."

Jiang Wan stood to one side, calmly replying with a gentle and sincere tone.

"Madam Shen is gentle and insightful, warm and sincere, and very easy to get along with. Her two young sons are lively, well-behaved, innocent, and polite, making them very pleasant to be around."

The old lady nodded with a smile, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

"I have known the old lady of the Shen family for many years and we have a deep friendship. In the past, our two families often had contact, but later, due to various matters, we gradually lost touch."

"Now that you and the young mistress of the Shen family have become close friends, and the children are also getting along well, it can be said that the old friendship between our two families has been continued, which is a wonderful thing."

The passing down of affection between elders to younger generations and the harmonious relationships among neighbors are also intangible benefits to the Earl's Mansion.

The two chatted casually for a few minutes, expressing their feelings about their long-standing friendship and urging each other to stay in touch.

Jiang Wan carefully put away the Nine-Nine Cold-Dispelling Chart, bid farewell to the old lady, and turned back to the East Courtyard.

Jiang Wan secretly pondered in her heart that this sentiment was profound and sincere, and she needed to carefully consider a proper return gift that would not appear to be deliberate flattery, but would also maintain the friendship between the two families.