Dusk was thick.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was eerie.

Yu Tingwan remained silent all the way, and as soon as the wheels barely stopped, she tossed the strategem book aside and exited the carriage. After stepping down off the footstool, she ascended the steps without a backward glance.

The strategem book was very thick, filled with Wei Zhao’s dense annotations and the occasional strategy he penned when inspiration struck.

Did she understand it?

No.

Was she a diligent person?

No.

Wei Zhao saw the book that Yu Tingwan had carried all the way but had not turned a single page.

He knew then that he was doomed.

After entering the Duke Mansion, Yu Tingwan wasn’t in a hurry to return; instead, she first questioned the nanny guarding the gatehouse.

"Has my mother-in-law returned?"

The nanny respectfully curtsied: "Yes, the mistress returned half an incense stick ago."

"However, she changed her clothes to a different set from the one she wore when she left. I heard that the hem of her dress got wet when boating on the lake."

The nannies of the Duke Shun Mansion are very observant and perceptive.

"Even though the weather is warm, the dampness at night is still heavy. The nanny at her side, Nanny Ru, ordered ginger tea to be brewed and sent over."

Yu Tingwan was now aware.

"It’s not enough to catch a cold, but my mother-in-law’s health has been poor before, and her recent recuperation has filled out her face, looking healthier. Her pulse is also stable. But it’s rare for her to go out for a day, so she must be exhausted."

Everyone knows Ning Suxuan’s routine is regular; she not only goes to bed early but also has strict meal times every day.

Yu Tingwan estimated the current time of day.

"Tell the servants sweeping the dust in the main courtyard tomorrow morning to be gentle and let my mother-in-law sleep a bit longer without disturbing her. The kitchen should prepare a light and digestible breakfast."

"Yes."

Only then did Yu Tingwan proceed inward.

But before she reached Lan Garden, she saw a servant waiting outside the courtyard to report something.

Yu Tingwan did not stop her pace but nodded in acknowledgment toward the person.

The servant followed her in, speaking respectfully.

"I shouldn’t disturb the Young Madam at this hour, but... there are a few matters this old servant feels must be mentioned to you."

The sizable Duke Mansion has many trivial matters. The managing nannies can make decisions on some, but others must be reported upwards.

"Speak."

The managing nanny spoke respectfully: "On the prosperous Jinxiu Road in Jiangnan, there’s a location with ten contiguous shops. Years ago, the mistress decided to turn them into a fur business."

As she said this, Yu Tingwan paused in her steps.

She knew!

Those shops were very profitable!!!

Unlike her earlier nonchalance, she was now very serious.

"What happened? Is someone causing trouble?"

"No one would dare cause trouble at a shop under the Wei Family’s name. Even bandits who targeted a shipment earlier in the year ran away panicked upon learning it was the Duke Shun Mansion’s goods."

The managing nanny said: "You know, Madam, top-grade fur is hard to come by, and the process is complex, involving cleaning, tanning, dyeing, and the like. The transportation cost is high, and damage is easily incurred."

"Our business is steady and reliable, never just one-off deals. Although the price is high, the quality justifies it. The concubines in the Imperial Palace and those royal relatives in Shangjing are all willing to buy."

"This old servant got news from Jiangnan recently that a silver fox fur was acquired, with excellent sheen and softness, perfect for a cape."

But here’s the issue.

"The Fifth Prince Consort somehow got wind of it and specifically requested to buy it."

"Just before this, news arrived from the palace that the pregnant Li Pin had also taken a liking to it."

One is the palace’s favorite concubine, the other is the Fifth Prince Consort.

Li Pin is accustomed to being competitive and becomes arrogant due to her pregnancy.

The Fifth Prince Consort isn’t the yielding type; she’s always narrow-minded. Would she allow an insignificant concubine to step on top of her?

"And so, they’ve reached an impasse."

Both parties are pressuring the shopkeeper.

The managing nanny: "The shopkeeper fears offending anyone and dares not decide. Selling it won’t work, not selling it won’t work either. He has specially sent a message and brought along the cape, awaiting the Young Madam’s decision."

As she spoke, she presented the silver fox fur on the tray in her hands.

Yu Tingwan wanted to say, just ignore it.

Even when the emperor’s affair is unresolved, dare they still argue over a cape?

But just as she was about to speak, she thought these two really needed some disciplining.

Yu Tingwan raised her hand and stroked it.

"Tan Jiang, take it."

Tan Jiang acknowledged and accepted the tray from the managing nanny.

Soon after Yu Tingwan returned to her room, Wei Zhao came in, holding a pile of small trinkets he had bought outside.

Yu Tingwan suddenly looked up, giving him a warm, gentle smile.

Wei Zhao was silent for a moment.

Chose to take a step back.

"I..."

He had just uttered a word when Rong Di returned, looking visibly upset.

The matter at hand was urgent.

Wei Zhao calmed himself: "How is it?"

"The palace is heavily guarded, yet once something happened, chaos ensued everywhere."

Rong Di dared not rush in, afraid of running into those Black Shadows.

But others could.

Several high-ranking ministers entered the palace to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire. The Grand Tutor wanted to see Bao Pu, which was not difficult.

"Bao Pu glanced at the box sent by the Grand Tutor, and upon seeing the curse symbol on the lock, immediately commented on its oddity."

Bao Pu had also opened the box for research. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Inside was a doll that bore an eighty-percent resemblance to the Madam, its mouth stained with blood, its expression twisted, and the back inscribed with the Madam’s birth date. It was also pierced with dozens of silver needles."

"The box’s walls were covered in dense curse symbols, which, according to Bao Pu, are from Miaojiang’s witchcraft. The person who laid the curse is quite skilled."

"This type of witchcraft is prone to backlash and isn’t something that anyone would easily practice."

It seems Yang Jingshu either offered too much, or the other person owed her a favor, or that person was... overconfident in their abilities, thinking no one could break it.

Unfortunately, they encountered Bao Pu.

"Bao Pu said to take some of the Young Madam’s hair for the person behind the scenes to conduct the ritual, and once the contract was formed, if the doll got too close to the Young Madam for too long, their senses would interlink."

Of course, this requires that Yu Tingwan isn’t wearing the peace charm.

So, this thing is completely ineffective on her!

"At that moment, the Grand Tutor’s expression changed, and he instructed Bao Pu to dispel the curse."

"They then crafted a new doll to substitute it, matching each detail one to one."

After a series of operations,

"It has been buried in the Imperial Palace."

As for the doll with the dispelled curse, its engraved birth date was scraped off and taken by Rong Di.

"I went to seek Elder Ge."

"Elder Ge took one look and informed that acupuncture can save or harm. The medical classic ’The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion’ emphasizes ’pierce the five organs, then death follows.’ The few needles targeted vital organs like the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs. Being inserted too deeply, they could cause dizziness and chest tightness, and over time, could easily... cause an incident. The silver needles had been treated, containing poison, easily causing infection and festering."

Wei Zhao’s eyes grew cold, his knuckles turned pale as he clenched, the air around him chilling like a drawn blade.

"Understood."

Rong Di handed over a letter.

"A message delivered from Prince Yan, requiring a response from you, General."

Wei Zhao pursed his lips and opened it.

Yu Tingwan watched this unfold.

He was truly skilled, opening the letter so naturally that it was impossible to tell he was injured.