Detective dramas were Wang Qingyao's forte. She could analyze cases and dissect the minds of murderers with great insight.
Upon hearing her, Xiao Yun felt her words held some truth, and his anxiety finally eased.
While Xiao Yun was worrying about Xiao Mo, a letter from Xiao Mo arrived not long after.
Xiao Mo's letter, much like the man himself, was brief and to the point, containing only four words: Safe, do not worry.
Xiao Yun, clutching the thin letter, was almost amused to the point of laughter.
"Couldn't you have written more?" he complained. "At least fill a page, since you're sending it anyway."
Despite his grumbling, his expression had visibly relaxed.
It was then that he noticed the servant had brought more than one letter. One had been accidentally dropped on the floor; it was from the person monitoring Madam Bai.
Wang Qingyao's interest was immediately piqued. "Let me see."
She opened the envelope and read it at a glance, the curve of her lips widening. Xiao Yun leaned in, catching a glimpse, and scoffed, "Your family's First Madam is truly bold, daring to do anything."
The letter stated that Madam Bai was not pregnant, but had lied about being with child in order to return to the Wang family.
Yes, after Madam Bai had cuckolded Wang Da, she was now faking a pregnancy.
The servants at the estate knew about Wang Da spending the night there. So, as soon as Madam Bai "became pregnant," someone reported it to the Wang family.
Concubine Ying had arranged for staff and informants at the estate, and naturally knew about Madam Bai's false pregnancy. However, for reasons unknown, she did not expose Madam Bai.
Since Wang Da's youngest daughter, Wang Qingzhu, was born, Wang Da and the entire Wang family had not had a new child in over a decade.
This was considered Wang Da's late-life son.
Not only was Wang Da overjoyed, but Old Madam Wang was also delighted. However, given that Madam Bai had previously "harmed" the Old Madam, she harbored resentment. Even with Madam Bai's pregnancy, she couldn't entirely let go of her reservations.
She would have to be brought back, after all. How could the legitimate son of the Wang family be born outside?
"After she is brought back, Concubine Ying will still manage the household. Since she is pregnant, she should not be overexerted," the Old Madam planned before speaking slowly.
"Once the child is born, it will be raised in my courtyard. Madam Bai has ill intentions; we mustn't let her corrupt my precious grandchild. As for Madam Bai, her service in bearing a child is commendable, so she need not be sent back to the estate. She will reflect in her own courtyard."
This meant house arrest.
Wang Da nodded, seeing nothing wrong with the arrangement.
"Lin'er must also return," Wang Da added.
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam's face fell, and her eyes revealed disgust. "What is she coming back for? If outsiders see her, will our Wang family still have any face? Will Zhen'er and Zhu'er be able to find good marriages?"
The Old Madam had completely forgotten that Wang Qinglin had once been her most beloved granddaughter.
Wang Da hesitated for a moment. "It was Madam Bai's request. Lin'er is her only daughter. If Lin'er is left alone at the estate, she might not be able to carry this pregnancy to term safely."
The Old Madam knitted her brows. "She's so troublesome."
But ultimately, out of concern for the grandchild in Madam Bai's womb, she reluctantly compromised. "She can return, but she is not to leave her Lijing Courtyard under any circumstances."
"That is only natural," Wang Da agreed as a matter of course.
The letter stated that Wang Da would send someone to fetch Madam Bai and her daughter back to the Wang family tomorrow, and asked if any measures should be taken.
Xiao Yun looked at Wang Qingyao, clearly waiting for her decision.
Wang Qingyao smiled. "Let her return. The Wang family still has Concubine Ying! Concubine Ying is not foolish. If she's willing to let Madam Bai return, she must have a hidden plan."
If Concubine Ying hadn't feared that Wang Da would remarry and take a new wife after Madam Bai's death, she would likely have exposed Madam Bai's affair long ago.
"Wang Qinglin is also returning," Xiao Yun's sword-like eyebrows furrowed. The scene of Wang Qinglin attempting to assassinate Wang Qingyao at the wedding flashed through his mind, and his expression turned cold. "She's already beyond saving. We are precious, and we must find a way to prevent her from returning."
Xiao Yun truly began to ponder.
"How about we simply have someone break her legs? If her legs are broken, she won't be able to harm anyone, no matter where she is."
Wang Qingyao was startled. "Wouldn't that be too cruel?"
After all, Wang Qinglin hadn't caused her any substantial harm, and quite some time had passed.
She had hated her to the point of gnashing her teeth back then, but now she felt a bit of sympathy for her.
A disfigured woman was already pitiful enough. If her legs were also broken, she would truly have no hope left.
Seeing Wang Qingyao's compassion, Xiao Yun couldn't help but gently pat her face a few times. "Wake up. You still pity her? If it weren't for your quick wit, you would be the pitiful disfigured woman at the estate right now! And have you forgotten what happened at the wedding? If not for your reflexes, you might be dead now! The grass on your grave would be a foot high!"
Wang Qingyao shivered. She understood the logic, but she couldn't help but feel sympathetic.
"You," Xiao Yun said, gazing at her tenderly with doting affection, "are simply too soft-hearted!"
Wang Qingyao wasn't soft-hearted; it was just that having grown up in modern society, she couldn't bring herself to disregard life and cripple someone so easily.
However, she also knew this was not the time for her soft heart. In ancient times, a "saintly mother" or a "white lotus" wouldn't survive long; they could be killed off by others in an instant.
"Leave this matter to you to handle," she said.