As evening approached, a steaming bowl of peach blossom soup was brought in from the kitchen. Shi Lan was in a good mood and happily drank most of the bowl.

The next morning, Shi's mother specially brought over a small bowl of well-cooked lotus porridge. Shi Lan raised an eyebrow, smelling the porridge with its faint lotus fragrance, and chuckled inwardly. Lotus powder cooked into porridge could calm the nerves. Shi's mother was quite an interesting person; she must have found out the truth yesterday and was worried that Shi Lan would be anxious, but also afraid of hurting her feelings by telling her directly. That's why she brought this porridge to reassure her and let her sleep soundly.

After finishing her porridge, Shi Lan felt that staying in one place all day was too boring, so she sent someone to tell her mother that she wanted to learn to play blind chess.

When Madam Shi from the main courtyard heard that she had found something for her to do, she breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly sent someone to find the chess manual. Ever since she learned of Wang Haiqing's misdeeds yesterday, she was so angry that she was dizzy and worried about Shi Lan. Her fiancé was having an affair with her personal maid. Although she did not see it with her own eyes, she had heard it. Madam Shi sighed and lamented all night, afraid that Shi Lan would be heartbroken. She was so worried that she could not sleep at all.

Now that she knew Shi Lan wasn't as she had feared, Shi's mother finally felt relieved.

Having finished dealing with this matter, she naturally thought of the culprit. Shi's mother gritted her teeth and ordered someone to bring Cui Xi, who was locked up in the woodshed.

Thinking of Cuixi, Shi's mother was furious. That slut seemed to care deeply for Shi Lan, and she thought she was a good person. She never expected that she would harbor such filthy thoughts behind the scenes. She knew from the beginning that Prince Haiqing was unwilling to marry her. She had planned it all out, thinking that since the two of them were getting old and her daughter was so outstanding, he would know how good Shi Lan was after getting to know her. But who knew that this slut would find an opportunity to stir up trouble and make her daughter fall ill.

Shi Mu was furious and used all her strength to grind and rub Cui Xi. Shi Lan pretended not to know and went to the garden for a walk every day to smell the flowers and exercise. Her body was used to staying indoors all year round, and she would feel weak and short of breath after taking a few steps. She was really too weak.

Five days passed, and there was still no news from Cuixi. Shi Lan found it strange. Cuixi should have asked someone for help by now, so why was there still no word from her?

Little did she know that all of this was thanks to the Stone Mother.

Cui Xi, a maid who never leaves the inner courtyard, was able to get involved with Wang Haiqing, who rarely comes to the Shi family. There must be someone helping her behind the scenes. Shi's mother has been keeping Cui Xi locked up for the past few days, torturing her every now and then, just to find out the unstable element hidden in the dark of the Shi family. Shi Lan has not heard anything because Shi's mother has already placed people near her courtyard, just waiting to find that person.

Two days later, Madam Huang, the wife of the Wang family, hosted a banquet to invite the Shi and Lin families. Madam Shi, along with Shi Lan and Shi Lei, accepted the invitation.

Shi Lan knew from the moment she arrived that the banquet was bound to be a bad one. Sure enough, as soon as Shi's mother entered, she was held up by Huang Shi, and after Shi Lei was dragged away by other familiar young men, Wang Haiqing sneaked out.

"Shi Lan, where's Cui Xi?" As soon as they met, Wang Haiqing immediately questioned Shi Lan.

Shi Lan tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled, and asked, "Young master, may I ask who you are...?"

Looking at her fair cheeks and slightly pouting lips, resembling a delicate and adorable rabbit, Wang Haiqing felt a tremor in his heart. The angry curses and sarcasm he had prepared seemed to vanish like smoke.

"Wang Jia Haiqing," Wang Haiqing said unconsciously, softening his tone. Then he felt uncomfortable. He knew her, but she didn't know him. He muttered to himself, "You come here as a guest and don't even know who I am."

Shi Lan pursed her peach-petal-shaped lips and curtsied, "Please forgive me, Young Master Wang. Since we parted ways that year, I have not left the manor and now I don't recognize anyone."

Wang Haiqing paused, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat, unable to be swallowed or spit out, making him extremely uncomfortable.

He knew very well how Shi Lan had become like this. At the time, he didn't think much of it, thinking it was just an accident that he had to pay for with his whole life. But now, looking at this rosy-cheeked, delicate woman with a lonely face, her large, dark eyes like a dark sky devoid of starlight, dim and lifeless, his heart churned, and a sense of guilt and remorse slowly welled up inside him.

"By the way, Young Master Wang, you mentioned Cuixi earlier. Do you know her?"

Holding a handkerchief, Shi Lan smiled at Wang Haiqing, her face showing just the right amount of curiosity, as she faced the warm spring breeze.

Wang Haiqing blushed and suddenly felt a little ashamed. "Ah, that? I've met you at your residence a few times before."

Shi Lan smiled and said, "I see. Cui Xi is lively and sociable. The maids and servants in the manor all like her very much."

Speaking of the servant, Wang Haiqing turned his head uncomfortably, recalling the anxious and earnest look on the face of the person who delivered the message the other day, and stammered, "Well, I heard that Cuixi made a mistake, but I don't know what she did that made her suffer such physical pain?"

Shi Lan frowned in confusion. "I don't know either. You know I have poor eyesight and frequent headaches. My mother always keeps things from me in the household."

Wang Haiqing knew about Shi Lan's headaches; she had developed them after she went blind, which deepened his guilt. However, thinking of Cui Xi's soft yet firm body and her intense, fiery passion, he still had to continue, "A couple of days ago, someone from your household sent me a letter saying that Cui Xi's life was hanging by a thread. I thought of her being by your side, so I came to tell you. We merchants are most wary of getting involved in murder cases. I'm asking because I'm worried about you and for your own good."

Shi Lan nodded obediently and agreed to go back to the manor to ask. Wang Haiqing should have left after achieving his goal, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to ask. When he saw a figure moving in the distance, he was afraid of getting into trouble, so he slipped into the bushes and ran away, looking back every few steps.

After the banquet, Shi Lan went back and took a hot bath, then went to bed comfortably. The next day, after breakfast, she lazily asked Wan Bi to do her hair and makeup, preparing to visit her mother.

In the morning, Shi's mother would usually discuss various matters with the steward of the mansion after breakfast. When Shi Lan entered the door, she heard Shi's mother instructing that there was no need to send food to the people in the woodshed.

Shi Lan smiled slightly, feeling quite satisfied with the treatment Cui Xi had received these past few days.

The curtain rustled down, and Madam Shi quickly stopped talking, waved the steward away, and stepped forward to help Shi Lan sit down. "Ah Lan, you were exhausted yesterday, why don't you rest more today?"

Shi Lan smiled slightly, "It's alright, I'll ask my mother if I need anything."

Shi's mother knew that Shi Lan always stayed at home and rarely went out. "If there's anything, just send someone over. You're frail, so you need to take good care of yourself."

Shi Lan squinted, feeling the warm and tender maternal love, and her heart was filled with emotion. In both of these missions, she was able to feel the maternal love of the wisher, which greatly made up for the lack in Shi Lan's heart.

"Mom, I'll get moldy if I stay any longer," Shi Lan said coquettishly.

Shi Lan's mother gently patted her back, and after chatting for a while, Shi Lan got down to business and told her about her encounter with Wang Haiqing the day before.