The beloved daughter of the Houfu is seven years old

Chapter Two – The Ominous Star Kills

Cloud cakes, fried twists, water chestnut cakes…

Even a starving camel is bigger than a horse—although Madam Liu wasn’t favored in the household, she could still bring out treats like these. Shen Qingqiu didn’t care about manners and couldn’t be bothered to pretend. She stuffed food into her mouth like a pig. Madam Chen winced just watching her, but Madam Liu only looked on with love and affection.

“Eat slowly. If it’s not enough, there’s more,” she said, even breaking the food into small pieces for fear her daughter’s mouth was too small.

“You’re just spoiling her,” Madam Chen grumbled, shooting Madam Liu a disapproving glance. “I’ll go see the steward this afternoon. We need to deal with this Yue Mei business quickly.”

Madam Liu nodded in agreement.

But before the afternoon came, Yue Mei arrived with the steward—and his son, Shen Gui. Leading the group was none other than Lin Zhi’er, who served the senior madam.

As soon as she saw Lin Zhi’er, Madam Liu stood up in a hurry. “Miss Zhi’er, what brings you here?”

Lin Zhi’er served the senior madam, Lady Song, and her position in the household was far more influential than that of someone like Madam Liu, who was only a concubine.

“I heard the Seventh Young Miss bumped her head. I’ve come on behalf of the senior madam to check on her. Is she well now?”

Shen Qingqiu had a white cloth wrapped around her forehead. Her pitch-black eyes glanced at Lin Zhi’er. Lin Zhi’er looked away. “She seems just fine now. In that case, it’s time for punishment…” As her eyes shifted slightly, Yue Mei stepped forward and reached to grab Shen Qingqiu.

Madam Liu immediately shielded her daughter. “What punishment? Qiu’er has been unconscious for days—she hasn’t done anything wrong!”

Lin Zhi’er let out a cold laugh. “Is Madam Liu questioning the senior madam’s judgment?”

Madam Liu lowered her head and dared not speak. Lin Zhi’er snorted. “She may be a young lady of the household, a mistress in name, but she actually tried to snatch a maid’s hairpin for money? When she couldn’t get it, she pushed the maid into the water? The senior madam was furious! If word got out, what would become of the Shen family’s reputation?”

“You’re her birth mother and naturally love her, but if you can’t teach her properly, the senior madam has entrusted me to do it instead!”

With that, Lin Zhi’er said, “Yue Mei, go teach the Seventh Miss some rules!”

Madam Liu’s eyes were full of panic as she clung tightly to her daughter, shaking her head repeatedly.

Her daughter had been unconscious for two or three days—how could she have pushed someone? And Yue Mei was thirteen, while Qiu’er wasn’t even eight yet. How could she possibly overpower her?

But Shen Gui had already stepped forward and grabbed Madam Liu, while Yue Mei snatched Shen Qingqiu from her arms. She placed her on her lap and leaned close, whispering in a sinister tone, “Little bitch, you’re a slave by birth and a servant by fate. You were lucky to survive last time. Now you want me kicked out of the house? I won’t let you live long enough to expose me!”

“Stop! I’m a concubine of the Shen family! How dare you lay a hand on me?!” Madam Liu struggled, but couldn’t break free.

Shen Gui sneered, “You used to be an opera singer—plenty of people have touched you, and the master never minded. Besides, this is about disciplining the Seventh Miss. I’m doing nothing wrong!” As he spoke, he lewdly ran his hand across Madam Liu’s chest and gave her a hard pinch.

He knew very well that neither Madam Liu nor the Seventh Miss had a future in this house. A fallen phoenix isn’t worth a feather. What a foolish mistake to go against Yue Mei. Lin Zhi’er, the senior madam’s most trusted attendant, was her relative!

Yue Mei raised a wooden paddle, preparing to strike Shen Qingqiu’s face. But Shen Qingqiu, an expert in poisons in her previous life, only needed one sniff to realize the paddle was coated with a slow-acting poison. If it broke her skin and entered her bloodstream, she would die a slow and quiet death.

Well done, Yue Mei. Shen Qingqiu hadn’t even thought about killing her yet, and this girl already wanted to silence her for good?

A cold glint flashed through Shen Qingqiu’s eyes. She suddenly bit hard into Yue Mei’s hand.

Yue Mei cried out in pain and flung Shen Qingqiu away. She rolled across the floor several times. Madam Liu screamed her name in terror.

Shen Qingqiu glanced at her panicked, heartbroken mother. Suddenly, she tore off the white cloth on her forehead, and like a madwoman, she slammed herself headfirst into Lin Zhi’er. Her previous head wound hadn’t healed, and within moments, fresh blood was gushing.

Even an unfavored mistress was still a mistress. They could use the senior madam’s authority to punish her, but if they injured her beyond reason, the senior madam wouldn’t cover for them. In that moment, the group froze—no one dared stop her.

Yue Mei jumped in fright, but before she could react, Shen Qingqiu had already rushed forward. No one knew where she had found it, but she now held a silver hairpin—and without hesitation, she drove it straight into Yue Mei’s chest.

No one expected it. No one could’ve.

Every debt has its debtor. If you kill, you must pay with your life. Shen Qingqiu wasn’t someone who had never killed before.