Liang Wan lifted the teacup before her but said nothing.
It was obvious this was not Yao Jinse's first visit.
'I always thought Qiuxi was just helping Chun'er. I never imagined she was supporting Mother and the others too. So many people, so many mouths to feed... It must have been difficult for her on just her monthly allowance.'
'It wasn't surprising that Yao Jinse would come to my door. But Qiuxi really shouldn't have hidden it from me for so long. If I hadn't stumbled upon it, she might have kept it a secret forever.'
She lifted the lid and took a shallow sip. A faint bitterness, accompanied by a delicate fragrance, spread through her mouth, but it was in her heart that the taste lingered and turned.
Qiuxi prostrated on the floor. "This servant was helping the Young Madam, but it was for the Eldest Madam's sake. The Young Madam said the Eldest Madam had fallen ill, and I was worried that they had fallen on such hard times that without money for treatment, she might—"
