“I-I’m doing well, 2nd Mother.”, I answer hesitantly.

That’s right, this is the 2nd Wife of the Duke, Lady Liu. Since her sons are competing with my for succession, we stand on opposite ends hence I’m quite shocked by her abrupt visit. She’s also the prime suspect for the ‘injury’ that happened before I reincarnated.

I haven’t had time to ask about my previous self’s interaction with her and I’m regretting it now. I saw her as more of a ‘last boss’ character that wouldn’t bother me until I interacted with her sons more. There was really no particular reason for her to come talk to me.

I haven’t seen Mother for a while, but I made up my mind that right after this meeting I would ask more about this ‘2nd Mother’ of mine.

She replies warmly, “I see. I’ve been told that you’re doing well too. You seem to be skilled in business I hear?”

This question of hers sends shivers to my spine.

She’s being vague about this, but this means that she knows what I’ve been doing with the Supreme Pavillion?! How could she know? How could she know?

Did she just find out? No, It can’t be, my recent trips were just to the brothels and the Beelze Family. Then it must have been during the case of the Bao young master’s extortion? All the way back then?

I compose myself.

This means that she’s known of what I was doing since that incident in the gambling den and she chose to not stop me or take any actions. How much does she know? I should assume the worst that I’ve been followed ever since.

This means that she knows of my contact with the Bao and Beelze family. However, my discussions with them should have been kept confidential. She should only know that I’ve obtained the Bao family’s help through extortion for a new business. As for the Beelze family, the likely chance would be that she thinks that I’m trying to do the same.

“You don’t need to be so flustered, boy.” she says in the same tone, breaking the silence caused by me thinking.

I know the answer, but I’ll ask anyway, “How long have you known?”

I said it with a slight feeling of apprehension.

“For a while.”, She says lightly, smiling.

I pretend to grit my teeth, saying straightforwardly, “What do you want from me?”

“Nothing much, but someone of your age shouldn’t be doing business, it’s too risky. I think you should stop doing it now.”, She says firmly.

“I have been doing well, 2nd mother. I think I’ll try to continue.”, I reply.

She must have some chip in hand to attempt to coerce me. I can’t think of anything that could threaten me though.

“Say, boy. Have you seen your mother lately?”, she changes the subject.

Wait, I haven’t seen my mother for quite a while. She’s stopped visiting me as much and I’ve been told she remains in her room as much as possible. Has she been kidnapped? No, if the Madame of the family disappeared completely there’ll be a big disturbance.

Then, she chooses to stay in of her own accord? That can only mean that she’s being threatened… or poisoned.

“What happened to mother?”, I ask anxiously.

“Nothing much my boy, for now that is.”, she replies plainly.

“How long have you been planning this?”, I ask apprehensively.

“You don’t need to know that. You just need to know if your business continues to operate, you mother may not last long.”, she says sharply, glaring at me as she stands up from her seat as she prepares to leave.

She’s been planning this for a while, and my recent actions have warrant her attention enough to threaten me. Moreover threaten me with the truth. Wouldn’t it be easier to just kill mother and avoid this entirely?

Ah, I get it now.

As she turns around, I stand up, slamming a fist on the table with a bam. “Wait.”

She reacts, turning around to look at me.

“Mother’s lived a long life.”, I say determinedly to her.

She stares at me in shock for a moment, before answering, “You can’t fool me with just that, boy.”

I smirk, “If I end up threatened by this, both mother and I would die. However, if I continue as I’m doing now…”

I pause for her to connect the dots.

She twitches after thinking.

“...I’m almost guaranteed to be the successor. If anything, as long as I stay protected, even if Mother dies she might even help me earn more favour with Father. Against one who holds strong influence outside, against a prodigy, who’s more suitable as the Duke?”, I say piercingly.

She clenches her fist.

“But there’s room for discussion, isn’t there?” I say directly.

She frowns her eyebrows more in dissatisfaction.

She beckons to her maids outside, to prepare her departure, before replying icily, “You win. She’ll be given the antidote, but I want to see the business gone permanently.”

She says as she throws down a porcelain bottle.

I catch it, opening it to see half a pill.

The meaning was simple, I would get the other half once my businesses close.

Even if she reneges on her promise, I could simply present this to father as evidence. Of course, in that case, I would probably not gain the other half for mother.

I stare at the bottle absentmindedly as she leaves.

Once she left, i let out a breath.

“Huuu…that was stressful.”, I smile.