Madam Qin’s gaze was severe: “Miss Huan, what else do you have to say? Are you going to claim you didn’t put the peach juice in, that this maid is deliberately framing you?”

Cao Li Huan sobbed with heaving shoulders: “She’s the one harming me, because… because…” Because she had ordered Si Shun to violate Xiang Lan. But how could she say such words?

Xiang Lan looked at Cao Li Huan with utter disbelief and grievance, wailing: “Old Madam, please judge fairly. I have not slandered Miss Huan. If Old Madam doesn’t believe me, you can search Miss Huan’s pouch – the small porcelain bottle with the peach juice should still be there. It’s an enamel-glazed bottle that Miss Huan treasures, usually used for keeping medicinal pills, and she always carries it. Even if she used it for peach juice today, she wouldn’t have thrown it away.”

Madam Qin, quick and alert, stepped forward and removed the pouch from Cao Li Huan’s waist. Opening it to search, she indeed found an enamel-glazed bottle with a beauty’s shoulder design. Upon unscrewing the cap, a sweet peach fragrance wafted out.

Old Madam Lin sniffed it, her face turning ice-cold.

Cao Li Huan’s body went limp as she collapsed sideways on the ground.

Madam Qin felt deeply satisfied, feeling that half the grievance her daughter suffered had been avenged. She looked toward Old Madam Lin, who exchanged a glance with her and wearily waved her hand.

Madam Qin nodded slightly and was about to speak when Cao Li Huan suddenly cried out sharply: “Old Madam, why don’t you ask about the reason?” She pointed at Madam Qin: “First Aunt wronged me first!”

Madam Qin frowned as Cao Li Huan cried: “When I attended the feast, First Aunt introduced all the other sisters to the honored guests, even Song Tan Chai, but never mentioned me. Though I knew my family had fallen on hard times and that First Aunt disliked me, I didn’t want to fight for face, but with everyone watching, how could I endure such humiliation… That’s why I became angry, I… I…”

Madam Qin remained coldly silent, but Madam Wang was furious and retorted sarcastically: “Oh my, what a clever scheme! So when you realized you couldn’t get our Young Master Ting, you thought to find another wealthy family to be their concubine?”

Hearing this, Cao Li Huan cried even harder, looking at Old Madam Lin with a pitiful, resentful expression. Madam Qin silently shook her head, thinking no wonder Madam Wang wasn’t favored by her husband – after all these years, her muddled mind showed no signs of becoming sharper. She stepped forward and said: “According to your logic, because we didn’t introduce you to several honored guests, you were justified in secretly harming Second Miss? So after harming someone, you’re still in the right?”

Seeing Cao Li Huan about to speak, she cut her off: “Not only did you use underhanded means to cause harm, you repeatedly denied it. When you couldn’t deny it anymore, you pushed the blame onto others – is this also excusable?”

She took another step forward: “Despite being engaged and awaiting marriage, you coveted wealth and status, scheming in secret without regard for anyone’s reputation – is this also excusable? All this time, you’ve eaten from the Lin family, drunk from the Lin family, lived with the Lin family – if you had even the slightest gratitude, how could you do such things?” Madam Qin looked down at Cao Li Huan: “You arrived late to the feast, which had already displeased several honored guests, so I didn’t introduce you then, intending to make the introductions after the feast ended.”

Cao Li Huan wept pitifully: “I was wrong, it was all my fault. Old Madam, Aunt, please forgive me!”

Old Madam Lin’s mind was clear as she said slowly: “How is the preparation of the western side courtyard coming along? Is Miss Huan’s luggage ready? If it’s prepared, send her out before the Hour of You.”

Cao Li Huan wept bitterly, clutching Old Madam Lin’s legs and crying: “Old Madam, please forgive me! Please forgive me! I’ll never dare again, I’ll be good from now on…”

Old Madam Lin shook her head: “If you leave properly, perhaps on your wedding day, the Lin family might still add something to your dowry.”

Cao Li Huan broke down in tears, glaring viciously at Xiang Lan as if wanting to devour her alive.

She never imagined that all her painstaking schemes and careful planning would ultimately be destroyed by a weak maid who couldn’t even stand up to the slightest pressure!

She was so furious! How had she always thought that worthless slave was a fool who knew nothing and could be pushed around at will!

Cao Li Huan’s entire body convulsed with sobs as she wailed: “Old Madam, don’t drive me out… I, I, I might as well die!” With that, she moved to slam herself against the wall.

Madam Qin was startled and reached out to grab her, but only caught Cao Li Huan’s sleeve, which slipped from her grasp when Cao Li Huan struggled. Xiang Lan hurriedly stood up and spread her arms to block her. Cao Li Huan stumbled and crashed into her, causing Xiang Lan to cry out as she hit the octagonal flower stand by the wall. The autumn begonia in its celadon pot shattered on the ground as Xiang Lan fell backward.

Hearing the commotion inside, several maids and servants immediately rushed in. Cao Li Huan struggled to her feet, crying: “I won’t live anymore!” As she moved to crash into something again, the servants quickly surrounded and held her, shouting: “You can’t!”

Cao Li Huan’s suicidal display was genuine this time. She struggled violently, crying and making a scene, waving her arms. A servant woman held her waist from behind as Cao Li Huan’s feet left the ground, kicking wildly. Tears and mucus streamed down her face, her hair disheveled, ornaments scattered on the floor as she shrieked: “If you’re going to drive me out, you might as well find a rope and strangle me now – at least that would be clean!” She also screamed: “I’d rather die from hitting my head than leave like this, without any explanation!” How could she just walk away from the Lin family’s enormous wealth and status?

Old Madam Lin hadn’t witnessed such a scene in many years. She stared in shock, trembling with anger as she pounded the kang table, pointing and scolding: “This is… outrageous! Truly outrageous! *cough cough cough*…”

Madam Wang had been watching with great interest, but seeing Old Madam Lin coughing severely, she hurriedly stepped forward to pat her chest and help her breathe, still smiling as she said: “Old Madam, why get angry? Just treat it as watching a show. Huan…” Before she could finish, she saw Old Madam Lin glaring at her and sheepishly fell silent.

Meanwhile, Cao Li Huan had somehow grabbed someone’s hairpin and was about to stab her neck with it. Everyone cried out: “She’s going to kill herself!” Several hands reached forward to wrestle the hairpin away from her.

Old Madam Lin was so agitated she could hardly breathe. Madam Wang panicked and called out repeatedly: “Someone, quickly fetch the doctor! Quickly get Old Madam’s medicine!”

The room instantly descended into chaos.

Madam Qin frowned and commanded: “Hold her down immediately – can’t you see Old Madam is unwell!”

Xiang Lan understood clearly that Cao Li Huan would never recover from this incident. She stepped forward to grab Cao Li Huan’s arm, whispering in her ear: “Miss, save your strength. Do you think that by seeking death, hitting your head, or drawing blood you can stay in the Lin family to recover? I’m afraid Old Madam, First Madam, and Second Madam all hate you deeply. Would you believe that even if you fainted now, the Lin family would simply wrap you in a mat, put you in a carriage, and send you away?”

Cao Li Huan’s face, already red, turned purple at these words. She turned her head and met Xiang Lan’s meaningful gaze, suddenly realizing that this seemingly meek and foolish maid had sharp, clear eyes that saw through her completely.

Cao Li Huan wanted to bite chunks of flesh from Xiang Lan’s body, but the servants held her too tightly for her to move. Xiang Lan continued in a gentle tone next to Cao Li Huan’s ear: “Since things have come to this point, you should maintain some dignity… Also, Miss, don’t think everyone is a fool and don’t disbelieve in karmic retribution… It’s not that there’s no retribution, it’s just that the time hasn’t come!”

At this moment, Madam Qin shouted: “Take her away immediately!”

Xiang Lan took the opportunity to let go as the servants dragged and pulled Cao Li Huan away. Cao Li Huan only managed a few wails before someone gagged her with a cloth.

Xiang Lan turned to watch Cao Li Huan being dragged away, listening to the chaotic voices in the room, her mind blank—

Was Cao Li Huan leaving like this?

Had she escaped from the fire pit she had been constantly trying to flee? It felt like a dream.

Then… what would become of her future?