Wan Shi rose and walked to the glass jar. She took a branch of wintersweet from the flower basket handed over by a maid and threw it into the glass jar. The butterflies flying around inside saw the fallen flower and immediately fluttered over to it, greedily sucking the flower nectar.

“Don’t worry, there are many more.” After throwing all the flower branches from the basket into the glass jar, Wan Shi clapped her jade-white hands clean, turned around to look at Jirong who was still maintaining her kneeling position, and said in a soft voice, “You are quite capable, actually able to move the First Young Master to come here and plead for you.”

Although Wan Shi spoke only in gentle tones, she gave Jirong enormous pressure. Jirong endured the soreness in her legs and lowered her head, saying, “This servant and Chunxiu are like sisters. When I suddenly heard she was to be driven from the residence, I became anxious. Remembering I had once met the First Young Master, I boldly tried my luck. Fortunately, the First Young Master is benevolent and kind-hearted, willing to show mercy to this servant.”

“Benevolent and kind-hearted?” Wan Shi laughed softly. No one knew Li Jiancheng better than she did—his heart was cold, hard, and aloof. Except for his blood brothers like Li Shimin, he showed little warmth even to his legitimate wife.

“Are you implying that I am vicious and perverse?” Wan Shi’s words startled Jirong greatly. She immediately knelt down and said, “Although this servant has not been in the residence long, I know that Madam has always been fair and strict in handling affairs. This servant would never dare harbor such thoughts. Please, Madam, see clearly.”

Wan Shi slowly walked up to her, smiling but not smiling, and said, “On one hand, you keep saying I am fair, but on the other hand, you secretly went to seek the First Young Master’s help. Isn’t this contradictory?”

“Please allow this servant to explain, Madam.” Jirong struggled to calm her wildly beating heart and said, “Although Madam is indeed fair and impartial, the people below are not necessarily all like this. Some people have accepted others’ benefits, so they deliberately exaggerate facts and distort truth before Madam, causing Madam to make incorrect judgments.”

Wan Shi’s brows slightly furrowed, “Are you talking about Nanny Yang?”

Jirong bit her lip slightly and raised her head, saying, “Although Chunxiu indeed did wrong things, they weren’t serious enough to warrant expulsion from the residence. On the contrary, Nanny Yang… this servant once saw with her own eyes that Meixue gave her the pair of ruyi that the First Young Master had rewarded her with.”

Wan Shi raised her delicate willow eyebrows and said coolly, “Are you saying that Wu Meixue bought off Nanny Yang and used her hands to drive away Chunxiu?”

“This servant doesn’t know the specific circumstances, but it’s an undeniable fact that Nanny Yang favors Meixue everywhere.” As soon as Jirong finished speaking, she heard Wan Shi say, “Then is it also a fact that Chunxiu, relying on her position as lead dancer, made things difficult for Wu Meixue and Jiang Caiping everywhere?” Without waiting for Jirong to respond, Wan Shi continued, “As for dancers trying every means to please the managing nanny of Lefang, it’s a common occurrence. Dare you say that you and Chunxiu haven’t done anything to please Nanny Yang since entering the residence?”

“This servant…” Although Jirong had been careful everywhere, she was still flustered by Wan Shi’s questions and didn’t know how to answer for a moment.

Wan Shi extended her carefully manicured finger to lift Jirong’s chin, saying leisurely, “I really couldn’t have imagined that a mere country woman would have such scheming thoughts.” As she spoke, she looked at Zhaixing beside her, “By age, you’re even a few years older than her, but your scheming is far inferior.”

Zhaixing said flatteringly, “Ever since this servant came to Yuxiu Pavilion, I’ve devoted all my thoughts to serving Madam well. Where would I have the leisure to think of other things?”

Jirong was covered in cold sweat. This Wan Shi had such deep thoughts—in less than ten sentences, she had already seen through her completely. She was far more difficult to deal with than Li Jiancheng. She had been too hasty, unable to contain the resentment in her heart, wanting to report Nanny Yang to Wan Shi. Now it was good—she had lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot. She didn’t know how Wan Shi would deal with her.

Wan Shi applied slight pressure with her finger, forcing Jirong to involuntarily raise her head higher, “Nanny Yang came from my side. I know very well what kind of person she is. If I hear you spreading such gossip again, I’ll cut out your tongue so you can never speak again in this lifetime!”

“This servant dare not!” Jirong tremblingly uttered these four words. By now, her undergarments were soaked with cold sweat. Looking at Wan Shi’s manner of calling her to account, she probably didn’t intend to give face to the First Young Master. Before nightfall, she would have Chunxiu expelled from the residence. Given Chunxiu’s temperament, there would inevitably be another scene of quarreling. But she had done her best. Even if Chunxiu was unwilling, there was nothing she could do. She hoped Chunxiu and her father wouldn’t unreasonably blame her and her family.

While Jirong was lost in wild thoughts, Wan Shi, supported by Zhaixing’s hand, returned to her chair and sat down. After taking a sip of tea offered by a palace maid, she said unhurriedly, “I can let Chunxiu continue staying in the residence. However, you must answer one question truthfully.”

Jirong stared at her blankly until Zhaixing shouted a reprimand, then she came to her senses and hurriedly said, “Whatever Madam wishes to ask, please feel free. This servant will certainly speak without reservation.”

“You certainly know.” Wan Shi’s vermillion lips curved into a beautiful arc, “How did you persuade the First Young Master?”

Jirong’s thoughts raced, and she lowered her head, saying, “The First Young Master is compassionate. Seeing this servant speak so sorrowfully, he relented and agreed.”

Wan Shi raised her eyes to look at the glass jar that reflected the graceful dancing of butterflies, saying lightly, “It seems you don’t intend to tell the truth. Very well, I won’t force you. However…” Her eyes held a cold smile, “The Governor’s residence doesn’t need a dancer full of lies. You and Chunxiu can leave together. I’ll have Steward Lin distribute your monthly wages in full.”

“No!” Jirong hurriedly crawled to Wan Shi’s feet, kowtowing repeatedly, “Madam, please show mercy! This servant doesn’t want to leave!”

Wan Shi stared at her expressionlessly, “Don’t think the First Young Master can save you. In this Governor’s residence, I am ultimately the one in charge!” With that, she waved her sleeve in disgust, “Drag her away!”

Jirong refused to leave, constantly pleading, but no matter what she said, Wan Shi showed no sign of being moved. Seeing she was about to be dragged away, she had no choice but to steel her heart and say, “This servant will tell! As long as the First Young Master was willing to save Chunxiu, this servant… was willing to serve the First Young Master for life.”

Wan Shi glanced at her and said coldly, “You really won’t shed tears until you see the coffin. True, you are quite attractive, but the First Young Master, as the eldest son of the Governor of Honghua Commandery, can have any kind of woman he wants. Why would he come to plead with me for a mere woman like you?”

Seeing that Wan Shi had immediately exposed her lie, Jirong dared not harbor any more hopes of luck. She hurriedly said, “This servant is willing to tell Madam everything, only asking that Madam give this servant one chance.”

Wan Shi had been waiting for exactly these words. She signaled for Zhaixing and the others to release her, saying coldly, “Speak!”

This time, Jirong dared not play any tricks. She honestly recounted the matter of the Tendon-Mending Muscle-Growing Powder in detail, then said, “This servant used the Tendon-Mending Muscle-Growing Powder as an excuse to make the First Young Master send someone to plead with Madam.”