The Old Madam’s most beloved parrot had been eaten by a cat.

This was a major incident in the Prime Minister’s residence. Soon, the First Madam arrived first at Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. Li Changle had just entered with her treasured mandarin duck cat when she heard the Old Madam angrily say, “You still dare to bring that beast in here!”

Li Changle froze, looking at everyone in surprise. However, everyone was holding their breath and keeping silent, not daring to make a sound.

The First Madam, hearing this, coughed twice. “Old Madam, your parrot may not necessarily have been eaten by Changle’s cat. Perhaps it was some stray cat…”

“Stray cat? Where would a stray cat come from! Go ahead and catch a stray cat for me to see!” The Old Madam’s face was rarely so cold and stern, she was so angry she could barely speak.

The First Madam had never seen the Old Madam this furious before and fell silent for a moment.

Li Changle quickly put down her cat and hurried forward. “Old Madam, the mandarin duck cat that elder brother gave me is a precious treasure. It’s gentle and docile—it would never do such a thing…”

Before she could finish speaking, the Old Madam sprayed spittle in her face. “This morning it tried to eat my parrot, and I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet! Now you talk about gentle and docile? I said long ago that the courtyard should not raise such beasts, lest they frighten my birds. Yet you insisted on keeping this cat—you’re deliberately trying to anger me to death! And there’s your sister’s brocade that was ruined by your cat before she could even wear it. Tell me, how will you compensate for that!”

Li Changle was shocked. At this moment, Li Weiyang was standing quietly to the side, looking thoroughly wronged. Her expression changed slightly. “Third Sister’s brocade was also damaged? How is that such a coincidence?”

Li Weiyang pretended not to hear the implication in her words. “Elder Sister, this cat must be strictly disciplined. Today it only ate the Old Madam’s parrot and ruined some brocade, but in the future, who knows which distinguished guest in the residence it might offend? If some troublemaker deliberately picks a fight, even ten thousand deaths wouldn’t atone for this cat’s crimes.”

The guests coming and going from the Prime Minister’s residence were either wealthy or noble. If this cat accidentally scratched someone, wouldn’t the Prime Minister’s residence end up offending people? The Old Madam’s expression became even more unpleasant.

Li Weiyang blinked, putting on an obedient appearance. “Speaking of which, Elder Sister’s cat isn’t really to blame. It’s just a beast—what does it understand? It’s my own fault. I should have personally kept the box safe instead of entrusting it to Huamei. She is young after all, and playful. It’s inevitable that such incidents occur.”

The Old Madam’s face grew increasingly dark. First, the mandarin duck cat had eaten her most beloved parrot. Second, she herself had decided to give that brocade to Weiyang, yet it had been ruined by the cat. Did this mean Li Changle was dissatisfied with her decision? Thinking this, she coldly said, “So you’re saying the servant girl Huamei was derelict in her duty?”

Li Weiyang deliberately glanced at the First Madam, looking troubled. “This…”

The First Madam didn’t even look at her, saying coolly to the Old Madam, “Huamei is a servant I sent. If she was derelict, it’s because I failed to properly train people, so I should apologize to the Old Madam. But I must say one thing today—having given the person to Weiyang, she should properly discipline her. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. How can those servant girls be indulged?”

The meaning of these words clearly suggested that Li Weiyang had failed to properly manage her servants.

Weiyang smiled bashfully. “What are you saying, Mother? Huamei is a servant you sent—I cherish her and wouldn’t have time to do anything else.”

The Old Madam suddenly said coldly, “As the mistress of the household, you can’t even properly teach a servant. Let me handle it! Bring that Huamei up here!”

Huamei was brought in with her hands and feet bound, crying piteously. Seeing this, the First Madam frowned. “At least let her defend herself!”

The Old Madam glanced at Nanny Luo, who immediately stepped forward to question, “Were you watching the box?”

Huamei couldn’t deny it. “Yes, but I had only just taken charge of the box…”

“Was the brocade in the box ruined?”

“Yes, but I’m innocent! It must have been someone, someone trying to frame me! It was Third Miss—Old Madam, it must have been Third Miss framing me!” Huamei tried to clear herself of guilt, shouting desperately.

This girl was too bold, not putting her mistress in her eyes at all! The Old Madam’s eyes swept lightly over her. “Such a lazy, stupid servant girl dirties my eyes. I don’t want to hear her shouting and screaming anymore. Gag her! Drag her out and give her fifty strikes of the rod to serve as a warning to others.”

Huamei immediately realized she had said the wrong thing and struggled desperately, prostrating herself on the ground and repeatedly striking her head against the floor. “Old Madam, this servant knows she was wrong! This servant deserves ten thousand deaths! First Madam, please save me, save me!” She kowtowed again and again, desperately begging the First Madam to speak up for her. Each kowtow struck heavily on the hearts of everyone present, making their faces turn pale.

Li Weiyang glanced at her and said gently, “Old Madam, why not spare her this once?”

Li Changle’s brow furrowed, just about to speak, when the Old Madam gave her a light glance.

The Old Madam wasn’t trying to punish Huamei—she was using this opportunity to discipline Changle! The First Madam’s heart turned cold. “The Old Madam is right. Such a servant must be properly punished!” This statement was equivalent to sealing Huamei’s fate. The nannies immediately gagged her and dragged her away. Huamei’s muffled sounds naturally meant she had something to say, but since the Old Madam and First Madam acted as if they heard nothing, the nannies naturally paid no attention.

Though the Old Madam was usually dignified and proper, she had never been this furious before. Everyone shivered together.

The First Madam’s expression was exceptionally unpleasant, and Li Changle’s beautiful face was also snow-white, because she clearly saw that the mandarin duck cat was also being forcibly taken away. One could well imagine that the Old Madam would never spare that cat!

Looking at the mother and daughter’s expressions, Li Weiyang let out a long breath. Seeing them so frustrated was truly satisfying!

The Old Madam looked at Li Changle’s beautiful face, her anger still not subsided. “All your brocade, send it to Weiyang! And copy the Buddhist scriptures one hundred times to properly pray for the repose of my parrot’s soul!”

Give all her brocade to Li Weiyang, and go pray for the repose of a parrot?! Had the Old Madam gone mad?! Li Changle’s delicate body swayed in disbelief, but was suddenly steadied by the First Madam’s hand. “Hurry up and agree!”

She couldn’t go against the Old Madam. Li Changle immediately understood. “Yes, Changle will certainly reflect properly.”

Walking out of Lotus Fragrance Courtyard, having lost her beloved pet and been disciplined by the Old Madam, Li Changle’s eyes were slightly red. Her gaze was sharp as an arrow as she said bitterly, “Third Sister, you truly have excellent methods, deceiving the Old Madam completely!”

Li Weiyang only smiled. “Elder Sister, I don’t understand what you mean. I only know that Elder Sister was too careless. You should know that beasts should not be indulged, isn’t that right?”

The fingers inside Li Changle’s sleeves clenched white. She said coldly, “Very good. You certainly know how to talk. Let’s hope that next time, you can still smile so happily.”

Li Weiyang blinked her bright, clear eyes. “Elder Sister jests. One hundred copies of Buddhist scriptures are not easy to transcribe. Elder Sister shouldn’t delay here, otherwise if the Old Madam finds out, she’ll be angry again!”

Li Changle was momentarily speechless. The First Madam strode past her, her expression unchanged. “Changle, there’s no need to say more. Let’s go!”

Li Weiyang smiled. “Respectfully seeing off Mother and Elder Sister.”