Snow Cup grabbed Cao Lihuan’s wrist and shouted, “Stop this at once! Do you want me to bring Old Madam here?”
At the mention of “Old Madam,” a flash of fear crossed Cao Lihuan’s face, but she quickly affected indifference: “Even if you bring Old Madam, I’m not afraid. I want to see her and have her judge this matter. Such an insolent servant who dares to defy her master, surely she shouldn’t be kept around…”
Before she could finish speaking, someone said: “Who’s putting on such airs that they need to trouble Old Madam?” A noble lady in her mid-thirties emerged from the courtyard entrance. Of medium build with a snow-white face, she possessed both beauty and dignity, radiating glory and purity. She wore a sky-blue soft satin jacket embroidered with exquisitely elegant plum blossoms, a white long skirt beneath, and her gleaming hair was neatly arranged in a tilted bun with just two jade hairpins – the jade was bright and clear, emerald green and translucent, clearly of superior quality.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Snow Cup called out nervously: “First Madam.” Cao Lihuan unconsciously stopped her assault and straightened up, adjusting her clothes and hair. Seeing someone arrive, Xianglan quickly scrambled up and quietly stood in a corner at a measured distance, hands lowered, thinking: “With such dress and bearing, and being unfamiliar, this must be First Madam Qin? Such an impressive demeanor. Given her age, she should be in her early forties, yet she looks like she’s just in her thirties.”
First Madam Qin quietly surveyed the scene, first noting Glass Cup lying on the ground with disheveled hair, disarrayed clothes, and a tear-stained face, then looking at Cao Lihuan’s loosened hair before asking in a measured voice: “What’s going on here?”
The fierce expression hadn’t left Cao Lihuan’s face as she pointed at Glass Cup and said loudly: “I came with good intentions to welcome my elder cousin and his family, but this little wretch blocked the door and wouldn’t let me in. In the end, she even dared to lay hands on her master and curse me by name!”
Madam Qin had already guessed who stood before her from the scene, but maintained ignorance, looking at Cao Lihuan with slightly furrowed brows: “You are…?”
Snow Cup said softly: “She’s the cousin Miss that Old Madam just mentioned to you.”
Understanding dawned on Madam Qin’s face as she gave Cao Lihuan a bland look: “You should call me Aunt-in-law.” As Cao Lihuan opened her mouth to speak, Madam Qin waved her hand: “Never mind, come with me first.” After walking a few steps, she turned back to look at Glass Cup and said, “Don’t let her lie there on the ground. Help her up and back to her room – what would Old Madam think if she saw this?” With that, she headed toward the side hall.
Cao Lihuan had no choice but to follow Madam Qin, her heart full of anger. She had long ago tried to curry favor with the Lin family’s Second Branch. Lin Changmin was a military man who focused only on army matters and was hands-off at home, managing nothing. Second Madam Wang was slippery as an eel – no matter how much Cao Lihuan tried to please her, she maintained a smiling but distant demeanor. Old Master Lin lived in seclusion, Old Madam Lin showed her no favor, and though Zhao Yuechan was somewhat friendly with her, despite sending many gold and silver ornaments and silk accessories, Zhao Yuechan had fulfilled a few of her promises! Now the First Branch had returned, and it appeared Madam Qin would take charge of household management. She had prepared to come curry favor and strengthen family ties. Usually in the mansion, the maids and servants respectfully addressed her as “Miss Cao.” Being naturally domineering and vain, as time passed, she cast aside her initial nervousness upon entering the household and began treating herself as a proper Young Lady of the Lin family, no longer feeling like an outsider. Yet she hadn’t expected today’s incident, especially Glass Cup’s words which had particularly incensed her to rage and shame. With new grievances piled atop old ones, Cao Lihuan had beaten Glass Cup severely, and her anger had not yet subsided.
Xianglan followed behind Cao Lihuan. When they reached the small hall entrance, she obediently stood outside to guard the door. She saw Snow Cup and a young maid supporting Glass Cup as they entered, with Snow Cup saying softly: “Fortunately your hair is thick, so the handful that was pulled out isn’t very noticeable…” Glass Cup was still sobbing as she entered a side room.
Inside the hall, Madam Qin sighed and said: “Old Madam was just telling me about you, saying how pitiful you are, having lost your parents so young, with an unreliable brother, and asked me to look after you a bit.”
Cao Lihuan cursed inwardly: “Look after me? Nonsense! That old thing would rather I disappeared immediately.” She sneered and said: “If Old Madam wants to look after me, why didn’t she let me in? Instead, she had two maids block me at the door, constantly citing ‘Old Madam’s orders,’ saying it was a ‘family meal’ – treating me like an outsider! With Old Madam acting this way, how could those discriminating maids possibly respect me as a proper master?”
Hearing this, Madam Qin’s face immediately darkened. She sat down in a chair and remained silent for a good while before slowly saying: “Today is indeed a family meal for our Lin family.” She emphasized the words “our Lin family” particularly heavily. “Though men and women sit separately, there are no screens between them. You’re grown now, about to be married, and the young masters are also of age. It wouldn’t be proper to eat together, which is why you weren’t invited. However, Old Madam ordered four of your favorite dishes and two plates of desserts to be sent to you, thinking that tomorrow you girls could have lunch with her.”
Cao Lihuan said: “How thoughtful of Old Madam.” Her words dripped with sarcasm.
Madam Qin’s expression grew even darker: “The Lin family values propriety and decorum above all. Though you don’t bear the Lin surname, you still call me ‘Aunt-in-law,’ so I’ll be thick-skinned and say a few words. You come from a noble background and should conduct yourself as such. No matter what those maids think inside, they still show respect to their masters on the surface. Even if some insolent servants are disrespectful, you should report it to the housekeeper or the elder maids. Why lower your dignity by fighting with a maid? Whatever Glass Cup’s faults, she’s still Old Madam’s servant – when beating a dog, one considers its master. By striking Glass Cup, aren’t you slapping Old Madam’s face? You’re about to be married – if word of today’s events spreads, and you gain a bad reputation, how will you establish yourself in your husband’s family?”
Cao Lihuan maintained a cold expression and said harshly: “I conduct myself properly and righteously. Who could find fault with my behavior or demeanor, or damage my reputation? I’m known as a proper young lady in Yuzhou – Aunt-in-law can inquire about this. Today, if that maid hadn’t been so outrageously insulting, why would I have struck her? Her mouth is full of vulgar words, bullying me because I’m an orphan with no one to rely on – even a maid tries to walk all over me!”
Madam Qin, in all her years, had never had a younger generation dare to talk back to her so boldly, especially when she was offering kind advice. She couldn’t help but laugh in anger, saying: “Good, good, good! So Miss means you did nothing wrong today – only the maid was wrong? But that maid was following Old Madam’s orders, so in other words, Old Madam was wrong?” Without waiting for Cao Lihuan to answer, she suddenly stood up and walked to Cao Lihuan’s front, a slight smile on her face: “There’s a saying that ‘great kindness breeds resentment’ – today I truly understand it. Since Miss feels we’ve all wronged you, that Old Madam’s constant care has only bred resentment, then pack your things and go home. Our Lin family wouldn’t miss an extra pair of chopsticks or a dowry chest, but we never raise ungrateful wolves!”
Cao Lihuan was stunned – she never imagined Madam Qin would dismiss her with just a few words! She ground her teeth and said: “You’re driving me out? Is there such an aunt-in-law in the world who drives out her niece-in-law at their first meeting!”
Madam Qin still wore a slight smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes: “I don’t understand what Miss means. You’re the one who resents Old Madam and holds grudges against us. This is the Lin household – you’re not part of our Lin family, so sending you back is perfectly reasonable.”
Cao Lihuan stood there dumbfounded. Used to throwing her weight around, she never expected Madam Qin to say such things, completely humiliating her on the spot!
Madam Qin observed Cao Lihuan’s expression, secretly sneering. Walking to the door, she turned back and said softly: “Quickly go pack your belongings. I’ll have someone prepare a carriage to send you home.” Then she glided away.