Hui came forward trembling, her legs giving way as she knelt. Qin sized her up – an ordinary-looking, somewhat plump maid wearing a black patterned silk jacket with a plain silver-white silk skirt below. She wore a necklace with small gold locks and thin gold bracelets on her wrists. With her made-up eyebrows and styled hair, her appearance nearly matched that of young ladies – a favored servant.

Qin gave a cold laugh: “What a fine maid you are! I hear you’ve been generous with gold and silver to these three, scheming against Third Young Master. Speak! Who ordered you to do this!”

Hui was terrified, her hands and feet turning ice cold. She glanced up at Cao Lihuan, who maintained an expressionless face and wouldn’t look at her. Lowering her head, Hui thought, “Either way, I’m not a Lin family maid – they can’t do much to me. But if I reveal that Miss ordered me to do this, I’ll be dead with no place for burial.” So she kowtowed repeatedly, saying: “This was all my fault. I was blind-hearted to do this. No one else was involved! I beg Madam and Miss for mercy.”

Hearing Hui’s words, Cao Lihuan’s suspended heart slowly settled. Qin sneered: “You did this on your own? Why? And who gave you those gold and silver ornaments? How could a maid have such things?”

Hui kept kowtowing: “I manage the accessories… these things… I stole them… I…”

Cao Lihuan gritted her teeth and spoke up: “Hui is my maid. If she’s done wrong, I will naturally discipline her and give Aunt an explanation.”

Qin’s gaze turned sharp as she looked directly at Cao Lihuan. She slapped the table and pointed at Zhao Yuechan beside her: “You! Spit on her! Teach her how a young lady should behave!”

Zhao Yuechan immediately stepped forward and spat viciously at Cao Lihuan, scolding: “Kneel! How dare you interrupt when elders are disciplining servants! Some noble lady you are – where’s your dignity? Haven’t you seen how I’ve been standing quietly listening? Hui is your maid – you failed to discipline her properly. Madam hasn’t even scolded you yet, and you’re getting bold!”

Cao Lihuan had never suffered such humiliation. Though her heart churned with hatred, she dared not talk back and obediently knelt. Qin lifted her teacup and took a slow sip, saying: “Though Hui is your maid, she blackened her heart to ruin the reputation of my Lin family’s son. Who instructed her and where the bribe money came from – you know best in your hearts. I won’t spell it out, giving you face…”

Cao Lihuan could no longer contain herself. She sprang up, shouting: “Is Aunt suggesting that I instructed Hui to do this? Do you have any evidence for such accusations?”

Qin started, then angrily slapped the table. Her servant Mother Han stepped forward and delivered a hard slap to Cao Lihuan’s face, scolding: “Defying elders, showing no respect – you dare question Madam! Say another word and I’ll tear your mouth! Even if you’re a young lady,” she sneered at Cao Lihuan, “I once even struck Young Master Lou. If you’re not satisfied, go complain to the Old Madam and Old Master! Didn’t your parents teach you manners?”

Qin said loudly: “Now that you’re older, you’ve developed improper thoughts and want to protect your maid. Never mind that you won’t listen to me, but it’s no longer appropriate for you to stay in the garden. From today, move out. If you want to return to your brother’s place, we’ll prepare a carriage. If not, there’s an empty room on the west side of the back compound. But from now on, you’re forbidden from entering the garden! Go pack your things now!”

Then, looking at Hui, she laughed coldly several times: “Even if you’re not a Lin family maid, plotting to ruin our Third Young Master’s reputation is most hateful. Today I must deal with you!” She glanced at her senior maid Hong Jian.

Hong Jian understood and announced loudly: “Take Hui to the second gate and give her thirty strokes! Strip her pants off!”

The words “strip her pants off” frightened Hui’s soul right out of her body. The second gate was where male servants passed through – being beaten there with pants removed meant all dignity and face would be lost forever, and she could never hope to marry well. She cried out loudly: “I was wrong! I was wrong, Madam! Please spare me! Miss, Miss save me…” Before she could finish, several servant women dragged her away.

The room grew so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Qin turned back and glanced at Hong Jian again. Hong Jian nodded and looked at the three servants kneeling in the hall: “Wu San’s wife – three months’ wages and rice withheld, demoted to the second gate guard, thirty face slaps. Feng Shuang’s wife – three months’ wages and rice withheld, assigned to guard the garden’s west gate from now on, thirty face slaps.” Then she looked at the trembling maid: “Si Qiao, you’re Third Young Master’s maid, yet you betrayed your master like this. The mansion can’t keep you anymore. Since you’re so loyal to others, from now on serve Miss Huan. Your contract will be sent over shortly. Take her out and give her ten strokes, then go pack your things.”

Si Qiao burst into loud tears: “Madam, Madam please show mercy, don’t send me away! I was foolish this time…” She was dragged away crying by several servant women.

Qin sat as firm as a bell: “Who else usually serves in Luoxue Villa?”

Hearing this, Xiang Lan hurriedly came out from the inner room and knelt before Qin. Huai Rui and Old Woman Liu also knelt before Qin. Qin looked them up and down, asking their names and how long they’d served, giving stern warnings that if they “dared incite their master to misbehave, their legs would be broken” and similar threats. Finally, she looked at the rigidly standing Cao Lihuan and said softly: “From now on, conduct yourself properly.” Then she rose and left with her people.

Xiang Lan was stunned by Qin’s swift and decisive methods, thinking to herself: “Madam Qin is formidable. Without even investigating, she directly established Cao Lihuan’s guilt in instructing servants to spread rumors. Today was about making an example – a direct warning to Cao Lihuan. If Cao Lihuan is smart, she’ll drop those little schemes from now on and might still marry out peacefully. If not…”

As she was thinking, there was a crash – Cao Lihuan had swept all the teacups off the table, cursing viciously: “You old hag! I’ll have you cut into a thousand pieces someday!”

Xiang Lan lowered her head and silently entered the room. Qin’s warning might have fallen on deaf ears. Cao Lihuan often spoke wildly at home: “I don’t care if she’s a madam or mistress – if she bullies me and makes me uncomfortable, I’ll make her pay!” With such an unrepentant, vengeful nature, there was no telling what trouble she might stir up.