Meanwhile in Jian Qiu Pavilion, while Madam Qin was enjoying drinks and conversation, Hong Jian quietly approached and whispered something in her ear. Madam Qin’s expression changed immediately. She promptly sent someone to fetch two pills and called Lin Dong Qi to the inner room, making her take them without explanation. Soon after, Lin Dong Qi indeed broke out in red, itchy welts, and her eyelids began to swell. Madam Qin was heartbroken, holding her daughter close and stroking her repeatedly, clasping her hands saying, “Amitabha Buddha, thank goodness she took the medicine in advance. If her throat had swollen and she couldn’t breathe, what would we have done?” Then, grinding her teeth in anger, she said, “That little wretch Cao Li Huan used such a vicious method to harm my daughter. I was wrong to show her leniency before…”

Lin Dong Qi sobbed, “I did not quarrel with her. Even when the Third Sister and Fourth Sister deliberately gave her a hard time, I mediated and helped her. Yet she harbored such malicious thoughts to harm me…”

Madam Qin narrowed her eyes. Cao Li Huan was truly an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. Initially, they had taken her in out of pity, and she had managed to win the favor of the Old Madam and Old Lady through her cleverness. Now that she had harmed Qi’er, although they had a maid’s testimony, Cao Li Huan was known for her cunning arguments. If not handled properly, it could backfire. She was now determined to remove this threat but needed to plan carefully.

Fortunately, the drinking and entertainment at the front had dispersed. As Madam Qin was seeing off guests, Lu Lan came over and whispered, “Something seems to have happened in Young Lady Huan’s courtyard… The Young Master says… Young Lady Huan had an affair with one of her servants. The servant snuck in during today’s festivities, got drunk, and mistook a maid for the Young Lady, attempting to violate her. Luckily, the Young Master caught him. He says he’s broken both the servant’s legs, and he’s lying in the courtyard now, awaiting Madam’s instructions.”

Madam Qin’s eyes lit up instantly – this was like having someone bring a pillow just as you wanted to sleep. She hurriedly asked, “What about the maid who was almost violated?” Seeing Lu Lan stammering uncertainly, Madam Qin quickly summoned Lin Jin Lou. As soon as she saw him, she said sternly, “You little rascal, don’t play games with your parents. What exactly happened?”

Lin Jin Lou gave a light laugh: “I was walking around the western part of the mansion today when I heard someone crying for help. When I went to look, I saw a servant dragging a young maid by her legs into a room, clearly intending to violate her. In broad daylight, this was bringing shame to the Lin family, so I naturally had to intervene. Upon questioning, I learned the servant belonged to Cao Li Huan, but the maid was one of ours assigned to serve Cao Li Huan. This dog of a servant had taken a liking to the maid, and fearing he couldn’t have her, Cao Li Huan advised him to take her by force.”

Madam Qin was furious, her eyes blazing as she slammed the table: “Outrageous! To think of such filthy, despicable schemes, completely devoid of morality and shame. Black-hearted, low-class creature – what does she take the Lin family for!”

Lin Jin Lou smiled coldly: “Indeed. Since she wants to be vulgar, let’s give her plenty of vulgarity. I’ve told Shuang Xi to spread the word that the dog servant was Cao Li Huan’s lover who, drunk, mistakenly harassed the wrong maid.”

Madam Qin was taken aback. Her eldest son was brilliant and cunning, with ruthless methods, unhesitatingly throwing such a large pot of dirty water on Cao Li Huan. Though she felt it satisfying, she also found it somewhat cruel.

Lin Jin Lou seemed to read her thoughts, his lips curling sarcastically: “She’s just an orphan who sought refuge here, yet she dares to scheme against us, acting as if the Lin family belongs to her, stirring up trouble in the inner quarters. As a man, I don’t like meddling in inner household affairs, but Mother, you’ve become too soft-hearted. Where is your former decisiveness? If we don’t deal with her severely, she’ll continue thinking she can manipulate our entire family… Don’t worry, Mother, someone like her won’t seek death even with a ruined reputation. After a couple of years, when things blow over, she’ll be back strutting around proudly. Even if this incident prevents her from marrying – so what? Driving her out would be letting her off easy.”

Madam Qin sighed, admitting her son had a point. Over these years of doing good deeds and having children by her side, her heart had softened, and she often showed mercy in handling matters. With Cao Li Huan, she had mostly just given warnings, unwilling to be harsh. Now it had backfired. If that little maid hadn’t informed them, allowing her to give Qi’er medicine in advance, the symptoms might have taken her daughter’s life. She steeled her heart, her expression turning sharp, and asked: “You say that maid is from our household? Is she called Xiang Lan?”

Lin Jin Lou was slightly surprised: “How does Mother know?”

Madam Qin breathed a sigh of relief: “So it is true. Where is she?”

Lin Jin Lou then ordered someone to summon Xiang Lan. Xiang Lan had been standing outside Madam Qin’s main room, holding a small bundle, feeling anxious. Hearing the summons from inside, she hurriedly entered, not daring to look around, and properly kowtowed: “Greetings to Madam.”

Madam Qin studied her carefully, seeing a beautiful young maid who appeared terrified, with a pale face, swollen red eyes, and trembling body – truly a pitiful sight. But Madam Qin particularly disliked women who appeared delicate and feminine, as this type often harbored designs on men’s beds.

Though Madam Qin initially felt some dislike, she still spoke kindly: “You’re Xiang Lan? Poor thing, looking so delicate. Please stand up.”

Xiang Lan kowtowed once more before rising.

Madam Qin said pleasantly: “We owe you thanks for today’s events, not just this one but also the earlier incident with Young Master Ting. I must reward you generously.” She glanced at Hong Jian, who immediately took out a small purse and placed it in Xiang Lan’s hands.

Xiang Lan felt its weight, sensing hard objects inside, presumably gold and silver, but she wasn’t in the mood to be happy. With tears in her eyes, she said: “This servant doesn’t seek rewards, I just ask not to serve Young Lady Huan anymore. I’d rather work as hard as an ox or horse elsewhere.”

Madam Qin nodded slightly, picked up the peony-decorated porcelain cup from the plum blossom table, gently blew on the tea leaves, and said unusually slowly: “I hear that Young Lady Huan often had a male servant visit her courtyard, is that true?”

Xiang Lan’s heart skipped a beat. Looking up, she met Madam Qin’s meaningful gaze and understood the implications. Though she hated Cao Li Huan deeply, she was an upright person and couldn’t bring herself to falsely accuse anyone. With Madam Qin leading the conversation in this direction, Xiang Lan hesitated for a long while before saying: “Young Lady Huan often called Si Shun’er to her courtyard, sometimes closing the door to talk for a while, but what they discussed, I don’t know.”

This was the truth, but Madam Qin felt that merely saying “often visited the courtyard” and “closed the door to talk” wasn’t enough. She continued: “I’ve heard some rumors about Young Lady Huan, with people gossiping about something unclear between her and Si Shun’er, this matter…”

Xiang Lan understood perfectly. There was no evidence for this, and Madam Qin wanted her to serve as a witness. First, she couldn’t bring herself to participate in false accusations, and second, while her previous reports to the masters were for self-preservation and conscience’s sake, this time she was unwilling to be the instigator. She maintained a simple demeanor, lowering her head and saying properly: “Si Shun’er has a bad reputation. I heard from Hui Er and others that he’s fond of drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels – not a decent person. He also likes to stare at the maids when he comes to the mansion. As for him and Young Lady Huan… this servant only does embroidery in the back and handles cleaning, never going to the front, so I don’t know about that.”

Madam Qin remained silent for a while, but Lin Jin Lou suddenly laughed, saying: “This is good too. Too much would be counterproductive.”

Madam Qin exchanged a look with Lin Jin Lou, nodding slightly. She stood up and said to Xiang Lan: “Come with me to see the Old Madam. When we get there, tell her what you’ve just told me, and there will be more rewards afterward.”

Xiang Lan repeatedly agreed.

Madam Qin went to check on Lin Dong Qi again, seeing she had fallen asleep after taking the medicine. Then she came out, not changing her clothes but messing up her hair slightly to look disheveled. She put some osmanthus oil on a handkerchief and dabbed it around her eyes, instantly producing tears. Accompanied by her head maid Hong Jian and followed by Xiang Lan, she hurried to Old Madam Lin’s main room.

Old Madam Lin had just woken from her afternoon nap. Earlier, when Madam Qin had sent word about Lin Dong Qi’s rash, the Old Madam had been worried and sent several maids and servants to check on her. She had wanted to go herself but was persuaded not to by Xue Zhan and others. Now hearing that Madam Qin had arrived, she quickly ordered her to be shown in, immediately asking: “How is Second Miss?” Seeing Madam Qin’s disheveled hair, swollen red eyes, and frequent wiping of tears, she became greatly alarmed: “What exactly happened to Second Miss?”

Madam Qin rushed to Old Madam Lin’s feet, fell to her knees with a thud, and clutching the Old Madam’s legs, cried: “Your daughter-in-law begs Old Madam to uphold justice.”