Jin Chao brought Yu Xiang and Qing Pu to the accounting office, saying she wanted to find Luo Liu.

Luo Liu, having heard of the Madam’s death, was already extremely frightened. He felt guilty, believing that Ji Shi’s death was due to the medicine switch, and had been on edge for some time, unable to sleep soundly. Seeing the Young Miss come looking for him, Luo Liu was so scared that he knelt on the ground trembling, afraid to speak.

Jin Chao sipped her tea while instructing Steward Sun: “…A few months ago, Luo Liu secretly snuck into the inner courtyard and harassed one of the maids there. This maid kept quiet for several months before finally coming to me crying to report it. I was truly angered when I heard this. Luo Liu cannot be kept. Steward, give him a beating with the paddle and drive him out of the manor!”

She glanced at Luo Liu kneeling on the ground, trembling pathetically. She had her plans and didn’t mention Da Huang’s matter first to avoid alerting Steward Sun. After she extracted Luo Liu’s confession, she could directly punish Steward Sun. By claiming Luo Liu had harassed a maid, she created an opening to drag both Luo Liu and Steward Sundown.

Steward Sun maintained his smiling face: “Young Miss… Luo Liu has worked under me for decades. He is pure. Might there be some misunderstanding about this matter? May I ask who this harassed maid is? When and where did it happen? How did Young Miss come to know about it? Did that maid report it to you?”

In his heart, he had some contempt for Gu Jin Chao. Everyone knew what kind of person Young Miss Gu was. Today she came to accuse Luo Liu, but it was just to cause trouble. Could she move against Luo Liu based solely on a maid’s few words? After Concubine Song’s child was born and she was elevated to the position of the main wife, what business would Young Miss Gu have then?

He treated Gu Jin Chao as if she didn’t understand matters: “…Where is this maid now? Young Miss, let me see her too, to avoid wrongfully accusing Luo Liu.”

Luo Liu quickly nodded: “Young Miss must believe this servant. This servant never entered the inner courtyard to harass any maid!”

Jin Chao glanced at him but said nothing. Instead, she nodded: “That maid is right outside. She’s afraid to see Luo Liu. If the Steward wants to see her, just step outside.” Luo Liu would recognize Yu Xiang at a glance, but Steward Sun from the outer courtyard couldn’t possibly have seen Concubine Song’s second-tier maid.

Steward Sun looked toward the door and quickly went out. Indeed, a maid was waiting outside, whose dress indicated she wasn’t particularly favored, accompanied by Cai Fu, the maid from the Young Miss’s side.

Yu Xiang curtsied to Steward Sun. Steward Sun nodded and asked her what exactly had happened.

Yu Xiang followed Gu Jin Chao’s instructions and tearfully told Steward Sun how Luo Liu had harassed her: “…This servant was working in the courtyard by the pendant flower gate, and Luo Liu came out from the strange willow grove near the pendant flower gate that day and harassed this servant. This servant… felt her reputation was tarnished and didn’t speak about it for a long time. But I continued to feel uneasy, and finally couldn’t help but tell Young Miss…”

Steward Sun’s expression changed slightly. Luo Liu had indeed entered and exited the inner courtyard a few months ago, and it was near the strange willow grove, which made it somewhat believable… But Luo Liu appeared honest and proper; how could he do such a thing?

Steward Sun’s face turned cold.

Regardless, Steward Sun would protect Luo Liu, as Luo Liu worked for him.

Steward Sun brought Yu Xiang in, and Gu Jin Chao looked up at him with a smile.

Steward Sun immediately cupped his hands and said: “You see how this matter has escalated… How about I beat Luo Liu and dock his wages for two months? That would be punishment on your behalf, and he certainly won’t dare offend again in the future.”

Hearing this, Luo Liu immediately cried out: “Steward Sun, please don’t believe that maid’s words. I’m truly innocent…”

Jin Chao said languidly: “That maid said she was molested by you near the strange willow grove, and she was clear about the time and place. If you didn’t molest her, what were you doing at the strange willow grove? Were you perhaps meeting with someone to conspire about something?”

Hearing Gu Jin Chao’s words, Steward Sun became more afraid she would continue. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward and immediately kicked Luo Liu hard, saying: “You dog, you still dare to argue!”

Luo Liu was so frightened that his whole body trembled. One kick sent him sprawling on the ground, and Steward Sun came forward with several more kicks: “You did such a shameful thing, completely disgracing me, and now Young Miss has to report you!”

Luo Liu groaned in pain, curling into a ball on the ground to avoid Steward Sun’s fists and feet.

Jin Chao watched and smiled: “Since the Steward has determined this matter, then take Luo Liu out and beat him to death with clubs. This will prevent future lack of discipline in the manor and serve as a warning to others.”

Steward Sun was stunned. Was Young Miss Gu really this ruthless?

Luo Liu, however, was so frightened that he sat up, immediately kowtowing and begging for mercy: “Young Miss, spare my life! I… I didn’t do it! I went to the inner courtyard, but not to harass any maid. I wouldn’t dare even if I had several lives!”

Steward Sun became more anxious and stepped forward to slap him, rebuking: “Nonsense! Shut your mouth!”

Luo Liu didn’t understand why he had suddenly turned against him; he was already terrified by Gu Jin Chao’s words.

Jin Chao put down her teacup and said: “There’s no need to be anxious. I don’t necessarily want to put you to death. Without rules, there can be no square. You understand that. Having committed such an offense, unless you’ve done something to offset your wrongdoing, I can’t spare you…”

Luo Liu was bewildered for a moment; he didn’t understand what Gu Jin Chao meant.

Gu Jin Chao picked up her tea and took a leisurely sip, saying: “You say you’re wrong, and I believe you… Perhaps that maid got your actions wrong. You only need to tell me why you entered the inner courtyard, or who sent you there. Find someone to corroborate, and you can clear your name. Otherwise, I can’t help you.”

Hearing Gu Jin Chao’s words, Luo Liu seemed to understand something. The Young Miss wasn’t here because of the harassment of the maid at all. She had discovered the truth about Da Huang’s matter and was looking for the mastermind!

Steward Sun’s expression changed slightly as he said: “Is Young Miss suggesting someone instructed Luo Liu to enter the inner courtyard? Luo Liu works for the accounting office. Isn’t Young Miss implying I’m at fault?”

Jin Chao smiled as she skimmed the tea scum from her tea: “Look how anxious Steward Sun is. I didn’t say it was you who gave the instructions, so why are you so agitated? With Steward Sun being this emotional, I might think you have a guilty conscience.”

Luo Liu hesitated, glanced at Steward Sun, but found him glaring fiercely at him. He immediately quieted down, not daring to speak.

Offending the Young Miss wasn’t frightening; the Young Miss was just a figurehead. If the Young Miss spoke against him like this, Steward Sun might still save his life. But if he offended Steward Sun, then he would truly be finished…

Luo Liu said softly: “Young… Young Miss, this servant did indeed say a few teasing words to the maid. But I didn’t touch her. Young Miss, please show mercy to this servant!”

Steward Sun also smiled: “It was just verbal teasing of a maid. If Young Miss is so harsh as to beat a servant to death for this, it wouldn’t look good to others, regardless of sentiment or reason. Why don’t I beat him instead…”

Jin Chao raised an eyebrow. If Luo Liu could admit to this, it showed how ruthless Steward Sun’s methods must be!

She stared at Steward Sun and said firmly with a smile: “What is Steward Sun interrupting for? I still have questions for you. Madam Xu came over yesterday to ask about the items sent by the Ji family. You said the items had been mixed up and the ledger was lost. Are you usually this careless in your work, that you could make such a mistake?”

Upon hearing it was about this matter, Steward Sun said: “What does Young Miss mean by this? The items truly were mixed up, and I said so because I couldn’t identify them. It wasn’t me who recorded them either, so you can’t blame me… If Young Miss, as the household manager, reports this to the Master, it won’t go well for you!”

Now he understood. Gu Jin Chao wasn’t trying to investigate Luo Liu’s matter at all. She wanted to settle accounts and find fault with him!

Gu Jin Chao was truly causing trouble! With Concubine Song pregnant, she should be more cautious in her actions. Such arrogance would likely lead to her being oppressed in the future!

While he was feeling contemptuous, he heard a commotion outside. It seemed someone was forcing their way into the accounting office, with servants speaking: “…This is the accounting office. How can you all come in with swords… Stop right there! Who authorized you to come here!”

Then came Xue Shiliu’s cold voice: “It’s on Young Miss’s orders. Get out of the way!”

So it was Madam Xu bringing Xue Shiliu!

Jin Chao heard Xue Shiliu’s voice and said: “Since Guard Xue has arrived, feel free to bring your men in. There’s a servant here who isn’t following rules, and I was just thinking you could beat him to death and drag him to the wilderness burial ground!”

Both Luo Liu and Steward Sun changed color. Young Miss Gu had brought Ji Shi’s former guards!

What exactly did she intend to do? Did she want to beat Luo Liu to death?

Xue Shiliu led the way in, with a sword at his waist. He was tall and strong, with hands like palm fans. One look at him, and Luo Liu’s legs went weak… Who didn’t know that Xue Shiliu had been brought from the Xue Martial Arts School in Tongzhou by Ji Shi? None of the Gu family guards could match him in a fight!

Xue Shiliu asked in a deep voice: “Is this the servant Young Miss mentioned?” He pointed to Luo Liu as if waiting for Gu Jin Chao to say yes so he could pounce on Luo Liu and beat him to death.

Luo Liu looked at Xue Shiliu in terror, suddenly hugging Steward Sun’s leg and crying: “Steward Sun, you must save me! I don’t want to be beaten to death!”

Steward Sun looked at Gu Jin Chao with a gloomy expression. After a long while, he said coolly: “Young Miss, Concubine Song is currently pregnant. Won’t your actions disturb the Concubine and the Master? You should think carefully.” He wanted to warn Gu Jin Chao that if she were smart, she would know not to touch Concubine Song’s people!

Jin Chao naturally understood his meaning and smiled slightly: “Are you still hoping Concubine Song will back you up? Where in the Gu family is there any room for Song Concubine to speak now? Steward Sun is poor at judging the situation. If that’s the case, I won’t stop you. Send someone to Lingyan Pavilion right now and see if Song Miaohua dares to say a single word!”

Steward Sun’s heart skipped a beat. What did she mean? Although Concubine Song had been punished… she was pregnant, which meant unlimited prospects!

He remained silent for a long time, then called a servant to go to Lingyan Pavilion to notify Concubine Song.

Gu Jin Chao slowly drank her tea. The servant who went to Lingyan Pavilion returned quickly, with a terrified expression, and told Steward Sun: “… old women are guarding outside Lingyan Pavilion, and it’s impossible to enter. I glanced inside and saw only two little maids, with no one attending. This servant didn’t see Concubine Song…”