Wages? What kind of wages could be so substantial that, in less than a year, one could buy a residence near Houchao Gate?

The old steward naturally didn’t believe her explanation and reached out to grab her arm. “Come back with this old slave first to see the old mistress.”

“I said I won’t go. Let go of me!”

The two began tugging at each other in the street, drawing quite a crowd of onlookers. The old steward immediately began shouting, “Look at this unfilial girl! Now that she has money, she won’t even deign to see her own mother’s face. With so many troubles at home, she stands aside watching with folded arms, enjoying herself alone. Our old mistress raised her for over ten years for nothing!”

With filial piety at stake, the surrounding people all chimed in: “If an unmarried girl has money, naturally it belongs to her natal family. How can she keep it all to herself?”

“Not even willing to see her mother’s face—she should be dragged to the magistrate’s office for a beating.”

“This is exactly why raising daughters is useless. Look at this ungrateful wretch.”

He Tinglan had come out alone today and felt quite isolated and helpless, being surrounded by criticism. The old steward took advantage of the situation to drag her onto a carriage, heading straight for the Ningyuan Marquis’ Manor.

“Six hundred taels—how dare you ask your own family for such an amount!”

Old Mistress He sat in the main hall with her hands folded, her anger still blazing. “Do you think I sent people to Immortal Meeting Restaurant for no reason? It was out of consideration for you being there, family should handle things properly. But you! You helped that Liu woman make outrageous demands. Look at our marquis’ manor now—where can we produce so much silver?”

As she spoke, she observed Tinglan’s expression. Seeing her face remain tense throughout, she softened her tone somewhat. “Ever since your sister-in-law entered this house, we’ve had no peace. Your brother finally has an heir, but before the birth mother could even hold her son, she mysteriously died right under your sister-in-law’s nose. That girl was a good concubine—if we don’t explain, the household will clamor to report to the authorities. Your brother’s hard-earned future—how can we let it be ruined like this?”

“So today, you take the skills you used investigating the Yun family case and investigate for your brother, too. We keep family scandals private—turn big problems into small ones and small ones into nothing.”

He Tinglan listened expressionlessly throughout, then said coldly, “I have no investigative skills. In the previous Yun family case, I merely went along as a lookout. The capable ones were our boss and two other people.”

“Listen to that—a proper young lady saying ‘our boss’ over and over.” Old Mistress He frowned deeply. “Truly degrading yourself.”

“Status?” He Tinglan looked up at her. “What noble status? Wasn’t I still dragged to someone else’s manor like livestock?”

Somewhat embarrassed, Old Mistress He clicked her tongue. “You stubborn girl, why hold such grudges? You didn’t end up at Prince Yong’s manor after all, did you?”

“That’s because our boss righteously rescued me.” He Tinglan stood up. “My household registration is no longer with the marquis’ manor, and I can’t help with what you want to do. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Stop right there.” Old Mistress He’s face darkened.

Seven or eight household servants outside heard the command and surrounded her, firmly blocking her exit. He Tinglan’s heart jumped as she pressed her lips together and asked, “What do you want to do?”

“One thing at a time.” Old Mistress He wiped her mouth with her handkerchief. “First, go settle the accounts at Treasure Study Hall outside, then have those fox friends of yours come help with the investigation. You’re my daughter—I decide whether you stay or go. Until this matter is resolved, you’ll live in the ear room of my courtyard and are not permitted to leave.”

“You—You’re oppressing innocent people!”

Old Mistress He laughed. “If I don’t oppress innocent people, why would I be the birth mother of a marquis? People are born with distinctions of noble and base. Did you think running off to be a commoner would let you sleep peacefully? Dream on!”

He Tinglan’s eyes reddened with anger, and she felt somewhat panicked and at a loss.

Old Mistress He was right—an arm can’t twist a thigh. Being held here by them, if she didn’t comply, even if they beat her to death, vindication would come only afterward.

She had to survive first.

So at dusk, while Fuman, Zhao Yanning, and the others were eating dinner, a group of household servants suddenly burst in from outside, asking arrogantly, “Where is our Second Miss’s room?”

The three at the table exchanged glances, and Zheng Qingyi stood up first with a smile. “Are you gentlemen looking for Miss He? She’s not here.”

“I know she’s not here—do I need you to tell me? We’re here to get her things.” The servant impatiently pushed him aside and charged straight upstairs. “Second Miss has returned to the manor. To prevent you from taking advantage and swallowing her silver, the old mistress specifically ordered me to retrieve it.”

Qingyi followed upstairs. “Gentlemen, you’ve gone the wrong way. That’s our boss’s room.”

“Second Miss lived here—it’s reasonable for us to look around everywhere. What business is it of yours, a mere waiter, to interfere so much?” The servant brushed him off with a few words, reaching out to push him.

But unexpectedly, this push didn’t budge him at all.

The young man before them looked thin and scholarly, yet his frame was like iron. Standing before them like a mountain-stabilizing stone, his expression remained panicked. “Our boss doesn’t like others entering her room.”

The servant grew somewhat angry, stepped back half a pace, and gathered strength to ram into him. Zheng Qingyi lightly dodged away, still politely bowing his head. “Our boss went to a neighboring city and won’t return for over ten days. None of the second-floor rooms can be touched without her permission. Why don’t you gentlemen wait until she returns?”

“How strange! I’m taking my own family’s young lady’s things—do I need agreement from you outsiders?” The servant, having failed in his charge, flew into a rage. “Move aside quickly, or I’ll report you for misappropriating others’ property.”

Qingyi cupped his hands toward him. “To retrieve Miss He’s belongings, please bring her written authorization. Otherwise, wouldn’t our restaurant allow just anyone to come and take things?”

Hua Fuman looked up at the commotion on the second floor and couldn’t help but sigh and gesture: Qingyi’s temperament was truly suited for being a waiter.

Zhao Yanning choked and frowned. “Are you criticizing me?”

Fuman smiled without answering.

Zheng Qingyi was already being quite courteous, but these servants, relying on their numbers and momentum, began cursing directly: “A stinking waiter being so arrogant—this master will teach you some manners today!”

“Attack!”

Zhao Yanning served Fuman a piece of meat, not even lifting her head. “Eat quickly. After eating, we’ll go to the magistrate’s office to report.”

Fuman nodded, scooting her stool forward.

A household servant fell from the second-floor railing, landing precisely on the ground behind her.

The two continued their meal, even saving food for Qingyi.

As a former enforcer from the black market, even though he was holding back, Qingyi’s hand was still too heavy. Of the seven or eight household servants, the lightest injury was a broken leg, while the more severely injured had lost consciousness.

He sat back at the dining table with a face full of guilt. “Will this cause trouble for our boss?”

Zhao Yanning served him some vegetables. “Don’t worry. Our boss is already quite troublesome herself.”

She’d been gone for two days now—who knew how our boss was faring in the neighboring city? They missed her terribly. However, they were all people who had weathered great storms. Even without the boss present, they couldn’t let others bully them.