Among the crowd was a woman in simple attire, not yet twenty, with delicate features but a weary expression. Hearing Yin Haoyu’s voice, she glanced up briefly, her eyes glistening with emotion, before quickly lowering her head and hiding behind someone.
“Sister Yuying?” Yin Haoyu, confused by her behavior, moved to find her in the crowd.
“Young Master Yin, please be patient,” Ming Shu intervened, halting his steps.
“Miss Lu, most of these are my household servants. Why have you summoned them here?” Yin Licheng asked sternly, surveying the group.
Ming Shu glanced at Huaixiu Pavilion’s entrance. Those fetching Yin Shujun hadn’t returned yet. She decided not to wait. From her bag, she pulled out a small notebook and turned to the last page, which listed dates, names, and brief notes.
“Lord Yin, Madam, I’ve gathered these people not to pass judgment, but to unravel the mystery of Miss Shujun’s personality change and fulfill the task Madam entrusted to me. Your household, under the elder Lord Yin’s guidance, has always been exemplary. Madam’s kind management has kept the inner quarters peaceful, without the typical conflicts between wives and concubines. The young masters and misses have always been close. Miss Shujun, as the eldest legitimate daughter, was the apple of her parents’ eyes, close to her brother and without friction with her half-sisters. She was the most beloved daughter, wasn’t she?”
At least, that was true two years ago.
Since arriving at the Yin household, Ming Shu had spent most of her time, apart from accompanying Yin Shujun, chatting with others. These conversations revealed fragments of information about a person’s past. Ming Shu listened carefully and noted everything down, gradually piecing together Yin Shujun’s former self.
She had been the Yin family’s favored daughter – beautiful, cheerful, and widely loved. Untouched by the darker side of household politics, her heart was pure. But like many favored children, she had her flaws – pride and willfulness. Within acceptable limits, these traits were even endearing, but beyond that, they became her fatal weaknesses.
The Yin family didn’t contradict Ming Shu’s words. The former Yin Shujun had indeed been lovable, albeit willful in a childish way.
“The change began two years ago, didn’t it? Or rather, the first rumor about Shujun. Two pets – a cat named Qingshuang and a rabbit – were found dead in your garden, grotesquely disemboweled. When servants discovered them, Shujun was nearby, holding bloody scissors,” Ming Shu continued, moving towards the people Tao Yiqian had brought. “The night before, hadn’t Shujun been angry because Qingshuang had urinated on her bedding? She scolded Ruyi, the maid responsible for the pets, and threatened to beat Qingshuang.”
The maids in Yin Shujun’s room had been replaced, but the former ones still worked elsewhere in the Yin household and are present today. Prompted by Ming Shu, two of them nodded, and one spoke up: “That’s right. It was late in the year, very cold. The new bedding had just been changed, and Qingshuang urinated on it. The young miss was furious.”
“The next day, both the cat and rabbit were dead. Zhang Sao, who tends the garden, and two cleaning maids discovered them first, but Shujun was already there when they arrived,” Ming Shu looked at the others. “Where are Zhang Sao and those two maids?”
Three people hesitantly stepped forward. Ming Shu asked, “What did you see that day?”
The three exchanged nervous glances before Zhang Sao spoke: “I was watering plants near Xiuji Pavilion when I saw the young miss crouching in the bushes, holding scissors over the animal corpses.”
“We saw the same, approaching from the other side. We saw the young miss’s back as she crouched on the ground,” the other two added.
“So none of you saw Shujun kill the animals. You only saw her crouching there. Then why, when I arrived here, did I hear rumors that Shujun had killed them? Just because the cat had misbehaved the day before, she killed her pets in anger?” Ming Shu asked the crowd. “What are you trying to prove? That my sister didn’t kill Qingshuang? I used to think so too. I once believed she wasn’t that kind of person…” Yin Haoyu interjected, moving closer.
“You once believed, but why not now? If you don’t believe it, why didn’t you investigate? Is your trust so easily shaken?” Ming Shu stared into Yin Haoyu’s eyes before continuing, “After the animals were found, Yuying, Shujun’s maid at the time, quickly arrived. Yuying, please tell us what happened.”
Yuying stepped forward, still avoiding Yin Haoyu’s gaze. She spoke softly: “That morning, the young miss found her window open and Qingshuang missing. She thought the cat had sneaked out as usual. Worried because Qingshuang had once eaten poisonous plants, she went to search for herself. I was preparing her wash water when I saw her leave hurriedly. I grabbed a cloak and followed. When I caught up, she was already crouching in the bushes, crying heartbrokenly. I quickly helped her away and had servants deal with the bodies.”
“The servant who handled the bodies was Gui’an, right? Gui’an, when you dealt with them, was the blood still warm, the bodies still soft?” Ming Shu asked.
Yuying stepped back as a manservant came forward: “When I went to handle them, the blood had already congealed, and the bodies were cold and stiff.”
“Even in winter, animal bodies don’t congeal and stiffen immediately after death. Yuying’s account shows Shujun hadn’t been out long. The only explanation is that the animals were already dead when Shujun found them. She was the first to discover the bodies,” Ming Shu nodded, her gaze moving between Yin Licheng and Yin Haoyu. “This unsolved case from two years ago – even if the culprit couldn’t be found, Shujun’s innocence could have been easily proven. But because they were just a cat and a rabbit, it was dismissed, like with Feixue, glossed over with a flimsy excuse. The matter passed, but morbid curiosity amplified the mystery. Do you know what I’ve heard in your household?”
“I’ve heard whispers that Shujun was possessed by a fox spirit, craving cat and rabbit blood. I’ve heard claims that she was cutting open their chests, eating their hearts and livers… I’m sure you’ve heard these absurd rumors too, and I’m sure you tried to stop them. But the methods of those in power only suppress, they don’t resolve. You relied on the family’s authority to forcibly silence the talk.”
Beneath the murmuring masses lay an invisible, chilling undercurrent of human nature.
“If it had been just this one incident, perhaps time would have eventually buried it. But the rumors gave opportunists their chance, and soon another incident occurred,” Ming Shu flipped a page in her notebook, where “Yuying” was prominently written at the top.
“Since coming here, I’ve inquired about instances of Shujun’s personality change. The main events were the deaths of the cat and rabbit as the beginning, and the abuse of Yuying as the follow-up,” she closed her notebook and looked towards the entrance. “Would you like to tell this story yourself, or shall I?”
Everyone turned to look. Yin Shujun had arrived.
She wore an apricot-colored outfit, her beautiful face unnaturally pale. After three days confined in the Buddha Hall, the resentment and grievance in her eyes seemed to have been worn away, leaving her gaze cold.
“I’ll tell it myself,” Yin Shujun entered the courtyard, first bowing to her parents before turning to Yin Haoyu. “Mother chose Yuying as my maid when I was five. She’s three years older than me and very caring. We ate and slept together, and she was good to me. I trusted her completely, letting her handle all affairs in my quarters. She was with me for ten years, like a sister. I never mistreated her.”
Yuying, standing in the crowd, began to cry upon hearing this. Yin Haoyu glanced at her, then at his sister, wanting to speak but holding back.
“My brother is two years younger than me and always clung to me. When I wanted to keep a cat, he wanted one too, always following me. I often played with him, caring for him as an elder sister should. Yuying, always with me, often had to clean up after us and take care of our needs. The three of us were together for nearly ten years. Having no older sister myself, I saw Yuying as one, and my brother did too. Though we were master and servant, he regarded her as a sister in his heart. I thought these days would continue forever, but… someone developed different feelings.”
Yin Haoyu, just over a year younger than Yin Shujun, was a handsome young man despite his lingering boyishness, popular among girls outside the family. In their daily interactions, as Yuying entered her teens, how could she resist the daily gentle treatment, despite their master-servant relationship and sibling-like bond? Once romantic feelings arose, everything changed. But Yin Haoyu, still young, held only pure respect for his two “sisters,” treating everyone equally, his thoughts never straying.
Yuying could only suppress her growing feelings until two years ago.
“Two years ago, as my brother’s fourteenth birthday approached, Mother said he was old enough to have someone take care of his personal needs,” she said, glancing at Yin Haoyu.
Yin Haoyu blushed but remained silent.
This “someone” referred to a concubine the family would find for a young master, to teach him about worldly matters.
“This news sparked her idea,” Yin Shujun said coolly.
Yin Haoyu frowned, then suddenly turned bright red as he understood his sister’s implication: “How is that possible? I… I saw Yuying as a sister, just like you. I never…”
He couldn’t continue.
Yuying had fallen to her knees, weeping into her hands: “I made a terrible mistake, causing the young miss to suffer.”
Madam Li’s plan to find a concubine for Yin Haoyu had provoked Yuying. Using her position as Yin Shujun’s maid, she found an opportunity to enter Yin Haoyu’s bed, intending to seduce him.
Unfortunately, Yin Shujun discovered this.
“Can you imagine how I felt when I pulled her off my brother’s bed?” Yin Shujun, still unmarried, turned her face away uncomfortably as she spoke, avoiding Yin Haoyu’s gaze.
She had softened the details. That day, she had dragged Yuying naked from the bed, witnessing an unbearable scene.
If they had been in love, she might have accepted it. But her brother saw Yuying as a sister, never harboring impure thoughts. Yuying’s actions were intolerable.
If word got out, it would seem like her maid had seduced her brother…
Enraged, Yin Shujun smashed objects in the room and grabbed a horsewhip to punish Yuying. But the whip never fell; she only confined Yuying to her quarters.
“After I calmed down, I decided I couldn’t keep Yuying. But to stay, she played on my sympathy, harming herself to mimic Lian Po’s self-punishment. I still sent her away, promising never to tell my brother about this shameful incident, preserving their last shred of friendship.”
Yin Shujun paused, composing herself. “But I didn’t realize how others would see it. You only saw me dismissing Yuying over a trifle, watching her leave my room covered in wounds. You assumed I had whipped and abused her. I thought the truth would eventually come out, but it didn’t…”
She earned strange looks from others and distrust from her family.
“Why didn’t you… say anything?” Yin Haoyu, no longer looking at Yuying, stared at Yin Shujun, his brow furrowed with guilt.
“I promised Yuying, and I didn’t want to ruin our decade-long friendship or let you know about these sordid affairs,” Yin Shujun replied, unnaturally calm compared to her brother’s agitation.
Her silence had been out of loyalty; now she spoke out of disappointment, no longer wishing to preserve old ties.
“My child, you’ve suffered so much…” Madam Li approached tearfully, wanting to embrace Yin Shujun, who avoided her.
“Ahem. That concludes Yuying’s matter,” Lu Mingshu intervened, steering the conversation back. “Let’s move on to the next issue.”
She had all the details recorded in her notebook.
After Yuying left, a maid named Qingyan replaced her. Qingyan had served in Yin Shujun’s household for years but never gained prominence due to Yuying. Finally promoted to head maid, she hoped to prove herself, but Yin Shujun, distrustful after Yuying’s betrayal, remained aloof.
“With Yuying’s incident and the pets’ deaths as a foundation, Shujun’s reputation plummeted. The elders began to scrutinize her, planning strict discipline. Shujun, once favored, couldn’t bear the outside slander and family misunderstanding. She grew resentful and defiant. Unable to silence the rumors, her temper worsened, often venting on servants. Qingyan, her new personal maid, bore the brunt of her cold treatment and scolding.”
Yin Shujun’s temper was real, but anyone in her situation would either silently endure or fight back. How could a favored daughter like her remain silent? Yet her explanations seemed weak, and her resistance appeared as willfulness and disrespect to the elders.
At this point, Qingyan was caught stealing by Yin Shujun and demoted to the laundry.
“I’ve investigated. Many rumors about Shujun’s cruelty to servants originated from the laundry. Combined with her worsening temper and loud scolding, audible throughout the garden, rumors of her abusing servants spread. But in reality, how many had she beaten? Many here served in Shujun’s quarters. Did you witness her violence? Were any of you beaten? Not one!”
No one dared speak as Lu Mingshu continued: “Later, when the palace heard of Shujun’s unruliness, they sent a stern governess to discipline her. The governess, under orders, showed no leniency, punishing Shujun for the slightest misstep. How could Shujun tolerate this? Within days, they clashed. Disregarding the princess’s face, they fought by the lotus pond, and Shujun allegedly pushed the governess in… That’s what you’ve heard, right?”
She waved a thin paper: “This is a letter from the palace governess, obtained with Young Master Tao’s help, detailing that day’s events. Lord Yin, Madam, please review it.”
She presented the letter, which was quickly passed to Yin Licheng.
As Yin Licheng read, Lu Mingshu continued: “Many came to intervene that day, surrounding Shujun and the governess. Whatever happened would be blamed on Shujun. However, the governess clearly states in her letter that although they argued, she didn’t see who pushed her. Like the pets’ deaths, no one saw Shujun act.”
Yin Licheng quickly read the letter and passed it to Madam Li. He frowned at Lu Mingshu: “According to you, Shujun has been a victim of rumors these past two years, rather than showing her true nature?”
“Lord Yin, at this point, do you still believe it’s merely the effect of rumors? If the pets’ deaths and Yuying’s incident sparked rumors, in Qingyan’s case, it had evolved beyond mere gossip. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have faced repeated accidents in your household.” Lu Mingshu’s words drew attention back to Yin Liangjun, kneeling on the ground.
“Due to Shujun’s changes, your father-in-law once said if she didn’t reform, he’d send her to the family temple. Shortly after, Feixiang died. Young Master Yin visited Shujun’s chambers late at night, alarming the elder. If I hadn’t spoken up for Shujun then, it might have caused another uproar. I thought you’d investigate the cat’s death thoroughly, but it was left unresolved. Fortunately, Shujun narrowly avoided being sent to the temple. From then on, I suspected malicious intent behind these rumors.”
Her words hit everyone like a thunderbolt.
If Shujun left, only one daughter would remain in the main branch. Though born of a concubine, if favored by the main wife and recognized as legitimate, she’d have no trouble finding a match, even if not to royalty. Her future would be boundless.
Madam Li grasped this first, pointing at the kneeling Yin Liangjun: “It was you… You curry favor with me daily. I thought you were naturally kind, but you’ve turned out to be an ungrateful wolf!”
Yin Liangjun looked up at Madam Li, smiling. Daily favors meant nothing; she’d never become the legitimate daughter of this household.
Lu Mingshu continued: “Because I watched Shujun closely, she made no more mistakes. To make her err, they had to remove me first. Hence the Miaosheng State accident, killing two birds with one stone – eliminating me and delivering the final blow to Shujun. Sure enough, after the incident, no one believed Shujun. To settle matters, they ignored even my words and condemned her. Do you know how much effort it took to arrange today’s meeting, to say these things to you?”
She hadn’t eaten or slept well for three days!
At this point, she glanced at the silent Lu Chang, looking slightly wronged.
Lu Chang returned her gaze – “You brought this on yourself.”
Lu Mingshu made a face at him and continued: “I had no evidence to prove who pushed me down the mountain. Though clumsy, they left no traces. It wasn’t easy to catch them. But those with many tricks often fall victim to their own devices. When Brother Tao said I was going to Miaosheng State for evidence, she followed, half-believing, half-doubting. Seeing her belongings in my hands, she lost her composure. The rest was witnessed by the matrons who accompanied me to Miaosheng State; I need not elaborate.”
She hadn’t gone alone. To lure out the perpetrator, besides Lu Chang hidden nearby, Yin Licheng had sent others to follow, all concealed in the vicinity. But since Lu Mingshu hadn’t revealed who she suspected, they didn’t dare show themselves when Yin Liangjun appeared. Only when Liangjun attacked did Lu Chang intervene, followed by the others.
“Since I can remember, my mother taught me that those seated above were my true parents, whom I must serve well, respect my elder sister, and love my brother. I took it to heart. I went to Huaixiu Pavilion daily to greet and serve my parents, rain or shine. I never disrespected my elder sister, loved my brother, and was kind to my sisters.
I thought we were close family, but after over a decade, I only saw the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children,” Yin Liangjun said, eyes on the ground, ignoring her family’s anger. “From small outings to palace visits, it was always the elder sister who was taken along. Only she could attend parties with ladies and young misses from noble houses. Visiting ladies’ attitudes cooled upon learning I was illegitimate.
Father said there’s no difference, Mother claimed to treat us equally, but how can there be no difference? How can the scales be balanced? I’m no worse than my elder sister. In all a young lady should learn, I surpass her. I tried hard to please you, but to what end? You’re a family, and I’m just an illegitimate daughter, unfit for public view.”
Even in matters of marriage, the difference between her and her legitimate sister was like that of clouds and mud.
Her sister might marry the Third Prince, potentially becoming the future empress. As for her, a “scholar from a respectable family” would suffice.
Though sisters, the disparity was stark.
Would it be different if she were also a legitimate daughter? She didn’t know, but this thought, like a devil’s whisper, often haunted her in the quiet of night.
“I killed Big Sister’s cat Qingshuang and rabbit Xiaotao,” she confessed. “I resented caring for animals, finding them dirty. That night, when Qingshuang wet the bedding and I was scolded, I took out my anger on them. I hesitated to reveal this, but hearing others gossip about my sister intrigued me.”
It was her first realization of gossip’s power to hurt. She remained silent, observing how events unfolded, finding it increasingly fascinating.
How could human hearts be so complex?
The Yuying incident followed. Though unaware of the truth, she saw an opportunity to add fuel to the fire. She whispered a few words to Yin Haoyu, relatives, and servants, achieving an amplified effect.
Her legitimate sister’s image began to tarnish.
This was her first taste of the power of rumors.
She grew restless, eager to experiment further.
Qingyan became her next target. She carefully approached, coaxing exaggerated statements from Qingyan, then slowly spreading them. She only used words, leaving no trace.
As her sister’s reputation crumbled, she gradually entered the spotlight.
“You all say my sister has turned bad, while I’ve become lovable,” she explained. “But I haven’t changed. I’ve always tried to please everyone. You didn’t notice my goodness before because you only saw my sister. Her fall has highlighted my virtues.”
Yin Liangjun never anticipated such a turn of events. Her sister’s fall accentuated her goodness. This unexpected change delighted her. Her small actions were no longer just revenge for years of unfairness; she felt she could now compete with her legitimate sister.
She even believed she could replace her.
If only her sister would continue to “worsen” until no one in the family could tolerate her.
“So… you pushed the nanny during the chaos?” Ming Shu asked.
She neither denied nor confirmed, only saying, “I never intended to harm anyone’s life.”
The shallow lotus pond couldn’t drown someone, but it could further tarnish Yin Shujun’s reputation.
The nanny was close to the mistress. Such treatment would surely enrage her, further damaging her sister’s reputation.
She was secretly delighted when Lu Mingshu arrived.
Lu Mingshu, not being from the Yin family, saw things clearly, unaffected by rumors or appearances. Despite Yin Liangjun’s attempts to ingratiate herself and Yin Shujun’s pranks on Mingshu, Mingshu remained impartial. She neither responded to Yin Liangjun’s friendliness nor grew closer to Yin Shujun. Instead, she began investigating overlooked past events.
This made Yin Liangjun uneasy.
“But I was so close to victory,” she thought. “One more blow against my sister, and she’d be sent to the family temple. I can’t give up now.”
The opportunity suddenly arose when Yin Shujun accidentally hurt Yin Haoyu’s cat.
“You… you killed Feixue?!” Yin Haoyu stared in disbelief at the kneeling Yin Liangjun, unable to imagine his seemingly gentle and kind sister could be so cruel.
“What’s so surprising? It’s just an animal. Only you and your sister treat them like treasures,” Yin Liangjun said dismissively.
Yin Haoyu stepped back, catching his breath. He turned to his sister with regret and shame: “Big Sister…”
Yin Shujun stepped away, averting her eyes.
The rest unfolded as Ming Shu had described. Yin Liangjun didn’t bother repeating it, only laughing derisively: “Why are you all looking at me like that? Did I spread rumors alone? Weren’t you all involved? What did I do wrong? I’ve been filial to my parents and loving to my siblings for ten years… I didn’t hurt or plot against anyone… These were all trivial matters…”
Indeed, they were all minor incidents, none severe enough to be considered malicious. Yet, being minor, they were overlooked, and handled quietly, leaving only vague suspicions that turned into rumors, invisibly wounding without drawing blood.
Even what one sees might not be true, let alone what one hears.
This was what Lu Chang had once told her. Ming Shu pondered this as she looked at Lu Chang.
Lu Chang spoke up: “No plot against life? How do you explain the incident at Miaosheng Xiaojing and today’s events? Your selfish ambition led you to harm others and plot against lives. How are these trivial matters? She hurt my sister first and tried to silence her when exposed. I hope your family will give me a satisfactory explanation, or I’ll take this matter to the highest authorities!”
He directed his final words at Yin Licheng.
Yin Licheng could only respond, “Young Master Lu, please don’t be angry. I will give you and your sister a proper explanation for this matter.”
Ming Shu rested her chin on her hands, her starry eyes looking at her brother—her last words were so… impressive!
————
The Yin family’s affairs were settled.
Ming Shu had completed her assigned task. She was only responsible for uncovering the reason behind Yin Shujun’s personality change. The family’s internal struggles, concubine conflicts, and royal marriage plans were not her concern. How they settled accounts behind closed doors was not something she could interfere with. She had no desire to wade into the Yin family’s troubled waters.
Returning from the Yin residence, the carriage could only stop at the entrance of the alley. Ming Shu got off and limped behind Lu Chang as they walked home.
After a few steps, Lu Chang suddenly stopped.
Before Ming Shu could ask, he crouched down in front of her, exposing his broad, strong back.
“Get on,” Lu Chang said.
Ming Shu grinned and climbed onto his back. He carried her home.
“Brother, you’re the best!” she praised him near his ear.
“Stop flattering me,” Lu Chang didn’t appreciate it.
“Look at us, what great siblings we are, with such a close bond!” Ming Shu, perched on Lu Chang’s back, suddenly thought of Yuying and Yin Haoyu. “That Yuying, I don’t know what she was thinking. She had a perfectly good sister but insisted on becoming a concubine. Now she can’t even be siblings anymore. How foolish. Don’t you agree, brother?”
She thought about people who had brothers, wondering if the bond between brothers and sisters was similar to that between sisters.
“Brother?”
She waited for a long time but received no answer from Lu Chang. She shook him gently, her arms around his neck.
Lu Chang still didn’t respond.