Xue Zhan grabbed Cao Lihuan's wrist and shouted, "Enough of this commotion! Do I need to summon the old madam here?"
At the mention of "the old madam," a flicker of fear crossed Cao Lihuan's face, but she quickly regained her composure and said nonchalantly, "Even if you bring the old madam here, I'm not afraid. In fact, I'd like to seek her judgment on this matter. Such insolent servants who dare bully their masters—should they be kept around..."
Before she could finish, someone interjected, "Who has such grand airs as to trouble the old madam?" A noblewoman in her mid-thirties emerged from the courtyard gate. She was of average height, with a fair and beautiful face that exuded grace and dignity. She wore a sky-blue soft satin BeiZi embroidered with exquisitely delicate plum blossoms, paired with a long white skirt. Her hair was neatly styled into a glossy high bun, adorned only with two jade hairpins of exceptional quality—translucent and emerald green, clearly priceless at first glance.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Xue Zhan called out nervously, "First Madam." Cao Lihuan instinctively stopped struggling, straightened her posture, and smoothed her clothes and hair. Xianglan, noticing the arrival, scrambled to her feet and quietly positioned herself in a corner at a respectful distance, standing with her hands clasped. She thought, "Such attire and demeanor, and yet unfamiliar—this must be Qin Shi, the First Madam of the main household. What poise! By age, she should be over forty, yet she looks no older than her thirties."
Qin Shi calmly surveyed the scene, first noticing Liubei lying on the ground with disheveled hair, disarrayed clothes, and tear-streaked face, then glancing at Cao Lihuan, whose hair was also in disarray. In a composed voice, she asked, "What is going on here?"
Cao Lihuan, her expression still fierce, pointed at Liubei and exclaimed, "I came with good intentions to welcome my uncle's family, but this wretched girl blocked the door and refused to let me in! Worse, she dared to lay hands on her mistress and even cursed me by name!"
Qin Shi, already surmising the identity of the person before her, feigned ignorance and slightly furrowed her brows as she looked at Cao Lihuan. "You are...?"
Xue Zhan whispered, "She is the Cousin the old madam mentioned to you earlier."
Understanding dawned on Qin Shi's face as she gave Cao Lihuan a cool glance. "You should address me as Aunt." Cao Lihuan opened her mouth to speak, but Qin Shi waved her hand dismissively. "Never mind. Come with me first." She turned to leave but glanced back at Liubei. "Don't let her lie on the ground like this. Help her up and take her inside. What would the old madam think if she saw this?" With that, she headed toward the adjacent hall.Cao Lihuan had no choice but to follow Qin Shi, her heart seething with resentment. She had long since ingratiated herself with the second branch of the Lin family. Lin Changmin was merely a military man who cared only for army affairs, leaving all household matters unattended. His wife, Wang Shi, was as slippery as an eel—no matter how much Cao Lihuan fawned over her, she remained all smiles yet distant. Old Lord Lin lived in seclusion, while Lin Old Madam clearly disliked her. Zhao Yuechan was the only one with whom she had some rapport, but despite the many gifts of gold, silver, jewelry, and fine silks she had sent, Zhao Yuechan had fulfilled few of her promises! Now that the main branch had returned, it seemed Qin Shi was regaining control of the household. Cao Lihuan had prepared herself to curry favor and claim kinship. In the household, maids and servants superficially addressed her as "Miss Cousin," but her inherently domineering and vain nature had long since erased her initial timidity. She had come to regard herself as a true daughter of the Lin family, no longer an outsider. Yet today’s events, especially Liubei’s words, had humiliated and enraged her. Old grievances and fresh grudges combined, and in her fury, she had struck Liubei. Even now, her anger had not subsided.
Xianglan followed Cao Lihuan to the small parlor door, where she obediently stood guard outside. She saw Xue Zhan and a young maid supporting Liubei as they entered. Xue Zhan murmured softly, "Luckily your hair is thick—losing a handful won’t be noticeable..." Liubei sniffled as they led her into a side room.
Inside the parlor, Qin Shi sighed and said, "Earlier, the Old Madam mentioned you to me, saying how pitiable you were, having lost your parents so young, with an elder brother who couldn’t be relied upon. She asked me to look after you more."
Cao Lihuan cursed inwardly: "Look after me? Nonsense! That old hag would sooner see me vanish." Aloud, she sneered, "If the Old Madam cares for me, why didn’t she let me in? Instead, she had two maids block me at the door, parroting 'the Old Madam’s orders,' calling it a 'family banquet'—as if I’m an outsider! If even she treats me this way, how can those snobbish maids ever respect me as a true mistress?"
Qin Shi’s expression darkened at these words. She sat down and remained silent for a long while before speaking slowly, "Today was indeed our Lin family’s banquet." She emphasized the words "our Lin family." "Though men and women sat separately, there were no screens. You’re grown now, soon to be married, and the young masters are also of age. It wouldn’t be proper for you to dine together, which is why you weren’t invited. But the Old Madam had four of your favorite dishes and two plates of pastries sent to you. She also planned to have you girls join her for lunch tomorrow."
Cao Lihuan replied, "How thoughtful of the Old Madam," her tone dripping with sarcasm.Qin Shi's expression grew increasingly stern: "The Lin family values propriety above all. Though you don't bear the Lin surname, you still call me 'Cousin Aunt,' so I'll presume to offer some advice. As a young lady of good birth, you should conduct yourself accordingly. No matter what the maids might think, they must show respect to their superiors in appearance. Even if there's an insolent servant who oversteps, you should report it to the housekeeper or senior maids. Why lower yourself to scuffle with a maid? No matter how unworthy Liubei may be, she's still someone from the old madam's quarters. When you beat a dog, you must consider its master's face—by striking Liubei, weren't you slapping the old madam herself? You'll soon be married. If word of today's incident spreads and tarnishes your reputation, how will you establish yourself in your husband's household?"
Cao Lihuan retorted coldly with a hardened expression: "My conduct is beyond reproach. Who could possibly find fault with my behavior or tarnish my reputation? Back in Yuzhou, I was renowned as a dignified young lady—you're welcome to inquire if you doubt me. If that maid hadn't gone too far today, why would I have struck her? Spouting such vulgarities, taking advantage of my orphaned state with no one to rely on—even a lowly maid dares to climb over my head!"
Having lived to this age, Qin Shi had never been so boldly contradicted by a junior, especially when offering well-intentioned advice. Amused by the absurdity, she chuckled: "Very well, very well. So you're saying you did nothing wrong today, and the maid alone was at fault? But that maid was acting on the old madam's orders—are you implying the old madam was wrong then?" Without waiting for a response, she suddenly stood and approached Cao Lihuan, wearing a faint smile: "They say 'great kindness begets great enmity'—now I understand. Since Cousin feels we've all wronged you, and the old madam's countless kindnesses have only bred resentment, you may as well pack your belongings and return home. The Lin family doesn't mind setting an extra place at the table or providing a dowry chest, but we never raise ungrateful wolves!"
Cao Lihuan froze in shock, never expecting Qin Shi to outright dismiss her! Gritting her teeth, she spat: "You're throwing me out? What kind of cousin aunt would drive her own niece away upon first meeting!"
Qin Shi's smile remained, though it didn't reach her eyes: "I don't follow your meaning, Cousin. Clearly, you resent the old madam and despise us. This is the Lin residence—you're not one of us. Sending you back is only natural."
Cao Lihuan stood dumbfounded. Accustomed to bullying others, she never anticipated Qin Shi's blunt words that publicly humiliated her!
Observing Cao Lihuan's expression, Qin Shi smirked inwardly. Pausing at the doorway, she turned back and said softly: "Hurry and pack your things. I'll arrange a carriage for you later." With that, she glided out gracefully.
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