Huier trembled as she stepped forward, her legs giving way as she knelt on the floor. Qin Shi sized her up and saw a rather plain-looking, slightly plump maid dressed in a black kesi tapestry jacket over a silver-white plain satin skirt. Around her neck hung a necklace adorned with a small gold lock, and on her wrists were a pair of delicate gold bracelets. Her eyebrows were painted, and her hair was styled, her attire vaguely rivaling that of young ladies. At a glance, it was clear she was a favored servant.
Qin Shi sneered coldly, "You're quite the maid, aren't you? I've heard you've been stuffing gold and silver into the hands of those three, scheming against the Third Master! Speak! Who put you up to this?"
Huier was so terrified her hands and feet turned icy. She glanced up at Cao Lihuan, who remained expressionless and did not look back. Lowering her head, she thought to herself, "After all, I'm not a Lin family maid—they can't do much to me. But if I reveal that the young lady ordered me to do this, I'll be dead without a burial place." She kowtowed repeatedly and said, "This is all my fault! I was blinded and acted on my own—it has nothing to do with anyone else! I beg Madam to spare my life, I beg the young lady to spare my life!"
Hearing Huier's words, Cao Lihuan slowly let out a breath of relief. Qin Shi sneered, "You did this on your own? Why? And who gave you those gold and silver accessories? How could a maid like you have such things?"
Huier kowtowed again and again, "I'm in charge of the accessories... I stole them... I..."
Gritting her teeth, Cao Lihuan spoke up, "Huier is my maid. Since she has done wrong, I will naturally discipline her and give my cousin's wife an explanation."
Qin Shi's gaze turned sharp as she stared directly at Cao Lihuan. She slapped the table and pointed at Zhao Yuechan beside her, saying, "You, go spit on her! Teach her what a young lady's manners are!"
Zhao Yuechan immediately stepped forward and spat fiercely at Cao Lihuan, scolding, "Kneel down! When your elders are disciplining a servant, how dare you interrupt? Shame on you, a young lady from a respectable family—where is your dignity? Don't you see even I am listening quietly? Huier is your maid, and you failed to discipline her properly. Madam hasn't even scolded you yet, and you're already getting bold!"
Cao Lihuan had never suffered such humiliation before. Resentment churned in her heart, but she dared not argue back and obediently knelt down. Qin Shi picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and said, "Although Huier is your maid, she harbored ill intentions to tarnish the reputation of my Lin family's descendants. Who instigated her, and where did the bribery money come from? You know best in your hearts. I'm not exposing it outright to save your face..."
At this, Cao Lihuan could no longer contain herself. She sprang to her feet and shouted, "Cousin's wife, are you implying that I instructed Huier to do this? Do you have any evidence for such an accusation?"
Qin Shi was taken aback, then enraged, slapping the long table. Han Mama stepped forward, swung her arm, and slapped Cao Lihuan hard across the face, scolding, "How dare you defy your elders and show such disrespect, even questioning Madam! Say one more word, and I'll tear your mouth apart!" She sneered at Cao Lihuan and said, "Never mind that you're just a cousin's daughter—I've even slapped Lou Ge'er before! If you're not satisfied, go complain to the Old Madam and Old Master! Did your parents never teach you any manners?"Qin Shi said loudly, "Now that you're older and have developed all sorts of improper thoughts, while still protecting the maids around you, it's one thing if you won't listen to what I say. But it's no longer appropriate for you to stay in the garden anymore. Starting today, move out. If you wish to return to your brother's place, we'll prepare a carriage to send you back. If not, there's an empty room at the western side behind the mansion. But from now on, you are forbidden from entering the garden! Go pack your things later!"
Then, she looked at Huier and sneered repeatedly, "Even if you're not a Lin family maid, deliberately tarnishing our Third Master's reputation is utterly despicable. Today, I must deal with you!" She glanced at her senior maid Hongjian beside her.
Understanding the cue, Hongjian raised her voice, "Take Huier outside the second gate and give her thirty strokes! Strip her pants before beating!"
The words "strip her pants before beating" terrified Huier out of her wits. Outside the second gate was where male servants frequented. Being beaten with pants removed meant all dignity and face would be lost forever—she could forget about marrying into a good family in this lifetime. She immediately cried out loudly, "I was wrong! I was wrong, Madam! Spare me! Miss, Miss, save me..." Before she could finish, several matrons dragged her out.
The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. Qin Shi turned back and glanced at Hongjian again. Hongjian nodded, then looked at the three servants kneeling below and said, "Wu San's wife: deduct three months' silver and rice rations, demote to gatekeeping at the second gate, slap thirty times. Feng Shuang's wife: deduct three months' silver and rice rations, from now on guard the garden's west gate, slap thirty times." She then looked at the trembling maid, "Siqiao, you're Third Master's maid yet you betray your master like this. The mansion can't keep you. Since your loyalty lies elsewhere, from now on you shall serve Miss Huan. Your deed of sale will be delivered later. Drag her out for ten strokes, then go pack your belongings."
Siqiao wailed loudly, "Madam, Madam, have mercy! Don't drive me away! I was blinded this time..." She was dragged out crying by several matrons.
Qin Shi sat upright like a bell, "Who else normally serves in Luoxue Courtyard?"
Hearing this, Xianglan hurried out from the inner room and knelt before Qin Shi. Huairui and Liu Pozi also knelt before her. Qin Shi scrutinized them, asking each their names and how long they'd served, then sternly reprimanded and warned them that if they "dare incite the mistress to mischief, their legs will be broken." Finally, she looked at Cao Lihuan standing stiffly and said softly, "From now on, you'd better behave yourself." She then rose and left with her attendants.
Xianglan was stunned for a long moment by Qin Shi's swift and decisive methods, thinking to herself, "Qin Shi is indeed formidable. Without any interrogation, she directly confirmed Cao Lihuan's guilt in instructing maids to spread rumors. Today's purpose was to make an example—a clear warning to Cao Lihuan. If Cao Lihuan is smart, she'll suppress those petty schemes from now on and might still marry off safely. Otherwise..."
As she pondered, a crashing sound interrupted—Cao Lihuan had swept all the teacups from the table onto the floor, cursing viciously, "You old hag! Sooner or later, I'll have you cut into a thousand pieces!"Xianglan lowered her head and silently entered the room. Qin Shi's admonishments might as well have been pearls cast before swine. Cao Lihuan often boasted arrogantly at home, "I don't care if you're Madam or mistress! If anyone bullies me or makes my life difficult, I'll make sure they regret it!" With such an unrepentant, vengeful nature, who knows what trouble she might stir up.
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