At that time, she had just recovered from illness and overheard Nanny Zhu speaking with Jinjú from Concubine Fang's side. They were discussing how the parents and sisters-in-law of the two maids who had been sold out of the mansion by Ren Yaoyu had come seeking help. They were asking around for someone to help them retrieve the private savings the two maids had accumulated over the years, even promising to share a portion as commission to those willing to assist.
Little did they know that the maids' savings had long been looted by the matrons from Old Madam Ren's courtyard when they took the opportunity to search their quarters, leaving not a single copper coin behind.
At the time, rumors circulated in the mansion that the two maids serving Ren Yaoyu were sold off because they had stolen valuable items from Old Madam Ren's room. Nanny Zhu even lamented how many precious things must have been concealed by those from the Glory and Splendor Courtyard.
Jinjú, however, scoffed and said the two maids were not expelled from the mansion for theft but because they had brought unclean objects into Old Madam Ren's room, violating the master's taboos.
Just as Nanny Zhu was about to inquire further, someone came to report that Ren Yaohua had been driven out for angering Old Madam Ren.
At the time, she was feigning illness and refusing to come out, having felt humiliated after being slapped twice by Ren Yaohua. Hearing this news secretly pleased her.
Later, Nanny Zhu helped her find out that Ren Yaohua had angered Old Madam Ren because Madam Lin had exposed her scheme to frame Ren Yaoyu.
However, Ren Yaoyu was never fully vindicated. Even after she left the Ren Family, Old Madam Ren remained distant toward this granddaughter.
Looking back now, what she had overheard back then might very well have been true. Jinjú, Concubine Fang's maid, had an elder sister named Jinlian, who was a First-Rank Senior Maid in Old Madam Ren's quarters.
Yet, this matter might not have been Ren Yaohua's doing. It was quite possible that Ren Yaohua had been used as a pawn.
Considering the only person who benefited from the incident afterward...
As Ren Yaoqi was lost in these thoughts, Old Madam Ren spoke from above: "Bring in the two maids from outside, and also summon the matron from earlier."
Granny Gui, who served Old Madam Ren, hurriedly complied.
Soon after, the two maids who had been kneeling outside earlier were helped in by four Coarse-Working Matrons.
Perhaps from kneeling outside for too long, both maids were frozen pale, unable to stand on their own. As soon as the matrons released them, they collapsed to the floor.
"When Granny Gui questioned you earlier, you refused to speak. Now that you've knelt for so long, you must have sobered up," Old Madam Ren said, looking at the two.
Madam Lin also scolded sternly: "Some say they saw you sneaking things out of the Glory and Splendor Courtyard this morning. Now, in front of Old Madam Ren, tell the truth. Don’t end up dragging Eighth Miss into blame. You know my temperament—I cannot tolerate servants who deceive or betray their masters! If you persist in your stubbornness, thinking Old Madam Ren is merciful, I will not spare you once you leave this courtyard!"
Madam Lin’s words were righteous and severe, but upon hearing them, the two maids only buried their heads deeper, their knees trembling uncontrollably.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Madam Lin. Could it be that Ren Yaoyu had truly done something to anger Old Madam Ren? Madam Lin’s words were clearly a veiled warning to the maids to weigh their words carefully. If they dared to implicate Ren Yaoyu, she would not let them off lightly.Old Madam Ren lifted her eyelids to glance at Madam Lin, then turned her gaze to the two maids: "I'll give you one more chance."
"R-Replying to Old Madam, we did not, did not take anything from Glory and Splendor Courtyard," one of the maids stammered.
Old Madam Ren then no longer looked at them.
The atmosphere in the room grew somewhat strange. The two kneeling on the ground trembled continuously; their stiff postures clearly revealed their extreme fear. Ren Yaoyu was also extremely uneasy, tightly clutching her own sleeve.
Everyone else sensed Old Madam Ren's displeasure at this moment and dared not speak.
"Mother..." Fifth Madam Lin glanced at her daughter and felt compelled to step forward.
Just then, Granny Gui lifted the curtain and entered, followed by a matron wearing a somewhat worn dark blue cotton jacket.
"Reporting to Old Madam, Madam Liu'an has arrived," Granny Gui said, standing respectfully by the Arhat Bed.
Everyone's gaze then turned to the matron, who was somewhat awkwardly kowtowing in greeting.
Ren Yaoqi took a careful look at her as she rose, confirming that she indeed had no recollection of her at all.
Fifth Madam Lin, however, scrutinized Madam Liu'an with a critical eye and immediately challenged her: "Which area are you from? Why do you look so unfamiliar?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu'an hunched her shoulders, rubbed her hands, and glanced at Granny Gui.
Granny Gui hurriedly explained, "She originally worked in the Tea Water Room at the outer courtyard's Affairs Reporting Office. Because two matrons responsible for sweeping the courtyard in Glory and Splendor Courtyard injured their backs yesterday while clearing frozen snow, Old Madam instructed the outer courtyard's steward to temporarily assign someone new to take over their duties."
"So she's from the outer courtyard," Fifth Madam Lin said with a smile to Old Madam Ren. "Mother, this is the first time this outer courtyard matron has entered the Inner Gate. She likely can't even tell east from west, and with all these young maids wearing identical indigo blue cotton jackets, it's perfectly normal for her to have mistaken them."
Old Madam Ren waved her hand, stopping Madam Lin, and asked Madam Liu'an, "Are the two people you saw this morning here?"
Madam Liu'an looked around, her gaze settling on the two maids kneeling not far to her right. Pointing at them with her stubby fingers, she said, "Replying to Old Madam, yes, they are. It's these two young ladies."
"Are you sure? These are the maids serving Eighth Miss," Madam Lin frowned.
Madam Liu'an glanced fearfully at Madam Lin, then moved closer to examine the two maids carefully. Nodding toward Old Madam Ren, she said, "I'm certain, it's these two young ladies. At the time, I was using a stick to knock down the icicles under the eaves, and one fell into my collar. I then ducked into the nearby Tea Water Room to clean up. They passed by the Tea Water Room door just then. One of them has a black mole the size of a soybean on her right cheek."
Sure enough, one of the two maids kneeling on the ground had a mole on her face.
"Did you see clearly what they were holding in their hands?" Old Madam Ren asked coldly.Madam Liu'an rubbed her hands together, shaking her head with difficulty. "It was an autumn-fragrance-colored satin bundle, carefully held in their arms. I couldn't see it clearly, but I heard the girl with the mole on her face tell the other to go ahead and distract the gatekeeper's wife. It sounded suspicious, so I quietly followed them. Later, I saw them carry the bundle into the garden. I also overheard them discussing that the masters would soon be up, so they should hide it first and come back to deal with it when they had time in the morning."
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