"This... this wasn't done by my Yu'er!" Madam Lin widened her eyes and looked up.
Old Madam Ren's expression showed clear disappointment: "Whether she did it or not, she has already admitted it herself. Why are you still defending her?"
"Grandmother, it really wasn't me!" Ren Yaoyu said tearfully, full of grievance.
Old Madam Ren didn't even glance at her, sternly instructing Granny Gui: "Take Eighth Miss to the ancestral hall and lock her in. At such a young age, she shows such disrespect for elders and harbors malicious intentions—this is simply unacceptable!"
Madam Lin was so frightened that she immediately knelt down, pleading: "Mother, the weather is so cold, and there isn't even a heating stove in the ancestral hall. What if Yu'er falls ill from the cold?"
"I'm sending her there to reflect on her mistakes! Not to enjoy herself!" Old Madam Ren remained unmoved.
Madam Lin wiped her tears: "Mother, last time Yu'er fell ill, my grandmother was so worried she couldn't eat or sleep, and in the end, she personally sent her own maid to check on her before feeling at ease. I'm not just concerned about her suffering physically, but I don't want the elders to worry."
Madam Lin's grandmother was Old Madam Ren's aunt. Every time Madam Lin invoked this grandmother, it would have some effect.
Sure enough, although Old Madam Ren's expression remained unpleasant, she frowned and fell silent.
Seeing this, Ren Yaohua curled her lips into a sarcastic sneer and was about to speak up.
Standing beside her, Ren Yaoqi quickly tugged at her clothes from behind.
Ren Yaohua turned her head angrily, and Ren Yaoqi gave her a look, signaling her to stay calm.
Originally, Ren Yaohua didn't want to pay her any attention, but then First Madam suddenly spoke up gently: "Fifth sister-in-law, what you said isn't quite appropriate. It's well known that Old Madam Lin dotes on her great-granddaughter, but our Old Madam has always been affectionate and caring toward the younger generation as well. Today's punishment of Yu'er is merely out of an elder's earnest hope for the younger generation to succeed, not an intentional hardship."
Old Madam Ren's expression softened slightly: "It's still the eldest daughter-in-law who has a clear mind."
Madam Lin glanced at First Madam. Although First Madam was nominally in charge of the Ren Family, thanks to Old Madam Ren's favor, Madam Lin also held several key positions of authority within the household. First Madam had a gentle temperament and always yielded to her when possible, often playing the role of mediator in conflicts.
But today, for some reason, she hadn't spoken up in her defense.
As Madam Lin was pondering this, First Madam had already walked quickly to her side and whispered: "Old Madam is in a fit of anger right now. You should yield for now. If you want to plead for mercy, it's better to wait until her anger subsides. Otherwise, wouldn't you just make things worse?"
Although she spoke softly, her words were still audible to those nearby. She publicly advised Madam Lin, seemingly siding with her, while also ensuring Old Madam Ren wouldn't resent her actions.
Madam Lin knew her words made sense and reluctantly restrained herself, thinking she would find another way later.
Granny Gui had the maids escort the tearful Ren Yaoyu out.
Since Old Madam Ren was in a bad mood, everyone temporarily withdrew.
When Ren Yaoqi returned to Purple Magnolia Courtyard with her maids, she saw Ren Yaohua standing under the eaves of the eastern wing, seemingly looking in her direction, yet also appearing to admire the icicles hanging from the pomegranate tree by the door.
Ren Yaoqi paused in her steps. Instead of heading toward the corridor connecting to the western wing, she turned toward the direction of the western wing.
Just as she was about to reach Ren Yaohua's side, Ren Yaohua glanced at her coldly: "Come inside." With that, she turned and walked into her own room.Ren Yaohua followed her inside. The two senior maids behind her exchanged glances and also wanted to follow, but were stopped by Ren Yaohua's senior maid, Xiangqin.
"Did our Third Miss say you could enter?" Xiangqin glanced at them sideways, her presence imposing.
In Purple Magnolia Courtyard, every maid knew of Third Miss's severity. The two maids shrank their necks, not daring to utter a word, and stood under the corridor.
Ren Yaohua's room was arranged similarly to Ren Yaoqi's, but since Ren Yaoqi rarely came here, it still felt quite unfamiliar.
Ren Yaohua walked straight to her inner chamber and sat on the kang, not offering any hospitality to Ren Yaoqi, merely scrutinizing her with that examining gaze.
Ren Yaoqi paid no mind to her look and sat down on the other side of the kang table.
"Do you have people in the outer courtyard?" Ren Yaoqi knew Ren Yaohua was waiting for an explanation, but instead of addressing the matter directly, she first asked an unrelated question.
Ren Yaohua narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sharp: "What do you mean?"
"If you don’t want others to drag you into today’s incident, quickly send someone to investigate this suddenly appearing Madam Liu'an, as well as the dog from earlier."
Ren Yaohua sensed the implication in Ren Yaoqi’s words and frowned: "What does this have to do with me?"
"Right now, nothing. But it might soon. Someone is unwilling to let go of this perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. The birth characters on that cloth doll were not written by Ren Yaoyu at all." Ren Yaoqi spoke softly and unhurriedly.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua was taken aback. After all, she was clever; upon careful thought, she realized the matter was indeed somewhat suspicious.
She knew Ren Yaoyu’s temperament—it was possible she would create a curse to disgust her, but to harm Old Madam Ren? She truly didn’t have the courage, even though she often complained privately about Old Madam Ren favoring her and Ren Yaoyin.
"Ren Yaoyu wanted to harm me, but someone tampered with the birth characters and changed them to Grandmother’s?" Ren Yaohua concluded.
Her elder sister was indeed extremely intelligent. Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly.
"What if someone makes Old Madam Ren and Madam Lin misunderstand that this tampering was done by you?"
Ren Yaohua’s pupils contracted as she turned to glare at Ren Yaoqi.
"Given Madam Lin’s temperament, our Purple Magnolia Courtyard might not have peaceful days ahead." Ren Yaoqi sighed.
Madam Lin, Fifth Madam Lin, would endure anything except being wronged.
"Wujing!" Ren Yaohua called out loudly for her senior maid.
A girl about Ren Yaohua’s age walked in: "What are your orders, Miss?"
Ren Yaohua said, "Have you contacted Ying'er and Zhu'er?"
Ying'er and Zhu'er were originally two senior maids by their mother’s side. When Ren Yaohua and Madam Li went to the estate, Concubine Fang found a way to marry them off to servants in the outer courtyard.
Wujing nodded: "This servant went to find them the day before yesterday. They were very happy to hear that Madam and Miss have returned."
Ren Yaohua nodded and was about to give instructions when Ren Yaoqi suddenly interrupted: "Are there no other reliable people besides them?"
Ren Yaohua frowned: "They have been in Purple Magnolia Courtyard for many years and are Mother’s trusted aides."Ren Yaoqi did not refute, only said calmly, "Indeed, everyone knows they are from Purple Magnolia Courtyard, so it's actually not advisable to use them casually. Let's find someone else instead, better to be cautious."
Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi for a moment before turning to Wujing. "Didn’t you once acknowledge a godmother when you first entered the mansion? I recall you mentioned last time that she works in the Tea Water Room in the outer courtyard?"
Wujing quickly nodded. "Yes, miss. Two years ago, her son fell ill, and she asked Xiangqin and me to lend her some silver. In the end, it was Nanny Zhou who pleaded with Madam to gather enough money."
"Go and ask her to find out some information." Ren Yaohua carefully instructed Wujing on a few matters.
After she finished, Ren Yaoqi added a few more points and concluded, "I want to know the news before noon. Go now."
Wujing noted everything down and hurried off.
Since Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had nothing else to discuss, they went together to Madam Li’s place.
Seeing the two of them arrive together, Madam Li and Nanny Zhou were very pleased. The two sisters did not say much, only engaging in casual conversation with Madam Li.
Wujing returned just before Purple Magnolia Courtyard’s lunch was served. Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua called her into the eastern side room to question her.
"Miss, that Madam Liu'an originally worked in the Tea Water Room of the outer courtyard’s Affairs Reporting Office. My godmother happens to know her. It turns out Fifth Miss guessed correctly—she really does have some connection with our Purple Magnolia Courtyard. And it’s not just her; even the owner of that big wolfhound is related to us!"
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