Fifth Madam had made an appointment today with Madam Gao from two streets away to play leaf cards. For some reason these past few days, while others were having bad luck, her own luck had been blazing, winning quite a bit of silver. This made Fifth Madam, who originally wasn’t fond of this pastime, become quite enthusiastic about it. Although the winnings were just small change, something Fifth Madam might not even care about, she enjoyed winning and felt pleased. Moreover, she could incidentally listen to gossip from others’ mouths. As for whether the center of this gossip was her niece, she didn’t care.
“What could a second-rank maid from the outer courtyard possibly have to tell me?” Fifth Madam said unhappily.
Xueli immediately said, “Fifth Madam, this servant used to serve in the inner courtyard! It’s just that a while ago, because I offended my master, I was driven out.”
Ren Yaoyu found her somewhat familiar. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Ah, I remember now. Weren’t you serving Fifth Sister before? Xueli? Right, Mother, she used to be Fifth Sister’s head maid.”
Only then did Fifth Madam properly look at Xueli. But what could Ren Yaoqi’s maid possibly have to say to her?
Ren Yaoyu, however, was somewhat interested. “What do you want to tell my mother? Is it related to Fifth Sister?”
Xueli shook her head sadly. “Although this servant used to serve Fifth Miss, because I was a maid given to Fifth Miss by Concubine Fang, I never won Fifth Miss’s favor. How would Fifth Miss let me know about her affairs?”
When Fifth Madam heard she was Concubine Fang’s person, she immediately frowned with disgust, growing even more impatient. “What are you all standing around for? Drive her away!”
But Xueli refused to leave, pleading, “Fifth Madam, this servant really has important matters to tell you. I know you’ve always been kind-hearted. I only beg you to give me a way to survive!”
Ren Yaoyu wasn’t interested in playing leaf cards and somewhat disliked how the Gao family’s young ladies always liked to mention in front of her that no matter how many snacks they ate, they never gained weight, thinking she didn’t understand they were mocking her for gaining weight even from drinking water. So she was more interested in what Xueli had to say.
“Mother, it’s still early. What harm is there in listening to her? Maybe she really does have something important.”
Fifth Madam thought this made sense and had the maids who were ordered to drive her away step back, beckoning Xueli closer. “What do you have to say to me?”
Xueli looked around and whispered, “This matter is of great importance. Please, Fifth Madam, dismiss the others!”
Madam Lin was somewhat suspicious, but she wasn’t afraid of a little maid causing trouble in front of her. So she had the several maids and older women step farther away, keeping only her two personal maids who served her closely.
Only then did Xueli say, “Fifth Madam, Eighth Miss, do you still remember what happened with Concubine Kang back then?”
At these words, both Fifth Madam and Ren Yaoyu changed expressions. Ren Yaoyu would never forget in her lifetime how Concubine Kang had lain on the ground covered in blood back then, while Fifth Madam couldn’t bear to hear about this woman who had once tried to steal her husband.
Both mother and daughter thought Xueli had come deliberately to pick a fight and were about to get angry when Xueli seized the moment to say, “Fifth Madam, Eighth Miss, please calm your anger! This servant only wanted to tell you that Eighth Miss was framed back then! Concubine Kang’s fall wasn’t Eighth Miss’s fault!”
At these words, both Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu were stunned.
Madam Lin reacted first, saying sharply, “What do you mean? Who framed my Yu’er?”
“Shh—” Xueli pressed a finger to her lips and looked around again. “Fifth Madam, don’t make a scene. This servant still wants to live.”
Madam Lin barely restrained herself from shouting again, but her gaze remained fixed on Xueli.
Xueli said, “Fifth Madam, listen to me. Back then, someone took advantage of your absence from Eighth Miss’s side and secretly drugged her. This drug doesn’t cause much harm to the body, but it makes people easily agitated, prone to outbursts and anger. Eighth Miss was drugged for several days in a row, which is why she repeatedly argued with Concubine Kang and even accidentally pushed her, causing her to lose the child. Eighth Miss, think carefully. Weren’t you always unable to control your temper during that period? Sometimes you didn’t even want to get angry. Also, you’d been taking medicine for a while. Was the medicine during that period somewhat different from usual?”
Madam Lin immediately looked at Ren Yaoyu.
Ren Yaoyu thought for a moment. “It seems that’s true! When I pushed her that time, I... I didn’t even know what I was doing. And for a while, the medicine was more bitter than before. I thought Mother had told the kitchen to change my prescription again. I mentioned it once, and later the medicine wasn’t bitter anymore, so I didn’t pay attention.”
Madam Lin was startled. “Change what prescription! That prescription had been taken for almost a year!” When she looked at Xueli again, she became furious. “Who’s harming us mother and daughter? Who?”
Ren Yaoyu, remembering the suffering she endured during that period, also felt extreme hatred. “Speak quickly! Who was it?”
Xueli, however, remained silent for a moment before saying, “Fifth Madam, Eighth Miss, actually, this servant came to find you today because I’m forced to save myself. If I tell you the mastermind behind this, Fifth Madam, can you guarantee that I won’t be driven out of the Ren Family? And also... this servant is living very poorly now and needs... needs some silver...”
Ren Yaoyu said impatiently, “Just speak freely. I’d like to see who dares to drive you away! You’ll get silver too!”
Xueli looked at Madam Lin.
Madam Lin nodded. “Just say it! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens! Even if my words don’t carry weight, there’s still our Fifth Master! He can’t just watch his daughter be framed like this!”
Only then did Xueli relax. “With Fifth Madam and Eighth Miss’s words, this servant feels reassured. The person who harmed you and Eighth Miss back then... was precisely Concubine Fang.”
Ren Yaoyu screamed, “Her? Why would she...” Ren Yaoyu wanted to ask why Concubine Fang would do this, but she immediately remembered how she had schemed to make Ren Yaoying fall into the latrine pit back then.
Madam Lin also remembered. Given Concubine Fang’s nature, knowing that they mother and daughter had harmed Ren Yaoying behind the scenes, she certainly wouldn’t let it go.
Sure enough, Xueli said, “Concubine Fang resented you for harming Eighth Miss back then. Eighth Miss was so frightened that she shut herself in for over half a year, not daring to go out.”
Madam Lin was already somewhat convinced, but she still said, “Do you have any evidence? I can’t just take your word for it.”
Xueli took out a paper packet from her sleeve and handed it to Madam Lin.
Madam Lin took it, opened it, and saw that the packet contained some dried medicinal dregs.
“This servant used to be Concubine Fang’s person, sent by Concubine Fang to monitor Fifth Miss. I only became suspicious when I accidentally caught Wife Niu stealthily adding something to a medicine jar once when I went to find her. Later, I saw that this jar of medicine was sent to Eighth Miss after being brewed. When Wife Niu went to dispose of the dregs, I secretly picked some up. Afterwards, I went out and found a traveling doctor to identify these herbs. Only then did I learn that the added ingredients were harmful—short-term use makes people prone to rage, long-term use can make people lose their minds. I was frightened and wanted to secretly warn Eighth Miss and you, Fifth Madam. But by then, Concubine Kang had already miscarried, and Wife Niu hadn’t tampered with Eighth Miss’s medicine again.”
“Since you were Concubine Fang’s person, how did you end up in the outer courtyard?”
Hearing this, Xueli said somewhat resentfully, “This servant and another maid, Qingmei, were both given to Fifth Miss by Concubine Fang when Third Madam wasn’t around. Concubine Fang ordered us to report Fifth Miss’s every move to her. Before, when Fifth Miss and Concubine Fang were on good terms, it was fine. But after Third Madam returned, Fifth Miss, influenced by Nanny Zhou and Granny Xu, began to dislike me and Qingmei. Qingmei was sent away first by Granny Xu. After she left, she didn’t fare well and went to beg Concubine Fang, hoping she’d remember their past relationship and help her. But Concubine Fang, afraid that her ordering Qingmei to monitor Fifth Miss would be discovered, found a way to sell Qingmei off. At the time, I thought my turn would come sooner or later. Sure enough, not long after, I was also driven out of Purple Magnolia Courtyard by Granny Xu. Although I’m just a maid, I’ve always served young ladies. Now in the outer courtyard, those matrons always assign me heavy, rough work. Look at my hands.”
Xueli stretched out her hands for Madam Lin to see. What were once well-proportioned, delicate hands had become so rough they could snag silk—truly pitiful.
Seeing the expressions in Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu’s eyes, Xueli felt her ruthlessness was worth it. She continued, “That’s all fine—just suffering some hardship. This servant could endure it. But the maids and older women in the outer courtyard, knowing I was driven out of the inner courtyard by my master, all mocked me and tried every way to extort silver from me! I heard the outer courtyard is about to release another batch of maids. Thinking of Qingmei’s fate... I’m really afraid of being driven out! This servant only knows how to serve people, can’t do any other work. If driven out, I don’t know if I’ll have a way to survive.” As she spoke, Xueli began to sob.
Madam Lin interrupted her, “You just mentioned Wife Niu? Is she Concubine Fang’s person?”
Xueli nodded, then shook her head. “I’m not sure if Wife Niu is Concubine Fang’s person, but her sister-in-law’s mother-in-law, Granny Gui, is very close to Concubine Fang. Granny Gui has done many things for Concubine Fang. It’s because of this connection that I know of Wife Niu.”
Ren Yaoying exclaimed in surprise, “Granny Gui? Granny Gui, the steward by Grandmother’s side?”
Xueli nodded affirmatively. “This servant and Qingmei have seen Granny Gui meet secretly with Concubine Fang’s Jinjú several times, avoiding others. I once heard Jinjú mention Granny Gui.”
Xueli’s words were half-truths, but Madam Lin now completely believed her.
Furious, she shouted at the older women in the distance, “Quickly go and arrest Wife Niu for me!” Then she instructed Ren Yaoyu, “Go have someone call your father back. If Old Madam Ren doesn’t give us mother and daughter an explanation this time, no one will get off easy!”
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