At these words, Zilan’s face instantly drained of blood. She kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: “This servant knows her mistake. I beg Madam to spare my life!”
Mamá Xu rolled up her sleeves and dragged her out the door.
Zilan cried out begging for mercy. Seeing that Lady Yin remained unmoved and that she couldn’t break free, she turned toward Ziyi and shouted, “Elder Sister, save me! Elder Sister!”
Ziyi’s hands were clenched tightly into fists as she lay prostrate on the ground, not moving at all.
Even until Zilan was dragged out the door, she had never once raised her head.
Lady Yin looked at her coldly. “She is your blood sister. Have you nothing to say?”
Ziyi was already streaming with tears. Hearing this, she only choked out, “The Eldest Miss is blind and moves with difficulty. This servant is somewhat worried. When I left, the Miss also instructed this servant to return early.”
Lady Yin frowned and looked toward Cuizhu. “Did the Eldest Miss truly say this?”
Cuizhu hurriedly said, “Replying to Madam, the Eldest Miss indeed gave such instructions.”
Lady Yin’s eyes turned severe. She looked at Ziyi for a long time before speaking in a cold voice, “Originally, I was unwilling to keep you. After all, Zilan died for slandering the Eldest Miss; it is hard to guarantee that you do not harbor resentment. But count yourself fortunate. Since the Eldest Miss likes having you serve her, you may serve her well. Otherwise, Zilan’s fate will be your fate!”
Ziyi’s back was already soaked in cold sweat. She kowtowed heavily and said in a hoarse voice, “This servant obeys!”
Lady Yin waved her hand. “Go back. Tidy yourself up. Do not let the Eldest Miss notice anything amiss.”
“Yes.”
Ziyi didn’t know how she had risen to her feet or how she had left the courtyard.
She wandered in a daze for a long time. It wasn’t until a servant with whom she was close got wind of the news and came to ask her about it that she came back to her senses. She suddenly crouched down, buried her face in her sleeve, and wailed.
After dealing with Zilan, Mamá Xu changed her clothes before returning to the main courtyard.
Seeing Lady Yin sitting under the lamplight, not saying a word, she stepped forward and said softly, “Madam, it has been dealt with, but that Ziyi…”
Lady Yin came back to her senses and said faintly, “Before she came, Xuan’er specifically instructed her to return early. It can be seen that she served quite well before. Xuan’er is blind; familiarizing herself with someone is not easy. Keep her for now. Furthermore, Xuan’er only just entered the residence today. If the two maids sent to serve her both died, it would not be good for her reputation if word got out.”
Mamá Xu nodded. “What Madam says is correct, but Ziyi is Zilan’s blood sister after all. If she harbors hatred toward the Eldest Miss and causes trouble in secret, then…”
Lady Yin let out a cold snort. “Three generations of their family’s lives are in my hands. She doesn’t have the guts!”
Mamá Xu thought about it and agreed. “Should we send another capable person to serve the Eldest Miss?”
“There is no need for now.”
Lady Yin said faintly, “Her temperament is soft and pure. The maids in the manor have all been in the residence for a long time; each has her own schemes. It would be bad if they led her astray. Leave it as is for now. When she truly lacks someone, it won’t be too late to arrange it.”
Mamá Xu nodded upon hearing this. “When the Eldest Miss was young, she was as lovely as a porcelain doll. Now that she has grown up, who knows how beautiful she is? Although this old servant has not seen her, for her to incite competition between the Young Duke and the Crown Prince, she must be supremely beautiful.”
Recalling Liu Xuan’s obedient appearance, the corner of Lady Yin’s lips rose slightly. “She is more than a hundred times better than I imagined. Tomorrow you will be able to see her.”
Hearing these words, Mamá Xu also smiled and said in a low voice, “Heaven still pities Madam, allowing the Eldest Miss to return to Madam’s side, and as mother and daughter at that.”
Lady Yin made an affirmative sound and said in a hoarse voice, “I will properly make it up to her.”
Ziyi had a good cry, collected all her emotions, and washed her face before returning to Tingzhu Courtyard.
Liu Xuan was still sitting on the stool she had occupied when Ziyi left, quietly drinking tea. “You’re back?”
Ziyi responded, suppressing the urge to cry. She knelt before her and choked out, “This servant thanks Miss for the grace of saving my life.”
Liu Xuan said faintly upon hearing this, “You don’t hate me? After all, Zilan is your blood sister. If not for my complaint, she wouldn’t have died.”
Hearing these words, Ziyi’s heart trembled once more. The Eldest Miss had not left her quarters. No one would have specifically come to inform her of this matter. Then how did she know?
The only possibility was that she had anticipated it long ago and was very certain of it.
And this kind of prophetic foresight had to be built upon a sufficient understanding of Lady Yin. Yet she was someone raised by a hunter and newly arrived in the capital. How could she know Lady Yin like the back of her hand?
Many things could not be pondered deeply, and she didn’t dare to. Ziyi said in a hoarse voice, “Even if Miss had not complained, based on her temperament, she would have caused a great disaster sooner or later. Furthermore, just as Miss said, it was she who spoke disrespectfully to her master first.”
On the way back, she had thought about many things.
Zilan had obviously held much contempt for the Eldest Miss. Even if the Eldest Miss had not spoken today, it would have been discovered later. The outcome would have been the same.
Today, when Madam had summoned her, it wasn’t truly to ask her whether Zilan had said those words, but rather to prepare to dispose of her alongside Zilan.
If not for the Eldest Miss’s reminder, upon hearing that Zilan was to be beaten to death, she would definitely have pleaded for mercy or even lied. Then it wouldn’t have been just Zilan who died; their entire family wouldn’t have met a good end.
That reminder, along with the instruction to return early, had not only saved her but also saved her entire family.
That was why, upon returning, she had knelt down immediately to kowtow in thanks for the Eldest Miss’s life-saving grace.
“It seems you have truly figured it out.”
Liu Xuan said faintly, “Stop kneeling. Get up and tell me about my elder brother, Chu Yu. Previously, you only roughly spoke of his preferences. I want to hear of his deeds—the more detailed, the better.”
Ziyi was startled upon hearing this, but she no longer dared to ponder the meaning behind the instruction. She only stood up and recounted everything she knew.
There wasn’t much to say about Chu Yu. He was the same age as Liu Xuan and had been born the heir of the Yongyu Marquis Estate.
Lady Yin treated him very well and was also very attentive in his upbringing.
Chu Yu was also quite promising. Last year, he passed the provincial exams and became a provincial graduate. Lady Yin specially returned to the Yin Family to secure for him a fifth-rank position as Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites. He was already considered a youth of accomplishment, outstanding among the noble young masters of the capital.
Liu Xuan smiled upon hearing this. “Mother treats Elder Brother so well.”
She truly poured her heart and soul into him, dedicating all her efforts!
It was originally an ordinary sigh, yet Ziyi inexplicably detected something strange in it.
But she didn’t dare ask, nor did she dare think about it. She only said in a low voice, “The Young Master is not only Madam’s only child but also Master’s only son. Naturally, she poured all her strength into raising and teaching him.”
Hearing these words, the smile on Liu Xuan’s face deepened, but she didn’t say anything further. She only opened her mouth to ask, “Elder Brother is already eighteen this year. He is so outstanding; his betrothal must be excellent as well, yes?”
Ziyi answered upon hearing this, “The Young Master has not yet been betrothed.”
So he wasn’t betrothed yet. No wonder she hadn’t been able to find out.
Liu Xuan asked curiously, “Why? He is a youth of promise. Even if the Marquis Estate has declined, the Yin Family is there to support it. Finding a good match shouldn’t be difficult, right?”