Li Yuxin looked around and said, "Whatever you took, you must pay back double. Go and receive the family discipline. You will be confined to your home for two years. During this time, you must kneel down and worship the Buddha for two hours every day to pray for the second young lady."

After hearing the punishment given to her, Aunt Wu kowtowed desperately: "I know I was wrong, please forgive me, please..." Seeing Li Yuxin's impatient expression, Mother Liu stepped forward and slapped Aunt Wu twice to make her quiet down, then dragged her out of the room.

Seeing Guo'er and Li'er's faces filled with expressions of great revenge, Li Yuxin said to Li'er, "Since you are so eager to save the master, I will spare you the punishment this time. If you cry and make a scene in the main courtyard again next time, your punishment will be doubled."

Li'er kowtowed three times to Li Yuxin: "Thank you, Madam, for coming to save the second young lady." Guo'er also kowtowed.

Li Yuxin took the tea bowl from Cuizhi and said, "Serve the Second Young Lady well in the future."

The person on the bed never opened their eyes again. Li Yuxin took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and left. On the way back to the main courtyard, Li Yuxin told Cuizhi, "Piaojie, please take good care of this place from now on. I heard that Zhang Yong's wife has a good temper."

Cuizhi supported Li Yuxin and replied, "Madam, Zhang Yong's wife used to serve the old lady. She is a capable person. Although she is gentle, no one dares to bully her."

Li Yuxin stopped and looked at the small pond beside the road. After a while, she said, "Give Zhang Yong's wife to Sister Piao and ask her to keep an eye on her."

Cuizhi was afraid that she didn't understand, so she asked carefully: "Madam, do you want Zhang Yong's wife to keep an eye on the second girl?" Li Yuxin nodded slowly, looking at the pond as if in a trance.

After returning to the main courtyard, Li Yuxin didn't eat anything, but simply soaked in the tub for another quarter of an hour. That night, Li Yuxin had a confusing dream, awakened by a pair of sharp eyes. She was distracted during breakfast, and her hands were pricked while she was sewing with her two daughters. She had no choice but to put down her work and, with a fruit drink, watch her daughters diligently thread their needles.

Three days later, at noon, Zhang Yong's wife, now Zhang's mother, arrived at the main courtyard with Piao Jie'er. Li Yuxin put down the account book in her hand and told them to go to the side room.

Piao Jieer saluted crookedly: "Greetings, mother."

Li Yuxin raised her hand to let her stand up. Mother Zhang walked over to the side and helped Piao Jieer to stand up. Li Yuxin waited for Piao Jieer to stand up straight before saying, "Piao Jieer, come to your mother."

Piao Jie'er's demeanor had changed. Before, she was timid and petty, but now, in this body, she looked innocent and cheerful, like a six or seven-year-old girl. Li Yuxin narrowed her eyes, took Piao Jie'er's hand, and looked her over carefully. Piao Jie'er didn't mind having her hand held, and she looked at Li Yuxin with a flicker of pity in her eyes.

Li Yuxin's heart skipped a beat when she saw Piao Jie'er's look, but she didn't show any abnormality. She asked kindly, "How are you? Are you short of food or medicine?"

Piao Jie'er replied calmly, "Mother, everything is fine. Thank you for your concern."

Li Yuxin nodded and patted Piao Jie'er's hand, asking her to take a seat and have some snacks. She asked Zhang Mama, "Is everything in order in Piao Jie'er's room?"

Mother Zhang had a bright smile on her face. "Madam, the furnishings in the second young lady's room have been arranged according to the regulations. The new clothes for this season have also been made today, and the warming and nourishing herbs and medicinal foods are also prepared. Madam, rest assured, I will serve the second young lady well."

Zhang Yuxin turned around and told Cuizhi to show it to Mother Zhang, then asked Piaojieer a few questions, then took the teacup and asked Cuizhi to see the guest off.

After Piao Jie'er and Zhang's mother left, Zhang Yuxin sat there thinking for a quarter of an hour, then went back to the study to look at the account books. Zhang Yuxin thought of Piao Jie'er's side-swept bangs, and how she would occasionally reach out to touch her hair. She felt that this action of Piao Jie'er was very familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen it before.