Qingqian arrived in less than fifteen minutes. The moment she stepped into the house, her face darkened.

"What exactly happened? How could a perfectly good screen ornament just disappear?"

After hearing the testimonies of the three people, he was unsure what to do.

Zhiju forced a smile. "Why don't we call all the maids in the courtyard over and ask them? Maybe we can find some clues."

That's all we can do for now, but no one noticed anything unusual.

Chun Cui was the third to enter. Upon entering, she interrupted Zhi Ju's retelling with a hint of urgency, without waiting for the full account of what had happened.

"It might be Chunxi. When she came home on vacation, I saw her carrying a very large blue bundle."

"Oh, right, not only did I see it, but Granny Qian, the gatekeeper, must remember it too. Sister Qingqian, why don't I call Granny Qian over and ask her some questions?"

Granny Qian arrived quickly, but her arrival ironically cleared Chunxi of suspicion.

"Here's what happened. When Xiya went out that day, she was carrying a big package."

But the package contained cotton quilts, and she said the cotton inside was clumped together, so she needed to take it home to fluff it up.

"Impossible, she definitely took the screen. How do you know she didn't hide a screen under her quilt?"

As soon as Granny Qian finished speaking, Chun Cui couldn't wait to jump out and refute her.

Granny Qian was quite displeased that a young girl had humiliated her.

"When Xi'er reached the door, her bundle came undone and the quilt fell to the ground. It was I, her mother-in-law, who helped her fold it up and tie it back into a knot."

"If you don't believe what Grandma Zhao said, Grandma Zhao was also at the gate at the time. Oh, and Miss Qingping also passed by and took a look."

This will absolutely prove Chunxi's innocence. Chunlu and Chunzhao never left the courtyard and had no contact with outsiders.

A simple search of their room will tell you whether they are innocent or not.

The result was obvious: the chest contained nothing but a few boxes of cosmetics and silk flowers, and the monthly allowance.

Just as the matter was about to be dropped, Chunxi, who had been keeping her head down and remaining silent, suddenly uttered something astonishing.

"That day, Sister Chun Cui also went out. I saw her give Granny Wu in the flower room a brown cloth bundle."

Chun Cui's face turned pale instantly. "You're talking nonsense. I didn't even go to the door that day."

Chunxi continued calmly, "There was a hole in the corner of the back room. That day, Sister Chuncui's bundle wasn't big, but it was just big enough to fit a screen."

You handed the bundle over first, then crawled through the dog hole yourself. I was too far away to hear what you were saying, but I saw you crawl through it with my own eyes.”

Qingqian glared at her and said to Granny Qian, "Please keep an eye on them for me, Granny. I'll be right back."

After saying that, she went to the front yard, found two female guards, and followed them to the flower room to find Granny Wu.

"Why are you being so aggressive? Are you determined to kill me? We've lived in the same house for quite some time now!"

Chun Cui stared intently at Chun Xi with bloodshot eyes, filled with hatred, and asked.

Hearing this, Chunxi couldn't help but want to laugh.

“When you first came out to attack me, I didn’t see you hold back at all.”

For a mere five taels of silver as a token of gratitude, you'd swindle someone like this? And you dare to talk to me about any sense of camaraderie between roommates?

Chun Cui's expression changed, her face filled with disbelief. How could she have known?

Looking at Chunxi's mocking face, he lowered his head guiltily and remained silent.

They could only hope that Madam Wu could withstand the questioning. After all, the gifts had already been sent out, and as long as she denied it to the death, there was nothing anyone could do.

But Granny Wu was not a person of principle or shrewdness; otherwise, she wouldn't have conspired with a child of about ten years old to steal things.

Qingqian led her people over, but before she could even start to swindle them, she collapsed to her knees, her legs giving way, and confessed everything.

It turned out that when Chun Cui delivered flowers to Granny Hua's room, she overheard her instructing Chun Xi to put the screen away.

But Chunxi said she would collect it after the holiday. She was arranging flowers on the side when she heard this and was tempted.

Granny Hua usually receives many gifts from the Madam, so she doesn't care if she loses one or two items.

Last year, she casually gave away several handkerchiefs made of Song brocade to Zhimo and the others.

Presumably, even if this screen is put away, no one will care, and they'll forget about it in a few days.

Moreover, Zhiju had previously entrusted him with the task of finding a way to drive Chunxi out, even if it meant demoting her to sweeping the floor outside.

Zhiju herself wanted to arrange for someone to enter the courtyard, so that her younger sister could serve in Granny Hua's room.

But Chunxi would eventually have to be kicked out, so they had to find a way to make room for her. Also, after their last argument, Zhiju remembered Chunxi's eyes and felt uneasy.

Chun Cui hadn't originally thought of this bad idea, but she overheard Chun Xi and Chun Lu talking about going back home during this holiday to get rid of the bullet.

Her mind immediately started racing. If she was discovered, she would frame Chunxi. After all, Chunxi couldn't clear her name, given the huge quilt she was carrying.

Discovering the missing items was Chunxi's problem. She could get rid of someone she didn't like, fulfill Zhiju's request, and earn five taels of silver—a win-win situation.

Even if they hadn't discovered it, they would have still gotten a screen worth more than ten taels of silver.

You can pass the item out through the dog hole in the backyard, and there will be someone outside to receive it. It shouldn't take more than a few moments before no one notices.

Unfortunately, Chunxi saw everything.

Madam Gao never expected that a thief could be found in the house, especially since it was her wet nurse who stole from her. It seems she had been too kind to them.

He ordered Chun Cui to be flogged four times in front of everyone as a warning to others. After the flog, she was to be chased out of the inner courtyard.

Wang Yan was stunned when she heard this decision. You know, back then, Sister Ying only received three lashes and had to stay at home for almost half a month.

Chun Cui was two or three years younger than Ying Jie, yet she was to be beaten four times. How could she possibly survive?

Moreover, the old woman who was wielding the cane was holding back completely; Chun Cui fainted after just one blow. She didn't even have time to scream.

The people in the courtyard watched with trepidation and unease. Granny Hua glanced around and, finding the effect acceptable, nodded slightly.

In truth, Wang Yan felt no sympathy for Chun Cui at all, and even knew that Chun Cui deserved to be punished.

Seeing the smile on Granny Hua's lips, her heart still skipped a beat. She lowered her head, clenched her fist tightly, and grabbed Chunye's hand beside her.

In ancient times, the lives of servants were worthless. A single blow to the paddle could knock an eleven-year-old child unconscious before he could even cry out.

Yet an old woman could still watch with a smile, perhaps even feeling satisfied with the situation.

Chunye thought she was scared, so she squeezed her hand back and whispered comforting words, saying that if she was really scared, she should lower her head and look down, and no one would be able to tell.

Wang Yan was not only afraid, but also felt it was absurd, utterly absurd. At this moment, she missed the 21st century and that peaceful era.

The cleaning ladies and aunties who do the same work as them not only receive protection for their lives, but also receive respect as human beings.

Everyone is equal, and no job is superior or inferior.