"You really think you're a lady just because I call you Miss Yuan. I manage the servants in my household, do you, an outsider, have the right to do so? Don't you even look at yourself? You're clinging to our master, don't you know any shame?"

Haitang was furious, but dared not sprinkle any more on Doudou, so she could only twist Lu Xi's arm hard, making Lu Xi's face contort in pain.

"Haitang, what are you doing? If you're angry with me, don't take it out on the child. If you're so angry, come at me." Yuan Doudou stepped forward and grabbed Haitang's arm, preventing her from hitting Lu Xi again.

"Get out of my way!" Haitang was furious and didn't care about anything else. She pushed Doudou away violently.

Yuan Doudou held on tightly to Haitang this time, her center of gravity shifted backward, and she was about to fall to the ground again. With a twist of her waist and back, she grabbed Haitang, spun her around, and slammed her heavily to the ground in front of her.

Haitang, acting as a cushion, fell so hard that her head was buzzing and her bottom was smashed into pieces.

Ye Xiaoqian, who was inside the house, and An Rong, who had brought Anji back from grocery shopping, were both terrified by what they saw.

"DouDou".

Ye Xiaoqian and An Rong exclaimed in surprise at the same time, rushed forward, and each grabbed one of their arms.

Fearing she would be dismembered, Yuan Doudou quickly explained, "I'm fine, she's the one who's in trouble."

The two people helped Yuan Doudou up, completely ignoring Haitang.

"DouDou, are you really alright? Should I go get a doctor?" Ye Xiaoqian was still worried. "An Rong, go get a doctor quickly."

Yuan Doudou reached out to stop her: "I'm really fine."

Haitang lay on the ground, wincing in pain. "Are you all blind? Can't you see I'm still here?"

"Can't you get up by yourself? I also want to ask you, why are you here? Did you drop DouDou on the ground?"

Ye Xiaoqian looked fierce, as if she wanted to devour Haitang.

Haitang had never seen anything like this before. Startled, she scrambled to her feet and protested, "I didn't! She pushed me to the ground!"

"Oh, really?" Ye Xiaoqian pretended to believe her.

Lu Xi quickly testified: "It was Sister Haitang who pushed Sister Doudou, she pushed her twice."

"What? An Rong, did you hear that? Quickly chop off her hand!" Ye Xiaoqian deliberately spoke loudly, scaring Haitang pale.

"You dare? I am the master's personal maid. The master will definitely kick you out." Haitang was afraid, but she was stubborn.

Yuan Doudou didn't want to cause Lu Chaoyang any trouble; staying at someone else's house was already troublesome enough.

"Xiaoqian, I'm fine, let her go."

Yuan Doudou spoke softly, her voice gentle and sweet, making it hard to refuse.

Ye Xiaoqian didn't want to press the matter any further, so she said sternly, "Get out, and don't let me see you again."

Ignoring Lu Xi, Haitang turned and walked away, her anger so intense she wanted to kill someone.

Back at Qingfeng Pavilion, Haitang entered the room, grabbed the teapot and teacups from the table, and smashed them all over the floor. The jarring sound attracted Chuntao.

Looking at the shards scattered on the ground, Chuntao exclaimed, "Haitang, are you crazy? This is a tea set that Master gave you!"

The painting depicts crabapple blossoms, a gift commissioned by Lu Chaoyang to celebrate Crabapple's eighteenth birthday.

Haitang only realized what had happened after smashing the tea set. Seeing Chuntao's nervousness, she became even more anxious and quickly knelt on the ground, crying, "Chuntao, I've been bullied, won't you do something about it?"

Instead of getting angry, Chun Tao laughed and said, "Haitang, don't joke around. In this mansion, as long as you don't bully others, everything will be fine. Who would dare to bully you?"

Haitang cried even louder, her tears falling like rain.

"Chuntao, even you are bullying me." Haitang felt even more aggrieved.

She recounted in one breath the bullying she had suffered, exaggerating quite a bit in the process.

Chun Tao frowned after hearing this. "Haitang, I told you this morning that Miss Yuan is a good friend of the master. Don't provoke her. Now that she is pregnant, you still go and cause trouble. If this gets to the master's ears, you will probably get a scolding."

Chun Tao was a sensible person, and she sensed that her master had different feelings for that Miss Yuan.

"I'm not afraid of her. She's eating and living in the mansion and won't leave. Isn't she just taking advantage of my master's kind heart to come here and freeload?"

"Haitang, don't talk nonsense." Chuntao said sternly. She was two years older than Haitang and they grew up together. She had always treated Haitang like a younger sister.

The older sister naturally couldn't tolerate her younger sister sending the wrong item.

"Chuntao, you always side with her. I'm your sister." Haitang said jealously.

Chun Tao laughed, "You still know I'm your older sister? When have you ever listened to your older sister?"

Haitang pouted and said coquettishly, "I was wrong, okay? Sister, don't be angry."

“I’m not angry. I’m just worried that you will be punished. We are maids, even if we are first-class maids. We can’t replace our masters and make decisions. That’s the principle.”

Chuntao spoke slowly and persuasively, and Haitang, knowing she was in the wrong, remained silent.

"Chuntao, I won't dwell on Yuan Doudou's matter, but do you know about Lu Xi? He actually teamed up with Yuan Doudou to bully me. Sister, you must stand up for me."

If you can't handle Yuan Doudou, can't you at least handle a little servant?

Chun Tao looked into the courtyard and saw Lu Xi squatting on the ground pulling weeds.

The sun outside is very strong; if you stand there for a while, your body will feel like it's on fire.

"Haitang, Lu Xi is still a child. You and I are his older sisters. We shouldn't argue with a child."

Haitang's eyes were brimming with tears. "Chuntao, look at you. You're not helping me, and you're criticizing me. I've always treated him well, but he betrayed me today."

Chun Tao smiled and said, "He's just a child, what does he know about betrayal? Don't be angry, I'll make you some iced glutinous rice balls."

"My sister tried to coax me with food again, but I accepted it. After eating the glutinous rice balls, I stopped being angry."

Chuntao smiled and said, "Little foodie, sit down and rest for a while, I'll be right back."

Haitang nodded obediently.

Chun Tao walked into the courtyard and looked at Lu Xi. "Lu Xi, come here."

Lu Xi quickly stood up and looked at Chun Tao.

"Lu Xi, I apologize to you on behalf of Haitang for what happened today. Don't be angry with her. She just doesn't like other people, which is why she dragged you into it."

Lu Xi remained silent.

"The sun is too strong. Go inside and rest. Be careful not to get heatstroke."

Lu Xi nodded.

Chun Tao then felt relieved and walked towards the small kitchen.

Lu Xi watched Chun Tao leave, then went out of the courtyard and headed towards Qinghe Garden.

Yuan Doudou was sitting in the room, with Ye Xiaoqian standing beside her.

Ye Xiaoqian stared at Yuan Doudou with a dark expression.

"Look at you, running out while I was asleep, almost causing an accident, shouldn't you be punished?"

Yuan Doudou lowered her head, like a child who had made a mistake.

"Should."

Seeing that her attitude was acceptable, Ye Xiaoqian softened her tone, "Good that you know, but don't come here again next time."

The first three months are crucial; if the pregnancy is seriously affected during this time, she won't be able to afford the compensation.

"Are you hungry?" Ye Xiaoqian asked softly.

Yuan Doudou said pitifully, "I'm hungry."

"Okay, I'll go to the kitchen and urge them on. You're a good husband in every way, except you're too slow."