Lanqin drifted off to sleep, the book beside her tossed aside, while the sound of firecrackers still echoed outside.
"Master, Master!" A hurried voice suddenly reached Lanqin's ears. She was a light sleeper and was immediately awakened.
"Master!" Shui Ling's anxious face appeared before her, and Lan Qin rubbed her heavy eyelids.
"What's wrong, Shui Ling?" Lan Qin sat up. She hadn't taken off her clothes; she had just been sleeping, leaning against the soft pillows.
"Si Hua is in trouble," Shui Ling said urgently.
Lanqin's mind was still foggy. Upon hearing those words, she still hadn't quite grasped the situation and asked, "What happened to Sihua?"
"They say Si Hua deliberately pushed Liu Gege down, and they've already called a doctor. Si Hua has also been tied up by Consort Nian's men. Bao Qin came back and said she's outside right now," Shui Ling said.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin cursed inwardly: Damn it, can't even have a peaceful New Year? Do they have to cause trouble?
"Help me up!" Lanqin knew this was definitely aimed at her. She had been so careful, afraid that Liu Shi might cause some trouble. She had specifically asked Sihua and Baoqin to escort her back, just in case something happened to her on the way and she would complain to the Fourth Master that she hadn't taken good care of her. In the end, this escort still caused problems.
Lanqin quickly had Shuiling tidy her hair, and then put on her white fox fur cloak. The children had already been urged to go to bed by the servants, and Shuiling and the others were about to come in to help Lanqin take off her clothes when Baoqin returned and told them what had happened on the way to send Liu Shi off.
“Baoqin, quickly tell the master what happened,” Shuiling said.
"Yes, Master. Si Hua and I escorted Consort Liu back, and the journey was uneventful. When we were almost at Chunhui Hall, the lantern in Consort Liu's maid's hand suddenly went out. In the pitch black, Consort Liu said she couldn't go any further and told her maid to go back and get a lantern. Si Hua and I were worried that without a lantern, Consort Liu might slip and fall, so we didn't pay attention and let her maid go. The three of us waited there. Consort Liu said she felt uncomfortable standing for so long, so she asked Si Hua and me to help her sit on a rock by the roadside. Si Hua said the rock was too cold and she was afraid Consort Liu would get cold, so she took off her woolen vest and put it on the rock for her. Just as Si Hua and I were helping Consort Liu to sit down, she suddenly lurched forward and crashed into the rock," Bao Qin said. "Si Hua and I were stunned."
Lanqin basically knew what had happened after hearing this. Liu was truly ruthless; she would use any means to frame herself.
"Did her maid come back and see Liu lying on the ground?" Lanqin asked.
“Yes, Liu was clutching her stomach in pain while saying that Si Hua had dismissed her,” Baoqin said.
"And then?" Lanqin asked. These women are utterly heartless; they don't even care about their own pregnancies in their quest for favor.
"Then Princess Fucha appeared and quickly ordered her maid and Cuizhu to help Liu Shi back. Strangely enough, Consort Nian appeared right afterward. Before Si Hua could say anything, she ordered her maids to each grab Si Hua's arm. I told her that Si Hua didn't push her, but Consort Nian just wouldn't believe me," Baoqin said.
Lanqin frowned, pondering Baoqin's words, and then said, "Let's go. Shuiling and Baoqin will come with me, and Yuxiao will stay here."
Meanwhile, Dr. Lin from the manor had arrived at Chunhui Hall, where Lady Fucha and Lady Nian were standing in Lady Liu's room.
"You shameless hussy, you'd better confess right now why you pushed Princess Liu!" Madam Nian walked up to Si Hua, who was being pulled by one of her two maids, one on each arm, and stood in the corner of the room.
“This servant did not push Lady Liu!” Si Hua looked up at Madam Nian with an almost obstinate gaze.
"You didn't push her? So it was Consort Liu who pushed herself? You lowly servant! Is someone behind this instructing you to do this?" Madam Nian asked sternly.
Si Hua didn't know how Liu Shi had fallen. At the time, she and Bao Qin were each supporting one of her arms. It was pitch black, and Liu Shi insisted on sitting on that rock. But when faced with Nian Shi's accusations, Si Hua understood that the other party wanted her to reveal the location of the South Courtyard.
"This servant did not push Princess Liu!" Si Hua repeated, she would never say anything else.
Seeing Si Hua's fearless demeanor, Lady Nian's anger was instantly ignited by Si Hua's resolute gaze. She said sternly, "Seize her! Today, I, the Consort, will teach this wretched maid a lesson. She has committed such a grave mistake, yet she dares to talk back!"
Upon receiving Nian's instructions, Cui Ling and Bi Rou immediately grabbed Si Hua's hands. Si Hua knew she couldn't escape today, so she let them tie her hands behind her back.
Snap!
A crisp sound rang out.
Nian's hand, clad in nail guards, slammed hard into Si Hua's fair cheek. Instantly, bright red blood flowed from her face; the sharp point of Nian's nail guards had cut Si Hua's cheek.
Si Hua felt a sharp pain on her face, but her eyes remained stubbornly fixed on Nian Shi. This defiant gaze seemed to anger Nian Shi, who raised her hand again, ready to strike again.
“Consort Nian hasn’t even figured out the whole story yet, and you’re already punishing my servant like this? Isn’t that going too far?” Lanqin’s voice stopped Consort Nian’s raised hand in time.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Lady Nian had no choice but to put her hand down and turn to Lanqin, saying, "Consort Niu has come at just the right time. Just now, my sister was only questioning this maid on behalf of Consort Liu. What was she thinking, actually pushing Consort Liu, who was seven months pregnant, to the ground? She is truly a vile maid."
"Master, I didn't, I didn't push!" A tear flashed in Si Hua's eyes. She hadn't cried when Nian Shi scolded her like that, but when her face was scratched by her nail guards, she felt both scared and in pain, yet she still held back her tears. Now that she saw Lan Qin arrive, she finally couldn't hold back anymore.
“Nonsense. At the time, you, Baoqin, and Liu Gege were all together. If you didn’t push her, how could she have fallen? Besides, Liu Gege herself said that you were the one who pushed her,” said Madam Nian.
“Actually, it was dark. Did Miss Sihua accidentally push you? If so, you should quickly say so and ask for the master’s forgiveness,” Fucha said.
"No, Si Hua did not push Liu Gege," Si Hua still refused to admit it.
Lanqin nodded to Sihua. She knew very well that Sihua wasn't lying; this was definitely a conspiracy, a trap set against her. Just how many people in this house had set this trap?
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