"Since you belong to Concubine Fang, how did you end up living in the outer courtyard?"
Xueli heard this with some resignation, saying, "My servant and another maid, Qingmei, were both given to the Fifth Young Lady by Madam Fang when the Third Madam was away. Madam Fang told us to report the Fifth Young Lady's every move. Before, the Fifth Young Lady and Madam Fang had a good relationship, so nothing happened. But after the Third Madam returned, Madam Zhou and Madam Xu instigated the Fifth Young Lady to dislike me and Qingmei. Madam Xu kicked Qingmei out first, and when she felt miserable, she begged Madam Fang for help out of their old friendship. But Madam Fang was afraid that her ordering Qingmei to spy on the Fifth Young Lady would get known, so she sold Qingmei off. I always thought it would be my turn, and sure enough, not long after, I was kicked out of Ziwei Courtyard by Madam Xu as well. Although I'm just a maid, I've always served the Young Lady. Now that I'm in the outer courtyard, the maids always assign me rough and heavy work. Just look at my hands."
Xueli stretched out her hands for Lin to see. Her originally delicate hands with even flesh and bones had become so rough that they could tear silk. It was truly horrible to look at.
Seeing the looks in Lin and Ren Yaoyu's eyes, Xueli felt that her cruelty was worth it. She went on, "That's fine. It's just some hardship. I can bear it. But after those maids and old women in the outer courtyard knew that I was kicked out of the inner courtyard by my master, they all laughed at me and tried every way to extort money from me! I heard that the outer courtyard was going to send out another batch of maids, and thinking about Qingmei's fate before... I really hate to be kicked out! I can only serve people and can't do other work. I don't know if I will have a job after I go out." Xueli started to cry as she spoke.
Mrs. Lin interrupted her and asked, "You mentioned Sister Niu just now? Is she Madam Fang's?"
Xueli nodded, then shook her head. "I don't know if Sister Niu is Madam Fang's person, but her sister-in-law's mother-in-law, Madam Gui, is very close to Madam Fang. Madam Gui has helped Madam Fang with many things. It's because of this relationship that I know Sister Niu."
Ren Yaoying asked in surprise, "Madam Gui? Madam Gui, the steward of Grandmother?"
Xueli nodded affirmatively. "Qingmei and I have seen Nanny Gui and Jinju, who is by Concubine Fang's side, secretly meeting behind everyone's backs several times. I have also heard Jinju mention Nanny Gui."
Xueli's words were half true and half false, but Lin now believed them all.
She was furious and yelled at the maids in the distance, "Quick, arrest Sister Niu!" Then she ordered Ren Yaoyu, "Go and get your father back. If the old lady doesn't give us mother and I an explanation this time, no one will have a good life!"
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