There was a deathly silence all around.
Mu Xue bit her lip; what she had heard outside today was even worse than this!
It's said that Lin Qingwan suffered at the Bodhisattva Temple and couldn't bear to see her sisters enjoying happiness. First, she forced Miss Jiang to commit suicide, and then she used her seductive charm to seduce Prince Jing.
She said she had tarnished the reputation of the Bodhisattva, and that the Bodhisattva would no longer protect her.
“Chunyu!” Jiang Yanwan stepped forward with a pale face. “You wicked thing, whoever the prince bestows his gifts upon, that’s who they are! Qingwan and I are sisters. Let alone a box of fox fur, it would be only right to give her the entire Huaguang Courtyard.”
"Hurry up and apologize to Qingwan!"
Jiang Yanwan was always virtuous and elegant, rarely losing her temper, so this reprimand was quite startling. Chunyu's eyes immediately reddened, and she felt indignant on Jiang Yanwan's behalf, "What I said is the truth! Even if Madam wants to beat me to death today, I will still speak out!"
Jiang Yanwan clutched her chest, panting heavily, as if she were quite angry. But instead of scolding Chunyu, she looked at Lin Qingwan, who had a calm and collected expression, and said, "Qingwan, don't listen to her nonsense."
Lin Qingwan spoke calmly, "I didn't know you were engaged to Prince Jing."
She frowned slightly and added, "Besides, when the Prince came to the Prime Minister's residence that day, I really didn't see anything between you two..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but it left Jiang Yanwan feeling as embarrassed as if she had swallowed dirt.
Lin Qingwan walked up to Chunyu, her cold eyes like frost descending upon her, causing Chunyu's heartstrings to tighten.
"You're so resentful on behalf of your master, why didn't you say so when the prince bestowed the rewards that day?"
"If you want me to give the things to your master, why didn't you go to Ningsi Courtyard to tell me? Why did you have to stop Muxue in the kitchen and cause trouble?"
Her logic was clear, and each question pressed down like a mountain.
"People outside say I seduced the prince, but aren't they just mocking your master for being incompetent? After this commotion today, tomorrow people will say your master is petty, or that the young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion is making a huge fuss over two pieces of clothing for Prince Jing?"
"No matter the charge, killing you would be too lenient."
Lin Qingwan's training in etiquette was not in vain; every word she uttered was carefully chosen and her cold voice was incredibly authoritative.
Chunyu, who had previously appeared fearless and heroic, was now anxious to refute but had nothing to say. When she met Lin Qingwan's gaze, she immediately lowered her head.
Lin Qingwan's voice grew even colder, "Chunyu, you're not standing up for your young lady, you're disgracing her."
Jiang Yanwan was shocked. Sure enough, the next second she heard Lin Qingwan say to her, "My mother told me to learn from you. Is this how you train the maids in your courtyard?"
Her voice was gentle, her tone not accusatory, and even her gaze was calm and unyielding, devoid of any resentment. It was precisely this calmness that gave Jiang Yanwan an inexplicable sense of suffocation.
At this moment, Lin Qingwan's mere presence made her feel guilty.
Lin Qingwan carries the blood of the Jiang family and is a true daughter of the Prime Minister. I, on the other hand, am the daughter of a servant, born to serve others.
This feels awful!
Even Madam Lin was still adjusting to Lin Qingwan's change, and the maids in the courtyard were all keeping their eyes down, not daring to breathe loudly. Only Rong Ma had a hint of a smile that she couldn't hide in her eyes.
Jiang Yanwan gasped, "It's my fault. I didn't manage my maid properly."
"I... I'd like to apologize to you, okay?"
As she spoke, she actually tried to kneel down before Lin Qingwan.
"Yan Wan!" Lin exclaimed in surprise.
Lin Qingwan quickly helped Jiang Yanwan up, saying, "How can a master apologize for a servant? You're making it seem like I'm bullying you."
Jiang Yanwan pressed her lips together tightly.
Lin Qingwan added, "I have just learned about the rules of the manor. If I have done anything wrong, please forgive me."
Jiang Yanwan emphasized the word "forgiveness," her face flushed and burning. "What you said makes sense. Yes, it was my fault."
"I···"
Lin Qingwan smiled, revealing shallow dimples on her cheeks, much like Lin Shi.
"It's not your fault. It has nothing to do with you."
His tone and words were very similar to Lin's.
"The girl made a mistake. I'm just asking a couple of questions. Ultimately, it's up to Mother to decide, isn't it?"
Jiang Yanwan realized she had been led by the nose, and hurriedly hid her surprise, saying weakly, "I was confused."
Lin realized what was happening and found that Lin Qingwan's good manners made her very uncomfortable, rather than the matter itself.
And Rong Ma didn't take Lin Qingwan's medicated oil for nothing. She spoke up this time, "Madam, Chunyu and Muxue should both be punished for fighting. However, the reason is that Chunyu crossed the line first, making both young ladies look bad."
"Hmph." Madam Lin snorted coldly and glared at Mu Xue. "You didn't know how to behave when I kicked you out of A Lin's courtyard. You actually dared to fight with someone in the inner courtyard."
No one expected that the Lin family would first accuse Mu Xue.
Lin Qingwan didn't expect her mother to side with her, and it was clear that even if Muxue was three parts wrong, Chunyu would bear seven parts of the responsibility.
"Guards, drag Muxue away and slap her ten times as a warning to others."
Although Mu Xue was afraid, she stubbornly refused to beg for mercy.
Lin Qingwan clenched her hands tightly in front of her, "What should Mother do with Chunyu?"
Lin glanced at her sideways, "Same."
Lin Qingwan's eyes narrowed. "Chunyu disregards social hierarchy and humiliates me at will. Will Mother not punish her?"
Lin said coldly, "Could it be that Mu Xue paid respects to Yan Wan?"
Lin Qingwan felt a sudden fire burning in her chest, and her blood felt like it was being pricked by needles all over her body.
Lin said impatiently, "If you think that's too lenient, then slap me twenty times."
Lin Qingwan laughed in exasperation, "If that's the case, then I'll give all the things the Prince bestowed upon Jiang Yanwan. Will that exempt Muxue from punishment?"
"Insolence!" Lin's gaze turned slightly cold.
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