Chapter 69 ROTNDOAHRF

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Rebirth of the Noble Daughter of a High Ranking Family

Chapter 69:

Stepmother Punished to Kneel

Chen Lanxin was completely drained of strength. In the end, she was assisted down from the carriage by two maids. The Prince Ming had already arranged carriages and guards to escort the young lady of the Duke's Manor back home.

Ouyang Nuan stepped down from the carriage, feeling a sharp pain in her shoulder. She furrowed her brows slightly. Ouyang Jue asked with concern, "Sister, are you alright?"

Ouyang Nuan's heart was still pounding relentlessly, blood boiling and surging through her body, exacerbating the pain. "I'm fine," she said with a smile on her face, though her heart was still racing. With the moon rising, her shadow flickered on the pristine ground, appearing to tremble. Luckily, Ouyang Jue didn't pay much attention, simply nodding happily and saying, "Princess Rong's carriage was damaged by the villains. We can ride our own carriage back. I'll go prepare."

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Ouyang Nuan nodded and watched as Ouyang Jue hurried towards the carriage ahead. Just as she was about to take a step, she was suddenly enveloped in a black brocade cloak, as if she had fallen into a deep, dark dream. Startled, she looked up.

Xiao Zhonghua glanced at Ouyang Nuan's shoulder. "Indeed, Miss Ouyang. Even if you're injured, you still pretend as if nothing's wrong. Are you trying to avoid worrying your brother?"

Wrapped in the soft cloak that resembled the night itself, Ouyang Nuan smiled gracefully. "Thank you for coming to our aid this time. But this..." She gestured with her left hand to take off the cloak and return it to him.

Xiao Zhonghua made a slight movement, raising his hand to stop her action. A faintly cool curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, resembling a crescent moon. "The night dew is deep and cold. Miss, why bother with trivialities?"

Ouyang Nuan's face displayed a faintly indifferent smile as she looked up at him, her voice soft. "To properly play the role of a hero rescuing a beauty, wouldn't it be better for the Prince to personally escort Miss Lanxin back?"

Xiao Zhonghua raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression deep and solemn. "Does Miss Ouyang believe this incident was targeted at the young lady from the Duke Wu Mansion?"

The smile on Ouyang Nuan's face remained faint. "Princess Rong's carriage broke down halfway, so Miss Lanxin offered the Duke Wu Mansion's carriage to her. Then, she rode in our carriage while we waited for Princess Rong's carriage to be repaired. Who would have thought we would encounter this incident? Could it be that the Prince doesn't think this group of people came specifically for the Duke Wu Mansion? It would be a pity. I can't imagine who would be so audacious. If the Prince is interested, why not investigate?"

Xiao Zhonghua's deep gaze brushed over her face like gentle feathers, and the corner of his mouth held a faint, almost imperceptible smile. It was like a thin ray of sunlight on the ice and snow in winter, making one's heart flutter.

However, Ouyang Nuan maintained her calm and distant smile throughout, respectfully nodding. "I take my leave."

Xiao Zhonghua already harbored suspicions about her, perhaps even thinking she deliberately led Chen Lanxin to ride in the Ouyang family's carriage. Such a man would never understand her difficult situation.

Turning away, Ouyang Nuan's smile at the corner of her mouth became more mocking. With a fresh start, she must live on. Along the long and arduous path of revenge, she would persist until she was exhausted, or until fate favored her by completely eliminating her enemies.

For her, there were only two paths ahead: to die at the hands of the Lin family, or to ensure the Lin family had no burial ground. There was absolutely no possibility of forgiveness between them. Revenge, for her, was paramount.

Jin Liang, “Ah, Miss Ouyang, are you injured too? We're not far from the Princess's villa now. I suggest you return there first and get your wounds treated. Besides... Your Highness? What's wrong with you?”

Xiao Zhonghua sighed inwardly, realizing he didn't really blame her for suspecting something. He just felt that she seemed to have known something about this accident beforehand, silently watching Ouyang Nuan's figure. He muttered to himself softly, "It's really... unpleasant."

Jin Liang：“...”

At Shou'an Hall,

Old Madam Li didn't have dinner at the usual time, only drinking half a cup of ginseng tea and nibbling on a few pastries. She glanced at the sky outside and asked, "What time is it?"

"It's already the hour of the Dog[1]." Zhang Mama observed Mrs. Li's expression and continued, "Miss and Young Master will be back soon. Madam, you don't need to worry. Would you like to rest for a while? I'll wake you up when Miss returns."

Old Madam Li shook her head and said, "I still don't know what the situation is today, how can I be at ease? I asked you to keep an eye on Lin Wanru, what has she been doing all day today?"

"Madam has been in the Second Miss' Courtyard all day and hasn't come out."

Upon hearing Zhang Mama's response, Old Madam Li's expression turned cold, then she sighed and said, "Although she is the rightful wife to the heir, she doesn't have a son, only a daughter. Of course, she is desperate to have a son. This is human nature. I won't blame her, but she just had to give birth to a lone star to counter the Ouyang family. That's why I've been so strict with her recently. I didn't let K'er go to the Grand Princess's flower appreciation banquet this time. I guess they resent me for it."

"Old Madam, Madam will understand one day. You're doing this for the good of the Ouyang family," Zhang Mama whispered softly, after a long silence.

She glanced at Old Madam Li's face and finally continued, "Old Madam, there's something I haven't had a chance to report yet. The person sent to keep watch reported back that Madam's attendant, Wang Mama, quietly left from the back courtyard side door before the Hour of the Dragon[2]..."

"Where did she go?" Old Madam Li furrowed her brow.

"They returned to the Marquis of Zhenguo's residence. Our people couldn't get in, and we're not sure who they went to see."

"Hmph. Is there even a need to ask? Naturally, they went to see—" Old Madam Li's words were cut off as she heard the voice of Yurong next to her. "Old Madam, Miss and the young master have returned."

"They're back?" Old Madam Li sat up straight, asking, "Where are they now?"

Yurong looked somewhat nervous, then spoke, "They've just arrived at the gate. There's no need to worry, Madame. However... they encountered some trouble on their way back." She continued, "There were some assailants who broke in. It seems Miss has suffered minor injuries. As soon as they arrived, they sent for a doctor."

"What did you say?" Old Madam Li's expression changed abruptly, and the hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. Zhang Mama hastily took the teacup and placed it on the table, then tried to console, "Old Madam, please don't worry. Yurong, what exactly happened? How did Miss get injured? You're not making it clear, frightening Old Madam like this!"

Yurong was in a panic and quickly knelt down with a thud. "Old Madam, forgive me. I don't know the specific situation. Miss only sent word that it's nothing serious and she'll come to explain to Old Madam soon... Please, don't worry."

"Old Madam, the situation isn't clear yet. Let me go inquire further. Please, don't be anxious." Zhang Mama instructed a maid to prepare another cup of hot tea and served it to Old Madam Li, who drank half of it while being gently persuaded.

However, Old Madam Li couldn't focus, her brow tightly furrowed. "Go and inquire immediately! Now!"

Even though Miss had assured her there was no serious harm, Old Madam Li was still so anxious. Zhang Mama wanted to continue persuading, but seeing Old Madam Li's stern expression and remembering her temper, she stopped talking abruptly, and obediently replied, "I understand. I'll go check right away."

After Zhang Mama left, Yurong watched the Old Madam's expression, serving her with trembling fear. After a while, the curtain lifted, and the Old Madam suddenly sat up straight.

However, it was Yumei who entered with a smile on her face. "Old Madam, you haven't had your dinner yet. The kitchen sent over some jujube and rice porridge. Please have some first." Yurong was anxious, signaling to her with her eyes, but Yumei was entirely focused on the Old Madam and didn't notice, personally carrying a small tray and bending down to say, "Old Madam, it's just been made and still steaming hot. Shall I serve you?"

At this moment, the Old Madam was already agitated and annoyed. Yumei's lack of tact only fueled her frustration, and she impulsively snapped, "Get out!"

With a crash, the bowl of jujube and rice porridge spilled onto the ground, shattering into pieces that littered the floor. For a moment, Yumei, who had always been quick-witted, was so scared that she stood there dumbfounded. She didn't even notice the mess of soup and fragments beneath her, immediately falling to her knees in apology, "I deserve to die, I deserve to die..."

At the sight of the chaotic scene, Old Madam Li's eyelids twitched, about to erupt in anger. Suddenly, the curtain was lifted, and Ouyang Nuan entered the room. Old Madam Li's expression immediately changed, "Nuan'er—"

Ouyang Nuan glanced at the scene in the room and smiled, "Grandmother, did the maid upset you?"

Old Madam Li observed Ouyang Nuan's calm demeanor, noting that she didn't seem to be injured much and her complexion had improved slightly. However, her expression remained stern as she said, "She is clumsy and can't even handle trivial matters properly. What's the use of keeping her? It's better to dismiss her early!"

Hearing this, Yumei was frightened to death, repeatedly pleading, "Madam! Madam! I know I was wrong. I won't dare to make mistakes again! Please forgive me, please don't send me away!"

Old Madam Li remained silent, coldly watching. Ouyang Nuan, with a change of heart, approached and helped Yumei up, then smiled, "Miss Yumei has served Madam for many years, and yet she has such clumsy moments? Stop crying, quickly clean up the mess on the floor, wash your face, and then come back to attend to Old Madam."

Following Ouyang Nuan's entrance, Zhang Mama, who came along, also smiled and said, "Yes, although Yumei is a bit impatient, her heart is always towards you. Please forgive her this time." Beside her, Yurong also joined in pleading.

Yumei stole a glance and couldn't discern Old Madam Li's mood, which made her even more nervous. She didn't dare to stand up and leave until finally, she heard the words she was waiting for: "Stupid thing, why haven't you left yet?"

Yumei immediately breathed a sigh of relief and hastily picked up with Yurong before leaving.

Ouyang Nuan was about to bow to Old Madam Li when her arm was grabbed, causing a sharp pain in her injured right shoulder. She endured it and looked up to see Old Madam Li's concerned expression. She whispered, "Madam, it was just a false alarm, nothing serious."

Old Madam Li scrutinized her for a while, gradually feeling reassured. "And Jue? Is he alright too?"

Ouyang Nuan's face expressed gratitude as she replied, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Jue is fine too. As soon as he got home, Father called him to the study. He's probably still there."

Old Madam Li nodded and urged, "Tell me in detail, what happened? What did you encounter on the way back?"

In an instant, a frost seemed to descend upon Ouyang Nuan's eyes, like a sudden gust of wind. "Grandmother, just thinking about the situation at that time still makes me shudder." Ouyang Nuan spoke softly, as if still somewhat shaken. "On our way back, we unfortunately encountered some villains. Thankfully, none of us were in the Ouyang family carriage, but poor Lanxin from the Duke's Mansion was truly frightened."

"Out of the carriage?" Old Madam Li's face was filled with surprise.

Ouyang Nuan's expression turned sorrowful. "Princess Rong's carriage broke down on the road, so Lanxin graciously allowed her to use her carriage. Seeing her in a hurry to return, I kindly offered her to ride in our family's carriage. Jue and I then took Princess Rong's carriage and set off. Unexpectedly, we encountered those villains on the road who had attacked the Ouyang family carriage. We would have been implicated too, but luckily, Prince Ming arrived in time..."

She recounted the situation she had witnessed at that time, including the moment when the villains took Lanxin's belt, purposely glancing at Old Madam Li. Seeing her grandmother listening intently but with a furrowed brow, Ouyang Nuan continued.

"Are you saying those people suddenly emerged?" After hearing the whole story, Old Madam Li immediately asked, her expression changing drastically. Lowering her head, she pondered for a moment before speaking again, "Nuan'er, don't you find this a bit suspicious?"

"Suspicious?" Ouyang Nuan looked puzzled, as if she couldn't quite comprehend.

"It seems like an accident, but think about it, Nuan'er. If you hadn't exchanged carriages with the Miss from the Wu Guo Mansion, wouldn't you have been the one in trouble? Those people might have thought you and Jue were in the carriage, so they attacked directly," Old Madam Li explained.

"That... how is that possible?" Ouyang Nuan's expression was full of astonishment. "Are you suggesting, grandmother, that they weren't after money?"

"Nonsense!" Old Madam Li's gaze sharpened suddenly. "If they were after money, why would they take the Miss's belt? Is that belt worth more than the valuables in the carriage? Moreover, openly committing robbery under the Emperor's nose is a serious crime, punishable by death. Without prior planning, who would dare such audacity?"

"Grandmother, perhaps you are overthinking. I rarely leave the house, and Jue is just a child. Who would deliberately harm us?"

Old Madam Li fell silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the candles in the room, her expression cold.

Ouyang Nuan's eyes wandered, and she seemed to recall something suddenly. "Grandmother, the Prince of Ming has captured some of those people. Perhaps they will reveal something."

Old Madam Li sighed. "Those people are more like assassins than common criminals. That road is the main route back to the capital, where the crowds are densest. If their intention was murder, why choose such an obvious location? Perhaps it was meant to draw attention to the incident. From my perspective, it seems deliberate agitation..."

"Intentional agitation?" Ouyang Nuan's eyes held a glimmer of amusement, but her words still betrayed a hint of confusion.

"Nuan'er, Chen Lanxin was merely a pawn," Old Madam Li sighed deeply after a pause. "For a young girl to have her personal belongings snatched away in such a manner, in such a place, wouldn't it cause a stir throughout the city?"

Ouyang Nuan gazed at Old Madam Li, looking visibly shocked. "Grandmother means... the attackers intended to ruin Sister Lanxin's innocence?"

Old Madam Li's voice turned cold. "You foolish girl, it's not about her, it's about you! The mastermind behind this scheme harbors a deep-seated hatred for you, which led them to conceive such a malicious plan."

The long lashes on Ouyang Nuan's snow-white face cast a pair of shadowy arcs, resembling both relief and relaxation. "As long as they weren't targeting Jue'er, I was worried they might harm my younger brother."

Old Madam Li was momentarily stunned, seemingly not having anticipated that Ouyang Nuan was only concerned about Ouyang Jue, and hadn't thought about herself at all. She had lived for decades, experiencing far more than Ouyang Nuan. Setting aside the intricacies of self-interest, she could taste a hint of bitterness in those words. "No, the attackers not only intended to ruin you, but they also aimed to harm my grandson."

欧阳暖's eyes widened in astonishment. "Grandmother..."

Old Madam Li patted Ouyang Nuan's hand, her face filled with relief. "You're lucky you swapped the carriage with someone else, otherwise Jue'er might have also faced danger!"

Ouyang Nuan felt a wave of relief at Old Madam Li's words, though she remained humble on the surface. Just as the grandmother and granddaughter were about to continue their discussion, they were interrupted by the voice of Yurong from outside.

"Old Madam, Madam has arrived," Yurong's voice echoed through the room.

Old Madam Li's expression changed abruptly, about to refuse, but Ouyang Nuan intervened, saying, "Grandmother, Mother must have received news and is worried!"

Old Madam Li frowned, then reluctantly relented. "In that case, let her in." Moments later, Madam Lin, with swollen eyes, burst into the room, exclaiming loudly, "Old Madam, something terrible has happened!"

"What's the matter, Mother? Is there something urgent?" A gentle voice sounded, and Ouyang Nuan revealed a brilliant and graceful smile as she curtsied.

Upon seeing her, Madam Lin was stunned for a moment. Then panic flashed in her eyes, her palms sweating profusely. She couldn't utter a word.

Approaching softly, Ouyang Nuan said, "It's late, Mother. Why have you come?" Her hand extended slightly, as if about to make a gesture.

Startled by her sudden approach, Madam Lin stepped back involuntarily, her eyes wide with alarm. But Ouyang Nuan merely reached out to adjust the hairpin on Madam Lin's head before smiling and asking, "What's the matter, Mother?"

After a moment of fixed gaze at Ouyang Nuan, Madam Lin concluded that she was trying to maintain composure. She relaxed slightly, her eyes fixed on Ouyang Nuan as she said, "Nuan'er, you've returned."

"Yes, just returned. I haven't had the chance to greet you properly," Ouyang Nuan replied, her gaze gentle and serene.

"Alright, let's all sit down and talk," Old Madam Li waved her hand impatiently.

Madam Lin took her seat, while Wang Mama stood by, scrutinizing Ouyang Nuan as if trying to find something unusual about her.

"You mentioned something about a big event just now. What is it?" Old Madam Li's voice was cold, carrying a hint of disdain that seemed even more pronounced than usual.

Madam Lin's expression briefly reflected a chill as she looked at Ouyang Nuan. "I heard that Nuan'er's carriage encountered some bandits on the way back. I rushed over to see if Nuan'er and Jue'er were injured. Seeing you standing here unharmed, I feel relieved."

Madam Lin still thought it was Nuan'er and Jue'er in the carriage. Ouyang Nuan inwardly sneered but maintained her composure. "Both my brother and I are fine. It was just a false alarm. Mother needn't worry. Take care of yourself instead."

Madam Lin was already seven months pregnant, and her swollen belly made her quite uncomfortable. Her fingers tightly interlocked, betraying her inner tension. "Nuan'er, I heard you called for the physician earlier. Is there something wrong with you?"

Ouyang Nuan's lips curled slightly, a smile only she could discern. "No, everything's fine. It's just that the horse got startled, and I accidentally bumped into the edge of the carriage. The physician said it's nothing serious."

Madam Lin clearly didn't believe her and continued, "Bandits at the Emperor's feet? It's truly an unexpected disaster. Thank goodness you're all safe."

Old Madam Li sneered, "Hmph. Ever since that cursed star entered our household, we've been plagued with misfortunes. It seems trouble follows us wherever we go. It's truly uncanny."

Madam Lin felt extremely uncomfortable. She knew Old Madam Li resented the child in her womb. However, feeling a sense of triumph this time, knowing that while she didn't harm Ouyang Jue, she successfully snatched something valuable from Ouyang Nuan. So, instead of changing color as she did in the past, she pretended not to hear, saying, "Old Madam Li, you have such a sense of humor. As long as Nuan'er and the others are fine, that's all that matters."

"What Mother said is true. It's the blessing of the Buddha that protects us, siblings." Ouyang Nuan smiled gently, her expression serene and tranquil. "But Jue'er is still young. After today's fright, he'll probably need some time to recover."

Old Madam Li felt deeply distressed hearing about her grandson's fright. She shot Lin a cold glance and said in a chilling tone, "Master Huian mentioned the presence of the cursed star in this household. I believe it's not just that; there are also some who lack respect and disregard their elders!" Her voice suddenly rose sharply, becoming piercing and sharp. "Wanru, do you know your offense?!"

Caught off guard by the sudden severity of her mother's tone, Madam Lin couldn't help but be taken aback. She rose and bowed her head respectfully. "If Mother is angry, your daughter-in-law must have committed some offense. Please enlighten me."

A sinister expression flickered across Old Madam Li's features as she commanded, "Kneel!"

Madam Lin, knowing that today's scheme had been successful, decided to endure her grandmother's wrath for the moment. She lowered herself to the ground, supporting her swollen belly as she knelt down slowly.

Old Madam Li's anger did not subside; her voice grew even harsher. "Being pregnant indeed allows for some pampering! Since you've been pregnant, not once have you come to greet me, let alone serve me. You've been so disrespectful. If you bear a son, what then? Do you truly think the whole family should revolve around you alone? What do you think you've birthed?"

Madam Lin sneered inwardly but kept her head slightly bowed, maintaining a humble posture. "Although Old Madam is angry, your daughter-in-law must speak. Since I became pregnant, everyone in the household has taken care of me, not for my sake but for the sake of the Ouyang family's lineage. Old Madam accuses me of being arrogant because of my pregnancy, but I am truly fearful in my heart."

Old Madam Li's breath caught for a moment, and she slammed her teacup heavily on the armrest of her chair with a loud "clack," startling everyone present.

Ouyang Nuan hurriedly intervened, "Old Madam, your health is not good. Please don't be angry. How about you take a break and have some tea before continuing? Madam is pregnant and shouldn't kneel for too long. Let her stand up and speak."

With each word, Old Madam Li's face grew darker. By the end, her complexion was almost livid, her eyes burning with intense hatred and disgust as she pointed at Madam Lin with each word pronounced with emphasis, "A woman should uphold her virtues. You have disregarded respect for elders, spoken impudently, and used deceitful words and actions to challenge authority..."

She thundered, "I sentence you to kneel here for one hour as punishment!"

Wang Mama was alarmed and quickly interjected, "Old Madam, the ground is cold and hard. How can you let Madam kneel there? Moreover, she is pregnant!"

Ouyang Nuan suppressed the amusement in her eyes, her face filled with genuine concern as she pleaded, "Grandmother, please calm down. Please spare her considering she is carrying a child. What if something goes wrong?" Her tone was gentle and persuasive, displaying sincerity.

However, Old Madam Li was furious, "The misconduct of this woman has tarnished my family's reputation! Discipline is necessary to restore order! Anyone else who dares to plead for her will kneel alongside her!"

Madam Lin looked on coldly and said, "Accepting the punishment is a sign of respect for you as an elder, not an admission of wrongdoing. Justice will prevail, and I have never done anything to harm the Ouyang family."

Old Madam Li, enraged, chuckled sarcastically, "Very well, then kneel until you understand your fault! Zhang Mama, I am tired. I need to rest. Call me in an hour!"

Wang Mama thought to herself that Madam was truly furious to confront Old Madam so boldly. Despite her fear, she kneeled before Old Madam and pleaded, "Madam is pregnant and should not be kneeling. Please forgive her."

Old Madam Li raised her eyebrows and interrupted her, "I have already said, anyone who pleads for her will kneel alongside her. Since you want to plead for her, you can kneel beside her!"

The soft fabric of her dress clung to her legs, and the coldness of the floor sent shivers up Madam Lin's spine. Despite the discomfort, she refused to utter a single word of submission, knowing that she would soon repay this suffering to Ouyang Nuan a hundredfold.

Wang Mama wanted to speak up again, but Old Madam Li glared at her fiercely and said, "Kneeling for an hour won't kill anyone! If you speak out again, you will be punished with the rod." Wang Mama trembled in fear and could only lower her head and kneel alongside Madam Lin.

Ouyang Nuan looked coldly at Madam Lin, her expression calm. No one could tell how much she hated this woman, seething with anger and murderous intent. If she had a knife in hand, she would surely have chopped off her head to vent her hatred! However, she only smiled faintly and said, "Grandmother, I am not pleading for Mother. It's just that if Mother were to faint..."

Old Madam Li uttered two words with a sinister tone, "Bring them."

Two maids who were originally standing outside the curtain hurriedly entered the room, having heard the Old Madam's command amid the voices from within. Their hearts felt cold as they listened, and now, hearing the Old Madam's voice, they quickly entered.

"Yurong, Yumei, go attend to Madam Lin to prevent her from fainting!" Madam Li said coldly.

The two maids exchanged a glance involuntarily, their eyes filled with fear. They quickly lowered their heads and replied, "Yes."

With this arrangement, even if Madam Lin wanted to feign fainting to avoid punishment, it would be impossible.

A faint smile played on the lips of Ouyang Nuan, seemingly compassionate, yet also inscrutable, leaving one unable to discern her true thoughts. Seeing this scene, she stood up and said, "Grandmother, since you forbid me from pleading for Mother, you shouldn't force me to witness her kneeling."

Madam Li gave her a deep look and said, "You've had a long day too. You may leave."

Ouyang Nuan then respectfully took her leave, slowly exiting the room as the curtain gently fell. With her departure, Old Madam Li's anger disappeared, and Madam Lin's resentful gaze was cut off...

Seeing Ouyang Nuan leave, Madam Lin's body shifted slightly. Old Madam Li, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened her eyes and coldly reprimanded, "Can't even kneel properly?"

Madam Lin was taken aback, her expression suddenly turning cold as a gleam of intense hatred flashed in her eyes. She had no choice but to continue kneeling steadily, though her heart seethed with resentment. She thought bitterly that when that person came knocking on Ouyang Nuan's door tomorrow with her personal belongings, she would see how Ouyang Nuan would face her then.

As she pondered, a cruel smile curled on her lips. Wang Mama looked on uneasily from the side, but considering the stable condition of the seven-month pregnancy, she assumed there wouldn't be any harm. Thus, she lowered her head.

Old Madam Li suddenly frowned and asked, "What fragrance is burning? It smells so unpleasant!"

Zhang Mama cautiously replied, "It's... agarwood, Madam."

This was a type of incense commonly burned in Shou'an Hall, fragrant but not overpowering. If Old Madam Li's mood hadn't been bad, she probably wouldn't have found it unpleasant. Yumei thought to herself.

"Change it to another scent," Old Madam Li said coldly, giving Zhang Mama a glance.

Zhang Mama hesitated for a moment, understanding Old Madam Li's expression immediately. She respectfully responded, "Yes, Madam."

Soon, a new fragrance wafted through the room as another incense burner was lit. The scent was gentle, carrying a faint sweetness that made one feel comfortably relaxed to the core.

As the fragrance rose gently, Old Madam Li gazed at the golden lily incense burner with a peculiar expression on her face, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

After kneeling for an hour, Madam Lin could barely stand when she left. She could hardly straighten her knees and had to be almost carried out by Wang Mama, whose knees nearly buckled under her weight. Old Madam Li looked down from above, giving a cold laugh. "Get someone to help her back, lest she faint here for real, and outsiders think I'm being harsh on her as a mother-in-law."

Madam Lin left with resentment filling her heart, while Old Madam Li gave a cold laugh. Then, she summoned Zhang Mama and said, "Go to the Warmth Pavilion again and find someone to carefully inquire about where Miss Ouyang was injured."

Old Madam Li was already feeling irritated, and Madam Lin's audacity to come and stir up trouble only added to her annoyance. She had reprimanded Madam Lin today to release some pent-up frustration, but she still couldn't shake off her concerns about Ouyang Nuan's recent attack. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something being concealed from her. Zhang Mama, startled, quickly responded, "Yes, I'll go and check again."

As Zhang Mama approached the entrance of the Warmth Pavilion, she suddenly saw a figure dart behind the artificial rock. Zhang Mama's vision wasn't sharp, but the maid behind her, Yumei, had keen eyes and immediately exclaimed, "Oh my!" Zhang Mama followed her gaze and shouted, "Who's skulking around there?!"

Immediately, a maid rushed over and pulled the person out. When they looked under the lantern, they realized it was Hongyu, a maid from Ouyang Nuan's side.

Hongyu seemed startled, trembling with fear as if she hadn't expected to bump into someone. As her grip loosened, a copper basin she was carrying fell to the ground, spilling clothes everywhere.

Zhang Mama recognized the clothes and was taken aback. Yumei, understanding the situation, approached and began to pick up the clothes. Under the lantern light, Zhang Mama took a closer look and her face changed color. She pointed at Hongyu and scolded, "In the dead of night, stealing things from the mistress and trying to flee secretly?!" As she spoke, she had two strong maids hold onto Hongyu.

Hongyu's face was originally pale, as if she had been frightened, and she tightly closed her mouth without saying a word. Zhang Mama kept calling out, "How can there be such an incompetent servant? Quickly, bring Miss Ouyang over here!"

Yumei also took the clothes to inspect them and exclaimed, "Zhang Mama, there's blood on the shoulder of the clothes!"

As to what happened, Zhang Mama's mind raced with several possibilities. She glanced at the faces of the others, all showing a mix of surprise and suspicion, further fueling her doubts.

Hongyu suddenly knelt down, her expression filled with sorrow as she said, "Zhang Mama, those people robbed the carriage from the Duke of Wu's mansion, blocking the official road. Our horses were also frightened. Miss protected Young Master from harm but ended up injuring her arm on a table corner. She didn't tell anyone to prevent Old Madam from worrying, quietly seeking a doctor to treat the wound… She even instructed us to wash the clothes quietly without letting anyone know. Miss is so caring, constantly reminding us. It doesn't matter if no one else knows about this, just as long as Old Madam doesn't find out, as she would surely worry…"

Zhang Mama was stunned. She looked at Hongyu's pair of dark eyes shining with courage in the darkness, leaving her speechless for a moment. After a while, she sighed softly and said, "Miss has really suffered. Even if Old Madam finds out, she will only praise Miss for her filial piety. Let's go back. Take good care of Miss."

After Zhang Mama returned and truthfully reported the incident at the door of the Listening Warm Pavilion to Old Madam Li, Old Madam Li's face showed a hint of appreciation. She sighed and said, "Nuan'er is a sensible child. Clearly, she was injured too, but she refused to speak directly about it, insisting it was nothing serious, just to spare me any trouble."

Zhang Mama respectfully smiled and replied, "Miss has a kind and intelligent nature. She will surely have a fortunate future. Madam's days of enjoyment are still ahead."

Old Madam Li's face brightened with satisfaction, but then she sighed and said, "As long as that ominous star is present, I have never had a single good day. Is this type of incense you brought really useful?"

Zhang Mama glanced around before replying softly, "Old Madam, rest assured, this incense is very effective. Since Madam has spent quite some time kneeling in the room, I believe it will surely bring you peace of mind."

Old Madam Li rolled the Buddhist beads in her hand and uttered a prayer, "May it be so." She sighed, hoping for the best.

Madam Lin went straight to the Ouyang Ke's Courtyard after leaving the Shou'an Hall. Upon entering the room, she sat down on the bed without a word. Wang Mama quickly brought tea, which Madam Lin drank in one gulp before exhaling deeply.

Wang Mama glanced at the door and waved her hand, signaling for all the maids in the room to leave. The last one, Xia Xue, lowered the curtain and stood guard at the door.

Ouyang Ke, seeing Madam Lin's pale complexion, couldn't help but show a surprised expression. "Mother, what's wrong with you?"

Wang Mama's face was filled with resentment as she replied, "As soon as we entered Shou'an Hall, without even saying a few words, the old madam ordered Madam to kneel down, and she's been kneeling ever since!"

"How is that possible? Grandmother has always ignored what happens here," Ouyang said, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Ha! That old hag. No wonder I never bother to pay my respects to her, and she never says a word. Turns out she's been waiting for me here!" Madam Lin sneered, her resentment towards Old Madam Li growing more blatant. Old Madam Li never blamed her openly, but she was certainly waiting to settle scores. That old lady was truly not a good person!

Ouyang Ke's expression turned worried. "Will my brother be okay? And are you feeling alright, Mother?"

"Second Miss, rest assured, the pregnancy has been stable for seven months. It's just that Madam has really had a hard time today," Wang Mama sighed, taking the tea bowl from Madam Lin's hand and kneeling down beside her to gently massage her knees.

Ouyang nodded, whispering, "Mother, why did you go to Shou'an Hall to provoke Grandmother? You know she doesn't like the child in your belly. Aren't you just asking for trouble?"

Madam Lin, exhausted, leaned against the pillow with half-closed eyes. "I heard some good news and rushed over. Besides, I bumped into Ouyang Nuan there. Speaking of which, she's been to Shou'an Hall more often than you lately."

Ouyang Ke clearly harbored resentment, snorting coldly, "Her most powerful skill is pretending! She fools everyone into thinking she's generous and kind-hearted! But Mother, what was the news you mentioned just now?" There was a sense of urgency in her eyes.

Madam Lin opened her eyes and smiled, "Don't worry. Let me explain slowly. The news is about your uncle's capability. After hearing what I had to say, he only gave me two pieces of advice: first, bide my time and endure silently. If they don't let me handle things, I'll just swallow my pride."

Ouyang Ke became anxious and quickly interjected, "Uncle is being foolish. Mother, you've put in so much effort over the years. How can you just let Li Yiniang wield power?"

Madam Lin sighed, "I don't want to either, but your uncle is right. No matter how well I manage things now, Ouyang Manor will ultimately belong to someone else with Ouyang Jue around. It's like sewing clothes for others. It'll only tire me out. Besides, my top priority now is to have a son."

Ouyang Ke rolled her eyes at Madam Lin and retorted, "Mother, your words were as good as saying nothing. Grandmother has already said that this child is a cursed star. What's the point of giving birth to him? You'd better think about how to deal with Ouyang Nuan."

Ouyang Ke's sole focus now was getting rid of her elder sister. She didn't care about the child in her belly at all. Madam Lin glared at her and replied, "There's no need for you to remind me! This time, I finally managed to persuade your uncle to help. We arranged for people to ambush Ouyang Nuan's carriage."

Ouyang Ke was stunned, a smile spreading across her face. "Really? Mother, why didn't I know about this? Was it successful?"

Madam Lin let out a cold laugh. "You silly girl, if I had told you, and the news leaked, the plan would have been ruined."

There was a glimmer of hope in Ouyang Ke's eyes as she asked, "So, does that mean the plan succeeded?"

"Of course it did!" Madam Lin's spirits seemed to lift all of a sudden. "Your uncle sent someone to inform me that the plan is halfway to success."

Ouyang Ke's face bore a puzzled expression as she said, "If it's successful, then why only halfway? Mother, earlier you mentioned seeing Ouyang Nuan at the Shou'an Hall. If it's truly successful, shouldn't she be unable to return?"

Madam Lin burst into laughter, then tenderly caressed Ouyang Ke's face, her smile deepening. "Silly girl, there's more than one way to deal with people in this world. Ouyang Nuan has caused you to become what you are now. I will intensify my efforts to reclaim everything. This time, I deliberately spared her life but instructed someone to take an item from her while chaos reigned. If anyone comes knocking on our door, we'll accuse them of being involved with Miss Ouyang. Let's see if the Old Madam won't be furious then. Ouyang Nuan will have only two options then."

“Two paths?” Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment, then clapped her hands together and chuckled. "Exactly. One is to preserve the family's honor and commit suicide, and the other is to marry that scoundrel and sacrifice all dignity. Mother, you're right. Only by doing this can I ease the hatred in my heart! If she were to die so easily, wouldn't my leg have been crippled for nothing?"

Madam Lin nodded, her gaze deep. "The most regrettable thing is not being able to get rid of Ouyang Jue. If we could eliminate him too, then we could truly rest easy."

But Ouyang Ke seemed oblivious to this remark, her face filled with excitement. "Mother, when will that person come knocking? I want to witness Ouyang Nuan's reputation being ruined with my own eyes!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Mama couldn't help but think that Second Miss hadn't grown up at all. She only cared about her own vendetta at a time like this, without considering Madam's welfare at all.

However, she couldn't voice her thoughts and could only smile and say, "Second Miss, don't worry. Once the plan is set, the person will come to stir up trouble soon. In the capital, news spreads like wildfire among the noble families. As long as Madam subtly stirs the pot, everyone will soon know that Miss Ouyang's personal item has fallen into someone else's hands! Just wait patiently!"

Ouyang Ke's eyes gleamed with a dark, cold light as she gazed out into the boundless night sky. Finally, she smiled contentedly, her heart filled with satisfaction.

•••

[1] The Hour of the Dog: refers to the time period between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, also called 'Xu hour' Known as the Twelve Earthly Branches, divides each day into 12 two-hour segments, each associated with one of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. The naming convention comes from the association of each period with the characteristics and attributes of the respective zodiac animal. Dogs are known for being loyal, protective, and vigilant animals in Chinese culture. As this time period falls during the evening when people traditionally return home and secure their dwellings, it's thought to be a time when the watchfulness and protective qualities of the dog are particularly relevant. Therefore, it's called the "hour of the Dog."

[2] The hour of the Dragon: also known as the 'Chen hour' in Chinese traditionally refers to the period from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. The designation of 7 am to 9 am as the hour of the Dragon is likely due to the symbolic significance of the Dragon in Chinese culture. The Dragon is considered a powerful and auspicious creature associated with strength, vitality, and good fortune. Therefore, the time period corresponding to the Dragon hour may be seen as particularly auspicious for beginning activities, making decisions, or taking actions that align with these qualities.

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