Jinchao brought Yuxiang and Qingpu with her to the accounting office, stating she was there to see Luo Liu.
Upon hearing that the Fourth Madam had passed away, Luo Liu had been living in deep anxiety. Guilt-ridden, he feared that Ji Shi’s death had something to do with the medicine he had prepared. These past few days, he hadn’t had a moment’s peace, unable to sleep soundly. Now, seeing the Eldest Young Miss herself coming to find him, Luo Liu was so terrified that he dropped to his knees, trembling all over, not even daring to speak.
Jinchao took a sip of tea and instructed Steward Sun calmly,
“Some months ago, Luo Liu sneaked into the inner courtyard and harassed one of the maids. The girl kept silent for months before coming to me in tears to file a complaint. I was furious when I heard it. A man like Luo Liu can’t be kept in the household any longer. Steward, see that he is flogged, and then drive him out of the residence.”
She cast a glance at Luo Liu, who was kneeling, quivering like a frightened dog, utterly wretched.
Her mind was made up—she wouldn’t bring up the matter of Da Huang just yet. That would only alert Steward Sun. Once she coaxed a confession from Luo Liu, she could implicate Steward Sun directly. Claiming Luo Liu had harassed a maid gave her the perfect opening to drag them both down.
Steward Sun’s face remained affable, his smile unshaken.
“Eldest Young Miss… Luo Liu has served under me for decades. He’s always been honest and dutiful. Could there be some misunderstanding here? May I ask which maid was involved? Where and when did this take place? And how did Your Ladyship come to know of it? Was it the maid who brought the matter to you?”
He harbored some disdain toward Gu Jinchao. Everyone knew what kind of person the Gu family’s Eldest Miss was. Today, she had come merely to make a scene—what power did she have to punish Luo Liu just based on a few words from a maid? Once Concubine Song’s child was born and she rose to the position of the official wife, would there still be any place for Gu Jinchao in this household?
He treated her as a mere child throwing a tantrum.
“…If the maid is present, might I meet her as well? Just to ensure Luo Liu isn’t being wrongly accused.”
Luo Liu nodded repeatedly.
“Miss, please believe me! I never went into the inner courtyard to harass any maid!”
Jinchao looked at him but said nothing. Instead, she nodded.
“The maid is just outside. She’s too frightened to face Luo Liu, but if you’d like to speak with her, just step out and have a look.”
Luo Liu would surely recognize Yuxiang at a glance, but Steward Sun, who served only in the outer courtyard, had likely never seen a second-tier maid from Concubine Song’s quarters.
Steward Sun glanced toward the doorway and quickly stepped outside. There, indeed, stood a maid—her clothing indicated she wasn’t favored. She was accompanied by Caifu, one of Jinchao’s own maids.
Yuxiang gave Steward Sun a respectful bow. He nodded in return and asked her to recount what had happened.
As instructed by Gu Jinchao, Yuxiang began sobbing as she spoke of how Luo Liu had harassed her:
“…I was working near the Drooping Flower Gate when Luo Liu emerged from the thicket beside the gate and made indecent advances. I… I felt so ashamed I didn’t dare speak of it. But the burden weighed on me for months, and in the end, I couldn’t bear it anymore. That’s why I went to the Young Miss…”
Steward Sun’s expression shifted slightly. Luo Liu had passed through the inner courtyard months ago—near that very thicket. Could it really be true?
But Luo Liu had always seemed upright and cautious—could he really have done something so vile?
His face turned grim.
Regardless, Steward Sun knew he had to protect Luo Liu. The man was one of his own.
He called Yuxiang inside. Jinchao looked up with a pleasant smile.
Steward Sun immediately cupped his hands and said,
“What a commotion this has caused… Perhaps I’ll have Luo Liu flogged and dock his wages for two months. Consider it a punishment on your behalf. He surely won’t dare offend again.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Liu burst into panicked sobs.
“Steward Sun, please don’t believe that maid’s nonsense! I’m innocent…”
Jinchao spoke leisurely,
“She said you harassed her near the thicket by the Drooping Flower Gate. The time and place were quite clear. If you didn’t harass her, then why were you there at all? Were you perhaps conspiring with someone else?”
Steward Sun’s heart pounded—he feared what more Jinchao might reveal. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward and gave Luo Liu a brutal kick.
“Filthy dog, still trying to argue?”
Luo Liu collapsed to the ground, trembling. Steward Sun followed up with several more kicks.
“You dare disgrace yourself like this? You’ve shamed me—forcing the Eldest Miss herself to deal with you!”
Luo Liu moaned in pain, curling up to dodge the blows.
Jinchao watched with a smile.
“Since Steward Sun agrees with the verdict, then have Luo Liu dragged out and beaten to death. Otherwise, what discipline is there in this household? We must set an example.”
Steward Sun froze. Was this girl really so ruthless?
Luo Liu, terrified out of his mind, scrambled to sit upright and kowtowed frantically.
“Please, Miss, spare me! I… I truly didn’t do anything! I went to the inner courtyard, yes, but not to harass any maid! I wouldn’t dare!”
Steward Sun panicked. He slapped Luo Liu hard and shouted,
“Nonsense! Shut your mouth!”
Luo Liu didn’t understand why the steward had turned on him, but Gu Jinchao’s words had already frightened him half to death.
Jinchao gently set down her teacup.
“No need to panic. I don’t necessarily intend to take your life. But rules are rules—you know that well. A mistake like yours must be repaid. Unless, of course, you’ve done something to atone for your misdeeds. Then, perhaps, I could show some mercy…”
Luo Liu stared blankly, not grasping her meaning.
Jinchao picked up her tea and took a slow sip.
“You say you’re innocent—I believe you. Perhaps the girl mistook you for someone else. If you can tell me why you were in the inner courtyard, or who sent you, and someone can confirm it, then your name will be cleared. Otherwise, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do to help you.”
Luo Liu seemed to suddenly understand. The Eldest Miss hadn’t come because of some maid’s grievance—she’d discovered the truth about Da Huang and was here to expose the one pulling the strings!
Steward Sun’s face darkened.
“So the Eldest Miss suspects someone ordered Luo Liu to go into the inner courtyard? Luo Liu is one of my men—are you accusing me?”
Jinchao smiled as she gently brushed aside the tea leaves floating on the surface.
“Why so agitated, Steward Sun? I never said it was you. But seeing how flustered you are… One might think you’ve got a guilty conscience.”
Luo Liu hesitated. He glanced at Steward Sun, only to see the man glaring daggers at him. His voice immediately died in his throat.
Offending the Eldest Miss was one thing—she was all form and no substance. If he angered her, Steward Sun might still be able to save him. But to anger the steward himself… that would truly cost him his life.
Luo Liu murmured,
“Mi… Miss, I did tease the maid a little… but I didn’t lay a hand on her. Please have mercy on me…”
Steward Sun chuckled,
“It was but a few teasing words toward a maid, and for this, the Eldest Young Miss would have him beaten to death? If word got out, it wouldn’t sit well with either sentiment or propriety. Why not allow me to punish him with a beating instead…”
Jinchao arched her brow slightly.
Even this, Luo Liu was willing to admit? Clearly, Steward Sun’s usual methods were far more ruthless than they appeared.
Her gaze fixed on him, she smiled calmly.
“Steward Sun, no need to interrupt—I haven’t even gotten to your part yet. Yesterday, Nanny Xu came asking about the delivery from the Ji household. You claimed the items had gotten mixed up and the ledger was lost. Is this how you handle affairs? So careless, so muddled?”
The moment Steward Sun realized what matter she was truly here for, he snapped,
“What exactly are you implying, Eldest Miss? The items were mixed up—I simply couldn’t tell them apart and said so. The records weren’t kept by me; how can this be pinned on me? Eldest Miss, you are the one overseeing the household stores now, but if this gets back to the Master, it won’t reflect well on you either.”
Now he understood: Gu Jinchao wasn’t here to settle some petty grievance with Luo Liu. She had come to hold him accountable.
She’s being utterly unreasonable, he thought angrily.
Concubine Song was pregnant. Shouldn’t Jinchao, as the legitimate daughter, be avoiding the spotlight now? So arrogant—she would surely be crushed in the future!
Just then, a commotion erupted outside. The voice of a young servant rang out,
“…This is the accounting office! Why are you all carrying blades—stop right there! Who gave you permission to enter?”
Then came another voice, cold as frost—Xue Sixteen.
“The Eldest Miss instructed us. Move aside.”
So, Nanny Xu had brought Xue Sixteen!
At the sound of his voice, Jinchao said serenely,
“Since Xue Sixteen is here, let him come in. There’s a servant here who broke the rules. I was just thinking of having him beaten to death and dragged to the mass grave.”
Both Luo Liu and Steward Sun’s faces turned pale.
The Eldest Miss had actually summoned Ji Shi’s old guards.
What was she planning—did she truly mean to kill Luo Liu?
Xue Sixteen entered first, a blade tucked at his waist. Towering and broad-shouldered, his hands large as palm fans, he was a figure that made even seasoned guards tremble. At the mere sight of him, Luo Liu’s knees buckled.
Everyone knew: Xue Sixteen had been brought from the Xue family martial academy in Tongzhou by Madam Ji herself. Not even the Gu family’s best guards could stand against him.
His voice rumbled,
“Is this the servant the Eldest Miss meant?”
He pointed straight at Luo Liu, clearly waiting for the slightest nod to leap forward and finish the job.
Luo Liu, face stricken with terror, flung himself at Steward Sun’s legs, weeping:
“Steward Sun, please! You must save me! I don’t want to die!”
Steward Sun’s expression was ashen as he looked at Gu Jinchao. After a long silence, he spoke in a low voice,
“Eldest Miss, Concubine Song is with child. Your conduct today—are you not disturbing both her peace and the Master’s? You would do well to think carefully.”
A veiled threat.
If she were clever, she would understand that Concubine Song was his backing.
But Jinchao only smiled faintly.
“Still counting on Concubine Song to shield you? Has it escaped your notice that she no longer holds any sway in this household? Steward Sun, you must truly be blind to the situation.”
She set down her teacup.
“If that’s the case, I won’t stop you. Go ahead—send word to Linyan Pavilion. Let’s see if Song Miaohua dares utter even a single word.”
Steward Sun’s heart skipped a beat. What did she mean by that? Concubine Song may have been punished, but she was pregnant—the future matron of the household!
He remained silent for a long while before ordering a young servant to go to Linyan Pavilion and summon Concubine Song.
Jinchao sipped her tea slowly.
The servant soon returned, his face pale with fright. He whispered to Steward Sun,
“There are old maids guarding the entrance. I couldn’t even enter the courtyard. I peeked through the side—only two little maids inside, no one attending to her. I didn’t even see Concubine Song…”