"I knew it would get you into trouble if I couldn't keep a close eye on you!

Now, who in the capital dares to wear the Broken Branch Embroidery and bring bad luck upon the old concubine? Our clothes were made for nothing!"

Mrs. Lou II flew into a rage upon returning to the inner courtyard. Mr. Lou II, who had been reading late into the night, was about to come up and talk, but seeing this, he wisely ducked out.

"Tell me the truth! How did the Broken Branch Embroidery leak out?" Mrs. Lou II sternly demanded, finding her most familiar opening: "Xianyue!"

"Don't ask me. Mother, you must know. Who took the Broken Branch Embroidery? Didn't Madam Huang tell you?"

Xianyue found a chair and sat down, slowly picking up some snacks to eat.

Qingyun immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.

"This is my fault," she always took the blame. "I was being nosy. I felt sorry for Sister Cai Huan, who didn't have any nice clothes, so I wanted to give her some.

On second thought, I didn't want her to worry about it if I gave her something else. We just happened to have an extra piece of embroidery, so I gave it to her.

She was living under someone else's roof, too. Maybe she didn't keep it well, and Sanniang's people saw it and leaked it to Princess Xun. That's why we were attacked today."

Second Madam Lou was so angry that her face turned pale and her hands trembled.

"Don't take on so much responsibility. This isn't something you can handle alone. Tell me the truth, the three of you. What's going on?

You're really driving me crazy. Cai Huan is the eldest wife's niece, and she has nothing to do with us. I don't even dare to intervene, and yet you dare?

If we let the eldest wife know what you're thinking, wouldn't that be a slap in her face? That's fine, but is embroidered branches something you can just give away? That's what you're going to wear for the Lantern Festival!

You all know what kind of occasion the Lantern Festival is. It only comes once a year, and countless ladies in the capital start preparing a year in advance. We're already so powerful that we can't even suppress the local tyrants. We've finally managed to put together a decent set of clothes and jewelry, and you're still making trouble. It's truly unbearable. Fine, if you don't think about yourselves, why should I worry about you?

Fourth sister, go get the jewelry boxes out and sell the headwear at the shop. Let them beggars for the Lantern Festival. After all, it's not my family who's missing!"

When she got angry, she became a member of the Mei family, and all five of them, father and daughter, became members of the Lou family. From the way she phrased it, it was clear she was truly furious.

Ling Shuang wanted to interject, "Isn't the Lantern Festival all about dressing up beautifully for those dandy boys? What's the point of competing for splendor?"

But fearing she might actually upset her mother, she kept quiet.

Fortunately, Huang Si Niang had long been accustomed to this and knew Second Lady Lou was just raging. She didn't actually move the boxes out. Instead, she brought her some cooling tea and stood behind her, rubbing her back and soothing her, whispering words of comfort, "A blessing in disguise."

Qing Yun also advised, "Although clothes are important, we don't have only one beautiful piece in our house. Just change it. It's more important that you don't get too upset."

Seeing her calm down a bit, Ling Shuang said, "Actually, it was me who urged my eldest sister to deliver the clothes. This is mainly my fault."

"Do you think I don't know?" Second Madam Lou immediately scolded, "You've been involved in countless troubles. Isn't it enough that you've caused trouble at the ancestral hall during New Year's Day?

The Third House has spread the news of your deeds throughout the capital. Do you really think Cheng Jun is welded to you, unbreakable?"

It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned Cheng Jun. The mention of Cheng Jun intensified Ling Shuang's anger. But since she had been in the wrong, she held back and said, "Why bring up Cheng Jun when he's a good thing? Don't blame him on me. I don't want to get married."

"Yes, I knew you didn't want to get married. You just want to get rid of Cheng Jun and become a nun for the rest of your life! Once your reputation is ruined, I don't think you'll marry anyone. Even a beggar..."

Xianyue held Ling Shuang's hand.

"I was also involved in the branch embroidery incident. I was the one who instigated both of them. I was bored and wanted to see what the First Wife was really like. I didn't expect the Third Wife's tactics to be so effective. I really underestimated them," Xianyue also came forward to confess.

With all three confessing, Second Madam Lou didn't know which one to scold. She glared at Xianyue and wanted to scold her, but she saw that the camellia on her head had wilted. She looked listless after a day of guests. With Huang Si Niang beside her, she had to temporarily restrain her arrogance.

"It's late today, so I won't punish you yet. Go back to bed. I'll take care of you all tomorrow when I'm better!"

Mrs. Lou was the mistress of the household, overseeing numerous shops. Her authority was truly intimidating. "Don't think this will go away so easily. You know the price of these three pieces of embroidered branches. Pay them back now, or I'll skin you alive!"

Seeing her relent, Huang Si Niang quickly pushed the three of them toward the door and told them to go back to the warm room to sleep.

In the adjacent pavilion, the lights were ablaze. It sounded as if the mother and daughter of the third wife were chatting and laughing, quite cheerfully. After all, they had won a great victory today. Perhaps having seen their lanterns, a maid suddenly raised her voice and scolded, "Xiaoyu, don't run away, little bitch! You don't understand even if I don't give you a blow, and you're still being so arrogant. Only today have you realized how powerful your aunt is!"

After these words, another burst of laughter erupted. Bizhu's voice was sharp and crisp, Yuzhu's voice was delicate and tender, and even Third Lady Lou's laughter was mixed in.

"Ignore them," Qingyun held her two younger sisters, soothing them. "It's okay. Mother will calm down tomorrow. It's not a big deal. There's still time to choose new clothes."

"Well, let's all wear rosin lotus yellow. It's neat and beautiful," Xianyue said lazily.

No one slept well that night. Qingyun was a natural worrier. If her family got angry or had a problem, she'd be even more anxious than they were, always trying to find a way to resolve it. But this time, the problem was her own, which made her doubly worried.

Xianyue was frail, already feeling a bit sore from sitting all day, and she'd coughed a few times during the night.

Lingshuang was fuming, and Xianyue hadn't bothered her in the morning.

Breakfast was brought in directly. Qingyun went to pay her respects to the old lady and was locked up when she returned. Huang Si Niang, who was guarding the door, personally brought breakfast and said, "Madam is angry and wants you to reflect on yourselves behind closed doors. Be good, the three of you. There won't be any banquets these days anyway, so just stay home and wait for Madam Chen's cherry banquet. Madam will naturally calm down."

Xianyue was so happy that she didn't get out of bed. She even combed her hair in bed. It was just right for her to stay at home without a bun. With her hair loose and a small blouse on, she lay in bed analyzing, "It was probably Cai Huan who leaked it."

"It wasn't her," Ling Shuang said. "It might have been leaked from her, but it definitely wasn't her."

"That's right. I saw that Yuzhu's handkerchief was very rough. Sister Cai Huan is very skilled in embroidery, and she certainly wouldn't have embroidered it like that.

Besides, it wouldn't do her any good if her broken-branch embroidery had a bad reputation. We have other clothes, but she doesn't have any good clothes to wear," Qingyun said.

"You can't judge a person by their appearance," Xianyue said, combing her hair. "Besides, whether she leaked it herself or not, what difference does it make? She can't keep it to herself anyway. Just let everyone know. Don't associate with her."

"She lives under someone else's roof. Should she die if she can't keep it to herself?" Lingshuang asked calmly.

"She shouldn't die, but it's useless. Just hold that judgment of her in your heart." Xianyue didn't back down. Instead, she sneered, "I know you're desperate to be friends with her, but it's a pity she doesn't want to be friends with you. She's even trying to figure it out. Do you think she'll pay any attention to you?"

"A gentleman should be harmonious but not identical. Just like you and I have our disagreements. Isn't that perfectly normal?" Lingshuang said.

Xianyue's face completely turned cold.

"Yes, we have our disagreements. What are you still doing here?

Go find your Cai Huan. It would be best if you were adopted into the first house. It would be fun for the two sisters to be the bitter melon fillings together, crying all day long!"

Ling Shuang didn't bother arguing with her and stood up to leave. Huang Si Niang couldn't stop her, so she just let it go.

Ignoring the maid from the third house peeking outside the warm room, Ling Shuang went straight to the first house. She didn't even bother looking for the eldest grandmother in the Buddhist hall, but went straight to Cai Huan's room. Cai Huan was sketching by the window. She instinctively tried to hide when she saw someone coming in, but only let go when she saw her.

Ling Shuang said nothing, simply sat down on a chair, took out a book, and began to read.

Auntie Cai, who had accompanied Cai Huan, was deeply grateful for her rescue yesterday. She brewed the best tea for the guests, but it wasn't even half as good as the tea she usually drank in the third house. Ling Shuang said, "Thank you." Aunt Cai had never received such respect from these young ladies before, and her admiration for her was immediately increased. She backed out the door, closed it behind her, and stood guard outside while they talked.

Ling Shuang sat in the chair for a long time, and Cai Huan finally couldn't help but speak.

"Are you here to accuse me?"

"What crime do you have that I should accuse you of?" Ling Shuang asked back.

Cai Huan's face fell cold, and she fell silent.

In fact, she resembled Xian Yue, but she was smaller and more delicate, like an orchid, while Xian Yue was delicate and gorgeous, like a blooming peony. It was mainly in their personalities and demeanor, and even some of their expressions were similar.

After reading half the book and seeing her start tracing again, Ling Shuang said, "I know you didn't leak the broken-branch embroidery on purpose."

"Does it matter?" Cai Huan asked back. "It came from me anyway.

To tell you the truth, I'm unreliable not just this time, but next time, too. I'll never be. Don't run to me again, or you'll ruin your bright future."

This statement was a perfect match for Xian Yue's, and Ling Shuang immediately laughed.

"What bright future do I have? How could I not know it?"

"I know you're engaged, to Cheng Jun, right?" Cai Huan said calmly, "No wonder you're so bold. Your future is secure, so there's nothing to worry about."

"If you really think so, then I've come here for nothing today." Ling Shuang said calmly, not angry.

Cai Huan fell silent.

No wonder Xian Yue was so sour, constantly calling her "good friend." She was such a good judge of character.

No one could have guessed that Cai Huan, who appeared timid and easily bullied in public, would actually take the initiative in front of Ling Shuang. One of the criteria for judging a friend is to display a side that you don't show to others.

Cai Huan didn't resist, but continued painting. But perhaps the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. After a moment, she added, "I don't need your pity."

"I don't pity you."

"And I don't need you to meddle in my business and help me."

"I know you don't need my help. You can handle it yourself." Ling Shuang bluntly pointed out: "You knew from the beginning yesterday that the jade was in Xun Wenqi's hands. She just wanted to bully you and return it to you. But your words were just deliberate instigation. She was put in a difficult position and felt embarrassed to give the jade away, so she could only talk back and forth. Once you forced her to swear, you'd call Princess Wen and dig the jade out of her. Then she and Princess Wen would be embarrassed together."