A scream echoed from Smoke-and-Haze Courtyard (Yanxia Courtyard).
Hearing the sound, the servants all rushed toward the courtyard.
Inside, Madam Zhang stood disheveled, hair in a mess, clothes unkempt, staring in terror at the room as she shouted:
“There’s a ghost!”
Seeing this, Nanny Gui quickly wrapped a cloak around her.
Soon, Lin Hongda also arrived.
Tonight, he had been staying in the main residence next to Yanxia Courtyard.
Madam Zhang hurried forward, grabbing her husband’s sleeve as she trembled:
“Master, there’s a ghost! Just now… a white figure kept floating around my room!”
Lin Hongda impatiently ordered Nanny Gui and a few rough servant women to check inside, while servants searched the courtyard.
Soon, Nanny Gui came out with the servants.
“Reporting to Master and Madam, there is nothing unusual inside.”
Madam Zhang refused to believe it. “Impossible! I really saw it! Master, you must believe me!”
Several servants who searched the courtyard also returned.
“Reporting to Master and Madam, nothing was found in the courtyard.”
“Master, I really saw it…” Madam Zhang insisted desperately.
Lin Hongda’s face darkened, but he did not respond.
After glancing at her, he said:
“Nanny Gui, take good care of Madam. Let her stay in the courtyard and recover from her injuries. Also, have the doctor prescribe calming medicine.”
“Yes.” Nanny Gui bowed.
With that, Lin Hongda left without looking back.
The servants dispersed as well.
Madam Zhang stood frozen, murmuring to herself:
“Impossible… I clearly saw it… how could this be…”
At this moment, on the roof, a certain black shadow revealed a victorious smile and disappeared into the night.
The next morning.
With a creak, the door of Jade Moon Courtyard (Tixue Pavilion) opened.
Lin the Young Lady stretched lazily as she appeared before Nanny Zhou and Xiao Tao.
“Morning, Nanny Zhou, Xiao Tao.”
“Good morning, Young Miss!”
“Good morning, Miss!”
“Ah, Nanny Zhou, you should just call me ‘Miss’ like Xiao Tao. It sounds more natural.”
“I’ve called you Young Miss for over ten years…”
“Order! You must call me Miss from now on!”
Lin Yiyi put her hands on her hips, pretending to be fierce.
“Alright, alright… Miss!”
“Hehe, that’s better! Chicken drumstick reward at noon!”
Nanny Zhou shook her head helplessly, smiling.
After washing up, Lin Yiyi sat at the table and looked at breakfast, stunned.
Each person had a bowl of thin porridge, a small side dish, and only one egg—probably reserved for her.
“So… we’re this poor now?!”
“We have to save money,” Nanny Zhou said. “In case something unexpected happens.”
The three quickly finished breakfast.
After clearing the dishes, Xiao Tao returned and found her young lady spacing out.
“Miss, I’ll cook you some noodles?”
“No need. I’m just thinking of ways to make money.”
The two exchanged confused looks.
Lin Yiyi suddenly asked, “Xiao Tao, you said my stepsister has everything she wants?”
“Yes.” Xiao Tao nodded, then shook her head again in confusion.
“Hehe, then I’ll just earn some pocket money.”
Purple Bamboo Courtyard.
The recovering Second Miss, Lin Qinglian, suddenly felt a chill down her back and sneezed.
It’s not cold today… why do I feel this way?
“Xiao Li, has the weather changed recently?” she asked.
“No, Second Miss. The weather has been very nice lately.”
“Help me go outside for a walk.”
As she stepped out, she suddenly saw Lin Yiyi entering her courtyard.
Before Lin Qinglian could speak, Lin Yiyi said first:
“Oh? Looks like you’ve recovered. I should’ve hit you a few more times.”
“Lin Yiyi!”
Lin Qinglian gritted her teeth, eyes red with anger.
At that moment, a maid quietly slipped away unnoticed.
Lin Yiyi calmly replied, “I can hear you. No need to shout.”
“Also, as the eldest daughter of the Lin family, you should call me ‘sister.’ Tsk tsk, your upbringing really isn’t great.”
“What do you want?” Lin Qinglian asked bitterly.
Lin Yiyi smiled. “I heard you have a lot of jewelry. I came to take a look.”
Lin Qinglian instantly became alert.
“I’m just curious whether the Second Miss, who has a loving mother, lives better than me, a motherless eldest daughter.”
The servants around them didn’t dare breathe.
At that moment, a voice sounded from outside:
“If the Eldest Miss is short of money, she may go to the storeroom to withdraw some.”
It was Madam Zhang.
Lin Yiyi smiled faintly. “Madam Zhang, are your injuries better?”
“I don’t need your concern!” Madam Zhang snapped. “What exactly do you want?”
“Nothing much. Just visiting.”
With that, Lin Yiyi turned and left.
Lin Qinglian immediately complained, “Mother, she bullied me!”
“Go inside and talk.”
Once inside, Lin Qinglian told her about Lin Yiyi’s visit and request to “borrow” jewelry.
Madam Zhang immediately understood.
“That little wretch clearly wants money.”
She then ordered Nanny Gui to bring things from the storeroom.
Soon, she personally went to prepare to appease Lin Yiyi first.
Meanwhile, Lin Yiyi returned to her courtyard humming happily.
“Miss, what happened? Why are you so happy?” Xiao Tao asked.
“Hehe, we’re having meat for lunch!”
“Did we get rich?” Xiao Tao’s eyes lit up.
Lin Yiyi only smiled mysteriously.
Soon after, Nanny Gui arrived delivering items from Madam Zhang: silver, jewelry, food supplies.
Lin Yiyi accepted them with a smile.
“Tch, stingy.”
In Yanxia Courtyard, Madam Zhang was seething after hearing everything.
She wished she could swallow Lin Yiyi alive.