She arrived just in time to see Lady Ye pulling Ye Jiayi aside, tearfully recounting all the hardships and saying that once Madam Liu arrived, she would surely stand up for Ye Jiayi.
Seeing that she had someone to back her up, Ye Jiayi’s eyes reddened, looking pitiful and fragile—a far cry from the arrogant and domineering demeanor she had displayed in front of the carriage that day.
Old Madam Lu sat in the main seat, explaining something to Lady Ye with a pleasant expression.
The atmosphere remained relatively harmonious until Nanny Gu raised her voice and announced, “Old Madam, Second Young Mistress Lu has arrived.”
Instantly, the gazes of everyone in the room fell upon Yun Ci.
Old Madam Lu glanced at Yun Ci, then at the red marks on Nanny Gu’s face, and frowned. “What happened to your face?”
“Replying to Old Madam—”
“I hit her,” Yun Ci admitted without hesitation. “This insolent servant, relying on her long service by your side, spoke disrespectfully to me, so I took it upon myself to teach her a lesson on your behalf.”
Nanny Gu’s eyes widened in disbelief. Had Second Young Mistress Lu lost her mind, daring to admit in public that she had struck her?
Old Madam Lu’s expression darkened.
“Oh my, Second Young Mistress Lu’s temper is truly unheard of. She even dares to lay hands on a servant from an elder’s household. Who knows how she bullies our Jiayi in private,” Lady Ye remarked sarcastically.
“Mother-in-law, what are you saying? No one would dare mistreat Jiayi, or they’d have to answer to this old woman!” Old Madam Lu quickly reassured Lady Ye.
Naturally, Lady Ye had to show some respect to Old Madam Lu and did not press the matter further, instead pulling Ye Jiayi closer.
When Old Madam Lu turned her gaze back to Yun Ci, her eyes were as sharp as knives.
Just then, a maid came to report, “Old Madam, Madam Liu has arrived.”
Due to Madam Liu’s status, Old Madam Lu stood up to greet her.
Soon, Madam Liu, adorned with hairpins and ornaments, entered with an angry expression. As soon as she stepped inside, Ye Jiayi knelt before her. “Madam Liu, you must be fair and just, and restore Jiayi’s innocence and honor.”
Seeing Ye Jiayi’s tearful and aggrieved appearance, Madam Liu bent down and personally helped her up. She first exchanged a few polite words with Old Madam Lu.
After the pleasantries, Madam Liu was about to speak.
Yun Ci turned around, pretending her hand slipped, and the scroll in her hand unfurled, falling directly into Madam Liu’s line of sight.
Madam Liu’s pupils contracted sharply.
She recognized the two figures in the painting at a glance and felt a wave of guilt. She stepped forward and embraced Yun Ci, using her wide sleeves to block the painting from view.
“You…”
Yun Ci rolled up the scroll and smiled at her. “Madam Liu, thank you for lending me this painting to copy. Now that you’re here, I can return it to its rightful owner.”
She emphasized the words “rightful owner” clearly.
Madam Liu understood—this was Yun Ci’s blatant threat. Don’t think there’s no evidence; she had seen everything, even the man’s face clearly.
Ye Jiayi hadn’t seen the contents of the painting earlier, but seeing the two of them entangled over a scroll made her anxious. She quickly signaled her mother with a glance.
Understanding her daughter’s meaning, Lady Ye called out, “Madam Liu, we disturbed you last night. Please tell us the truth now.”
Madam Liu's words, which were about to be spoken, seemed to be stuck in her throat, leaving her unable to utter them. She glanced at Yun Ci's composed expression, then at the anxious faces of the Ye mother and daughter. After weighing the pros and cons, she clenched her fists tightly and forcibly swallowed her anger.
"Old Madam, something terrible has happened outside!" The Steward shouted as he hurried in, interrupting everyone's train of thought.
Old Madam Lu's eyelids twitched, and she glared at the Steward with displeasure. "There are esteemed guests in the residence. What kind of behavior is this, being so reckless? Speak, what has happened?"
The Steward knelt on the floor with a thud. "Reporting to Old Madam, the Jingzhaoyin has brought people to the door, seeking to question the Shizi. Yesterday morning, Yuntai Ge was burned down, with countless casualties. At the scene of the crime, the Shizi's personal jade pendant was found, along with several waist tokens of the Lu Jia guards."
"Nonsense!" Old Madam Lu slammed the table and stood up. "Who is spreading rumors again? How could Erlang go to such a filthy place?"
Ye Jiayi chimed in, "Grandmother, it must be that Second… Second Brother accidentally dropped the jade pendant when he went to find Yun Ci."
Yun Ci sneered, "I have never been to Yuntai Ge. Elder Sister-in-law, do not slander me. I have been accompanying Madam Liu at the temple all along."
Ye Jiayi scoffed coldly. How dare she still be stubborn at a time like this? She immediately looked at Madam Liu, waiting for her to speak up and expose Yun Ci's lie.
Madam Liu took a deep breath and slowly explained, "What the Second Young Madam said is true. She did accompany me at the temple for the night. If not for the Second Young Madam, I might have been in danger."
"What?" Ye Jiayi and Lady Ye exclaimed simultaneously, unable to believe that the other would go back on her word and testify for Yun Ci.
"Madam Liu, that's not what you said yesterday at the residence," Lady Ye said anxiously. If not for Madam Liu's words yesterday, she would not have come to Lu Jia today.
Madam Liu feigned composure and said, "Perhaps Lady Ye misheard."
"This…" Lady Ye was furious. How could this person switch sides at the last moment?
Madam Liu insisted that Yun Ci had indeed been by her side.
Now, Old Madam Lu's gaze toward Lady Ye grew somewhat suspicious. Before she could inquire further, the Jingzhaoyin had already arrived with his men, followed by a large number of constables. The scale of this commotion was no small matter, and Old Madam Lu's expression instantly darkened.
The Jingzhaoyin politely bowed. "Old Madam Lu, pardon the disturbance. I am here to investigate the burning of Yuntai Ge. I request that the Shizi come forward."
"Could there be some misunderstanding in this?" Old Madam Lu asked. "Lu Jia has just been enfeoffed as Guogong Fu, and Erlang is the Shizi personally appointed by His Majesty. How could he go to such a place?"
This was a reminder to the Jingzhaoyin that Lu Jia was no longer what it used to be—it now had powerful backing.
The Jingzhaoyin cleared his throat and explained, "Old Madam Lu, there are also many witnesses who can testify that the Shizi and the Eldest Young Madam of your esteemed residence took the same carriage to Yuntai Ge the night before the incident. These witnesses are subordinates of Prince Zhao."
Upon mentioning Prince Zhao, Madam Liu suddenly felt relieved that she had not spoken in favor of Ye Jiayi earlier.
On the political front, Madam Liu and Prince Zhao were both on the Empress Dowager's side. Since Prince Zhao's subordinates were providing evidence against Lu Yanci, she would certainly not hinder Prince Zhao's efforts.
"What was Lady Ye doing at Yuntai Ge in the middle of the night?" Madam Liu asked.
Ye Jiayi frowned, cursing Madam Liu countless times in her heart. Not only did she refuse to help, but she also dared to shift the blame.
"I… I only went to Yuntai Ge because I heard from the servants that Yun Ci had gone there, and I was worried for a moment."
Going to Yuntai Ge was a fact, and there was no way to deny it.
"Madam Liu, please don't ask any more. My husband and Elder Sister-in-law…" Yun Ci appropriately took out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes, glancing meaningfully at Ye Jiayi's abdomen before trailing off.
That glance sent a chill down Old Madam Lu's spine. She never imagined things would escalate to this point.
"Yun Ci." Old Madam Lu quickly interrupted Yun Ci, beckoning her over. "Grandmother has wronged you. Rest assured, I will give you an explanation. For now, the matter of Yuntai Ge is more urgent. We'll discuss your situation later."
Yun Ci sneered inwardly. Already panicking?
She looked innocently at Old Madam Lu. "What explanation does Grandmother plan to give me? After all, yesterday, my husband wrote me a Letter of Divorce just to defend Elder Sister-in-law. Grandmother can't favor her over me just because Father is in prison."
"You!" Lady Ye was furious, wishing she could tear Yun Ci's clever mouth apart. Her words were clearly pressuring Old Madam Lu to take action against Ye Jiayi.
Madam Liu stood awkwardly to the side. The situation was snowballing out of control, and she regretted agreeing to come to Lu Jia with Lady Ye in a moment of anger.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Suddenly, Old Madam Lu clutched her chest. Ye Jiayi hurried forward to soothe her back, turning to Yun Ci with annoyance. "You already upset Grandmother yesterday, and now you're doing it again today! If you have a problem with me, just say it outright. This is too much!"
Yun Ci stood motionless, waiting to see how Old Madam Lu would decide.
Slap! Old Madam Lu raised her hand and struck Ye Jiayi's cheek.
The sound was sharp and clear.
Ye Jiayi was stunned.
"You were too easily swayed by a servant's words and nearly tarnished Yun Ci's reputation. This slap is what you deserve!" Old Madam Lu scolded further. "Although you meant well by taking Erlang to Yuntai Ge to save someone, you ended up dragging him into misunderstandings and trouble. Jiayi, you've disappointed me greatly. Now get out of here!"
Ye Jiayi gritted her teeth, unwilling to accept this.
Though Lady Ye ached for her daughter, she understood clearly that Old Madam Lu was doing this to protect Ye Jiayi.
So, Lady Ye grabbed Ye Jiayi's arm and pulled her away to retreat.