Reborn Lady

Chapter 115

In the scorching summer, cicadas sought refuge in the trees, their ceaseless chirping proving to be quite disturbing to those nearby.

“What’s the matter today, madam? You seem so distracted,” Jinzhan said as she moved a new piece of ice and placed it in the ice cauldron. When she looked up, she saw the master sitting on the couch, her mind seemingly wandering.

Yin Hui couldn’t explain herself clearly. The only thing she remembered from that summer was the tragic death of Liao Qiuniang and her mother.

It should have been reasonable that she need not worry about anything, considering all she had done. However, the situation was not like pulling out a tooth, which could be completely resolved. Whether Yin Wen’s venomous fang would rear its head again, no one could say for sure.

“Mother!” Xiao Heng suddenly shouted, his little face flushed.

Before Yin Hui could react, the wet nurse smiled and said, “Hey, Wu Lang, you smell bad.”

Yin Hui watched as the wet nurse carried Xiao Heng out. He had his own bathroom, and everything was fully prepared there.

At that moment, Uncle Zhou delivered a letter through the palace concierge. The envelope was sealed, with Uncle Zhou’s handwriting on it.

Yin Hui tore open the envelope, and inside the letter was an account of Liao Qiuniang’s work as a cook for the Wangs, but she had accidentally caused a fire in the kitchen and was scolded.

Uncle Zhou appeared to be merely reporting the matter, but Yin Hui’s heart tightened. Liao Qiuniang, a young woman who had taken care of her mother and the store, was known for her filial and considerate nature. Could she have really caused someone else’s kitchen to catch fire?

Something must have gone wrong!

Yin Hui immediately instructed someone to prepare the carriage. Holding Wei Luo’s waist card, Yin Hui discreetly left the palace through the north gate and headed straight for Liao Qiuniang’s store.

It was nearly noon, and the store was bustling with business. Liao Qiuniang, wearing a veil, appeared to be busy as if nothing had happened. On the other hand, Lihua occasionally stopped to observe her state.

Yin Hui, sitting in the carriage, observed it all clearly. The veil on Liao Qiuniang’s face only heightened her unease.

She instructed the coachman to go around to the back door of the house and, after a brief exchange with Liao Qiuniang’s mother, found an excuse to invite Liao Qiuniang over.

When Liao Qiuniang heard that the third lady was coming, she instinctively glanced at Lihua.

Lihua, avoiding eye contact, knew that Liao Qiuniang didn’t want to trouble the third lady, but she had sent her here to protect Liao Qiuniang. She couldn’t help at the critical moment, which had caused Liao Qiuniang so much suffering. How could she explain this to the third lady?

“Listen, both of you, I’ll be away for a while. If I haven’t returned by the time the steamed buns are baked, close the store.”

Liao Qiuniang didn’t hold Lihua responsible for anything. If Lihua hadn’t been there that day, she wouldn’t have been able to hide the hairpin and launch a surprise attack on Yin Wen. Later, she might not have had the courage to face the accusations and condemnation of so many people by herself.

It was all for her own good, and she understood that. It was her own failure to meet expectations. She had believed that stuffed cakes would fall from the sky and that her buns were so delicious that others would willingly spend ten taels of silver for them.

Following a young maid who took care of her mother, Liao Qiuniang returned to the back of the house and convinced her mother to go back and rest, assuring her that she would attend to the third lady alone.

She had been busy in the store early in the morning, so when Liao Qiuniang’s mother noticed her daughter’s condition, she asked, “What happened to your face?”

Liao Qiuniang chuckled, “Some oil splashed on it. It looked even worse after applying ointment, so I covered it up to avoid startling the customers. Mother, please go back quickly. The third lady is still waiting for me.”

Mother Liao had no choice but to leave.

Yin Hui asked Jinzhan to guard the gate, and then she turned her attention to Liao Qiuniang, saying, “What happened in the Wang’s House? Qiuniang, I’ve come out here for you, so please tell me the truth. Don’t make me worry.”

Liao Qiuniang couldn’t stop her tears, she knelt down in front of Yin Hui and lifted her veil, revealing a red and swollen face marked with palm prints.

Yin Hui took a deep breath, anger surging within her chest. “Who did this to you?”

Liao Qiuniang choked up as she recounted the whole ordeal.

Yin Hui felt a shiver down her spine. She hadn’t expected that despite all her efforts, Yin Wen was still determined to harm Liao Qiuniang. He had devised such a cunning plan to trap her.

Liao Qiuniang’s buns were well-regarded, even by King Yan and Wei Luo. The Wang family was wealthy, and paying ten taels of silver for her buns was not uncommon. Having a maid serve tea was a basic courtesy. How could a young girl, inexperienced in the ways of the world, defend herself?

Lihua only knew martial arts and could block open attacks with knives but was defenseless against concealed weapons.

“Do you have any other injuries on your body?” Yin Hui helped Liao Qiuniang to her feet, showing genuine concern.

Liao Qiuniang shook her head, anticipating that she wanted to ask something else. She lowered her eyes and explained, “He touched me, but he didn’t succeed.”

Her voice trembled, showing both fragility and determination. Yin Hui hugged her, feeling deeply distressed.

Yin Wen was skilled in martial arts. Liao Qiuniang’s escape from him had required a steadfast heart and unyielding courage. Such a kind-hearted girl had met a tragic end in her previous life, entangled and plotted against by Yin Wen.

“Report it to the authorities; you shouldn’t bear this injustice in vain,” Yin Hui declared after taking out a handkerchief to wipe away Liao Qiuniang’s tears.

She had endured too much anger in the past ten years due to her social status. It wasn’t easy for her, but she understood that swallowing anger was uncomfortable. Yin Wen was no better than a beast, so why should Liao Qiuniang endure this?

Liao Qiuniang shook her head.

During her time at the Wang’s House, the thought of reporting to the authorities hadn’t crossed her mind. As they made their way back, she grew calmer.

Apart from the kindness of Lord Yin and the third lady, would it be beneficial for her to report to the authorities? No one except Lihua could testify on her behalf. The round-faced maid who served Young Master Wang and the Wang family’s elderly lady were all accomplices of Yin Wen. Moreover, what could the government do? Lihua was her companion, and she had been unconscious at the time, unable to provide a clear account of the details, making it unlikely that the authorities would believe her.

Reporting to the authorities would only damage her reputation and lead to the third lady being looked down upon by the nobles in the palace, with no real benefit.