“No, it’s not that serious, but it’s best if third girl doesn’t touch.” Wang-shi smiled, carrying a different kind of meaning in her smile.

Jing Wan understood. It wasn’t serious but that didn’t mean it was completely without side effects. Things that dealt with future children, afraid in this aspect, will at least have that bit of influence on. She, an unmarried young lady, naturally needed to stay far away. She herself may not mind, but the others wouldn’t not mind. Jing Wan pretended to not understand, and only did what an obedient child should do.

“If third girl still trusts eldest aunt’s tongue, how about letting eldest aunt have a taste?”

Jing Wan nodded. Wang-shi came from a prestigious family, so she naturally didn’t have a reason to distrust her judgement.

Wang-shi separately picked up a piece of plum blossom cake and took a small bite, carefully chewing it. “Mother, these two portions of plum blossom cake certainly came from two different people’s hands. Although if not intentionally tasting carefully, afraid even this daughter-in-law would be fooled by it. And this portion is made by La Mei, this daughter-in-law can confirm. Not long ago, this daughter-in-law had tasted her skills before.”

Wang-shi gave out a definitive answer, and the portion of plum blossom cake from Fall Plum Residence didn’t have any problem.

“In that case, La Mei will be exempt from punishment for now. Stand to the side.” Even if she was innocent, getting beaten a few times was also inconsequential. Forget a servant, even if it landed on her own descendants’ bodies, Luo Old Madam wouldn’t bat an eye either. She spoke to dismiss the blame, only because of Jing Wan. Even Luo Pei Shan’s face, she could disregard, but only Jing Wan alone would she not treat like that.

“Mother, thank…..”

Luo Old Madam shot her a glare. Zhang-shi, who didn’t learn from her mistakes, silently shut her mouth, but still ‘daringly’ let someone go bring La Mei over to her, and comforted her a few times.

Although they long knew that Luo Old Madam was extremely bias to Jing Wan, this once again made them bear witness to her limitless tolerance, care, and pampering towards Jing Wan. However, in the future, if she, Luo Jing Wan, were to ‘do’ something that endangered the Luo family, let’s just see if this darn old woman will still be able to protect her this shamelessly then!

Because Cai Ling’s relatives still haven’t arrived, she was left to go last. But because she was last, the fear she bore in her heart was also the heaviest. Each and every one before her were all mercilessly beaten. Perhaps done deliberately, but no one had their mouths stuffed. Their screams lingered by the ear. The scenery drenched in blood. Clearly the blows didn’t land on herself, yet she seemed to have already felt that bone nibbling pain in advance.

Halfway through ten beatings, Liu’er confessed.

She said the dessert was switched by her, and the reason why no one noticed along the way was only because she had altered the food container she used in advance. Inside had a hidden layer, and that unclean plum blossom cake was personally made by her. Because, on normal days, she’d often follow by La Mei’s side learning how to makes these desserts, especially the plum blossom cake. She’d put in a lot of effort in secret to finally be able to achieve this level of ‘passing the fake off as genuine’.

Liu’er’s words made the people of Falling Plum Residence all shocked in disbelief, especially Zhang-shi, who really suffered a blow. This girl, Liu’er, she very much liked. She was lovable and lively, never careless in her work, and kindhearted, “Why?” Zhang-shi asked, nearly in a daze.

“This servant just can’t bear to see Bai Yiniang being that insolent on normal days. Madam wholeheartedly treats her well, but she not only doesn’t think to repay madam’s kindness, she would even always think of trying to step on madam’s head. Especially after getting pregnant, relying on that piece of meat in her stomach and ordering around the big sisters by madam’s side like little servant girls. This servant, momentarily unable to bear the anger, thus gave birth to such wicked thoughts. Old madam, madam, this servant knows wrong, this servant will accept any punishment, just begging to not involve this servant’s family. They don’t know anything.” Liu’er stubbornly knelt there, even carrying a plea in her eyes.

What a good loyal master-shielding servant!

This kind of servant, aside from the direct victim, Bai-shi, the other masters all would probably like. And as expected, not only Zhang-shi, even Luo Old Madam’s expression eased a bit, but it was also only just that. Even if a Yiniang was only half a master, the one in the stomach was an actual and proper master. Harming a master’s life, regardless how great of a reason you have, all was impossible to be easily forgiven. Moreover, not all were idiots, believing whatever Liu’er said as truth. Whether it was true or false, they still needed verify.

Wang-shi carefully asked Liu’er some question, such as when and how she got those things that the rear court usually wouldn’t have, who all had helped her, and also how she knew how those things were used.

Perhaps knowing that as matters stand, to say or not to say were all the same. Liu’er completely didn’t hide anything and answered whatever was asked. Even if they inquired again and again, she still answered orderly and clearly, with no contradictions nor holes.

This way, the people after her seemingly didn’t need to be interrogated.

Wang-shi also prepared to have Liu’er severely punished and directly called the slave broker, planning to sell her off far far away as a criminal servant.

However, just then, Liu’er’s family suddenly threw themselves forward, kneeling before Zhang-shi, and heavily kowtowed. “Madam, madam, please have mercy, save Liu’er. Liu’er only did those muddle-headed things because of you. If she gets branded with the criminal servant branding, Liu’er’s whole life will be over. Ever since Liu’er came to your side, she’s been doing her best in serving you. Can you bear to have her ruined by other? Madam, madam, please, begging you…..”

Zhang-shi’s ‘naive and romantic’ nature, soft and kind temperament, and her ability to easily believe in others was infamous in the Luo family rear court.

These people firmly grasped onto this point, exploiting it, knowing that she won’t just watch with folded arms, yet still pointing out that if she doesn’t help, then she was harsh and merciless. Originally, Zhang-shi would’ve help of her own accord anyways, but now it turned to a situation where she was forced to help in order to save her own reputation. In terms of nature, this was completely different. Furthermore, this way, she wasn’t able to refuse even more. It was practically like having her propped up on top the bonfire.

And the originally still considered calm Liu’er, after learning she was about to be branded with the criminal servant branding, finally knew to be scared. She also began begging Zhang-shi, not daring to disregard the consequences, recounting her own loyalty, recounting how even if she didn’t have merits there was still hard work, and further emphasized once again the reason why she’d committed a wrong.

Zhang-shi had already planned to disregard the consequences and plea for leniency with Luo Old Madam for Liu’er, but these people simply didn’t give her a chance to speak, making her at a loss for what to do. She hurriedly told them to stop kowtowing, and to quickly get up, but these words were simply ineffective.

(T/N: Oh the irony.)

Up until now, she still didn’t understand her own situation. This matter, regardless of how she chooses, it would always be detrimental to her. No need to say what would happened if she didn’t help, but if she did help, even if she only opened her mouth to plea for leniency, and even if she was unable to achieve her goal, to plea for leniency for the sake of the culprit who murdered her own husband’s child, what would this count as? Could it be that her husband’s child still couldn’t compare to the lowly life of a single servant?

Misunderstandings will certainly arise between Zhang-shi and Luo Rong Yan.

Jing Wan coldly watched, becoming increasingly certain that there was undoubtedly still something fishy going on. It definitely wasn’t this simple. Link by link, from beginning to end, the other party’s purpose all directly pointed to Zhang-shi, undeniably wanting to tarnish her reputation, trampling on whatever they can.

While everyone all had their attention focused on Zhang-shi and Liu’er’s whole family, Jing Wan didn’t let go of the other subtleties, attempting to find any traces of clues. She brushed aside the other few subtly strange expressions. After all, even if Jing Wan was accurate at judging people, she still couldn’t read too many things from a person’s expression. It’s not like she specialized in this. However, her efforts were not wasted. She finally discovered something else. She carefully studied Liu’er once over again, and thought of another possibility. As for how the results would be, she’ll know with a try.

“Enough, all of you shut your mouths.”

The pleading cries spontaneously stopped, and everyone all looked towards Jing Wan.

Jing Wan was still like when she’d first arrived, holding an indifferent expression. She inquisitively looked to Luo Old Madam and Wang-shi, and after obtaining their nod in approval, she neither slowly and quickly asked Liu’er, “Do you like plum flowers?”

Liu’er, unclear as to the reason why, honestly nodded in acknowledgement. A lot of people all knew she liked plum flowers, and she herself also liked to embroider plum flowers onto quite a few of her personal items. “Like.”

“My father’s fondness of precious stones further triumphs over flowers, but towards plum flowers, he has a rather passionate fondness for. And he’s also very fond of plum blossom cake.”

“Third miss, don’t spit slander. There’s plenty of people that like plum flowers in the world. Could it be that only second master is allowed to like?” Liu’er rapidly retorted in an agitated tone, her attitude fierce, making one go speechless.

“I merely just said something irrelevant, what are you getting anxious for?”