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  In a fragrant room of Xiangshan Temple, Han's expression changed from his previous weak and sickly look.

  "Has the old lady gone to bed yet?"

  "Already asleep," replied Jiang's mother. "I just asked Zhu's mother, and she said the old lady was a bit tired today."

  "Ah, the old lady's body is not as strong as it used to be. However... tomorrow we still need to head down the mountain early. Family matters. I'm still worried."

  "Madam, everything has been arranged properly. It's up to Bai Hui herself now. At this moment... perhaps it's already..." A sly smile appeared in Jiang Mama's eyes.

  Han smiled coldly: "I was worried that the Lotus Pavilion would be deserted and no one would come. I didn't expect Bai Hui to take the initiative to find me. With her here, the Lotus Pavilion will be lively from now on."

  "If the second lady finds out, who knows how she'll react. Let's just wait and see the good show when we get back." said Jiang Mama with a hint of schadenfreude.

  "What can she do even if she knows? She'd better worry about herself first. Sneaking the Avoid Child Pill to Ming Yun. Even if Ming Yun doesn't blame her, let Old Lady know, and Old Lady will be the first to be unhappy." said Mrs. Han in a low voice.

  "But isn't it? Everyone says that Second Master and Second Mistress are a loving couple. But who knew that Second Mistress was unwilling to have children with Second Master."

  "Some things aren't what they seem. In the past, that couple was like two peas in a pod, but it ended up causing me a lot of trouble. I hope Bai Hui won't disappoint me this time."

  "Madam can rest assured, madam's plan is foolproof."

  Although Lin Lan said not to worry, she couldn't shake off the feeling in her heart. She slept very restlessly that night. At one moment, she dreamed of Bai Hui dressed up and walking towards her with a tea tray, wanting to offer her tea. At another moment, she dreamed of Ming Yun and a slender woman with beautiful features admiring flowers by the lotus pond. The two were gazing lovingly at each other, whispering softly. Lin Lan was furious, smoke rising from her seven orifices. She wanted to go over and take a look at who that woman was, but somehow she couldn't move her feet...

  "Second Young Mistress... Second Young Mistress..." Silver Willow shook Second Young Mistress's arm and called out to her in a urgent voice.

  Lin Lan suddenly opened her eyes. She was panting heavily. Her eyes were blurry, as if she was still trapped in a dream and couldn't pull herself out.

  "Second Young Mistress, did you have a nightmare?" Yin Liu gently wiped away the fine sweat on Second Young Mistress's forehead with her handkerchief. Ruyi heard the commotion and came over after putting on her clothes. Seeing the situation, she hurriedly went to pour a cup of warm water.

  Lin Lan took a sip of water. Her mind gradually cleared up. She smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just had a bad dream. Fortunately, I woke up."

  Ru Yi worriedly said: "Second Young Mistress, don't you want to change your clothes? You're all sweaty."

  Lin Lan only then discovered that her body was drenched in sweat. It was a cold winter's day and yet she had sweated so much.

  She changed into a comfortable outfit. Lin Lan lay in bed but couldn't sleep anymore. Her mind was filled with bad thoughts. She wished she could go home immediately to take a look. It wasn't that she didn't trust Ming Yu, just that she was afraid of being caught off guard.

  She opened her eyes and struggled until dawn, then had breakfast. The old lady asked Madame Han if she was feeling any better. Madame Han smiled and said, "After a night's rest, I don't feel so suffocated in the chest."

  Lin Lan let out a sigh of relief. If the old witch didn't feel better soon, who knew when they'd be able to head down the mountain.

  Ding Ruoyan lightly said: "Didn't you sleep well last night? Why are your eyes so dark?"

  Lin Lan smiled and said, "I'm a bit homesick."

  Ding Ruo Yan smiled: "Fortunately, it was just one night."

  The old lady said, "I heard the master here last night say that there is a temple of Guanyin at the foot of this mountain, which is very effective. When we go down the mountain later, let's go and worship. Especially for Ruo Yan and Lin Lan, so that Guanyin Bodhisattva can bless them to have children for the Li family soon and continue the incense."

  "The old lady is absolutely right," Mrs. Han agreed. "I had such an intention when I came."

  Ding Ruoyan hung her head in shame, but her eyes were a mask of indifference. Others couldn't see through her expression and thought she was just being shy. But Lin Lan sitting beside her saw it clearly. She found it somewhat strange, yet couldn't quite put her finger on why.

  A group of people had just left the mountain temple when they saw Dongzi waiting outside. Lin Lan's heart skipped a beat. Had Dongzi come all this way for no reason, or was something really wrong?

  Han also saw Dongzi. Dongzi's flustered expression fell into her eyes. Han's mouth corners moved slightly, almost imperceptibly. It seems that the peace of Luoxiazhai was disturbed yesterday.

  Dongzi made a bow and asked after the health of Mrs. Han and her husband. The old lady asked, "You've come up the mountain so early in the morning. Is there something wrong at home?"

  Dong Zi hastily said: "Nothing much. It's just that Second Young Master is visiting the old lady. The madam and Second Young Madam didn't return home yesterday, so he's quite worried about them. He ordered me to come up the mountain to take a look."

  The old lady smiled and said: "Second Master is probably thinking of Second Madam."

  "Dongzi smiled and said: 'You're all worried, you're all worried.'"

  Zhao the steward came to report: "The sedan chair is ready. Please, old lady and madam, get on the sedan."

  Lin Lan called Dongzi aside and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

  Dongzi said: "Young Master Number Two asked me to tell you, Second Young Mistress. The trouble has already been resolved. Please don't worry."

  "Something's really happened?"

  Dongzi said: "Something has happened. But it's nothing serious. Second Master won't be going to the Hanlin Academy today. He's taking a day off and waiting for Second Mistress at home."

  It's all right as long as it's settled. Lin Lan said in a low voice: "This is not the place to talk, let's talk when we get back."

  Jiang's mother helped Han Shi onto the slide. Laughing, she said, "Madam, did you see Dongzi's flustered expression?"

  Han's mouth slightly pursed. In her heart, she was already certain. If the plan failed, her subordinates would have come to report long ago. Her people didn't come. Dongzi did come, however. It can be seen that Bai Hui succeeded.

  Back to the mansion. The mansion is unusually quiet. Mrs. Han wants to send Old Lady back to Chaohui Hall to rest. Ding Ruoyan said softly, "Mother's body is also just recovering. It's another bumpy road. Mother should go back and rest first. Let your daughter-in-law send Grandmother back."

  Lin Lan had something on her mind at this moment and couldn't think of anything else. She just wanted to return to Luoxiazhai.

  Han said with relief: "After all, Ruo Yan is still filial."

  The old lady gave Lin Lan a glance with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

  Arrived at Luoxiazhai. Dongzi suddenly said: "Second Young Madam, although the big trouble has been resolved, there are still some small troubles left. Second Young Master says to let you prepare mentally first and don't get angry."

  Lin Lan's face sank: "What big trouble small trouble. Is the second young master letting me come to comfort my heart or disturb my heart?"

  Dongzi lowered his head: "I don't dare. Second Master doesn't allow me to speak too much. Afraid I'll say something unclear and worry Second Mistress."

  Yin Liu glared at Dong Zi: "This kind of hesitation is what makes people feel uneasy"

  Wen Li, who was keeping watch at the door, saw the second young mistress return and hastily went forward to greet her: "Second Young Mistress, you're back."

  Ru Yi was shocked and said: "Wen Li, what's wrong with your face?"

  Lin Lan also saw that Wen Li's face was covered in bruises. The corners of her mouth were swollen, her nose was blue and black, and there were several bloodstains on her face. She looked quite frightening.

  Wen Li covered her face. She smiled crookedly and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing. It's all over now. Second Young Mistress is tired. Go in and rest for a while."

  Lin Lan walked in with a serious face. She saw that Yunying, who was sweeping the floor, also had a bruised nose and swollen face. Guishu, Zhao Shu, and Jinyou were moving things out of the ear room. Ruyi recognized that they were Bai Hui's belongings. She couldn't help but wonder: "What are these things being moved out for?"

  Three people saw Second Young Master's wife return. They hastily paid their respects. Gui Shu said: "These things are no longer needed. Second Young Master ordered them to be taken out and thrown away or burned."

  "Brocade... how could it be..." Silver Willow exclaimed in a low voice.

  Lin Lan saw the people in her courtyard one by one with bruised noses and swollen faces. She couldn't help but burn with anger. How did Li Ming allow things to get so out of hand? Did it really require such a big commotion to deal with Bai Hui, resulting in everyone getting injured?

  "Where is Second Master?" Lin Lan asked coldly.

  Jin Yu Nu Nu said: "Second Young Master is in the house."

  Madam Han immediately summoned Deng's mother for questioning upon returning to Ninghe Hall, only to be informed that she had already been expelled from the estate. Madam Han was shocked: "What is the reason for this?"

  The maid replied timidly: "I don't know either."

  Han was furious and shouted: "Useless thing! Go call Old Lady Yao!"

  Mother Jiang stepped forward and massaged Madame Han's back: "Ma'am, don't worry. Take care of yourself."

  Mr. Han said in a low voice: "How can I not be anxious? I thought it was a good thing, but unexpectedly Aunt Deng called someone to drive me away."

  Mrs. Yao rushed over in a hurry.

  "Mother Yao, what's going on? Why was Deng's mother expelled from the mansion? Whose order was it?" Madam Han asked anxiously.

  Mrs. Yao bowed and replied, "Madam, something has gone terribly wrong with the task you entrusted to Deng Mama. Deng Mama messed it up and wrongly accused Second Young Master. Moreover, Deng Mama confessed everything in detail and even signed a statement with her fingerprint. There is also a kitchen maid who can testify as a witness. Second Young Master reported this to Old Master, who was so furious that he authorized Second Young Master to handle the matter. Second Young Master punished Deng Mama with twenty heavy slaps and drove her out. The cooks, Qi Shu and Wang Shu, were fined three months' salary. Although no one else was punished, all their mistakes were recorded by Second Young Master. I, an old slave, wanted to help Deng Mama but was powerless to do so. After the incident, Second Young Master sealed off the entire mansion, forbidding anyone from leaving or discussing this matter. Anyone who disobeys will be beaten to death without mercy."

  Mrs. Han heard this and her mind went blank with a loud bang, almost falling off the bed. Fortunately, Jiang Mama held her up: "Madam, you must take care of yourself. You can't panic at this time..."

  Han's reaction was delayed for a moment before she regained her composure. She muttered: "Did Deng Mama admit to it? Did she say I instructed her?"

  Mrs. Yao nodded regretfully.

  Han's face turned deathly pale. He almost spat blood. Gnashing his teeth, he said: "This useless fool. He's really made things difficult for me."

  "Where's Bai Hui?" Mother Jiang asked anxiously.

  "Bai Hui was also driven out of the mansion by Second Young Master. Second Young Master didn't allow anyone else to take a step out of the mansion. Now, where did Deng Mama and Bai Hui go? I don't know anything." Yao Mama said weakly.

  "Han's anger was urgent: 'A rotten wall can't be supported. They're all useless things......'"

  "Madam, don't be angry. Getting angry won't solve anything now. Let's think of a way to explain it to the master instead." reminded Jiang Mama.

  Han smiled wryly. Explain. How could she explain? Deng's mother had already been summoned. She had helped a maid climb into the young master's bed. Such a big fuss. The end justifies the means. She had lost all sense of propriety. The old master didn't want to see her now. Could he still listen to her explanation?

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