A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Chuxia and Lixue were also locked up in the woodshed. Yunxiang and Luhua could only worry. They saw that Lin Qinghuan had been kneeling in the ancestral hall for two days and two nights, but was still stubborn and refused to bow his head.

Liu Ji couldn't eat or sleep well in Qingyin Pavilion.

"Why is this child so stubborn? If he continues like this, someone might die." Liu Ji said anxiously.

"I didn't expect that the gentle and weak young lady would have such a temper. It seems to me that she doesn't want to live anymore." After Liu Rong finished speaking, she suddenly looked at Liu Ji uneasily.

"Oh my god, this kid is really going crazy." Liu Ji panicked when Liu Rong reminded her, "Go and call Yun Xiang over quickly."

After Liu Rong left, Liu Ji felt very upset. This kind of thing was something that both parties agreed to. If Yu'er knew about her current behavior of being an accomplice to the evil, he would definitely hate her.

"Old lady, please spare the young lady." As soon as Yun Xiang entered the house, he knelt down and crawled to Liu Ji's feet and kowtowed.

"Yier is on his way back and will probably be back today. I'll ask someone to take you to the nearest post station in Linjinhan." Liu Ji could only think of asking her son to take care of this matter.

"Thank you, Madam, thank you, Madam!" Yun Xiang kowtowed while crying, then quickly got up and ran out. When she passed the threshold, she tripped and fell heavily, but she got up immediately.

Seeing this, Liu Ji took a cold breath from behind. This girl from the Xiao Mansion was very loyal to Lin Qinghuan.

When people face death head-on, they can always stimulate the limits and potential of their bodies. If Lin Qinghuan had only drunk water for a few days in the past, his body would have been completely dead. But now he just feels that life and death are just a matter of a moment, and he doesn't feel it is very painful or tormenting.

The little girl who came to deliver the meal took a look at the pale-faced young lady and the cold rice and dishes from the previous meal that she had not yet touched.

"Young Madam, please have a couple of bites." The little girl said nervously.

Lin Qinghuan didn't reply. Seeing this, the little girl felt a little sorry for her, so she filled a glass of water, the only thing Lin Qinghuan had ever drunk, and placed it beside her. Then, she quietly left the ancestral hall. The maids who were guarding the hall didn't even bother to lock the door. The young lady was so quiet, and if someone hadn't brought her food every day, they would have almost forgotten there was someone kneeling inside.

When Xiao Yi kicked open the door of the ancestral hall, Lin Qinghuan had already fainted inside, and the cup of clear water was overturned beside him.

Xiao Yi didn't expect that Lin Qinghuan would become so near death after he was away from home for just a few days.

The maids and servants in the Xiao Mansion all saw the eldest son carrying the young lady from the ancestral hall all the way to Qingbo Courtyard.

"What did you say? That girl has been kneeling in the ancestral hall without eating or drinking for four days?" Grandmother Xiao thought that Lin Qinghuan had already gone to Liu Ji to admit her mistake. After all, she was old and forgetful. Hu Tao Niang, who served her every day, deliberately did not tell her about the matter. Today, Nanny Dong could not bear it anymore and told the old lady.

Hu Tao Niang quickly knelt down and said, "Tao'er didn't expect the young lady to be so stubborn, but I didn't dare to say anything until mother said something." Nanny Dong glanced at Hu Tao Niang.

"Grandpa, the eldest son returned home today, and he has taken the young lady back to Qingbo Courtyard." Nanny Dong said.

"Have you called the imperial physician? How is Huan'er?" asked Grandma Xiao.

"This... is still unknown at the moment." Nanny Dong shook her head.

"Go and take a look and come back to tell me." Grandma Xiao said to Hu Tao Niang who was kneeling on the ground.

"Yes, grandma." Walnut got up and walked out.

"Ai Lian, how come this child is still so stubborn? I was just angry and gave her a small punishment. I also asked people to send her food for every meal. Why did she... Wait, go and help me check something." Before returning to Jinhan, Grandmother Xiao had heard that the daughter of the Lin family was originally going to marry her favorite grandson Xiao Yu, but she thought it was just a rumor.

After listening to Grandmother Xiao's instructions, Nanny Dong withdrew.

Hu Tao Niang was stopped at the gate of Qingbo Courtyard.

"I came here on the orders of my grandmother to see how the young lady is doing. How dare you servants stop me!" said Hu Tao Niang angrily.

When the maids and servants heard that it was An Youtang who gave the order, they did not dare to stop him.

Walnut Mother glanced at them, snorted haughtily, and walked in.

Early in the morning, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital came to the Xiao Mansion. Fortunately, Lin Qinghuan had used water during these days, otherwise he would have been covered with a white cloth.

Xiao Yi sat at the table. Yun Xiang and Chu Xia supported Lin Qinghuan, who had not opened her eyes. Li Xue and Lu Hua were following the imperial physician's instructions and continuously feeding Lin Qinghuan the ginseng soup.

"Husband..." Walnut Lady walked in.

Xiao Yi frowned and looked at her.

"How did you come?"

"Grandma asked me to come and see how the young lady is doing. She is worried about her." Hu Tao Niang said softly, and Yun Xiang glared at her fiercely.

"Grandmother wants to punish Yu Huan'er like this, so why does she call you here now?" Xiao Yi said in a cold voice.

"Grandmother just wanted to give you a little punishment. It was the young lady who went on a hunger strike herself. My husband, don't blame Grandmother so much. She is also very heartbroken right now." Hu Tao Niang's voice was very cautious. Xiao Yi looked at her, and then he was no longer so cold. He motioned her to stand up and talk.

Seeing this, Hu Tao Niang went forward to look at Lin Qinghuan. Seeing that he was about to die, she was very happy in her heart, but a look of sadness appeared on her face.

"Young Madam, this...how should I tell my grandmother when I get back?" Hu Tao Niang returned to Xiao Yi and asked with an embarrassed look on her face.

"Just report the truth. You can go out first." Xiao Yi said. Hu Tao Niang thought about it and left.

Yun Xiang glanced at Lin Qinghuan, then suddenly walked up to Xiao Yi, knelt down and said.

"Master, there are people in Luoyi Pavilion who are selling out their masters for personal gain. I hope you can help the young lady."

Xiao Yi looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean? Please tell me in detail."

"After thinking about it over and over again, I think it must have been that day in Taohuawu when the young lady was playing water fight with the young masters and young ladies of the Lin family. When she was wiping her clothes, they got wet and... Shuyin saw something she shouldn't have seen. On the third day, the young lady was brought back to the mansion." Yun Xiang said.

Xiao Yi didn't say anything for a long time after listening, then stood up and spoke.

"You four take good care of her."

After watching Xiao Yi leave the room, Lu Hua looked at Yun Xiang curiously and asked, "Sister Yun Xiang, where is the eldest young master going?"

"I think he should make the decision on behalf of the young lady." Yun Xiang murmured.

In Anyou Hall, Xiao Yi was kneeling in the hall. Grandmother Xiao was sitting directly above him, and Liu Ji was sitting on the side. Apart from them, only Nanny Dong and Liu Rong were present.

"Yier, you said you did all this?" Grandmother Xiao asked in surprise.

"It was me who did it. It has nothing to do with her." Xiao Yi said.

"Son, why do you do this?" Liu Ji asked in confusion.

"Mother, I just want to reassure you." Xiao Yi said.

"I...ah, it's all my fault. I was too impatient." Liu Ji regretted that she had pushed the two children too hard. She knew in her heart that the child's mind was not on Yi'er at all.

"Grandmother, Qinghuan took the punishment for me, but..." Xiao Yi looked up at Grandmother Xiao and continued, "This involves the master's private affairs. I hope Grandmother will return such a disloyal slave to Qinghuan for punishment."

"Is this what Huan'er meant?" asked Grandma Xiao.

"She hasn't woken up yet. It's my idea." Xiao Yi felt a little chilled at this moment. He never thought that his grandmother was still speculating about the poor person who hadn't opened her eyes.

"Yier, don't worry about this matter anymore." Grandmother Xiao said.

"If grandma doesn't want to reveal it, then all the servants and concubines who have entered and left Luoyi Pavilion and had contact with Qinghuan will be regarded as traitors and beaten to death with sticks." Xiao Yi said expressionlessly.

"You! Are you threatening me?" Grandma Xiao asked in a trembling voice.

"I hope grandma will love my grandson and Qinghuan and hand Pannu over to my grandson." Xiao Yi continued.

"Grandson, you have grown up now, and grandma can't do anything to you anymore." Grandma Xiao said, beating her chest.

"After I have dealt with this matter, I will voluntarily accept the punishment of the family law." Xiao Yi kowtowed to his grandmother. With each kowtow, Liu Ji felt distressed and quickly stood up to stop her son.

"Mother, isn't he just a servant? Just give him to Yi'er. You can't use family rules. Besides, Huan'er hasn't opened his eyes yet, and the Lin family doesn't know about this yet!" Liu Ji said.

"Isn't this all the sin you committed?" Grandmother Xiao already knew what happened that year, but she didn't expect her son and daughter to play with the imperial power to this extent. "Forget it, Ailian, you go and send that maid to Qingbo Courtyard. Yier, I have believed in Buddhism and done good deeds all my life, I just hope you can spare the child's life." Grandmother Xiao said no more.

"Thank you, grandmother." Xiao Yi knelt down and kowtowed before getting up and leaving Anyou Hall.

In the Red Lotus Pavilion, Hu Tao Niang knelt in front of Xiao Yi and cried aggrievedly.

"Shuyin came to tell me about this, and I...all I could think of was to tell grandma honestly. Tao'er didn't dare to hide such a big secret. My husband, please beat Tao'er to death. It was my stupidity that made the young lady become like this." Hu Taoniang cried so hard that her eyes were filled with pear blossoms in the rain, which was very pitiful.

"I heard that it was you who asked Shuyin to serve at Luoyi Pavilion?"

"My husband, do you think I have that ability? I am just a concubine who was born a maid. If it were not for your pity and grandmother's love, how could I live in such a big courtyard and have people serve me? Shuyin is my grandmother's head maid. How could I have the ability to ask her to serve in Luoyi Pavilion!" Hu Tao Niang said with tears in her eyes, lying on Xiao Yi's knees.

"Why did Shuyin accuse her of being the one who asked her to keep a close eye on every move of Luoyi Pavilion and report to you about anything that happened to the young lady?" A chill appeared in Xiao Yi's eyes.

"My husband, I have no way to explain why she has wronged me. But I can understand her. If it weren't for my grandmother's favoritism towards me, it would be Sister Shuyin who would be serving you now. Forget it, if you want to blame Tao'er, I will accept my fate. I just hope you won't be angry with your grandmother and mother anymore, and let Tao'er take all the blame." After saying this, Hu Taoniang knelt down alone and sobbed. Xiao Yi looked at her and thought of what happened back then.

"You will be confined to the yard for three months from now on. You are only allowed to eat vegetarian food every day and pray for the young lady." Xiao Yi's voice was no longer as cold as before. After hearing this, Hu Tao Niang looked at Xiao Yi with aggrieved eyes and nodded.

Shuyin knelt in the courtyard of Luoyi Pavilion. She didn't know that all the true words she said were turned into frame-up by Hu Taoniang in just a few words. But she would always remember that eight years ago, the old lady originally wanted to assign her to Xiao Yi as a concubine, but in the end it became Bai Tao. Then she step by step became the concubine Hu in the mansion, but she was still a maid.

Lin Qinghuan had woken up, but remained silent.

"Young Madam, the informer is Shuyin. She is still kneeling in the courtyard of Luoyi Pavilion, waiting for you to punish her." Yun Xiang said.

Lin Qinghuan just looked at her without saying anything. To her, it didn't seem to matter who this person was.

"Miss, do you want to get up and walk around? I'll help you wash up, okay?" Chu Xia looked at Lin Qing Huan distressedly, tears welling up in her eyes, "Silly girl, if anything happens to you, Chu Xia won't live alone."

Lin Qinghuan glanced at her and nodded.

"What is this place?" Lin Qinghuan looked at Chuxia and asked, noting that the layout of the room was unfamiliar.

"This is my brother-in-law's room. We are in Qingbo Courtyard." Chuxia said.

"Qing... Boyuan." Lin Qinghuan murmured.

Yunxiang came over with some cakes and fruits.

"Yun Xiang, why are you limping?" Lin Qinghuan asked.

"It's okay, Madam, I just sprained my ankle." Yun Xiang placed the yam cake that Lin Qinghuan loved to eat in front of her. "I heard from Madam Huang that Madam's favorite is the sugar bean yam cake."

Lin Qinghuan looked at the plate of pastries and said, "Aunt Xue loved making this for me when I was a kid. I think it's the most delicious thing in the world."

"Miss, are you missing Aunt Xue? Second Young Master Qiumo is going to Luofeng to bring Sixth Young Master and the Young Master to Jinhan City. Do you still remember that you promised Aunt Xue that you would take good care of your younger brothers and sisters?" Chu Xia said when she saw this, and Yun Xiang kept looking at Chu Xia.

"I'm sorry for that." Lin Qinghuan looked at Chu Xia and said, "I've been staying in your eldest son's room these days. Where does he live?"

"Young Master..." Yun Xiang hesitated to speak, Lin Qinghuan and Chu Xia looked at her.

"I almost forgot that he has several courtyards to visit. Let's go back to Luoyi Pavilion." Lin Qinghuan stood up and said.

"No, Madam, the eldest son was punished by the master for contradicting the old lady. Now, he is recuperating in the courtyard where the second son used to live." Yun Xiang knelt down and said, "Madam, the eldest son treats you very well. He is the most filial son. This is the first time he has contradicted the old lady like this."

"What is beating with a stick?" Lin Qinghuan asked curiously. An Cai had been beaten with a stick since he was a child. He would recover in two days after applying medicine.

"The Xiao family has strict rules. Talking back to elders is a serious crime. The punishment is to use five sticks, hitting the back until... until the sticks break." Yun Xiang started to cry after she finished speaking.

"Then they are going to be beaten to death! The Xiao family is trying to kill themselves!" Lin Qinghuan said in surprise.

"But no one expected that the eldest master would actually contradict her in order to get the ancestor to hand over Shuyin." Yun Xiang said.

"He's in Chenyuyuan, right?"