cold clothes

The task assigned by Yunqiu was finally completed, and Lengyi felt neither sorrow nor joy. There was only the calm after her anxiety had disappeared, or the relief of waiting for death.

The Jade Pavilion was in complete chaos. Some people ran to fetch Doctor Xie, while others ran to inform Mama Hu and the other courtesans. The rest of the people crowded around Qingchun and moved her from the calligraphy and painting room to the hall on the first floor. Lengyi was also forced to kneel down by two maids.

The maids hurriedly wiped Qingchun's face, and Qingchun, with red eyes, said, "Don't throw away these powders. We'll have Doctor Xie find out what she sprinkled!" As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Lengyi.

"I never expected Ningbi to dare to talk back to Sister Qingchun." Wei Feng whispered as she approached Xia Hua.

Xia Hua glanced at Leng Yi, who was kneeling with her head down, and her expression wasn't very pleasant. She didn't want to pay attention to Wei Feng. Wei Feng, feeling ignored, knew she was being snubbed. However, Nong Yue said to Wei Feng, "Could Ning Bi have sprinkled some kind of powder? Look, she accurately sprinkled it on Qing Chun's face..."

Breeze covered her mouth in surprise and whispered, "You mean she wanted to disfigure Sister Qingchun? That's too vicious!"

Nongyue rolled her eyes and quickly added, "Perhaps not. Maybe she just sprinkled the perfume powder from the sachet on Qingchun's face to vent her anger. Isn't Ningbi always impulsive and easily angered?"

"Ningbi is terrifying... What if she turns her back on us later..."

The whispers of the breeze and the moon were so annoying to Xia Hua that she stopped them with a dark face. "Alright, stop arguing. Do you really think no one can hear you? Don't worry, if Ning Bi does anything outrageous, Mom will punish her severely."

Xia Hua's words carried weight in the chaotic hall.

Soon after, Madam Hu arrived. She was watching Liu Xia's song and dance performance scheduled for the Double Ninth Festival the following night when the maid rushed in to report the news of the incident at Zhuoyu Pavilion. Her good mood vanished, and Liu Xia came with her.

Upon seeing Madam Hu, everyone stood neatly on both sides to bow. Qingchun immediately stepped forward to her and complained to Lengyi: "Mother, Ningbi is really too lawless! I don't know what she threw on my face, look, my eyes are all red!"

"You've definitely turned red, but it shouldn't be a big problem. How do you feel?" Liu Xia asked with concern.

Tears welled up in Qingchun's eyes: "The place where the face powder was sprinkled feels a little hot."

Madam Hu glanced at Qingchun's eyes, then looked at Lengyi kneeling on the ground with a cold expression. She first comforted Qingchun, saying, "On the way here, the maid already told me the general situation. I will definitely punish Ningbi severely, but what exactly is your grudge against Ningbi?"

Hearing this, Qingchun swallowed her tears and accused Ningbi, "Yesterday afternoon, I discovered that Ningbi had stolen my hairpin. I didn't expect her to refuse to admit it and even spout nonsense. I didn't have time to teach her a lesson before she disappeared. I had heard rumors about Ningbi's arrogance and domineering nature before, but I couldn't bear to be prejudiced against her. I planned to teach her a lesson today and make her realize her mistake, but I didn't expect... I didn't expect her to throw powder on my face, specifically aiming at my eyes! Mother, Qingchun knows that you are always kind-hearted and love every girl like your own daughter, but Ningbi is really... If she is not disciplined strictly, it will be truly heartbreaking if she develops an unruly personality in the future."

Qingchun put on a very earnest and patient act, as if she only cared about Lengyi's well-being. Those who only heard her side of the story sympathized with Qingchun and blamed Lengyi.

Behind Madam Hu, Granny Qin echoed Qingchun, saying, "Yes, Ningbi has been unruly since she first arrived. We tolerated her because of her difficult background and lack of education, but she still hasn't learned her lesson after a few days. Madam, you must not indulge Ningbi any longer."

Seeing Qingchun and Granny Qin trying to persuade her from both sides, Mama Hu's expression remained unchanged. She looked past everyone and landed on Leng Yi, saying, "Ningbi, what do you have to say?"

"Ha, what do I have to say?" Leng Yi looked up and sneered. "Don't you believe their nonsense?"

"Mom, I'm not lying!" Qingchun was so anxious she almost stomped her feet. Her eyes were like knives shooting out at Lengyi as she asked, "Everyone in the Butterfly Dance Pavilion saw you wearing my hairpin yesterday. If you didn't steal it, how come my hairpin is with you? And do you think it's true that you sprinkled powder on my face? The evidence is overwhelming. How do you plan to deny it?"

Mrs. Hu seemed somewhat intrigued and asked, "Which hairpin did she steal from you?"

“It was a jade hairpin given to me by Wang Shih-hu, the second young master of the Wang family,” Qingchun’s expression and tone suddenly softened when she mentioned the second young master of the Wang family. She raised her hand to cover her cheek, whether because of pain or itching or some other reason, “By the way, Yunqiu was also there yesterday.”

“Yunqiu?” Hu’s mother’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Ah? How come I heard my name as soon as I arrived?" A charming and melodious voice came from the doorway, and Yun Qiujiao, as beautiful as her voice, appeared before everyone.

She first greeted Madam Hu, then looked at Qingchun with concern, "How are you? I heard Ningbi was disrespectful to you again. Let me see." She took Qingchun's hand and moved her cheek away, her deep, shimmering eyes carefully examining Qingchun's injuries. Seeing Qingchun's reddened eyes and slightly flushed cheeks, she frowned with heartache: "It's so red, does it hurt?"

Qingchun replied, "It's hot and painful, and now it seems a little itchy too."

Yunqiu suddenly became anxious: "Why hasn't Doctor Xie arrived yet? You and Liuxia are going to perform on stage tomorrow night. Your face can't be damaged. How could Ningbi do this?"

How could Ningbi do such a thing?

Leng Yi couldn't help but smile. Among all the liars in Fengxiang Tower, Yun Qiu's acting skills were the most superb. She admired her from the bottom of her heart.

"Yunqiu, now that you're here, tell me what happened between Qingchun and Ningbi yesterday? I'm really curious about their entanglement," said Mama Hu.

Yunqiu recounted the story: "Qingchun and I were watching the sisters' performance at the Butterfly Dance Pavilion when Ningbi came in. Qingchun noticed Ningbi's casual behavior and said a few words to her. Ningbi retorted, and the two started arguing. Then Qingchun noticed Ningbi was wearing her hairpin and assumed Ningbi had stolen it. But Ningbi denied it and ran away. However, I caught the little girl later and made her practice the zither alone all afternoon to reflect on her actions." Yunqiu paused and continued, "Actually, there might have been a misunderstanding yesterday. Ningbi has only been at Fengxiang Pavilion for a short time and hadn't met Qingchun before. How could she have stolen her hairpin? But Ningbi is very stubborn; she refused to admit it or apologize and wouldn't say anything."