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  Nanny Liu’s expression changed instantly. She had already experienced Qin Shuying’s sharp tongue firsthand, and now, just hearing her speak made her scalp tingle. She wished she could seal her mouth shut. However, this was at the entrance of the Lu residence, where people constantly came and went. It wasn’t as crowded as a marketpce, but it wasn’t deserted either.

  Nanny Liu shouted, “Seventh Miss, you speak nonsense! Nannies, what were Master Lu’s instructions? Hurry and escort Seventh Miss onto the carriage!”

  The nannies snapped out of the daze Qin Shuying’s words had put them in and surrounded her, attempting to force her onto the carriage.

  Qin Shuying resisted, and when Nanny Liu saw her about to speak again, she panicked and grabbed her arm. Qin Shuying pulled back with all her might, refusing to get on the carriage. Nanny Liu called to the four old women, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up!”

  The four women shoved and dragged Qin Shuying, making her stumble left and right. She cried out, “No, no…”

  In the struggle, the four women practically lifted her off the ground, carrying her past the threshold toward the steps leading to the street. The carriage was parked nearby, and as soon as they got her inside and covered her mouth, she would be at their mercy.

  Nanny Liu’s expression turned ruthless, her grip tightening mercilessly. Qin Shuying was lifted up, struggling in vain.

  Suddenly, Ziteng burst out from behind, shouting in panic, “Nannies, my dy’s clothing is worth two hundred taels of silver—don’t snatch it! The jade hairpin on my dy’s head is worth five thousand taels—don’t steal it! Has the Lu family gone mad? Are they robbing their own in-ws of jewelry and clothing?”

  Qin Shuying continued crying out in fear, “No, no—” while Ziteng shrieked, “Everyone, come and see! The Lu family is robbing their own in-w’s belongings in broad daylight—”

  Nanny Liu realized something was wrong and tried to stop Ziteng, but the girl had already dashed down the steps, out of reach.

  In an instant, people began gathering at the street corner, approaching curiously. Ziteng ran into the growing crowd, wailing, “Lu Langzhong, how can you be so unreasonable? You stole my dy’s mother’s heirlooms and gave them to Old Madam Lu, and now you want to rob my dy’s jewelry too! Is there no justice in this world? Everyone, come and judge for yourselves—Lu Langzhong gave my dy’s mother’s jewelry to Old Madam Lu, and now he’s trying to steal my dy’s! If she hadn’t run fast enough, they would have already robbed her inside the house—first my dy’s mother’s, and now my dy’s jewelry!”

  Passersby turned to look. Qin Shuying’s hair ornaments were disheveled, her luxurious clothes torn from the struggle.

  Nanny Liu could barely breathe. She lunged toward Ziteng, trying to silence her, but Ziteng was nimble as a fish, dodging her grip while continuing her loud accusations.

  Nanny Liu’s face turned beet red. She knew the gathered crowd was mostly servants from Chongde Alley—families of officials, many holding high positions.

  Lu Changxuan, though only a fifth-rank official, worked in the Ministry of Personnel, overseeing the evaluation of officials’ performance. While he wasn’t the final decision-maker, he had influence and could sway his superiors. Many sought to curry favor with him.

  But now, Ziteng’s words were ringing clear in everyone’s ears, and the murmurs of discussion grew louder.

  This could ruin her!

  Desperate, Nanny Liu chased after Ziteng, shouting, “You—you’re spouting nonsense!”

  Among the onlookers, Liang Yanjun stood quietly, watching the maid cry pitifully while skillfully evading Nanny Liu, hurling accusations all the while.

  “Neighbors, judge for yourselves! Just because my dy’s parents are gone, does she have to suffer like this? Lord Lu, you’re a court official—how can you treat my dy so cruelly? Old Madam Lu took my dy’s mother’s heirlooms, and now she’s ordering her servants to steal my dy’s jewelry! Lu Langzhong, you go too far!”

  Nanny Liu’s eyes burned with rage. She had always thought Ziteng was the quiet, reserved type—who knew she had such a sharp tongue, just like Seventh Miss? She spoke so quickly, cramming three sentences into the time it took someone else to say one, and her words were crystal clear for all to hear.

  Nanny Liu had no idea that Qin Shuying had personally trained Ziteng, making her practice speaking with pebbles in her mouth for an hour every day in the study.

  They had no other advantages, so they honed their skills through rigorous training.

  A middle-aged woman in fine clothing called out, “Girl, are you reted to the Lu family?”

  Ziteng immediately grabbed the woman’s sleeve, tears streaming down her face, and poured out her grievances like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.

  “Auntie, you seem like a kind-hearted person. My dy is the daughter of the third branch of the Qin family in Yong’an Alley. Both her parents have passed, leaving her alone. Earlier this year, my dy fell ill, so the main wife of the household managed her parents’ estate on her behalf. But somehow, Lu Langzhong tricked the main wife into handing over my dy’s mother’s jewelry, and he gave it all to Old Madam Lu! She’s still wearing it today! If you don’t believe me, ask the wives of Minister Zhao and Minister Zhong from the Ministry of Personnel—they saw it with their own eyes!

  When my dy gently mentioned it to Old Madam Lu, Lu Langzhong immediately tried to steal the jewelry my dy is wearing today! Luckily, my dy noticed in time and rushed back to the Qin residence. But Lu Langzhong sent four old women after her, determined to rob her of her jewelry!

  Auntie, please tell me—is it reasonable that the Lu family has no money to buy jewelry for Old Madam Lu, no money to pay their servants, no money to host guests, so they have to rob my dy instead? Is there no justice left in this world?”

  Nanny Liu no longer dared to touch her. Ziteng’s words came out fast and urgent, drawing an even rger crowd. The murmurs turned into an uproar.

  People turned their eyes to Qin Shuying—her hair a mess, her ornaments crooked. A jade phoenix hairpin was even in one of the old women’s hands. Qin Shuying kept her head down, sobbing softly, looking utterly pitiful.

  The four old women exchanged nervous gnces. With so many people watching, they no longer dared to restrain Qin Shuying.

  The one holding the phoenix hairpin suddenly realized she had somehow ended up with the expensive ornament in her hand. Horrified, she flinched and dropped it.

  Ziteng let out a dramatic wail, “That jade phoenix hairpin is worth five thousand taels! It was my dy’s mother’s heirloom—her most treasured possession! You—you must compensate us!”

  The old woman turned pale as death, hastily bending down to retrieve it. Only after seeing the hairpin was intact did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.