In the 4th instance, if a woman does not wish to make things difficult for herself, she can only make things difficult for other women

Hualan shot her brother a glance and said, "What are you nagging about? My matters are none of your concern; just focus on your studies." Then she murmured to herself softly, "... She really has angered Father, but what could be the reason? I must ask Mother tonight... Serves her right!"

Aunt Lin continued, "Later, a servant came to report that Aunt Wei was in labor with a stomachache. I hurriedly instructed a maid to summon the gatekeepers and have them call for a midwife. However, to my surprise, the gatekeepers and a few others were drinking and gambling. My maid pleaded for a long time before they finally sluggishly went. They took several hours to return, and when I later inquired with those gatekeepers, they only said that the nearby midwife was not at home and that they had to travel several miles to the west of the city to find one, which delayed Aunt Wei's delivery. Sir, Madam, with heaven above and earth below, every word I say is true. If I had the intention to harm Aunt Wei, may I be struck by lightning and die a miserable death! If you still do not believe me, you may go and ask the midwives and gatekeepers what time I went to call for the midwife; there are those who heard it!"

Yao Yiyi is from the south and does not usually suffer from seasickness, but she is severely affected by carriage rides, having vomited yellow bile for several days, almost bringing up her gallbladder. This time, she was not pretending to sleep; instead, she fainted directly in the arms of a strong woman, who carried her into the house. She had no idea what the new home in Dengzhou looked like. By the time she began to recover her breath, she was already on the kang bed. Each time she opened her eyes, she could see a doctor beside her shaking his head. The first time, it was an uncle around forty years old; the second time, it was an elderly gentleman with gray hair; the third time, it was an old man with white hair and beard. According to the principle that a traditional Chinese medicine doctor's age is proportional to their medical skills, this doctor should be increasingly skilled with each encounter.

Do not touch me

Sheng Hong coldly opened his mouth and said, "Alright! Today I will clarify the matter. Let me ask you, how exactly did Aunt Wei die?"

Little Ru Lan probably hasn't been out much; even if a big crow flew by, she could be excited for half a day, waving her chubby fingers and making a fuss. When Wang couldn't stand it anymore, she would scold her a couple of times. Little Ru Lan felt dejected and didn't dare to keep leaning on the porthole. Whenever she came to talk to Yao Yi Yi, she would chatter away for a long time, and Yao Yi Yi would respond weakly with a "mm" or a nod.

They were originally down-and-out relatives who sought refuge with Aunt Lin. Over the years, they became her right and left arms, managing shops and farms outside, while taking charge of purchasing matters inside, exuding authority both in public and private. This time, when Sheng Hong intended to expel them, they naturally refused and sought help from Aunt Lin. She was taken aback. Being astute, she sensed something was amiss and immediately went to plead with Sheng Hong. However, no matter how she pleaded, Sheng Hong remained cold and unresponsive, especially since they were on a boat where the master and servants could hear each other. She could not resort to her usual display of playing the qin and weeping like Xi Shi, and could only watch helplessly as her support was taken away.

Sheng Hong coldly shouted, "There is no need for you to seek death or despair. Considering how I have treated you well in the past, why are you putting on a show like a common woman in the market, crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang yourself for whom?"

Sheng Hong let out a cold snort without saying a word, while Wang turned to look at Liu Kun's family, her eyes revealing a hint of anxiety

Sheng Hong recalled the tragic death of Aunt Wei, and in a fit of anger, he smashed a teacup on the ground: "This is the result of your own doing!"

Aunt Lin raised her head, gazing at Sheng Hong with tear-filled eyes, full of tender feelings and deep grievances. After staring for a while, she said nothing, but turned and collapsed by Wang's legs, crying and pleading, "I beg you, madam, to show mercy. You can hit me or punish me, but please do not treat me as that treacherous person... If I have done something wrong, just call me to be scolded; I will listen to everything you say... I have a sincere heart towards the master..."

Wang's chest heaved with emotion, while Aunt Lin continued to weep. The room fell silent for a moment. Sheng Hong, being an official, understood that it was better to clarify matters today. He instructed a maid to summon the steward, Lai Fu. Liu Kun's household was very attentive, and soon all the maids and wives in the room were called out. After a short while, Lai Fu entered. Sheng Hong quietly gave him some instructions, and Lai Fu complied, turning back to bring in a few rough servant women, isolating all the female servants outside the main courtyard.

Before long, the head maid beside Hualan entered. Hualan set down the flower pattern in her hand and asked, "How is it going?"

Crying to the point of exhaustion, her breath was hoarse, her eyes swollen and red, she leaned weakly against Sheng Hong's leg. Sheng Hong, unable to bear it, was quite moved and gently supported her.

The spring is bright and beautiful here, while over there it is filled with bitter winds and rain. Aunt Lin has tried several times to see Sheng Hong, but has been stopped by the servants outside. However, she is not an ordinary person. That evening, after dinner, Sheng Hong and Wang were discussing Sheng Minglan's illness. The children had all returned to their own rooms, leaving only Yao Yiyi still drowsily lying on the kang bed by the window. The couple sat side by side on the kang, and as they talked, the conversation turned to the matter of acquiring property in Dengzhou. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, accompanied by the shouts of the maids trying to stop someone. Just as Wang was about to send Liu Kun's wife to check, a gust of wind blew, lifting the lake-blue silk curtain, and in walked a person—who else but Aunt Lin?

On a cool summer night, a highly skilled and professionally adept mistress finally awakened Yao Yiyi's courage to survive

Yao Yiyi said that the eggplant is even less capable of studying

In early summer, the southern wind was strong, making navigation from south to north very smooth. Upon reaching the Beijing-Tianjin area, Sheng Hong disembarked with several aides to travel overland to the capital to handle promotion procedures at the Ministry of Personnel, as well as to express gratitude for the Emperor's grace and to pay respects to various mentors and colleagues. The remaining family members, led by the eldest son, continued northward to Shandong.

Aunt Lin crawled a few steps to the front of the kang, her delicate face was filled with tears, as pure as the bright moon, and she choked out slowly: "If I say I have no faults at all, that would not be true; I am timid and afraid of trouble, unwilling to take matters upon myself. If I had personally accompanied Sister Wei that day, directing the maids and servants, perhaps Sister Wei would not have met such an early demise... I was merely afraid of being held responsible, afraid of being gossiped about. I was wrong, but if you say I had the intention to harm Sister Wei, even in front of the King of Hell, I would not accept it! After all, I have been educated and grown up, how could I not understand the gravity of human life?"

After Sheng Hong's departure, Aunt Lin became increasingly reserved, choosing not to show her face at all and instead focusing on educating her children within her cabin. The sounds of reading could often be heard emanating from her quarters, prompting the crew and passing boats to praise the Sheng family for their literary heritage, affirming their deep-rooted family education. This incited further anger in Wang, who pressured Chang Bai to also read aloud for others to hear. Chang Bai, known for his taciturn and steady demeanor, felt his mother's insistence and immediately turned as red as a ripe eggplant.

As she spoke, she actually began to knock her head, thumping it repeatedly, causing a sharp pain in Sheng Hong's heart. She quickly jumped off the bed and pulled Aunt Lin up, saying, "What on earth are you doing?"

Outside, the sounds of maids pushing and shoving each other could be heard, clearly indicating that Aunt Lin had brought a group of women to break through. Sheng Hong turned his head away, refusing to look at her. Wang Shi, unable to contain her anger, slammed her hand on the kang table: "What kind of ghostly appearance is this for? Who are you trying to impress? I told you to stay in your room, so why did you barge in here? It's noisy enough for everyone in the house to know; do you think others are as shameless as you? Get her out of here!"

She appeared without any adornments or jewelry, her hair tied up in a glossy black bun, and she wore no pearls or jade. Her face was free of makeup; naturally, she possessed a graceful and delicate beauty. The dark blue plain dress accentuated her skin, which was fairer than frost and whiter than snow. Her eyebrows, arched like new moons, seemed to frown yet not frown. Her waist was slender, seeming much thinner today, presenting a truly pitiable sight.

Only Sheng Hong, the Wang family, Aunt Lin, and the Liu family’s Bing Lai Fu remained in the room, totaling five people. Oh, and there was also classmate Yao Yi Yi, who was dozing on the couch; it seemed everyone had forgotten about her at this moment. Yao Yi Yi once again swore to the mudslide that she did not wish to stay here to listen to the third session of the trial, but... it would be best for her to continue being unconscious.

"Fourth Sister, do not speak nonsense. Minglan is ill; I heard her speaking just yesterday. She is more than a year younger than you and has just lost Aunt Wei. You must not bully her." Twelve-year-old Sheng Changbai sat by the window reading, his features handsome and his posture upright.

Aunt Lin's fingers, as white as jade, brushed across her cheek as she sorrowfully said, "Master, do you still remember what Madam said a few years ago when the third young lady passed away? Madam instructed me to concern myself less with the affairs of the concubines and to take care of myself instead. After you and Madam left home that day, I quietly remained in my own courtyard. Master, you are well aware that with both masters gone, the servants in the household are not thinking of taking a break or resting; there are many more lazy maids running home, not just those few who are skilled in childbirth! I have only been here for a few years, while those maids have been in the family for decades; how can I command them?"

Aunt Lin raised her head and said, "Madam, are you so unwilling to let me speak because you fear I might reveal something?"

Yao Yiyi squinted her eyes and pretended to sleep. As the only person present who was in the know, she felt that the scenery inside the ship had been far more exciting than that outside over the past few days. Just ten days into the voyage, Sheng Hong had already sent off two or three stewards at the dock where the ship was moored for supplies. Please note, they all share the surname Lin

This is truly impressive

"Alright, Ruan." Miss Sheng Hualan, at the tender age of thirteen and a half, was in her prime, blooming like a freshly blossomed white orchid, delicate and beautiful. She leaned against the soft table, flipping through embroidery patterns. "What is there to fuss about? I've been hearing your incessant chatter all the way here, with no regard for decorum. If you keep making noise, be careful that I tell Father, and he will punish you by making you copy books. Let’s see if you still have the leisure to meddle in others' affairs; just play by yourself."

Wang's heart was filled with joy, yet she dared not show it on her face, forcing herself to maintain a serious expression, afraid to reveal her happiness in public, which was quite a strain for her. Despite her cheerful mood, she became more generous in her actions, treating Yao Yiyi with increasing affection, providing her with food and clothing as if she were her own daughter. As soon as the boat docked, she went to invite a doctor to examine Yao Yiyi's pulse, to see if she had truly lost her mind. Unfortunately, Yao Yiyi was uncooperative, still appearing sickly, unable to eat much, and spending her days in a deep slumber.

Aunt Lin gently wiped her tears and said sorrowfully, "I do not know where I have gone wrong these days. The master ignores me and not only that, he has also successively dismissed those around me. First, it was the two relatives who came to seek refuge with me, then it was the two maids by my side, and just the other day, even the wet nurse who has served me since childhood was to be sent away! I do not dare to interfere in the master's affairs, but surely there should be some reason behind it all"

Hua Lan smiled, feeling pleased. Chang Bai put down the scroll and frowned, saying, "You went to inquire again. Father has already instructed that you should not ask too many questions. Why do you never listen? You behave like a young lady of a prominent family, constantly prying into matters."

"In that case, you bear no responsibility at all? What a clever tongue!" Wang could not say much more, as it was evident that she was well aware of the inside story, which was not appropriate to discuss.

Yao Yiyi resided on the starboard side of the ship with the Wang family. The maids and servants around her had changed several times, but she was too lazy to remember their faces. She continued her daily routine of eating and sleeping, consuming little but sleeping excessively. Aside from feeling a bit seasick in the first few days, the young girl Sheng Rulan, who was with her, was quite enthusiastic about watching the scenery on the water, bouncing and jumping as she chatted with her "sixth sister who couldn't speak and had gone silly".

Upon returning, Sheng Hong was filled with anger upon seeing his daughter in such a frail state, which only intensified his resentment towards Concubine Lin. During the day, he dealt with official matters, and after leaving the office, he would reprimand his subordinates. When the Sheng family first arrived in Dengzhou, they were unaware of the internal affairs regarding the buying and selling of people, merely assuming it was a typical adjustment of personnel under a new official. Sheng Hong was seething with anger and avoided seeing Concubine Lin. For two consecutive days, he dismissed several capable maids and servants from her quarters, either demoting, expelling, or selling them off. He spent every night in Wang's quarters, who was almost overjoyed, presenting increasingly larger ginseng roots to Yao Yiyi to help her regain her health. The ginseng roots, as large as radishes, made Yao Yiyi feel uneasy.

"Mother, I see that Sixth Sister is truly foolish; she can't even speak." Six-year-old Xiaorulan expressed her dissatisfaction with her new companion

She began to cry softly again.

A few maidservants came over to push people away

Yao Yiyi was in a daze, completely unaware of how much time had passed. In any case, by the time the young girl Rulan grew tired of the boat, Brother Zhang Bo finished reading three volumes, and Miss Hualan completed embroidering four handkerchiefs, everyone finally docked at the shore. The steward and a group of servants were already waiting to receive them at the pier. The dusty and disheveled people on the shore and the dizzy passengers on the boat had nothing much to say to each other, and they directly transferred to carriages. After several days of bumpy travel, fortunately, Dengzhou was also a place close to the water. Just as Old Lady Sheng was about to lose her temper from the jolting, they finally arrived.

Aunt Lin's tears flowed like a torrent as she sorrowfully said, "These days, my heart has been as heavy as boiling oil, and I have some words to say, but the master has been avoiding me and refuses to meet. I feel as if I have died several times already. However, master, you are a father to the common people. Even when dealing with a petty thief, you must allow for a defense. Moreover, I have served you for many years and raised a pair of children. Now, even if you want me dead, you should at least let it be clear to the spirit!"

Aunt Lin struggled to break free and immediately knelt down before Sheng Hong, her voice as harsh as iron striking an anvil, her expression resolute: "Master, Madam, I have made up my mind today. If I am not allowed to speak, I would rather die by smashing my head here than suffer in bits and pieces!"

Aunt Lin's tears rolled down like pearls as she choked out, "... Hong Lang!" Her voice was filled with sorrow

She began to cry uncontrollably, tears rolling down like beads that could not be stopped

Sheng Hong felt a stir in his heart and sat silently.

Wang was extremely furious and was about to scold loudly, but was restrained by Liu Kun's gaze, forcing him to endure. Then, Aunt Lin sobbed a couple of times, her voice sorrowful and trembling, saying: "Master, Madam, I am but a person without support, living my life entirely dependent on you. If you were to abandon me, I might as well die right now. I was originally the daughter of a good family, and it was the old lady who wanted to match me with someone, but I, lacking in shame, insisted on staying with the Sheng family, solely out of admiration for your character. I have accepted being ridiculed by everyone and looked down upon by the servants; it is my own willing choice. ... I also know that I have angered my sister, causing her displeasure. I understand that she resents and dislikes me, and I do not dare to defend myself. ... I only hope that my sister can forgive my infatuation with the master, treating me like a little cat or dog, allowing me a place to curl up in this vast Sheng residence, with something to eat. As long as I can see the master from time to time, I would endure being scolded by thousands and spat upon by millions, without any complaints! ... Madam, today, in front of the steward Lai Fu and Sister Liu, I bow to you; please have pity on me!"

Three doctors have been called in succession, all stating that the condition of the young girl in the Sheng family is concerning. It is not due to inadequate medical care, but rather the issue lies with Yao Yiyi, who shows no will to survive. Wang, observing the little girl who is nothing but skin and bones, begins to feel increasingly anxious. Recently, her relationship with Sheng Hong had improved somewhat, and Sheng Minglan was personally brought to her for care by Sheng Hong. If Sheng Hong were to return and find his youngest daughter dead, Wang would not only fail to take credit but would also add to her troubles.

Sheng Hong often visited Yao Yiyi, and with each visit, his worries deepened. Each time he held his daughter, weighing her in his arms, his brows furrowed even tighter. He urged the boatman to hurry, thinking of reaching Dengzhou quickly, where he could settle down and take a good look at his daughter.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Stop rambling here! What do I have to be afraid of?"

Sheng Hong angrily said, "Am I still wronging you? On the day when Aunt Wei was about to give birth, why did you delay in calling for a midwife? Why was there not a single person available in her courtyard? Why were none of the experienced midwives at home? On that day, both the Madam and I went to the Wang family, leaving you at home; who else could it be but you?"

If one is unafraid, then today, with a spit for each pit, let the words be made clear; the lord will naturally discern right from wrong.

Xiao Rulan pouted, seemingly a bit afraid of her elder sister. Reluctantly, she jumped down from Yao Yiyi's soft couch and went to the side to play with the maid, but as she walked behind Sheng Hualan, she stuck out her tongue and made a face at her

The maid smiled slightly and replied, "As expected by the young lady, it is quite lively over there. However, since it is on the boat, it cannot get too noisy. At this moment, they are wiping their tears. I originally intended to inquire a bit more, but I was chased out by Madam Liu."

Ms. Lin's astonishing talent miraculously awakened her classmate Yao Yiyi, who had been desperately trying to sleep. She questioned herself: as a young lady from an official family, although now fallen from grace, she had enjoyed a life of comfort for over a decade. How could she have the courage to express her determination and infatuation in front of her subordinates, to kneel when asked, to beg for mercy, to cry, and to fight? Why was she so cowardly, unwilling to face reality? Was it not just a poor choice that had led to this situation?

Among the servants of the Sheng family, many were purchased locally. Those who were reluctant to leave their homeland and relatives were released by the Sheng family, and some severance pay was given, earning widespread praise for Lord Sheng's benevolence and love for the people. Sheng Hong selected an auspicious day for travel and set off early in the morning with his entire family. The Sheng family, along with dozens of people and the accompanying gifts and cargo, filled seven or eight boats. Concerned about attracting too much attention, Sheng Hong sent a trusted steward to escort several of the cargo boats northward in advance, also to make arrangements for the residence ahead of time.

Aunt Lin did not seem surprised; instead, she smiled faintly and said, "Since the day Sister Wei passed away, I knew this day would come. Back in Quanzhou, the maids and servants in the household were whispering, saying that I was the cause of Aunt Wei's death. I initially thought this was merely the idle gossip of a few ignorant servants. Moreover, with the master about to be promoted, I did not dare to trouble him with trivial matters, so I quietly endured it, always thinking that the innocent would clear themselves. I believed that the rumors would eventually dissipate, but I never expected... I never expected that the master would also doubt me!"

"Yesterday she only said four words—'I need to go to the restroom,' and you heard it too, big sister." Xiao Rulan tugged at Yao Yiyi's braid, but Yao Yiyi remained motionless, leaning against the soft couch as if she had fallen asleep again

Sheng Hong turned his head and gave Wang a deep look, causing her heart to skip a beat. She then glanced at Liu Kun's household, and Wang frowned slightly. It is important to note that most of the midwives were her companions, and the wives and servants of the second gate had always been under her supervision. Even if Sheng Hong did not harbor any suspicions, she could not escape the blame of being lax in her management and allowing her subordinates to act freely.

Yao Yiyi finally couldn't help but open her eyes a crack to look. Sheng Hong's face was filled with an unbearable expression, while Wang's face turned pale with anger, her lips white, yet she couldn't utter a single word, trembling all over as if she were in a fit. Laifu looked on in astonishment, and Liu Kun's family felt inferior in comparison.

Wang was furious, jumping down from the kang and shouting at the maid and daughter-in-law: "Are you all just standing around? There’s a dead person here, why haven’t you taken her out yet!"