"Who's this?" the Old Madam asked, her tone icy and commanding.

  "Old Madam is speaking! Lift your head this instant!"

  The two older maids holding the struggling figure gave her a hard yank, forcing her to raise her head.

  The room fell silent.

  It was Huiqin, a maid who used to serve in the West Courtyard. Her face was disheveled, her hair matted, and her eyes wild with defiance.

  "Huiqin?" the Old Madam's brows furrowed slightly. "Wasn’t she sent to the undry for punishment months ago? How is she here in the Yin Courtyard?"

  Ziteng stepped forward and bowed. "Old Madam, Huiqin was reassigned here temporarily for menial tasks. However, she started acting erratically, ciming strange things and disrupting the peace of the courtyard. Out of fear that she might harm someone or herself, we had no choice but to restrain her."

  Huiqin struggled fiercely, shouting, "This is injustice! You’re framing me! I’ve done nothing wrong! The real culprits are—"

  "Silence!" Madam Xu’s voice cut through her protests, sharp as a bde. Her face was livid. "You dare make a scene before the Old Madam? Have you no respect?"

  Ziteng pressed down on Huiqin's shoulder, her voice calm but firm. "Old Madam, Huiqin has been muttering strange words about curses and evil spirits. She might be possessed or influenced by the so-called '煞星' that Master Yuan Zhen mentioned."

  The Old Madam’s expression darkened further. "Yuan Zhen, what say you? Could this girl be theEvil Staryou spoke of?"

  Master Yuan Zhen stepped forward, csping his hands together in prayer. His face took on a solemn air as he studied Huiqin. "Old Madam, this girl does bear an unusual aura, one that aligns with the Evil Star’s characteristics. However, I would need further observation to be certain."

  Madam Xu saw an opportunity and immediately added, "Old Madam, for the safety of the entire household, I suggest we confine this maid until Master Yuan Zhen completes his investigation."

  The Old Madam nodded gravely. "Very well. Lock her up in the small storeroom and post guards to ensure she doesn’t escape."

  Huiqin’s protests grew louder, her voice almost hysterical. "I am not the Evil Star! This is a trap! They’re setting me up! You’re all blind if you can’t see who the real culprit is!"

  But no one paid her any heed. The older maids dragged her away, and her cries grew fainter until they vanished entirely.

  Ziteng cast a quick gnce at Madam Xu, her lips curling into the faintest of smiles. The py had unfolded perfectly.

  The Old Madam let out a deep sigh. "These troubling events seem to grow with each passing day. If there is truly an Evil Star in this household, it must be dealt with swiftly. Yuan Zhen, I entrust this matter to you."

  "Fear not, Old Madam. I will not rest until the Evil Star is eradicated," Yuan Zhen replied, his tone heavy with conviction.

  As the group dispersed, Madam Xu couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease. Despite managing to divert attention temporarily, she had a gnawing suspicion that this was far from over.

  The elderly maid released the restraint on the young maid, who immediately lifted her head. However, her face was obscured by her disheveled hair. It wasn’t until Ziteng pushed the hair aside that everyone finally recognized her—it was Huiqin!

  When Huiqin saw Madam Xu, her eyes lit up, and she began letting out muffled cries, "Mmm, mmm…" from behind the gag.

  Madam Xu frowned in irritation. This fool! She had already failed the task she was assigned, allowing Qin Shuying to avoid taking her medicine as pnned. If it weren’t for the fact that Huiqin’s parents had come as her dowry servants, she would have punished her long ago. Even so, after Huiqin's mother begged for mercy, she had relegated Huiqin to the undry rooms for reflection. Now she’s managed to nd herself in Qin Shuying’s hands again, and on top of that, she dares to seek my help in front of everyone? What an imbecile!

  Luye pulled the cloth from Huiqin’s mouth, and Huiqin immediately cried out, “Madam, I’ve been wronged! I’m innocent! They’re trying to harm me!”

  Madam Xu, though displeased with Huiqin, saw no reason for Qin Shuying to meddle with her people. Her face darkened as she reprimanded, “What is the meaning of this? She no longer belongs to the Yin Courtyard. Who gave you the audacity to apprehend her?”

  Luye quickly expined, “Madam, Old Madam, Huiqin was caught… stealing. We had no choice but to detain her. We wanted to wait for Miss to return and inventory the items before reporting to you.”

  “It’s not true!” Huiqin shouted. “Madam, Old Madam, they’re framing me!”

  Old Madam Qin sat silently in her chair, her expression growing colder. The scene before her brought nothing but frustration. Thinking of her absent seventh granddaughter, her heart ached all the more.

  Nanny Gu, observing the situation, sighed inwardly. She marveled at Qin Shuying’s cleverness and shuddered at Madam Xu’s ruthlessness. Finally, seeing Old Madam Qin’s grim demeanor, she stepped forward to mediate, saying, “The Old Madam is here, and justice will be served. Let’s hear each side one by one. Luye, you first—what exactly happened?”

  Luye began, “Old Madam, Madam, when we returned we noticed someone sneaking around outside the Yin Garden. I mustered my courage and approached through the bushes. That’s when I discovered Huiqin burying something by the wall…”

  “That’s a lie!” Huiqin interrupted. “Don’t believe her, Old Madam!”

  “Huiqin!” Luye cut her off. “Let me finish speaking, and then you can have your turn. The Old Madam has always been fair and discerning. Once we’ve expined everything, she will know who’s right and who’s wrong.”

  Though still defiant, Huiqin held her tongue when she saw Old Madam Qin’s icy expression and Madam Xu’s disdainful gre.

  Luye continued, “I didn’t dare dey and rushed forward to stop her. When Huiqin saw that she was caught, she quickly grabbed what she had been trying to bury and ran. Fortunately, I used to be a bor maid and have some strength. I managed to catch her and drag her back into the courtyard. That’s when I saw what she was holding, and…”

  At this point, Luye hesitated, gncing nervously at Old Madam Qin, clearly afraid to continue.

  “Old Madam, this little wench is spouting nonsense!” Huiqin trembled with anger but finally realized she had fallen into a trap.