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As soon as Su Yue returned to her room, she flew into a rage.

"Didn't you say everything was arranged? Didn't you say it was foolproof? Huh? How come Su Li is fine, and instead, I'm the one who ended up being laughed at by everyone!"

Faced with her daughter's aggressive questioning, Madam Xia was at a loss for words.

She could only try to comfort her, "Yue'er, don't worry. We still have opportunities."

But Su Yue wasn't listening. She had been disappointed twice today and had nearly ruined herself in the process.

"Opportunities, opportunities! All you ever do is talk! When has anything ever worked out?"

"That bitch Su Li is so lucky! She always manages to escape!"

"And that wretched maid, pretending to be loyal, daring to mock me! I'll make sure she dies!"

As her daughter vented her frustration, Madam Xia was preoccupied with another concern.

The scoundrel had been captured by the servants. What if he let something slip? It would be over!

Meanwhile, Su Li returned to her room with her maids.

She sat at the table as Mohan poured her a cup of tea. Su Li took a sip.

"Yuqi," Su Li called out calmly.

Yuqi jumped, quickly responding, "Yes, Miss?"

Su Li's tone was indifferent. "Don't you have anything to say?"

Yuqi stammered, "I... I..."

Su Li slammed her cup down on the table.

Yuqi immediately dropped to her knees.

"Speak. What did they offer you? And what else did they ask you to do?"

Yuqi's eyes widened. The young miss knew everything!

"Miss, you're so cruel! You knew everything all along, yet you quietly set a trap for me to fall into! I've been by your side since I was a child!"

Su Li found it amusing. So now it was her fault?

Mohan stepped forward, scolding, "You dare say you've been by the young miss's side since childhood? Without her, where would you be now? Sold off to some remote corner? And you have the nerve to feel wronged?"

Su Li sneered. "Now you have two choices. First, regain Su Yue's trust and continue passing her information—of course, only the information I want you to pass."

Yuqi said coldly, "That's impossible!"

Su Li smiled. "Then there's the second option: atone with your death. Choose!"

Yuqi looked at Su Li, realizing she wasn't joking. She was serious!

This realization sent a chill down Yuqi's spine.

Since when had the young miss become so ruthless?

Seeing Yuqi remain silent, Su Li said expressionlessly, "If you won't choose, I'll choose for you. Then it's the second—"

"I choose the first option!"

Su Li smiled. "Good, get up. You'll continue as my head maid, just like before."

Yuqi shakily stood up. She finally realized that no matter how kind her mistress usually was, a single word from her could mean her death!

After noon, a servant came to announce that it was time to return to the manor.

As before, Su Li and her mother shared a sedan chair.

The sedan swayed gently along the official road, and laughter occasionally spilled out from inside.

Suddenly, the sedan came to an abrupt halt. Madam Su lifted the curtain and asked, "What's going on?"

"Madam, someone has collapsed in the middle of the road."

Madam Su was startled and quickly stepped out of the sedan.

"You there, check if he's alive or dead!"

Several servants approached and turned the person over.

Madam Su thought the man looked familiar. When she got closer, she was shocked.

"Quick, go and fetch Madam Xia from the rear sedan!"

The servant, though confused, obeyed and went to summon Madam Xia.

Madam Xia arrived and exclaimed, "Sister, what's... Wencai? Wencai! What happened? Who did this?!"

No wonder she hadn't been able to find him earlier. She had thought he had chickened out at the last moment, but now this had happened!

If anything happened to Xia Wencai, her brother would surely hold her accountable!

Madam Su frowned. "This is a busy road. Why would he collapse right in front of our sedan? It seems someone knows his connection to you. Is this an attack on the Su family?"

But targeting a concubine's nephew to provoke the Minister's household seemed far-fetched.

She then thought of the scoundrel who had slandered her daughter and Su Yue's reputation earlier. Could this really be an attack on the Su family?

Madam Xia shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry and carry him to the sedan!"

In the end, Madam Xia and Su Yue shared a sedan, while Madam Xia's sedan was used to carry Xia Wencai.

Madam Su returned to her sedan, still frowning as she pondered who could be behind this.

"Could it be that your father offended someone in the court? His temper does make it easy to make enemies."

Su Li comforted her, "Mother, it's not necessarily that. It might be that the Xia family offended someone."

Su Li smiled faintly.

Madam Xia, I hope you like this gift.