Chapter 10: Framing Lin Qingxu

“Be careful. The matriarch has always favored the first and second branches of the family. I worry about you, but recently she has taken a liking to you, so don’t upset her,” Jing Mingge advised with concern.

Lin Yuejiao smiled reassuringly. “Mother, don’t worry. Times have changed.”

After meeting with the matriarch, the matter was dropped.

Lin Qingsu harbored a grudge against Lin Yuejiao.

Lin Yuejiao would not forget this enmity either. Had she not arrived in time, who knew what might have happened to her mother and brother?

Two peaceful days passed. On the fifteenth day of late spring, the matriarch went early to the Lingyin Temple outside the city to offer incense.

Lin Yuejiao sat before a pearwood writing desk, painting.

A sheet of rice paper, about ten feet long and two feet wide, was spread out and held down on both sides by paperweights.

The painting depicted a tranquil spring scene in a secluded mountain valley.

There were verdant hills and flowing streams, fragrant plants by the banks, a chess table under a pear blossom tree by the stream, and in the distance, a carriage at the valley’s mouth.

Just as she was about to put down her brush, Lin Yuejiao’s hand paused.

“Miss, there’s a carriage here, and a servant. There’s also a chess game in progress. Shouldn’t there be people on both sides then?” Tumi said, grinding ink as she pointed to the blank spaces on the painting.

Lin Yuejiao put down her brush. “Yes, there are people, but I don’t want to paint them.”

She had painted the scene of that day but deliberately left out Rong Yu and Li Moqian from the landscape.

“Even if you don’t paint them, it still feels like people are here,” Tumi said with a smile. “Miss, your paintings are truly beautiful. My family used to sell paintings, and some scholars brought their works to our shop, but I always thought yours were better.”

Lin Yuejiao smiled faintly. “Better in what way?”

“I don’t really understand why, but I just think your paintings are prettier,” Tumi answered earnestly.

Lin Yuejiao chuckled. “You have such a sweet mouth. Are you buttering me up?”

“I’m telling the truth. But Iris’s preserved fruit snacks are really delicious~” Tumi smiled.

Lin Yuejiao observed quietly and found that among this group, there were basically no spies or infiltrators. They had just been bought from outside, were obedient, and somewhat trusted by them.

Just then, Iris hurried in and whispered into Lin Yuejiao’s ear, “Miss, you asked me to keep an eye on Jiyu. I saw her leave Youyuan Garden earlier and secretly go to the back garden, where she ran into Lin Xueshu. They just returned.”

Lin Xueshu?

“Tumi, take a few maids with the freshly made glutinous rice balls and mung bean cakes and come with me to the Red Maple Garden,” Lin Yuejiao said.

Tumi bowed and went to arrange it.

Lin Yuejiao whispered to Iris, “Stay with us openly, but as soon as we step outside, slip away quietly and keep watching what Jiyu plans. If she intends to start a fire, be careful and report back to me immediately.”

That great fire from her past life was still some time away, but it was uncertain if they might strike at her sooner.

“Yes,” Iris nodded seriously.

Lin Yuejiao led a group of maids out in a grand procession.

In the Red Maple Garden, Lin Yuejiao chatted casually with Jing Mingge, keeping her expression natural and never mentioning the matter.

“Did you make these glutinous rice balls? Yuejiao, when did you learn to cook? I had no idea,” Jing Mingge said in surprise.

Lin Yi, with cheeks full of the round dumplings, replied muffled, “Delicious! Sister, you make them so well!”

“They’re just ordinary,” Lin Yuejiao smiled. “I saw Iris making mung bean cakes this morning, and my hands itched to make some rice balls.”

While they spoke, Iris approached Lin Yuejiao and bowed, but seeing so many people, she did not speak openly.

Lin Yuejiao understood and said, “Mother, Yi’er, I’ll take my leave. You enjoy.”

“Alright. Ruqiu, see the Fourth Miss out.”

Once outside the Red Maple Garden, Iris pulled Lin Yuejiao aside by a rockery and handed her an object. “Miss, look at this. Jiyu left it in your jewelry box. I don’t recognize it, but it seems extremely precious.”

Lin Yuejiao had thought Jiyu might be planning arson, but unexpectedly, she was hiding something in her room. Taking up the hairpin and examining it, her eyes instantly chilled. “A gold-inlaid phoenix wing pearl hairpin.”

“Miss, you recognize it?” Iris asked in puzzlement.

Lin Yuejiao’s voice turned icy. “This is the matriarch’s most beloved treasure, worth a fortune. Very good, Lin Qingsheng, Lin Xueshu — what a poisonous scheme to frame me for theft. The matriarch just left for prayer today, so they must have taken this chance to steal it.”

“Ah? This is the matriarch’s cherished item? What should we do? Should we return it quickly?” Iris was startled and angry. “Jiyu is truly treacherous, conspiring with outsiders to frame you!”

Lin Yuejiao spoke calmly. “Jiyu is already the first branch’s informant, so this is no surprise. We must keep a close watch on her. This hairpin cannot be returned. Lin Qingsheng managed to steal it, but we have no one in the Cishou Hall. If someone catches us returning it with the hairpin, it will cause trouble.”

“Then should the miss throw it away?” Iris asked worriedly.

“Yes, it must be discarded, but where and how matters.” Lin Yuejiao’s beautiful eyes narrowed as a cold gleam flashed. “Such a lovely hairpin — I’ll give it to Lin Qingsu. She will surely like it.”

Iris immediately nodded in admiration. “Miss, what a clever plan!”

Lin Yuejiao said to Iris, “Find out where Lin Qingsu is now.”

“Yes,” Iris bowed and left.

Lin Yuejiao clenched the golden phoenix wing pearl hairpin, her gaze slightly cold.

“Miss, Lin Qingsu isn’t in the Xuyu Courtyard. She’s in the back garden admiring flowers with several maids. There are over a dozen maids guarding the courtyard inside and out. It will be difficult to get in,” Iris reported upon returning.

Lin Yuejiao had already made up her mind and nodded. “Good, I understand. Let’s find Lin Xueshu first.”

Her plan required a scapegoat, and Lin Xueshu was the perfect one to drag into it.

In the back garden, Lin Xueshu looked embarrassed.

“Grandmother says we’re one family and sisters should be harmonious and friendly, but last time there was a misunderstanding between Sister Xu and me over the wormwood smoke in the house. So I thought to find a mediator. I originally planned to ask Sister Liu, but she’s too busy. Sister Sheng is bedridden with her injury, so you’re the one I’m most familiar with. Sorry to trouble you,” Lin Yuejiao said with a smile.

Having been raised in the first branch, it was true she was only familiar with the first branch’s young ladies. Now, with Lin Qingliu busy managing affairs and Lin Qingsheng bedridden, it was reasonable to enlist Lin Xueshu as mediator.

Moreover, Lin Xueshu could not refuse.

Otherwise, if Lin Yuejiao mentioned it to the matriarch, Lin Xueshu would become the one seen as unfriendly among sisters.

“Sister Yuejiao, no need for formalities,” Lin Xueshu forced a smile. “If it helps the two sisters reconcile, I’m happy.”

In truth, she did not want to get involved, but had no choice.

As they talked and approached the back garden, Lin Qingsu was standing before a cluster of blooming camellias. Seeing Lin Yuejiao’s approach, her expression immediately darkened.

“Greetings, Sister Xu,” Lin Yuejiao greeted her with a gentle smile.

Lin Qingsu gave a forced, insincere smile. “Greetings, younger sisters.”

Seeing Lin Yuejiao made Lin Qingsu furious, recalling how she was locked in the smoke-filled Red Maple Garden last time.

“Sister Xu, there was a misunderstanding last time with the wormwood smoke. I hope you don’t take it to heart,” Lin Yuejiao said.

Lin Qingsu’s eyelid twitched, her hatred simmering, but she smiled and said, “That’s all in the past. I’ve long forgotten it. How come you still remember?”

“Of course the fourth sister remembers, or she wouldn’t have asked me to be the mediator today,” Lin Xueshu chimed in.

Lin Yuejiao smiled. “I had planned to give you the ice gauze flowing wind fan that grandmother gifted me as a peace offering. But since you say so, giving it would go against your magnanimous intention. So I won’t.”

Lin Qingsu’s anger tightened in her chest, unable to vent or swallow it down.

In truth, Lin Yuejiao never intended to offer a gift; she only said it to irritate her.

Lin Qingsu’s acting was poor compared to Lin Qingliu. A glance at her eyes revealed her full hatred.

At that moment, Iris suddenly pointed to the grass beneath the camellia tree and exclaimed in alarm, “A snake! Miss, be careful! There’s a snake here!”

“What? A snake? In the garden?” Lin Qingsu was terrified.

From the grass slithered a long snake, ordinary in thickness and size, its venom unknown. The sight alone terrified Lin Qingsu to the point her legs gave way, and she fell to the ground.

Lin Yuejiao and Lin Xueshu also saw the snake and both screamed, stepping back seven or eight paces.

“Someone, help! Get rid of the snake!” Lin Qingsu, terrified of snakes, was too weak to get up and cried out in panic.

Lin Yuejiao shouted, “Whoever can catch snakes, quickly remove it! You maids, help the Second Young Mistress away!”

“I don’t know how to catch snakes…”

“Neither do I…”

The maids trembled in fear, none daring to approach the snake.

Two brave maids from the Xuyu Courtyard stepped forward to grab Lin Qingsu’s arm and try to pull her away.

Lin Qingsu’s legs were bent when she fell, but as they pulled her, her leg straightened by inertia.

Though several steps from the snake, her outstretched foot with embroidered shoe nearly touched the snake’s cold head.

“Ah!” Lin Qingsu screamed horribly, pulling her foot back, trembling all over.

Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted from fright.

“Quick, carry Sister Xu away,” Lin Yuejiao commanded. “Let’s leave quickly and have the gardener deal with the snake. Everyone be careful not to get bitten.”

Lin Xueshu shuddered with fear. “Yes, yes, let’s go quickly. That was terrifying.”

The group hurried out of the back garden.

After a while, from the now empty flowerbed appeared a clever boy, glancing around before skillfully catching the snake into a grass basket—it was the medicine boy, Kong Qing.

Lin Yuejiao had asked him to bring the snake to scare Lin Qingsu, and Kong Qing agreed enthusiastically.