And yet you still dare to speak of loyalty?

Qian Yaoxian grew anxious instantly; dividing her authority was like slicing off her own flesh. She hurriedly spoke up, "Old Matriarch, please do not listen to these nonsense words. I have no complaints regarding your decision; please do not misunderstand."

Lin Yuejiao smiled faintly and said, "Aunt, what are you saying? The Old Matriarch letting Second Aunt share the household duties is simply out of consideration for your hard work. This time, Aunt, you truly acted improperly. Our Lin family is a prominent clan in Xinzhou. If outsiders were to learn that you allowed male servants to wander freely into a young lady's private quarters, and that you smashed the gifts bestowed by the Old Matriarch, there is no telling how they might mock our Lin family for lacking respect, decorum, and regard for our elders. The Old Matriarch easing your burden is truly for your own good."

Deeply calculating as she was, she managed to frame the division of power as an act of kindness.

The Old Matriarch remarked, "It is a pity that despite your advanced years, you are not as sensible as young Yuejiao. I know you have always been diligent, but there are too many matters in the Lin household, and you have been unable to attend to them thoroughly. Having the second daughter-in-law assist you—and you are still unhappy about it?"

"How could that be? With the Old Matriarch's consideration, Mother is nothing but pleased," Lin Qingliu quickly intervened, smiling brightly. "It will just mean some extra work for Second Aunt."

The Old Matriarch looked at Lin Qingliu, her expression softening considerably as she said, "She is idle enough as it is; it is only right that she should put in some effort."

Qian Yaoxian felt deeply resentful, unable to understand why, despite having already secured the Old Matriarch's understanding, Lin Yuejiao had managed to turn the tables on her.

The Old Matriarch turned her gaze toward Lin Yuejiao, scolding her sternly, "How do you manage your servants? How could you allow them to gossip about their mistress like that?"

"It is Yuejiao's fault for being unable to discipline them," Lin Yuejiao immediately bowed her head, her eyes lowered. "Yuejiao is young, my father passed away early, and my mother is away. These servants have come to think that I am easy to bully. I have had the intention to discipline them, but I feared causing further trouble for the household."

In her plain attire, she appeared all the more like a pitiable orphan.

Thinking of her third son, who had passed away before her, a chord was struck in the Old Matriarch’s heart. Her expression softened as she said, "What is the use of keeping servants who do not listen to their mistress? Drive them all out of the manor and select a few new ones who are capable."

"Thank you, Grandmother, for your understanding. Although most are useless, there are two who are loyal. I would like to keep those two, drive the others out, and select a few new ones," Lin Yuejiao said, weighing her words.

The Old Matriarch waved her hand. "Very well, as you wish."

Lin Yuejiao let out a sigh of relief.

"Since those gifts from last time were broken, I shall grant you another set. In addition to the previous items, Aunt Qiu, add four more sets of head ornaments and four sets of clothing for the Fourth Young Lady. Look at you—at your age, you should be dressing more brightly; why are you dressed so drably?" The Old Matriarch looked at Lin Yuejiao, her gaze now filled with much more affection.

Lin Yuejiao quickly expressed her gratitude. "Thank you, Grandmother, for your love."

First, she scolded her, then she bestowed a generous reward. The initial reprimand was for Qian Yaoxian's benefit; by dividing Qian Yaoxian’s power while still scolding Lin Yuejiao, she performed a balancing act to show she was not playing favorites. The final reward was to compensate for the items that had been smashed and to soothe Lin Yuejiao.

Upon leaving the Cishou Hall, Iris could not help but say excitedly, "I thought the Old Matriarch wouldn't punish the First Madam. I never expected her to stand up for you so thoroughly. I am so happy, Miss."

Lin Yuejiao smiled but said nothing.

When Lin Yuejiao returned to her own Youran Courtyard with Iris, she saw that the furniture and furnishings were still scattered around the courtyard. Several maids were sitting about, chatting idly; logically, these items should have been moved into the rooms and arranged long ago.

"Iris, call them all over," Lin Yuejiao said as she walked into the courtyard, scanning the surroundings before sitting directly on a chair that had yet to be moved inside.

Iris curtsied. "Yes."

The maids were unaware of what had transpired at Cishou Hall. They only knew that the First Madam had smashed the Fourth Young Lady’s room the night before and that the young lady had been forced to swallow her grievances. Still viewing her as cowardly and easy to bully, they did not hold her in high regard. They dawdled for a long time before finally standing in a scattered line before Lin Yuejiao.

Having spent quite a while talking with the Old Matriarch, Lin Yuejiao felt a bit thirsty. "Iris, bring me a cup of tea."

"Yes." Iris went inside, but returned a moment later looking troubled. "Fourth Young Lady, there is no hot tea in the courtyard. Please wait a moment; I will brew a pot for you."

"No need." Lin Yuejiao frowned, her eyes sweeping across the group of maids, and said coldly, "It has been all morning, and there isn't even a pot of hot tea in the courtyard. How are you performing your duties?"

"Fourth Young Lady, you cannot blame us. We have been cleaning rooms and moving furniture since early morning; where would we find the time to heat water?" Jiyu said in a shrill voice.

Iris retorted, "Even if you are busy with other tasks, hot tea should always be prepared. With so many people, each with their own responsibilities, how could there be no time to heat a pot? Clearly, you are just being lazy. Furthermore, you haven't even finished organizing these things all morning; you only know how to slack off. Do you think the Fourth Young Lady doesn't know?"

Having seen the maids slacking off the moment she arrived, and having heard them gossiping about Lin Yuejiao earlier that morning, Iris was burning with anger.

"You lowly maid, you certainly have a way with words. I haven't seen you do anything, yet you pretend to be loyal and only know how to flatter," Jiyu mocked.

A curve of a smile appeared on Lin Yuejiao’s delicate face. "It seems you have strong opinions about my arrangements?"

"Fourth Young Lady, that is not what I meant. I am your head maid; it is only right that I should be the one following you..." Jiyu glared at Iris and said, "What makes her worthy?"

Lin Yuejiao nodded. "You are right; it should be the head maid following me. From today on, Iris is the head maid of Youran Courtyard."

Iris looked shocked, then knelt respectfully and kowtowed to Lin Yuejiao, saying excitedly, "Thank you, Miss, for your favor! I will serve you with all my heart!"

"You—you cannot do this. The ranking of maids is decided by the managing matron; even you cannot change it at will!" Jiyu said in a panic.

"Ha, this is the first time I've heard that I cannot even change my own maids," Lin Yuejiao raised her eyebrows slightly. "From now on, except for Wanqiu, everyone in Youran Courtyard is to be driven out of the Lin manor."

Upon hearing this, the maids turned deathly pale, their faces drained of color.

"You—you cannot drive us out..." Jiyu, startled by Lin Yuejiao's sudden firmness, tried to put on a brave front.

Just then, the shrill voice of Matron Mu was heard at the courtyard entrance. "How bold! Your mistress wants to drive you away, and you dare to refuse? Do you think you are the masters of the Lin manor?"

As she spoke, Matron Mu—the manager of the West Fourth Courtyard who had previously been quite arrogant toward Lin Yuejiao—rushed over in a few steps and offered a fawning smile. "Fourth Young Lady, I received word from the Old Matriarch and came specifically to pay my respects. You may dispose of the servants in Youran Courtyard as you see fit."

Lin Yuejiao glanced at Matron Mu, a smile playing on her lips, and said slowly, "Matron Mu, you have come at the right time. Take these people away."

"Yes," Matron Mu replied immediately, without a word of protest.

"Fourth Young Lady, I have been loyal to you! I have served you since I was a child; please spare me this once!" Jiyu suddenly rushed forward and kowtowed at Lin Yuejiao's feet.

Lin Yuejiao looked down at Jiyu, her lip curling slightly. "Are you truly loyal to me?"

She had not truly intended to drive Jiyu out; she was waiting for her to beg. The others were disloyal, gossiping behind her back and slacking off; driving them out was enough. But Jiyu—she was the culprit who, in her previous life, had set fire to Youran Courtyard, caused her to be disfigured, and led to her mother's death. How could she simply drive her out so easily? That would be too lenient.

"Yes! My loyalty to you is known to heaven and earth!" Jiyu said immediately.

Lin Yuejiao’s gaze softened. "That is true; you are my personal maid and have served me since childhood..."

Hearing this, Jiyu felt a surge of joy, thinking Lin Yuejiao had been fooled by her act.

Then, she heard Lin Yuejiao continue, "Then I will give you a chance to prove your loyalty. If you are willing to endure thirty strokes of the cane, you may stay and continue serving in Youran Courtyard. If you are unwilling, then leave the manor."

Upon hearing this, Jiyu was stunned. "Fourth Young Lady, thirty strokes... I will be beaten to death..."

"If you are not willing to die for the Fourth Young Lady, how can you claim to be loyal?" Iris glared at Jiyu.

Matron Mu also sneered, "If you don't want to be beaten, then get out. A girl with skin as delicate as yours would surely fetch a good price in a brothel."

Jiyu’s face changed in terror; a brothel was definitely more frightening than thirty strokes.

"I am willing to accept the thirty strokes to show my loyalty," Jiyu said, her lips trembling.

Lin Yuejiao sneered. *She is even willing to be beaten just to stay; she truly won't stop until I am dead.*

"Then proceed, Matron Mu," Lin Yuejiao said, arching a brow.

Matron Mu immediately called over two servants, and right there in the courtyard, in front of Lin Yuejiao and the other maids, they delivered the blows one by one. Jiyu screamed and wailed, tears and snot streaming down her face.

The other maids watched this scene, shivering with fear, silent as cicadas in winter.