Chapter 7: Seeing Through People's Hearts

In her previous life, Lan Xi had pushed the blame onto Qian Lan, and even Liu Yun had blamed her own predicament on an innocent maidservant. That maidservant, who had served her since childhood, was sent outside to be beaten with thirty strokes of the staff and remained bedridden for a full half-month. That incident of corporal punishment had created a rift between master and servant. Lan Xi had always been skilled at reading people; she had simultaneously incited Liu Yun to misunderstand Qian Lan while pulling Qian Lan to her own side. Later, Qian Lan became Lan Xi's informant, monitoring Liu Yun's every move, which was why Lan Xi was able to be the first to know about Liu Yun's pregnancy.

This time, having already seen through their schemes, how could she allow things to develop as they wished?

Wan Qing and Qian Lan had followed Liu Yun for many years. Previously, she had not known how to utilize the resources at her disposal, but things were different now. She was no longer the Mu Liu Yun of the past who could be easily instigated and manipulated.

Wan Qing came from a scholarly family, but after a change in her family's circumstances, the female members were sold off, and she was bought by Madam Mu and given to Liu Yun. Qian Lan's family were practitioners of medicine, but they were framed for causing a patient's death. Her family fled overnight, but they could not take all the children, so they could only take two younger brothers. Qian Lan was left behind in Linyang City and sold into the Mu household.

"Second Madam, I am afraid this matter cannot be handled lightly." Yanran was not pleading for Qian Lan's sake; rather, she was very interested in the look Liu Yun had just given. She had always thought Liu Yun was extremely simple-minded, without any devious thoughts, but that single glance had overturned her perception of Liu Yun. She was quite certain that Liu Yun was hinting for her to step in and save her maidservant.

Why didn't she save the person herself, but instead chose to use a roundabout way to make her speak up?

Ji Yanran felt a slight sense of doubt. She looked indifferently at Qian Lan, who was kneeling on the ground. She had some impression of this maid; she was well-behaved, gentle, and possessed some medical knowledge, making her a standout among the servants.

"Why does Cousin say such a thing?" Although Lady Lin was half a mistress, she was not the head of the household and was still a servant in terms of status. Ji Yanran was the legitimate daughter of the Ji family, and her status was equal to Liu Yun's. In front of Ji Yanran, Lady Lin did not dare to show any of her usual competence or shrewdness; instead, she looked at her with maternal affection, waiting for her to continue.

"Liu Yun slipped and fell into the lake, and now a maidservant is to be beaten to death. If this matter spreads, outsiders will surely say that the Eldest Miss of the Mu household is ruthless, not even sparing a maidservant who has served her for years. In a few months, Liu Yun will reach her coming-of-age ceremony. Such rumors would cause immense damage to her reputation. Therefore, it is best to handle this matter discreetly." Yanran looked at Lady Lin calmly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant. She showed no sense of superiority, but instead spoke with grace and poise, her words sharp and to the point.

Lady Lin's expression paused. She glanced at Lan Xi sitting to the side, then swept her gaze over the kneeling Qian Lan. A faint smile surfaced in her shifting eyes as she nodded. "Cousin is indeed thoughtful. In that case, from your perspective, how should this matter be handled?"

"Since she is Liu Yun's maidservant, let her handle it herself once her health has recovered," Yanran replied after a brief moment of thought. She then turned to Liu Yun and asked, "What do you think of this, Cousin?"

No one knew what Liu Yun was thinking. Her long bangs concealed the shadows in her eyes. After a moment, she finally nodded. "Do as Cousin says."

"The Eldest Miss is not punishing you right now, but that does not mean you are not in the wrong. Go outside and kneel for four hours to reflect on your actions." With a wave of Yanran's hand, Qian Lan left the inner chamber, her face full of indignation.

Sitting to the side, Lan Xi pursed her lips tightly, her gaze extremely complex. From time to time, she would look up at Liu Yun and then at Yanran, feeling an indescribable sense of strangeness.

If it were the old Liu Yun, she would never have allowed such a simple attempt to maintain a false peace. Her temperament had always been domineering; if others showed her an inch of respect, she would return a yard. She was never one to suffer losses, especially if she believed she had been pushed. How could she let it go so easily?

However, no matter how turbulent her thoughts were, Liu Yun remained composed, and nothing could be read from her face.

For the first time, Lan Xi realized that this elder sister she had grown up with since childhood could one day become someone she could not see through or understand. This feeling made her heart race, as if things were slowly spiraling out of control and deviating from their tracks, yet she could not say exactly where the problem lay.

"I feel a bit dizzy." Liu Yun touched her forehead, her complexion looking poor, as if she were truly unwell.

"Then get some good rest. Once you wake up, I will call the physician to check your pulse." Lady Lin helped her lie down with heartache, tucking her in warmly. "Sleep a little longer."

In just a short while, Liu Yun fell into a dream. The Second Madam and Lan Xi left the inner chamber together. Yanran, however, cast a fleeting, almost imperceptible glance at the sleeping Liu Yun, a flash of cunning crossing her eyes before she also left the room with them.

Only after they had walked far away did Liu Yun open her eyes. She stared at the bed curtains for a long time, as if contemplating something, before finally calling out, "Wan Qing, let Qian Lan in."

With her head bowed, Qian Lan silently followed Wan Qing inside and knelt before Liu Yun's window. Just as she was about to speak, Liu Yun raised a hand to stop her. She feigned a touch to her forehead and then said, "I am asking you: did you see who pushed me into the lake?"

Such a direct question caused Qian Lan's eyes to widen suddenly. She swallowed hard, not daring to speak.

Wan Qing, however, suddenly narrowed her eyes. She quickly grasped Liu Yun's meaning. "Does Miss mean... it really was the Second Miss who pushed her?"

Qian Lan bit her lip and hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look Liu Yun in the eye. But clearly, Liu Yun had no intention of letting her remain silent. Liu Yun's low and cold voice rang out, "Qian Lan, having been by my side for so long, you should know my temperament well. I hate liars most of all. Since I dare to ask such a question, I must already have an answer in my heart. Tell me, what did you see?"

Just now, she had merely made up the claim that Lan Xi had pushed her on a whim. In reality, she knew full well that even if Lan Xi hated her to the bone, she wouldn't dare lay a hand on her in public. Her reason for framing Lan Xi was merely a test, but clearly, Lan Xi's guilt proved Liu Yun's suspicion: the incident of her falling into the lake must be related to her.

Having been startled by the fall, she naturally had to take the position of the victim, especially in front of Cousin Yanran. Although her cousin protected her at all times, Yanran had later developed a sense of appreciation for Lan Xi's talent, so Liu Yun wanted to suppress that appreciation early on.

Furthermore, she had carefully recalled the process of her fall and was certain it was definitely not an accidental stumble. She had indeed felt someone push her. At the time, only she, Lan Xi, and Lan Xi's maid were by the lakeside. Liu Yun had found too many people to be a target, fearing they would be discovered by Shen Yi and the others, so she had made Qian Lan stand on a nearby corridor.

"It was... this servant saw... it was Xiao Tong who reached out and pushed Miss." After Qian Lan finished speaking, she let out a sudden, heavy breath, her face looking as if she were facing execution.

In truth, whether in the Imperial Palace or a noble manor, the most important thing for a servant was to keep their mouth shut. One had to know clearly what could be said and what could not; some things, even if seen, had to be treated as if they hadn't been.

Originally, even if Qian Lan had seen Xiao Tong push the Eldest Miss, she wouldn't have been able to say anything. Regardless of whether the Eldest Miss believed her, as a servant, she could not speak recklessly and cause conflict among the masters.

But at this moment, Qian Lan had suddenly summoned the courage to say everything she had seen. After the words left her mouth, she broke into a cold sweat, looking at Liu Yun hesitantly. Seeing a faint smile touch the corners of Liu Yun's lips, she hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look again.

"Keep this matter buried in your heart. Otherwise, even I won't be able to protect you." After a long pause, Liu Yun spoke again, saying something that shocked Qian Lan. Even the usually composed Wan Qing stared at Liu Yun in surprise, attempting to discern her thoughts, but unfortunately, she could see nothing.

This Eldest Miss, who had always worn her emotions on her sleeve, had actually learned to maintain a composed expression that no one could see through.

"Do you not understand?" Liu Yun raised an eyebrow, glancing toward Qian Lan.

"Thank you, Miss, for your mercy in not punishing me," Qian Lan replied hurriedly. She cautiously raised her eyes to look at her mistress, feeling more and more that the smile on the mistress's lips was extraordinarily strange—as if she were plotting something, or perhaps mocking something. Just as she was about to speak, Wan Qing pulled her sleeve and shook her head, signaling her not to anger the mistress further.

Liu Yun unnoticedly caught the movement of Wan Qing pulling Qian Lan, and she secretly praised her in her heart. She was indeed a girl skilled at reading people, being able to calm herself even at a time like this. She seemed to understand a little more now why Wan Qing was viewed as a thorn in the side by Lady Lin and Lan Xi. If this shrewd and capable maidservant could become successful in the future, she would surely become her right hand.

She suddenly remembered what her mother had said to her when she passed away. Her mother had said, "When looking at people, use your heart, not your eyes. Those who are truly good to you come from the heart, not from superficial gestures. To survive in these great manors, the most important thing is to see through the hearts of others."