"What are you searching for in my wardrobe, cousin?"
A faint voice sounded from behind.
Yang Xin'er shivered in fright, quickly turned around, instinctively hiding her hands behind her back, looking in horror at the woman on the bed who had woken up without her noticing.
"N-no!"
She forced a smile, feeling extremely guilty, "Didn't you fall asleep, cousin? When did you wake up?"
Lady Yun closed her eyes, unwilling to continue acting with her, and directly called the maids waiting outside to come in.
"Search her, see if she stole anything from me."
She did set a trap, but she had given this woman a chance. As long as Yang Xin'er didn't harm her, she wouldn't have made a move.
But Yang Xin'er was relentless, determined to harm her...
Indeed, an ungrateful person is impossible to tame.
"Cousin, how can you suspect me of stealing?"
Yang Xin'er was utterly stunned, unable to understand why her usually kind-hearted cousin had become so overbearing.
However, no one paid attention to her. The corset hidden in her sleeve was quickly found by the maid and presented to Lady Yun.
Lady Yun reached out, gently touching the three words "Ye Xiwei" in the corner of the corset, her heart turning cold.
[That vile woman got caught???]
[This isn't right; the plot wasn't supposed to be like this. How did it fall apart so easily?]
When the maids came in, the noise had already woken Yun Wanqing, but since she wasn't really a child, she didn't cry or make a fuss, just watched quietly.
She then realized that the situation seemed to be developing differently.
Hearing the childlike voice in her heart, Lady Yun turned her head and saw a faint confusion in her dark eyes, looking completely bewildered. Apparently, she was shocked by the so-called "plot."
This look was simply adorable beyond words.
[Could it be that heaven heard my cries and manifested? No matter, the plot falling apart is a good thing!]
Lady Yun's heart softened, unable to resist gently stroking her soft little face.
Foolish daughter, it's not that heaven manifested, it's you; you are mother's little lucky star.
"Uh, cousin, I just thought this corset was pretty and liked it so much that I wanted to make one just like it. Surely you wouldn't be so petty, right, getting upset over such a small matter?"
Seeing her actions exposed, Yang Xin'er panicked and argued, trying to excuse herself.
[This vile woman, caught doing something bad, not admitting her fault is one thing, but blaming my mother for being petty, truly shameless.]
[Mother, don't believe her. This woman is really vicious; she truly wants to destroy you.]
[You don't know, she's been greedily eyeing my father for a long time, waiting for a chance to sneak into his bed, only to be thrown out by him. Father didn't tell you, worried about affecting your pregnancy.]
[She couldn't get to father, so she started scheming against you, confessing unending longing to Lin Wei'an in your name, making him truly think you still have feelings for him, thinking of you every day at home.]
[Because of this, Lady Lin loathed you deeply, influenced by this woman, went mad after finding your corset with Lin Wei'an, and rushed to lash out at you, disregarding the reputations of the Duke Mansion and Lin Mansion.]
Lady Yun clenched her fingers, trembling with rage.
Such a Yang Xin'er, ever since taking her into the General Mansion, sharing the same status in terms of food, clothing, and everything else as the Duchess, she had never mistreated her. She felt pity for her and treated her better than a sibling, yet she returned this way.
Trying to steal her husband, writing to Lin Wei'an under her name, confessing unending yearning.
How could she do that?
How could she face her husband now?
"Is that so? If you just liked it, why couldn't you tell me directly? With our relationship, why so sneaky?"
"I-I hadn't had a chance to say it, cousin, you were already asleep. I called for you, but you slept too deeply."
Yang Xin'er pouted, using her glib tongue to excuse herself.
Lady Yun fell silent. If she hadn't heard her daughter's inner thoughts, she might have really thought it was just a trivial matter, fooled by her remarks.
Who would have thought that a cousin who received her favor was not grateful in the slightest, but intent on harming her?
[Huh??? This woman is truly artful and shameless.]
[Mother, why waste words on her? Directly send people to her room to search; there are several letters in your name with Lin Wei'an.]
[Besides, she took a lot of gold and silver from you. This ingrate shouldn't enjoy our money. Mother, retrieve everything she's taken, and throw her out after a good beating.]
Lady Yun's lips curved slightly. Her daughter thought along the same lines, so in sync, truly like mother and daughter.
"Someone, take the lady and lock her in the woodshed."
Before she finished speaking, Yang Xin'er interrupted in a rush.
"What? Lock me up? Are you crazy? I'm not one of your servants. How can you lock me up?"
Midway through reasoning, she suddenly realized her rashness and quickly forced a stiff smile, softening her tone a bit.
"Cousin, don't joke with your sister, you know I'm timid."
"..."
Lady Yun watched her performance quietly, smiling slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Without owner's permission, daring to touch private belongings, such conduct is lacking in rules. Lock her up and teach her some proper conduct."
The maids immediately lunged at Yang Xin'er, grabbing her tightly and dragging her out.
Yang Xin'er finally realized Lady Yun was serious, and she struggled madly, terrified and begging for mercy.
But the maids, already instructed by Lady Yun, showed no tolerance. Seeing her struggle, they gave her several harsh slaps on the face. Dazed, Yang Xin'er lost her resistance and was soon dragged away.
In the bedroom, Lady Yun instructed Nanny Wang to search Yang Xin'er's room and retrieve all the money and valuables she had taken from the mansion.
Not wanting Yun Wanqing to let her imagination run wild, she didn't mention the letters in front of her, only giving Nanny Wang a knowing look.
After years of companionship, the understanding between them was deep, and Nanny Wang nodded knowingly and left.
[Wow, the vile woman got beaten, and the money will be returned. My mother is amazing.]
[Indeed, as long as my mother detects Yang Xin'er's sneaky actions, it won't be easy to frame her. So wise and mighty, as expected of my mother.]
[No, no, I almost forgot, the matter of the letters isn't resolved yet.]
[Yes, yes, yes, if that nanny could find the letters and show them to mother, then she'd know what unforgivable things the vile woman did behind her back.]
[Otherwise, if the vile woman uses her glib tongue to defend herself later, what if mother slips and believes her?]
[She will surely continue to harm mother in the future.]
Seeing her little child so worried, Madam Ning chuckled helplessly.
It seemed that after Nanny Wang found the letters, she would have to put on a little play in front of the little one, otherwise, the little one would worry too much.