Chapter 031: Requesting Family Discipline

Huo Yunhua had been so frightened that Wu Tan lost all interest in meddling in the Huo family’s affairs. She enjoyed a good night’s sleep, and early the next morning, upon hearing Wu Qinglin was home, she went straight to see him.

At that time, only Little Lingzi was sitting on the steps at the main house entrance, a thin book open on his knees. He was so absorbed in reading that even when Wu Tan entered the courtyard with Cheng Cheng, he didn’t notice.

“Hey—” Cheng Cheng was about to call out, but Wu Tan, feeling mischievous, quickly stopped her. She gathered her skirt, tiptoed around, and crept up behind Little Lingzi.

He remained oblivious as Wu Tan leaned over from behind to peek at the book on his lap.

She hadn’t expected that the casual beating she’d given Huo Wenshan would have any aftermath, so her curiosity drew her to read a bit more. But once Little Lingzi turned the page, she lost interest and clicked her tongue in disdain. “This person, you can tell at a glance, is just trying to flatter Lord Huo. But when writing this, he must’ve left his brain behind—his flattery misses the mark entirely.”

Did Huo Wenshan really need such fawning? If he saw this, he’d probably die of anger…

Well, if he really did die, at least Huo Yunhua would lose her backing and cause less trouble.

Wu Tan didn’t believe for a second that Huo Yunhua would behave herself just because of a warning. That woman was born to be restless.

Wu Tan gave her critique in all seriousness.

Little Lingzi had been engrossed in reading, but the sudden sound of her voice made him jump nearly three feet. His face flushed red as he hurriedly hid the booklet behind his back, unable to even look at Wu Tan out of embarrassment. “You… you… you…”

Behind Wu Tan, Cheng Cheng was also mortified, wishing she could dig a hole and hide herself.

Her lady was so bold and unrestrained—she was utterly mortified.

But Wu Tan looked completely unconcerned as she asked Little Lingzi, “Is my brother here?”

“Yes!” Little Lingzi answered at once. “He’s in the study.”

“Good! I’ll go find him!” Wu Tan turned on her heel and headed toward the study. After a few steps, noticing Little Lingzi and Cheng Cheng still standing there awkwardly, faces as red as crimson cloth, she doubled back, giving them a baffled look. “What are you blushing for over some old, ugly, decrepit old man? Have a little dignity, will you?”

With that, she happily skipped off to Wu Qinglin’s study, pushing open the door without hesitation. “Brother!”

Wu Qinglin was sitting behind his desk, reading a military treatise.

Wu Tan bounded over, half her body sprawled across his desk. “So free today? No social calls?”

Wu Qinglin put down his book, leaned back in his chair, and looked up at her. “What brings you here? Grandmother was frightened yesterday. You should spend more time with her these days.”

“I already did! Grandmother wasn’t feeling well. Nanny Zhou said she’d gone to rest again after breakfast, so I came to you.” Wu Tan blinked her eyes, and Wu Qinglin, seeing this ingratiating look, knew she must be up to no good again. He was about to send her away when Musong returned just then. “Young Master!”

Wu Qinglin looked up. “Come in.”

He also grabbed Wu Tan, who was leaning on his desk, and set her aside with a stern, “Stand up straight!”

Musong stepped over the threshold.

Wu Qinglin said, “Have you found what I asked you to look into?”

“Yes!” Musong replied. “Huo Wenshan’s third son, Huo Changyu, often frequents the entertainment district. He has a favored pipa player at Qingyi House named Liu Xin. That night, around the second watch, Liu Xin was picked up by him as soon as she finished her shift. The girls at the brothel said she wasn’t sent back until dawn the next day. I followed this lead—before being sold into Qingyi House, Liu Xin was the daughter of a tenant farmer at Liu Family Village outside the city. Her father was a compulsive gambler and sold her to the brothel to pay his debts. She has a younger sister named Liu Ning, who entered our marquisate two years ago and works as a scullery maid in the kitchen.”

Wu Qinglin considered this for a moment. “Are you sure it’s her?”

“Because she’s only a scullery maid, she doesn’t stay in the mansion overnight. Unless there’s a banquet, she leaves after dinner and returns at dawn. I asked at the gatehouse—on the day in question, the kitchen maids had to come in before the fourth watch because the marquis and the second young master were leaving early for a trip and breakfast was served earlier than usual,” Musong explained, pausing before adding, “But the fourth young lady said she received the note in the middle of the night.”

Although there was no hard evidence, the accumulation of coincidences was evidence enough.

At least, Wu Tan wasn’t buying any of it.

She pursed her lips and picked up the paperweight on Wu Qinglin’s desk to play with. “If we can’t find proof, then just give her a good beating for now.”

Musong, well aware of Second Miss’s outrageous ways, didn’t dare listen to her and looked to Wu Qinglin instead, waiting for his nod.

“Do this: detain her, and have Steward Qin gather everyone in the front courtyard outside the flower hall,” Wu Qinglin said, rising and moving around his desk. “I’ll go invite Grandmother. It’s been too long since house rules were enforced. The servants have gotten complacent and reckless. It’s time to remind them.”

Wu Tan slipped the paperweight into her sleeve and followed him out.

“Yes!” Musong bowed, pretending not to see the shameless theft by his second young mistress.

As Wu Tan passed him, she suddenly stopped. “What’s the deal with that Liu family? How could one sister be sold to a brothel while the other gets to work peacefully in our kitchen?”

Musong was momentarily thrown by her train of thought, but answered truthfully, “I asked around. The neighbors said the gambling addict died—caught cheating at cards and beaten to death by debt collectors. I think… it happened about half a year after Liu Xin was sold to the brothel.”

Wu Tan thought for a moment. “Later, when you have time, look into that more carefully.”

With that, she dashed off, handing the paperweight to Cheng Cheng waiting at the door, then hurried after Wu Qinglin.

Wu Qinglin took Wu Tan to inform the old lady of the matter.

The old lady had spent the previous night in a state of anxiety. Even after Wu Tan and her brother returned and assured her the situation was under control, she couldn’t relax. Knowing that an outsider had managed to infiltrate the household left her uneasy—she tossed and turned all night, barely sleeping. Now, she not only felt unwell but looked pale as well.

When Wu Qinglin told her his plan, she agreed without hesitation, quickly changed her clothes, summoned Lady Meng and her daughter, and headed to the front flower hall.

By then, Liu Ning had already been brought over by Musong and was kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.

From a distance, Musong saw Wu Qinglin and his party approaching and went over to report quietly, “I questioned her. She’s illiterate and didn’t dare open the envelope, so she doesn’t know the contents.”

The fewer people who knew the truth, the better.

Hearing this, Wu Tan and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Surrounded by attendants, the old lady walked over. The crowd of household staff waiting in the courtyard exchanged uneasy glances.

The Marquis of Dingyuan’s household was not complicated. The marquis had no concubines and spent most of his time guarding the frontier. None of the three young masters was married yet. If there was any strife, it was only the second young lady and third young lady squabbling over clothes and jewelry. So when Steward Qin suddenly gathered everyone together, each person was bewildered.

But the intimidating scene left Liu Ning shivering. Before the old lady could even approach, she began to plead for mercy. “Old Madam! Please, spare me! I… I don’t know what I did wrong, I just… Third Young Lady’s friend asked me to pass on a letter…”

At this, Wu Qingqiong was the first to react, her brows drawing together as she tried to step forward, only to be held back firmly by Lady Meng.

The old lady had already approached, her face stern as she spoke, “Since you work in the Wu household, you must abide by our rules and understand the roles of master and servant. Anyone who oversteps their bounds and breaks the rules has only themselves to blame. Steward Qin, bring the paddle. Carry out the punishment here and now. No one is to leave—watch closely. Let this be a lesson: anyone who betrays the household will meet the same end!”

——Author’s Note——

Honestly, I think Tan’er’s quips are even better than her beastly brother’s…

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