Staring at Wen Ningxuan’s retreating figure, Lin He gritted her teeth until her jaw ached. Wen Ningxuan, you bastard! To get angry with me for no reason, and to do it in front of so many people, even letting your detestable Fifth Uncle mock me! If I, Lin He, forgive you easily this time, then my surname isn't Lin. I’d like to see what kind of madness has suddenly seized you.

The group returned to the courtyard late into the night. Lin He had already dismissed Ziyu earlier after dinner. By now, Ziyu and Lingxiao had been waiting in the courtyard. At first, Ziyu was a little puzzled when she saw Wen Ningxuan enter alone, but observing his icy demeanor, she dared not ask, merely holding a lantern toward the gate to see if Lin He and the others had returned.

Fortunately, just as Ziyu reached the courtyard entrance, she spotted approaching lanterns in the distance. Thinking it must be the Young Mistress and her party, Ziyu quickly held her own lantern high by the gate. When Lin He and the others walked in, Ziyu whispered, “Young Mistress, why did the Young Master return alone? Why didn't you come back together?”

“How should I know,” Lin He snapped back curtly.

Ziyu was momentarily stunned by the sharp anger in Lin He’s tone. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Ziqing, who was behind Lin He, shaking her head slightly. Ziyu understood immediately and fell silent. It was Ziqing who finally spoke, “Young Mistress, it is very late. Please hurry inside to rest. I will fetch water for you and the Young Master to freshen up.”

Lin He nodded and proceeded toward the main house. As she reached the doorway, she saw Wen Ningxuan sitting by the table inside, calmly sipping tea. He glanced up as she paused at the entrance, his look faint and transient before his gaze shifted away, as if he didn't recognize her at all.

This solidified Lin He’s inability to vent her anger. She shot Wen Ningxuan a glare, then turned away from the main house, stepping back out toward the loft building. Ziyu hurried after her, whispering anxiously, “Young Mistress, where are you going? It’s so late; shouldn’t you go to the main room to rest?”

“I will be staying in the loft for these next few days. Tell Ziqing to send my washing water there later,” Lin He said, storming toward the loft.

Hearing this, Ziyu opened her mouth as if to persuade her mistress otherwise, but seeing the fury etched on Lin He’s face, she clamped her mouth shut, unsure what to do. Moreover, since the Young Mistress was heading straight to the loft, should she go inform the Young Master?

But the Young Mistress hadn't given any command. If she went to tell him, would the Young Mistress turn her anger upon her? Usually, the Young Mistress was very reasonable, but when she fought with the Young Master, she could be utterly indiscriminate—Ziyu vividly remembered the argument at the shop before the wedding involving Ningnuo.

Yet, if she didn't go, and the Young Master became angry later, he surely wouldn't punish the Young Mistress. Would he then pin all the blame on her? Alas, being a serving maid was truly a dilemma caught between two parties.

Ziyu paused in the courtyard, pondering. In the end, she decided to walk toward the loft. After all, the Young Mistress was her primary charge. If the Young Master punished her later, the Young Mistress could at least intercede for her. In this compound, Ziyu felt the Young Mistress held the greater sway, not for any other reason, but simply because the Young Master cherished her so deeply that her words carried weight.

Ziyu approached the loft and entered the room, only to be startled by the Young Mistress’s posture. Lin He was half-reclining on the sofa, clutching a cushion, her legs crossed and resting on the small table before the couch. Her eyes were lightly closed, though she wasn't asleep—she seemed lost in thought.

Normally, Ziyu would have immediately stepped forward to gently remind Lin He that such a posture was unseemly. Indeed, the Young Mistress had never behaved this way before; though she hadn't come from a noble house, she understood propriety well. Today, however, Ziyu truly lacked the courage, so she stood silently beside the sofa.

After a long while, Ziqing arrived from outside carrying the washing water. Entering the room and observing the Young Mistress’s position, she let out a soft, resigned sigh. She placed the water aside, walked up to the sofa, and called softly, “Young Mistress, the water is here. I will help you freshen up, and then you should rest early. It won’t be many hours until dawn, and the Second Young Master must rise early for the shop tomorrow.”

Lin He hadn't truly been asleep, only intending to rest her eyes for a moment. Hearing Ziqing’s words, she opened her eyes, glanced at her maid, stood up, and stretched languidly. “Don’t wake me so early tomorrow. The Old Madam said we don’t need to present ourselves for morning greetings tomorrow. I will sleep until whenever I please, and you will let me.”

“This…” Ziqing fell silent after seeing Lin He’s expression.

“What is it? Is there a problem?” Lin He asked.

“Young Mistress, I feel that is slightly inappropriate. The Young Master always waits for you to dress him before leaving, and you send him off every morning,” Ziyu stated truthfully.

“I am not the maid servant of the Second Young Master, someone whose whims I must cater to. Let his own maids attend to these things. Why does he have so many servants in his courtyard? Ziqing, go tell Xiangyun that she is to attend to the Young Master’s dressing for the next few days,” Lin He said, sparing Ziyu a sharp glance.

“Ah? Young Mistress, you want Xiangyun to attend to the Young Master? Do you know Xiangyun was specifically assigned by the Madam to stay by the Second Young Master’s side?” Ziyu questioned, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Then that’s perfect. Perhaps your Second Young Master has long tired of my service and has been hoping for a change of attendants,” Lin He replied expressionlessly.

“Young Mistress, what you are saying is too harsh. The Young Master is utterly devoted to you. We servants see how well he treats you. Both before and after the marriage, we have never seen a man treat his wife with such devotion. If you truly do not wish to see the Young Master, then I will have Shunzhu attend to him tomorrow morning instead. At least let it not be Xiangyun,” Ziyu gathered her courage and spoke rapidly.

Ziqing nudged Ziyu, signaling her not to be so direct, and then added softly, “Yes, Young Mistress. If you fear you won't wake up tomorrow, let Shunzhu serve the Young Master. Before we arrived, Shunzhu always attended to him.”

Although the visible anger had faded from Lin He’s face, the fire in her heart was still raging fiercely. She had managed to calm down, intending to exercise restraint, but hearing these two maids consistently speaking well of that scoundrel Wen Ningxuan, Lin He could hold her temper no longer. She spoke in a cold voice, “From this moment on, if I hear a single kind word spoken for your Second Young Master from your lips again, you two will serve the Second Young Master instead. I will no longer require your service.”