Lin He paused, considering that since Dongyu possessed such capabilities, the situation needed to be clarified first. Lin He pondered for a moment, as if weighing whether Dongyu's words were credible, then scanned Yu'er and Madam He’s faces before finally nodding to Dongyu: "Mm, Sister-in-law Dongyu, I believe you. What you just said is right; you rarely go out, so even if you wanted to copy the ointment formulas, it would be useless. But it's different for Yu'er and Big Madam; if they try to sell them, they will certainly find someone."

"In that case, you go back first. If there's a need, my carriage is waiting outside; I'll send you back to Lin Family Village later. Since you aren't the culprit in this matter, I am a reasonable person, and I naturally won't pin everything on you."

Dongyu was also secretly observing Lin He's expression. She saw that Lin He had genuinely thought for a long time, and she had also glanced at Yu'er and Madam He, who both looked deeply guilty at that moment—the clear look of having made a mistake. Therefore, Dongyu felt that Lin He likely believed her now.

But when she heard Lin He offer to send her back, she pointed at Madam He and Yu'er and asked, "He'er, what are you planning to do with Yu'er and my mother? Are you going to report them to the officials? He'er, give me some face, won't you? Don't report them. They were just momentarily confused, and they haven't actually done anything terrible. Can you let them off this time?"

Lin He couldn't help but laugh. How could anyone in this world be so unaware of their place? She truly considered herself someone important, actually asking for her face? Honestly, in Lin He's heart, Dongyu's "face" wasn't worth as much as Yu'er and Madam He's. However, Dongyu still had some use, so Lin He didn't answer her directly, merely stating: "I know how to deal with those two; Sister-in-law Dongyu shouldn't concern herself with it. Your business is settled, you should go back first."

Upon hearing this, Dongyu nodded and walked toward the door. As she passed Yu'er, Lin He saw Dongyu give both Yu'er and Madam He a sharp look. The moment Yu'er saw it, she immediately averted her gaze.

After Dongyu left, Lin He said something to Zi Qing, who then went out. Lin He stared at the two remaining before her for a while. She had someone first untie Yu'er, then spoke: "Sister Yu'er, are the words Sister-in-law Dongyu just spoke true? Did you come to work in my ointment workshop solely to steal the formula?"

Yu'er looked at Lin He, nodding timidly, making no sound.

"Why do this? Which cosmetics shop were you planning to sell it to?" Lin He continued to question.

"I don't know. Whichever cosmetics shop wanted it, we would sell it to them." Yu'er finally spoke this time, but after saying it, she looked toward Madam He with an expression suggesting she wasn't sure if she had answered correctly. But Madam He merely sighed softly, saying nothing.

Lin He observed them for a moment. Yu'er had looked guilty since the moment she first saw her and hadn't dared to look Lin He in the eye, suggesting she wasn't truly willing to do these things. And Madam He, since her earlier altercation with Dongyu, had worn a remorseful expression toward Lin He, likely understanding from Lin He's earlier statement that she wouldn't severely punish them. To be honest, Lin He truly didn't have the heart to force confessions out of them with harsh methods right now.

Lin He thought for a moment, then spoke meaningfully: "Sister Yu'er, although we were never particularly close, we did spend some time together at our maiden home. We did needlework together, chatted together, only seeing each other less after you married. If someone else said you would do small wrong things for money, I would believe it, but if you say this current scheme was your idea, I absolutely do not believe it."

"You've been working in the ointment workshop for some time now; you must have heard people mention that my husband and I have already separated from the Wen family. We don't have many other assets here; we rely on the products from this workshop to make a living. If you sold the ointment formula to another family, and we lost the workshop, we wouldn't know how to get by."

After speaking a passage, Lin He felt her throat dry and took a sip of tea. While drinking, Lin He secretly observed Yu'er. Yu'er's guilt had deepened, and her eyes seemed on the verge of tears. Lin He put down her tea and continued: "If you truly have some hardship, Sister Yu'er, tell me. I will certainly help you if I can, even if not for your sake, then for Big Uncle's sake. After all, we are sisters; I won't abandon you. I..."

Before Lin He finished speaking, Yu'er knelt and moved toward Lin He, crying out, "He'er, don't say any more. I have failed you. After I did such a thing, you are still concerned about whether I have difficulties. I truly deserve death for thinking about stealing your ointment formula, but I was truly forced into a corner. But I cannot say it, truly cannot say it. I beg you to forgive me."

"Yes, He'er, we were truly forced. Don't make us speak, or Zhao Yu he..." Madam He walked to Yu'er's side, stroking Yu'er's head while weeping, but she trailed off halfway through her sentence.

However, Lin He had already caught the scent of the issue. She reached out and helped Yu'er up, and then the mother and daughter sat by the table. Lin He tentatively asked: "Is this matter related to Zhao Yu?"

Yu'er refused to speak, merely lowering her head and crying continuously. Madam He beside her just moved her lips, and in the end, only shook her head without making a sound.

Lin He's mind worked rapidly, recalling everything Dongyu had said today, the expressions of Yu'er and Madam He, reviewing Zhao Yu's situation, and connecting it to the month Yu'er took leave to visit her in-laws. She tried again, tentatively asking: "Yu'er, actually, Zhao Yu didn't go missing; something happened to him outside, and somehow Dongyu found out about this. Dongyu is using this as leverage to threaten you, forcing you to find a way to work in my ointment workshop and steal the formula, isn't that right?"

Although Lin He couldn't figure out how Dongyu was connected to Zhao Yu's disappearance, she had guessed the general situation correctly. Yu'er was stunned that Lin He had guessed seven or eight parts of the truth. After a moment, she recovered and looked at Lin He, asking, "He'er, how did you know? Dongyu is indeed using Zhao Yu's situation to blackmail me." Yu'er then burst into tears.

Lin He consoled her for a while, and when she stopped crying, she asked what exactly happened to Zhao Yu and what Dongyu was using to threaten them.

Yu'er initially refused to speak, only crying, repeatedly apologizing to Lin He and begging her to let her off this time. Finally, Madam He persuaded her to tell the whole story, saying that this time they failed to steal the ointment formula as Dongyu instructed, and now they had no other options. Just now, Lin He had said that if Yu'er truly had difficulties, she might be able to help. (To be continued)