“So, she was defeated by Suoxin?” Li Yaoqin asked.
Suo Xin paused and looked up at her, asking, “Eldest Miss, what do you mean?”
“Suoxin used musk without authorization,” Li Yaoqin said slowly.
Suo Xin was startled and asked, looking at her, “Did you hear that?”
“Mo Lian, who is by Father’s side, said so,” Li Yaoqin replied.
Suo Xin suddenly understood, “So, she wanted to abort the child herself?”
Li Yaoqin said, “I don’t know, but I’m afraid things are not that simple.”
Aunt Liu sneered, “I thought this Suo Xin was not that simple. It turns out she isn’t.”
Li Yaoqin looked at Aunt Liu and asked, “Why do you think Suo Xin is not simple?”
Aunt Liu smiled and said, “It’s very simple. Didn’t Eldest Miss see it? A servant in the mansion, after being given an opportunity by Eldest Miss, has soared to prominence. Doesn’t this prove that she is exceptionally intelligent?”
Li Yaoqin nodded upon hearing this. “Indeed.” It was her own poor judgment. She thought Suo Xin would listen to her and be loyal, but it turned out she was merely a stepping stone.
“It’s not too late for Eldest Miss to understand. Now, Eldest Miss must know that one person alone cannot shake Suo Xin’s position in Master’s heart. Therefore, Eldest Miss needs to join forces with me.”
“Join forces?” Li Yaoqin frowned. She had never thought of joining forces with Aunt Liu. She had told Aunt Liu only to see what other methods Aunt Liu had and to involve her? She did not want to.
Aunt Liu smiled, her tone somewhat sarcastic, “Or does Eldest Miss intend for me to take the lead, and Eldest Miss will reap the benefits from behind?”
Seeing that Aunt Liu seemed to have seen through her thoughts, Li Yaoqin said, “I don’t mean that. I just feel that I have already been disliked by Father. If I do something that makes him dislike me even more, I’m afraid I will truly have no place in the mansion.”
Aunt Liu sneered upon hearing this, “In the end, Eldest Miss still dares not to try rashly. But it doesn’t matter, I never force anyone.”
“Aunt Liu…”
“If Eldest Miss has nothing else, you may leave. I still need to apply medicine,” Aunt Liu issued the order to leave.
After leaving Aunt Liu’s, Li Yaoqin’s expression was not good. Lian Xin saw this and asked, “Why didn’t Eldest Miss agree to Aunt Liu’s proposal?”
Li Yaoqin looked at Lian Xin and asked, “Do you think I should agree?”
Lian Xin said, “Your maid doesn’t know, but your maid thinks that since Suo Xin is so intelligent now, having one more person might mean one more source of strength.”
Li Yaoqin gave a wry smile. “Do you think Lian Xin wouldn’t think of what you can think of?”
Lian Xin was startled, “Eldest Miss, are you saying Suo Xin knows you and Aunt Liu are allied?”
“It’s obvious,” Li Yaoqin said.
“Eldest Miss, Suo Xin is so dangerous. Why don’t you go to the manor?” Lian Xin said worriedly.
“What are you afraid of? I am, after all, Father’s only legitimate daughter. Even if she dares to touch me, she has to consider her own abilities.” Li Yaoqin said.
The next day, Lian Xin rushed in and came before Li Yaoqin, whispering, “Eldest Miss, Mo Lian is dead.”
Li Yaoqin, who was dressing her hair, suddenly got up. Yan Xin, who was combing her hair, didn’t react in time. Li Yaoqin’s hair was pulled fiercely, and she felt unbearable pain.
Yan Xin, scared, quickly knelt on the ground. “Eldest Miss, please forgive me. Your maid did not do it on purpose.”
Li Yaoqin endured the pain and waved her hand, “Go back!”
Yan Xin bit her lower lip and left.
Lian Xin stepped forward, took the comb Yan Xin had placed there, and began to comb Li Yaoqin’s hair while whispering, “Mo Lian was found in the dry well in the backyard this morning. When she was fished out, Mo Lian had already breathed her last.”
“Murder?” Li Yaoqin asked.
Lian Xin shook her head. “Your maid doesn’t know, but I asked the person who fished Mo Lian out. They said there were no marks on Mo Lian’s neck.”
Li Yaoqin sighed upon hearing this. “It’s a pity that Mo Lian died. If she hadn’t come to me yesterday, she probably wouldn’t have died so soon.”
Lian Xin was startled and asked, “Eldest Miss means that Mo Lian was found out?”
Li Yaoqin nodded. “Yes, the most likely person is…”
She didn’t say it, but Lian Xin knew who Li Yaoqin was referring to, which could only be Suo Xin.
“The matter of having Father take a concubine must be put on the agenda. Lian Xin, how are Qiu Xin and Xia Xin being trained?”
Lian Xin said, “They are almost ready.”
“Good. Bring them over tomorrow. Father has a day off tomorrow. Set the date for tomorrow.”
Lian Xin nodded. “Eldest Miss, please rest assured. Your maid will arrange it now.”
When Li Sinian returned in the evening, he stayed in the inner chamber of the study, as expected.
“Master, your maid cannot serve you right now. Master can go to Aunt Liu’s,” Suo Xin said with a pale face, unwillingly.
Li Sinian smiled, stepped forward, and put his arm around Suo Xin’s shoulders. “Look at you, are you jealous? I said I would accompany you, and I will accompany you.”
Suo Xin smiled, but felt a little uneasy. “Master, isn’t this bad? You don’t go to Madam’s, nor do you go to Aunt Liu’s. The people in the mansion will say your maid is arrogant due to your favor.”
“Who dares to say you? I’ll deal with them,” Li Sinian said coldly.
Suo Xin hesitated to speak. Li Sinian saw her hesitation and asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something you can’t say?”
“Master, what if the person is an old servant in the mansion?” Suo Xin asked.
“Since you have come to the Prime Minister’s mansion, you must remember your duties. There are no new servants or old servants here, only those who wholeheartedly serve the Prime Minister’s mansion,” Li Sinian said.
Suo Xin bit her lower lip. “It’s Mo Lian.”
Li Sinian was stunned. Mo Lian was indeed an old servant in the mansion, almost the closest maid to him. Although called a maid, he actually regarded Mo Lian as a sister.
“What did Mo Lian say? I’ll go call Mo Lian over and have her apologize to you?” Li Sinian asked.
Suo Xin shook her head. “No need. Mo Lian committed suicide due to guilt.”
Li Sinian was completely stunned and looked at Suo Xin in disbelief, asking, “You said Mo Lian committed suicide due to guilt?”
Suo Xin nodded. “Exactly.”
“Impossible.” Li Sinian denied it without hesitation.
Suo Xin heard this and her voice became a little choked. “Master still doesn’t believe your maid? You would rather believe a maid than your maid.”
Seeing Suo Xin cry, Li Sinian stepped forward to comfort her. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, but Mo Lian would never do something like this.”
“Why is it impossible? Everyone in the mansion heard what she said. Does Master believe her rather than your maid?”
Li Sinian rubbed his forehead. “Mo Lian has followed me for fifteen years. In these fifteen years, she has never done anything out of line. You say she spoke ill of you behind your back, I truly don’t believe it.”
“Eldest Miss also heard it,” Suo Xin suddenly said.