Old Madam Li quickly arrived with everyone. She entered the room and sat down while Qingfeng busied himself, first serving tea and then bringing refreshments. Meanwhile, the female servant in charge of Songzhu Courtyard, Nanny Xin, stood awkwardly to the side with a forced smile.

Nanny Zhang, who had always been trusted, wasted no time recounting everything in the courtyard in full detail. Upon hearing Nanny Zhang’s words, Lin Wanru immediately broke into a cold sweat. Ouyang Jue was just a child, and Ouyang Nuan had always trusted her. Now, most of the people in Songzhu Courtyard were under her control. With her careful arrangements, these people were not merely lazy and neglectful. But this was a far bigger issue. Normally, the old madam stayed in her own quarters and remained unaware of the situation. If not for this wretched girl Ouyang Nuan today……

Old Madam Li’s expression darkened. She slammed the teacup onto the table and said sternly, “Where have all the maids in this courtyard gone? Why is a servant boy the one serving tea?”

The courtyard was indeed in a state of disarray. Nanny Xin had originally been left by the former madam to take care of her son. She had been loyal, but over the years, she had grown older and had been deliberately suppressed by Lin Wanru. The eldest miss was a soft-hearted fool who trusted her stepmother, and the eldest young master was nothing but a mischievous child. Nanny Xin simply couldn’t manage everything on her own. Disheartened, she had given up trying to control things and had taken to turning a blind eye to the chaos. As a result, Songzhu Courtyard had fallen into disorder. The young maids had followed suit— either sneaking off to play or gossiping in other courtyards. Now, seeing the old madam furious, Nanny Xin panicked and quickly shouted toward the outside, “Liu’er! Cui’er! Get in here and serve!”

Just then, the maid who had been reciting poetry earlier stepped in, her delicate figure trembling as if she were floating. Right behind her came the haughty-looking maid, who now looked pale with fright. She hadn’t expected the person she had snubbed earlier to be the old madam’s trusted aide. Realizing her mistake, she was terrified.

Old Madam Li took one look at these two maids, who were far too beautiful to be mere servants, and her rage flared. Well, well, Lin Wanru! You always act so kind and generous that I let my guard down for a moment, and now you dare to send these vixens to my grandson’s side? Just what are you planning?

Catching the old madam’s knife-like glare, Lin Wanru’s hatred for Ouyang Nuan grew even deeper.

“Nanny Xin, how are you managing things? You’re causing unnecessary trouble for the old madam.” Ouyang Nuan said gently as she set down her teacup. She, of course, knew Lin Wanru now despised her even more, but she acted as if nothing was amiss.

Nanny Xin had long suppressed her anger at these seductive maids, enduring their antics all day. But now, she dared not defend herself. She simply lowered her head, unable to say a word.

Old Madam Li, enraged, smashed her teacup to the ground and ordered, “Summon the master!”

Lin Wanru and Ouyang Ke exchanged a glance before Ouyang Ke hurried to Old Madam Li’s side, trying to appease her. “Grandmother, the servants were just ignorant. A little discipline is enough, there’s no need to get so angry. It’s not worth it if you harm your health.”

But Old Madam Li was too furious to listen. She flung Ouyang Ke’s hand away and barked at the servants, “Hurry!”

Ouyang Nuan glanced at Ouyang Ke’s pale face and her lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile.

Ouyang Zhi had just finished seeing off guests in the front hall when he was urgently summoned by the old madam. Seeing the grave atmosphere upon his arrival at Songzhu Courtyard, he immediately treaded carefully. “Mother, what happened? Who dares to anger you?” He asked, his eyes shifting toward his wife and daughters with a hint of reproach.

Old Madam Li pointed at the two kneeling maids with displeasure. “Ask your wonderful wife! Songzhu Courtyard has turned into a mess under these unruly wretches, and she, as the lady of the house, has done nothing to set it right!”

Ouyang Zhi was startled. “What’s going on? Wanru, explain yourself!”

Lin Wanru quickly covered her face with a handkerchief, looking pitiful with tears glistening in her eyes. “Husband, it’s all my fault. I’ve been preoccupied with Nuan’er’s illness and have neglected Jue’er’s affairs. I failed to keep an eye on the servants, which led to this disgraceful situation. I’ve truly let Mother down.”

Before Ouyang Nuan could say anything, Old Madam Li exploded with anger. “So you’re saying that because of Nuan’er, Jue’er should have been left unattended? Or are you simply admitting that, as a stepmother, you’re incompetent in managing the household?”

Seeing that the old madam’s face had turned deathly pale with anger, Nanny Zhang quickly stepped in. “Master, it’s no wonder the old madam is upset. She rarely comes here to enjoy the scenery, and today of all days, these wicked servants had to ruin her mood! Nanny Xin, tell the truth!”

Nanny Xin, who had always detested these idle servants, knew she couldn’t escape responsibility. Since her punishment was inevitable, she might as well expose everything. Adding fuel to the fire, she reported, “Master, these maids do nothing all day except loiter in the gardens. They neglect their duties, refuse to clean or serve, and spend their time gossiping and stirring trouble. When I reprimand them, they talk back!”

Ouyang Zhi glanced at Lin Wanru suspiciously.

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly and interjected, “Nanny Xin, don’t make wild accusations. Mother must have chosen only the best people for my brother. If they have become unruly, then surely it’s due to your failure to discipline them.”

Nanny Xin, now in tears, retorted, “Eldest Miss, I am not making anything up. The servants here have grown lazy and arrogant. The young master is too small to understand, but those two maids over there— one of them even claims that when she first entered the household, someone promised her that she’d become a concubine once the young master came of age. She has since carried herself as if she were already a noble lady!”

Old Madam Li’s eyes turned red with rage and she nearly fainted on the spot. “What nonsense! Jue’er is only a child! How dare they entertain such disgraceful thoughts?!”

Ouyang Zhi was equally shocked. “What?! How could this happen?”

Lin Wanru shot a venomous glare at Nanny Xin, wishing she could kill the servant on the spot. But given the current situation, saying anything would only make things worse. Instead, Lin Wanru dug her fingers into the embroidered cushion beneath her, gripping it tightly as if to tear a hole through it.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Ke grew increasingly anxious and forced a smile. “Father, please don’t be angry. This is just a minor issue. We can simply discipline the maids and move on. There’s no need for such a fuss. Nanny Xin, as the one in charge, you have full authority to discipline servants. Perhaps you were simply too lenient, making them think they could take advantage of you?”

With just a few words, she attempted to brush the matter aside.

Ouyang Nuan, watching from the sidelines, let out a cold laugh. Did Ouyang Ke really think she could downplay the situation? Their grandmother had only one grandson and the boy was her precious treasure. How could she possibly tolerate such maids harboring indecent ambitions? Let alone the fact that Ouyang Jue was only ten years old, just the mere implication of such schemes was akin to slapping Old Madam Li in the face in front of everyone. There was no way she would let this go.

Sure enough, Old Madam Li erupted in fury. She slammed her palm onto the table, raising her voice, “What nonsense! Servants daring to overstep their boundaries— is this what has become of the Ouyang family’s traditions?!”

Ouyang Zhi’s face darkened. He turned sharply to Lin Wanru and demanded, “How could you let this happen? Jue’er’s courtyard is in complete disorder, and you did nothing?”

Lin Wanru, flustered, tried to explain, “I thought he was growing up and shouldn’t be micromanaged in everything—”

Before she could finish, Ouyang Zhi cut her off sternly, “Growing up? He’s just a child! And yet you stood by and let the servants run wild?”

As the chaos unfolded, Ouyang Nuan remained composed, quietly observing everything with an unreadable expression.