“I didn’t see clearly, but if I catch him, I’ll skin him alive!” Ouyang Jue said furiously, his dark, gleaming eyes filled with anger.

Ouyang Nuan pondered for a moment before asking, “Where were your servants and guards?”

“Today, I only had Qingfeng and two guards with me. I left something at the academy, so I sent Qingfeng back to fetch it. On the way back, we encountered a drunkard who insisted that we had bumped into him and refused to let us leave. I left the guards to deal with him and slipped away through another route.” Ouyang Jue explained, but as he spoke, he noticed his sister’s expression growing darker. “Sister, what’s wrong?”

Ouyang Nuan did not answer. Instead, she turned to Hongyu and asked, “Where is that gray-clad servant we captured?”

Hongyu hesitated for a moment before quickly replying, “Young Miss, when the madam left, she took him with her, saying she would give him a good lesson.”

A lesson? More like silencing him. But it didn’t matter. Since Lin Wanru dared to act, she would naturally erase all traces cleanly. In Ouyang Nuan’s past life, her younger brother had suddenly drowned, and even though Old Madam Li launched a grand investigation, the final conclusion was that it was an accident. It showed how thorough Lin Wanru’s cleanup efforts had been. If not for Ouyang Nuan’s unexpected interference this time, that gray-clad servant wouldn’t have been caught due to a slip-up. Even if she held onto him, without eyewitnesses or solid evidence, she couldn’t truly shake Lin Wanru’s foundation.

Hearing that Lin Wanru had taken the man away, Ouyang Jue snorted through his nose. Ouyang Nuan chuckled. “What’s wrong now?”

“Hmph! That woman can’t compare to our mother at all. She lacks half the grace of a noble family and can’t hide her vulgar, upstart face. I can’t stand the sight of her! Sister, you must never be deceived by her!”

Lacking half the grace of a noble family and unable to conceal the face of a vulgar upstart? What a vivid description. But there were many servants there, some undoubtedly Lin Wanru’s spies. This was not the time to speak so recklessly. Ouyang Nuan gently scolded, “Don’t talk nonsense. You’ve had a long day. Go and rest now.”

“No! I want to stay here with you. I’m afraid that if I close my eyes, you’ll be gone.” Ouyang Jue insisted. His large eyes were bloodshot, filled with deep attachment.

Ouyang Nuan felt a pang in her heart. She patted his hand and said, “Silly child, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always protect you. From now on, you have nothing to fear.”

There was a deeper meaning in her words, but Ouyang Jue was too young to understand the profound emotions behind them.

“Hongyu, take two older servants and escort the young master back. Make sure he reaches the door of his room before you return.” Ouyang Nuan said calmly.

Upon hearing that, Ouyang Jue immediately protested, “Sister! I’m already grown up. Stop treating me like a child! One day, I will protect you!”

Ouyang Nuan smiled slightly, patted his head, and said softly, “Alright, I’ll wait for that day.”

Watching Hongyu escort Ouyang Jue out, Nanny Fang gently advised, “Young Miss, it’s still before dawn. You should rest a little longer.”

Ouyang Nuan shook her head and remained half-reclining by the bedside, her gaze deep as she stared outside the door as if waiting for something.

It wasn’t until half an hour later when Hongyu returned and reported that the young master had been safely sent back to Songzhu Courtyard, that Ouyang Nuan finally lay down.

Ouyang Nuan lay on the bed, covered with a thick brocade quilt, but her eyes remained fixed on the bluish-green embroidered canopy above, lost in thought. First, she had dealt with Xiao Tao, and then she had saved Ouyan Jue. Given the current situation, Lin Wanru would undoubtedly grow suspicious of her. However, no matter how much Lin Wanrususpected, she would never imagine that Ouyang Nuan had been reborn.

As dawn approached, the sound of footsteps and voices came from outside, indicating that a group of people had entered. Ouyang Nuan glanced at Hongyu, who was sitting on a small stool nearby, head nodding off as she dozed. Ouyan Nuan wanted to speak but ultimately remained silent. Soon after, the door curtain rustled, followed by a soft cough. Without hesitation, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

“Ah, M-madam!”

Hongyu was startled awake by the sound. Upon seeing the visitor, she panicked, quickly rising to bow. In her haste, she knocked over the small stool. Lin Wanru did not speak, but the trusted servant beside her, Nanny Wang, immediately scolded in irritation, “You were supposed to be watching over the eldest miss, yet you were sneaking a nap? And now, you’re being so clumsy. How is this any way to serve her?”

As the voice grew louder, Ouyang Nuan shifted slightly. Then, a concerned voice followed, “Nanny Wang, if you must discipline someone, do it outside. If you disturb Nuan’er, I will hold you accountable as well.”

“Yes, Madam is right.”

Ouyang Nuan opened her eyes and saw that it was indeed Lin Wanru. Upon noticing Ouyang Nuan awake, Lin Wanru’s face lit up with joy. She personally stepped forward, carefully helping Ouyang Nuan sit up and placing a bluish-green embroidered pillow behind her for support.

Nanny Wang chuckled and said, “Eldest Miss, Madam wanted to see you before dawn. This old servant tried to stop her, telling her you must still be asleep.”

Nanny Wang wore gold bangles on her wrists, jade hairpins in her bun, and her silk robes were pressed stiff to maintain a dignified appearance. Yet, no matter how she dressed, she still exuded the air of an upstart. Ouyang Nuan suddenly recalled the words from the previous night— ‘Lacking half the grace of a noble family and unable to conceal the face of a vulgar upstart.’ How fitting! A mistress like Lin Wanruwould naturally have servants in the same mold.

Ouyang Nuan’s smile grew softer, as if Lin Wanru’s concern had truly moved her.

“Nuan’er, are you feeling better?”

“Much better.”

“If you’re better, why do you still look so pale?” Lin Wanru’s expression darkened and she turned sharply to glare at Hongyu and the newly arrived Nanny Fang. “The old madam has asked about Nuan’er multiple times, and you all kept saying the physician assured that everything was fine. Then why does she still look so pale? The young master is too little to know better, but do you not understand? Even if others are careless, Nanny Fang, how could you be? I sent people over several times, and yet you never thought to report back? Such neglect!”

So, Lin Wanruwas already reprimanding Ouyang Nuan’s servants to establish her authority. It seemed Lin Wanru intended to assert control over this courtyard. Ouyang Nuan smiled softly, appearing weak and delicate.

“Mother, please don’t blame them. Hongyu wanted to report back, but I stopped her because I didn’t want to disturb your rest. Nanny Fang is getting older, so I told her to go back and rest first. As for Hongyu— how many times have I taught you proper manners? And yet, at such an important moment, you behaved no better than that wretched servant girl Xiao Tao, forgetting all propriety. Mother has been here for quite some time now, and you still haven’t prepared a seat for her!”

Hongyu hurriedly fetched an embroidered stool for Lin Wanru, while another maid, Wenxiu, quickly brought in hot tea.

Lin Wanru froze for a moment, startled, but soon masked her reaction with a gentle expression. She carefully observed Ouyang Nuan before sighing softly, “Nuan’er, I know you were anxious to save Jue’er, but you mustn’t risk your own health. Look at you, so frail and pitiful. It pains me deeply. If only I could take your place! If anything happened to you, how would I ever explain it to my sister?”

Ouyang Nuan’s smile grew even more radiant and sincere. “Mother, you are so kind to me.”

Explain? Sooner or later, I will personally send you to meet my mother. Then, you can explain everything to her at your leisure!