Chapter 112: Huang Yue’s Scheme

Chapter 112: Huang Yue's Scheme

Wan Mama led the people to rummage through Huang Yue’s room.

In no time, they found a small mill that looked like a toy among a pile of clutter.

Huang Yue was startled when she saw this item being pulled out.

“What is this?” Lu Lingyun immediately noticed it.

The small mill clearly had ground many things, with a pile of powder stuck in its crevices. Huang Yue lunged forward and clung tightly to the small mill, tears streaming down her face before she even spoke, “Young Lady, this is a little trinket my father made for me!”

“What are you so nervous about? I just want to take a look,” Lu Lingyun smiled at her.

“Young Lady, this is the only keepsake my father left me!” Huang Yue hugged the small mill tightly, sobbing uncontrollably, “When I was little, my parents worked day and night grinding beans to make tofu. I wanted to help them, but my father, worried about my young age, specially made this small mill for me.”

“When they used the big mill to grind beans, I would sit on the side and use this small mill to follow along. Now that my parents are gone, they left me only this thing. Young Lady, you can have anything from Little Yue, even my life, but please, not this mill.”

Huang Yue’s sobs were heart-wrenching, and her story touched everyone in the room, who looked at her with sympathy and pity.

After all, they were all from humble backgrounds. Even those who followed Lu Lingyun felt a pang of empathy. Who wasn’t born and raised by their parents? If their families weren’t poor, they wouldn’t send their children out to be servants.

This made it difficult for Lu Lingyun to ask for the item to take a look. With both her parents dead, leaving her only this worthless object as a memento, even as the lady of the house, she couldn’t force Huang Yue to hand it over in public.

Forcing it would show her authority and completely disregard the feelings of her subordinates.

Lu Lingyun narrowed her eyes, “Huang Yue, your filial piety is commendable.”

“Thank you, Young Lady, for understanding and accommodating me.” Huang Yue quickly took the opportunity to express her gratitude.

“However, I find your little trinket quite adorable. The young master is in need of some toys. I’d like to offer ten taels of silver to buy it and let him play with it for a few days. I’ll return it to you afterward.”

Just now, Huang Yue had set up the situation to prevent Lu Lingyun from directly demanding the item. Now, Lu Lingyun offered to buy it for ten taels of silver, specifically for the young master Cheng Bingan to play with for a few days. This was an immense favor.

Ordinary servants and maids would consider it a great honor if the young master took an interest in one of their items, let alone being paid for it.

But when Huang Yue heard Lu Lingyun’s words, her brows knitted together, and her innocent face turned to one of grievance, “Young Lady, this is the only keepsake my parents left me. If it were anything else, I would gladly give it to the young master to play with. Mentioning money or even a word more would be an insult to Little Yue.”

“But this small mill, I wish to keep. Moreover, it’s not clean. If it dirties the young master, I would be a sinner!”

Huang Yue cried again, but this time, the people around her didn’t sympathize with her. Instead, they thought she was ungrateful and disrespectful.

The mistress had shown interest in her item and was willing to pay for it, without any intention of damaging or losing it. She even promised to return it after a few days. Even if it were a keepsake, it wasn’t worth being so stingy.

Crying and wailing constantly made it seem as though Lu Lingyun was bullying her.

Lu Lingyun looked at Huang Yue, who clung to the item, and feigned a loss of interest, “Fine, if you’re unwilling, then forget it.”

The gazes of the people around her turned to disdain.

Lu Lingyun led the group out, and as they passed Huang Yue, several maids whispered, “I’ve never seen anyone as stingy as you!”

“Who doesn’t speak well of how Young Lady treats us servants? And she’s even helping you investigate a case. Asking to borrow a toy, and you’re so reluctant. You really think you’re something special.”

“Hold onto your broken mill! So stingy, no one will want to associate with you anymore!”

With this incident, Huang Yue offended a large group of people, both those close to Lu Lingyun and those from Yaoguang Pavilion.

Huang Yue, usually known for her purity and charm, had gained many supporters. But ultimately, people had to choose sides. Seeing her act so miserly and ungrateful quickly turned many servants against her.

Goodwill is a delicate matter, especially useful in critical moments.

For example, just now, when Huang Yue set up the situation to prevent Lu Lingyun from directly demanding the item in front of the servants, she used her goodwill.

Lu Lingyun could have ignored everyone’s feelings and taken the item by force, but doing so would have put her at odds with the servants, losing a significant amount of goodwill and trust.

While Lu Lingyun, as the lady of the house, didn’t necessarily care about such trivial matters, it wasn’t worth losing her reputation and trust over something so insignificant.

Lu Lingyun needed to maintain her dignity and avoid always exerting her authority over the servants.

Huang Yue had counted on this and used her goodwill effectively.

But unexpectedly, Lu Lingyun countered with a few words, completely ruining Huang Yue’s goodwill.

In the future, whenever Huang Yue cried and wailed, people wouldn’t immediately feel sorry for her. Instead, they would remember her stinginess and ungratefulness, reducing the impact of her tears.

Seeing the group’s disdain and disappointment, Huang Yue knew she had lost a lot of support. However, she had protected the hot potato in her hands!

She glanced around, seeing that everyone had left, and quickly hid the mill under her bed before hurrying to catch up.

Meanwhile, Lu Lingyun led the group to Ling Long’s room.

Ling Long, having been beaten today and seeing Huang Yue’s room being searched, dared not protest or say anything.

She stood obediently to one side, waiting for Lu Lingyun to search.

Lu Lingyun gave Wan Mama a nod, and the group started searching again.

Soon, as Wan Mama shook out Ling Long’s bedding, there was a tinkling sound, and a silver hairpin fell out from Ling Long’s bed.

Ling Long’s eyes widened in shock, her pretty face turning pale with fear.

Huang Yue, who had rushed over, saw this and a glint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

Fortunately, although I just suffered a silent loss at Lu Lingyun's hands, the matter didn't get out of hand!

She let out an "Ouch!" and rushed forward, "This is my hairpin!"

Ling Long already knew she had been tricked, and she stammered in panic, "Madam, I swear I didn't do it!"

"Now that the evidence is clear, my hairpin was found in your bed, how can you still deny it!" Huang Yue glared at Ling Long with a fierce expression.

Her eyes gleamed with undisguised triumph.

Humph, this wretch dared to compete with her! She wouldn't let her off easily!