The makeup powder in Wang Qinglin's room had been replaced at Wang Qingyao's command.
She lacked the skill to sneak into others' chambers unnoticed, but Jin Tiao did.
Jin Tiao was an imperial guard assigned to Wang Qingyao by Xiao Yun.
Recalling the look on Wang Qinglin's face earlier, Yin Zhu couldn't help but feel a chill.
If this powder had been used on their young lady's face…
She dared not think further.
Everyone unrelated to Lengxiang Courtyard had cleared out. Qiuju, with her head lowered, swept the ground with feigned diligence, her limbs trembling.
Wang Qingyao walked up to her and gently called her name: "Qiuju."
Qiuju flinched, then shakily raised her head: "Young… Young lady."
Wang Qingyao smiled sweetly, "A box of makeup powder is missing from my room, the Tianrong Shuise kind. Have you seen it?"
Large beads of sweat broke out on Qiuju's forehead: "No… I haven't seen it."
"Why are you so nervous? You're sweating," Wang Qingyao smiled with a gentle expression, like a good mistress who cared for her servants. But in the next second, her expression changed: "Could it be that you stole it, and your guilty conscience is showing?"
Qiuju fell to her knees with a thud, her face flushing and paling: "Young… Young lady, it wasn't… it wasn't me, truly…"
Wang Qingyao bent down slightly and lifted Qiuju's chin with her index finger: "A thief would never admit to being a thief."
Qiuju's pupils contracted sharply, and cold sweat poured down her face.
Wang Qingyao straightened up with satisfaction, clapped her hands, and ordered: "Yin Zhu, Zhizi, search Qiuju's room. We don't keep people with dirty hands in Lengxiang Courtyard."
Qiuju opened her mouth, her lips trembling a few times, but she couldn't utter a word.
Yin Zhu and Zhizi accepted the order, cast contemptuous glances at Qiuju, and marched off to search the room with gusto.
Wang Qingyao didn't follow them in, only hearing the sounds of rummaging and overturning from inside the room.
Qiuju's expression shifted, changing several times.
After about half an incense stick's worth of time, Yin Zhu and Zhizi emerged, both looking somewhat displeased.
"Young lady," Yin Zhu said softly, walking up to Wang Qingyao, "We didn't find anything."
Qiuju immediately straightened up, her head held high, and spoke more clearly: "Young lady, although I haven't been in Lengxiang Courtyard for long, and you haven't trusted me, nor do you like me, I am an upright person. You cannot wrong me like this. Although I am a maid, I have my dignity!"
Her words were forceful and resonant, as if she had suffered a great insult.
Wang Qingyao scoffed dismissively and personally went to Qiuju's room.
The room was in disarray. Yin Zhu and Zhizi had not held back; the bedding on the bed had been overturned, the clothes in the chests had been rummaged through, and anything that could conceal something had been searched.
Yin Zhu followed, whispering, "Could she have already gotten rid of it?"
No, Qiuju had only changed the makeup powder yesterday and hadn't had a chance to leave the manor. If it had been discarded within the manor, such a fine box of powder would surely have been discovered. If someone else had used it and been disfigured, it would have caused complications. Therefore, this makeup powder must still be with her.
As for where it was hidden…
She surveyed the room and her gaze fell upon a pot of asparagus fern on the window lattice.
The asparagus fern was slender and verdant, growing lush and vibrant with the warm weather, full of vitality.
Wang Qingyao gestured for Yin Zhu to pick it up.
Yin Zhu was surprised: "Could the item be hidden in the flowerpot?"
Wang Qingyao left the room and walked up to Qiuju. Qiuju was still kneeling, her expression unyielding.
The hiding place was so clever that no one would have thought of it.
Qiuju was secretly pleased.
However, in the next moment, upon seeing Yin Zhu following behind Wang Qingyao with the asparagus fern, the pure and innocent expression on her face finally cracked.
"Yin Zhu, smash it!"
Qiuju's body trembled. Under her terrified gaze, the flowerpot was heavily smashed to the ground. Soil scattered, and a pumpkin-shaped box of pale green porcelain with floral imprints fell out.
Wang Qingyao looked down at Qiuju: "Do you have anything else to say?"
Qiuju's eyes widened, and she quickly bowed her head to kowtow to Wang Qingyao: "Young lady, I'm sorry. It was a moment of foolishness, I harbored improper thoughts… Young lady, please spare me. I will never dare to do it again… I will compensate you with silver…"
"Alright!"
Qiuju was stunned. Had she gotten away with it so easily?
Wang Qingyao smiled sweetly: "I am the most lenient mistress. It's just a box of makeup powder. Since you like it, I'll give it to you."
Qiuju's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. Just as she was about to kowtow in gratitude, she heard Wang Qingyao continue: "Yin Zhu, apply the powder on her face. Remember, apply a lot, make her look beautiful."
"Yes." Yin Zhu rubbed her hands together gleefully, picked up the makeup powder box from the ground, and blew off the dirt.
Qiuju's pretty little face instantly turned deathly pale, and her eyes showed terror. She recalled Wang Qinglin's face and involuntarily tried to stand up and flee. Zhizi and Nian Momo lunged forward, each grabbing one of her arms, and forced her back to the ground.
She shook her head desperately, pleading repeatedly: "Young lady, spare me, young lady, spare me! It has nothing to do with me. I only replaced the makeup powder; I didn't administer the poison…" Tears and snot smeared her face.
Yin Zhu didn't care if she was the mastermind or an accomplice. The moment she thought of Wang Qinglin's terrifyingly blemished face, she wished she could skin this wretch alive!
Without any mercy, she poured the entire box of makeup powder onto Qiuju's face, causing Qiuju to cough repeatedly as she choked.
At Wang Qingyao's signal, Zhizi and Nian Momo released their grip. Qiuju quickly wiped her face fiercely with her sleeves and then scrambled on all fours to a large water vat placed by the courtyard wall. Water lilies were planted in the vat, and a few round leaves had just emerged.
She leaned on the water vat to stand up and directly submerged her head in the water. After a moment, she lifted it again, then submerged it again. After repeating this several times, she finally collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
Wang Qingyao didn't waste any more words with her and directly sold her off on charges of theft.
Thus, none of the four maids originally placed by Madam Bai remained.
Lengxiang Courtyard was finally quiet.