Scholar Zhao’s Wife’s smile stiffened on her face, but she quickly regained her composure. She continued to hold her teacup, the corners of her mouth twitching into a smile that was not quite a smile, yet she didn’t drink any more tea.

Lian Huahua, unaware of anything amiss, offered another cup of tea to Scholar Li’s Wife.

Scholar Li’s Wife, noticing Lian Huahua’s careful and polite wiping of the tea cup, smiled and praised her, "Such a talented young lady." She was feeling thirsty and had just heard Scholar Zhao’s Wife commend the tea as good. After taking the tea, she brought it to her lips and drank.

At the taste, there was none of the anticipated fragrance of tea. It was instead astringent and bitter, even more so than bitter medicine. Scholar Li’s Wife, who loathed bitterness, spat the tea out with a "puh".

"Fetch me some sugar," Scholar Li’s Wife called to a young maid who had followed her.

It turned out that Scholar Li’s Wife came from a wealthy family, and her husband’s family also had a fair amount of farmland. She had been spoiled from a young age, never having suffered the slightest hardship, which gave her a straightforward and even somewhat willful personality that lacked the knack for superficial pretenses in social situations.

"Sister, why did you praise it as good tea and led me to this misstep?" Scholar Li’s Wife, after taking a piece of sugar brought by the maid, immediately scolded Scholar Zhao’s Wife.

"I was just about to warn you, sister, but you had already drunk the tea," said Scholar Zhao’s Wife with an apologetic smile.

Lady Gu and Lian Huahua’s expressions changed at the side.

"It must have been the clumsiness of someone below, ruining this tea. This is not good tea; bring better tea." Lady Gu quickly said with a smile, "Jizu’s daughter-in-law?"

But it wasn’t Lady Chiang who responded; it was Lian Yeye.

"Auntie, what do I know? This tea was prepared according to Sister Huahua’s instructions." Lian Yeye stood in the middle of the room, honestly stating, "I also said this tea was not good, even worse than swill for pigs. But Sister Huahua insisted that both Scholar’s wives preferred this taste and told me not to speak up."

Lian Yeye’s words stunned everyone in the room. Lady Gu and Lian Huahua had not expected Lian Yeye to say such a thing, while Scholars Zhao and Li’s wives were both shocked and annoyed. They glanced at each other and then at Lady Gu and her daughter Lian Huahua. Compared to the clever and cunning Lady Gu and Lian Huahua, Lian Yeye, a rustic girl, young and with an air of the countryside, seemed more credible. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

It inevitably started a train of thought in their minds. Had they offended Lady Gu and her daughter in some way? Now that Lian Huahua was about to marry into the Song family, she no longer regarded them highly, taking this opportunity to mock them and embarrass them.

Scholar Zhao’s Wife’s face took on an unpleasant look, while Scholar Li’s Wife’s expression became even more stern.

"Lady Gu, what is the meaning of this?" Scholar Li’s Wife asked directly.

"Indeed, have we sisters offended you in some way?" Scholar Zhao’s Wife said, her face a mix of a smile and not a smile.

"Nonsense, it was all this girl’s doing..." Lady Gu was about to blame Lian Yeye for the mishap.

"Sister Huahua, this was your initiative, and now when the Scholar’s wives do not like the tea, you can’t wrongfully blame me." Lian Yeye turned to Lian Huahua and said, "Just like last time, when the brother-in-law of the Song family came, you blamed me..."

"Yeye, what nonsense are you speaking?" Lian Huahua rushed in front of Lian Yeye, turned her back to Scholar Zhao and Li’s wives, and gave Lian Yeye a meaningful look, signaling her not to continue.

Both Scholar Zhao and Li’s wives overheard Lian Yeye’s words and couldn’t help but prick up their ears.

"I’m not talking nonsense... Auntie deliberately had me carry that big bowl of hot soup..." Lian Yeye did not heed Lian Huahua but continued to speak.

"Oh dear, this child is crazy. Take her out quickly." Lady Gu called out in a hurry. She had understood what Lian Yeye was about to reveal, and she could not allow her to expose the incident.

Lian Duoduo came to assist Lian Huahua in pushing Lian Yeye out, but although Lian Yeye was young, she was accustomed to hard work and was no weaker than the two of them. Resolved to seek justice for herself that day, neither Lian Huahua nor Lian Duoduo could move her.

At this point, both Lady Gu and Lian Huahua were both anxious and irritated.

When they had first devised their scheme and considered who would take the blame, they thought it over carefully. In front of Lady Zhou, framing Lian Xiuxiu was certainly out of the question. They needed Lian Shouyi for many things; nor was Lian Yaya, from the second household, a good choice. As for the Fourth Household, Manman was not someone to be trifled with; they didn’t dare provoke her. Only Lian Yeye had no status in this house, and both Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao were too honest; even if they found out, they wouldn’t do much.