Chapter 31: The General’s Residence, Death of a Maid

But it didn’t matter; she would deal with them one by one, slowly and thoroughly!

Since this maid was so eager to prove herself, she’d give her the opportunity.

“What’s your name?”

“Replying to you, young master, this servant is called Beryl.”

“Mm…” Chu Junhan responded, then fell silent, folding his arms as he watched Lady Liu’s maid.

The maid from the Liu household was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, clutching Lady Liu Yan’er as she tried to find Madam Liu.

“If you won’t call for help, so be it, but to act as if it’s none of your concern—should the master find out, he’ll never let you off!” The Liu household maid was so worried that tears were about to fall, but this was a narrow path; she’d have to get past Chu Junhan to proceed.

Though she spoke thus, she could do nothing to Chu Junhan.

A smug smile flickered at the corner of Beryl’s mouth. Her simple-minded young master had offended the Prime Minister’s precious daughter—perhaps a rift would form between the two families!

“You’re talking nonsense. My young master did nothing; Lady Liu fainted on her own. Don’t speak carelessly and bring trouble upon him, lest Madam punish him!”

What was a child most afraid of? Naturally, their parents’ reproach. Her words were meant to steer Chu Junhan away from the issue.

But what good was avoidance? Unless Liu Yan’er never woke again!

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“That’s right, I didn’t touch her at all. What does it have to do with me?” Chu Junhan hid behind Beryl, poking out his little head and denying in a child’s soft voice.

Hearing this, the Liu household maid grew frantic—so Beryl intended for her to take the blame?

“Sister Beryl, you can’t say that. Just because your young master says nothing happened, does that make it so? If you dare to deceive our master, when the lady wakes, I wonder, Sister Beryl… is it worth it?”

Beryl’s eyes darted swiftly, weighing the maid’s words. If the Prime Minister sought blame, Chu Junhan would surely be punished, but their lives were the ones truly at risk.

“Young master, we’d best find a doctor quickly. I’ll go notify Madam Liu…” Focused on sowing discord between the Prime Minister’s residence and the General’s mansion, she nearly lost her own life.

“I’ll go with you!” Chu Junhan grabbed at Beryl’s hem.

“Young master, just wait for me here!” Beryl coaxed him, not caring whether he followed, hurriedly leaving.

Chu Junhan scampered after her, leaving the Liu household maid anxiously shaking the small figure in her arms.

In the General’s mansion, a maid rushed by, followed by a half-grown child.

With a swift movement, the child slipped away, agilely rolling into a nearby flowerbed and vanishing from the corridor.

Soon after, Madam Liu and Xifeng arrived in haste with a retinue of maids. The child crouched beside the flowerbed, watching the crowd hurry past.

“Yan’er—my precious daughter—” Madam Liu tenderly took the little girl into her arms.

---

A sharp slap rang out. The maid clutched her cheek, head bowed. “Madam, it was Young Master Chu who taught the lady to squat in horse stance; that’s why she fainted.”

“Where is Han’er?” Xifeng pushed past Madam Liu to interrogate Beryl.

Beryl glanced around, then fell to her knees. “Madam, the young master must be off playing!”

Madam Liu was so furious her breath came heavy, glaring fiercely at the two kneeling maids as she cradled Liu Yan’er. “If anything happens to my Yan’er, I’ll hold you both accountable!”

“Madam, it was the young master, not me,” Beryl shook her head desperately, terrified.

Xifeng snorted coldly, kicking Beryl aside. “Han’er is still young, she doesn’t know better. But do you not know better, either? She’s been unconscious for half an hour—why are you only now coming to us?”

Even in her anger, Madam Liu would never vent it on Chu Junhan; after all, respect must be paid to the family’s status. But these maids—she would not hesitate.

Beryl knew that now, only Chu Junhan could save her.