Chapter 8: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

When the news of the Yellow Springs Water reached the Lady, she was so shocked that she dropped the bracelet in her hand and didn't even bother to count the income from the funeral. She hastily took a group of strong maids and hurried to the Luoxia Courtyard.

Zhang Mama attempted to commit suicide, but was stopped by the powerful Gao Bing. However, she seemed to have lost her mind and kept kowtowing, causing her forehead to bleed but still refusing to stop.

Gao Bing's expression turned serious as he glanced at Lin Jinhuo, who was silent and lowered her eyes. He said, "Miss Lin, your hairpin has been delivered to the prince's place. There are still instructions from the prince. I won't stay any longer."

Lin Jinhuo's eyes flashed slightly as she looked up at him and said, "I have heard of this Yellow Springs Water before. It is a slow-acting poison that causes bleeding from the seven orifices and the body to rot after ten years of use. The late emperor died from this insidious poison. However, since this poison has long been banned, now that it is implicated with me, you really don't need to stay, to avoid implicating the prince."

Upon hearing this, Gao Bing hesitated for a moment. According to Lin's words, if he left, wouldn't it imply that the prince was timid and afraid of trouble?

He carefully observed Lin Jinhuo, who was slender and graceful, but had a rare air of dignity and nobility in her words and actions, as if it naturally emanated from her. What was the truth behind the rumors of her being foolish and weak?

Gao Bing was momentarily puzzled, but thinking of the prince's instructions, he paused and said, "I don't know much about the matter of the Yellow Springs Water, but since Miss Lin said it is a banned substance, I will stay to see what is going on and report back to the prince."

Just as Gao Bing finished speaking, the Lady rushed in a panic to the door. Upon catching sight of Gao Bing and hearing the mention of the "prince," her anger towards Lin Jinhuo immediately subsided, causing her to feel a sharp pain in her liver.

Lin Jinhuo looked at the Lady, whose face had turned purple with suppressed anger, and sneered inwardly. Then she lowered her eyes and nodded at Gao Bing, saying, "Thank you, Prince Ning." Only then did she turn to the Lady and say, "Aunt..."

"I have already heard about what happened here," the Lady hurriedly said, casting a wary glance at Gao Bing, and then ordered the maids she had brought, "What are you waiting for? Drag the slave who poisoned the mistress out and beat her to death with sticks!"

Zhang Mama's face turned even paler and she shouted, "Lady, I did it for you..."

"Spouting nonsense even at the brink of death, do you want your family to accompany you in death?" the Lady scolded in a trembling voice.

Zhang Mama was stunned, knowing that the Lady was determined to have her killed. "I admit my guilt. My family..."

"Your fault has nothing to do with them," the Lady coldly snorted. Zhang Mama then gave up resistance and let the maids drag her out to the courtyard.

Lin Jinhuo had no intention of stopping the maids who were wielding the sticks with ferocious faces. Just relying on the foolish and vicious Zhang Mama was not enough to bring down the Lady, who had worked hard to build the Lin family for more than twenty years. But having the Lady personally handle this matter would be the most effective way to deter others!

Zhang Mama's wails, accompanied by the splattering of bright red blood on the snow, made everyone in the courtyard start to panic.

Seeing that no one was stopping them, the Lady finally relaxed a little and turned to look at Lin Jinhuo, assuming the air of an elder as she reprimanded, "Jinhuo, why didn't you tell your aunt about such a matter? Bringing an outsider in without permission not only tarnishes your reputation, but also implicates your deceased mother. She may have come from a prestigious family, but she didn't even know how to educate her daughter."

After she finished speaking, she deliberately glanced at Gao Bing's expression and, seeing a hint of displeasure on his face, she swallowed the sarcastic words and stared at Bailan like a venomous snake, saying, "Bringing an outsider in without permission, disregarding the mistress's reputation, is a crime punishable by death. Take her away and beat her to death!"