Chapter 216: Biting and Scratching - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

Chapter 216: Biting and Scratching

As Feng Jinyao approached the entrance to her home, she heard from the courtyard that Chilin had bitten a maid and was now running amok, attacking everything in sight. It seemed that something had triggered the unusual behavior.

Yunxu and Xiuqiu, who had cared for Chilin the longest, were even more anxious than Feng Jinyao.

“Miss, there must be some misunderstanding. Chilin is usually very lazy and familiar with the household’s scent. How could it suddenly become so vicious? I’ll go and check the situation first.”

Xiuqiu, being quick to act, hurried off to see what had happened.

Feng Jinyao nodded, “Go and calm it down first. We’ll come over shortly.”

“Yes.”

After receiving Feng Jinyao’s orders, Xiuqiu went with the maid who had come to report.

Yunxu noticed Feng Jinyao’s worried expression and reassured her, “Miss, don’t worry. It should be nothing serious. We just need to send some medicine over.”

“No, I’m thinking of something else. Chilin’s sense of smell is very sensitive. Could it be that the maid had an odor that upset it, causing it to attack?”

Yunxu also fell into thought. Reflecting on Chilin’s time in the courtyard, its keen sense of smell was indeed unusual. Could it be as Miss said?

“Go to uncle Shou and ask him if Qingyan flowers can cause animals to become agitated and aggressive.”

“Yes.” Yunxu understood that the miss suspected the incident might be related to the poisoning of the madam. She instructed the carriage driver to hurry to Lihua Alley.

In Yunhai Courtyard, the injured maid had several scratches, with the most severe on her face and right hand. The once delicate maid now had a disfigured face and was crying bitterly.

Lamei was holding the still-agitated Chilin, trying to calm it down.

As Feng Jinyao entered the courtyard, she saw the situation and frowned as she approached Chilin.

“Chilin! Chilin!”

Calling out several times with no response from the fox, Feng Jinyao’s suspicion grew that it might be under some sort of control or influence.

“What did it eat, use, or see today?”

She asked Lamei with a serious tone.

Lamei was also quite anxious, “There were no abnormalities. Miss, Chilin’s food and drink this morning were the same as usual. After you left, I thought it might run outside again, so I took it to the back garden. The garden’s wooden frame is designed for cats and dogs to play with, which Chilin likes. However, as soon as we reached the madam’s courtyard, it suddenly ran out of my arms. I heard a scream, and by the time I got inside, it had already scratched Ding Dong.”

“Ding Dong?”

“Yes, Ding Dong is a maid in the courtyard. Her mother is a cook, and her father works in the stable. Since she’s quick and young, Bai Mama brought her to serve in the madam’s courtyard. She’s now a second-class maid.”

Lamei explained.

Feng Jinyao turned to look at Ding Dong, someone she had previously overlooked. She examined the deep scratches on Ding Dong’s face, realizing that Chilin had attacked fiercely.

“Don’t be afraid. I have some excellent medicine that will prevent scarring.”

Feng Jinyao comforted the distressed Ding Dong. At just eighteen, she had not yet been promised to anyone, and such scars could ruin her future.

“Calm down and tell me exactly what happened.”

Ding Dong, who had been anxious, found some comfort in Feng Jinyao’s words and recounted, “Miss, I have always served in the madam’s courtyard without any issues. Today, while I was tending to the flowers as usual, I found an inconspicuous twig in the grass. I planned to throw it away, but before I could reach the gate, Chilin pounced on me, scratching me wildly. Lamei had to come and pull it away, otherwise, I might have been scratched to death.”

Recalling the scene, Ding Dong felt a lingering fear. Although Chilin was small, its claws and teeth were very sharp, and it had scratched her relentlessly.

“Lamei, take Chilin back to its usual place and try to calm it down.”

“Yes.”

Lamei quickly headed to Ning'an Courtyard, fearing that if she delayed, Chilin might be punished by those who disliked it.

Ding Dong watched Chilin leave with resentment. If not for the fox having backing, she might have sought revenge.

Watching Ding Dong, Feng Jinyao’s suspicions deepened. In the courtyard, Bai Mama had conducted several thorough inspections, and everything seemed clean. If there were any spies among them, they might be revealed soon; otherwise, the consequences could be severe.

“Take Ding Dong to the side room and get the physician to see her.”

Feng Jinyao then asked, “Where are my mother and Bai Mama? Why are they not here?”

“Bai Mama went out with the madam and hasn’t returned yet. We don’t know what they are doing.”

“Alright, then attend to Ding Dong’s wounds first.”

“Yes.”

After a delay, the courtyard returned to calm.

In the side room, the physician was applying medicine to Ding Dong’s wounds, causing her to cry out in pain as the powder was applied.

“These scratches are deep. Fortunately, the miss’s medicine is effective; otherwise, they would have left scars.”

“Please apply the medicine carefully. I’m not… not yet engaged, and if my face is scarred, it could ruin my future.”

The physician, known for his kindness and care towards the servants, reassured her, “Don’t worry, this medicine is very good.”

Hearing this, Ding Dong finally felt relieved.

Meanwhile, in the main room, Feng Jinyao was deeply troubled.

A twig? Ding Dong had mentioned a twig, but in February’s weather, how could there be a twig on the ground? Ding Dong said she was attacked by Chilin, but there were no signs of twigs in sight. It seemed the maid had not told the whole truth.

Looking back at the 'blooming' Qingyan flowers, her heart grew colder.

Yunxu returned quickly, having managed to get the medicine powder. To avoid alerting the enemy, Feng Jinyao did not react immediately.