The door opened with a creak.
The woman inside had a lovely, flushed face, a faint smile at the corners of her mouth, and slightly raised brows.
A hint of mockery lingered in her eyes.
Li Qian smiled. "Sister-in-law, come in!"
Madam Li felt rather uncomfortable. She glanced into the room, looking troubled.
Li Qian turned toward the inner room and told the indistinct figure behind the screen, "Go out first!"
A timid reply came from inside. "Yes!"
Then the figure hurriedly straightened her clothes and lowered her head.
From behind the screen.
A maid stepped out!
Madam Li recognized that maid. She was Ning'er, Li Qian's personal attendant.
Only after Ning'er left did Madam Li enter with Li Qian and close the door.
"What brings you here, Sister-in-law?"
Li Qian took a sip of tea, her gaze sizing up Madam Li.
"You must be more careful from now on. Carrying on with a maid... what would people say if word got out? If your brother had been the one to walk in today, how would you face him?"
Madam Li gave her a helpless look.
This sister-in-law of hers was only a few years younger than she was.
They could just as easily have called each other sisters.
Fortunately, they had always gotten along quite well.
"Oh, what's the big deal? It's not as though I'm sneaking around with a man. Besides, I have you to speak up for me, don't I? Ning'er has been with me since we were little. Even outsiders wouldn't read so much into it."
Li Qian spoke with a pout.
That was precisely why she felt safe. No matter how she played around, she remained chaste.
As long as neither she nor Ning'er spoke of it, no one would know.
"Whatever happens, remember that