Hearing this, Mrs. Smith sneered to herself, quietly put down the door curtain in her hand, and slipped out without a sound. Once she left the main room, she saw the little maid who had just let her in at the door standing silently, and the two maids watching over the medicine stove didn’t even look up. She walked back as if nothing had happened, but a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.

Chapter Two: Great Upheaval (Part II)

Behind the Guiding Prefecture’s yamen, besides the residence of the prefect Charles Bolton, there were originally supposed to be many other subordinate officials such as the assistant prefect and the judicial commissioner. However, Charles Bolton was a double-ranked jinshi from a wealthy family in the capital, and his wife’s family was among the top-ranking nobles at court, so naturally no one dared to compete with him. The other families gradually moved out one after another, leaving only Mr. Foster, who was on good terms with Charles Bolton, occupying a small area.

Henry Clark, weighed down with worries, arrived at the back gate of the yamen and saw two sturdy maidservants standing guard—clearly people from the Zhang family. She was slightly taken aback and didn’t rush out, but instead naturally turned into Mr. Foster’s quarters. She was a frequent visitor, and before entering Miss Foster’s room, she called over an eight-year-old little maid who was skipping rope outside, gave her a few coins, and whispered a few instructions. The little maid immediately dropped her rope and ran off. Only then did she enter the room and casually found an excuse to chat with Miss Foster for a while.

When she came out, the little maid had already returned. Seeing her, she hurried up and said, “Miss Henry, that old woman Mrs. Lewis who sells headscarves and sewing supplies said she just went to your house yesterday, but no one was home. She knocked for a long time and there was no response. She asked the neighbors, and they said someone had taken your family away.”

“Taken away?”

Henry Clark saw the little maid nodding with certainty. She forced a smile to thank her, but as she walked out, she couldn’t help feeling distracted. Even without Olivia Bolton’s order to drive her out, she had long planned to leave the Zhang family, a place full of trouble. Because Mrs. Grant had instructed her not to return home at will, she had long ago arranged with Mrs. Lewis, a businesswoman on the back street, to visit her mother and younger brother every month, and in return she would buy more embroidery thread and such from her. However, just when she hoped to have a message sent for her mother to come fetch her, her family was taken away, and Emily Bolton also said Mrs. Smith had inquired about her family—this was all too suspicious!

“Miss, miss, madam... madam has passed away...”

Even though she was mentally prepared, when the little maid came running to deliver the news, Henry Clark, who had just returned to the back garden with a heavy heart, still shivered, then hurriedly lifted her skirt and ran back. Sure enough, as soon as she reached the main room’s door, she heard Olivia Bolton’s cries for her mother from inside. Realizing the crying sounded more like wailing, she hesitated for a moment before entering.

Entering the west side room, she saw Mrs. Grant on the bed, looking as if she were merely asleep, even more peaceful than when she was ill. Beside her, Mrs. Carter’s face was sallow and her eyes dull. But before she could approach, Olivia Bolton suddenly turned her head, stared at her for a long moment, then abruptly stood up and shouted harshly, “You were always so attentive in front of mother, but at a time like this you hide far away. You ungrateful wretch! We don’t need your fake kindness here. Get out, get far away!”

Henry Clark felt a surge of anger at the malice in Olivia Bolton’s eyes. Though she wanted to turn and leave, thinking of Mrs. Grant’s years of guidance, she still said in a low voice, “Godmother taught me for so many years. After I kowtow to her, I’ll leave.”

Olivia Bolton sneered and was about to retort when an angry shout came from the doorway: “Enough! Your mother’s body is not yet cold, and you’re making such a scene. What kind of example is this for others to see and hear! What did you promise your mother before? Why are you making a fuss now?”

“Fine, fine, now that mother’s gone, even you are siding with this outsider!”

Seeing that it was Charles Bolton who had lifted the curtain and entered, Olivia Bolton, who had never feared her father, shouted and stormed out without looking back. Emily Bolton, who had been at a loss, finally reacted, hurried a few steps as if to chase after her, but was stopped by Charles Bolton.

“Let her go! That willful and arrogant temper of hers needs to be changed!” With that, Charles Bolton turned to Henry Clark with a gentle expression and nodded, saying, “Little Henry, go ahead and kowtow a few times to your godmother. After all, you were like mother and daughter. If you want to leave, there’s no need to mention it.”

Henry Clark had hoped Charles Bolton would follow Olivia Bolton’s wishes and let her go home, so she was greatly disappointed, but still nodded as told. After kowtowing three times to Mrs. Grant, a sudden idea flashed through her mind, and she abruptly collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Charles Bolton was shocked, and Emily Bolton hurried forward to help her. Mrs. Carter was also startled, calling for maids and ordering someone to fetch a doctor. After a flurry of activity, they finally settled her in the east side room. The two doctors who had stayed at the yamen because of Mrs. Grant’s illness came in trembling to check her pulse, exchanged glances, and firmly declared it was due to overwork and lack of rest.

The wife of a high-born prefect couldn’t be cured by them, and now they could only blame it on the patient herself!