"Xiaolan, I always wash Young Master Shao Hu's clothes. I still have so much to do today; could you wash them yourself? Otherwise, I'll have to wash until tomorrow morning," Luo Lan said, looking up at the arrogant maid with a pleading gaze.

"Just wash them if I tell you to. If you can't finish, don't bother going home tonight. You really think you're some kind of lady? You're nothing but a wretched maid," the maid sneered, throwing a luxurious robe right onto Luo Lan's head.

The other maids nearby kept their heads down and remained silent, sympathizing with Luo Lan but daring not to speak up. Xiaocui, the lady's personal maid, was not someone they could afford to provoke. Besides, they had no real connection with Luo Lan and were content to watch the drama unfold.

Luo Lan picked up the robe that had landed on her head. Her hands were red and swollen from soaking in cold water for too long in the winter.

"Xiaolan, I really can't finish all these clothes. Can I help you with your washing next time?" Luo Lan pleaded. She still had a pile of clothes to wash, and completing them all would take her until late at night.

"Luo Lan, just wash them if I tell you to. You can also leave the Li family if you don't want to wash. If you stay, then you must do your job obediently and not act like you're the lady of the house," said a man dressed as a senior servant, who was in charge of the laundry room.

"Manager Zhao, I'll wash them, I'll wash," Luo Lan nodded slightly, her face showing a trace of grievance, but she had no choice but to comply. If she left the Li family, she and her son, Lin'er, would have nowhere to go.

"That's more like it. Make sure you wash them properly, or you'll suffer the consequences," Manager Zhao sneered, then turned to the maid Xiaolan with a flattering smile, "Miss Xiaolan, it's cold. Why don't you rest in my room for a bit? Warm up by the fire."

"That's a good idea," Xiaolan replied, satisfied with his suggestion. As she was about to leave, her expression suddenly changed, and she furiously shouted at Luo Lan, "Wretched maid, Young Master Shao Hu's clothes should be washed separately! How dare you wash them with the others? Are you asking for a beating?"

"Xiaolan, it was an accident," Luo Lan quickly said.

"You're asking for it," Xiaolan glared at Luo Lan, her eyes flashing with anger, and raised her hand to slap her.

"Wretched maid, stop right there!" Everyone's expression changed slightly, and Manager Zhao showed a hint of a cold smile. However, at that moment, a voice rang out, and a figure appeared in front of Luo Lan, grabbing Xiaolan's wrist.

"Ah..." Xiaolan screamed in pain, her face contorting, and the one who had suddenly grabbed her wrist was Li Lin. Li Lin had come to find his mother but couldn't bear to watch this scene any longer.

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"Wretched maid, get away from me," Li Lin shouted coldly, flinging Xiaolan two meters away. Xiaolan staggered backward and fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face from the pain.

"Mother, are you okay?" Li Lin ignored Xiaolan and crouched worriedly beside Luo Lan, his heart twisting at the sight of her swollen hands.

"Lin'er, why are you here? I'm fine, you should leave," Luo Lan said immediately, worried that Manager Zhao and Xiaolan would not let this matter rest.

"Li Lin, are you rebelling? How dare you lay a hand on her? It seems last time's lesson wasn't enough," Manager Zhao said furiously.

"Zhao San, what are you saying?" Li Lin turned to Zhao San, his anger rising at the sight of his mother's swollen hands. He remembered Zhao San as one of the people who accidentally killed the original Li Lin and then secretly threw his body off a cliff. Zhao San was a servant brought by the mistress from her family, with the cultivation of a Martial Disciple. Li Lin had also seen him at the back door, along with another senior manager and a high-level Martial Disciple servant.

Feeling the chill in Li Lin's eyes, Zhao San's heart skipped a beat, sensing an indescribable dread.

"Young man, how dare you push me? You wretched maid's bastard, are you rebelling?" Xiaolan got up, seemingly forgetting the pain, and glared at Li Lin.

The surrounding maids and servants retreated to one side, not daring to get involved in this situation.

"Xiaolan, Lin'er didn't mean it. Please don't take it to heart. I'll wash the clothes right away," Luo Lan said, stepping in front of Li Lin with nervous concern.

"Mother, step back," Li Lin gently pulled Luo Lan aside and then faced Xiaolan, "Say what you just said again."

"What, you bastard want to hit me? Useless trash, even if I lend you the courage, you wouldn't dare. You wretched maid's bastard," Xiaolan glared at Li Lin, her words cold. She had grown up following her mistress and learned a few things. Although she didn't have the talent to become a Martial Disciple, she wasn't afraid of ordinary men.

Li Lin grew furious. He could tolerate being insulted, but he couldn't bear to hear his mother being slandered.

Taking a deep breath, Li Lin looked at Xiaolan, smiled faintly, and said, "Do you think I wouldn't dare?"

"Swoosh..."

"Slap!"

In an instant, Li Lin was in front of Xiaolan, slapping her across the face. The crisp sound was followed by several teeth flying out with traces of blood.

"You see if I dare or not. You wretched maid, who do you think you are? Just a maid of the Li family."

"Slap slap..."

Li Lin punched and kicked, striking Xiaolan from left and right. He knocked her to the ground.

"Ah... Ah..." Xiaolan's screams of agony echoed, leaving everyone stunned, including Luo Lan and Manager Zhao.

"You wretched maid, see if I dare now," Li Lin, not yet satisfied, continuously kicked her, showing no mercy. Finally, he fiercely stomped on the screaming Xiaolan.

"Was it your hand that wanted to hit someone just now?" Li Lin sneered, bending down and grabbing Xiaolan's right hand, then twisted it with a cold laugh.

"Crack."

The arm broke with a snap, and Xiaolan's screams turned nearly to howls, her pitiful cries echoing in the laundry room.

"Was it your mouth that was cursing?" Li Lin then picked up a palm-sized rock from the ground and smashed it hard against Xiaolan's mouth.

"Crack..."

With broken teeth and a bloodied mouth, Xiaolan's screams turned into muffled whimpers.

"Wretched servant, I spare your life today, but if you dare provoke me again, your wretched life is forfeit." Li Lin discarded the stone in his hand, dusted off his hands, and straightened his clothes with a light tone.

"Mother, let's go." Li Lin approached the startled and panicked Luo Lan, speaking softly. He helped his mother and walked away as if the recent events were not of his doing.