Chapter Thirty-Six: Resolution

With just one sentence, Lianqiao completely tore away the facade Yang had so carefully maintained.

Xu Ruojin was, after all, an unmarried girl awaiting her wedding. To have her own father’s disgraceful affairs aired in front of her was no different than slapping herself in the face.

Moreover, the only reason Yang had gritted her teeth and admitted to the business with Liucui was to prevent the situation from escalating. The engagement with the Zhang family was underway; if the in-laws caught wind of these sordid affairs, who could predict what trouble might ensue?

That was why, when Xu Ruojin pressed her repeatedly just now, Yang swallowed her humiliation and said nothing. But she had not anticipated that, at this crucial moment, Lianqiao would shout it all out.

Those who hadn’t known before would surely know now…

“You’re accusing me of nonsense? On what grounds do you slander me like this? You’re just a maid from my third brother’s quarters—how would you know of such filth, much less speak such disgusting words? Are you even the same Lianqiao who serves my third brother?” Xu Ruojin feigned shock. “I can hardly recognize her, Mother. What’s wrong with her? What is she talking about with this Liucui?”

Yang’s face flushed a deep purple with rage, her raised hand trembling. Seeing that Yang was about to erupt, Madam Huang’s heart nearly leapt from her chest. She rushed over, seized Lianqiao by the neck, and warned, “You must not keep talking nonsense! How dare you, a mere servant, slander the Second Young Lady? If you say another word, I’ll cut your tongue out!”

Oblivious to the gravity of the situation, Lianqiao continued desperately, “I’m not slandering anyone! It’s really the Second Young Lady who’s lying. Aunt, don’t you believe me? When have I ever lied to you?”

Madam Huang hadn’t expected Lianqiao to persist. She tightened her grip, squeezing until Lianqiao’s eyes bulged, her face reddened, and she could only choke and gasp, unable to utter a word.

“Don’t be upset, Second Young Lady. This old servant will strangle this wretched girl rather than let her soil your reputation!” Madam Huang ignored the mistress and turned straight to Xu Ruojin. “Wherever did she learn such filth? It’s all my fault for letting her serve here. I’ll end her life with my own hands, then take my own to atone!”

Yang, her face twisted with hate, made no move to intervene, her eyes fixed only on Xu Ruojin to see how she would react.

Xu Ruojin knew full well that Madam Huang intended to implicate her and smooth over the incident. With Yang seated right there, if she pleaded for Lianqiao’s life out of fear, the matter would be glossed over and quickly forgotten. She couldn’t predict how Yang would rebuke Madam Huang, but she would certainly blame her for lacking judgment, and suspicion toward her would only deepen.

But if she didn’t intervene?

If Madam Huang really strangled Lianqiao, she’d be deemed the most ruthless in the household. Not only would the maids and matrons grow cold toward her, but word would spread—her father would see her as heartless, and whatever good impression she’d painstakingly built would vanish. With no backing and no means of self-reliance, wouldn’t Xu Ruojin become meat on the chopping block for Yang to carve as she pleased?

But Xu Ruojin was no longer the timid, cowering girl she once was.

She didn’t believe for a moment that Madam Huang would truly kill Lianqiao. Even if she cared nothing for the girl’s life, she would care for her own reputation. To atone by death? Absurd!

“Madam Huang, even if Lianqiao is at fault, she should be dealt with by Mother. Besides, she’s your own niece—could you truly bear to do it?”

Xu Ruojin’s light, indifferent words were so cold and detached that Madam Huang barely recognized her. The Second Young Lady wasn’t cowed at all? Was her act so transparent?

Glancing around, she saw the others’ complicated, unreadable expressions. Madam Huang realized she had underestimated the Second Young Lady’s cunning. She released Lianqiao at once, dropped to her knees before Yang, and poured out her grievances, “This old servant was just anxious. Please, Madam, forgive me. Lianqiao is clearly deranged—please don’t take her words to heart, it’s all nonsense!”

Even though Madam Huang hadn’t squeezed hard, red marks ringed Lianqiao’s neck. The girl could only collapse to the floor, gasping for breath, unable to utter a sound in protest.

Yang’s eyes brimmed with disappointment; her face toward Madam Huang grew even colder. “That shameless, filthy wretch—why haven’t you cut her tongue out and sent her away? She speaks of nothing but disgrace. How could I let her serve Zimo? I could die of regret!”

Daring no further protest, Madam Huang signaled the other matrons. They immediately stuffed Lianqiao’s mouth, bound her, and led her away.

The room fell instantly silent; one could hear a pin drop.

Yang fixed Xu Ruojin with a cold gaze. “So, you are far more shrewd than I gave you credit for.”

“Mother, your words wrong me,” Xu Ruojin replied, head lowered, cheeks flushed. “I don’t know why I fail to please you. You forbid me from paying my respects morning and night, and I have little chance to speak with you. I can only ask Madam Huang about everything and follow her answers. Is that so wrong of me?”

“As for this Liucui, you yourself instructed her yesterday to attend Madam Fang. After Madam Fang left, she returned. Though I’m called ‘Miss’ in this household, my words carry less weight than those of the stewards. What authority do I have to order her about?”

A bitter smile touched her lips. “Driven to my own courtyard by threats from a maid—am I to say I’m weak and incompetent, or that she’s outrageously bold? Mother, I am, after all, a member of the Xu family. Please, leave me a little space to breathe. Father has asked me to grow closer to my brother these days, and with my marriage not far off, I should cherish family while I can.”

Her string of complaints, instead of deepening Yang’s suspicions, set her mind at ease.

Though she disliked Xu Ruojin, she agreed with her words. She ran the household so tightly that she understood the servants’ nature better than anyone. With no money and no authority, how could any greedy, base servant take orders from this powerless girl?

When the matter with Liucui arose, Madam Huang immediately blamed Xu Ruojin, and Yang loathed her to the core, thinking she had overlooked a critical detail.

But after Lianqiao’s outburst, Yang’s trust in Madam Huang wavered. The thought of that shameless maid serving Zimo for years made her head spin, yet Madam Huang had always extolled Lianqiao before her as if she were a flower.

For a moment, Yang no longer knew whom to resent.

“Listening to you complain, one would think I’ve never cared for you. If outsiders heard, would they not believe me a cruel, malicious mother, forever bleeding you dry and flaying your skin?”

Though Yang’s doubts were dispelled, she wasn’t about to show Xu Ruojin a kind face.

Xu Ruojin had no expectation of changing her mother’s mind. “Mother has always cared for me. That’s what I tell everyone.”

“Then remember it always.” Yang rose, her cold gaze fixed on Xu Ruojin. “Your wedding date has been set—on the fifth day of the second month, come spring. For the next few months, you will focus on learning proper conduct and skills. I will keep a close watch on you.”

Xu Ruojin’s heart clenched. She could only nod silently and endure.

Only five months remained.

Would she truly have to step from the fire pit of the Xu family into the graveyard of the Zhangs?