Chapter 24: Only Then Will It Be Our Turn...

In the Qihua Pavilion of the Jiang residence, the sharp crack of shattered porcelain rang out from within.

Though the matter concerning Xue Shoucheng had been settled, when had Jiang Yu ever suffered such a great humiliation in all her life?

“Jiang Yan is stubbornly refusing to release Chunfen and Dongzhi, yet she has gone shopping as if nothing happened. It infuriates me! It infuriates me!”

“Yu’er, calm down! Even if those two maids are returned to you, would you still dare use them?”

Jiang Yu’s expression froze. “They have followed me since childhood. They would never be bribed.”

“They may not be bribed, but that does not mean they would not betray you.”

Jiang Yu’s pupils contracted. If Jiang Yan had used some means against them, could those two girls withstand it?

Madam Qiao advised in a grave voice, “If we demand their return and then discover that they can no longer be trusted, disposing of them afterward would inevitably chill the hearts of everyone else. It would be better to let them die at the hands of the Third Branch…”

Jiang Yu bit her lip. Rather than allow suspicion to arise between master and servants, leaving doubt in everything they did, it was better to act decisively.

“I understand, Mother.”

Then she thought of Xue Shoucheng, and another wave of nausea rose within her.

“My aunt will surely resent me…”

“We only did it to help elevate their standing! If he had managed to marry Jiang Yan, then no matter how unwilling she was, once she bore him a child, she would ultimately have to consider her husband’s family!”

The thought of her younger sister made Madam Qiao irritated.

“It is all because Cousin is useless. Even when given an opportunity, he could not seize it. He might as well have died!”

The more mother and daughter spoke, the angrier they became.

“Your father has never been this angry with me before.”

At the mention of her father’s anger, Jiang Yu’s expression changed. Her fury vanished at once.

“Father has always been considerate toward Mother. Once his anger subsides, he will surely come back to coax you…”

Madam Qiao nodded. “Enough. Go back now. Do not linger around your grandmother these next few days, lest that foul mouth of hers say something else and give people fresh gossip. As for Chunfen and Dongzhi, Mother will handle the matter for you. You need not interfere.”

Jiang Yu nodded, rose, and left Qihua Pavilion.

…

Jiang Nian and Jiang Yan had lost their interest in shopping after Qiao Mingqing disrupted their outing, so they simply returned home.

On the way, Jiang Yan brought up Jiang Yu’s two personal maids.

“Fourth Sister’s two maids refuse to say anything.”

“Your sister already knows everything about the matter at Sacred Light Temple. Even if they spoke, where could you take your accusation? If the household were thrown into turmoil, the Third Branch would gain nothing beyond being scolded by Grandmother.”

“That is true… Fourth Sister brought this upon herself, and I have already vented my anger. But if Chunfen and Dongzhi are simply sent back, would that not be letting her off too easily?”

Jiang Nian reminded her, “They are Fourth Sister’s most trusted servants and must know many things. After passing through your hands, will Fourth Sister still be able to trust them? Even if she cannot think of it herself, Madam Qiao certainly can.”

Jiang Yan was taken aback for a moment, then her expression darkened.

“With my eldest aunt’s temperament, could she be planning to have those two maids die here in the Third Branch? If that happened, would it not make me appear to be a younger sister so cold-blooded and heartless that I forced my elder sister’s personal maids to their deaths?”

“It would be unpleasant for maids from the First Branch to die in the Third Branch. You had best take precautions.”

Jiang Nian leaned close to Jiang Yan’s ear and whispered a few words.

Jiang Yan’s eyes curved with amusement. “Thank you for the advice, Sister.”

In the woodshed,

Jiang Yu’s two senior maids, Chunfen and Dongzhi, huddled together with their arms wrapped around themselves.

They had not eaten since the night at Sacred Light Temple, and by now they were so hungry that their stomachs clung to their backs.

In the silent woodshed, the only sounds were the faint rustling of mice and the loud rumbling of their empty stomachs.

Dongzhi was dizzy with hunger and said weakly, “The young lady will surely find a way to rescue us, won’t she?”

Chunfen nodded firmly. “Of course she will. We have grown up by her side since childhood. Is there anyone more devoted to her than we are? As long as Third Miss does not intend to take our lives, the young lady will certainly find a way to bring us back.”

“But… we have been here for quite some time now. Why have we heard nothing?”

“Young Master Xue suffered so terribly. The Third Madam of the Xue household certainly will not let the matter rest. They must settle that affair first before they can turn their attention to us…”

Yet Dongzhi could not shake the ominous feeling in her heart.

Just as she was about to speak, the lock outside the woodshed was suddenly removed with a clatter.

The two girls jumped in fright and turned toward the door.

Jiang Yan entered with a mocking smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“You two are still indulging in pipe dreams, I see.”

Chunfen and Dongzhi exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads without saying a word.

Jiang Yan let out a cold laugh. “The Xue family’s affair has already been settled. I was even prepared to negotiate with Fourth Sister, but who would have thought she had no intention whatsoever of taking you back? Could it be because you helped Xue Shoucheng harm her?”

Dongzhi jerked her head up. “We harmed her?”

“If not you, then who? The Xue family took the entire blame upon themselves, leaving Fourth Sister completely untouched. But do not forget—Xue Shoucheng was wearing a maid’s clothes when he entered the women’s quarters. If you did not help him, who else could it have been?”

Dongzhi opened her mouth, then looked toward Chunfen.

Chunfen stared back at her, wide-eyed.

Jiang Yan sighed. “You have served Fourth Sister for so long. You ought to know what kind of person she is better than I do. Now that you have fallen into my hands, even if you are sent back, will she still trust you?”

Chunfen bit her lip. After a long silence, she said, “I am absolutely loyal to Fourth Miss.”

“Unfortunately, Fourth Sister may not see it that way. For all you know, she is already considering how to silence you!”

Dongzhi’s face remained expressionless. “Fifth Miss need not say any more. We truly have nothing to say about Fourth Miss’s affairs.”

Jiang Yan shook her head. “You cannot carve rotten wood. Very well, let us place a wager and see whether Fourth Sister comes to rescue you—or comes to kill you.”

She walked to the doorway and instructed the old woman guarding it in a voice loud enough for Chunfen and Dongzhi to hear.

“Once night falls and the door is locked, you need not remain here. Hide nearby and keep watch. If anything happens, report to me at once.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Chunfen and Dongzhi exchanged a glance. They simply could not believe that Jiang Yu would send someone to kill them.

As the night deepened, the chill of early spring seeped through the entire woodshed.

The two maids were cold and hungry, and could only huddle together for warmth.

Although they did not believe that Fourth Miss would kill them to silence them, the First Branch’s continued lack of action left them increasingly uneasy.

In the middle of the night, a faint noise suddenly came from outside the door.

The two girls immediately perked up and listened intently.

A voice called softly, “Chunfen? Dongzhi?”

“Nanny Zhao! Is that you?”

Overcome with excitement, Chunfen rushed to the door.

“Shh! Keep your voice down!”

Nanny Zhao widened the gap in the woodshed door, taking care not to let the iron chain securing it make a sound.

“These are a few steamed buns. Eat them to fill your stomachs for now. The young lady said she has already thought of a way. Tomorrow, she will be able to bring you back from Fifth Miss.”

Chunfen gave a delighted little cry. “Wonderful!”

“All right, do not make a fuss. Do not say anything about the young lady’s affairs. Wait patiently for her to rescue you.”

“What are you saying, Nanny Zhao? How could we ever betray the young lady?”

“Of course you would not. I was only reminding you. Rest easy. You will be able to return tomorrow.”