Chapter 007: The Encounter Four Years Ago

Watching as the last maid finally placed her secretly hoarded gold hairpin into the box, Jiang Xuening nodded in satisfaction.

Jiang Boyou glanced at the Youxue Qionglin (a classical primer) she held in her hand and coughed lightly, testing the waters as he asked, “Have they returned everything they took? Do you need to check?”

Check?

With this primer?

Jiang Xuening had already strained her memory earlier to recall a few items Yan Lin gifted her on her eighteenth birthday to intimidate others. Anything more was beyond her knowledge.

Thus, she said, “There’s no way they’ve returned everything. Likely, many of them have already pawned or traded away some items. Forcing them to produce anything more would be pushing them too far. These two boxes—I won’t check them. A little warning should be enough to keep them from misbehaving again. What does Father think?”

This approach seemed a bit like making a big show only to let it go lightly.

Jiang Boyou frowned. “No punishment?”

Jiang Xuening pondered for a moment, glancing at the maids and servants kneeling properly in the courtyard. She said, “These women were originally trained by the household before being assigned to my quarters. They knew the rules and acted deferentially in my presence. Their service skills aren’t lacking either. Even now, kneeling here, few dare to talk back.

“Such people are all common ‘mediocre folks’—those who bully the weak and fear the strong. Ultimately, it’s my fault for being too lenient and accommodating, letting them grow bold enough to act this way. So I think, why not give them a chance? This time, each will be punished with five strokes and fined two months’ wages. If they mend their ways and serve earnestly, we’ll let it pass. Should anyone repeat their mistakes, we’ll deal with them harshly, settling old and new scores together.”

Though her tone was calm, these words stirred a mix of emotions in Jiang Boyou’s heart.

His daughter Ning’er truly had grown up…

He had thought her dramatic actions heralded some harsh punishments, perhaps even a bloody crackdown. Yet, instead of just blaming others, she had reflected on her own mistakes and openly admitted them. This candor and introspection suddenly seemed to carry an air of magnanimity and decorum befitting a noblewoman.

More importantly, she still showed compassion and restraint.

Her methods couldn’t be called decisive or ruthless, but did a young lady truly need such an iron-fisted approach?

Looking at his daughter, Jiang Boyou found himself unexpectedly more pleased with her, nodding slightly as he said, “Very well, we’ll do as you propose.”

Deep within, however, Jiang Xuening remained calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

She wasn’t entirely kindhearted—her experiences from a previous life had taught her the importance of “leaving some leeway in your actions to make future encounters easier.”

Just like how she had treated Yan Lin back then.

She had been determined to become empress, and even if the Yongyi Marquis Manor hadn’t fallen out of favor, she still would have chosen to marry Shen Jie in the end. But was there any need to make her intentions so absolute? Was it necessary to deliver the news at such a critical moment?

To speak harshly of someone who’s already dead or act in a way that leaves no room for others—those are the mistakes she’d made before.

If she were Yan Lin, she would hate herself too. It was only natural for him to seek revenge against her once he gained power.

There are two things one should never do in this world: bully someone struggling in their youth, and push a desperate person into a corner.

Dealing with these maids and servants was much the same as the latter.

Firstly, mediocre people are all alike. Replacing this group with a new one would likely not be as effective as keeping those who had already realized their mistakes and learned to be more cautious. Secondly, if the punishment were too harsh, it would inevitably leave her with a reputation for cruelty, and the maids would pin their resentment on her. Having served her for so long, their wrongdoings didn’t justify punishing them to death. If they started spreading rumors, who knew what they might say?

Besides, sometimes not punishing someone can be just as effective as punishing them.

When they returned the stolen items earlier, it was almost certain that some had hidden a portion. Some gave back more, while others gave back less.

Jiang Xuening didn’t know exactly how much each had taken, nor did she care to waste time investigating.

But among the maids themselves, suspicion was unavoidable.

One might think another had hidden more, while another might feel cheated for giving up too much. Once they were dismissed, they would start fighting among themselves. Those who deserved retribution would get it naturally, without her being implicated.

In this way, she could keep her reputation spotless, gain the image of a kind mistress, and even earn more favor from Jiang Boyou. Why not?

After all, if she wanted to leave the household in the future, she’d still need Jiang Boyou’s approval.

With this in mind, Jiang Xuening ordered Chang Zhuo to bring over a brazier. Rising to her feet, she faced the group and said, “Did everyone hear what I just said clearly?”

All those kneeling below nodded in fear. “Yes, we heard clearly.”

Jiang Xuening continued in an unhurried tone, “You’ve all served me long enough to know my temperament. This time, I’ll take on three parts of the blame—not because I believe I was in the wrong, but out of consideration for the fact that most of you have elderly family members to care for. I can’t bear to have you sold off or driven out of the household, ruining your reputations and making it difficult for you to find a decent home. I’ve grown accustomed to having you all around. Serve me as you’ve always done, but with greater care in the future. However, if anyone makes a second mistake, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”

Wang Xing’s wife, who was kneeling in the front, shuddered violently at this.

The courtyard fell silent.

From the corners of the courtyard, many maids and servants who had quietly gathered to watch felt a chill run down their spines. The Second Miss seemed different now. Anyone who didn’t serve her with absolute dedication might end up like those currently kneeling, suffering the consequences with no way out.

Jiang Xuening raised the “ledger” in her hand and strolled over to the brazier.

The rising heat blurred her delicate features.

She tossed the book directly into the flames. Bright yellow and vivid red flames licked at the pages, devouring them in an instant. The book was soon reduced to ashes.

Everyone kneeling below watched this, each secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

Jiang Xuening simply said, “This matter ends here. There will be no further involvement or investigation. You may all leave to receive your punishment.”

Wang Xing’s wife immediately knelt and kowtowed again, showering her with flattery: “Second Miss truly has the heart of a Bodhisattva, so kind and compassionate. For us old servants and maids to have the blessing of serving a master like you, it must be the smoke from our ancestors’ graves and the incense of three generations’ prayers! We’ll go and accept the punishment right away, right away…”

The others also expressed their gratitude profusely.

Before long, they all left to face their punishment.

Both Lian’er and Tang’er, being literate, knew what was written in the “ledger” that their young mistress had used earlier. Watching how things unfolded, they were utterly dumbfounded. Even Chang Zhuo, who had been quietly serving nearby, couldn’t help but give Jiang Xuening a look that seemed to say, I’m impressed you managed to scare people with a beginner’s primer.

Jiang Xuening’s gaze, however, lingered on the retreating maids for a moment.

She then turned her head slightly and softly asked Tang’er, “Who was the one who dared to talk back earlier while kneeling?”

Tang’er was momentarily stunned and thought back.

Under such circumstances, there had been only one person who dared to retort.

She answered, “It was one of the maids allowed to serve indoors. Her name is Tian Xiang.”

Jiang Xuening nodded slightly.

After the commotion ended, she didn’t rush to leave but instead followed Jiang Boyou back to the outer study room.

Jiang Boyou had noticed something. “You want to deal with that maid?”

Jiang Xuening’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She nodded faintly but then lowered her head. “The others aren’t a big problem. At most, they just bully the weak and fear the strong. But this Tian Xiang is sharp-tongued and very persuasive. I almost couldn’t argue against her earlier. If I hadn’t been completely innocent of the accusations, even I might have thought I was in the wrong after hearing her talk. However, since I already promised not to pursue the matter further, and since I’ve never dealt with this kind of situation before, I’m really at a loss about how to handle her.”

Jiang Boyou had also witnessed the scene just now.

That maid who dared to talk back was clearly someone who would bite when cornered. While the others were somewhat fearful of Jiang Xuening, this one displayed brazen defiance, as if she didn’t consider her mistress worthy of respect at all.

Keeping her around was bound to lead to trouble.

As his thoughts swirled, Jiang Boyou quickly formulated a plan. Without explaining much, he made a simple gesture to Chang Zhuo, giving tacit instructions.

Though the Jiang household wasn’t one of the grandest in the capital, it was still a respectable family. Certain unspoken methods were well within their means.

Chang Zhuo immediately understood.

He responded, “I understand.”

Jiang Boyou gently patted Jiang Xuening on the back and said, “Let this matter rest here. Someone else will handle this girl; you don’t need to worry about it. But tell me, did today’s words and actions come from the guidance of the young Marquis?”

Of course not.

However, Jiang Xuening would never reveal that she had been reborn. Since she had already used Yan Lin as a shield before, she saw no harm in doing so again. She nodded and said, “Yes, Yan Lin taught me.”

Jiang Boyou sighed, “The Marquis Yongyi’s household indeed has successors.”

Jiang Xuening lowered her gaze and said nothing.

Jiang Boyou then said, “You must be tired. Go and rest. You didn’t come home last night, and today stirred up such a commotion. Remember to greet your mother in the evening to set her mind at ease.”

Jiang Xuening replied, “Yes.”

Thus concluded the rather formal conversation between the father and daughter.

She bowed and took her leave.

Jiang Boyou lifted the curtain of the inner study and entered, chuckling as he said, “Ju’an, have you been waiting long?”

At that moment, Jiang Xuening, who had just taken a step back, froze entirely.

A chilling sensation climbed from her feet to her head!

It was just two simple words, yet when they struck her ears, they rang with a sharp, jarring scream, reverberating with an overwhelming, bone-deep dread!

She turned her gaze and caught sight of the study as the curtain was lifted. On a finely carved and elegant tea table lay an open scroll. A slender, beautifully structured hand extended to gently flip a page. The pad of the ring finger habitually traced the edge of the page lightly, naturally, before loosely pressing down on the corner of the page.

This movement was far too familiar to Jiang Xuening!

Whether it was in her past life, during her time as a companion reader in the palace listening to his lectures, or later as empress, when she occasionally visited the cabinet and saw him working with Shen Jie on state affairs, or even after Shen Jie was poisoned, when she had been terrified and stumbled through the imperial garden only to find him seated in a pavilion reading memorials—

This man’s every move exuded an effortless elegance.

Even when killing without hesitation, he was breathtakingly composed.

Xie Wei, courtesy name Ju’an.

In that fleeting instant, every memory Jiang Xuening had of this man surged into her mind with the force of terror.

She recalled You Fangyin’s words: “The previous dynasty harbored a colossal secret. Anyone with even a hint of intelligence would avoid making a misstep. Unfortunately, I realized it too late…”

She thought of the fate she suffered in her previous life.

She thought of the scar on her wrist, which even now could not be erased.

Jiang Boyou had already stepped inside.

The curtain fell back into place.

But Jiang Xuening’s world was eerily quiet, with only the sounds of conversation drifting from within.

Jiang Boyou sighed, “Ah, that matter with Ning’er earlier. She’s been a source of worry for me for a long time, but unexpectedly, this time she’s figured things out. If you haven’t been a father, you wouldn’t understand this feeling. Speaking of which, back then you secretly went to the capital, and she was with you. In the blink of an eye, it’s already been four years!”

The person across from him seemed to pause for a moment.

Then, a faint voice emerged, smooth and resonant like a spring’s murmur against stones: “Miss Ning’er , is it…”

At that moment, Chang Zhuo entered with incense.

The curtain lifted slightly once again.

Jiang Xuening clearly saw the corner of a sky-blue, crepe silk robe, and with a slight movement, the person sitting by the tea table turned slightly towards the direction of the door.

Though she couldn’t see his face or meet his gaze, at that moment, she could distinctly feel that he was looking in her direction—standing just outside the study!

Though the curtain separated them, it felt as though his eyes could pierce through the fabric.

Jiang Xuening felt as if her heart was gripped by a large hand, almost unable to breathe!

Everyone knew that four years ago, the Prince Regent Xie Wei had secretly entered the capital alone to assist the third prince, Shen Lang, in ascending the throne. People also knew that Jiang Boyou, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, had contributed greatly during the previous reign, aiding Xie Wei’s secret entry into the capital, becoming a modest but recognized hero.

But few knew—

That back then, Jiang Boyou had pretended that Xie Wei was a distant relative of the Jiang family, and had brought him with his own legitimate daughter, Jiang Xuening, to the capital. Later, Xie Wei, the Imperial Tutor who would later save the country, had hidden in Jiang Xuening’s carriage at the time!

Everyone called her “Miss Jiang’er,” but Xie Wei, unlike the others, called her “Miss Ning’er”…

Jiang Xuening had never imagined that the “distinguished guest” in Jiang Boyou’s study today was Xie Wei.

She should have been more cautious.

How many people, from the court to the common folk, dared to leave someone like Zhou Yin, a high-ranking officer from the Jinyiwei, outside without a word, silently waiting without complaint?

Jiang Xuening didn’t know how she had left the study.

All she knew was that her steps were calm and composed, steadier than ever before.

It wasn’t until she had exited the study, reached the corridor, and was almost back in her own room, that her legs suddenly gave way, and she tripped, unexpectedly stumbling. She reached out to grab a nearby pillar, her face turning pale, and collapsed in the corridor.

She had made a fatal mistake right after being reborn!

She would never forget the first time she had met Xie Wei.

The man, still recovering from a cold, appeared somewhat frail, dressed in plain white cloth, holding a zither. His expression was slightly weary, but there was a smile on his lips. He had walked to the side of the carriage, giving her a slight nod.

At that time, she had no idea that this man would later become the powerful Imperial Tutor who held sway over the court, nor did she know that he would slaughter the entire royal family…

Had she known, perhaps she would have reined in her temper and treated him more kindly during that journey.

No…

If she had known, she would never have placed that half-bowl of blood as a medicine catalyst for him in the wild, desperate mountains!

In her past life, when Xie Wei first turned his blades against the Xiao family and the imperial family, she had questioned him, asking how he dared commit such cruel and inhumane acts, treating lives so lightly.

Xie Wei had lightly drawn a mark on the list with a vermilion imperial brush, and then replied, “You are not Heaven. How would you know that I am not acting in Heaven’s name, instead of harming it?”

Jiang Xuening had been stunned into silence.

He then set down his brush and looked at her quietly: “As for the empress, it’s already the greatest mercy that she’s alive today. When I was sick and confused, I once said some unfilial things to her. Luckily, her memory was poor at the time, and she had no intentions. After entering the capital, I had people test her multiple times, and she had no recollection. That was when I finally felt at ease and spared her two more years of life. Otherwise, the day I was conferred as the Imperial Tutor, she would have already lost her head.”

At that time, he had smiled, extending a hand to lightly draw across his own neck.

Jiang Xuening had felt as if she were submerged in ice-cold water.

His smile was colder than the night itself.

In other words, Xie Wei had spared her life after entering the capital because she was forgetful and not very intelligent!

Now, these words echoed in her ears once again. Recalling that profoundly meaningful “Miss Ning’er,” Jiang Xuening lifted her own hand and placed it on her neck, only to realize that her fingers had lost their warmth and were trembling!

Xie Wei was no saint.

In the last two years of her past life, his name had cast a huge, dark shadow over the entire court, over the entire imperial city, making everyone so fearful that they couldn’t even walk without lowering their heads in dread.

Tang’er and Lian’er were alarmed when they saw her so frightened: “Miss, Miss, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Xuening didn’t even remember what those unfilial words had been, but it didn’t stop her from recognizing the danger she was about to face.

Xie Wei would strike.

Her fingers, which had almost lost all sensation, slowly lowered.

She blinked, her voice distant and unfocused: “Tang’er, go back and check if Zhou Yin is still outside…”