Yu Zhu was dragged forward by the rough, matronly servants, all eager to prove their worth.
Her arms were gripped tightly, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t break free.
A cold smile tugged at Jiang Xingyan’s lips.
The wheel of fate turns.
I wonder if Yu Zhu, when she was ordering her around and taking pleasure in tormenting her, ever imagined she would have a day like this?
Knowing she couldn’t escape this time, Yu Zhu stopped pretending to be meek and submissive in front of the Young General.
She lifted her head and stared directly at “Huo Ci” sitting in the master’s chair, her aged face actually showing a trace of defiance.
“Is the Young General’s action filial? Not only did you anger your own birth mother until she fell unconscious, but you also left her in her room, ignoring her completely! Today, even if you tear out this old slave’s tongue, even if you run me through with a sword, I must speak the truth!”
Jiang Xingyan raised an eyebrow.
Quite the strategist for Mother-in-law, isn’t she? She was about to be punished for stirring up trouble, but with a few words, she twisted it into the master trying to silence her for hitting a nerve. She was successfully painting herself as a loyal servant, fearless and outspoken, ready to die for her mistress.
Yun Chunfeng, sitting nearby, let out a soft laugh.
“I never thought the General’s Manor would be so full of talent. Even a convicted slave knows how to gild her own image.”
Afraid Yun Chunfeng’s loose lips might ruin her plan, Yu Zhu spoke rashly in her panic, “This is a private matter of our General’s Manor. Although the Grand Preceptor’s status is esteemed, your authority doesn’t extend here.” Mind your own business! This isn’t your affair, so stay out of it!
Yun Chunfeng gently fanned himself with his feather fan, smiling mischievously.
He turned to Jiang Xingyan with an apologetic look. “Ah, how presumptuous of me. I didn’t realize the master of the General’s Manor was this Matron Yu Zhu. No wonder she is so discourteous to this humble one. I truly failed to recognize a person of importance.” Sorry, but when it comes to sarcasm, I’ve never lost.
Article 86 of the Western Zhou legal code stated that any servant who dares to affront their master may be beaten to death without consequence. The esteemed Grand Preceptor, respected even by the Emperor himself—how could he tolerate such insolence from an old slave?
Yu Zhu had miscalculated. Her act of loyal defiance had gone too far and now came off as sheer arrogance.
She gasped, a wave of panic washing over her, and hurriedly kowtowed. “Grand Preceptor, please forgive this old slave! I didn’t mean—”
Jiang Xingyan, understanding the cue perfectly, immediately seized the opportunity. She slammed the table and pointed angrily at Yu Zhu. “What audacity! A mere slave, registered among the lowly, how dare you offend the Grand Preceptor? Guards! Drag her away and administer the household punishment!”
See? Originally, it was just about losing your tongue. But you were the one who came forward asking for a beating. So, I’ll reluctantly oblige.
Yu Zhu was hauled up by her arms, terror gripping her. She finally understood that her clever schemes were worthless in the face of absolute power.
Before, with the Old Madame backing her, even Huo Ci had shown her some respect. It had made her forget her place, often acting as if she were half a master herself. She thought invoking filial piety would make the ever-dutiful Young General see the error of his ways.
She never expected the Young General to be so determined to get justice for that merchant’s daughter.
She tried to beg for mercy, but someone promptly gagged her and pressed her down onto a long bench.
The servant assigned to carry out the punishment, wanting to curry favor with the Young General, raised the disciplinary rod and struck with all his might.
Once. Twice…
At first, Yu Zhu struggled and cried out in pain. But eventually, soaked in blood and sweat, she fell silent.
Jiang Xingyan watched with a cold gaze.
The suffering I endured before, I will make those who wronged me repay it a hundredfold!
With a wave of her hand, the most observant steward hurried forward, pried open Yu Zhu’s mouth, and cleanly cut out her tongue.
The excruciating pain was more than Yu Zhu could bear. Her head lolled to the side as she fainted dead away.
Jiang Xingyan stood imposingly before the main hall, her aura so intimidating that the maids and servants knelt in terror.
Of the Old Madame’s four personal matrons, Jin Zhu was now dead, Bao Zhu was crippled, Yu Zhu was ruined. Only Yin Zhu remained relatively unscathed, though she had also received quite a beating. Judging by the look in her eyes after she failed to retrieve her sister’s body and was instead dragged away for punishment, it was clear she and Madame Huo were no longer of one mind.
Jiang Xingyan let out a heavy breath.
The hatred from her previous life, where she was bullied to death, had finally lessened just a little.
But these people were ultimately just her mother-in-law’s claws. The true target of her revenge was still that old hag!
Jiang Xingyan’s cold eyes swept over the kneeling maids and servants. Seeing them trembling, she smiled bitterly inwardly. Grandfather… what can protect Yan Yan isn’t relying on anyone’s favor or care, but solid, tangible power held in one’s own hands!
“The General’s Manor has no place for servants who bully the weak, deceive their superiors, and lack all conscience! Those who have shown disrespect to the Young Lady in the past, step forward now and receive your punishment. If anyone dares to hide it from me, they will be beaten to death without exception!”
The maids and servants had never seen such a scene. Seeing Matron Yu Zhu lying before them, covered in blood, her fate unknown, they were terrified out of their wits, recalling all the wrongs they had committed.
They wailed and knelt before Jiang Xingyan, desperately confessing their past mistreatment of the Young Lady while heavily slapping their own faces.
Yun Chunfeng listened to each confession, his expression growing colder and stonier. He clenched his fingers, as if it’s restraining something.
Suddenly, a small hand covered his. Startled, he looked down. Little Ya was gently patting his whitened knuckles, looking up at him with innocent confusion.
“Uncle, don’t be angry. Mother is strong. She chases the bad people away.”
His heart suddenly softened.
She’s exactly like the young mistress was as a child.
Jiang Xingyan’s heart ached with sorrow. Each individual act, taken alone, seemed insignificant. But piled together, all these small things formed a mountain that fell upon her alone, crushing her, making it hard to breathe.
They were all low-ranking maids and servants. It could be said they were just following the Old Madame’s orders, how dare they not? But could human nature really be so extinguished? She hadn’t expected them to lend a helping hand, to defy the Old Madame for her sake. She only asked that they not add to her misery when she was down. Was that so difficult?
“Effective immediately,” she declared, “all maids and servants throughout the General’s Manor are to be sold off. Not a single one remains.”
Amid the sounds of desperate wailing and heads knocking against the floor, a servant guarding the side courtyard approached timidly to report, “Young General… the Young Miss… she has fainted from hunger.”