Chapter 7: Intersection with Xie Wei

                     

Watching as the last maid placed a privately hidden golden hairpin into the box, Jiang Xuening finally nodded with satisfaction.

Jiang Boyou glanced at the Youxue Qionglin primer she held, coughed lightly, and asked tentatively, “Have they returned everything they took? Should we check the inventory?”

Check the inventory? Against a children’s primer?

Being able to recite a few lines Yan Lin had once gifted her was already Jiang Xuening’s limit. How could she know more?

So she simply said, “They certainly haven’t returned everything. Many must have already pawned or exchanged what they took. To demand more would be too difficult. I won’t check these two boxes. Just giving them a warning so they won’t dare be presumptuous again will suffice. What does Father think?”

It was like lifting something heavy only to set it down gently.

Jiang Boyou frowned. “No punishment?”

Jiang Xuening considered, looking at the maids and older servants kneeling in the courtyard. “Originally they were trained by the manor before being assigned to me. They had proper rules, and when facing me, they were flattering and fawning. In terms of service, their skills aren’t lacking. When called to kneel here, aside from a few, the rest didn’t dare talk back. The world is full of people who bully the weak and fear the strong—they’re all ordinary. At the root of it, it’s because I was too easy to talk to, too indulgent, and overthought things. So why not give them a chance? This time, let them each receive five strikes of the rod and have two months’ wages deducted. If they serve wholeheartedly and don’t offend again, that will be the end of it. But if anyone repeats their offense, drag them out and settle both old and new accounts together.”

Her words sounded plain, but to Jiang Boyou they carried weight.

Girl Ning has truly grown up…

He had thought she would create a commotion only to beat and kill. But unexpectedly, she reflected on her own mistakes and spoke candidly. She suddenly possessed traces of the frank, magnanimous bearing of a great family. Most importantly, she hadn’t lost her kind heart.

Though not swift or ruthless, what did a young lady need such tactics for?

Looking at his daughter, Jiang Boyou found her far more pleasing than before. He nodded. “Good, we’ll do as you say.”

Yet Jiang Xuening’s heart remained calm. She wasn’t pure-hearted. She simply understood the principle: leave others a way out, so you may meet again in the future.

Just like with Yan Lin.

There are two things best left undone: bullying the poor youth, and driving a cornered dog to leap the wall.

Dealing with these servants was the same. Replace them, and the new ones might be worse. Punish too severely, and she’d earn a reputation for cruelty. Better to let suspicion fester among them. They would fight each other, and resentment would not fall on her.

Thus, she could remain clean, earn a good reputation, and please Jiang Boyou.

She asked Chang Zhuo to bring a brazier, then stood facing everyone. “You all heard clearly what I said, yes?”

“Yes, we heard clearly,” they trembled.

She continued, unhurried: “You’ve served me long enough to know my temperament. In this matter, I take on three parts of the blame—not because I truly feel wrong, but because most of you have elderly to care for. I can’t bear to have you sold off, ruining your reputations. I’m used to you all. Continue serving as before, just be more attentive. But if anyone makes the same mistake again, don’t blame me for turning my face and disowning you.”

Wang Xingjia’s wife shuddered violently. The courtyard fell silent.

Jiang Xuening picked up the “account book” and tossed it into the brazier. Flames consumed it, turning it to ash.

“This matter ends here. No further involvement, no further investigation. You may all go receive your punishment.”

Relief swept through the servants. Wang Xingjia’s wife kowtowed: “Second Miss truly has the heart of a Bodhisattva! We are blessed to serve you. We’ll go receive our punishment right away…”

The others echoed thanks.

Lian’er and Tang’er, literate enough to know the “account book” was a children’s primer, were dumbstruck. Even Chang Zhuo looked impressed.

But Jiang Xuening’s gaze lingered. She asked Tang’er softly, “Who was that one kneeling below who talked back earlier?”

Tang’er thought back. “She serves inside the quarters. Her name is Tianxiang.”

Jiang Xuening nodded.

Later, walking with Jiang Boyou, he asked, “You want to deal with that maid?”

Her brows furrowed. “The others are manageable. But Tianxiang is sharp-tongued and eloquent. Earlier, I was almost left speechless. If I hadn’t been innocent, I might have thought I was wrong. But I promised not to pursue further, and I’ve never dealt with such situations before. I don’t know how to handle her.”

Jiang Boyou had seen it too. That maid was brazen, arrogant, and dangerous. Keeping her would be trouble. He gestured to Chang Zhuo, who understood immediately.

Jiang Boyou patted his daughter’s back. “This matter ends here. That girl will be dealt with. But tell me—were today’s words taught by the Young Marquis?”

Of course not. But Jiang Xuening nodded. “Yan Lin taught me this too.”

Jiang Boyou sighed. “The Yongyi Marquis Manor has a worthy successor.”

She lowered her eyes.

“Go back and rest. Tonight, pay respects to your mother.”

She agreed and bowed.

But as she stepped back, Jiang Boyou lifted the curtain and laughed, “Ju’an, have you been waiting long?”

Jiang Xuening froze.

A surge of cold dread crawled from her feet to her head.

That name—Ju’an.

She glimpsed a hand turning a scroll, elegant and familiar. Every gesture was etched in her memory.

Xie Wei. Courtesy name Ju’an.

Memories surged: palace lectures, Cabinet sessions, the Imperial Garden… his elegance, his cruelty.

Her heart seized. She could barely breathe.

Everyone knew Xie Wei had secretly entered the capital four years ago, aiding Shen Lang’s rise. Few knew he had traveled hidden in Jiang Xuening’s carriage.

And only he called her “Miss Ning.”

She stumbled from the study, steady until she reached the corridor. Then her legs gave way. She collapsed pale beneath a pillar.

Wrong. She had made a fatal error upon rebirth.

She remembered his words: You are not Heaven, so how do you know I act unconscionably rather than carrying out Heaven’s will?

And his chilling smile: Being able to live until today is already Xie’s greatest mercy.

Her fingers trembled, covering her neck.

Xie Wei was not a good man. His shadow had once shrouded the entire court.

Tang’er and Lian’er rushed to her side. “Miss, what’s wrong with you!”

Jiang Xuening blinked, dazed. “Tang’er, go back and check whether Zhou Yinzhi is still there…”

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