Helpless, Ye Yunniang had been holding Jiang Tingjun for a full day and night, leaving half of her body numb.
When Chunyao walked in, Ye Yunniang looked at her as if seeing a loved one. "Sister Chunyao~"
Chunyao reached out and took Jiang Tingjun into her arms.
At first, Jiang Tingjun struggled a little, but after a few pats and soothing words from Chunyao, he stopped crying and fell asleep against her shoulder.
"Sister Chunyao, you're truly amazing," Ye Yunniang said, leaning against the table behind her as she relaxed, her entire body trembling.
Chunyao smiled. "Go get some rest."
"Alright, thank you for your hard work, Sister Chunyao." Ye Yunniang couldn't help but yawn—she was utterly exhausted.
As she stepped out, her body swayed unsteadily, and she nearly stumbled.
Fortunately, Hong Cai was there to steady her.
"Thank you," Ye Yunniang murmured, forcing herself to move forward step by step.
Just outside the room, she ran into Zi Yuan leading a group inside.
"Hongxia, escort Wet Nurse Ye back," Zi Yuan instructed the young maid following her.
Hongxia obediently stepped forward to support Ye Yunniang.
Ye Yunniang truly couldn’t make it back alone, so she expressed her gratitude and let Hongxia assist her to Zhiyu Pavilion.
Li'er and Nanny Shi, who had been waiting at the door, hurried over to take Ye Yunniang from Hongxia.
"Miss Hongxia, thank you for your trouble," Ye Yunniang said.
"Wet Nurse Ye, rest well," Hongxia replied before turning back to Fanghua Courtyard.
Li'er and Nanny Shi helped Ye Yunniang into her room and settled her into bed.
Li'er seemed about to say something, but Ye Yunniang was already fast asleep. After tucking her in, Li'er followed Nanny Shi out.
Ye Yunniang slept deeply, waking much later to find Li'er sitting by the door.
"Sister, you're awake," Li'er said, lifting the kettle from the stove to pour water for Ye Yunniang to wash up.
"Why is there a stove here?" Ye Yunniang asked, puzzled.
"Miss Shanhu had it sent over, along with many other things. They're all piled on that bed." Following Li'er’s gaze, Ye Yunniang saw the opposite bed covered with boxes and bundles.
"Miss Shanhu said these are all rewards from Fourth Madam Jiang for you," Li'er explained, handing Ye Yunniang a cup of tea.
Ye Yunniang took a sip, her groggy mind clearing slightly.
"What time is it?"
"It’s exactly the Hour of the Goat (2 PM)."
She had slept through an entire night and day.
Alarmed, Ye Yunniang hurried to dress.
"Don’t rush, sister. Miss Shanhu said you’re to rest today and return to Fanghua Courtyard tomorrow morning to care for the young master," Li'er said, stopping her.
Ye Yunniang paused, then her stomach growled loudly.
"Li'er, is there any food?"
"It’s been kept warm on the stove. Wait here, I’ll fetch it."
Li'er quickly returned with a meal. After not eating for two days and a night, Ye Yunniang was ravenous. She devoured three plates of vegetables, two bowls of rice, and a large bowl of soup.
"Sister, is that enough? Should I get more from the main kitchen?" Li'er asked softly.
"I’m full," Ye Yunniang replied, letting out a satisfied burp.
Well-rested and fed, she began sorting through the items on the opposite bed.
Opening a red-lacquered box, she found gleaming silver ingots. Counting them, there were ten in total.
She picked one up—it weighed ten taels.
Two other boxes contained hairpins and jewelry, one with gold and silver ornaments, the other with beaded and silk flowers.
The bundles held various fabrics and a few soft furs...
Ye Yunniang understood these were both rewards and compensation for the two slaps she had endured earlier.
At the time, she had been heartbroken, even briefly considering retaliation.
But now, seeing the generosity of Fourth Madam Jiang, she felt the slaps were worth it.
If she sold these, the money would nearly cover the cost of buying a house in Jiangcheng for her family.
She carefully stored the silver.
Selecting a few pieces of jewelry and fabric, she gifted them to Li'er and Nanny Shi as thanks for their care over the past two days.
Pleased with the gifts, both women treated Ye Yunniang even more warmly.
After a day of rest, fully rejuvenated, Ye Yunniang returned to Fanghua Courtyard.
Jiang Tingjun was in high spirits, giggling under Chunyao’s care.
Ye Yunniang entered the room. "Sister Chunyao."
"You’re here. I’ll leave him to you," Chunyao said, rising. After two days of tending to him, she was also exhausted.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Fourth Madam Jiang and I discussed it. From now on, I’ll come in the afternoons to care for the young master," Chunyao informed her before leaving.
"That’s wonderful!" With Ding Fang gone, Ye Yunniang had worried about managing alone.
She saw Chunyao out.
Jiang Tingjun was playing with a lion-shaped ball.
Ye Yunniang sat beside him, touching his forehead—no fever.
"You little troublemaker."
Jiang Tingjun responded with a few babbling sounds, as if either agreeing or protesting.
Zi Yuan had also made adjustments. At night, a maid would now stay in the inner room with the wet nurse.
It took Ye Yunniang a couple of days to get used to the new arrangement.
In bed, Jiang Tingjun rolled over. Ye Yunniang opened her eyes, gave him a few gentle pats, and he settled.
Since recovering, he had become more demanding, fussing intermittently.
Ye Yunniang silently cursed Ding Fang.
She had clearly explained that Jiang Tingjun woke two or three times at night—just feed him, change his diaper, and then they could rest.
Meanwhile, Ding Fang was filled with regret and resentment toward Ye Yunniang.
"It’s all Ye Yunniang’s fault! She did this on purpose. She said the young master slept soundly at night and didn’t need attention. I listened to her, and that’s why I slept so deeply!" Ding Fang refused to admit her own mistakes, blaming everything on Ye Yunniang.
"Little sister, you must stand up for me. I raised you—you know I’m not lazy!"
Ding Xiang rolled her eyes, annoyed that Ding Fang always brought up the past.
After investigating, Ding Xiang knew the fault lay with Ding Fang’s negligence.
If not for Ding Xiang’s position as a senior maid in the old madam’s courtyard, Ding Fang would have faced forty lashes instead of mere dismissal.
Still, as her elder sister, Ding Xiang couldn’t let this slide—others might take advantage if she didn’t act.
She made a mental note to make Ye Yunniang pay when the opportunity arose.
Ding Xiang pressed for details about Ye Yunniang.
Unaware of the Ding sisters’ scheming, Ye Yunniang sorted through her recent rewards.
Not wanting to sell the jewelry directly, she entrusted fabrics and some silver to Li'er to deliver to Granny Tian at the side gate.
Granny Tian eyed the bundle and the ring in her hand, smugly thinking how profitable it was to serve those close to the masters.
She sent her son to fetch Madam Zhang.
Cai Damei received the fabrics and a message from Ye Yunniang.
Finding twenty taels of silver hidden in the bundle, she exchanged some for coins and bought meat, wine, and pastries to distribute to the Zhang and Tian families.
Granny Tian, benefiting doubly, gloated over her wise choices.
The Zhangs were satisfied—such rewards for a simple favor! Only Sister-in-law Zhang was displeased, wishing she had been the wet nurse instead.
Ye Yunniang received word that all was well at home—Pan'er had grown taller and chubbier. Overjoyed yet guilty for not seeing her, she thought of Pan'er as she soothed Jiang Tingjun to sleep.
"Ah, ah..."
He dropped the ball himself, and the nanny didn’t pick it up. Jiang Tingjun threw a fit.
He wailed twice.
Since his last illness, Jiang Tingjun had learned one thing—the people around him feared his cries.
As long as he wailed, he could get whatever he wanted.
Ye Yunniang thought this behavior of Jiang Tingjun was improper. But the maids around her disagreed.
A young master having a temper was normal.
Ye Yunniang shared her concerns with Chunyao.
A child spoiled like this would grow up with a terrible temper.
Chunyao didn’t respond but instead told Ye Yunniang to think it over herself.
After much deliberation, Ye Yunniang finally confided in Zi Yuan.
Zi Yuan listened in silence and then dismissed Ye Yunniang.
Ye Yunniang assumed nothing would come of it, but the next day, Fourth Madam Jiang summoned her.
"Madam." Ye Yunniang curtsied.
"Your manners have improved." Fourth Madam Jiang nodded in approval at her greeting.
"It’s all thanks to Miss Shanhu’s guidance." Ye Yunniang replied modestly.
"You said there was something wrong with Tingjun?" Fourth Madam Jiang abruptly changed the subject.
"The young master is perfectly fine." Ye Yunniang answered, but Fourth Madam Jiang was displeased. If he was fine, why had Ye Yunniang suggested he needed correcting?
"I want the truth."
