Under the management of Second Madam Jiang, and with Jiang Mingzhe being the most capable in the household, Bai Xiuxiu harbored ambitions but dared not act recklessly.
Second Madam Jiang became pregnant, a long-awaited blessing after eight years of marriage, and naturally, the child in her womb took precedence. She decided to relinquish her managerial duties to focus on her pregnancy.
Bai Xiuxiu saw this as her opportunity and orchestrated an incident involving Fourth Madam Jiang. As for Jiang Mingshu, Bai Xiuxiu dismissed her entirely as no threat.
Unaware of the tensions between the Ding Xiang sisters and Ye Yunniang, Bai Xiuxiu allied with Ding Xiang to take action.
Ding Xiang, a maid in Old Madam Jiang’s courtyard, colluded with outsiders. When Old Madam Jiang discovered this, she had Ding Xiang sent away.
Bai Xiuxiu was confined to her quarters for three months of reflection.
Fourth Madam Jiang took over the household, managing all affairs with diligence.
"Li'er, you're amazing," Ye Yunniang admired Li'er’s ability to gather so much information.
"These matters are common knowledge in the household. If you stepped out more, you wouldn’t need me to tell you," Li'er remarked, noting how rarely Ye Yunniang left her quarters.
Fourth Madam Jiang no longer restricted Ye Yunniang’s movements, yet she still confined herself to Fanghua Courtyard and Zhiyu Pavilion, venturing nowhere else.
"Sister, won’t you go out and see the world?"
"I will tomorrow." As the year drew to a close, with the New Year approaching, Fourth Madam Jiang had announced an early distribution of double monthly allowances.
Ye Yunniang received five taels of silver and planned to visit Granny Tian at the side gate the next day, entrusting her to deliver the money home so her mother and son could celebrate the New Year comfortably.
"Tomorrow, I’ll guide you. We’ll find Granny Tian at the side gate, then take a stroll through the garden on our way back. The winter plum blossoms are in full bloom—we can even clip a few branches to decorate your room. The fragrance will be lovely," Li'er suggested.
"Are we allowed to cut the flowers?" Ye Yunniang hesitated.
"Yes, servants can trim the smaller branches," Li'er assured her.
After handing over duties to Chunyao, Ye Yunniang ate lunch, then set off with Li'er toward the side gate, carrying a bundle.
"Auntie Tian, pardon the intrusion," Ye Yunniang greeted Granny Tian.
"Nonsense, Nurse Ye! It’s an honor for this old woman," Granny Tian replied, her attitude far warmer now that Ye Yunniang was recognized as the wet nurse of the sixth young master.
"You’re too kind." Ye Yunniang handed her a food box. She had asked Li'er to find out Granny Tian’s fondness for crispy fried fish and paid the kitchen to prepare some.
Granny Tian was visibly pleased. "See how refined you’ve become in just half a year!"
After delivering the food and entrusting the bundle to be sent to Sunset Lane, Ye Yunniang and Li'er excused themselves.
Li'er led Ye Yunniang toward the Jiang family garden.
The garden was vast—Ye Yunniang thought it larger than her hometown village of two hundred households.
In winter, few flowers bloomed, but the evergreen trees, winding streams, and rock formations kept her eyes wide with wonder.
Li'er slowed her pace, letting Ye Yunniang take it all in.
They reached the plum grove, where hundreds of trees bloomed in breathtaking splendor.
Li'er borrowed scissors from a gardener, and the two debated which branches to clip.
"Sister, how about this one?" Li'er pointed to a small branch with three blossoms.
"Perfect."
Just as Li'er raised the scissors—
"Stop!"
Before they could react, they were seized.
"Madam, these two were sneaking around cutting flowers!"
"How dare they! Beat them!" Bai Xiuxiu’s voice rang out.
"We weren’t—" Li'er struggled, but a handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth.
"Strike them hard!"
Bai Xiuxiu glared venomously at Ye Yunniang. This wretch had cost her the household’s management—she wouldn’t let her off lightly.
Ye Yunniang, gagged, shook her head helplessly as the bamboo rod struck her backside.
The pain was excruciating.
Fourth Madam Jiang arrived in haste to find Ye Yunniang pinned to the ground, being beaten. Bai Xiuxiu even moved to strike her face.
"Bai Xiuxiu, this is too much! Release them!" Fourth Madam Jiang ordered the servants.
"Don’t you dare!" Bai Xiuxiu snapped.
The six maids holding Li'er and Ye Yunniang hesitated, unsure whom to obey.
Bai Xiuxiu: "What are you waiting for? Keep hitting!"
Fourth Madam Jiang: "I’d like to see who dares!"
Bai Xiuxiu / Fourth Madam Jiang: "Do it! / Stop!"
The maids froze—whose orders should they follow?
"What is this commotion?" A cold, authoritative voice cut through the tension.
"Second Uncle." Both Bai Xiuxiu and Fourth Madam Jiang faltered, intimidated by Jiang Mingzhe.
"Why are you administering private punishment?" His tone was icy.
"Second Uncle, these servants were ruining the plum blossoms," Bai Xiuxiu said quickly.
"Servants are permitted to trim the flowers," Fourth Madam Jiang countered.
"That was before. This morning, Mother instructed us to preserve the blossoms. Fifth Sister’s betrothal is next month—it would be unsightly if the trees were bare," Bai Xiuxiu argued, invoking Jiang Mingyue’s name.
"Two small branches won’t make a difference," Fourth Madam Jiang scoffed, certain Bai Xiuxiu was exploiting the situation.
"The Jiang family upholds reason. Release them." At Jiang Mingzhe’s command, the maids immediately obeyed, not daring to hesitate as they had with the two madams.
Two maids from Fourth Madam Jiang’s entourage helped Ye Yunniang and Li'er up.
"The New Year approaches—keep the peace." With that, Jiang Mingzhe left.
Fourth Madam Jiang escorted Li'er and Ye Yunniang back to Fanghua Courtyard.
"Madam, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have tried to cut the flowers," Ye Yunniang knelt in apology.
"Do you think I’m so petty? You suffered because of me. Rest now." Fourth Madam Jiang instructed Shanhu to bring ointment for the two.
Ye Yunniang and Li'er tended to each other’s wounds.
Despite Ye Yunniang’s protests, Li'er returned to her own quarters to rest.
Ye Yunniang, her back aching, lay face down and drifted into a fitful sleep.
In her dreams, she felt gentle hands caressing her wounds, treating her as though she were precious.
The mix of pain and tenderness drew a soft whimper from her.
"If you fear pain, you should have avoided trouble," a deep, husky voice murmured in her ear.
Ye Yunniang: Who are you? Why do you appear in my dreams?
The man didn’t answer, only continued his careful ministrations.
When she awoke, her cheeks burned. Not again. She touched her back—the pain had lessened.
"The madam’s medicine works wonders," she mused, sitting up. Her slipped undergarments revealed faint red marks across her skin.
Nanny Shi brought her a meal.
"Thank you, Nanny Shi." As she sat down, Ye Yunniang thought of the injured Li'er. "Could you please deliver a portion to Li'er?"
She pressed a handful of coins into Nanny Shi’s palm.
Counting about twenty coppers, Nanny Shi smiled. "Don’t worry, Nurse Ye. I’ll take care of Li'er."
After Nanny Shi left, Ye Yunniang sipped her soup and picked at her food.
Lying on her side, she endured the discomfort until exhaustion pulled her under.
A soft swallowing sound roused her.
Her eyes flew open—
"You—?"
