Fourth Madam Jiang was unaware that someone was thinking of her. At that moment, she was playing with Jiang Tingjun.
After a while, Jiang Tingjun grew tired and fell asleep.
Fourth Madam Jiang had him carried to the couch to sleep, with Hongyin keeping watch.
Ye Yunniang followed Fourth Madam Jiang to the adjacent room.
"Were you stealing at night?"
"Please forgive me, Madam." Ye Yunniang bowed her head in apology, unable to suppress another yawn.
"What's going on? Speak." Fourth Madam Jiang frowned.
Ye Yunniang explained in a hushed voice—she wasn’t allowed to sleep at night, and in the morning, she still had to care for the young master. A short nap in the afternoon did little to relieve her exhaustion.
Even someone as sturdy as Ye Yunniang couldn’t endure this for long.
After hearing this, Fourth Madam Jiang sent Dongqing to investigate.
Since Zi Yuan had left, Dongqing had taken her place as the head maid.
Dongqing reported the rules of the side courtyard.
Once Fourth Madam Jiang heard everything, she allowed Ye Yunniang to return and rest.
She then sent someone to summon Aunt Jinlan.
Aunt Jinlan arrived promptly.
"Madam, I was just about to discuss the management of the side courtyard with you. Wet Nurse Chunyao can only come in the afternoon to tend to the young master. At night, Wet Nurse Ye is left alone and can’t manage everything.
I suggest hiring another wet nurse for the household. The two can take turns keeping watch at night, allowing both to rest.
During this time, I’ve also looked around the mansion. There are four servants who have recently finished their postpartum confinement."
After listening to Aunt Jinlan’s explanation, Fourth Madam Jiang’s reproachful thoughts vanished.
When Ye Yunniang woke from her nap, she learned that a new wet nurse had arrived at Zhiyu Pavilion.
"Hello, Sister Ye. My name is Taohong. From now on, I’ll be helping you care for the young master. Since I’m new here and know nothing, I’ll need your guidance." Taohong spoke with humility.
"You’re too polite. As fellow wet nurses serving the young master, the most important thing is to work together with dedication and loyalty." Ye Yunniang understood that Taohong had likely been chosen by Aunt Jinlan to challenge her.
"Exactly, serving the young master well is what matters most." Taohong seized the opportunity to ask many questions about Jiang Tingjun.
Ye Yunniang selectively shared what she could, revealing nothing confidential.
With the arrival of the new wet nurse, Chunyao took the chance to resign once more.
"Sister Chunyao, I’ll miss you." Ye Yunniang held Chunyao’s hand, reluctant to let her go.
"My home is in the back alley of Jiang Mansion. Come visit whenever you have time." Chunyao extended the invitation.
"Yes, I will." Ye Yunniang agreed, seeing Chunyao off.
Ye Yunniang and Taohong took turns working shifts—one day on, one day off.
Having a full day of rest after work suited Ye Yunniang just fine.
On her day off, Ye Yunniang visited the back alley of Jiang Mansion.
The back alley housed married servants of the Jiang household.
When Ye Yunniang arrived, Chunyao was sitting in the courtyard, soothing her child.
She looked up and saw Ye Yunniang.
"Yunniang, you’re here!" She stood to open the gate, welcoming Ye Yunniang inside before fetching pastries and tea from the kitchen.
"Try this—my husband’s newly developed red bean crystal cake." Chunyao handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Ye Yunniang took a bite.
The initial taste was the rich aroma of red beans, followed by a subtle rice fragrance. The more she chewed, the more the two flavors blended.
"It’s delicious."
"If you like it, take some home. My husband’s been experimenting with it, making me taste it every day." Chunyao was practically sick of it.
"That just proves Sister Chunyao has a refined palate." Ye Yunniang ate two pieces before setting down her chopsticks.
"Of course! My husband married me precisely because of my ‘golden tongue.’" Chunyao boasted before catching herself and changing the subject to Immortal Lady Ma.
"Immortal Lady Ma has truly fallen this time."
"Wasn’t she under someone’s protection?" Ye Yunniang hadn’t forgotten what Chunyao had said before—Immortal Lady Ma had the backing of the Prefect’s Wife and Madam Lin, the Third.
"The matter blew up."
Immortal Lady Ma was thrown into the prefectural prison.
Upon hearing the news, the Prefect’s Wife and Madame Lin the Third sent people to bribe the jailers.
Immortal Lady Ma lived more comfortably in prison than she had at home.
Madame Lin the Third even used her status as an in-law to summon Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Mingyue to the Lin residence.
She insinuated that the Jiang family should drop their accusations against Immortal Lady Ma.
Old Madam Jiang refused—her grandson had been killed by Immortal Lady Ma. She didn’t even know how to explain things to the Zhuang family.
When Madame Lin the Third realized the Jiangs wouldn’t yield, she flew into a rage.
She outright threatened to break off the engagement, leaving Jiang Mingyue humiliated.
Old Madam Jiang, accustomed to deference and respect, couldn’t endure such insults. She argued with Madame Lin the Third and was driven out of the Lin residence.
The scene at the gate was witnessed by many.
The conflict between the Lin and Jiang families spread quickly.
With deliberate fueling, the entire affair became public knowledge.
Previously, many who had suffered under Immortal Lady Ma had no choice but to endure in silence, fearing her powerful connections.
Now, with the Jiang family leading the charge, people like Chunyao banded together to file complaints against Immortal Lady Ma at the prefectural office.
By coincidence, their collective petition coincided with the arrival of an imperial inspector.
Neither the Prefect’s Wife nor the Lin family dared shield Immortal Lady Ma any longer.
All her crimes were exposed, and she was sentenced to execution. Her family was arrested and exiled three thousand li away.
The prefect, due to his wife’s interference, was demoted to a remote county magistracy.
The inspector reported the incident to the imperial court.
Elder Master Lin was reprimanded by the emperor for failing to govern his household.
A grand chancellor publicly scolded in front of his peers had lost face. He sent his second son, Lin Chaoyang, back to Jiangcheng.
Upon returning, Lin Chaoyang first berated Lin Chaosheng before confining Madame Lin the Third to the family’s prayer hall for life, as per his father’s orders.
Lin Chaoyang personally visited Jiang Mansion, bringing medicinal gifts as compensation.
The Jiangs accepted the reparations, and Old Madam Jiang seized the moment to propose dissolving the engagement.
She cared deeply for Jiang Mingyue and laid out the reasons plainly.
Lin Chaosheng, once the head of the Lin family in Jiangcheng, had lost all credibility. While he wouldn’t harm his own son, Jiang Mingyue would undoubtedly bear his resentment.
As for Lin Yanping—his mother’s doting had allowed his tyranny. With Madame Lin the Third imprisoned, his life would sour, and he would take it out on Jiang Mingyue.
Jiang Mingyue, persuaded by reason, agreed to end the engagement after careful thought.
Old Master Jiang, who had pushed for the Lin alliance, was away visiting friends, leaving Old Madam Jiang in charge. No one in the household dared oppose her decision.
Lin Chaoyang, also eager to sever ties, readily agreed.
Acknowledging the greater damage to Jiang Mingyue’s reputation, Lin Chaoyang waived the return of betrothal gifts and compensated her with no less than 3,000 taels of silver and goods.
As the victim, Jiang Mingyue earned Old Madam Jiang’s increased sympathy. Her dowry was raised by an additional thirty percent.
"Poor Second Master and Second Madam—after waiting so many years for a child, only to lose him like this." Chunyao lamented the Jiang family’s misfortune.
The rest of the household shared this sentiment, overshadowing earlier gossip about Zhuang Meixue’s cruelty—that she’d rather deny others children than bear one herself.
Ye Yunniang murmured in agreement.
Indeed.
What a pity.
Such a precious life, lost to cruel circumstances.
May he be reborn into a loving family, cherished by devoted parents.
