Ye Yunniang was overjoyed—she hadn’t expected Jiang Mingzhe to agree.
Jiang Mingzhe flipped her onto her back, pinning her beneath him. "You’ll have to satisfy me, and make sure I’ve had my fill."
Ye Yunniang: "...Too many demands. She couldn’t handle it."
But once Jiang Mingzhe said it, he wouldn’t let her back out.
From day to night, Ye Yunniang was like a fish—first lively and squirming, then repeatedly fried until thoroughly cooked and seasoned.
When she opened her eyes, only one thought crossed her mind:
Thank goodness she was still alive.
"What time is it, Li'er?"
"It’s the middle of the You hour. You’ve slept a full day and night, plus another day."
It wasn’t Li'er’s voice—it was Nanny Shi’s.
"I slept that long? What about Madam?" Ye Yunniang panicked, trying to sit up, but her body gave out, and she nearly tumbled off the bed.
"I’ve already asked leave for you, telling Madam you caught a chill at night. She’s generous—she granted you three days of rest. You can return to tending the young master the day after tomorrow." Nanny Shi steadied her and helped her lie back down.
"Thank you, Nanny Shi." Ye Yunniang pulled the blanket tighter, hiding the marks on her body. "Where’s Li'er?"
"She’s been borrowed by the sewing room these past few days," Nanny Shi replied.
"Nanny Shi, could you step out for a moment? I need to…" Ye Yunniang clenched her legs, her face strained.
"I’ll fetch hot water." Nanny Shi stood and left.
Wrapped in the blanket, Ye Yunniang tried to hurry to the chamber pot, but her legs were weak, forcing her to inch forward.
She fought to hold it in, sweat beading on her forehead. Finally reaching the pot, she relieved herself with a sigh.
On her way back, she passed the table and spotted tea and pastries.
Her parched throat and growling stomach reminded her how hungry and thirsty she was.
She washed her hands at the basin, then returned to the table, gulping down two cups of tea to soothe her burning throat. Two red bean cakes later, the gnawing hunger eased.
Back in bed, she noticed the torn clothes. Blushing, she balled them up, wrapped them in cloth, and stuffed them deep into the sewing basket.
Nanny Shi returned with a bathtub and hot water. "I’ll stand guard outside. Take your time washing."
Ye Yunniang soaked in the tub, scrubbing herself clean before changing into fresh clothes.
Together, they emptied the tub.
Nanny Shi brought dinner—a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Ye Yunniang devoured every last drop.
As Nanny Shi cleared the dishes, she murmured, "Think of your mother and son. This too shall pass."
Ye Yunniang nodded. For them, she’d keep living.
Lying down again, she suddenly bolted upright. She hadn’t practiced writing or memorized texts since the Dragon Boat Festival.
Too weak to write, she settled for reciting.
She went to the desk—a gift from Jin Huifang when she heard Ye Yunniang was learning calligraphy—and fetched The Hundred Family Surnames.
Back in bed, she recited the characters she knew, her heart calming with each repetition.
After a day’s rest, Ye Yunniang regained her energy and returned to Fanghua Courtyard.
She relieved Chunyao, who had been recalled by Jin Huifang—now distrustful of other wet nurses—and promoted to stewardess of the side courtyard.
Chunyao was skilled. Within an hour, she’d coaxed smiles and trust from Jiang Tingjun, who had grown wary after being kidnapped.
"Thank you for covering for me these past three days, Chunyao-jie. I’ll take the next two shifts."
"Good. I’ll rest then. From now on, we’ll alternate daily."
Ye Yunniang tended to Jiang Tingjun while Chunyao managed the courtyard affairs.
Aunt Jinlan’s rules were swiftly revised. Chunyao scrapped half, like the mandate that night-shift nurses and maids stay awake.
"If the young master sleeps, so can you," she declared. "No one’s made of iron."
After two days, Chunyao took over again.
Ye Yunniang napped away her fatigue before heading to Xiaosong Residence for lessons.
Kong Ci checked her progress and frowned. "You’ve slacked off."
"Aunt, I’ll catch up soon," Ye Yunniang admitted meekly.
Satisfied with her attitude, Kong Ci moved on.
Leaving Xiaosong Residence, Ye Yunniang murmured the day’s lessons all the way back to Zhiyu Pavilion.
"Sister!" Li'er dashed over, clinging to her arm.
"Done at the sewing room?" Ye Yunniang ruffled her hair. The girl had grown taller in just days.
"Yes! I missed you so much." Li'er rested her head on Ye Yunniang’s shoulder.
"Me too."
"Oh! Guess who I saw at the sewing room?" Li'er hinted, "Someone you know—she was at Zhiyu Pavilion briefly."
"Wet Nurse Shi Liu?"
Li'er shook her head. "No, someone else. She was here for just a short time."
"Yan Zhi?"
Li'er nodded excitedly and launched into Yan Zhi’s story:
After being caught stealing Jiang Tingjun’s unused diapers, Yan Zhi was beaten and banished to her in-laws.
They shamed her, beating and berating her while mistreating her son.
Within two months, the boy fell ill and died.
Blaming Yan Zhi for "heartlessly killing her son," they threw her out.
Her own family refused to take her in, hastily marrying her off to a wife-beater.
Yan Zhi fled and sold herself to a broker, ending up as a concubine for a Zheng Family servant.
When the Zhengs left Jiangcheng, they sold off staff—half of whom the Jiang family rehired during their own servant shortage.
Now, Yan Zhi was back, working in the sewing room thanks to her needlework.
"I barely recognized her. In just a year, she aged a decade. So haggard. She had to tell me who she was!" Li'er sighed.
Ye Yunniang echoed her pity.
The next day, while handing off to Chunyao, she mentioned Yan Zhi, marveling at how small Jiangcheng was.
Chunyao’s smile vanished.
"What’s wrong?"
"Don’t speak of Yan Zhi to others. Warn Li'er too." With that, Chunyao strode toward the main house.
Ye Yunniang watched her go, her own smile fading, before stepping inside.
