Ye Yunniang was momentarily stunned.
“Brother,” Jiang Tingjun called out again.
“The young master sees that it’s getting dark outside. Brother has already fallen asleep. How about we play again tomorrow?” Ye Yunniang coaxed Jiang Tingjun back to calm.
“No, I want to play now.” Jiang Tingjun’s stubborn streak flared up.
“Milk nanny will play with you, okay?”
“No, Brother.”
“Young master, are you looking down on milk nanny?” Ye Yunniang feigned hurt, rubbing her eyes.
Jiang Tingjun grabbed Ye Yunniang’s hand. “Play.”
Ye Yunniang scooped him up in a hug. “I knew it. Young master is the best and the most considerate.” She said, planting a smacking kiss on his cheek.
For a moment, Jiang Tingjun’s eyes went blank, then he lunged at Ye Yunniang.
Ye Yunniang stumbled backward.
Jiang Tingjun scrambled up and bit her cheek with a playful nip.
Smack, smack — two quick kisses.
Ye Yunniang froze.
Jiang Tingjun giggled, as if he had won.
This kid really never liked to lose.
After settling Jiang Tingjun to sleep, Ye Yunniang glanced at the bed and decided to rest for a bit herself.
Early the next morning, Ye Yunniang woke up, opened her bundle, took out a small piece of clothing close to her skin, then pulled two hidden silver notes from a secret pocket.
She slipped them into a scented sachet and hurried to the guest room.
“Mother, I’ve obtained talismans for you and Pan’er to keep you safe. Wear them,” Ye Yunniang said, handing the sachet to Cai Damei, along with a paper-wrapped package containing about ten plain steamed buns she had bought for them to eat on the road. The package also included buns for the neighboring couple.
Cai Damei accepted them. “You should go back soon.”
“Okay,” Ye Yunniang replied, but her feet didn’t move. She watched Cai Damei and Pan’er leave the temple grounds before turning back.
She burned incense, listened to the master talk about Buddhist teachings, had the noon meal, rested, and then enjoyed the scenery behind the temple on the mountain.
After a few days, she felt completely calm, her body and mind refreshed and healthy.
When it was time to leave, she packed her things and headed home.
At the foot of the mountain, people sent by the Jiang family stopped them.
It was getting late, and Jiang Mingrui and Jin Huifang, worried that Jiang Tingjun wouldn’t withstand the bumpy ride, asked Dongqing and Ye Yunniang to take the group back to the manor to stay temporarily.
Watching the departing carriage, Ye Yunniang felt an inexplicable unease in her heart.
“Milk nanny Ye, what’s wrong?” Dongqing asked.
“Nothing. Dongqing, let’s head back to the manor,” Ye Yunniang said, lifting the sleeping Jiang Tingjun onto the carriage.
Back at the manor, the maids and servants had already cleaned the rooms upon receiving the news.
Ye Yunniang couldn’t sleep. She got up and tidied her belongings.
The next morning, after breakfast, they set off by carriage back to the city.
Halfway along the road, there was a loud crack, and the carriage suddenly tilted to one side.
Everyone inside was thrown uncontrollably to one side.
“Wah…” Jiang Tingjun cried out in fright.
Ignoring the pain in her back from the jolt, Ye Yunniang held Jiang Tingjun tightly and checked him over.
Fortunately, he was unharmed.
“What happened?” Dongqing lifted the curtain and asked.
“Miss Dongqing, the axle broke,” the coachman replied.
They were in the middle of nowhere, with no village or shop nearby. The carriage was broken and couldn’t move.
They only had this one carriage; the ox cart behind was loaded with boxes and couldn’t carry people.
Dongqing arranged for someone to return to the manor to send help. For now, they would have to wait.
Jiang Tingjun kept crying, and Ye Yunniang held him gently as they walked toward a small grove nearby to rest in the shade.
Behind them followed a few burly female guards.
After waiting for about an hour and a half, what arrived was not the Jiang family’s carriage, but a squad of constables.
Once they confirmed they were members of the Jiang family, they were immediately taken back to Jiangcheng under arrest.
When they were brought back to the Jiang residence, Ye Yunniang noticed that guards were posted at both the front and back gates.
Inside the Jiang mansion, the scene was chaotic, like a bustling market.
The officers were conducting a thorough search of the house, and there were loud protests from the servants claiming certain items as their own, insisting they should not be taken away.
All they received in response were slaps and kicks.
Among the Jiang family’s masters, everyone was present except for the main family and Jiang Mingshu, who was absent.
Zhuang Meixue was slumped on the ground, a blood-stained cloth wrapped around her forehead.
Her injuries seemed severe.
No one else in the Jiang family paid her any attention.
Jiang Mingzhe and Jiang Mingrui stood together, not sparing her a single glance.
When Jin Huifang and Jiang Mingrui saw Jiang Tingjun trying to approach, the officers stopped him.
“Jun’er,” Jin Huifang couldn’t help but call out softly.
Ye Yunniang stepped forward and handed Jiang Tingjun over to Jin Huifang to hold.
Jiang Tingjun wasn’t frightened; instead, he looked around curiously, taking in everything.
“Go stand with the servants,” someone ordered.
Ye Yunniang was pushed roughly from behind, losing her balance and falling backward.
Someone caught her.
Without looking, she recognized the familiar scent—it was Jiang Mingzhe.
Ye Yunniang said nothing, steadied herself, and walked over to stand among the servants.
The items seized from the Jiang household were piled high like a mountain.
Soon, an inspection began.
The masters of the Jiang family were scrutinized carefully.
The servants were also thoroughly checked, with government agents present.
Those bound by contracts of servitude were taken away by the agents.
People like Ye Yunniang, who were honest civilians working here, were allowed to retrieve their own bundles.
Ye Yunniang made her way to Zhiyu Pavilion, which hadn’t yet been searched.
Under the watchful eyes of the officers, she took out her belongings.
“So many pieces of jewelry?” one officer remarked.
“I saved the young master before; Fourth Madam rewarded me with these,” Ye Yunniang explained as she laid the jewelry out to the side.
“Your husband’s surname is Li?” the officer suddenly asked.
“Yes, my husband’s surname is Li. We’re from Lincheng. My husband died in the army, so I came here to rely on relatives and work as a wet nurse,” Ye Yunniang answered without hiding anything.
“Pack your things yourself,” the officer said before walking away.
The room was left with only Ye Yunniang inside. Regardless of why the officer left, she now had some time.
She carefully hid her silver and precious jewelry inside her padded jacket, sewing it up so no one would notice.
Ye Yunniang carried a large bundle as she came out.
In the side gate, Nanny Shi’s belongings had all been taken out.
Nanny Shi was bound by a death contract and was to be sold away.
Back in the front courtyard, Ye Yunniang and a group of short-term hired workers stood together.
Ye Yunniang looked at Jiang Tingjun, who was being held in Jin Huifang’s arms.
Her heart ached, uncertain of what he would face next.
More than anything, she was confused—how could the Jiang family be raided overnight like this?
“All right, you people can leave now,” someone announced.
Ye Yunniang hugged her large bundle tightly.
Though reluctant to take one last look at Jiang Tingjun, she pulled her gaze away and left.
As she stepped out of the Jiang residence, she saw Cai Damei anxiously waiting, surrounded by several others.
“Mother,” Ye Yunniang quickened her pace.
As she tried to reach her, constables blocked her way.
The constables were about to inspect their bundles once again, with a crowd gathered around watching.
Ye Yunniang’s bundle was opened, revealing two summer garments and a cotton-padded jacket. There were also two pairs of shoes inside.
The small beaded flower that Ye Yunniang wore on her head was taken away. The bundle was opened, showing a few pieces of clothing along with the padded jacket.
They shook the bundle lightly—there was no sound, and nothing fell out.
The constables waved their hands dismissively, “Let’s go.”
