Yan Zhi was sitting on the threshold, sobbing. Beside her stood Shanhu with a grim expression.
From the room shared by Yan Zhi and Ding Fang came the clattering sounds, accompanied by Ding Fang's occasional shouts.
"This is mine."
"That's mine."
"The shoes are mine, not Yan Zhi's."
...
Ye Yunniang hesitated and walked outside, her mind in a complete mess. What on earth was going on?
Ye Yunniang approached Chunyao. Chunyao gave her a look, signaling her not to ask questions, and told her to stand beside her and watch.
A maid carried out Yan Zhi's belongings, followed by Ding Fang, who also held a few items in her hands.
"Miss Shanhu, here are all of Yan Zhi's things," the maid said.
Shanhu glanced at the items and motioned for the maid to take them out.
"Nanny Ding, stand over there," Shanhu stopped Ding Fang and made her stand beside Chunyao and Ye Yunniang.
Ding Fang handed the items in her hands to the maid and stood beside Ye Yunniang.
Shanhu sized up the three of them one by one.
"During her service to the young master, Nanny Yan Zhi stole the master's belongings. Out of kindness, the mistress decided not to send her to the authorities because she nursed the young master for three days. Instead, she will be given twenty strokes of the cane and then driven out of the Jiang Family."
"No, I didn't steal. I just saw that the diapers were no longer needed and wanted to take a couple home," Yan Zhi sobbed, explaining that she was innocent.
"Taking things without asking is stealing," Shanhu raised her voice slightly.
"Please spare me, miss. I won't dare to do it again. I really won't," Yan Zhi pleaded, filled with regret. Seeing the two burly maids approaching her, she tried to run away in fear.
The frail Yan Zhi was quickly held down by the two strong maids and pushed to the ground. The maids roughly stripped off her clothes.
The maid holding the cane stepped forward and started hitting her forcefully.
Smack... smack...
"Ah, help! I didn't steal."
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"I'm sorry. I'll never do it again."
At first, Yan Zhi struggled and cried out, but later her cries became hoarse.
Ye Yunniang wanted to cover her ears and eyes, not wanting to hear the sound of the cane hitting the flesh or see Yan Zhi's cries. But Shanhu was glaring at them, not allowing them to close their eyes or cover their ears.
"Watch closely. This is what happens to those who break the rules," Shanhu said.
Ye Yunniang gritted her teeth, trying to control herself and stop her body from trembling.
After twenty strokes, Yan Zhi was beaten to a pulp, barely breathing. She was dragged away.
Shanhu looked at the pale faces of the three and was very satisfied. The effect of making an example of someone had been achieved.
"Since Yan Zhi is gone, you three will have to work harder to take good care of the young master. The mistress is very considerate of the servants." As Shanhu spoke, a little maid presented three reward purses to Ye Yunniang and the other two.
The three of them respectfully took the purses and said, "Thank the mistress for the reward."
After giving them a few more warnings, Shanhu led her people away.
"I was so scared," Ding Fang patted her chest and gasped for breath. She had even forgotten to breathe just now.
"This is nothing," Chunyao said nonchalantly.
"Is there something even more terrifying?" Ding Fang asked curiously.
"When Shiliu and I first entered the mansion, a maid in Zhenxia Courtyard tried to climb into the Third Master's bed behind the Third Mistress's back. She was beaten to death on the spot," Chunyao said, shaking her head.
"Be... beaten to death?" Ding Fang's voice trembled. "Isn't this just... just like taking someone's life like a piece of grass?"
"Maid servants who have signed a death contract are no different from cats and dogs in the eyes of the masters. If they are beaten to death, the authorities won't care. I'm two years older than you, so let me give you a piece of advice. Since we've come to the mansion to be wet - nurses, we should do our jobs well. Don't have wild thoughts, don't ask unnecessary questions, and definitely don't say things you shouldn't," Chunyao's words were the same as what Cai Damei had said.
Ye Yunniang listened carefully and remembered them.
With Yan Zhi gone, the four of them rearranged their shifts, with each person taking a three - hour shift.
Ye Yunniang was assigned to the second half of the night. After having the dinner brought by Li'er, Ye Yunniang went to bed early.
When it was time, Nanny Shi came to knock on the door to wake Ye Yunniang up.
Ye Yunniang got up, washed up, and packed herself. Then she picked up a lantern and headed to the small side courtyard.
The gatekeeper let Ye Yunniang in.
Ye Yunniang handed the lantern to the maid at the gate and walked into the house. First, she washed her hands and face in the outer room, and then entered the inner room.
"You're so late," Ding Fang yawned and handed the rattle in her hand to Ye Yunniang, then quickly left.
Without the sound of the rattle, Jiang Tingjun frowned in his sleep.
Ye Yunniang walked over and gently shook the rattle. Jiang Tingjun's frown relaxed, he smacked his lips, and continued to sleep.
"How cute you are," Ye Yunniang's heart melted. She reached out and stroked Jiang Tingjun's little face.
Jiang Tingjun felt someone touching him and waved his clenched fist.
"Okay, I won't touch you. Go back to sleep," Ye Yunniang said, sitting beside the bed and keeping watch.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Tingjun woke up. Ye Yunniang changed his diaper, fed him, and then coaxed him back to sleep.
Feeling a bit thirsty, Ye Yunniang got up and went to the outer room. She felt the teapot and found that the water was cold. Not wanting to trouble others, she was about to drink it anyway.
Hong Cai pushed the door open and said, "Sister Ye, you can't drink cold water. Here, this red - date tea can replenish qi, nourish blood, and calm the nerves. The dates can also relieve hunger." With that, she handed the bowl in her hand to Ye Yunniang.
"Hong Cai, you're really a timely help. I'm just a bit hungry and thirsty," Ye Yunniang took the red - date tea and drank it.
After finishing the tea, Ye Yunniang sat back beside the bed and continued to coax the child.
Hong Cai carried the teacup and left the room. She went to a small room next to the east wing.
Zi Yuan was sitting in the room. "How is it?"
"She's been watching the young master all the time," Hong Cai replied.
"Keep a closer eye on her," Zi Yuan instructed Hong Cai.
Hong Cai nodded and left the small room, then went back to the outer room of the main house to stand guard.
It was easy to get sleepy during the second half of the night, and one couldn't drink strong tea. Whenever Ye Yunniang felt sleepy, she pinched herself to stay awake. The incident of Yan Zhi earlier that day had made Ye Yunniang, who had been in a relatively relaxed mood, feel tense.
As dawn approached, Ye Yunniang fed the young master one more time, cleaned his bottom, wiped him dry, and put on new clothes for him.
Shi Liu came to relieve her.
Ye Yunniang gave the necessary instructions and then returned to Zhiyu Pavilion. After having breakfast, she went back to her room to lie down and rest.
She slept until 3 p.m. After having some snacks, she washed her clothes and hung them out to dry.
Li'er brought dinner.
After dinner, Ye Yunniang went to Fanghua Courtyard to relieve Ding Fang. She was on duty for the first half of the night today, and Chunyao would take over for the second half.
Time passed as Ye Yunniang took turns on duty every day.
Ye Yunniang received her monthly salary from Shanhu.
She wrapped the small clothes she made for Pan'er and the monthly salary in a package and asked Li'er to give it to Granny Tian at the side gate, asking her to send it to Sunset Lane.
As the night was falling and Ye Yunniang's shift was almost over, she felt Jiang Tingjun's little bottom and found it was a bit wet.
"The young master has wet himself. Does your little bottom feel uncomfortable? I'll put on a new diaper right away," Ye Yunniang said softly. She took a new diaper and put it on for him.
She picked up Jiang Tingjun to feed him. Holding him upright, she gently patted his back to prevent him from spitting up milk.
Just then, Chunyao walked in.
"Has he just finished feeding?"
"Yes. Sister Chunyao, you'll have a hard time from now on," Ye Yunniang said as she handed the child to Chunyao.
Ye Yunniang returned to Zhiyu Pavilion and saw Ding Fang talking to a young girl at the door.
Seeing the girl dressed in fine clothes, Ye Yunniang thought she was one of the young ladies in the mansion. But when she heard Ding Fang call her sister, she realized that it was Ding Xiang, who served in Old Madam Jiang's courtyard.
Ye Yunniang couldn't help but sigh that Old Madam Jiang was really kind to her servants.
"Yunniang is back," Ding Fang said.
"Yes, I'm back," Ye Yunniang replied and nodded to Ding Xiang.
"Sister, I'll go back first," Ding Xiang ignored Ye Yunniang and turned to leave.
After seeing off Ding Xiang, Ding Fang turned to Ye Yunniang and said, "Yunniang, you're good at needlework. Could you sew a piece of clothing for me?"
