Chapter 17: Return to the Estate

A Furious Confrontation

Wu Que pointed at Xie Jiu, trembling with rage, his words stuttering and broken.

Xie Jiu lifted her eyelids to glance at him, her brows furrowing.

‘What’s wrong with the Marquis? It’s only been a few days, and you’ve developed a stammer? I’ve been away from the estate, and these servants have been so negligent in their care. Where’s Steward Chen?’

As she spoke, her gaze swept over the gathered servants, landing on Chen Shun, the steward.

Chen Shun’s throat tightened, and he stiffly stepped forward.

‘This servant is here.’

‘I thought you were dead,’ Xie Jiu said coolly. ‘I’ve been gone a few days, and I hear the Marquis has been ill. You’re a veteran of this estate, yet you can’t even care for the Marquis properly. How can you hold the position of steward and expect to command respect?’

Hearing her words, Chen Shun panicked, fearing she meant to strip him of his authority. He shot a pleading glance at Wu Que.

Wu Que, regaining some composure, saw Xie Jiu acting like the mistress of the house and felt his anger surge.

He snorted coldly. ‘What airs you’re putting on!’

He wanted to curse outright, but with the palace eunuchs who carried the sedan still present, he didn’t dare open his mouth too freely.

‘What kind of talk is that?’ Xie Jiu countered. ‘As the lady of this marquis estate, am I not allowed to discipline the servants?’

She raised her hand, and Qingfang stepped forward to help her down from the sedan.

Standing firm, Xie Jiu continued, ‘I’m concerned for the Marquis’s health. You’ve always been too lenient, allowing these cunning servants to grow bold and careless. Chen Shun is the steward, and all the servants look to him. If we let him off lightly today, how can we establish any rules?’

‘What exactly are you trying to do?’ Wu Que gritted his teeth.

‘Enforce the house rules, naturally,’ Xie Jiu said with a faint smile. Her expression turned sharp. ‘Chunrong, hold Chen Shun down and beat him!’

Punishment Delivered

At her command, Chunrong signaled the nearby servants to act. They hesitated, glancing at Wu Que, but Xie Jiu’s commanding presence overwhelmed them. They pinned Chen Shun to the ground.

A quick-witted servant fetched the whip for enforcing house rules and handed it to Chunrong.

‘My apologies, Steward Chen,’ Chunrong said, before raising the whip without hesitation.

She knew Xie Jiu was venting on her behalf.

The last time Chunrong returned to the estate to fetch things, Wu Que had shouted and threatened to have her beaten. Though he hadn’t followed through, it had left a bitter taste.

Today, she would return the favor.

Wu Que didn’t dare touch Chunrong, but Xie Jiu had no qualms about punishing Chen Shun harshly.

Soon, Chen Shun’s wails echoed through the hall.

Xie Jiu, as if deaf to them, spoke softly to Wu Que.

‘Look, Marquis, these are all gifts from His Majesty. I don’t even know how to express my gratitude. What do you think I should do?’

Her face showed a trace of mock distress as she gestured to the sedan behind her.

About twenty eunuchs stood there, holding or carrying boxes of various sizes, clearly containing valuable items.

Seeing these treasures and Xie Jiu’s radiant, flower-like face, Wu Que felt he was losing his mind. He wanted to smash everything to pieces.

But he couldn’t. He had to endure.

Chen Shun’s cries still rang in his ears, and Wu Que felt his own face burning, as if the whip in Chunrong’s hand was striking him instead.

Unable to bear the humiliation, he stormed off, his face ashen.

Settling In

With Wu Que gone, Xie Jiu lost interest in continuing the scene.

She ordered the gifts moved to her courtyard and gave the palace attendants some reward money before retreating to rest.

As for Chen Shun, the beating continued. Chunrong handed the whip to another servant, who delivered a full thirty lashes before stopping.

Chen Shun’s back was a bloody mess, and he fainted, carried away by a few junior servants.

Xie Jiu paid no attention to this. Back in her courtyard, she had her dowry list brought out and began checking her belongings against it.

A Mother’s Visit

Before long, a servant reported that Madam Yang from the Xie family had arrived.

‘My mother?’ Xie Jiu set down her things.

The maid nodded. ‘Yes, she says she’s here to see you, Madam.’

Xie Jiu’s eyes flickered, and she waved a hand. ‘I see. You may go.’

She sent Qingfang to escort Yang Shi to the front.

Soon, mother and daughter met.

Yang Shi stood at the threshold, seemingly unable to move. Looking at Xie Jiu inside, her lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face.

‘Jiu’er, I’ve failed you! I’m so useless, I couldn’t protect you!’

Yang Shi clutched the doorframe with one hand, pressing a handkerchief to her chest with the other, her body slowly sinking.

Her pain and heartache were unmistakably genuine.

A Painful Reunion

Xie Jiu wasn’t sure if Yang Shi had been involved in Xie Mingchen and Wu Que’s schemes, so her feelings were mixed. But seeing her mother like this, she couldn’t bear it and hurried forward to help Yang Shi up.

‘Mother, please get up.’

‘I don’t deserve to be your mother. I’m so foolish, staying by your father’s side all this time, and I never noticed he was plotting with others to harm you. I’m truly…’

Yang Shi’s eyes brimmed with anguish as she pulled Xie Jiu into a tight embrace, tears flowing even more fiercely.

‘That day you came home, I didn’t see anything wrong. You silly child, why didn’t you tell me? If I’d known, I’d have fought with my life to keep you from suffering like this!’

‘Father has always been domineering. If I’d spoken out, I’d likely have been forced onto this path even sooner, with no room to maneuver. You wouldn’t have been able to protect me and might have been dragged down with me.’ Xie Jiu’s eyes grew warm.

She left half her thoughts unsaid.

That day, she hadn’t dared to openly seek help, fearing Yang Shi might have been in league with her father.

But seeing Yang Shi now, Xie Jiu knew her mother hadn’t betrayed her.

‘It’s my fault, my fault,’ Yang Shi sobbed, pounding her chest in self-reproach.

Xie Jiu grabbed her hand, her gaze resolute. ‘Mother, it’s over. I’ve chosen my path now, and I won’t let them have their way!’

Yang Shi heard her daughter’s words and realized she was no longer the same. This only deepened her heartache. She gently touched Xie Jiu’s cheek, choking on her words.

A Hidden Motive

Xie Jiu, however, quickly regained her composure. Knowing Yang Shi likely understood the full story, she sensed there was more to this visit.

‘Did Father send you here today?’

Yang Shi’s face darkened, and after a long pause, she nodded. But she quickly added, ‘Don’t worry, I’d never harm you. I only got to see you today by deceiving your father, making him think I’m on his side. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even left the house.’

Xie Jiu frowned, signaling the maids to close the door. She pulled Yang Shi inside.

‘No rush, Mother. Tell me everything slowly.’