Chapitre 7: Kunning Chapter 7: Intersection with Xie Wei
Observing that the previous maid had discreetly added her privately kept golden hairpin to the collection, Jiang Xuening finally expressed her approval with a nod. Glancing at the "Children Learning Qionglin" in her hand, Jiang Boyou cleared his throat and tentatively inquired, "Have they confessed to everything they pilfered? Would you like me to take any action?"
Considering the prospect of ordering the enlightenment book, Jiang Xuening had already stretched the truth about the items she received from Yan Lin on her eighteenth birthday to impress others. She couldn't be certain if more items were missing. Consequently, she responded, "They probably haven't returned everything. It seems like many might have exchanged the stolen items for pawns. It would be too awkward for them to admit to more. I'm indifferent to these two boxes. Feel free to discipline them so they refrain from such audacity in the future. What does Father think?"
Jiang Boyou furrowed his brow. "Are you not going to punish them?"
After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Xuening surveyed the kneeling maids in the courtyard once again and remarked, "They were trained by the mansion before being assigned to my room. There are rules in place, and in front of the daughter, they act deferential and proficient in their service. While some may not dare to speak back when asked to kneel, most exhibit skill in handling people. In a world where many bully the weak and fear the strong, these individuals are, at the end of the day, 'mediocre.' The issue lies with the daughter being too outspoken, excessively indulgent, and unwilling to tolerate any criticism of the people in my house. So, I thought, why not give them a chance? This time, they will receive five strokes each, a two-month fine, and as long as they serve diligently without further transgressions, it will suffice. If they err again, we will address both old and new issues together, dealing with them directly."
Though the words seemed straightforward, Jiang Boyou couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
Ning girl has truly matured…
Anticipating a confrontational stance, he found her not only seeking faults in others but also reflecting on her own shortcomings. Her openness and candor had added a new layer to her character.
Maintaining the family's benevolence was crucial.
While this approach might not be swift and decisive, Jiang Boyou pondered why his daughter's family needed such a forceful hand.
Looking at his daughter, he couldn't help but find her more pleasing to the eye than before. Nodding slightly, he agreed, "Alright, I'll follow your plan."
Jiang Xuening remained composed.
She wasn't entirely pure-hearted, having experienced a past life and understanding the importance of leaving room for future encounters.
Similar to her past with Yan Lin.
Even if she insisted on becoming a queen, and despite the Yongyihou's mansion retaining its power, she ultimately chose to marry Shen Jie. However, why use such definitive language and make that choice at that specific juncture?
Words are fixed, people are not.
If Yan Lin held resentment, it would be logical for him to mistreat her even after gaining power.
There are two things best avoided in this world: bullying the financially challenged youth and pushing mad dogs to jump over the wall. Handling these maids and women follows the latter principle. Some familiarity with their mistakes and increased caution in their behavior make them more manageable than new recruits. Hatred directed at her should not be fatal; serving for an extended period should earn them the benefit of the doubt. After all, allowing someone to speak freely may sometimes be more beneficial than addressing the issue head-on.
When many people brought back items earlier, it's certain that some concealed secrets. Some were more generous in their contributions, while others were more restrained.
Jiang Xuening didn't bother to investigate the exact quantity each person had taken, recognizing the potential for mutual suspicion among them.
Some might think she concealed too much, while others might believe she took too little. If, in the end, they face consequences for their actions, she wouldn't harbor resentment.
In this way, she could maintain her innocence, preserve a good reputation, and please Jiang Boyou. It seemed like a sensible choice.
It's worth noting that in the future, if she ever decides to leave the mansion, Jiang Boyou's approval is essential.
Contemplating this, Jiang Xuening instructed Chang Zhuo to have someone bring a brazier. She then stood up and addressed everyone, "Did you all hear what I just said?"
A collective tremor ran through those below, and they affirmed, "We heard it clearly."
Jiang Xuening spoke deliberately, "You're all well aware of my temperament, having served me for quite some time. This time, I'll take three parts of the blame upon myself. While I don't truly believe I've done anything wrong, I recognize that most of you have made mistakes. The elderly among you need care, and I cannot bear the thought of your reputations being tarnished. Finding a good family is challenging with a stained record. I'm accustomed to your presence. If there's a repeated mistake, don't blame me for severing ties without hesitation."
Wang Xing's family lay prostrate on the ground before them, visibly trembling.
A hushed silence settled over the courtyard.
Numerous servants and onlookers quietly gathered in the surrounding corners, their hearts quivering as they absorbed the unfolding scene. Whispers circulated, conveying the sentiment that the second daughter had undergone a transformation. Henceforth, anyone not wholeheartedly serving her might find themselves in a situation similar to those currently kneeling on the ground—unable to partake in meals and sent away.
Jiang Xuening raised her hand to retrieve the "account book" and made her way toward the brazier.
The rising heat enveloped her face.
With a decisive motion, she tossed the book into the brazier. Fire, with its bright red tongue of flame, eagerly consumed the pages, reducing them to ashes swiftly.
The onlookers who had been kneeling watched the spectacle, collectively exhaling a sigh of relief.
Jiang Xuening declared, "This matter concludes here—no further involvement, no further investigation. All of you may now go down and receive your punishment."
Wang Xing's family immediately kowtowed, expressing their gratitude, "The second girl is truly a compassionate bodhisattva. The old servants and these girls are fortunate to have a master like you. It's as if the smoke from our ancestral graves has burned for three lifetimes. High blessings! This is the penalty, this is the penalty…"
The rest expressed similar gratitude as they headed down to face their punishments.
Lian'er and Tang'er, both literate, comprehended the content of their girl's writing in the "account book" and were astonished by the unfolding events. Even Chang Zhuo, waiting nearby, couldn't help but regard Jiang Xuening with an expression that seemed to say, "I never expected her to take this book seriously and use it to instill fear."
Jiang Xuening's gaze lingered on the departing maids for a moment.
She turned her gaze and softly inquired of Tang'er, "Who was the one who knelt down and talked back just now?"
Tang'er, taken aback, pondered for a moment.
In that recent incident, only one person had spoken back.
She replied, "The one who entered the house to serve, called Tianxiang."
Jiang Xuening nodded.
After the conclusion of the spectacle, she didn't rush to leave immediately. Instead, she rose and followed Jiang Boyou, walking back to the outer room of the study.
Observing her, Jiang Boyou remarked, "Are you planning to address that girl?"
Jiang Xuening frowned slightly, nodded, and then lowered her head as she explained, "The others around me are tolerable; they may lack skills and mostly resort to bullying the weak. However, this Tianxiang is quite articulate and can manipulate words skillfully. I was almost left speechless by her earlier. If I hadn't committed those actions, hearing her words might have convinced me it was my fault. One daughter agreed not to pursue it, but the other daughter, having not dealt with similar matters before, is unsure how to handle her."
Jiang Boyou had also witnessed the recent events.
The maid who had talked back seemed unafraid of Jiang Xuening, displaying arrogance that others didn't dare to exhibit. It was clear she might pose a problem if retained.
He had a plan in mind and signaled Chang Zhuo without uttering a word.
Although the Jiang family wasn't a prominent one in the capital, they were acquainted with certain household tactics.
Chang Zhuo understood the silent directive, assuring, "I've noted it, Master."
Jiang Boyou comfortingly stroked Jiang Xuening's back and reassured her, "This matter is concluded; let this girl be dealt with separately. You need not worry about it. Speaking of which, today's words and actions are just trivial matters. Did Master Hou provide any guidance?"
"Of course not."
Of course, Jiang Xuening had no intention of revealing her rebirth to others. She had previously used Yan Lin as a shield, and this time was no different. She nodded and affirmed, "Yan Lin was also taught."
Jiang Boyou sighed, "There are successors in the residence of the Marquis of Yongyi."
Jiang Xuening lowered her eyes, offering no response.
Jiang Boyou quickly added, "You must be tired too. Go back and rest. I didn't return last night, and today's events caused quite a commotion. Remember to convey my regards to your mother tonight so that she can be at ease."
Jiang Xuening replied simply, "Yes."
This marked the conclusion of their conversation, a conversation between a father and daughter who weren't particularly close. She bowed, bidding her farewell.
As Jiang Boyou lifted the curtain to enter the inner room of his study, he chuckled, "Ju'an, have you been waiting for a long time?"
At that moment, Jiang Xuening, having only taken a step back, was suddenly frozen.
A shiver crawled from her feet to her head!
Two simple words resonated sharply in her ears, producing a deafening sound!
She turned her eyes just in time to catch a glimpse of the corner of the study room revealed as the curtain lifted. On the exquisitely carved tea table lay an unfolded scroll of books. A slender, well-boned hand extended, gracefully flipping through the pages. The pad of the ring finger habitually and lightly traced along the page's edge, pressing gently against the corner.
Jiang Xuening was intimately familiar with this gesture!
Whether in her previous life when she entered the palace to accompany him during lectures, or later when she became a queen and accidentally stepped into the cabinet to observe him handling state affairs with Shen Jie, or even after Shen Jie's poisoning when she wandered the imperial garden in shock and discovered him sitting in the booth reading memorials…
This man's movements were always natural and elegant.
Even when committing ruthless deeds, his actions possessed an instant beauty.
Xie Wei, known as Ju'an!
In this brief moment, all the memories associated with this person flooded back into Jiang Xuening's mind with a sense of dread!
Recalling You Fangyin's words, "There was a huge secret in the previous court, but anyone with a brain knows it, and they won't make mistakes. It's a pity, I know it too late…"
The ending of her previous life came flooding back.
She remembered the enduring scar on her wrist.
Jiang Boyou had already entered the room, and the curtain fell once again. Despite this, Jiang Xuening's world remained eerily quiet, allowing her to hear the ongoing conversation inside.
Jiang Boyou sighed, "Oh, it was Ning's matter just now. She has been a source of concern for me for a long time, but I didn't expect clarity to come this time. You aren't a father, so you might not comprehend the feeling. By the way, when you secretly went to Beijing or accompanied her, it has been four years in the blink of an eye!"
The man opposite him stayed silent for a moment, then spoke with a voice like a deep spring hitting a rock—low and magnetic, "Miss Ning Er…"
At that moment, Chang Zhuo entered with incense from behind.
The curtain lifted once again.
Jiang Xuening clearly saw the corner of a robe adorned with sky-blue crepe. With a subtle movement, the person sitting by the tea table turned slightly toward the door curtain.
Though she couldn't see his face or meet his gaze, she unmistakably sensed that he was looking at her standing outside the study!
Despite the separation of the door curtain, it felt as if his gaze could penetrate it.
Jiang Xuening felt as if a colossal hand had suddenly seized her heart, making it nearly impossible to breathe!
Today, it's common knowledge that four years ago, the young prince Xie Wei secretly entered the capital to assist the then-third prince, Shen Lang, in ascending to the throne. Regardless of the size of his role, aiding Xie Wei's secret entrance into the capital could be considered a heroic act.
Few people knew the truth—
During that time, Jiang Boyou fabricated a story, presenting himself as a distant relative of the Jiang family. He claimed to be traveling to Beijing with his legitimate daughter, who resided in Tongzhou. Unbeknownst to many, Xie Wei, the emperor's strategist orchestrating a plan to reverse the situation, concealed himself in Jiang Xuening's carriage at that time!
While everyone else addressed her as "Second Miss Jiang," Xie Wei was the only one treated differently, referred to as "Second Miss Ning."
Jiang Xuening had made countless calculations, but how could she have fathomed that the "noble guest" in Jiang Boyou's study today was none other than Xie Wei?
She should have been more vigilant.
How many individuals in the political landscape dared to leave Zhou Yinzhi, who held considerable influence, waiting without a word of complaint?
Jiang Xuening couldn't recall how she exited the study.
All she knew was that her steps were smoother and more composed than ever.
It wasn't until she left the study and entered the corridor, almost reaching her own room, that her legs suddenly weakened. She stumbled without warning, gripping a nearby pillar. With a pallid face, she slumped onto the porch.
Something was amiss.
Since her rebirth, she had made a grave error!
She would forever remember the first encounter with Xie Wei.
A man, still recovering from the wind and cold, wore a plain white robe without any embellishments, holding a zither. Despite appearing a bit weary, he had a smile on his lips as he approached the carriage and nodded slightly at her.
At that moment, she had no inkling that this person would later become the emperor's teacher, ruling the nation. She certainly had no idea that he would orchestrate the slaughter of the entire royal family…
If she had known, during that portion of their journey, she might have chosen to curb her temper and treat him with more kindness.
No…
If she had known, she would never have used that half bowl of blood as medicine for him when the desolate mountains and valleys were in peril!
In her previous life, when his sword was pointed at the Xiao family and the royal family, she had questioned Xie Wei about how he could commit such acts that defied the natural order and showed no regard for human life.
Xie Wei, with the vermilion imperial pen, lightly marked a line on the document and replied, "You are not heaven. How can you be certain that I am harming heaven and justice, rather than executing justice on behalf of heaven?"
Jiang Xuening was completely stunned.
He set down his pen once again and gazed at her quietly. "As for your empress, being alive to this day is Xie's greatest act of mercy. During my illness and confusion back then, I revealed some treasonous words to your empress. Fortunately, her memory was poor at the time, and she had no plans. Upon my arrival in Beijing, I had her tested three times, but she had no recollection. I was relieved, and your empress lived for another two years. Otherwise, on the day when Xie Wei, a young teacher, entered the capital, your empress would have met the executioner's blade."
As he spoke, he smiled, extending his hand to lightly stroke his own neck.
Jiang Xuening felt as if her entire body had plunged into icy water.
Yet, his smiling countenance was even more chilling than the night in question.
In essence, Xie Wei spared her life upon entering Beijing because she had no recollection and was not astute!
Now, those words echoed in her ears once again, bringing to mind the significant "Second Miss Ning." Jiang Xuening raised her hand and placed it on her neck, only to realize that her fingertips had lost their warmth. They trembled!
Xie Wei was not a benevolent person.
In the final two years of her previous life, his name cast a massive, ominous shadow, instilling fear in all who traversed the court and imperial city, compelling them to lower their heads.
Witnessing her sheer fright, Tang'er and Lian'er grew alarmed. "Miss, what's happening to you!"
Jiang Xuening, unable to recall the treasonous words from before, had gained more insights after her rebirth. This didn't prevent her from foreseeing the dire circumstances she might soon face.
Xie Wei would kill.
Her almost lifeless fingers slowly descended.
She blinked, her voice distant. "Tang'er, go and check if Zhou Yinzhi is still there…"
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