Nanny Liu brought the involved parties in.
Chaolu looked like an angry little ox, a clear red mark on her fair face. She no longer covered it with her hand and turned her head to comfort herself, thinking she would be “personally dealt with” by the young lady.
Ye Linlang was in a worse state. She was almost dragged in by the maids, her steps unsteady, her eyes vacant, as if terrified. She had never seen anyone as crude and impudent as Chaolu!
Nanny Liu anxiously led the way, thinking to herself that she had specifically instructed them to keep this from the mistress before she left, but some loose-tongued maid had caused this trouble.
Entering the vermillion gate of the main courtyard, a few concubines who came to watch the show stopped there, leaning on the doorframe, curious to see how this farce would end.
Everyone had different thoughts, and in this daze, Ye Linlang pushed away the maid supporting her, stumbled in front of Ji Yuluo, and cried out, “Madam, how can you treat me like this? What have I done to make you dislike me so?”
Ji Yuluo did not rise but just looked up.
Nanny Liu quickly stepped in front of her. Others didn’t know the mistress’s temperament, but Nanny Liu knew it all too well. She had seen this lady pointing a bow and arrow at her own master.
Who would dare?
She had no doubt that if Ye Linlang said something wrong, the Huo family might face a murder case.
Indeed, Chaolu had acted rashly, and Ye Linlang was seriously injured. Nanny Liu wanted to downplay the matter, saying, “It was Chaolu’s fault, but she’s young and still doesn’t know the rules of the household. The mistress will surely deal with her, but your words, Ye Linlang, are disrespectful.”
She cleared her throat as she spoke, subtly hinting at Ye Linlang.
Ye Linlang’s voice suddenly rose, “A maid beating her mistress isn’t considered disrespectful? I didn’t know there were two sets of rules in this household!”
She shook off Nanny Liu’s hand and suddenly stood firm, covering her face and saying, “Does this mean that every time the master stays in the west courtyard, the mistress will make a fuss? Nanny Liu, which of our sisters would dare to accept the master’s favor in the future?”
The concubines outside the door looked at each other, worry showing on their faces. This argument seemed to have some truth to it?
Nanny Liu’s face darkened. These words were unfair, confusing the issue by attributing it to the mistress’s jealousy.
Biwu stepped forward, shaking her head, “That’s not it. It was Yiniang Ye who first took the main courtyard’s share. I merely asked Steward Qian, and Yiniang Ye struck me first. Although Chaolu shouldn’t have hit back, it has nothing to do with my lady—Steward Qian, you know this.”
Steward Qian reluctantly stepped forward, wiping his sweat, avoiding Ye Linlang’s warning gaze, and nodded to Nanny Liu, “It was…it was Yiniang Ye who struck first.”
Ye Linlang said, “The share, meaning that piece of cloud brocade? Steward Qian, did the master not order the accounting office to pick a fabric for my dance costume? Is that not true? How could ordinary clothes catch his eye? It’s all for the master’s sake. Why can’t the mistress be generous? She knows the reason in her heart.”
She then turned to the vermillion gate, “You all come over.”
She pointed at them and said, “Xue Miao, didn’t the master praise your voice as delicate as an oriole’s the other day? And Tang Wan, didn’t the master leave an incense stick in your room to listen to your zither? Wei Sanniang, wasn’t the phoenix hairpin on your head a gift just yesterday? Will the mistress punish each of these people?”
With that, the courtyard fell silent.
Ji Yuluo followed Ye Linlang’s gaze and looked around. The few concubines she glanced at were trembling, clutching their chests in fear.
She curved her lips, but did not smile.
Rumors were never accurate, and she knew this better than anyone. Sheng Lanxin had been with Huo Xian for so many years, and they even had the bond of childhood friends, yet nothing more than platonic feelings had developed between them. Ji Yuluo had stripped half-naked in front of him, and he still managed to restrain himself. This person was truly an admirable Liu Xiahui.
But this did not prevent Ye Linlang from being a troublemaker.
For some reason, Ji Yuluo felt a bit annoyed.
The fleeting impatience in her eyes appeared like a victory to Ye Linlang. Ye Linlang said, “Madam said she would personally deal with Chaolu. Now, she should deal with it. This injury I sustained cannot be in vain. Since Nanny Liu said this matter was not instructed by Madam, please, Madam, give an explanation.”
Nanny Liu frowned. “Yiniang Ye, I have called the doctor for you. Please return to your room.”
Ye Linlang responded, “What’s the matter? Is Madam incapable of dealing with servants? It’s understandable; I’ve heard Madam had a hard life and didn’t learn the skills of managing household affairs while waiting to marry. She spent two years in a temple, so she has a kind heart and can’t bear to be harsh. In that case, why not let Nanny handle it? Nanny, may I ask, how should a servant who defies their superior be punished?”
Sheng Lanxin noticed Ji Yuluo’s gradually tightening lips and wanted to stop Ye Linlang, but the words got stuck in her throat. She watched her indifferently.
Several kind-hearted concubines nudged Ye Linlang with their elbows, all noticing her aggressive demeanor flaring up again. However, previously she had faced Yiniang Sheng, who, no matter how favored, was still just a concubine. Madam, even if out of favor, was still the mistress of the house.
Such words were indeed crossing the line.
But Ye Linlang didn’t know and was determined to get an explanation today. So, with her swollen face, she looked down at Ji Yuluo.
Ji Yuluo stood up and walked slowly towards her.
Ji Yuluo had a face devoid of aggressiveness. When she lowered her eyebrows and did not smile, there was a kind of ethereal coldness about her, but with a bit of softness in her eyes, she immediately seemed gentle and courteous.
Like a well-mannered lady from a noble family.
Only at such times did Biwu feel that she was truly her own young lady.
Ji Yuluo touched Ye Linlang’s face. “Does it hurt?”
The already severely swollen face, when touched, made Ye Linlang hiss and take half a step back. She said, “What does Madam think? Your maid really has quite the authority.”
But just as she finished speaking, “slap,” a crisp and loud slap landed on her right cheek. Ye Linlang’s face was turned sideways by the blow. She was so shocked that she forgot to turn her head back, her neck stiffening.
Ji Yuluo said softly, “If it hurts, talk less.”
Ye Linlang came to her senses and looked at her in disbelief. “You—”
Ji Yuluo said, “When is it your turn to gossip about me? Want to see me deal with a servant? Fine, Nanny Liu, answer Yiniang Ye, how should a concubine who defies her superior be punished?”
Nanny Liu also came to her senses. She bowed her head and said, “According to the rules, ten strokes with the board and half a year’s stipend cut. This is the lightest punishment, but it depends on the specific circumstances.”
After all, there had been cases where masters had beaten people to death.
Ji Yuluo lightly frowned. “That’s not acceptable. Yiniang Ye has delicate skin and tender flesh. Ten strokes can beat her to death. I think it’s just that the summer heat today is too intense, and Yiniang Ye has temporarily become confused from the sun. Chaolu.”
Chaolu peeked out.
### Continuation of the Translation from “A Snowflake’s Pin” by Litchi is Very Sweet
Ji Yuluo raised her chin to indicate and said, “The water in the pool is cool, let Yiniang Ye calm down.”
Everyone was stunned, holding their breath in fear.
Nanny Liu also looked worried, her lips moved but she said nothing.
Chaolu, without a word, dragged Ye Linlang by the arm towards the edge of the pool. Ye Linlang struggled, seemingly in disbelief, “How dare you! Let go of me! This is too much! When the master returns, I will—”
Her head was pushed into the water by Chaolu, making her unable to speak. Immediately after, with a splash, her entire body fell into the pool.
Ye Linlang couldn’t swim.
She flailed her arms and legs desperately in the water, “Help, help!”
Ji Yuluo sat back down, crossed her legs, and placed her toes on a stepping stone by the pool. She picked up a brush and started painting her nails. Her hand was steadier than any maid’s, and she quickly painted a small golden flower.
The concubines who had previously stood with Ye Linlang were trembling. One of them, seeing Ye Linlang’s struggles growing weaker, hurriedly knelt down and said, “Madam, Madam, Yiniang Ye cannot swim!”
As one knelt, the others followed suit.
Ji Yuluo continued painting the flower, not even looking up. She said, “What’s the rush? She won’t die.”
She blew on her nails, “Do they look good?”
The concubines were on the verge of tears, “They look good, very good.”
Ji Yuluo said, “Your hairpin is also quite pretty.”
The concubine held back her tears, wishing she could pull out the hairpin and throw it into the water. She shrank back in panic and dared not speak further.
Outside, Huo Xian leaned against the red wall with his arms crossed.
Nanyue’s expression was complicated as he turned his head and said, “Master—”
Huo Xian glared at him, “Keep your voice down.”
Nanyue lowered his voice and said, “Master, this Yiniang Ye is really looking for trouble. Just because you watched her dance a bit more, look how arrogant she’s become.”
Huo Xian said, “Was it her dancing?”
Nanyue nodded, “Yes, don’t you remember? She used to block the door and ask me to bring you pastry boxes. She came here with Miss Sheng, always competing and causing trouble, but usually only dared to make a fuss in the West Courtyard. I think she heard the rumors outside and that’s why she’s so bold.”
Huo Xian chuckled, his gaze falling on the woman sitting on the fishing chair.
She leaned idly in the sunset, using the twilight to admire her newly painted nails. Her flawless face seemed to be gilded with gold, making her indifferent and disdainful thoughts even clearer.
These people seemed to be nothing more than her amusement in the deep mansion.
But she originally wouldn’t even spare them a glance.
Huo Xian, leaning against the vermilion wall, smiled again. Nanyue, puzzled, turned back, “Master, aren’t we going up?”
“Going up for what? To save her?”
“Not saving her?” Nanyue worriedly asked, “If someone dies in the courtyard, you’ll have to hire craftsmen to renovate again, which is a lot of trouble.”
Huo Xian replied indifferently, “Then you go.”
Nanyue abruptly fell silent. He hesitated for a long while, then looked up at the sky in resignation. “Let her die then.”
Huo Xian brushed the leaves off his sleeves and was about to leave when he unexpectedly met the eyes of someone by the pool. Their gazes collided suddenly.
His eyebrows raised slightly, and he instinctively stopped in his tracks.
Ji Yuluo’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before she slowly looked away. She showed no sign of guilt or bullying, and it even seemed like she rolled her eyes at him.
—
In the dead of night, Ji Yuluo lit a candle and read the secret letter delivered by Cuixue Tower. These were reports gathered by her informants in the capital, covering various matters.
She focused on the information about the Imperial Academy, and after reading, she yawned, feeling sleepy, and ordered someone to prepare water for her bath.
After washing, just as she was about to extinguish the light, she suddenly heard a creaking sound by the window. The window was being pried open from the outside, creating a small gap.
She paused for a moment, blew out the candle, and grabbed a hairpin as she walked over.
