Chapter 18: Spare Others When You Can

“Is that so,” Yun Zhaozhao smiled. She truly felt threatened.

“Then break her hand before bringing her to Mother’s quarters for punishment.”

“No, no… ah!” A piercing scream tightened the nerves of all the servants in the garden.

The rumors were true.

The Sixth Madam was indeed ruthless. Whoever offended her must tread carefully.

When Yun Zhaozhao arrived at the Liang residence, the atmosphere inside was peaceful.

“Grandmother, is this pressure alright?” Sheng Hongfei gently asked as she massaged Liang Shi’s shoulders.

Liang Shi kindly patted her hand. “It’s just right, Fei’er. You’re so thoughtful.”

“Fei’er always worries most about mother’s health. Even I, her own mother, have to step aside,” Li said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Liang Shi’s smile deepened, filled with affection. “Fei’er truly is a dutiful child; it’s all thanks to your good teaching.”

“Miss, the Sixth Madam has arrived,” reported Nurse Xia.

Liang Shi’s smile vanished instantly.

“What does she want at this hour?”

Yun Zhaozhao ignored Liang Shi’s obvious disdain; it didn’t concern her.

“Mother,” Yun Zhaozhao greeted before turning to Xiao Dao. “Bring her up.”

“Madam, please, I beg you, release my daughter. The Sixth Madam had her hand broken and said she wants to sell her off to some filthy place, sob…” The maid’s pleading voice trembled.

Yun Zhaozhao chuckled faintly. “Xiao Dao, handle it according to her request.”

Originally, she only intended to make a show of force, not to cause too much trouble. But since they insisted on bringing ruin upon themselves, she would grant their wishes fully.

Seeing the maid’s pitiful state, Sheng Hongfei clenched her fists. “Sixth Aunt, our Guogong Mansion has always been kind and never harsh to servants. There’s certainly no room for wanton abuse. What you’ve done is truly cruel.”

“Tsk, only one day apart and my niece is lively again. Looks like I was too gentle last time,” Sixth Aunt teased.

“Sixth Aunt, don’t go too far!” Sheng Hongfei’s eyes filled with fury.

“Good, you finally admit it. So you were the one who harmed my Fei’er yesterday,” Li exclaimed excitedly. “Mother, did you hear that? She admitted it herself. This must be explained to our main household!”

“Enough!” Liang Shi’s timely voice cut through the tension, her gaze toward Yun Zhaozhao thick with contempt. “Fei’er is right. Our Guogong Mansion never harms servants without cause. Yun, you’d better give me a reasonable explanation.”

Xiao Dao stepped forward. “Madam, this maid sneaked into my young lady’s room to steal and was caught red-handed.”

“If she was caught red-handed, she clearly stole nothing. Sixth Sister-in-law, why must you be so ruthless? Remember, where forgiveness is possible, forgive. Breaking hands like this is—”

Before Li could finish, Yun Zhaozhao waved her hand.

A sharp dagger grazed Li’s temple and embedded itself into the folding screen behind her.

“Ah!” Li screamed, falling to the ground, her dignity shattered.

“You’re outrageous, Yun!” Liang Shi slammed the table, furious.

“Mother, she—she tried to kill me! I’ll report her to the authorities and have her arrested…”

“See, sister-in-law, I only trembled slightly and didn’t harm you at all. Why be so aggressive? Didn’t you just say to forgive where possible?”

“You—”

“Sister-in-law, rest assured I’m listening carefully to every word you say,” Yun Zhaozhao emphasized “learn,” making Li shudder.

“Mother, can we get to the matter at hand now?”

Liang Shi glared fiercely. “What do you want?”

“As I said, handle it according to her own demands. Also, to prevent future disturbances, please hand over all the contracts of the servants in my quarters to me for safekeeping.”

Li’s face darkened immediately.

“Yun, what do you mean? You want to seize household management rights the moment you arrive? Who gave you that right?”

“You’re overthinking. I have no interest in household affairs, only in my own garden.”

“And if I refuse?”

Liang Shi’s tone grew cold.

“If you refuse, that’s fine. I am the mistress of the garden now. Anyone who doesn’t belong to me cannot stay.”

“Good, Yun, you’re bold indeed.”

“Nurse Xia, give her the contracts. She needn’t worry about the garden anymore.”

Li was indignant. “Mother, this is unfair. You gave her all the contracts, but what about my quarters—?”

“What, do you want to be as disobedient as she is to me, your mother-in-law?”

Under Liang Shi’s stern gaze, Li bowed her head. “Daughter-in-law dares not.”

“Grandmother, please don’t be angry. Mother is just upset that Sixth Aunt disrespected her and was unfilial. If this were any other family, the household punishment would already have been carried out,” Sheng Hongfei said, watching Liang Shi’s silence with growing bitterness.

Another failure.

What now?

Time was running out.

If stealing was impossible, even less chance for snatching.

It seemed a more subtle approach was required.

In the study, Sheng Xingye heard the maid’s scream, while Chang Sheng trembled in fear.

“Look at you, so spineless! No matter how mad that woman is, she wouldn’t just attack without reason. Why are you afraid? Just avoid her.”

“I’m not afraid of angering Madam myself, I’m afraid you’ll mess up and then Sixth Madam will take it out on me.”

Sheng Xingye’s face darkened.

“Get out.”

“Yes.”

“Wait, Chang Ying should be back soon, right?”

Before Chang Sheng could answer, a knock interrupted.

“Uncle Li, are you there?”

Hearing Sheng Hongfei’s voice, Sheng Xingye was surprised.

Hadn’t this niece always looked down on him?

“Something you need?”

“Couldn’t I just come to see you if there’s nothing? Uncle Li, Fei’er specially bought you some walnut pastries. Please try them.”

Oh, she came well prepared.

“No one visits without reason. Speak, what is it?”

“Uncle Li, it’s like this: I really like that cloud-scented sachet on Sixth Aunt, but she’s unwilling to part with it. Could you please talk to her and borrow it for me to see?”

Sheng Xingye looked at her suspiciously. “It’s just a sachet. If she won’t give it, so be it. Why are you so persistent?”

“Oh, there’s a saying: a thousand gold coins can’t buy what the heart desires. Uncle Li, please help me. If it works out, I’ll give you this much.”

Sheng Hongfei held up her palm.

“Five thousand taels?”

She nearly spat out her saliva.

Five thousand!

How could he refuse?

“You must be joking, it’s five hundred taels.”

She had meant to say fifty.

Uncle Li, the good-for-nothing, had no private wealth and loved to squander. When broke, he only knew how to leech off grandfather and grandmother.

She didn’t believe he wouldn’t be tempted by five hundred taels.

“Tsk, five hundred taels isn’t worth losing your hands.”

“What?”

“That maid whose hand was broken, you must have ordered it, right? Bold indeed! Don’t blame Uncle Li for warning you: that crazy woman is best left alone, or you’ll be the one to suffer.”