Disposal

The servants standing around were pale-faced, their pupils filled with deep fear and confusion.

No one answered Jin Xiaoxiao, and the already heavy atmosphere became even more somber.

"girl."

Just then, the butler's old and sorrowful voice came from outside the courtyard gate, breaking the heavy atmosphere in the courtyard.

Jin Xiaoxiao turned her head and saw the butler, his temples graying, walking towards her with a slight hunch. Jin Xiaoxiao's expression softened slightly, and only after he approached did she ask him with certainty, "Did Yue Xiao kill them?"

The butler looked grief-stricken, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Jin Xiaoxiao's heart tightened. She stared intently at the butler and asked in a more emphasizing tone, "Is it him?"

The butler sighed and answered truthfully, "It's the young lady."

The housekeeper's words struck Jin Xiaoxiao like a bolt from the blue. Her mind went blank for a moment, then a deep fear gripped her. Jin Xiaoxiao instinctively shouted angrily, "Impossible! It absolutely can't be Auntie! This is slander! Where did you hear this rumor?"

"It was the young lady! I saw it with my own eyes; she ordered us to be killed!"

A resolute yet angry rebuttal came from outside the courtyard. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young man whose features bore a striking resemblance to the steward. His face showed obvious fatigue and illness as he walked with difficulty.

The butler rushed to help the person up, his voice laced with reproach and concern: "What are you doing out here? Didn't the doctor tell you to rest properly? Go back now."

The two people's similar appearances led Jin Xiaoxiao to guess the identity of the newcomers.

Sure enough, the chatter in the crowd confirmed her guess.

"Isn't he Zhang Youde, the steward's son? Didn't he brag about becoming the manager a while ago? How did he end up like this?"

"He got his comeuppance for doing so many immoral things."

"Shh, stop talking, he's looking over here."

Jin Xiaoxiao had been observing Zhang Youde ever since he appeared, so she didn't miss the gloomy and fierce look in Zhang Youde's eyes as he looked at the speaker.

After a moment, Jin Xiaoxiao had composed herself and asked calmly, "You said they were killed on Aunt's orders, what evidence do you have?"

As if he had rehearsed it, Zhang Youde skillfully ripped open his shirt, revealing the blood-stained gauze underneath. "The wounds on my body are the evidence!"

Jin Xiaoxiao's gaze lingered for a moment on the red-stained gauze on his chest, then she stared into Zhang Youde's eyes and said in a deep voice, "Tell me what happened, without hiding anything."

Jin Xiaoxiao's reaction surprised Zhang Youde, leaving him speechless.

Jin Xiaoxiao looked at him with a half-smile, "What? Have you forgotten what happened so quickly?"

Zhang Youde felt uneasy under Jin Xiaoxiao's gaze, but he still forced himself to continue, saying, "Yesterday, on our way to the capital, we met the young lady. We greeted her, but for some reason, she ordered us all killed. After being stabbed, I feigned death and escaped. Only after the young lady and her men left did I dare to collect the remains of my men and bring them back. I beg you, young lady, to seek justice for our fallen men." With that, he wiped away his tears.

Jin Xiaoxiao frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

After waiting for a long time and seeing that Jin Xiaoxiao did not react, Zhang Youde took the initiative to speak up: "Please give everyone an explanation, young lady."

Jin Xiaoxiao suddenly had a headache. She pressed her forehead and instructed the steward, "Steward, give them a proper burial, and give each of the employees' families two hundred taels of silver." After saying that, she prepared to leave.

Zhang Youde saw through Jin Xiaoxiao's intentions and suddenly reached out to stop her. "May I ask, young lady, what do you think of these dozen or so lives?"

Jin Xiaoxiao stopped in her tracks, her dark eyes coldly fixed on Zhang Youde. "What exactly do you want to say?"

Sweat beaded on Zhang Youde's forehead, and he looked somewhat flustered, but then he calmed down as if he had thought of something.

He pointed to the lifeless body lying on the ground and said indignantly, "Everyone says you are kind-hearted, but to protect your own family, you have treated more than a dozen lives like dirt, intending to use money to silence everyone. If this gets out, who will dare to associate with the Jin family? Who will dare to work for the Jin family? Girl, don't break everyone's hearts. Please stand up for them!"

Zhang Youde's words had a rather inflammatory effect. After all, when it comes to life, a generous compensation payment means nothing. The already frightened crowd was immediately enraged upon hearing Zhang Youde's words.

"Girl, say something!"

"If it was indeed done by the young lady, please, young lady, stand up for them."

"Please, young lady, make the decision!"

The servants, who had been standing on both sides, surrounded Jin Xiaoxiao amidst shouts.

Standing within the encirclement, Jin Xiaoxiao didn't rush to speak. The deaths of over a dozen people were a heavy burden for her. Even if Zhang Youde hadn't instigated the servants, she would have done everything in her power to uncover the truth.

But what she shouldn't have done was to incite the crowd and force her to choose between family and morality.

Jin Xiaoxiao's eyes turned cold and sharp as she shouted, "Shut up! Anyone who dares to utter another sound will be sold off immediately!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the angry expressions on everyone's faces froze. They all lowered their heads, and no one dared to look Jin Xiaoxiao in the eye again.

Seeing that Jin Xiaoxiao had calmed the rioting crowd, Zhang Youde panicked, but remembering the man's promise, greed ultimately prevailed. He said with a righteous expression, "Don't you feel guilty for protecting this young lady? Aren't you afraid they'll come looking for you at night?"

Jin Xiaoxiao abruptly looked up and met his gaze. "Whether my conscience is clear or not is none of your business. I forgot to ask you, why are they all dead, but you're the only one alive? Were their deaths related to you? Did you kill them?"

Zhang Youde's heart raced, his gaze darting around. "You, you're slandering me!"

Jin Xiaoxiao didn't want to waste her breath arguing with him, so she solemnly promised the victims, "I will definitely find the real culprit and avenge you."

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard; it was Kim Min-ji and her guards who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

Jin Minzhi quickly came to Jin Xiaoxiao's side and patted her head reassuringly, "Xiaoxiao, you've worked hard. Leave the rest to me."

After calming Jin Xiaoxiao down, Jin Minzhi's face darkened, and he scolded, "Xiaoxiao is good-natured and won't argue with you! But my Jin family will not tolerate those who bully their superiors and defy their superiors. Moshu, go and bring them their indentures."

When Jin Minzhi got serious, the servants present panicked.

"Young Master, we were wrong. Please, Young Master, give us another chance."

"It was all Zhang Youde's doing. Please forgive us, young master. We will never dare to do it again."

Seeing that Jin Minzhi remained unmoved, the servants turned to plead with Jin Xiaoxiao.

"Please forgive me, young lady. I'll kowtow to you."

"Please, young lady, have pity on me. I have elderly parents and young children to support, and I can't afford to lose this job."

Jin Xiaoxiao looked at them coldly. This was human nature; people only felt the pain when the knife was stuck in their own flesh.

Jin Minzhi turned her gaze to the culprit and said coldly, "Guard Lu, you can deal with him."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Youde's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

...

Crane City.

The mansion was bustling with activity. Along the road from the main gate to the front yard, there were many strong men carrying gold and silver jewelry.

Sitting in the main seat, Yue Xiao watched with great interest the people lining up to present him with gifts.

Standing beside him was Jin Yuanyuan, who looked distracted.

Standing in the center of the hall was a middle-aged man, dressed in fine clothes, with a plump figure and a shrewd appearance. He held a beautiful wooden box above his head with both hands, bowed respectfully, and said, "These jade pendants were given to Emperor Gaozu and Empress Zhao. Please accept them, Your Excellency and Madam."

Yue Xiao was pleased by his words, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Give it to me."

The maid took the wooden box and presented it to Yue Xiao.

Yue Xiao took out a jade pendant, played with it for a moment, and said, "Tie it on for me."

Just as the maid was about to move, Yue Xiao called out again, "Yuanyuan."

Upon hearing this, the maidservant lowered her head in silence.

Hearing someone call her name, Jin Yuanyuan blinked and slowly came back to her senses. But she was distracted and didn't know what Yue Xiao had said, so she subconsciously asked, "What?"

Jin Yuanyuan's questioning tone led Yue Xiao to mistakenly believe that she was unwilling. Yue Xiao's lips tightened, and he gripped the jade pendant tightly in his palm.

But when he looked up and met Jin Yuanyuan's clear, bright eyes, Yue Xiao suppressed his anger and repeated, "Come here and tie it for me."

Jin Yuanyuan obediently came to him and reached out to take the jade pendant from his hand.

Yue Xiao didn't let go, and asked with a hint of expectation, "In what capacity are you attaching this jade pendant to me?"

Jin Yuanyuan's hand froze in mid-air, and she remained silent.

A look of disappointment flashed in Yue Xiao's eyes. "Do you despise me that much?"

Jin Yuanyuan said in a soft but emotionless voice, "I wouldn't dare."

The warmth in Yue Xiao's eyes vanished completely. He withdrew his gaze from Jin Yuanyuan and said coldly, "Since you are unwilling to be my wife, from now on you will be my maid." He loosened his grip, and with a crisp sound, the jade pendant shattered into two pieces.

After glancing at the broken jade pendant, Jin Yuanyuan stood up and tried to back away, but Yue Xiao's command made her stop in her tracks.

“I told you, tie the jade pendant on it for me.”

Upon hearing this, the maidservant moved over and handed the wooden box to Jin Yuanyuan.

Jin Yuanyuan took out the remaining jade pendant from the box and leaned over to put it on him.

Just as she was about to touch Yue Xiao's clothes, Yue Xiao suddenly grabbed Jin Xiaoxiao's hand and said in a deep voice:

"You have no manners at all as a maid. Who gave you permission to stand while serving your master?"

Jin Yuanyuan's eyes were filled with disbelief, and her lips trembled as she asked, "What did you say?"

Yue Xiao's tone was icy as he said, word by word, "Kneel down."

Jin Yuanyuan looked humiliated and stood frozen in place.

Seeing that she made no choice, Yue Xiao added fuel to the fire, "Once we take the capital, I will wipe out the entire Jin family. Especially that brat who keeps going against me." As he said this, a fierce glint appeared in his eyes, "I will make her regret ever being born."

Jin Yuanyuan had been by Yue Xiao's side these past few days, witnessing his cruel and violent actions. He was absolutely capable of doing what he said. A deep despair flashed in her eyes, and her knees buckled as she knelt helplessly before him.

Yue Xiao watched Jin Yuanyuan struggle and then kneel down before him in humility. This was clearly her choice, so why did his heart ache so much?

Yue Xiao suddenly stood up and strode away with a gloomy expression.