With Madam Jiang in charge and Jiang Mingzhe being the most capable person in the family, Bai Xiuxiu had the desire but dared not cause trouble.
Madam Jiang is pregnant. After eight years of marriage, she is finally expecting a child, and naturally, the baby in her womb is the most important thing. She plans to hand over the management of the household and focus on her pregnancy.
Bai Xiuxiu felt her opportunity had arrived: to cause trouble for Madam Jiang. As for Jiang Mingshu, Bai Xiuxiu didn't take him seriously at all.
Bai Xiuxiu unintentionally learned about the affair between the Dingxiang sisters and Ye Yunniang, and joined forces with Dingxiang to take action.
Dingxiang, a maid in the old lady's courtyard, colluded with outsiders. When the old lady found out, she sent Dingxiang away.
Bai Xiuxiu secluded herself at home for three months to reflect on her mistakes.
Madam Jiang Si took over the Jiang family and managed everything in the household.
"Li'er, you're amazing." Ye Yunniang admired Li'er for finding out so much.
"These things have spread throughout the manor. Sister can't go out, otherwise you would know without me saying it." Li'er felt that Ye Yunniang really didn't like going out.
Madam Jiang no longer restricts Ye Yunniang from going out.
Ye Yunniang continued to stay at Fanghua Courtyard and Zhiyu Pavilion every day, and went nowhere else.
"Sister, aren't you really going out to see the world?"
"We're going out tomorrow." It's almost the end of December, and the New Year is just around the corner. Madam Jiang, who has taken over, specifically requested that this year's monthly allowance be paid in advance, and even twice a month.
Ye Yunniang received five taels of silver and planned to go to the corner gate the next day to find Granny Tian and ask her to deliver it home so that her mother and son could have a good New Year.
“Tomorrow, I’ll lead the way for you, sister. We’ll go to the side gate to find Granny Tian, and on the way back, we’ll take a stroll in the garden. The wintersweet in the mansion is blooming so beautifully; let’s cut a couple more branches and put them in a vase inside. The whole house will be filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms,” Pear suggested.
"Can we cut the flowers?" Ye Yunniang asked worriedly.
"Yes, you can. People can prune the small branches at the edges," Pear replied affirmatively.
After handing over the goods to Chunyao, Ye Yunniang went back for lunch and then headed to the side gate with her bundle and pear.
"Aunt Tian, I'm sorry to bother you." Ye Yunniang greeted Granny Tian.
"It's no disturbance that Nurse Ye is here; it's an honor for Granny Tian." Granny Tian hadn't paid much attention to Ye Yunniang before, but now that Ye Yunniang was the wet nurse in the Sixth Young Master's household, her status was different. Naturally, her attitude changed as well.
"Aunt Tian, you're too kind." Ye Yunniang handed a food box to Granny Tian. She had asked Li'er to find out that Granny Tian liked fried small crispy fish, and had specially paid the kitchen to make some.
Granny Tian was indeed even more satisfied. Look at how different she was in her words and actions after only half a year in the household.
They gave the food to Granny Tian and the bundle to her, asking her to deliver it to Evening Glow Lane.
Ye Yunniang and Li'er left without disturbing them further.
Pear led Ye Yunniang toward the Jiang family garden.
The garden was huge; Ye Yunniang felt it was even bigger than the village of 200 households in her hometown.
In winter, there aren't many flowers blooming, but the evergreen trees, rugged rocks, and flowing streams... Ye Yunniang felt that her eyes weren't enough to take it all in.
Pear slowed down so that Ye Yunniang could take a closer look.
As you stroll along, you arrive at the plum garden, where hundreds and thousands of plum trees are in full bloom, a sight so beautiful that it's hard to take it all in.
Pear asked the gardener for scissors, and the two went to a corner to discuss which branch to cut.
"Sister, how about this branch?" Pear pointed to a branch with three plum blossoms at the top.
"good."
Cut the pear with scissors.
"stop."
Before Li'er and Ye Yunniang could react, they were held down.
"Madam, it was these two who were secretly cutting flowers."
"How dare you! Someone, beat them up!" It was Bai Xiuxiu's voice.
“We’re not, I…” Pear struggled, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.
"Give him a good beating."
Bai Xiuxiu glared fiercely at Ye Yunniang. That bitch had caused her to lose her power as the head of the household; she must not be let off lightly.
Ye Yunniang's mouth was gagged, and she shook her head as the paddle struck her buttocks.
It hurts, it hurts so much.
Madam Jiang, who rushed over upon receiving the news, saw Ye Yunniang being pinned to the ground and beaten with a board.
Bai Xiuxiu wanted to slap her in the face.
"Bai Xiuxiu, you've gone too far! Let go!" Madam Jiang scolded her servants.
"Don't loosen your grip!" Bai Xiuxiu snapped.
The six old women holding Li'er and Ye Yunniang captive looked at each other, unsure whether to loosen their grip or not.
Bai Xiuxiu: "What are you standing there for? Keep fighting."
Madam Jiang: "Let's see who dares to make another move."
Bai Xiuxiu/Madam Jiang: "Stop!"
Six old women: Whom should they listen to?
"What's all the noise about?" A deep, cold voice rang in everyone's ears.
"Second Uncle." Bai Xiuxiu and Madam Jiang's voices were weak, both of them somewhat afraid of Jiang Mingzhe.
"What business do you have here, engaging in such private activities?" Jiang Mingzhe's voice was even colder.
"Second Uncle, it was these two servants who ruined the plum blossoms," Bai Xiuxiu said first.
"The servants can cut the plum blossoms in the manor," Madam Jiang said, not thinking there was anything wrong with it.
“That was before. This morning, Mother said to take good care of the plum blossoms. Fifth Sister is getting engaged next month, and it would be so ugly if they were all pruned down to bare branches.” Bai Xiuxiu brought up Jiang Mingyue as an example.
"What impact could those two branches at the bottom possibly have?"
Madam Jiang Si felt that Bai Xiuxiu was simply making a mountain out of a molehill.
“The Jiang family is a reasonable family, release them.” Jiang Mingzhe said.
The six old women dared not hesitate to listen to Madam Jiang and Bai Xiuxiu's words, but they dared not listen to Jiang Mingzhe and immediately let go.
Two maids behind Madam Jiang stepped forward to help Ye Yunniang and Li'er up.
"The year is almost over, have a peaceful New Year," Jiang Mingzhe said before leaving.
Madam Jiang returned to Fanghua Courtyard with Li'er and Ye Yunniang.
"Madam, it's my fault. I shouldn't have wanted to cut the plum blossoms." Ye Yunniang knelt down to admit her mistake.
“I’m such a petty person. You’ve been implicated because of me. Go back and rest,” Madam Jiang instructed.
Coral took the ointment and applied it to the two of them.
Ye Yunniang and Li'er rubbed each other's backs.
Ignoring Ye Yunniang's attempts to persuade her to stay, Li'er returned to her room to rest.
Ye Yunniang had back pain and fell asleep lying face down.
In my dream, I felt someone gently stroking my back, their movements as careful as if they were handling a precious treasure.
It hurt and itched at the same time, and Ye Yunniang let out a groan.
"Afraid of pain and don't know how to dodge." A deep, husky voice rang in Ye Yunniang's ears.
Ye Yunniang: Who are you, and why are you appearing in my dream?
The man did not answer, but treated Ye Yunniang even more gently.
Opening her eyes, Ye Yunniang's face flushed. She'd dreamt of it again. She raised her hand to touch her back; the pain had subsided.
The medicine that the lady sent was really good.
Ye Yunniang sighed and sat up. Her slipped undergarment revealed the red spots on her back.
Granny Shi brought over the food.
"Thank you for your hard work, Granny Shi." Ye Yunniang sat down, looking at the food and thinking of the injured Pear. "Could you please send some to Pear, Granny?"
As she spoke, Ye Yunniang took out a handful of copper coins from her purse and stuffed them into Granny Shi's hand.
Granny Shi estimated there were about twenty copper coins and smiled. "Don't worry, Nurse Ye, I'll send Pear over later."
After Granny Shi left, Ye Yunniang took a sip of soup and then picked up her rice bowl.
Ye Yunniang found it uncomfortable to lie face down, so she could only lie on her side, enduring the discomfort.
I drifted off to sleep, and I could hear swallowing sounds in my ears.
I opened my eyes, and was shocked!
Ye Yunniang blinked. "You?"
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