Rouge sat on the threshold, weeping, with Coral beside her, her face pale.
The sounds of jingling and clanging came from Rouge and Ding Fang's room, occasionally accompanied by a shout or two from Ding Fang.
"This is mine."
"That's mine."
"The shoes are mine, not Rouge's."
...
Ye Yunniang hesitated as she walked outside, her mind a jumble of thoughts. What had happened?
Ye Yunniang walked to Chunyao's side. Chunyao gestured with her eyes for her not to ask questions and to stand beside her and watch.
Rouge's belongings were carried out by an old woman, followed by Ding Fang.
Ding Fang was also holding several items in her hands.
"Miss Coral, all of Rouge's items are here."
Coral glanced at it and gestured for the old woman to carry it out.
"Nanny Ding, step over here." Coral stopped Ding Fang, making her stand aside with Chun Yao and Ye Yunniang.
Ding Fang handed the items in her hands to the old woman and stood down next to Ye Yunniang.
Coral looked the three of them over one by one.
"While serving the young master, the wet nurse Yan Zhi stole items from the master's household. The madam, out of kindness, spared her from being sent to the authorities for three days to nurse the young master, instead of sending her to the authorities, she gave her 20 lashes and expelled her from the Jiang family."
"No, I didn't steal it. I just saw that the diapers were no longer needed and wanted to take two home," Rouge cried as she explained, insisting that she hadn't stolen anything.
“Taking something without asking is stealing.” The coral girl’s voice rose two decibels.
"Girl, please spare me. I won't do it again. I'll never do it again." Rouge regretted her actions and, seeing the two burly women walking towards her, she was terrified and wanted to run away.
The frail Rouge was quickly pinned to the ground by two burly women.
The woman roughly tore off Rouge's clothes.
An old woman holding a board stepped forward and started hitting him hard.
Snap snap...
"Ah! Help! I didn't steal it!"
"I was wrong, please forgive me."
"I was wrong, I will never do it again."
Rouge went from struggling and crying at the beginning to screaming herself hoarse later on.
Ye Yunniang wanted to cover her ears and eyes, not wanting to hear the sound of the board hitting her flesh, nor wanting to see Yanzhi's cries.
But Coral, watching them intently, wouldn't allow them to close their eyes or cover their ears.
"Watch closely, this is what happens when you break the rules."
Ye Yunniang gritted her teeth and controlled herself, trying not to tremble.
After 20 strokes, Rouge's skin was torn open, and she was barely breathing when she was dragged away.
Coral looked at the three people's pale faces and was very satisfied.
The effect of making an example of someone has been achieved.
"With Rouge gone, you all will have to work harder to take good care of the young mistress. Madam is very considerate of her servants." As Coral spoke, a maidservant handed Ye Yunniang and the other two a small purse as a reward.
Ye Yunniang and the other two respectfully accepted the gift, saying, "Thank you for the reward, Madam."
After giving it another beating, Coral led her people away.
"That scared me to death!" Ding Fang patted her chest, panting heavily. She had forgotten to breathe.
"This is nothing," Chunyao said nonchalantly.
"There are even more powerful ones?" Ding Fang asked curiously.
"When Shiliu and I first entered the manor, a maid from Zhenxia Courtyard climbed into the Third Master's bed behind the Third Madam's back and was beaten to death on the spot." Chunyao shook her head as she said this.
"Beat...beat to death?" Ding Fang's voice trembled. "This...this isn't...this...human life!"
"In the eyes of their masters, maids and servants who have signed a life-or-death contract are no different from cats and dogs. If they are beaten to death, so be it; the government won't care. I'm two years older than you, so let me say a few words."
"Since I'm here as a wet nurse, I'll do my job well. Don't think about things you shouldn't think about, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask, and definitely don't say things you shouldn't say."
Chunyao said the same thing as Cai Damei.
Ye Yunniang carefully wrote it down.
With Rouge gone, the four of them re-arranged their shifts, each taking three hours.
Ye Yunniang was scheduled for the second half of the night. After eating the dinner that Li'er brought, Ye Yunniang went to bed early.
When the time came, Granny Shi knocked on the door to remind Ye Yunniang.
Ye Yunniang got up, washed and tidied herself up, and then carried a lantern to the small courtyard.
The gatekeeper let Ye Yunniang in.
Ye Yunniang handed the lantern to the gatekeeper maid and went inside. She washed her hands and face in the outer room before entering the inner room.
"You're so slow," Ding Fang said, yawning as she handed the rattle drum to Ye Yunniang and quickly left.
There was no sound, and Jiang Tingjun on the bed frowned.
Ye Yunniang walked over and gently shook the rattle. Jiang Tingjun's brows relaxed, he smacked his lips, and went back to sleep.
"So good." Ye Yunniang's heart softened terribly, and she reached out to touch Jiang Tingjun's little face.
Jiang Tingjun felt someone touching him and waved his clenched hand.
"I won't touch you, go to sleep." Ye Yunniang sat by the bed, keeping watch.
When Jiang Tingjun woke up at night, Ye Yunniang changed his diaper, fed him, and then coaxed him back to sleep.
Feeling thirsty, Ye Yunniang got up and went to the outer room, only to find the teapot cold. Not wanting to trouble others, she decided to make do with the tea.
Hongcai pushed the door open and came in. "Sister Ye, you can't drink cold drinks. Here, red date tea can replenish qi and blood and calm the mind. Dates can also relieve hunger." As she spoke, she handed the bowl she was holding to Ye Yunniang.
"Hongcai, you're such a lifesaver! I was a little hungry and thirsty." Ye Yunniang took the jujube tea and drank it.
After finishing her tea, Ye Yunniang sat back down on the bed and continued to soothe the child.
Hongcai left the house with her teacup and went to a small room next to the east wing.
Zi Yuan sat inside the room. "How is it?"
"I've been watching the young master the whole time."
"Keep a close eye on them," Zi Yuan instructed Hong Cai.
Hongcai responded and left the hut, returning to the outer room of the main house to guard it.
It's easy to get sleepy during the second half of the night watch, so strong tea shouldn't be consumed. Ye Yunniang pinched herself when she felt drowsy, afraid to fall asleep. The incident with the rouge today had tightened Ye Yunniang's previously lighthearted heart.
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