Chapter 55: I Have Said All I Need to Say
Xie Jingyu’s proposal to enlist in the army was merely a desperate choice made under pressure.
After calming down and reflecting, he realized there were still many concerns.
He stared coldly at Xie Shiwei, who was being held by He Shi. “Have you truly decided to study diligently?”
He Shi hurriedly pulled the cloth gag out of Xie Shiwei’s mouth.
“Father, I was wrong. I know I was wrong, and I won’t dare do it again,” Xie Shiwei wept bitterly. “I will study hard, just like Elder Brother, and put in the effort. Please don’t send me to the military camp!”
Qiutong from his mother’s courtyard had made him deeply aware of the hardships of martial training. He didn’t want to be bullied.
As long as he could stay in the mansion, he was willing to study diligently.
Ignoring the whip wounds on his body, he crawled to Xie Jingyu and pleaded, “Father, give me another chance.”
“Husband, give Wei Ge’er another chance. Even if he were to enlist, he’s still too young now. If he fails to study well, we can send him later,” Yun Chu bent down and helped Xie Shiwei up. “Wei Ge’er, your father whipped you for your own good. Don’t hold a grudge against him. Since you’ve promised to study diligently, you must no longer be frivolous. You must go to the school at the beginning of the Chen hour and not return to your courtyard until the end of the Shen hour. Can you do that?”
At this point, there was nothing Xie Shiwei wouldn’t agree to. He nodded repeatedly.
Yun Chu continued, “You and Yun Ge’er will start studying at the same time, but you are much older than him. If you can’t even surpass Yun Ge’er, it will prove you haven’t been studying seriously. If your father decides to send you to the military camp next time, I won’t stop him.”
“Mother, I will study diligently!”
Xie Shiwei was in so much pain he was nearly fainting. No matter what was asked of him, he could only nod.
He Shi, heartbroken for her son, quickly said, “Sir, Madam, the Second Young Master’s back is bleeding heavily. Allow me to take him to apply medicine.”
The Old Madam spoke up, “Mama Zhou, quickly summon a physician!”
Xie Shiwei was taken into the bedroom, with the Old Madam and the Madam following to check on his condition.
Xie Jingyu turned to Yun Chu. “There are still some matters to tidy up, and I’ll have to trouble you with them, Madam. If there’s anything you need me to handle, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Yun Chu lowered her head. “I can handle the remaining matters. Husband, you may attend to your duties.”
Xie Jingyu flexed his fingers. The few lashes he had delivered had rubbed blisters into his palms. For a moment, he regretted having struck so hard.
He could only hope that Wei Ge’er would truly study diligently. He didn’t expect him to bring glory to the family, only to become an upright and honorable man.
Yun Chu looked at the maids serving in Xie Shiwei’s courtyard and told them to stand up. “The Old Madam promised you ten taels of silver. I will have someone deliver it to you shortly. If you wish to work in another courtyard, just say so. If you no longer wish to stay in the Xie household, I can also take charge and return your Indentured Contracts to you.”
The maids were terrified at the mere thought of the Second Young Master.
They were even more afraid that once the Second Young Master recovered, he would take revenge on them to vent his anger. The Madam couldn’t protect them forever.
Except for Jiu’er, the other three maids unanimously decided to take their Indentured Contracts and leave the mansion.
These maids had been bought by Yun Chu from a Slave trader after the Xie household had expanded. Their Indentured Contracts were in her possession.She immediately had someone fetch the indentured contracts and handed them to each maid one by one. In addition to the ten taels of silver promised by the Old Madam, she privately added five more taels for each of them. After arranging for a physician to examine and prescribe medicine for the maids, she finally made arrangements for them to leave the estate.
Yun Chu stood by Jiu'er's bedside, holding the last indentured contract: "Do you truly wish to remain in the Xie family?"
Xie Shiwei was an extremely vindictive person. These maids who had spoken out would all face retaliation, especially Jiu'er, who had escalated the matter.
She couldn't understand why Jiu'er insisted on staying.
Earlier, the physician had extracted dozens of silver needles from Jiu'er's body. Her physique was severely weakened as she lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes: "This servant has neither father nor mother. Besides the Xie family, I have nowhere to go. Moreover, I believe the Second Young Master will surely reform after this ordeal. Madam, I am willing to stay and continue serving the Second Young Master."
Yun Chu smiled.
Jiu'er was too much like her.
When she first regained consciousness in this life, she had felt the same way—determined to rise from where she had fallen rather than flee far away.
She spoke gently: "There are still many silver needles remaining in your body. You'll need the physician to treat you three more times before they're completely removed. We'll discuss your stay or departure then. For now, focus on recuperating. I'll arrange for an elderly maid to attend to your daily needs."
Guilt flickered in Jiu'er's eyes.
She had chosen to stay with ulterior motives, yet the Madam still treated her with such kindness.
If only she had been assigned to the Madam's courtyard from the beginning... Even if her body recovered, it was already ruined—her entire life destroyed...
Yun Chu went to check on Xie Shiwei.
Although Xie Jingyu had struck him fiercely, he was ultimately just a scholar. The wounds looked terrifying but were merely surface injuries. The physician had prescribed topical ointments and instructed him to avoid contact with water. The scabs would likely form and heal within three or four days.
Yun Chu sneered coldly.
Jiu'er had nearly lost her life, yet Xie Shiwei received only this trivial punishment.
Since the Xie family refused to properly teach Xie Shiwei how to conduct himself, then outsiders would have to educate him. When that time came, it would not be as simple as a few lashes...
After three days of rest, Xie Shiwei was soon able to leave his bed.
Not daring to hide lazily in his room any longer, he hurried to the estate's elementary school on the third day despite his injuries.
Jiu'er underwent three or four rounds of needle extraction, yet not all the silver needles could be removed from her body.
Yun Chu sighed silently.
Xie Shiwei was truly vicious—nothing short of a demon.
"Madam, this servant feels somewhat less discomfort in my body now." Jiu'er knelt on the ground. "This servant can never repay your great kindness, but I can at least kowtow to you."
After three kowtows, she continued, "This servant must go attend to the Second Young Master."
Yun Chu helped her up: "When you return to Wei Ge'er's side, he will inevitably make things difficult for you. How much more torment can your frail body endure? I know what you intend to do."
Jiu'er looked up in disbelief.
Yun Chu met her gaze: "Continuing to endure will only bring you harm. When the time comes to act, do so swiftly. I've said all I need to say. You may go."
After leaving Sheng Residence, Jiu'er still couldn't believe it.
The Madam clearly knew she intended to take revenge on the Second Young Master, so why hadn't she been expelled from the estate? Instead, she was urged to act quickly...
Why? What could be the reason...
Yun Chu arranged for an elderly maid to secretly follow Jiu'er, ensuring the girl wouldn't be harmed again. Since she had saved Jiu'er, she would see it through to the end.It was nearly evening when Yun Chu set aside her tasks and walked to the front courtyard, where Xie Jingyu had been waiting with visible anxiety.
The three-day imperial examination had just concluded, and Xie Shi'an would soon emerge from the testing grounds. It was only natural for a father to feel nervous.
They boarded the carriage together. Yun Chu gazed out the window while Xie Jingyu repeatedly parted his lips as if to speak, yet no words came out. The silence persisted until the carriage arrived at the examination hall's entrance.
"The crowd over there is too dense—I'll wait here instead," Yun Chu remarked casually. "I'll stay here for An Ge'er."
Without giving it much thought, Xie Jingyu nodded and headed toward the main gate where the crowd was thickest.
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