"Qing'er, did you not hear what the Second Sister asked? If you’ve found something, why haven't you reported it yet?" Jiang Yu’s tone suddenly sharpened.
Qing'er did not show the slightest fear; she directed the servants behind her to bring forward the items they had seized.
Seeing the pile of gold and silver ornaments, Jiang Yingxi’s expression remained unchanged. She remarked, "What is the meaning of this, Third Sister?"
"These were found in the room of this base slave—everything was stolen from me. Taking advantage of the years I was away, this servant has grown remarkably bold. Mother Luo, please do me the favor of crippling her and selling her off."
Jiang Yu had no intention of being soft on those who had betrayed her. To someone as vain as Mother Liu, becoming a crippled laborer sold into hardship was far more agonizing than death itself.
"Third Sister, have you thoroughly investigated this? How can you draw conclusions so rashly?" Jiang Yingxi seemed highly disapproving.
"How? And how would the Second Sister have me investigate further? I have both human witnesses and physical evidence. Or could it be that this base slave has some connection to you, that you feel the need to speak up for her?" Every word Jiang Yu uttered was sharp and barbed.
Jiang Yingxi finally realized that the current Jiang Yu was no longer someone she could simply coax into restoring their former relationship.
"Miss, Mother Liu seems to have something to say," Wan'er suddenly interjected.
"Third Sister, there is no point in gagging her. Let this servant speak and see what she has to say. That way, if anyone brings this matter up later, there will be no grounds for gossip, will there?" Jiang Yingxi immediately added. Her concerned demeanor made it look as if she were truly acting in Jiang Yu's best interest.
"Very well, let her speak. I’d like to see what she has to say. With the evidence laid out before us, let's see who can save her now."
As Jiang Yu spoke, her eyes were fixed intently on Mother Liu. The killing intent in her gaze terrified the woman so much that she trembled uncontrollably—it was a naked, brutal threat.
Once the rag was removed from Mother Liu's mouth, the first thing she did was address Jiang Yingxi. "Second Miss, save me! Please, I beg you, save me! I did everything you told me to do..."
Jiang Yingxi had not expected this lowly slave to blurt out the truth so directly. Her mask of gentleness and kindness shattered instantly. She snapped at the heavy-set servant, "Stuff that filthy mouth of hers!"
*What an idiot,* she thought. If she could no longer be kept by Jiang Yu’s side, what value did she have left? *Oh well. I’ll find another way to subvert those around Jiang Yu eventually. If this one dies, so be it.*
Even if Jiang Yu didn’t kill her, Jiang Yingxi certainly wouldn't spare her.
"Tsk. Why stop her? Didn't you just say you wanted her to speak, Second Sister? I’m quite curious myself—what exactly did you two have her do?" Jiang Yu paused, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Jiang Yingxi appeared completely unruffled. They had left no tangible proof of bribing Mother Liu; she hadn't asked her to perform any substantial acts, only to sow discord between Lady Li and Jiang Yu. Evidence for such a thing would be difficult to come by.
"This base slave is clearly rambling. She is a servant in your courtyard, Third Sister—what could I possibly have told her to do? Besides, you’ve been away at the country estate for so long. Forget it. I only spoke up because I feared you might be wronging someone, but it seems I am the one at fault. Since she is indeed spewing filth, deal with her as you see fit."
Watching Jiang Yingxi’s display of self-righteousness, Jiang Yu nearly laughed out loud. *What a performance.*
"Then, Second Sister, regarding the jewelry I lent you... well, if even my servants dare to steal from me, I wonder why I keep encountering thieves," Jiang Yu sighed.
At these words, Jiang Yingxi’s face drained of color, then flushed with rage. What Jiang Yu had clearly given her as gifts were now being called "loans," and the implication was clear: she was accusing her of being a thief.
*When did Jiang Yu become so capable of turning black into white?* It seemed her time at the country estate had changed her significantly. *It will be difficult to mend this relationship; I must eliminate her as soon as possible.* After all, if Jiang Yu died, it would be a devastating blow to Lady Li and Jiang Wanqian. But that was a matter to discuss slowly with her mother back home.
*It is a pity,* she thought, *that the journey back to the capital didn't end in her death.*
"Rest assured, Third Sister. Even though you are taking back what you gave me, I am not a person of such thick skin. When I return, I shall have someone send them back to you," Jiang Yingxi said through gritted teeth. There was no other choice; she had to return those precious ornaments, even if it pained her. Having seen Jiang Yu’s erratic behavior—deliberately reframing gifts as loans and then as thefts—she feared Jiang Yu might run off and tarnish her reputation. To Jiang Yingxi, face was everything.
*Everything of the Li family’s will eventually be mine,* Jiang Yingxi thought to herself as she bid Jiang Yu farewell.
Watching that slender, elegant silhouette retreat, the corner of Jiang Yu's mouth curled up.
At this moment, Qing'er couldn't help but step forward. "Miss, you were absolutely brilliant just now! You should have seen how ugly the Second Miss’s face looked."
Whenever the Second Miss visited, she was always hinting for the Miss to give her things. In the past, the Miss had been bewitched, willing to give away anything. Qing'er had felt something was wrong and tried to warn her many times, but Jiang Yu had never listened.
Mother Luo was the most delighted to see such a change in Jiang Yu. *The Madam finally has something to hope for,* she thought. *The Third Miss is no longer favoring Madam Zhao as she once did.*
"Miss, shall I dispose of this old woman for you? She mentioned that the Second Miss had given her orders..." Mother Luo asked.
"No rush. Lock her up for now. As long as she doesn't die, keep her—I still have a great use for her." Jiang Yu glanced casually at Mother Liu, then couldn't help but let out a yawn.
"Is the Miss tired? Would you like to rest for a while?" Qing'er asked quickly.
"Yes. You see to the rest of these servants. Anyone who is treacherous, lazy, or harboring ulterior motives should be sold off. You can ask Mother to buy me a new batch of servants later." Jiang Yu looked utterly exhausted. After all, she was still in a fourteen-year-old’s body; the journey back to the capital had kept her nerves frayed, and managing the household affairs had drained the last of her strength.
"Understood," Qing'er replied immediately.
"Mother Luo, I won't see you out. Just report today’s events to my mother exactly as they happened." It was time for her mother to see how her own repeated forbearance had allowed Madam Zhao and her daughter to become so arrogant.
"Yes!" Mother Luo’s heart soared with joy. *It seems I no longer need to worry about the relationship between the Third Miss and the Madam. This is truly a joyous occasion.* The fact that the Third Miss had never been close to the Madam had caused the latter constant worry and unnecessary heartache.
***
Meanwhile, at Chanlin Temple.
"Master," a guard entered the courtyard and bowed to Xiao Yan.
"Speak," Xiao Yan commanded.
"That young lady is indeed the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family. She was sent to the country estate five years ago, but not due to poor health—she was sent because she had committed a fault," the guard reported.
"Oh? How interesting." A faint, elegant smirk touched Xiao Yan’s lips as he recalled the grace and poise Jiang Yu had displayed when they met.
"Prepare to depart. We return to the capital," Xiao Yan said calmly.