After seeing Wang Shi out, Xin An turned back inside and once more cast a glance at the three newly acquired treasures. She took the yellow jade peony out and displayed it on the table, setting aside the other two for the moment. Once Tang Mo had a chance to admire them, she would lock them away.
Suddenly, the soft strains of a zither drifted through the air—it was coming from the neighboring courtyard. Xin An paused to listen. In the sweltering heat of summer, the music flowed like mountain springwater, oddly refreshing and cool.
She thought to herself, Tao Yiran truly does have remarkable skill with the qin. And indeed, with her noble lineage, delicate features, and slender, willow-like grace, she embodied all the beauty of a refined lady. Add to that her literary talents, and she was practically the heroine of a scholar-beauty tale. With such gifts, a high standard and a cold temperament were only to be expected.
The little dog, Rouqiu, trotted in from outside with its tongue lolling, tail wagging energetically. It circled around Xin An’s feet before flopping onto the floor to enjoy the cool surface. Moments later, Chunlü entered with puffed-up cheeks, jingling a small bell. She knelt down and fastened it around the dog’s neck. “There, now remember this—you belong to Autumn Harvest Courtyard. Don’t forget your way home again.”
Xin An glanced sideways. “What happened now?”
Chunlü reported that Rouqiu had dashed off again—this time into the neighboring courtyard, where it frolicked so freely that it had the maids over there giggling uncontrollably. “If the Young Madam hadn’t been taking the dog out for walks these past few days, so the neighbors got to know it, I fear it would’ve been seized and locked away by now. Honestly, if they like dogs so much, they can go catch one themselves! As if I don’t know—they’re teasing it on purpose. They’ve no good intentions.”
The round, chubby pup looked up at Chunlü with wide, innocent eyes, still wagging its tail foolishly even as she scolded it. Xin An chuckled to herself—clever little thing.
“Rouqiu hasn’t grown up yet, still plump and cuddly. It’s adorable. Just make sure he doesn’t run too far. I don’t mind the frolicking, but we can’t have him biting a guest.”
Chunlü replied that she had already spoken to Ershan. “He knows how to train dogs, and this one listens to him.”
“Good.”
The gentle melody lulled her senses. “I’m going to nap a bit. If I sleep too long, wake me.”
Chunlü left, pup in arms. Falling asleep to the sound of the qin—what a lovely thing. Ever since her rebirth, Xin An had been sleeping deeply and peacefully, as if making up for all the rest she had lost in her previous life.
All was quiet in Autumn Harvest Courtyard. With little work to be done, and the mistress resting, the maids sat indoors working on embroidery. Under the drifting melodies of the qin, they whispered softly to one another.
But the calm here was in sharp contrast to the chaos of Spring Blossom Courtyard.
There, Nanny Cai’s sharp eyes caught sight of a maid dozing off, and she flew into a fury. Hands on her hips, she unleashed a torrent of scolding. By the end, her voice had risen even higher.
“You dare slack off before your work is done? Think I won’t flay your skin!”
Now that she held power in Spring Blossom Courtyard—since Tao Yiran no longer involved herself in household matters—Nanny Cai ruled unchecked. The servants lived in constant fear and misery. Who could blame them, when they served under a sickly mistress and a she-demon of a nanny?
Just then, the music ceased abruptly.
Nanny Liu, who served by Tao Yiran’s side, turned her head and glanced outside. Her moment had come. Without missing a beat, she leaned close and resumed her earlier criticisms of Nanny Cai.
“Nanny Cai wields her feather-duster like a command baton, barking orders day and night. Her voice grates like sandpaper, and everyone below complains bitterly. Word gets out, and no one will blame her. They’ll say Young Madam is harsh and unkind.”
Tao Yiran’s face darkened.
For once, she had been in good spirits, playing the qin for her own enjoyment. But before the piece was halfway done, that old hag’s shrill bellowing had shattered her mood. Nanny Liu’s words hit the mark precisely—she, too, had found Nanny Cai’s crude voice unbearably jarring. Her stomach turned just thinking about it. She had no more desire to continue her music.
“Call her here.”
Nanny Liu hurried out, delighted. Finally, she thought, the Young Madam is listening to reason. Her efforts had not been in vain—she had spent every available opportunity pointing out Nanny Cai’s faults.
Her mistress was clever, no doubt. But she’d grown accustomed to idle comfort. With time, she could be guided—molded into a truly capable lady. And that Second Young Madam next door? Did she possess such refined talents? Had she been so thoroughly educated?
She came from some far-off corner of the empire—how could she possibly compare?
Once my mistress takes her rightful place, what room will be left for that woman?
Though the authority over household affairs had technically been granted to Nanny Liu, it was merely a temporary measure. In Nanny Liu’s heart, however, her mistress far outshone that Second Young Madam next door in every way.
Still unaware of what was coming, Nanny Cai entered with a sycophantic smile plastered across her face. Before she could even offer a formal greeting, Tao Yiran spoke coldly:
“From this day forward, all matters of this courtyard—great and small—will be handled by Nanny Liu. If you have nothing else to do, you may busy yourself with needlework.”
Just like that, she was stripped of her authority.
Nanny Cai stood frozen, panic creeping up her spine. She hadn’t the faintest idea what she’d done wrong.
Then it struck her—Wasn’t that position granted to her by the heir himself? What right did the Young Madam have to remove her?
“Pardon my saying, Young Madam, but it was the Heir who personally instructed this servant to oversee all matters of this courtyard. If Young Madam has complaints, should they not be brought to him first?”
Tao Yiran lifted her gaze, her eyes full of disdain. She loathed servants who presumed upon their favor. A servant’s duty was to obey—nothing more.
“Though you came as part of my mother’s dowry, you receive your monthly stipend from the Marquisate. You eat from its kitchens and serve under its name. As a servant of this household, you are to know your place. Rewards should be met with gratitude, punishment with humility. Are you now defying your mistress’s orders?”
“A servant who disobeys their master deserves flogging—and then to be sold.”
Nanny Liu nearly clapped in praise. How authoritative! How well said! Now this—this was the bearing of a future Marchioness.
Nanny Cai’s mind buzzed. She still couldn’t understand what she had done to deserve this. Without thinking, she blurted out, “I raised the Heir myself!”
Tao Yiran’s brows drew together slightly, but Nanny Liu stepped forward at once.
“Nanny Cai, mind your words. The Heir is the legitimate firstborn son of the Marquisate. You were simply fortunate enough to be assigned to his side. That was a favor—nothing more.”
Tao Yiran continued, “There have been many wet nurses in the Marquisate over the years. You received a reward, and you let that go to your head? Do you now fancy yourself half a mother to the Heir?”
Still unwilling to submit, Nanny Cai insisted that she would wait to hear the decision from Tang Rong himself. “If the Heir agrees with this, I will obey without complaint.”
Nanny Liu opened her mouth to scold her, but Tao Yiran beat her to it—leaving Nanny Liu regretting her hesitation with a bitterness she could taste.
“You are a servant of the Marquisate—part of its property. When has the owner of a household ever needed the permission of his own servant to dispose of his property?”
“To disobey one’s master is an even greater offense.”
In Tao Yiran’s eyes, servants weren’t worth even the dust beneath her feet.
After so many years of wielding power, how could Nanny Cai endure such humiliation?
“Young Madam, I may be a bonded servant, but I have worked hard all these years—if not with merit, then certainly with sweat. Even the Madam treated me with respect. On what grounds do you humiliate me like this?”
Tao Yiran had no patience for further argument. She waved a hand for Nanny Liu to summon the staff and have Nanny Cai dragged out. She would not allow her peace to be disturbed any further.
Nanny Cai screamed in defiance as she was hauled away. The servants around them looked at one another in stunned silence. Nanny Liu’s heart sank in regret.
Just moments ago, she had been elated—her mistress had finally shown the poise and authority of a true matron of the house. But then… she had gone too far.
Everyone knew that servants were considered property in noble households. But who among them had truly chosen to sell themselves into servitude? Who was born wishing to live a life at the beck and call of others?
The bitterness had long been there. But to hear such words spoken aloud—words that ground their dignity into dust—how could anyone’s heart not turn cold?