The account book fell from Jiang Qingxue’s hands. Wu Liuyun hurried over to support her. Jiang Qingxue was so disappointed that even her voice grew weak. “Nanny Wang, tell me. Do I still need to go look?”
“Madam… Madam, please spare me!” The inner robe had also been pulled into view. Nanny Wang’s face was ashen. She crawled on her knees, grabbed Jiang Qingxue’s feet, and kept knocking her forehead against the ground. Half the dark green, gold-embroidered sleeve was stained with dust.
Wu Sheyue shrugged. If Nanny Wang had hidden it properly, perhaps she wouldn’t have ended up so miserable. But some people, after stealing, couldn’t resist wearing what they stole.
Jiang Qingxue was dizzy with fury. She pointed at the young male servants by the courtyard gate and snapped, “First… lock Nanny Wang up under guard!”
“Yes.”
Nanny Wang frantically slapped away the hands of the young servants trying to seize her and still refused to let go of Jiang Qingxue. “Spare my life, Madam! Spare my life!”
But Nanny Wang was still dragged out. From far away, her wails drifted back. “Madam, just kill this servant! I beg you, Madam, spare that worthless son of mine—”
After Nanny Wang was dragged away by the servants and maids, Wan Courtyard fell silent. Wu Liuyun helped Jiang Qingxue sit down and gently stroked her chest to help her catch her breath.
Wu Sheyue also crept closer, poured a cup of water, and offered it to Jiang Qingxue. “Mother, are you feeling any better? Please don’t be angry. It’s all Yue’er’s fault. Yue’er won’t go to the storehouse again.”
Jiang Qingxue opened her eyes. The sharp suspicion in them was completely undisguised. “Why did you go looking for Nanny Wang today?”
Wu Sheyue said aggrievedly, “Nanny Wang hasn’t given Ning’er her monthly allowance for three years. She didn’t give mine or Aunt Yin’s either. Yue’er just went to ask whether Nanny had forgotten.”
Ning’er hurriedly knelt with a pitiful expression. “That’s right, Madam. This is Ning’er’s fault for speaking too much. I should never have let Miss stand up for me. Madam, please punish Ning’er instead.”
Jiang Qingxue snorted and closed her eyes again. How much could three years of a maid’s monthly allowance be? Compared to what she had lost, it was nothing.
After a moment, she opened her eyes again and said, “Have people search Nanny Wang’s quarters. Take what is owed to you yourself.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Wu Sheyue looked delighted. “Then… Yue’er will go now?”
“Wait. I hear you have been spending a lot of time chatting with your grandmother lately?”
“Yes.”
“Do not tell your grandmother about this.” Jiang Qingxue looked at Wu Sheyue with a meaningful gaze. “She is old. If she heard, she would be distressed. Mother will handle this matter herself. Do you understand?”
The corner of Wu Sheyue’s mouth curved ever so slightly. So that was it. The authority Jiang Qingxue had given her was like sending an imperial commissioner to confiscate a household—take as much as you want.
But Jiang Qingxue hated her so much. Why would she give her such a large benefit? So it was to seal her mouth. Nanny Wang was one of Jiang Qingxue’s own people. If something happened, Jiang Qingxue would be implicated as well. If Wu Sheyue went over and recited the inventory to the Old Madam, Jiang Qingxue wouldn’t keep her power for many more days.
The Old Madam would find out sooner or later, but if Jiang Qingxue first found a way to make up for the loss and then reported it, the result would be very different.
Wu Sheyue nodded happily on the surface. “Yue’er understands. I won’t make Grandmother worry.”
Jiang Qingxue waved her off tiredly. “Good that you understand. Go.”
Wu Sheyue left Wan Courtyard with Ning’er and Bailian. This time counted as an opening victory. Not only had she gotten back the money that had been withheld, she had also made Jiang Qingxue deal with one of her own trusted people. Nothing felt better than watching enemies turn on each other.
The only small flaw was that Jiang Qingxue had actually “bribed” her. Being able to go collect good things was nice, but she would have preferred to make the Old Madam and Jiang Qingxue clash. If she got another chance, she would make sure the old lady saw it.
“Let’s go. We’ll see what good things Nanny Wang has.”
Ning’er suddenly tugged at Wu Sheyue. “Miss, you should look at your face first. Your birthmark is finally gone. Don’t let it scar again.”
“It probably won’t, right?” Wu Sheyue touched it. It still stung a little.
Ning’er wiped the blood from Wu Sheyue’s face with a handkerchief and murmured, “Miss, you’re truly so good. You helped Ning’er get her money and stood up for us the whole time.”
Bailian, following behind them in silence like empty air, sneered inwardly. She actually thinks Wu Sheyue is good? How ignorant.
Suddenly, Wu Sheyue seemed to remember something and turned back to Bailian. “Oh right. I noticed your legs weren’t well today. You should go back first.”
Bailian froze, resentment swelling in her heart. What? How come no one noticed her legs were bad while she was doing work all along the way just now? Now that they were going to Nanny Wang’s place to collect money, she was being sent away? Bailian said reluctantly, “Miss, Bailian is fine. I can go along and help carry things.”
How much money could be owed that they needed to carry things? Did she really think they were going to raid a household?
Wu Sheyue’s tone allowed no negotiation. “Go back. You still haven’t recovered from your last injury, and you’ve been out with me for half the day. Go back.”
Bailian wanted to argue again, but seeing Wu Sheyue’s cold expression, she could only nod faintly. “Yes… this servant will go back now.”
Bailian watched Wu Sheyue and Ning’er walk away, laughing together, as if she had been rejected. She stamped her foot angrily. Just wait. Today’s matter, and that night too… none of this is over.
Ning’er looked back at Bailian. Once she was sure Bailian was far away, she whispered with a sly little grin, “Hehe, Miss, you’re amazing.”
Wu Sheyue gave a pleased hum. “Did she think she could take advantage of me? She has stayed by my side long enough. It’s time to let her go.”
Ning’er nodded deeply. Whatever Miss said she would do, she would definitely do. “Today scared Ning’er to death. I thought Miss was really going to be blamed. I never thought Nanny Wang had gathered so much money and still deducted the monthly allowance of a little maid like me. How could she…”
“Who’s afraid of having too much money? I just don’t know whether she was afraid guarding so many stolen things.”
Ning’er shrank her shoulders. “If it were me, I wouldn’t dare sleep at night. I’d be afraid of being exposed.”
The two went all the way to Nanny Wang’s residence. The guards were searching it, and the small courtyard with its low, flat rooms was bustling.
As soon as Wu Sheyue entered, she saw Nanny Wang being held by two young servants in the middle of the courtyard. She kept sobbing. Her clothes had been stripped off, leaving only a white inner garment. With her hair scattered as she stood there, she really did look a bit like a prisoner.
Beside her stood what seemed to be her husband and son. The two of them stood trembling a little distance away from her, as if they didn’t dare get close.
A young servant who was busy working saw Wu Sheyue and hurried forward with a smile. “Third Miss, you’re here.”
The servants working here now were all men who had been in the storehouse earlier. They had just been summoned to Wan Courtyard and had witnessed the clash between Wu Sheyue and Nanny Wang. Since they knew which way the wind was blowing, they naturally chose to curry favor with Wu Sheyue.
Wu Sheyue smiled back. “Mother told me to come take a few things.”
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