Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Madam Gu’s eyes glistened as she listened to Ji Hanyi. Of course she remembered.

Ji Hanyi had told her, “As long as I’m here, you’ll have a home.”

But that morning, while drifting in and out of sleep, she had overheard the two young maids attending her. They said that with a body like hers, she would never recover and could only keep herself alive with medicine. She would burden her daughter, preventing her from ever remarrying and condemning her to a lifetime of poverty and hardship.

Madam Gu thought that if she died, her daughter would no longer have to worry about her. She knew her medicine was not cheap. As the months and years dragged on, how could people not grow to resent her?

She knew Ji Hanyi would never resent her, but she did not want to be a burden on her daughter. Besides, where could her daughter possibly find enough silver to keep buying her medicine? It would be better if she died. Then her daughter would be free of this worry and could find another husband.

She had dwelled on that all morning and had even made excuses to avoid taking her medicine.

Madam Gu looked at Ji Hanyi again, her face full of concern, and took in her daughter’s old clothes. She had no idea where Ji Hanyi had gone today, but one corner of her pale skirt was lightly stained with dust. The lone silver hairpin in her thick hair looked simple and delicate. Yet the bearing Madam Gu had instilled in her since childhood remained. Her back was still straight, and she had never once allowed herself to appear dispirited in front of her mother.

Madam Gu did not want to say anything else that might worry her daughter. She silently accepted the bowl of soup from Ji Hanyi. Though she truly had little appetite, she forced herself to finish the entire bowl of pigeon soup.

Only after soothing her mother to sleep for her midday nap did Ji Hanyi go to eat alone. The kitchen had sent over two dishes and a soup.

Compared with the meals she had eaten at the Xie Residence, this spread was worlds apart. It was excessively plain.

The Gu Family might not be especially wealthy now, but they could certainly afford ordinary food. Yet there were only two plates of greens and a bowl of watery radish soup on the table. How was anyone supposed to eat this?

Besides, the food had not been nearly this plain over the past few days.

Ji Hanyi said nothing, because she understood perfectly well what was happening.

Rongchun, however, could not stomach it. She summoned the older servant who had delivered the meal and demanded an explanation. The woman had been assigned by First Madam to care for them and was, in essence, one of First Madam’s people. Though she remained outwardly respectful, she naturally spoke in First Madam’s defense.

“Don’t be angry, Miss Rongchun. First Madam has plenty to worry about these days. Even the meals for servants like us have been cut back.”

Rongchun choked down her anger when Ji Hanyi tugged on her sleeve and signaled for her to say no more.

The older servant glanced at Ji Hanyi. Seeing that she had nothing further to say, the woman withdrew.

After finishing her meal and rinsing her mouth, Ji Hanyi returned to her room and sat down. She looked at the hesitant expression on Rongchun’s face.

She knew what Rongchun wanted to say, and she had already formed a plan of her own.

There was no reason for the kitchen to suddenly serve them food like this. It was clearly aimed specifically at Huilan Courtyard.

Ji Hanyi understood. Eldest Maternal Aunt was using this method to drive them away.

If they ignored such an obvious hint and continued staying here, they would eventually become enemies.

Her mother’s health had suddenly taken a turn for the worse, and she needed peace and quiet rather than the strain of travel. Even so, they could not remain here. In fact, Ji Hanyi had already begun considering renting a residence elsewhere.

There had been a great deal going on lately, but she could deal with everything one matter at a time, calmly and methodically.

She comforted Rongchun with a few words and explained her plan.

Rongchun immediately nodded in agreement. “Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, Miss, I was going to bring it up myself. There’s no reason for us to stay here and endure this treatment.”

Ji Hanyi smiled faintly and asked Rongchun to summon Chunju.

Chunju arrived shortly afterward. Ji Hanyi asked who had looked after her mother after she left that morning.

She asked because she did not believe her mother would have said those things for no reason.

She had only just coaxed her mother out of her despair, and her mother had genuinely resolved to stay strong from then on. Why would she suddenly begin speaking so hopelessly again?

Aside from Chunju, who had always served her mother, everyone in the courtyard had been sent by Eldest Maternal Aunt. Ji Hanyi already had her suspicions.

Hearing the question, Chunju hurriedly replied, “After you left this morning, Miss, I went to the kitchen to keep an eye on Madam’s pigeon soup.

“The kitchen staff bully the weak and fear the strong. Although you paid them silver, there was no telling whether they might substitute inferior ingredients, secretly pocket some for themselves, or skimp on the medicinal herbs. Madam was asleep at the time, so I asked the two young maids in the room to watch over her.

“Once the pigeon soup was simmering and everything was in order, I went to check on Madam’s medicine before returning to see her. She was already awake when I entered, but something seemed wrong. She kept her head lowered and wept. Nothing I said could comfort her.

“Later, she stopped crying and simply stared blankly out the window. She refused to eat anything as well.”

After hearing this, Ji Hanyi more or less understood what had happened. She told Chunju to bring the two maids in.

They soon arrived. Both were young, around thirteen or fourteen, and appeared poorly trained. Even while standing before their mistress, their posture remained lax and careless.

Ji Hanyi knew that discipline had always been loose in Huilan Courtyard. Her mother was in poor health and generally did not concern herself with the courtyard’s affairs. Chunju, meanwhile, had no real authority over the servants sent by Eldest Maternal Aunt.

This was the Gu Residence, and First Madam ran the household. Chunju was only a servant herself. If she disciplined the maids too harshly, they could complain to Eldest Maternal Aunt, and First Madam would come looking for trouble again.

Now, even when the two maids saw the uncharacteristic coldness on Ji Hanyi’s face, they showed no fear.
One was a sickly invalid, and the other was newly divorced. Neither had any future prospects to speak of, so what did the maids have to fear? Besides, attending an invalid in this courtyard was hard work, and there were hardly any tips to be had.

They had once served in Second Master’s quarters, and both were in the prime of their youth. Who would willingly wait upon an invalid whose condition could take a turn at any moment? The night before last, they had not even gotten a proper night’s sleep.

Ji Hanyi glanced at the two maids and knew exactly what they were thinking. She sat with perfect poise. When she was young, her father had hired seasoned matrons to instruct her. She had learned not only how to manage servants, but also the zither, Go, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and all the traditional feminine arts.

She had spent three years in the Xie Family. Though she had never managed the household, she was no longer the sheltered maiden she had once been.

Ji Hanyi set the teacup in her hand down beside her. It landed with a crisp click.

She spoke just two words. “Kneel down.”

Her voice was neither loud nor harsh, yet as it carried slowly through the room, it held unmistakable authority. The indifference on the two maids’ faces finally gave way to a trace of alarm.

Neither had expected Ji Hanyi to suddenly turn on them for no apparent reason.

One maid demanded defiantly, “Even if you are our mistress, Miss, you still need a reason to order us to kneel, don’t you?”

Ji Hanyi sneered and looked at her coolly. “So you do remember that you’re a servant.”

“This morning, you not only spoke without restraint in my mother’s presence, but even neglected your duties. As servants, have you forgotten your place?”

The maid’s face went white. They had indeed said some nasty things about Ji Hanyi’s mother in the room. They had to attend her every day and could not slack off even once. Resentful, they had vented their frustrations.

But only the two of them had been in the room, and Ji Hanyi’s mother had been asleep. How could the young cousin possibly know?

Ji Hanyi gave another cold laugh. “Your indenture contracts may not be in my hands, but since Eldest Maternal Aunt sent you here to serve, I have the authority to deal with you.”

She turned to Rongchun. “Go summon the steward. These two maids behaved disgracefully today. They spoke recklessly, offended their mistress, and even cursed her. Ask him how they should be punished.”

Rongchun glanced at the two maids, feeling immensely satisfied, then hurried off.

Only then did the two maids truly panic. They knew they had indeed said those offensive things. They had even wished for Ji Hanyi’s mother to hurry up and die so that, once she was gone, they could return to Second Master’s quarters.

If the matter was treated seriously, they might even be beaten to death. Chunju, who had been in the outer room, must have overheard them and reported everything to the young cousin. The two maids promptly dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.

Seeing their bloodless faces, Ji Hanyi knew her bluff had hit the mark. Her expression turned stern as she looked down at them with icy eyes, her voice growing colder still. “What else did you say in the room? Tell me the truth. This household has no place for servants who deceive their superiors and conceal the truth from those beneath them.”

“If you dare tell even one lie, I will take this matter to Grandmother and Eldest Maternal Aunt. One way or another, you will be sold out of the household.”

That threat terrified them completely. Not daring to utter a single lie, they poured out everything at once.

The young cousin they had always regarded as gentle and soft-hearted now seemed as frightening as the King of Hell himself.

Ji Hanyi listened to the two kneeling maids. By the time they finished, she could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

No wonder her mother’s mood had changed so suddenly. Anyone would feel awful after hearing such words.

Her mother was gentle and kind. She had neither mentioned the incident nor punished the maids, but Ji Hanyi could no longer tolerate them.

If her mother had to listen to such things day after day, with her tendency to overthink, what if she fell into despair and did something foolish again?

Moreover, her mother had fallen ill precisely because she worried too much and allowed sorrow to fester within her. That was why Ji Hanyi had decided to intervene this time.

The steward arrived shortly afterward. When he heard Ji Hanyi’s account and looked at the maids on the floor, he also drew in a sharp breath. They had truly become lawless.

No matter what, Ji Hanyi’s mother was still Old Madam’s favorite daughter. How could mere maids be allowed to insult and curse her like this?

However, First Madam currently managed the household, and the maids had once served in First Madam’s quarters. The steward did not dare make the decision lightly. He lowered his voice and said to Ji Hanyi, “Rest assured, Miss. I will take these two away for now and send two new maids to serve here. As for their punishment, I will need to consult First Madam.”

Ji Hanyi had no interest in how they were punished. All she wanted was to ensure that these two maids could no longer remain by her mother’s side.

After the steward took them away, Chunju could not help saying, “You shouldn’t have let them off so easily, Miss. If you ask me, even a hundred slaps across the face wouldn’t be enough to satisfy my anger.”

“If this were reported to Old Madam, she might even have them beaten to death.”

Ji Hanyi paused, then slowly leaned back in her chair and propped her forehead on one hand, lost in thought.

If the two maids had been her own servants, she certainly would not have let the matter end there. But they belonged to Eldest Maternal Aunt, who already disliked both her and her mother. Ji Hanyi had achieved her goal, so she had no intention of complicating matters any further.

Besides, she was planning to rent a residence outside the estate. Only somewhere peaceful and quiet could her mother properly recuperate. There was no need to stir up any more trouble now.

She slowly exhaled in exhaustion. Just then, someone arrived at the front gate. Rongchun hurried out, and when she returned, she was carrying a box filled to the brim with packets of medicine.