Chapter 7

The Countess frowned at Lady Li. “Is this true?”

Lady Li argued in a low voice, “There aren’t that many. It’s always been children playing. Brothers exchange toys all the time.”

I laughed aloud. “If they were exchanging toys, why don’t we have anything from your courtyard? So that’s what you call an exchange? How utterly ridiculous!”

After a few unconvincing attempts to defend herself, Lady Li could only say, “It must be… it must be those insolent servants around Cong who deceived me. Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll punish them severely when I return! This will never happen again!”

By now, everyone understood what had happened.

The Countess considered a moment. “Little You has lost his mother. He’s pitiable enough already. Go home and teach Cong properly. This must not happen again…”

“You’re right, Mother,” Lady Li said quickly. “Cong is only five. What could he understand? The people around him must have put him up to it. Sister-in-law really could have spoken to me nicely about it.”

The Countess slowly nodded.

So they wanted to brush it aside—and blame me into the bargain?

Who had agreed to that?

“Countess,” I said clearly, “Cong has taken You’s belongings again and again. The trouble is a lack of discipline! It’s one thing while this stays within the family. But if it happens elsewhere, we’ll become a laughingstock!

“Besides, some things cannot simply be taken. Among them is a jade ruyi ornament that His Majesty bestowed on my grandfather, who gave it to my sister. Even an imperial gift has been stolen. If word gets out, this could become a very serious matter!”

At last, everyone’s expression changed!

“An imperial gift?”

The faces of the earl’s family changed as one.

Lady Li’s voice altered. “What imperial gift? You mustn’t make such reckless claims!”

“I knew you wouldn’t admit it,” I said. “Fortunately, I haven’t spent the afternoon idle. Hongyuan, tell Second Madam where the jade ruyi is now.”

Hongyuan stepped forward, her voice crisp. “I’ve found out, Madam. Everything Young Master Cong took is in a chest beneath his bed. Thirty to fifty items, at least. The jade ruyi is there too.”

This girl had served as a scout at Jiayu Pass. Employing her in petty household intrigue was a terrible waste of talent.

I turned to the Countess. “Mother, send someone to look, and you’ll know whether it’s there.”

I had left her no comfortable way out. Helplessly, she sent one of her trusted older servants.

To give them no chance to hide anything, I told Hongyuan, “Go with her.”

“Yes!” Hongyuan answered loudly.

Before long, the chest of toys was carried back.

Lady Li had nothing left to say. Her face looked ghastly; she seemed to wish the floor would swallow her.

She knew Cong had been bullying You, but had never imagined he had gone this far!

“It’s all a misunderstanding… Sister-in-law, Mother, those wicked servants caused all of this…”

With a sigh, I took out the little jade ruyi.

It had once been a favorite of mine. I had often played with it at Jiayu Pass. Later, my sister sent me clothes she had sewn herself, and I gave it to her in return.

She was gone. The ruyi remained.

I presented it to the Countess so she could see the Imperial Household Department’s mark.

Now that the ruyi had been found, Lady Li was truly frightened.

Pale-faced, she turned to the Countess. “Mother, Mother, it really is a misunderstanding. Children playing cannot be taken seriously. I’ll teach Cong properly when we get home and have him apologize to You. Sister-in-law, please be generous. We’re family. Let’s leave it at that!”

She made to kneel before me.

I stepped aside, refusing the gesture, and looked only at the Countess and Zhao Yuhua.

The scene had embarrassed the Countess as well.

She sighed deeply. “In the end, I have failed to keep order in this household. I’ve let You’s mother down!”

Hearing that, Zhao Yuhua said to me, “Everything is clear now. Why don’t we let it rest? We’re all family…”

Family?

I had married into this household precisely because I feared Cong and Yun would encounter family like this!

“This is too serious for a mere woman like me to decide. I can only invite my natal family over and write to my grandfather. Then we can settle the matter properly!”

Now that I had them, I meant to squeeze them dry. Otherwise, I wasn’t Yue Wujiu!