The Pine Crane Garden was enveloped in profound silence.
In the main hall, everyone held their breath, able to clearly hear the sounds of punishment, scolding, and shouting emanating from the side chamber.
A cold sneer curled at Luo Yufu’s lips.
Hah, that little wretch, serves her right!
Madam Cui leisurely settled back into her seat, picked up her teacup, and took a couple of sips.
Truly her son—no matter how seductive the women in his chambers might be, he would never show favoritism.
The others also harbored their own thoughts, and for a moment, the hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
In the side chamber, Shen Xiuwang rubbed the top of the girl’s head, noticing that this time her tearful act was quite convincing.
The performance had gone on long enough. He lifted his foot, intending to lead her out.
But as he lowered his head, he was startled to find a small patch of dampness on the floor—teardrops.
The girl still hung her head, the trembling in her shoulders gradually subsiding.
Shen Xiuwang reached out, pinched her chin, and with a slight exertion of his fingers, her stubborn little face slowly lifted—
Sure enough, tear tracks were clearly visible, her eye rims and the tip of her nose tinged with red.
The vermilion mole at the corner of her eye seemed even more vivid.
Why was she really crying?
Was she frightened?
The slap he had delivered earlier had landed on the back of his own hand. Her courage was truly too small.
Shen Xiuwang pressed his thin lips together, his thumb rubbing heavily over the vermilion mole as he leaned down to threaten her: “Keep crying, and I’ll really hit you.”
His tone was just as harsh as it had been that night on the Painted Pleasure Boat.
Back then, however, he had said: “Keep crying, and I’ll really kill you.”
Either kill or hit.
Su Tan choked back her tears and hurriedly raised her hand to cover her mouth, manually silencing herself.
Her eyes spelled out four words: I won’t cry anymore.
Seeing her like this, Shen Xiuwang felt both angry and amused—she truly knew how to play the innocent and act obedient.
He lowered his voice and added, “Follow me out in a moment. Just keep your head down.”
The girl nodded repeatedly, her watery eyes softening one’s heart.
Shen Xiuwang couldn’t resist rubbing the vermilion mole at the corner of her eye again. The skin of her cheek was softer and more tender than a peeled eggshell.
How on earth was she made?
He slowly released his hand, rubbing the lingering softness on his fingertips, then straightened his expression, clasped his hands behind his back, and strode out.
Su Tan trailed behind him like a quail, head bowed and dejected.
With a soft creak, the door to the side chamber was pushed open.
The still-furious Second Young Master Shen emerged first, followed closely by the little maid who had just been “disciplined.”
Everyone’s gaze fixed on the two of them.
Seeing Su Tan’s dejected appearance, Luo Yufu felt immense satisfaction.
She glided forward gracefully and addressed her cousin in a soft, gentle voice: “Fur’er thanks Cousin for handling this impartially. Please calm your anger, Cousin.”
Shen Xiuwang glanced at her, too lazy to respond, and instead looked toward Madam Cui. “Mother, let this matter end here today.”
Madam Cui had always doted on and indulged her one-in-a-million son.
She nodded slightly. “Very well. Since you have already disciplined her, I won’t say more.”
Luo Yufu, having been ignored twice in a row by her cousin, was just lowering her eyes in disappointment when she saw the man turn his gaze toward her.
She quickly raised a sweet, charming smile.
But then she heard Shen Xiuwang’s authoritative, resonant warning, delivered without visible anger: “Nian Tang is a person of my Pine Crane Garden. She answers only to me and handles only my affairs.”
“A handkerchief falling into the water—you called on her for such a thing? Have all the maids and servants around you died out?”
“If their hands and feet are broken, tie them all up and sell them off!”
The young master’s hawk-like eyes swept over the room, and in an instant, a crowd of people dropped to their knees.
Shen Xiuwang, honored as the Grand Commandant of the court, held immense power and was decisive in both judgment and punishment.
Even when he was usually amiable and pleasant, the servants dared not act recklessly, let alone now when he was clad in official robes and boots.
His presence grew increasingly intimidating.
Life and death, reward and punishment, all rested in his hands in an instant.
The servants were so terrified they kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.
Even the two young ladies, Miss Zhong and Miss Ye, who sat upright, were stunned, not daring to breathe.
Luo Yufu, facing his fury directly, trembled even more violently. Her face turned pale and then flushed, as if struck by lightning, frozen in place and unable to move.
Su Tan followed behind Shen Xiuwang, keeping her head lowered and remaining silent, also startled by his anger.
His current rage was entirely different from the act he had put on earlier in the side hall.
Shen Xiuwang waved his wide sleeves and took his leave directly. “Mother, your son is returning to Pine Crane Garden.”
Su Tan had no time to think further and hurriedly followed his steps.
Madam Cui sighed silently, knowing all too well his temperament.
She couldn’t help but dislike the maid behind him even more. It was time to choose a proper wife for Wang’er as soon as possible.
The two had already completely left Xunlan Garden, but the people in the room remained unable to recover from the oppressive intimidation for a long time.
Luo Yufu stood there in a daze, two streams of tears belatedly trickling down her cheeks, whether from fear or hatred, no one could tell.
She only clenched her palms tightly and gritted her teeth.
＊
Su Tan followed Shen Xiuwang all the way back to Pine Crane Garden.
Only after closing the door did she raise her head and step forward. “Young Master, allow this servant to assist you in changing clothes and serving breakfast.”
Shen Xiuwang, frustrated by her lack of spirit, turned to look at her. “I’m already full of anger. Who needs breakfast?”
Su Tan stood still for a moment, then knelt down to admit her fault. “Today’s incident was this servant’s overstepping. Even if the young lady wanted to kick me into the water, I should have accepted it willingly and not resorted to petty cleverness to break the rules.”
“Young Master, please do not be angry.”
Her submissive attitude made Shen Xiuwang momentarily forget why he was angry in the first place.
He pursed his lips and frowned. “Get up. Who told you to kneel?”
He only wanted her to act more shrewdly in the inner household in the future. Did she not understand the principle of relying on authority to avoid trouble?
Su Tan bowed once more before rising. “Thank you, Young Master, for rescuing this servant.”
The girl addressed herself as “this servant” repeatedly, humble and respectful.
Shen Xiuwang pressed his thin lips together, swallowing back all the words he had intended to admonish her about strictly observing the rules.
If she had strictly observed the rules, she would have been the one to fall into the water today and suffer ridicule.
He let out a sigh and spread his arms. “Help me change and serve breakfast.”
“Yes.”
Su Tan stepped forward to untie the jade belt around his waist.
She understood clearly that while the matter was superficially settled, greater storms were likely to arise in the future.
Today, she had acted rashly out of momentary frustration. Next time, she would have to be even more cautious.
Her hands moved methodically as she helped the young master change, while her mind never stopped thinking.
“Gurgle~”
A sudden complaint came from her stomach.
After rushing about all morning, she was already starving, her stomach pressed against her back.
Hearing the sound, Shen Xiuwang lowered his gaze to look at her, and their eyes met.
He raised an eyebrow. “Is the vast Jingning Marquis Estate unable to provide you with food? Your stomach growling like that—are you a beggar?”
Su Tan was at a loss for words and mumbled, “I have indeed begged for food…”
“What are you muttering about?”
“This servant said that when I fled from the border town as a child, I did beg for food. Now that I can eat my fill and dress warmly, I am already very grateful to you, Young Master.”
Shen Xiuwang was taken aback.
Before his eyes flashed the desolate scene from years ago at the border town—barren land and corpses strewn everywhere.
Roots, tree bark, reed fluff, even dirt from walls—people starving to the brink would stuff anything into their mouths.
There were even those who exchanged children to eat.
He couldn’t help but take a deeper look at the girl dressing him.
How did this frail little body manage to endure it all?
Shen Xiuwang took the straight robe from her hands and said loudly, “Your stomach growling is so annoying. Go eat your fill and then come back.”
Su Tan was speechless…
“Yes.”