Entering a household as a lowly concubine required signing a contract of servitude.
Madam Zhang had originally intended to keep Jiang Bairou’s contract herself, so she could control her in the future. Now that Jiang Yunniang demanded it, how could she bear to give it up?
“Since Mother has gone to such trouble, this daughter‑in‑law thanks you again.” Jiang Yunniang rose and bowed to Madam Zhang, preventing her from speaking further. “Since the matter is settled, I will return now. When the Second Young Master sets the date, he can inform me. As for the contract, I will handle it myself.”
With that, Jiang Yunniang left with Qiuyue.
Before she had gone far, Madam Zhang cursed, “Look at her—arrogant, with no respect for her elders. Wenling, you are her husband, her heaven. You must discipline her properly!”
“How should I discipline her? Mother, do you think she listens to anyone?” Song Wenling was full of resentment. “I said from the start I wouldn’t marry her, but you forced me. Now you regret it, yet you won’t let me divorce her. Mother suffers, but am I not suffocating too?”
For others, marriage was a joyous occasion. For him, it was daily torment.
On their wedding night, even if Jiang Bairou hadn’t come to him, he would never have consummated the marriage with Jiang Yunniang. By ill luck, Jiang Yunniang had caught him, and now she refused to let go of the matter. Even after it was “resolved,” she still would not return Jiang Bairou’s undergarment. If he could live his life again, he would rather die than marry Jiang Yunniang.
Madam Zhang sighed. “I know you are suffering, but you are a man. You cannot let Yunniang lead you by the nose forever. I will think of a way to help you, but you must show some backbone. The Old Madam has already said Yunniang will never be allowed to divorce. Since that is so, I don’t believe she dares to make a scandal.”
She had been fearful before, but with the Old Madam’s words, Madam Zhang felt reassured. Still, she grieved over the storeroom keys Jiang Yunniang had taken back.
Mother and son spoke for a while, but Song Wenling’s greatest concern was when Jiang Bairou could enter the household. “Mother, Bairou’s condition cannot wait much longer.”
“The day after tomorrow,” Madam Zhang said. “Any later, and I fear complications. Tomorrow I’ll have her brought to the side courtyard, entering as a servant. No need to report to the Old Master.” If she mentioned it to him, she might slip and reveal too much.
Song Wenling wished he could fetch Jiang Bairou immediately. Thinking of her suffering in the Jiang household, he grew more furious at Jiang Yunniang.
Meanwhile, Nanny Sun, on Jiang Yunniang’s behalf, went again to the Jiang residence to explain matters to Madam Lu.
Madam Lu readily agreed, had the contract written, and sent Madam Sun to Jiang Bairou to obtain her signature. She herself did not wish to see Jiang Bairou.
When the two matrons arrived at Jiang Bairou’s courtyard, they learned Jiang Tingzhou was inside, so they waited outside.
Within, the windows and doors were shut. Jiang Bairou knelt on the floor.
Jiang Tingzhou looked at her with bitter disappointment. “What am I to say to you? I labored to give you the identity of a Jiang daughter, yet you debase yourself, running to the Song household as a lowly concubine. Truly, you have great skill.”
Years ago, his beloved Qingmei and Madam Lu had given birth around the same time. Qingmei said she would live her life in obscurity, but she did not want her daughter to suffer the same fate. Sons could earn merit themselves, but daughters without noble birth would suffer hardship all their lives.
When Qingmei, frail and weak, knelt before him, his heart softened. He agreed to her plea. The swapping of the children and sending Jiang Yunniang away had all been arranged by him. Such painstaking effort—only to end in this?
The more he looked at Jiang Bairou, the angrier he became. He turned away.
“Fa… Father, that day I didn’t go deliberately. Wenling said he wanted to say farewell, so I risked going.” Jiang Bairou wept. “You know, Father, Wenling and I were childhood sweethearts. I always knew I was meant to marry him. Then Elder Sister suddenly returned. I don’t know what I did wrong—Mother stopped loving me, my marriage was taken, and my identity became shameful.”
Her tears seemed genuine, even if her words were false. And her father would never confront Song Wenling directly.
“You cannot debase yourself by consorting with him!” Jiang Tingzhou scolded.
“Father, believe me. I never intended it. Wenling forced himself on me. Today, too, he sought me out.” Jiang Bairou looked at him pitifully. “I only wanted to say goodbye. You are experienced—you should understand me. If I erred, it was only in loving too deeply.”
“You, you…” Jiang Tingzhou’s anger softened into pity. “Things are as they are. You have no other path. The dowry I prepared for you cannot all be taken, but I will send more silver notes and land deeds. That is all I can do. Once you enter the Song household, whether fortune or misfortune, you must endure it yourself. Even if you suffer greatly, do not claim to be a Jiang daughter. Remember—without the Jiang family, you are worth nothing.”
He gave her benefits, then made his stance clear. He was warning her never to reveal their true relationship. If the Jiang family fell, she would be ruined too.
Living in the Jiang household for seventeen years, Jiang Bairou instantly understood his meaning. Her heart was bitter, but she could only agree.
She kowtowed to her father. “Daughter thanks Father for his years of nurture. I will never fail to live up to your teaching.”
Jiang Tingzhou sighed and left the room.
Jiang Bairou turned her head. Her disgrace today—she blamed it entirely on Jiang Yunniang. So what if she was only a concubine? She swore she would make Jiang Yunniang’s life worse than death, never allowing her a single day of peace.
When Nanny Sun entered, Jiang Bairou held back her tears and signed the contract of servitude.
Nanny Sun carried Jiang Bairou’s contract back to the Song household and laid it on the table. “Second Young Madam, the contract is in hand. You can rest easy now; there’s no need to fear that wretch’s tricks. Whenever you are displeased, you can sell her off. If you ask me, a woman so shameless should be sold straight to a brothel.”
“Thank you for making the trip, but we mustn’t be careless. Bairou is Second Young Master’s darling. Even under my watch, without cause, I cannot simply dispose of her.” Jiang Yunniang reminded her. “We must act with solid evidence. You understand, don’t you?”
Nanny Sun immediately understood. “Second Young Madam, you are wise. This old servant sees clearly now.” She thought: since the Old Madam refused to allow Jiang Yunniang to divorce, Jiang Yunniang must continue living in the Song household. It would not do to quarrel endlessly with Second Young Master over Jiang Bairou. Strike at the snake’s seven inches—if Jiang Bairou’s true nature were exposed, perhaps Second Young Master would turn his heart back.
With this thought, Nanny Sun felt Jiang Yunniang had truly matured. No longer naïve, she was clear‑headed and knew how to handle people.
Jiang Yunniang did not know Nanny Sun’s thoughts, but she trusted her to carry out tasks.
The next day, Jiang Bairou was expelled from the Jiang family. After only one night, Jiang Yunniang awoke to hear Qiuyue say that Second Young Master had already brought Jiang Bairou back early in the morning, without even greeting her.
As Qiuyue dressed her mistress’s hair, she said, “Second Young Madam, the First Madam claims Chunxi Courtyard has merely gained another maid, so there’s no need to inform the Old Master and Old Madam. I think she fears the Old Master would blame Second Young Master. But everyone in the Song household knows Jiang Bairou. One day, the truth will come out. If word reaches the Old Master, won’t you be the one held responsible?”
Qiuyue worried her mistress would suffer. Accepting Jiang Bairou was already humiliating. If she were blamed by the Old Master as well, it would be unbearable.
Jiang Yunniang gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror, her face radiant, and smiled faintly. “Mother‑in‑law wants me to bear the scolding, but she forgets the other two branches of the Song family are not easy either. Jiang Bairou entered as a maid, didn’t she? Our courtyard is short one hand for sweeping—let her take that place.”
She paused, then looked at the golden lock on her dressing table. “Take some tea leaves to the second and third branches. If my two aunts ask after me, say I am ill.”
Qiuyue instantly understood her mistress’s intent, smiling as she went to deliver the message. If the mistress were ill, the other branches would naturally send people to inquire. Then they would all see Jiang Bairou working as a servant in the courtyard.