Madam Yao Qian had once accompanied General Yao to the battlefield, wielding two broadswords with such ferocity that enemies could not approach.
Now, when she slapped someone, the force was equally formidable. Madam Yao Qian’s upper body remained perfectly still, as if she were merely picking up or putting down an object, while Yao Jinning lay sprawled on the ground, her mouth full of blood and her cheeks swollen high, unable to regain her senses for a long while.
Yao Jinning’s maid, Xiao Zhi, was so terrified that she knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound, fearing she might be Tai Furen’s next target.
The matrons in Tai Furen’s room, though smiling, had fierce and menacing eyes. Every time Yao Jinning saw them, she was filled with dread.
Yao Jinning’s mind drifted for a moment, but her body was hauled up by two robust matrons and forced to kneel properly before Madam Yao Qian.
Without wasting words, Madam Yao Qian slapped Yao Jinning across the face once more: “Do you know why your grandmother is disciplining you?”
Yao Jinning finally regained her senses and looked at Madam Yao Qian tremblingly: “Because I tried to scheme against my sister-in-law.”
Madam Yao Qian’s eyes flashed with disgust, and the two matrons quickly pulled Yao Jinning to her feet.
Realizing the situation was dire, Yao Jinning wanted to beg for mercy but was firmly restrained. A fierce-looking matron knelt beside her and began striking her calves forcefully with a thin bamboo rod.
As Yao Jinning tried to cry out and plead, Tai Furen’s voice echoed in her ears: “The Fourth Young Lady has behaved improperly. Forty lashes. For every cry, add ten more.”
As soon as Madam Yao Qian’s words were spoken, Yao Jinning clenched her lips tightly. She had known since childhood how cruel her grandmother could be, which was why she resented Shen Xinyan, who was so dearly loved by her grandmother.
How could that woman, who had caused her second brother’s death, possess so many good things?
Although Madam Yao Li also disliked Yao Changcheng’s concubine-born daughters, the sound of the bamboo rod striking flesh repeatedly left her face pale with fear.
That old hag was truly heartless—was she trying to break the Fourth Girl’s legs?
The punishment continued. Madam Yao Qian listened with satisfaction to Yao Jinning’s muffled groans of pain before waving a hand at Madam Yao Li: “Sit and speak.”
With Yao Jinning’s accompaniment nearby, Madam Yao Li found Madam Yao Qian utterly terrifying but could only obey and sit down: “Mother-in-law!”
She was a mother-in-law herself now—would her mother-in-law also slap her twice?
Madam Yao Qian picked up the teapot and personally poured a cup of water for Madam Yao Li: “Do you know what the Fourth Young Lady did wrong?”
Madam Yao Li’s fingers trembled slightly: “She shouldn’t have come back to complain?”
After all, her mother-in-law still intended to protect that jinx.
A flicker of disgust passed through Madam Yao Qian’s eyes: “Because she is foolish.”
If she had the courage to act, she should never have admitted it. With such weak resolve, how dare she try to drug someone? What a waste of all the arrangements made for her.
Then, turning to the bewildered Madam Yao Li, she added: “Just like you!”
Hearing the disdain in her mother-in-law’s words, Madam Yao Li instantly grew displeased: “Your daughter-in-law knows the Fourth Young Lady was wrong this time, but since Mother-in-law has already handed the household authority to Madam Shen, even if I wanted to discipline the concubine-born daughters, I wouldn’t have the standing to do so.”
That old hag had suppressed her in many ways over the years, and now that problems had arisen, she thought to drag her into the mess. She refused to suffer this injustice in silence.
Besides, she had never heard of a mother-in-law hitting her daughter-in-law.
The more she thought about it, the more her resolve strengthened, and Madam Yao Li’s spirits instantly relaxed.
Seeing the change in Madam Yao Li’s expression, Madam Yao Qian instantly understood that she had once again talked herself into compliance.
Suppressing the urge to slap her, Madam Yao Qian spoke earnestly: “Shen Xinyan has had a hard life. If you dislike her, just keep your distance. There’s no need to torment her and drive her away. What if she decides to leave…”
Madam Yao Li glared: “How dare she! After causing my son’s death, she thinks she can just run away? There’s no such easy escape in this world. Not making her accompany my son in death is already a great mercy. If I were truly heartless, I should have pushed her into the coffin and buried her back then, sparing us from this jinx disturbing our household peace.”
That Madam Shen was still alive today was entirely due to her kindness. If she had been ruthless, Madam Shen would likely already be on the road to the underworld.
Seeing Madam Yao Li’s stubborn foolishness, Madam Yao Qian sighed: “Fine. I just wanted to remind you not to be too harsh on Shen Xinyan.”
Madam Yao Li abruptly stood up: “Since Mother-in-law is tired, you should rest early. Madam Shen owes my son a life. You may forget, but I cannot. I’ll take my leave now.”
With that, she stormed out of Madam Yao Qian’s courtyard with murderous intent.
Madam Yao Qian silently sighed as she watched Madam Yao Li’s retreating figure.
This daughter-in-law was practically useless. The only silver lining was that after today’s conversation, Madam Yao Li would likely torment Shen Xinyan even more severely upon returning, which might drive Shen Xinyan closer to her.
Yet Shen Xinyan’s attitude today had been somewhat strange. Had she discovered something, or was she simply hurt by Fourth Miss’s actions?
At this thought, Madam Yao Qian looked with disgust at the nearly unconscious Yao Jinning. She couldn’t even handle a small matter properly and ended up alarming Shen Xinyan, causing her to distance herself from Yao Fu. What a fool.
After the final strike, the two matrons released their grip, letting Yao Jinning collapse to the ground, dragging her swollen calves.
The advantage of this punishment was that, with clothing as a barrier, it left no external wounds—unlikely to affect marriage prospects—yet inflicted immense suffering.
Madam Yao Qian looked at Yao Jinning with pity: “Grandmother is doing this for your own good. If your second sister-in-law hadn’t sent someone to inform me, I wouldn’t have known you could be so foolish. Don’t do such things again in the future. Besides, today’s punishment was also meant to show your second sister-in-law, since she manages the household affairs, I must show her some respect. As it’s getting late, you may rest in the dark room for the night.”
The so-called dark room was a windowless, candleless chamber where one couldn’t see their own hand in front of their face, and time seemed to stretch endlessly.
Yao Jinning immediately clung to Madam Yao Qian’s legs, pleading: “Grandmother, Ning’er knows she was wrong, Ning’er knows she was wrong.”
But she was quickly pulled away by the matrons: “Fourth Miss, you should rest early.”
Watching Yao Jinning being dragged away, Madam Yao Qian rose with the support of her maid and sighed softly: “Such troublesome creatures, all of them debts!”
Feng’er had sent word yesterday that he had welcomed another son. While she was delighted, she also knew his expenses were growing increasingly burdensome.
Yet the household funds were limited. Not only was Shen Xinyan unwilling to contribute more, she even insisted on checking the accounts periodically. Madam Yao Qian had been forced to take action against her.
To have Yao Jinning take the blame in case anything went wrong, she had kept everything secret, only guiding Yao Jinning step by step according to her plan.
She had thought it foolproof, never expecting Yao Jinning to be so foolish as to be discovered by Shen Xinyan.
What was most infuriating was that Yao Jinning actually admitted it. Did she not know the concept of refusing to confess even under torture? Could it be that Shen Xinyan would actually do something to Yao Jinning?
Utterly foolish.
After a while, the matron who had dragged Yao Jinning away returned to report: “Tai Furen, the Fourth Young Miss is in the dark room crying and shouting that Er Furen deserves a wretched death…”
Madam Yao Qian grew even more helpless: “Forget it, let her be. I am tired today.”
Let the younger generation deal with Shen Xinyan. She needed to find a way to openly win Shen Xinyan over, to prevent Shen Xinyan from turning against her, and to make Shen Xinyan willingly dedicate herself to the General’s Mansion.
Shen Xinyan was just a woman—what right did she have to possess Ning Guo Gong Fu? If not for Feng’er’s misstep, that title and wealth should have belonged to her great-grandson.
Since Shen Xinyan had escaped this time, and Feng’er had gained another son, the matter of Ning Guo Gong Fu’s title needed to be thoroughly discussed…