Lin Yu’er stopped playing with mud.
She had set her sights on Xie Xinyue’s songbird.
By noon, when it was time to return to Crabapple Courtyard for lunch, no matter how Zhang Momo called her, she refused to leave.
Xie Xinyue had no choice but to speak up: “If Madam likes it, this humble one will gift it to you!”
Lin Yu’er blinked her eyes and asked.
“Really?”
“Madam helped me today, so I should offer you a token of gratitude!” Xie Xinyue said.
She never expected the curse to actually work; she was simply thanking Lin Yu’er for using her shoe to drive away Xie Zhiqiu and venting her anger on her behalf!
But her cousin would surely report everything that happened here when she returned today; earlier, she had only focused on the satisfaction of seeing Xie Zhiqiu humiliated and hadn’t thought much about the consequences. Now, reflecting on it, while she was safe, her parents would likely face considerable frustration…
“Hehehehe… then this fluffy little thing is mine. What an adorable creature.”
Lin Yu’er stood on her tiptoes, opened the cage, reached in, and grabbed the bird with one hand, declaring loudly: “Since you’ve given me this bird, if anyone bullies you in the future, I grant you permission to use my name! This Madam will ensure you live a long and protected life!”
Xie Xinyue, preoccupied with her thoughts, forced a smile: “This humble one thanks Madam!”
Lin Yu’er placed the bird on her shoulder.
“Good baby, stand on your Madam’s shoulder and look down upon the world. The world is at your feet… Hey hey hey!!!”
Before she could finish her sentence, the bird flapped its wings and flew away.
Lin Yu’er jumped up, trying to catch it several times but failed.
Frustrated, she stomped her feet wildly on the spot and cursed angrily: “Ungrateful little beast!”
Zhang Momo and the others nearby struggled to hold back their laughter.
“Madam, let’s return to the courtyard for lunch!”
“I’m so angry, I’m absolutely furious!” The more Lin Yu’er thought about it, the angrier she became. She swatted the birdcage above her head away and stormed off: “I want to eat Local Specialties One, Local Specialties Two, and Local Specialties Three. If even one is missing, I’ll perform a pole dance in the garden tonight!”
Zhang Momo was indeed threatened: “Oh, my dear ancestor, you mustn’t say such things! Have you forgotten? Today is the celebration of your fourth consecutive day of waking up early. We don’t just have One, Two, and Three—we have One, Two, Three, and Four! You’ll have everything you want to eat! Everything!”
Lin Yu’er turned and ran off.
Zhang Momo followed behind, both comforting her and running after her.
Du Du, however, glanced back at Xie Xinyue and the others. “Just wait for the curse to become reality! But remember, Madam’s identity is a secret—do not recklessly disclose it to outsiders!”
She then assumed the authority of the head maid, glaring at the junior maids of Bibo Pavilion.
“Don’t forget, you are all maids of the Marquis’ estate. Your indenture contracts are still in Madam’s hands. If anyone gossips or speaks out of turn, the Marquis will be the first to deal with you!”
The maids trembled and nodded.
After Du Du left, Wanqing and Cuihu each issued gag orders to everyone.
In the afternoon.
Lin Yu’er did not go to play with mud at Xie Xinyue’s place.
She had already forgotten the pain of the bird leaving her. When Du Du pressed her about the curse, she immediately assumed a lofty demeanor and spouted a bunch of mystical nonsense.
Then, under Du Du’s admiring gaze, she climbed onto the stone table in the courtyard and began meditating in a cross-legged position.
The sun was warm and cozy, and as she meditated, she eventually fell asleep.
Zhang Momo watched over her for half an hour until she was sound asleep, then laid her down and covered her belly with a small blanket.
Lin Yu’er slept so soundly that she drooled.
Unaware that the Xie residence was undergoing earth-shattering turmoil due to her afternoon group curse session.
…
Xie Residence.
The moment Xie Ji returned home, he urgently pulled his wife into the study: “How much silver do we have left in the household?!”
His wife was taken aback by the question and replied: “The third branch just gave us their monthly contribution at the beginning of the month. Combined with the residence’s own funds, we have about sixty thousand taels. Why do you ask?”
Xie Ji anxiously rubbed his hands together.
“Go! Get all of it for me! I have an urgent need!”
Madam Zhang was startled: “Husband, you must explain what’s happening. If this is serious, wouldn’t it be better if we gather more money to be safer?!”
Xie Ji’s face immediately turned pale as he recalled what had happened earlier, filled with deep regret.
“I had incredibly bad luck tonight for some reason. I broke the Minister’s jade nine-lion censer that was meant as a tribute to the Regent. That item cost the Minister a fortune to transport back from overseas. I… I don’t know what happened, I slipped and…”
Hearing this, Madam Zhang shrank back in fear, her face turning deathly pale.
“You said it was transported from overseas. Is si-sixty thousand taels really enough? I heard that things transported from overseas at Rouge Tower cost at least a hundred thousand taels! Most importantly, is the Minister blaming you?!”
Xie Ji grew increasingly agitated and shouted at Madam Zhang: “Enough! Then what do you suggest we do?!”
Madam Zhang jumped at his shout, then gritted her teeth.
“Let’s borrow money from the third branch!”
Xie Ji said irritably: “Then what are you waiting for? Go now!”
Madam Zhang immediately went.
But she returned shortly after.
“Where’s the silver? How much did you get?” Xie Ji was too preoccupied to notice Madam Zhang’s unpleasant expression.
Thinking about the third branch’s business ventures and their numerous shops in the capital, he felt somewhat relieved.
“Fortunately Mother had the foresight not to let Third Brother pursue an official career but instead go into business. Otherwise, where would we get so much money in times like this!”
“If Third Brother provides enough money to get me through this crisis, I’ll speak with Second Brother about allowing his family to join us for reunion during New Year’s Eve! You should also be more polite to Third Brother’s family from now on.”
“Alright, hand over the silver notes!”
Madam Zhang opened her mouth but hesitated. “There isn’t any. I didn’t get any.”
Xie Ji was genuinely stunned, not quite processing her words. “What did you say? What didn’t you get?”
“The silver notes! Third Brother’s family didn’t give any silver notes!” Madam Zhang said.
Xie Ji took a sharp breath: “How dare he!!! He’s rebelling against heaven! Second Brother and I have been working diligently in our official positions for the sake of the Xie family! The money he earns should rightfully belong to the first and second branches, it should be available for our use!”
Madam Zhang: “Third Brother asked me to bring you a message.”
Xie Ji’s eyes turned fierce like a vicious wolf, as if ready to tear apart everything in sight, but then he sat down, clenching his teeth.
“Speak!!!”
“I want to hear how he plans to explain himself to me!”
Madam Zhang said: “Third Brother said he has never enjoyed the Xie family’s glory, that the first and second branches have always exploited him as a money-making tool, causing his wife and daughter to endure humiliation. He said he’s tolerated it for most of his life! He thought his daughter’s marriage would be her escape from this fiery pit, but never expected…”
Xie Ji raised his voice: “Never expected what?”
Madam Zhang swallowed: “He said he never expected his daughter would still suffer mistreatment even after marrying into the Marquis’ household!”
Xie Ji slammed the table fiercely: “Whose fault is it that his own daughter is unloved and confined by Marquis Zhaoping? Blame her for being useless! If she can’t support the family, does she want to drag the family down instead?! Go tell Third Brother that even if his daughter gets divorced, it’s because she has no ability!”
Zhang-shi stammered for a long while.
“Third Brother isn’t talking about that! It’s about our Zhiqiu making Xinyue suffer!”
The anger in Xie Ji’s eyes froze for a moment. “What happened?”
Zhang-shi: “Zhiqiu went to the Marquis’ residence today…”
“And then? Speak quickly!!”
“She went to ask Xinyue for the collaboration method with Rouge Tower. When she was leaving, I… I told her to be more assertive! Th-Third Brother said Zhiqiu hit Xinyue! That’s why Third Brother is angry. He declared that from now on, neither the eldest nor second branch will get a single coin from him!”
Xie Ji couldn’t contain himself any longer.
He grabbed the cup on the table and smashed it.
A raging fury burned in his heart, seeming to scorch him alive.
“You fool! This is the fine daughter you raised!”
Zhang-shi’s face also turned unpleasant: Hadn’t they beaten and scolded them before? Hadn’t the third branch always endured it like cowards? Who would have thought they wouldn’t tolerate it today?!
Xie Ji spoke gloomily: “Go to the third branch again. Tell him he must provide the money, or I’ll remove him from the family registry!”
Zhang-shi stood frozen in place, so Xie Ji urged her.
“Go quickly!”
“Third Brother said, remove him if you want, he doesn’t care!”
Just then, the steward rushed in breathlessly:
“Terrible news, terrible! Second Master was deceived into reselling paintings and calligraphy. Today they were discovered to be all counterfeits! He’s been accused and brought to court! The evidence is conclusive, and he’s already been imprisoned!”
Xie Ji’s breathing turned heavy, his chest heaving. He felt a metallic taste rise in his throat, which he forcibly swallowed.
As soon as the steward finished speaking, another Momma hurried in.
“Madam, terrible news!”
Zhang-shi was already feeling dizzy. “What’s wrong now?”
The Momma spoke.
“The young miss’s carriage overturned on her way back! She was thrown out and her face has been scarred!”