Even if Jiang Fei was unpopular, she was still a young lady. If not for Yao Shi’s orders, a nanny wouldn’t dare to act so arrogantly toward her, let alone punish her by making her kneel without authorization.
Yao Shi had never liked her to begin with, so given the chance, she certainly wouldn’t make things easy for her.
Jiang Fei slowly knelt down, and the moment her knees touched the ground, she knew it was going to be bad.
The stone slabs beneath her knees were scorching from the sun, and the blazing sun beat down on her head from above.
If only she had known, she would have come back later in the evening. Not only could she have played for half a day longer, but kneeling at night wouldn’t be so hot.
Jiang Fei knelt and sat back on her legs to ease the strain on her knees.
In no time at all, her underwear was already soaked with sweat, and her cheeks were burning from the sun.
It was sweltering outside, and Nanny Wang couldn’t be bothered to keep an eye on her, so she went to rest in the side room.
Faint voices could be heard from the main room, and after a while, Yao Shi still hadn’t opened the door to come out—clearly, she intended to make Jiang Fei kneel longer on purpose.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind. Someone came running toward her, passing her and heading straight for the main room’s entrance.
Jiang Fei looked up and saw a boy of about six or seven, somewhat chubby, who was likely the original host’s younger brother, Jiang Cheng Lang.
Jiang Cheng Lang lifted his foot as if to kick the door, but after a moment’s thought, he turned back, ran up to Jiang Fei, and without a word, kicked her.
“You wicked woman!”
The kick came out of nowhere. Though the child was young, he was as stout as a little landmine and kicked with surprising force. Jiang Fei winced in pain.
“You’re a wicked woman!” Jiang Cheng Lang pointed at her and said, “Third Sister said you’re a bad seed! A servant! Mother said so too!”
Jiang Fei narrowed her eyes. “Try kicking me again.”
“Fine, I will!”
Jiang Cheng Lang lifted his leg for another kick, but this time Jiang Fei was quick. She grabbed his leg and pulled it forward.
Jiang Cheng Lang ended up doing the splits on the spot and immediately clutched his crotch, wailing loudly.
The previously closed door of the main room swung open at once.
Yao Shi strode out first, and several maids rushed out from the side room, scrambling to help Jiang Cheng Lang up.
“What happened?” Yao Shi asked sternly.
Jiang Fei spoke up first. “Fifth Brother seemed unhappy to see me kneeling here. He kicked me and accidentally strained his groin.”
She had been quite tactful, refraining from saying that Jiang Cheng Lang had kicked her and accidentally hurt his balls.
Yao Shi: “…”
The maids tried hard not to laugh, suppressing their amusement as if recalling the most painful moments of their lives.
Jiang Cheng Lang was in too much pain to stand straight, crying like a blaring trumpet.
Yao Shi was heartbroken. “He’s just a child. If you hadn’t provoked him, why would he kick you?”
Jiang Fei hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.
Yao Shi sensed there was more to the story. “What really happened?”
“It’s… not easy to say.”
“What’s so hard to say? Out with it!” Yao Shi demanded sharply.
Jiang Fei raised her head. “Well, Fifth Brother seems to have heard some rumors from somewhere. He said that Mother and Third Sister told him I’m a bad seed, a servant. He might have been influenced by others, which is why he’s so disrespectful to me, his own sister.”
“That’s not true!” Jiang Cheng Lang clutched his crotch. “I was kicking her when—”
“Cheng Lang!” Yao Shi cut him off sharply, afraid he might say something inappropriate. “Take the young master inside at once!”
She was biased, but what mother could treat all her children with perfect impartiality? That was understandable.
But if word of what had just been said got out, it wouldn’t sound good at all.
Yao Shi glanced at the footprint on Jiang Fei’s skirt. She had originally intended to make her kneel all afternoon, but it seemed she had to let her rise now.
“You may stand up as well.”
Jiang Fei tried to move but ended up kneeling back down without exerting much effort.
“Hurry and help the young lady up!” Yao Shi said before turning and sweeping back into her room.
The maid assisted Jiang Fei inside and seated her. Jiang Cheng Lang, tears still streaking his face, glared at her with resentment.
“Where did you go today?” Yao Shi asked.
Jiang Fei leaned against the armrest of the chair.
It wasn’t an act of feigning weakness—she was genuinely in pain. While kneeling, the discomfort hadn’t been this intense, but now that blood was circulating back into her legs, the pain radiated from her toes all the way up to her knees.
Seeing her remain silent, Yao Shi’s temper flared once more. “I asked you to speak. Have you gone mute?”
“Does Mother truly wish to hear?”
Yao Shi was about to respond when she recalled how, earlier in the courtyard, Jiang Rufei hadn’t been inclined to speak but was forced into uttering those unpleasant words. She hesitated to press further.
But Jiang Fei didn’t comply with her reluctance. “Since Mother genuinely wants to know, I won’t hide it from you. The servants in this household act according to their masters’ attitudes, accustomed to flattering those in favor and disparaging the neglected. As I am not favored, they naturally disregard me, paying lip service to you while secretly withholding my food, clothing, and allowances.”
Yao Shi: “…”
I didn’t say I actually wanted to hear this.
Jiang Fei caught her breath and continued, “I had no choice but to pawn some jewelry to barely get by. Otherwise, life in this household would truly be unbearable. Now that this matter has been brought to your attention, I suppose they won’t dare to withhold my allowances anymore.”
Yao Shi: “…”
It wasn’t the servants! It was me, me!
How can I continue deducting your allowances after this?
Regret choked Yao Shi’s throat. It seemed that every time she pressed Jiang Rufei for answers, it inevitably led to trouble.
If word got out that a daughter of the Jiang family had been reduced to pawning jewelry to survive, her reputation as the mistress would suffer, but more importantly, people might assume the Jiang family was in decline—that would be a real catastrophe.
“Ahem.” Yao Shi cleared her throat, took a sip of tea, and softened her tone. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? With the household affairs being so messy and so many people around, it’s inevitable that some might take advantage. I’ll look into this carefully later. Don’t speak of it to others to avoid alerting them.”
Jiang Fei knew perfectly well it wasn’t the servants embezzling—Yao Shi managed the household strictly, and no one would dare act without her approval.
Seeing her silent, Yao Shi forced a doting smile. “You foolish child, suffering in silence without saying a word. It makes me seem like an inconsiderate mother.”
Jiang Fei lowered her eyes, her tone meek. “I didn’t wish to trouble Mother, but today I simply couldn’t endure it any longer and had no choice but to resort to this.”
Yao Shi seethed inwardly but maintained a concerned expression. “Silly child, if you have any grievances in the future, just speak up. Why resort to pawning jewelry? What would people think if this got out?”
“Really?” Jiang Fei widened her eyes earnestly.
Seeing that Jiang Rufei showed no intention of being polite, Yao Shi immediately regretted her words.
But having said it, she had to swallow her tears and agree.
“Mmm… yes.”
Having achieved her goal, Jiang Fei’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. “Thank you, Mother.”
Jiang Cheng Lang, listening in confusion, grew displeased at his mother’s sudden change in attitude toward Jiang Fei. “Mother! She made me fall earlier!”
“Ahem.” Yao Shi continued, “But as the matriarch, I must be fair in both reward and punishment. Although you had a reason for going out today today, the punishment cannot be waived. Kneeling as penalty is merely a minor punishment for major admonishment. After returning, you shall copy Admonitions for Women ten times as penalty.”
After speaking, Yao Shi let out a long sigh of relief. Jiang Rufei had made her suffer a setback, so punishing Jiang Rufei made her feel much more at ease.
Yet she also felt puzzled. It seemed that ever since Jiang Rulin took her to catch an adulterer that day, Jiang Rufei had become like a different person. Could it be that she had gained enlightenment?
“Then you may go back.”
“Yes.”
Jiang Fei extended her hand to the maids, leaning on them to stand up. After taking a few steps, she turned back and said, “Mother, there is one more matter I forgot to mention earlier.”
Yao Shi’s nerves, which had just relaxed, instantly tensed again. Her back straightened involuntarily. “What else is there?”