Shen Mingtang silently tightened her grip on the deed of sale in her hand.
Though this move was risky, it had mostly succeeded.
She gave Hua Sui, who was kneeling on the ground, a meaningful look. Hua Sui immediately understood her intention with clever perception and rose to stand behind Shen Mingtang.
Zhou Yiniang was so angered by their actions that she laughed bitterly.
All that talk about Hua Sui bullying Shen Mingtang was clearly Shen Mingtang deliberately deceiving her. Knowing full well that Zhou Yiniang wouldn't grant her request for the maid, she had seized this opportunity to claim her.
"Take this wretched girl back with you today. I'll teach her a proper lesson," Zhou Yiniang said coldly.
Four old matrons acknowledged the order and advanced without hesitation to seize the maid.
The determination in Hua Sui's eyes and that of the other maid behind Shen Mingtang was evident.
Even if they were beaten to death today, they wouldn't let Zhou Yiniang take their mistress away.
However, being young and inexperienced, the stools they held up were quickly wrested away by the taller, stronger matrons. Soon, each was firmly grasped by one of them.
A matron sneered at Shen Mingtang, "If Second Daughter doesn't return now, I'll break both these maids' arms."
Shen Mingtang knew that today's matter wouldn't end peacefully.
Alone, she stood no chance against those four matrons.
But she had come prepared.
"Guards," Shen Mingtang suddenly called out.
Someone in the courtyard promptly responded, clearly having been ready. Then twelve people armed with wooden clubs advanced step by step toward the doorway.
When she had moved into Jinxiu Courtyard, the first thing she discussed with Yu Momo was that all the rough work maids and matrons in the courtyard should be selected for their robust physique.
For this purpose, Yu Momo had personally gone out to purchase several.
Aside from the two clever young maids serving in her chambers, all the other outdoor maids and matrons were as strong as oxen.
When Zhou Yiniang arrived with her people, they had instinctively prepared themselves.
"Break their legs," Shen Mingtang commanded calmly, standing with her hands behind her back.
The people outside uniformly acknowledged the order and immediately stepped forward.
Seeing this display, the four matrons inside lost all their earlier ferocity, their legs weakening beneath them.
They hurriedly looked toward Zhou Yiniang.
Zhou Yiniang hadn't expected Shen Mingtang to have such a backup plan. She couldn't possibly let Shen Mingtang cripple her people and immediately moved to block their path.
"How dare you!" Zhou Yiniang shouted at the crowd. "If you dare—"
Before she could finish, a club whistling through the air swung straight toward Zhou Yiniang's face.
Zhou Yiniang instinctively sidestepped to avoid it.
Clutching her lower abdomen, she glared at Shen Mingtang with furious, wide-eyed hatred but didn't dare advance further. She could only watch helplessly as the clubs fell mercilessly upon the four matrons.
Jinxiu Courtyard was immediately filled with continuous screams.
"Shen Mingtang, how dare you! How dare you!" Zhou Yiniang was truly enraged this time. Pointing at Shen Mingtang's face, she was almost speechless.
Shen Mingtang reached out toward the club-wielding matron, who understandingly handed her the weapon.
She raised it high above Zhou Yiniang's head.
Zhou Yiniang instinctively covered her abdomen, eyes wide with terror.
Suddenly, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed backward.
Shen Mingtang's meaningful gaze fell upon Zhou Yiniang's lower abdomen, a playful smile curling at the corner of her lips as she casually tossed the club aside.
She hadn't yet decided how to make Zhou Yiniang suffer to the utmost.
As the cries of the women gradually faded, Shen Mingtang raised her hand. "Enough. You've worked hard. Kindly escort them and Zhou Yiniang back to their courtyard."
She sighed. "After all, Zhou Yiniang is still under confinement. It's not good for her to leave without permission."
Several matrons, stronger than those Zhou Yiniang had brought, stepped forward. They responded in unison and efficiently dragged them out by their arms, one by one, right where they stood.
Even Zhou Yiniang was no exception.
Only Shen Mingtang and two maids remained in the room.
"Miss," Hua Sui tearfully threw herself at Shen Mingtang's knees, too emotional to speak. "This servant…"
She had been sold to the Shen family at ten and had always done odd jobs in Zhou Yiniang's courtyard. Zhou Yiniang treated those beneath her poorly, and everyone followed her example, currying favor with the powerful and bullying the weak. Hua Sui had thought she was destined to be a lowly maid trampled underfoot for life, but unexpectedly, the Second Daughter, who had escaped the wolf's den, had "requested" her from Zhou Yiniang.
Shen Mingtang patted her head. "From now on, you will be the head maid by my side."
"Yes," Hua Sui replied, crying and laughing at the same time.
Shen Mingtang looked at the other maid. "You protected me earlier and did well. From now on, you will also serve in my chambers. I remember your name is Xing'er."
Xing'er stepped forward happily and acknowledged the order.
"Your name will be Hua Rong," Shen Mingtang gave her a new name.
Hua Rong was even more delighted. She knelt and kowtowed. "Thank you, Miss, for bestowing this name."
After what had just happened, she was convinced that the Second Daughter was not the timid and fearful person rumors made her out to be. On the contrary, she was unafraid of trouble and would surely achieve great things in the future.
Having her name changed by the miss meant the miss appreciated her—a good sign.
Shen Mingtang recalled hearing that Shen Mingyue had been brought back by a noble.
She turned to Hua Rong. "Go and find out who brought the Eldest Daughter back."
Hua Rong, who was most skilled at gathering information, immediately nodded and left.
Seeing Hua Sui still crying, Shen Mingtang felt a softness in her heart. During her most difficult times by Zhou Yiniang's side, it was Hua Sui who had accompanied her; otherwise, she would not have made it through.
The mistress and servant shared quiet words for a long while.
Before long, Hua Rong returned.
Hua Rong said, "I heard it was Prince Su who brought the Eldest Daughter back. Some servants saw the Eldest Daughter looking very happy when she entered. I also asked around—Prince Su has just returned to the capital and apparently met the Eldest Daughter at the city gates."
Prince Su?
Hearing this name, Shen Mingtang's heart suddenly trembled.
But she quickly calmed down.
No, how could Prince Su and Shen Mingyue have met so early?
In her previous life, Shen Mingyue had met Prince Su the year after she was enfeoffed as a County Princess, while she was out enjoying herself. That was when their connection began.
Prince Su was the emperor's youngest brother. He had gone to his fief at a young age and returned to the capital to marry. After Shen Mingyue used all her charms, she finally became his principal consort.
Even though Shen Mingyue already held the title of County Princess, given the Shen family's status, it was still considered a lofty marriage.
Now, because of her rebirth, had many things changed?
Shen Mingtang thought for a moment, then curled her lips into a smile.
Shen Mingyue, as a County Princess, was qualified to be a princess consort, but with only the status of a Shen family legitimate daughter, she could not become the principal consort.
From what she knew, Prince Su already had an extremely favored side consort by his side.
In Fengyi Palace.
The Empress had just seen off Liu Furen and ordered someone to summon Prince Rui.
She gazed at her son standing below with a worried expression. "Zhaoniang has waited for you for many years, her feelings for you run deep, and she comes from the noble lineage of the Liu family's legitimate daughter. Why can't you see her worth?"
"A heart as venomous as a snake," Xiao Beili retorted.
The Empress choked back her words, recalling Madam Liu's tearful account during her palace visit. Frowning, she said, "It's just childish mischief among young girls. It's only because she likes you that she…"
"Pushed a fool who hadn't recovered from his injuries into icy water?" Xiao Beili interrupted.
The Empress fell silent, staring at her son for a long moment.
She had imagined that after suffering so much in the Southern Jin Kingdom, her son might return speechless or withdrawn. Instead, he proved quite articulate.
But.
What kind of words were these coming from her proper son?
The Empress sighed. "If you fancy Miss Shen, I'll speak with your father. When you and Zhaoniang receive the imperial marriage decree, we can have her appointed as your Side Consort."
She patiently explained, "Although I too find the Shen family's Second Daughter quite agreeable—gentle and measured in temperament—her background is too humble. Were it not for her saving your life, she would only qualify as a concubine at best."
"I don't like her," Xiao Beili frowned.
The Empress opened her mouth but found herself speechless again.
She badly wanted to ask: if you keep insisting you don't like her, then why did you rush to defend her?
Just then, the palace maid attending the entrance approached.
"Your Majesty," the maid reported, "the Yuchang Marquis Manor requests an imperial physician for the heir."