Shen Nanyue was momentarily speechless, a flicker of embarrassment and furious humiliation flashing across her face.
"Jiang Jinshu, have you no shame? Demanding back gifts you've already given—truly, you are a thing without proper upbringing by parents, so utterly disgraceful…"
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Jinshu's eyes as she raised her hand and slapped Shen Nanyue across the face.
"Who exactly is the one without shame? All these years since I married into Shenjia, I have used my dowry to support the household, providing you all with fine clothes and sumptuous food. And now you dare to bite the hand that feeds you? If not for me, Jiang Jinshu, your Shenjia would likely have long since fallen into ruin."
"You! Jiang Jinshu, how dare you strike your own eldest sister-in-law?" Shen Nanyue touched her stinging cheek, her face livid with rage.
She raised her hand to return the slap.
But Jiang Jinshu was faster, delivering another sharp slap to Shen Nanyue's other cheek.
"If I'm going to hit you, I'll hit you. Must I wait for an auspicious day?"
"What of being the eldest sister-in-law? Everyone knows now that the daughters of Shenjia can bear children with their own brothers. Who knows if you, this so-called legitimate daughter of Shenjia, aren't also an adopted imposter?"
Shen Nanyue stood frozen in place, stunned by the barrage of slaps and cutting words, her face burning with pain, her eyes filled with disbelief and fury.
"Jiang Jinshu, you… you vicious woman!"
Finally regaining some strength, Shen Nanyue pointed a trembling finger at Jiang Jinshu.
"How dare you insult me like this! I will have Xing'er divorce you and drive you out of Shenjia!"
Jiang Jinshu gave a scornful laugh and reached out, pulling the hairpin from Shen Nanyue's hair.
"Since you intend to drive me out of Shenjia, then I'll take these things back."
As the hairpin was removed, Shen Nanyue's hair tumbled down, leaving her disheveled in public. She let out a shriek of rage.
"Ah… Jiang Jinshu, I'll kill you!"
The maids and matrons Shen Nanyue had brought along were stunned. Biner was the first to react, rushing forward to shield Shen Nanyue.
Caiping stepped up and roughly pulled Biner aside.
"When the mistresses are speaking, a mere maid shouldn't interfere."
"What are you all standing there for? Get her! Tie up this vicious woman!" Shen Nanyue roared at the maids and matrons.
Only then did the servants snap out of their daze, moving forward to seize Jiang Jinshu.
Jiang Jinshu grabbed a teapot and cups from the table and hurled them.
"How dare you!"
"Have you all forgotten who pays your monthly allowances?"
Caiping quickly shouted, "Someone, come quickly! Protect the young mistress!"
Soon, maids and matrons from the courtyard rushed in, and the two sides faced off in a standoff.
Jiang Jinshu spoke in a low, firm voice, "Listen well, all of Yayun Ju. Fight with all your might. For every one you injure, I will reward ten taels of silver. For two, twenty taels."
Where there is a heavy reward, there will be brave souls. It must be known that a lowly maid's monthly allowance was only one tael, a second-class maid two taels, and a personal head maid three taels. The reward of ten taels drove the people of Yayun Ju into a frenzy, and they desperately lunged at the maids and matrons Shen Nanyue had brought. In an instant, Yayun Ju descended into chaos.
Jiang Jinshu then grabbed Shen Nanyue.
"Caiping, strip off her outer clothes."
Upon hearing this, Caiping swiftly set to work, and soon Shen Nanyue was left wearing only her undergarments.
Those people Shen Nanyue brought were no match for the Yayun Ju staff, and were soon beaten until they cried for their parents and fled in all directions.
Shen Nanyue was both humiliated and furious. Having actually been stripped of her clothes, she burst into tears, shouting hoarsely.
"Jiang Jinshu, I will definitely make Xing'er divorce you. Just you wait. If I ever let you stay in Shenjia again, my name isn't Shen Nanyue!"
Jiang Jinshu reached out and grabbed her collar.
"Is your mouth still this tough? If I…"
Shen Nanyue was truly frightened this time. Using all her strength, she pushed Jiang Jinshu away and ran outside.
"Jiang Jinshu, you're really crazy. You're just a madwoman. Just wait until you become a discarded wife!"
Seeing Shen Nanyue run off, Biner and the others hurriedly followed.
It was too terrifying. The young mistress really had gone mad.
Jiang Jinshu calmly sat down, watching the sorry state of this master-servant group and spoke with a smile.
"Caiping, give everyone a reward."
Then she looked at the crowd.
"You performed very well. Keep it up in the future. As long as you are loyal enough to me, the rewards will never be lacking."
Caiping quickly fetched silver and rewarded the maids and matrons.
"The young mistress has always been very generous to us servants, often showing consideration for everyone. From now on, we must serve the young mistress even more diligently."
The young maids and matrons all took the silver one after another.
"Miss Caiping is right. Don't worry, from now on, in our eyes, the young mistress will be our only master."
Seeing that everyone had received their reward, Jiang Jinshu spoke with a smile.
"You've all suffered some minor injuries. Go down and apply medicine. Leave the work in the courtyard for tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, the maids and matrons curtsied.
"Yes, thank you, young mistress."
Only after the maids and matrons had all left did Caiping speak.
"Miss, what should we do next? Madam has always treated the eldest young lady and the general as the apples of her eye. We beat the eldest young lady today; Madam probably won't let this go easily."
Hearing this, Jiang Jinshu replied calmly.
"What is there to fear? I'm afraid she won't come looking for trouble."
"Prepare Shenjia's account books and the keys to the public funds. We'll deliver them to Madam Shen."