Shen Nanyue was momentarily speechless, her face flashing with a mix of embarrassment and furious humiliation.
"Jiang Jinshu, have you no shame? Demanding back gifts that have already been 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 shameless one? In all these years since I married into the Shen Family, I have used my dowry to support the household, providing you all with fine clothes and lavish meals. And now, you dare to bite the hand that feeds you? If not for me, Jiang Jinshu, your Shen Family would likely have fallen into ruin long ago."
"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 want 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 your Shen Family can bear children with their own brothers. Who knows if you, the legitimate daughter of the Shen Family, aren't also a fake adopted one?"
Shen Nanyue stood frozen in place, stunned by the series of slaps and the vicious words. Her face burned with pain, her eyes filled with disbelief and fury.
"Jiang Jinshu, you… you venomous shrew!"
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 the Shen Family!"
Jiang Jinshu gave a scornful laugh and reached out to snatch the hairpin from Shen Nanyue's head.
"Since you're already planning to drive me out of the Shen Family, then I'll take these things back."
As the hairpin was pulled away, Shen Nanyue's hair tumbled down, leaving her disheveled in front of everyone. 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. Bin'er was the first to react, rushing forward to shield Shen Nanyue.
Caiping stepped up and roughly pulled Bin'er aside.
"When the masters are speaking, a mere maid shouldn't interfere."
"What are you all standing around for? Seize her! Tie up this venomous shrew!" Shen Nanyue roared at the maids and matrons.
Finally snapping out of their daze, the servants surged forward to grab Jiang Jinshu.
Jiang Jinshu snatched the teapot and cups from the table and hurled them.
"How dare you!"
"Have you all forgotten who pays your monthly wages?"
Caiping quickly shouted, "Someone, come quickly! Protect the young mistress!"
Soon, maids and matrons from the courtyard rushed in, forming a standoff between the two sides.
Jiang Jinshu spoke in a low, firm voice, "Listen well, all of Yayun Ju. Fight with everything you have. For every one you injure, I will reward ten taels of silver. For two, twenty taels."
Where there is great reward, there will be brave souls. It must be known that a lowly maid's monthly wage was only one tael, a second-class maid two taels, and a personal maid three taels. The promise of ten taels of silver made the people of Yayun Ju see red, 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 clothes for me."
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 servants of Yayun Ju. Soon they were crying for their parents and fleeing in all directions.
Shen Nanyue felt both humiliated and furious. Having her clothes torn off, she burst into tears, screaming hoarsely.
"Jiang Jinshu, I will definitely make Xing'er divorce you. Just you wait. If I ever let you stay in the Shen Family again, my name isn't Shen Nanyue."
Jiang Jinshu reached out and grabbed her collar.
"Still talking tough, are you? If I…"
Shen Nanyue was truly frightened now. Using all her strength, she pushed Jiang Jinshu away and ran outside.
"Jiang Jinshu, you're really crazy. You're a madwoman. Just wait until you become a discarded wife."
Seeing Shen Nanyue run off, Bin'er and the others hurriedly followed.
It was too terrifying. The young mistress had truly gone mad.
Jiang Jinshu calmly sat down, watching the sorry state of this mistress and her servants with a smile.
"Caiping, give everyone their reward silver."
Then she looked at the crowd.
"You performed excellently. Keep it up in the future. As long as you remain loyal to me, reward silver will never be lacking."
Caiping quickly fetched silver to reward the maids and older servants.
"The young mistress has always been generous to us servants, often showing consideration for everyone. From now on, we must serve the young mistress with even greater dedication."
The young maids and older servants all accepted the silver.
"What Miss Caiping says is right. Don't worry, from now on, the young mistress will be the only master in our eyes."
Seeing that everyone had received their reward silver, 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 older servants curtsied.
"Yes, thank you, young mistress."
Only after the maids and older servants had all left did Caiping speak.
"Miss, what should we do next? The mistress has always doted on the eldest young lady and the general like they were the apples of her eye. Now that we've beaten the eldest young lady today, the mistress probably won't let this go easily."
Hearing this, Jiang Jinshu replied calmly.
"What is there to fear? I'm more afraid she won't come looking for trouble."
"Prepare the Shen Family's account books and the keys to the public storerooms. We'll deliver them to Lady Shen."