Chapter 17: Elimination“Rufang, you must speak carefully,” First Madam interjected.Upon hearing this, Rufang looked up and met First Madam’s icy gaze.Instantly, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled from head to toe.She knew First Madam would no longer protect her.Then her fiancé… she had to keep First Madam out of this.As if having made a certain resolution, she said bitterly, “Countess! This servant hates Fourth Young Lady!”Hearing this, First Madam’s lips curled slightly upward, looking quite satisfied.Jiang Yiyue observed this.“Why would you hate Fourth Young Lady?” Madam Shen asked disapprovingly.Rufang gathered her thoughts for a moment and said, “Fourth Young Lady not only beat and scolded this servant but also belittled this servant’s appearance.“This servant harbored resentment.“At a banquet, this servant noticed Fourth Young Lady had some interest in Young Master Cui.“This servant immediately praised Fourth Young Lady for being so beautiful, saying Young Master Cui would surely like her too.“Fourth Young Lady took it to heart.“Afterward, this servant would often say Young Master Cui and Fourth Young Lady were a perfect match.“Fourth Young Lady gradually fell for Young Master Cui and privately made various small gifts.“Every time she ordered this servant to deliver them to Young Master Cui, they were rejected.“But this servant told her Young Master Cui liked them, even fabricating lies and love letters to deceive Fourth Young Lady.“Gradually, Fourth Young Lady believed she and Young Master Cui were in love.“In reality, Young Master Cui detested Fourth Young Lady.“This servant wanted Fourth Young Lady to suffer unbearable pain when she learned the truth in the future.“This servant wanted Fourth Young Lady to know that being beautiful doesn’t necessarily make one likable!”“How could your heart be so malicious?!” Madam Shen adored her daughter.She never expected a mere maid had been manipulating her daughter all along.Her hands trembled with anger.“But Fourth Young Lady was at fault first,” Third Madam chimed in.First Madam nodded and said, “Indeed, our Count Jingnan’s household has always treated servants generously.”“That’s right, Fourth Young Lady’s words were somewhat harsh,” Third Madam added, casting a disdainful glance at Jiang Yiyue.Madam Shen turned and said, “If Third Sister-in-law thinks so, you should go back and give Second Young Master a beating.”Second Young Master was eight years old, neither excelling in studies nor in character.He loved bullying maids and servants.He had once broken a servant’s leg for failing to complete the tutor’s assigned homework.Count Jingnan was so angry he slapped Second Young Master.Third Madam still remembered this, and thinking about it made her heart ache for her son, her expression turning unpleasant.Madam Shen ignored her and turned to the Countess of Jingnan, saying, “Mother!“Although Yiyue was a bit mischievous as a child, she always acted within the bounds of propriety.“This daughter-in-law doesn’t know how she suddenly became so bold and outrageous.“It turns out it was due to a wicked servant’s instigation.“Fortunately, under Heir Ji’s influence, she realized it in time and avoided making a grave mistake.“Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.“Please, Mother, uphold justice for this daughter-in-law and for Yiyue!”Madam Shen also mentioned “Heir Ji.”Who is Heir Ji to you mother and daughter?Using him like this!First Madam was extremely displeased.But the Countess of Jingnan took it to heart and said, “Justice must be served, it must be served!”“Countess, spare me! Spare me!” Rufang quickly pleaded for mercy.“Count Jingnan’s household has no rule of killing servants.“Guards!“Give Rufang twenty lashes and drive her out of the household,” the Countess of Jingnan ordered.If she were sold, she might end up in another wealthy household and live a good life.But being driven out meant being sent to the manor, toiling away for the rest of her life.Once they reached a certain age, they would be casually matched with a servant boy, never having another chance to turn their fate around.Rufang's fear instantly peaked.She hurriedly kowtowed: "Countess, please spare me this once, I won't dare to do it again."Two matrons came over and seized her.Rufang frantically cried out: "Countess, I don't dare anymore, First Madam—""Stuff her mouth, all this shouting and yelling," First Madam promptly spoke up.A cloth was immediately stuffed into Rufang's mouth.Rufang whimpered a few times before being dragged away by the two matrons.First Madam secretly let out a sigh of relief.Third Madam hadn't expected Jiang Yiyue to make such a scene and actually succeed in getting rid of Rufang.She couldn't help but look at Jiang Yiyue with newfound respect.Seeing the matter concluded, Jiang Yiyue collapsed onto Madam Shen."Yiyue! Yiyue!" Madam Shen panicked and held her.Jiang Yiyue raised her injured hand, a spot of fresh blood seeping through the bandage."The wound has reopened!" Madam Shen exclaimed."Quickly summon the physician!" the Countess of Jingnan said."Yes," a maid ran out."What are you standing there for? Help your young lady into the room," the Countess of Jingnan scolded Xiangcao."Yes," Xiangcao hurriedly helped Jiang Yiyue into the room.Physician Liang soon arrived and took Jiang Yiyue's pulse.The pulse was steady and strong, her constitution even better than that of most women.However, he knew that Miss Jiang the Fourth had suffered multiple injuries and lost a considerable amount of blood in recent days.Thus, he said: "The Fourth Young Lady's health is not seriously affected."However, she has sustained multiple injuries and lost a great deal of blood."She needs to rest and recuperate for a period of time."I have some ointment here; applying it regularly will aid in the healing of her wounds.""Thank you, Physician Liang," Madam Shen said."You are too kind, Second Madam," Physician Liang rose and left.Madam Shen asked with concern: "Yiyue, how do you feel?""It hurts," Jiang Yiyue furrowed her brows and said weakly: "It hurts a lot.""Then rest well in the courtyard. You don't need to go to Qinghe Hall to pay respects this month." Rufang had once been a maid at Qinghe Hall.She had always been dutiful and proper.The Countess of Jingnan had thus assigned her to Jiang Yiyue.Who would have thought…Both Jiang Yiyue and Madam Shen knew she had ill intentions.Yet neither dealt with her directly; instead, they came to Qinghe Hall.This was also a form of filial piety and respect toward the Countess of Jingnan.The Countess of Jingnan understood this and became somewhat gentler toward Madam Shen and her daughter."How can that be?" Jiang Yiyue quickly said: "Morning and evening greetings are what we juniors ought to do.""We'll talk about it once you've recovered," the Countess of Jingnan said."But—""No buts. Taking good care of yourself is being filial," the Countess of Jingnan directly commanded.Jiang Yiyue put on an obedient expression and replied: "Yes.""Second daughter-in-law, you stay and keep her company," the Countess of Jingnan said."Yes, Mother," Madam Shen replied."As for the maid in the room… let her choose another one herself.""Yes."The Countess of Jingnan glanced at First Madam and said: "Let's go."A group of people followed the Countess of Jingnan as she left.Madam Shen looked at Jiang Yiyue: "You should get some sleep.""I'm not sleepy, I'm hungry." Jiang Yiyue hadn't eaten in the morning before coming to deal with Rufang's matter.It had taken so long.She was truly starving, her stomach pressed against her back."The meal has already been fetched," Xiangcao said."Where is it?""It's on the dining table. I'll go get it right away.""No need. Mother, let's eat together." Before Xiangcao could fetch it, Jiang Yiyue suddenly got out of bed.She walked to the dining table and efficiently took out the breakfast from the food box.She looked up happily and said, "Mother, come quickly."But then she saw Madam Shen and Xiangcao both staring wide-eyed in surprise.She asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

The Aloof Grand Minister Doted on Her Until She Cried