The heat of summer enveloped the entire courtyard. The chirping of cicadas rose and fell, as if weaving an invisible net in the air.
Jiang Yao was lying on a chaise lounge by the window, dressed in a light, thin summer gown. Her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, the strands lightly fluttering with the breeze.
She had stayed at home for several days, and the news of her visit to the Xie Estate to see Xie Yunian had already spread.
Now, rumors were growing in the capital, and the Xie family hadn’t come out to deny anything. Jiang Yao simply thought she had misremembered the day Xie Yunian woke up.
“Miss, Nanny Chu is back and says she wants to come in and pay her respects,” Chunlan knocked and entered, speaking softly.
“Ask her to come in.”
Jiang Yao closed the storybook in her hand and placed it aside, speaking lazily.
“Oh, right, Chunlan, go…” Jiang Yao turned over and whispered something in Chunlan’s ear.
Chunlan nodded and turned to leave.
The sound of footsteps gradually approached, and a figure slowly came into view.
Nanny Chu was dressed in an exquisite brocade gown; every inch exuded luxury and refinement.
Not only that, but the pearls and jade ornaments in Nanny Chu’s hair were dazzling.
Jiang Yao, sharp-eyed, noticed that the cuffs of the gown were actually embroidered with gold thread.
She couldn’t help but secretly marvel that this nanny was quite wealthy.
The moment Nanny Chu saw Jiang Yao, her expression became highly emotional. She quickly walked up to Jiang Yao and, before Jiang Yao could react, performed a deep bow.
Then, before Jiang Yao could speak, she stood up on her own.
She quickly walked over, took Jiang Yao’s hand, and tearfully said, “My darling heart! I’m back! How is it that after only a few days apart, you’ve become so thin?”
Jiang Yao subtly pulled her hand away and casually explained, “Nanny, please sit first. The weather has been hot these last two days, so naturally, I’ve eaten less.”
Nanny Chu sat down on the low stool beside Jiang Yao and, quite naturally, placed a soft cushion under her bottom.
Her movements were practiced, and her self-reference just now was “I,” instead of the humble “your humble servant.”
It’s worth noting that even the original owner’s personal maids, Chunlan and Xiachan (夏蟬), usually referred to themselves as “humble servants.”
Jiang Yao discreetly observed everyone in the room and found they were all accustomed to this. This nanny truly was the original owner’s confidante.
It was a pity she was a treacherous mole who stole from her own.
“What’s wrong with your waist, Nanny?” Jiang Yao noticed that she kept subconsciously kneading her waist and asked.
“Oh, my youngest son has given me a big, plump grandson,” Nanny Chu’s eyes narrowed into a slit when she spoke of this, wrinkles gathering at the corners of her eyes. “He weighed over nine jin [approx. 10 lbs] when he was born!”
Jiang Yao was stunned, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Although she had never given birth, she knew that an overly large fetus in the mother’s body was not a good thing. Such a large baby could lead to difficulties during labor and even cause difficult delivery.
Her heart sank slightly.
In the palace intrigue dramas she used to watch, the plot of “killing the mother to keep the child” was common.
She hadn’t expected that a small nanny would resort to such a tactic.
Nanny Chu had been in the Xie family for many years; it was impossible that she didn’t know this.
“That heavy? That truly is a joyous occasion. Xiachan, bring twenty taels of silver to buy the child a longevity lock.” Jiang Yao paused, then casually asked, “And the child’s mother…?”
Nanny Chu’s face had been smiling at the first half of the sentence, but at the second half, her entire face dropped. “That ominous creature died! It’s a shame my precious grandson didn’t get to drink a single drop of mother’s milk!”
Jiang Yao narrowed her eyes, giving Nanny Chu a faint side-glance.
She felt joy at the birth of her grandson but was so indifferent to her daughter-in-law’s death, even describing her as an “ominous creature.”
Nanny Chu didn’t notice this at all. Remembering what the First Branch had instructed her to do, a sharp gleam flashed in her eyes. “I heard Miss went to the Quiet Grace Hall for a family dinner a few days ago?”
Jiang Yao guessed what she was about to say and reached for a handful of melon seeds.
“Yes, Grandmother sent someone over with medicine during the days I was ill…”
“Miss, have you forgotten!” Nanny Chu’s voice suddenly rose several decibels, interrupting Jiang Yao.
“If the Old Madam hadn’t been unable to tolerate your birth mother back then, how would you have lost your own mother from a young age?”
“Kacha kacha” (the sound of cracking seeds)
“Nanny, you’re right!”
“Your closeness with the Old Madam must be breaking your mother’s heart beneath the Nine Springs!”
“Kacha kacha”
“Alas, this is truly wrong!”
“…”
Nanny Chu’s brows furrowed slightly. She belatedly realized something was off, but seeing Jiang Yao’s earnest expression, she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Jiang Yao yawned and said softly, “Nanny, you just got back, and the journey must have been tiring. Why don’t you go back to your room and rest first?”
“Then what I just told you…” The nanny’s eyes held a trace of reluctance. She asked, unwilling to give up.
“Nanny, don’t worry. There are some people I certainly won’t let off.” Jiang Yao smiled slightly, a meaningful glint flashing in her eyes.
She spoke with a hidden meaning.
Nanny Chu was overjoyed to hear this, thinking she was referring to the Old Madam, and happily withdrew.
Just as Nanny Chu left the room, she bumped into Chunlan, who was walking back.
“Miss Chunlan, what are you holding?” Nanny Chu’s voice was smiling, her gaze keenly fixed on the object in Chunlan’s hand.
“This is the inventory list for the things the Master sent a few days ago. I was just about to take it to the Miss for review.”
Chunlan stopped, a hint of wariness in her eyes. She tucked the booklet further into her embrace.
Nanny Chu said assertively, “Give it to me. The Miss is recovering from a serious illness and needs rest. I’ll handle such a small matter.”
With that, she reached out, ready to take the booklet from Chunlan’s hand.
“This…” Chunlan still hesitated a little.
Nanny Chu took the booklet without further ado. “The Miss trusts me the most, so don’t worry!”
She tightly clutched the booklet, her glance over it showing greed that nearly overflowed.
Every time the Master and the Miss argue, he sends several boxes of jade and precious jewels.
Yet, Jiang Yao never appreciated them, always putting them all into the private vault and never paying attention to them. This gave Nanny Chu an opportunity.
Those were all top-quality fabrics and jewelry!
Only after Nanny Chu’s figure was out of sight did Chunlan hurry back into the room.
“Miss! Miss! Nanny Chu really snatched the inventory list!”
Jiang Yao brought a piece of watermelon to her mouth. The sweetness of the fruit spread on her tongue. She gave a faint reply, seemingly unsurprised.
Chunlan frowned slightly, her voice laced with worry. “But Miss, why did you give the inventory list to Nanny Chu? You clearly know…”
Her voice abruptly trailed off. She seemed to realize suddenly that she had almost said something she shouldn’t have.
Her face instantly turned pale. Nanny Chu was once the person Miss trusted the most.
She was afraid the Miss would blame her for these words.
Jiang Yao looked calmly at Chunlan. She knew that Chunlan was afraid she would ignore these matters as she had in the past.
“Yes, you and I both know that Nanny Chu has stolen a lot of things from the vault. But do we have evidence?”
“Silly Chunlan, you must catch a thief with the goods.”