The Double

Jiang Youyao running away was something no one had anticipated. Just yesterday during the day, Jiang Youyao was still around, but when someone went to check this morning, she was gone, which made it clear that Jiang Youyao must have left the mansion last night when there was no one around.

Madam Jiang the Elder was so angry she nearly fainted and immediately had Zhenzhu bring the two maids from Yaoguang Mansion for questioning. When Jin Hua and Yinhua were brought to Night Wind Hall, both were pale with fear, obviously aware that a serious incident had occurred. Madam Jiang the Elder looked at them and said coldly, "Speak."

Jin Hua hesitated, her loyalty to Jiang Youyao unwavering for some reason even now, unwilling to betray Jiang Youyao, perhaps fearing Jiang Youyao would seek retribution later.

Madam Jiang the Elder sneered, "Someone, take these two maids out and sell them."

Jin Hua was immediately terrified. They were maids of the official’s daughter, and such maids either followed the young lady into marriage and were turned into concubines by the son-in-law or would marry and become a housekeeping lady; any fate was better than ending up in a brothel.

Before Jin Hua could speak, Yinhua knelt and said to Madam Jiang the Elder, "Old madam, I know where the third young lady has gone. She’s gone to the Ji family!"

Jin Hua was startled, why had Yinhua blurted it out? Little did she know that Yinhua had long harbored dissatisfaction with Jiang Youyao. Jiang Youyao was capricious, and would beat and scold her maids at the slightest displeasure. In the past, Ji Shuran had kept her in check, but now that Ji Shuran was dead, Jiang Youyao might have become even more irritable, often treating her and Jin Hua as less than human. It was pitiful that as Jiang Youyao’s personal maids, they could not speak ill of their mistress and had to endure inhumane treatment.