A Good Country Wife

Xiaofang, observing Lin Yue in this manner, was uncertain whether Lin Yue had connected today’s events to her own doing, but until Lin Yue spoke of it, Xiaofang would absolutely not mention it. Moreover, although Xiaofang outwardly showed respect to Lin Yue, she did not necessarily feel it inwardly. To her, a rural farmwife from a small place who could merely read and write was already doing well, and would likely be ignorant of the conspiracies and deceptions within a great household. With this in mind, Xiaofang did not admit her fault and simply kept begging for mercy.

"Madam Lin, I beg of you, if the Family Head knows of the incident you encountered in the back garden, he will not spare this servant. He will blame me for not taking good care of you. Besides, it was I who suggested that you go to the back garden to relax. It was meant kindly; who would have thought that such an incident would occur? I beg Madam Lin to show mercy and save me this once."

Lin Yue listened to each of Xiaofang’s pleas, not only void of remorse but carrying a hint of accusation. She couldn’t help but scoff, "So you’re saying, today’s events have nothing to do with you at all, that it’s purely my bad luck to have encountered those women, and that I deserved to be belittled and insulted. It’s just that I shouldn’t have involved you—is that what you mean?"

Intimidated by Lin Yue’s aura, Xiaofang felt a tremor in her heart yet stubbornly refused to change her tune, "This servant dares not, I only wish for Madam Lin to speak a just word for this servant before the Family Head."

"A just word, what is just? You think I’m so foolish as to not understand that, without reason, you urged me to go to the back garden, and then such drama ensued? I have spared you from blame already, yet you have the audacity to ask that I speak in your favor before Brother Jiang? You must think me truly foolish. Leave now, it is impossible for me to speak on your behalf before Brother Jiang. However, if Brother Jiang does not ask, I also will not bring it up unnecessarily; you are on your own."

After speaking, Lin Yue waved her hand dismissively. It wasn’t that she was compassionate enough to let Xiaofang off the hook; she was merely too bothered to tangle further with Xiaofang. Affairs in a large house were numerous and it was not abnormal for Xiaofang to behave so. Lin Yue was about to move out of the Jiang Residence anyway, and there was no need to fuss over Xiaofang. Everyone reaps what they sow, and with Xiaofang’s dishonest heart, she would eventually face her comeuppance. Furthermore, Jiang Ziqi was a perceptive person who had grown up in such an environment and was likely able to discern the trickery involved.

Not being permitted to leave by the gatehouse, she could do nothing but wait for Zhao Erhu’s return if she wished to step out and see if there were suitable courtyards available for lease.

Zhao Erhu and Jiang Ziqi, after finishing their tasks in the workshop, returned together. Jiang Ziqi also accompanied Zhao Erhu to Qiwu Courtyard, only to learn that Lin Yue intended to move out and was startled, "What happened? Why do you suddenly want to move out? Has a servant in the residence slighted you, or did something else occur?"