Four Seasons Brocade – CH 068

Chapter 68 ☆、

Zi-Yan suddenly realized that everything the Sixth Young Lady did was purposeful. Why did she insist on taking two concubines to the Daci Temple to offer incense and even meet so many ladies there?

Zi-Yan suddenly understood. Concubine Wang, as the Third Master’s concubine, had met many ladies. If it were discovered that the Third Master’s runaway concubine had become the Eldest Master’s kept woman, heavens above, Zi-Yan dared not even think about it.

Now, recalling everything, when the Old Madam sent Concubine Wang there, she thought it was a clever move to cause trouble for the Third Branch of the household. Of course, it did get in their way, but in the end, the Sixth Young Lady turned the tables so beautifully, and they did not even realize it.

Zi-Yan gradually pondered the matter. It seemed that the Sixth Young Lady had carefully considered everything from the beginning, understanding people’s hearts so well that no one suspected her.

For the sake of Concubine Wang, she had thwarted the Third Master’s desire to take a concubine, sowed discord between the First and Second Masters, and dealt with the Second Madam and the Old Madam. However, she had also planted seeds of discord around the Eldest Master, waiting to be used as she pleased.

Such a young girl, yet so cunning. How could Zi-Yan not be afraid? This was not without reason that she had wanted to leave back then.

But now that Zi-Yan herself had suffered misfortune, the first person she thought of was Ah Wu. She felt that if she could entrust everything to the Sixth Young Lady, she would surely be able to get what she wanted and vent her anger.

When Ah Wu saw Zi-Yan, she almost did not recognize her. Zi-Yan, once a beautiful and charming maid, had acquired a certain air of refinement from Ah Wu’s upbringing. But today, she looked like a woman in her twenties, her face haggard, her skin sallow, her eyes sunken, and her chin pointed—she seemed somewhat frightening.

Ah Wu initially felt that Zi-Yan’s lack of decorum was her own fault; she had been having an affair before marriage. She considered it an act of courtesy to even see her, but seeing Zi-Yan like this pained her deeply.

People who were usually arrogant and capable were often fiercely protective of their own, not allowing anyone to trample on their property, let alone a person.

Zi-Yan remained kneeling, tears falling to the ground and soaking into a puddle.

“Zi-Shan, quickly help your sister Zi-Yan up,” Ah Wu sighed, giving Zi-Shan a meaningful look. Zi-Shan quickly helped Zi-Yan up and went outside to stand guard at the door, letting the two of them talk alone.

“Miss, I am truly ashamed to see you… I, I…” Zi-Yan said, trying to kneel again.

Ah Wu quickly stopped her. “I’ve heard everything from Zi-Shan about your situation. Tell me your plans now.”

“How can I have the face to live on in this world? Being able to see you once is enough. I hope everything goes well for you in the future, and I, I can also…”

Ah Wu frowned. “Stop with the empty words. If you still will not tell the truth now, then there’s no need to keep you here any longer.”

Zi-Yan was stunned and remained silent for a long time, then knelt again, speaking with great difficulty, “I beg you, young lady, for the sake of the years I’ve served you, please show me a way to live.”

Ah Wu was also silent for a while, finally speaking, “Enough, you’ve been with me for so long. I cannot bear to see you like this. I only ask, do you want this child?”

Zi-Yan had already thought about this and nodded. Zi-Yan had long since given up on men and had no hope of remarrying. Now, having a child, if it were a son, she would have someone to rely on in the future; if it were a daughter, it did not matter; at least there would be something to look forward to.

“Alright. Go back and discuss it with your mother, go live in another place for a while, then just report that you’ve recently lost your husband and return to your parents’ home for support. The three-year mourning period is natural; I will make arrangements for you during this time, so that you and the child can have a life,” Ah Wu said.

Zi-Yan immediately nodded.

“Later, go to Zi-Shan’s place and get twenty taels of silver. Since you are planning to give birth, you should make arrangements in advance to ensure she’s well-nourished.”

“Yes,” Zi-Yan replied, but lingered, unwilling to leave.

Ah Wu naturally knew why, but refused to speak first. Women’s affairs were unpredictable. She could help her deal with that selfish man now, but he was still the father of her child. What if he reconciled with her later? Ah Wu would be blamed.

Zi-Yan was proud and could not swallow her anger. She said, “This servant has another request for you, Miss. I know I should not ask, but my heart is truly aching. Please have pity on me, Miss.”

Ah Wu raised an eyebrow, secretly pleased that Zi-Yan had spoken up. Otherwise, with such a weak and helpless child, there would be no point in helping her.

“That heartless man, Shi Feng, seduced me, deceived me, and then abandoned me. I am truly unwilling to accept this. If you, young lady, are willing to help me, I will serve you like a slave for the rest of my life to repay you,” Zi-Yan said through gritted teeth.

Seeing only hatred in her eyes, without a trace of lingering affection, Ah Wu asked, “Do you want to vent your anger now, or take it slowly?”

Zi-Yan thought for a moment and said, “I want to vent my anger now, so I will not have to worry about such a beast in the future.”

“Good.” Decisiveness was key; she would not spend her whole life seeking revenge on a man. Seeing Zi-Yan’s choice, Ah Wu was willing to help her.

Ah Wu summoned Zi-Yan and whispered some instructions in her ear.

Zi-Yan hesitated upon hearing this. “But what if he reports it to the authorities…”

“It’s alright; you go yourself. Just inform Zi-Shan on the day, and I will make the arrangements. He will be too guilty to do anything. You just need to show that he’s the jade vase and you are the tile.”

Zi-Yan agreed and left.

Zi-Shan saw Zi-Yan off outside, then returned and stared at Ah Wu for a long time, making Ah Wu wonder if she had something on her face.

“What are you doing?” Ah Wu asked.

Zi-Shan smiled. “This servant did not expect that Miss would actually be willing to help Sister Zi-Yan.” Zi-Yan had not even really received assistance yet, but Zi-Shan was already moved.

Ah Wu smiled and remained silent. Her willingness to help Zi-Yan was also a way to win over Zi-Shan and Zi-Zhui’s hearts.

On the day of the operation, Zi-Shan, following Ah Wu’s instructions, went to Zi-Yan’s house to deliver something. As soon as she entered, she heard a commotion inside. Upon entering, they saw Zi-Yan clutching a gold hairpin, dripping blood from it. Opposite her stood Shi Feng, his hands covering his face, his mother supporting him. They were all crying and shouting, threatening to report her to the authorities. Blood dripped steadily from Shi Feng’s fingers, a rather frightening sight.

“Oh dear, what brings Miss Zi-Shan here?” Zi-Yan’s mother exclaimed, seeing Zi-Shan as if she were a savior.

Seeing the situation, Zi-Shan knew it was her turn to step in. She cleared her throat and said, “Sixth Young Lady misses Sister Zi-Yan. She just received a new bolt of bright red satin and, thinking of Sister Zi-Yan’s upcoming wedding, specially sent me to deliver it.”

“Stop talking! What wedding? It’s so kind of Sixth Young Lady to think of her. Our Zi-Yan has sinned! She’s threatening to die, and so am I! We are going to drag this heartless man to the authorities to demand an explanation!” Zi-Yan’s mother, Nanny Guan, stepped forward and tried to pull Shi Feng away.

“Fine, let’s go! You hurt someone, and you think you are in the right?” Shi Feng’s mother would not budge, no longer caring that Nanny Guan was her own sister.

Zi-Yan, having dropped her hairpin, stood up, adopting a resolute, almost heroic, attitude. “Let’s go,” she said. “I am ashamed of myself as I am now anyway. Let’s go see the official and let him judge. Shi Feng, that heartless, ungrateful man who dares to mess with his cousin, still wants to take the imperial examination? Bah! With such character, who in the village would recommend him?”

In the Great Xia Dynasty, the imperial examination stipulated that candidates must first find a scholar to write a guarantee for them before they were eligible to participate. This guarantee served two purposes: proving their locality and certifying their good character.

Shi Feng was determined to pursue the imperial examination path. He was diligent in his studies, and the young lady in the alley only treated him favorably because she saw potential in him.

Now, if they went to see the official for this matter, and the young lady found out, Shi Feng would certainly be in serious trouble. Therefore, he and his mother hesitated.

Zi-Shan chimed in, “That’s right, that’s right! Let’s go see the official! Do not be afraid, Sister Zi-Yan. I will ask the young lady to get a letter from the Duke to the official. That way, Shi Feng will not be able to back down.”

Since ancient times, it has been said that the common people did not associate with officials. Hearing Zi-Shan’s words, Shi Feng and his mother immediately remembered that Zi-Yan had once been the personal maid of the sixth young lady of the Duke’s Mansion. The sixth young lady’s father was a newly appointed top scholar, and she had the Duke’s Mansion backing her. Now it seemed that although Zi-Yan no longer served the sixth young lady, the Sixth Young Lady still often thought of her. If they went to see the official, they feared they would not get away with it.

Shi Feng gave his mother a wink, and the two of them stopped insisting on seeing the official and demanding compensation from Zi-Yan’s family for medical expenses.

Zi-Yan was tempted; her goal had already been achieved.

But when it came to fighting, Zi-Yan was no match for Zi-Shan. Zi-Shan had seen it all before and knew that you had to be extra firm with these kinds of people; otherwise, they’d take advantage and demand exorbitant prices. “No money, but you can take my life. Let’s go see the authorities. Someone like you, who starts something and then abandons it, should be locked up in jail!”

Zi-Shan put her hands on her hips and began to unleash her verbal sparring, a torrent of insults, all thanks to her extensive experience.

Shi Feng, being a scholar, was no match for her in a verbal battle, and his mother was a bully who preyed on the weak. In the end, Zi-Shan generously gave them two taels of silver, which the two, as if they’d gotten a bargain, quickly stuffed into their pockets and left, looking utterly dejected.

As long as they did not report it to the authorities now, any future visits could be considered baseless accusations.

Zi-Yan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Zi-Shan, “Thank you, Sister.”

Zi-Shan helped her sit down. “Do not thank me; it’s all thanks to Sixth Young Lady. You are so bold but so straightforward, so incredibly straightforward.”

Zi-Yan smiled back, “Sixth Young Lady taught me.”

As the saying goes, a scholar could not reason with a soldier; you could not win a fight with a pretty boy like Shi Feng. There was no need for reasoning; just use violence.

Shi Feng’s Achilles’ heel lay in the imperial examinations. He only lost interest in Zi-Yan because he believed he would pass the exams and did not care about a mere girl.

What Ah Wu taught Zi-Yan was to destroy Shi Feng’s future.