Chapter 91: Reputation

This day could only be described as thrilling. After returning to Yaoyuan Pavilion and changing her clothes, Xiao Yao prepared to head out again.

“Elder sister, where are you going?” Xiao Yuan had been hoping to join her sister for a fragrant milk bath, but it seemed her hopes would be dashed once more.

“I’ll be back soon. You go play by yourself for now.” With those words, Xiao Yao left without a moment’s hesitation.

Knock, knock, knock. The door to Nanny Ruan’s room was lightly rapped.

Sitting on a long chaise by the bed, Nanny Ruan curled her lips into a gentle smile. This child truly was insightful and never failed to meet expectations.

“Come in,” she said softly.

“Nanny, I’m here to apologize for what happened today.”

“Today’s matter? Does it concern me?” Nanny Ruan asked calmly, her eyes fixed on Xiao Yao.

“Since the day you started teaching me, the two of us have been closely associated in the eyes of others. When people mention you, they think of me as your disciple; when they talk about me, they naturally associate you as my mentor. If today’s events were to cast any unfavorable rumors, your reputation would undoubtedly be implicated. That’s why I must apologize to you.”

“If you knew my reputation might be affected, why did you still proceed as you did?”

“At that moment, there was no better option. Among everyone present, only by stepping forward myself could I prevent the Xiao family from being blamed.”

“I understand your intentions, but I cannot agree with your methods. Considering your actions stemmed from a desire to protect your family, I’ll let it go this time. However, you must promise me there will not be a next time.

The reputation I, Nanny Ruan, have painstakingly built over decades is not something I’ll allow anyone to tarnish—no matter who they are, even if it’s someone I hold in the highest regard. Do you understand?”

“I understand, and I’m truly sorry, Teacher.” In the months they had spent together, Xiao Yao had always addressed her as “Nanny,” but today, she suddenly called her “Teacher.” That one word subtly brought the two closer and solidified Nanny Ruan’s status in Xiao Yao’s heart.

“Oh, you child.” Xiao Yao truly possessed a discerning and tactful mind, always knowing how to avoid punishment without leaving a trace.

“Ping’an, since you’ve called me Teacher, I hope you’ll listen carefully to what I have to say. A woman’s reputation is as vital as her life. You must not only understand its importance but also carefully guard and protect it.” Nanny Ruan decided to keep her lesson brief, as her young disciple still had much to learn.

“I understand. It’s like today’s Miss Yu. Not only has she ruined her own reputation, but she’s also implicated her parents and family. In life, we must think beyond ourselves and safeguard the reputation of our family and loved ones.”

“I’m delighted to hear you think this way,” Nanny Ruan said with gratification. She reached out to gently stroke Xiao Yao’s face. How rare it was to find a girl of such beauty who hadn’t been blinded by her appearance but could see the world with clarity and wisdom. With this kind of insight, her future was bound to be extraordinary.

Outside the door, Tong Mingyu quietly listened to her daughter’s words. A satisfied smile spread across her face as she signaled the maids to retreat. Casting one more glance at the door, she tiptoed away back to Yayu Garden.

“It’s late now. You should go rest.”

“Teacher, you should rest early too. Don’t stay up reading in the dark.”

“All right, I know.”

“Disciple takes her leave.” Xiao Yao cheekily bowed before vanishing out of sight.

“That mischievous girl,” Nanny Ruan muttered with a smile, shaking her head.

As Xiao Yao stepped into her room, she was immediately collided with by Xiao Yuan.

“Miss, are you all right?”

“Second Miss, please be careful.”

The maids scrambled to help their respective mistresses, examining them from head to toe to ensure there were no injuries or bruises before finally relaxing.

In the Xiao family, it wasn’t a big deal if the young masters got hurt, but the young ladies were a different matter entirely. Any mishap involving them would result in everyone in Yaoyuan Pavilion being reprimanded and punished.

“Ruyi, why were you in such a rush?”

“Elder sister, did you go to Nanny’s room? Were you scolded or punished? If she made you copy books as punishment, I’ll help you with half.” Xiao Yuan patted her chest in assurance.

“Don’t worry; I wasn’t scolded or punished. But thank you for your kind offer.” Couldn’t her sister wish her well just once?

“Do you know what I admire most about you, Sister? It’s how you always find a way to escape punishment just when it seems inevitable. Why can’t I do that?” Xiao Yuan remarked innocently.

Xiao Yao quickly dismissed the maids, embarrassed. Ruyi was too straightforward, blurting out thoughts that could ruin the image she had carefully built in front of the servants.

“You don’t have to speak every thought you have aloud. Understand?”

Xiao Yuan nodded. She had only learned to speak honestly, but her elder sister seemed to have picked up new skills after just one visit to Nanny Ruan’s room. Clever indeed!

“Elder sister, what do you think will happen to Miss Yu when she returns home?”

Xiao Yao didn’t want to think about that woman or mention her. But one thing was certain: the Yu family would be in turmoil tonight.

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And turmoil it was. Madam Yu, in a fit of rage, had the parlor smashed to pieces. When Yu Xianrong was brought home, the flowerpots in the hallway outside the parlor didn’t escape the chaos either. The scene was as devastating as if a gang of bandits had raided the place.

“Bring all the maids and old servants from Miss’s room here. After they’re beaten with thirty lashes, sell them all!”

“Yes,” an old servant accepted the order and went off to execute Madam Yu’s command.

“Bad news! Bad news! Xiangcao jumped into the well and took her own life!”

Yu Xianrong froze in her tracks. Xiangcao was dead—the maid who had been by her side since she was ten years old was gone. And it was all the Xiao family’s fault. If they had accepted her, everything would have been different. Xiangcao wouldn’t have died.

“Dead or alive, it doesn’t matter. She was just a useless maid who wasted food,” Madam Yu said through gritted teeth.

The servants all lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound. Such was their mistress, someone who didn’t regard them as human. A maid’s death meant nothing to her.

“You’ve caused enough trouble. From now on, Madam Cao will personally watch over you. You’re not to leave your courtyard, and if today’s incident happens again, all the male servants in your courtyard will be executed, and the female servants will be sent to the lowest ranks to suffer. Do you all understand?”

“We understand!” the servants answered in unison.

“Mother, you can’t treat me this way!”

“Mother only regrets not doing this sooner. You’ve not only ruined yourself but also disgraced the Yu family’s name. How will our descendants walk freely in the capital now? What about your father? Will his career be affected?”

Master Yu, accustomed to the conflicts between his wife and daughter, felt numb. Embarrassed? He’d lost face long ago when he sought out officials all over the capital to confront the Xiao family. Regretful? Not really. In this household, he’d never had a say or any decision-making power. So what was there to regret?

Yu’s sons and their wives harbored grievances but didn’t dare to voice them. They had been tormented daily by Madam Yu and Yu Xianrong. Though they would now become the laughingstock of the capital, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Their mother was finally angered enough to restrain their sister. From now on, there would be no more chaos. For the brothers and sisters-in-law, this meant no longer living in constant fear.

Madam Yu noticed her husband’s, sons’, and daughters-in-law’s expressions. It seemed she had been wrong all along. But it was too late for regrets. Now, how should she deal with her daughter?

A distant marriage? But where?

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