Chapter 15
Origin

“What’s going on?” Jiang Yan frowned and asked.

Su Mian replied, “I heard from the maids in the mansion that the girl brought back by the first master is causing a commotion in the Xiu Yan Pavilion.”

“Go to Jiang Xing’s room and find a maid; come up with an excuse to check it out.”

Su Mian acknowledged and went to the Lan Ting Courtyard.

In the Lan Ting Courtyard, many maids and nannies gathered in front of the Xiu Yan Pavilion. It turned out that Lin Jiayue had learned that Huai Su was also elevated to the status of a concubine, and her rank was even higher than hers, which caused the commotion.

“Is this how the Marquis’ residence treats its saviors? Marrying a widow for no reason and now bringing in a servant to slap my face?”

“Concubine Lin, that’s quite an interesting statement. Where do you get the face to say that?”

The speaker was the wife of Qi Shun, the steward of the attendants’ quarters. She had been quite pleased when the old madam of the Jiang family assigned her to teach Lin Jiayue.

It was inevitable that Jiang Xingjian would inherit the title, and the fact that he could bring Lin Jiayue back despite the pressure from both families showed that she was highly favored. Unlike noble ladies like Song Wan, who would be accompanied by their family’s servants when they married, it was difficult for people like her to become close confidants of the mistress. She thought it would be better to build a good relationship with Lin Jiayue so she could benefit in the future. Little did she know that this person was a fool.

“A girl from a humble background, if she were pure and innocent, we could give her some respect and look up to her. But what are you? Even the rough maids in our residence know to avoid men, but you, at such a young age, have lost your purity. You’ve truly disgraced your ancestors.”

“You’re talking nonsense! When did I lose my purity?” Lin Jiayue was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes.

These days, whether it was the masters or the servants in the residence, they all looked down on her. The disdain in their eyes was unmistakable. They either said she eloped with Jiang Xingjian or accused her of being promiscuous. She had heard such unpleasant words countless times. Heaven knows she hadn’t even kissed Jiang Xingjian.

“Heaven and ancestors, how else do you want to lose it? A girl without a matchmaker or a betrothal, mingling with men, how else do you want to lose it?”

“What mingling? When did I ever mingle with him?” As she said this, the older women and the young maids watching the commotion all pursed their lips, and some even covered their mouths to stifle their laughter.

Lin Jiayue panicked, finally understanding where the problem lay.

Reflecting on the frequent comments about her lack of a matchmaker or betrothal and the insinuations about her improper conduct, Lin Jiayue suddenly realized that what she considered normal interactions were seen by these people as a loss of purity and involvement in promiscuity.

In this era, the women of noble families in the Marquis’ residence would be considered to have lost their purity just by meeting and speaking with a man.

Lin Jiayue felt a buzzing in her head and a wave of dizziness that almost made her lose her balance.

Jiang Xingjian’s wet nurse, Nanny Li, stepped in to mediate, “Alright, what kind of propriety is this? Everyone, get back to your duties.”

After dispersing the onlookers, she walked up and down, scrutinizing Lin Jiayue.

“Although Concubine Lin has made a grave mistake, you are now a woman of the Marquis’ residence. Learn the rules well and serve the master and mistress properly, and you can still make amends.”

“Serve others? Dream on.”

As someone educated and capable, how could she lower herself to serve others?

Lin Jiayue had no intention of obeying and was about to retort when Nanny Li pinched her waist hard. She had never been humiliated like this before, and the sharp pain in her waist made her unable to hold back her anger any longer.

Unable to hold back her anger, Lin Jiayue rolled up her sleeves and slapped Nanny Li.

Heng Wu, who was secretly watching the commotion from behind the rockery in the Xiu Yan Pavilion, was almost shocked out of her wits. She covered her mouth, looked at Nanny Li, then at Lin Jiayue, and suddenly tiptoed back to the main courtyard of Lan Ting Courtyard.

“Miss, Miss…”

“Why are you so flustered? The mistress is resting at noon.”

Heng Wu put a finger to her lips, pulled Heng Zhi, and quietly entered the silk-screened partition where Song Wan was taking her midday rest.

“Miss, are you asleep?”

Song Wan lifted the pomegranate red floral curtain and softly said, “Not yet, what’s the matter?”

Seeing her get up, Heng Zhi squatted down to help her change into thick-soled indoor shoes, then found a begonia-colored smoke gauze robe for her to wear. Song Wan smiled and opened the jade and gold-inlaid comb box on the dressing table, selecting a lotus-patterned crescent comb and a round-headed comb to hand to her.

Heng Zhi took a small piece of osmanthus oil and rubbed it gently in her palm, and soon the room was filled with a faint floral fragrance.

Seeing Heng Wu panting, Song Wan let her drink some tea to calm down.

Once her breathing steadied, Heng Wu said, “Miss, that Concubine Lin is really something. Just now, she…”

Heng Wu mimicked Lin Jiayue’s action for Song Wan, swinging her arm, “She slapped Nanny Li right across the face with a loud smack, scaring me so much that I ran back here.”

“What?” Heng Zhi was so shocked that she dropped the comb, and even Song Wan was momentarily stunned.

The incident was so shocking that they couldn’t find words to describe it.

“Except for the rough maids in the residence, the last time I heard of someone slapping another was ten years ago when the third master of the side branch took in a jealous performer who slapped a young maid in the residence.”

“I used to think Concubine Lin’s background was insignificant, but now I realize it might be quite disgraceful.”

Song Wan also frowned, wondering how Jiang Xingjian got involved with Lin Jiayue.

In families as wealthy and courteous as the Marquis’ and Song’s, whether legitimate or illegitimate, men or women, they would never engage in such disgraceful behavior. Families of officialdom value their reputation the most. Since the founding of their clans, the greatest taboo has been producing individuals who bring disgrace and ruin.

No matter how vile their hearts might be, those in charge would never openly reprimand their servants or slap them in the face.

Noblewomen who have lived in the inner quarters for a long time always show more kindness than severity to their servants and never degrade them. Even in the worst family traditions, there would always be a rule to treat subordinates with kindness and leniency.

If one household produced a domineering individual, all the daughters of the clan would be implicated.

Today’s incident is rare.

Moreover, Nanny Li’s status is very different. Not only was she a dowry maid of Mother Jiang, but she was also Jiang Xingjian’s wet nurse. This nurturing grace and half-motherly relationship meant that even Jiang Xingjian had to speak and act with restraint in her presence, let alone lay a hand on her.

Even the Marquis, when he was alive, wouldn’t dare to act so arrogantly.

Song Wan, Heng Wu, and Heng Zhi looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

After a while, Song Wan finally said, “Concubine Lin’s behavior is out of line. You should avoid her. From now on, do not approach the Xiu Yan Pavilion if there is any commotion.”

Huai Su lives in the Xiu Yan Pavilion. If there are any issues, she will discuss them with Jiang Xingjian. The relationship between her and Jiang Xingjian was already thin. If Lin Jiayue caused even this superficial relationship to break down, it would bring even more disgrace to the Jiang and Song families.

While the three of them were talking in the room, Lv Zhu quietly entered after inquiring.

Lv Zhu said, “Madam has sent a dozen maids and nannies to Xiu Yan Pavilion.”

Song Wan pursed her lips, thinking Lin Jiayue would likely suffer.