Chapter 20

Thinking she was penniless, only to discover she actually possessed a fortune.

The sheer contrast left the mistress and her two maids staring blankly at the thousand-tael silver note for quite some time before gradually regaining their senses.

Shinan’s gaze remained glued to the silver note as she stammered, “M-Miss, Yuzan, don’t laugh at my lack of worldly experience, but doesn’t this money feel… kind of scorching to you?”

Truth be told, had it been a hundred taels, she’d have been jumping for joy and running laps outside the house. But ten times that amount—it was downright terrifying.

To better express her feelings, she made an effort to draw a comparison: “Even the dowry Madam Xu prepared for you probably doesn’t add up to a thousand taels.”

Having followed the bridal sedan, she’d seen the trunks carried along the way. They looked plentiful, but she dared not imagine their contents. Madam Xu had previously displayed Wangyue’s dowry across the entire courtyard, but since it was meant for Wangyue, there was no hope of it accompanying Ying Yue. Otherwise, why would Wangyue’s wedding date be set so far ahead? What would she take to the Longchang Marquis Mansion then?

Yuzan swallowed hard and nodded. “No need to explain—I understand.”

For Old Master Fang to casually give a meeting gift exceeding the total value of Ying Yue’s dowry—such extravagance was astonishing.

Ying Yue, her expression solemn, carefully folded the silver note and returned it to the red envelope, telling her maids, “I’m going to return it to him.”

She couldn’t accept such an extravagant gift.

Neither Yuzan nor Shinan objected, though Shinan was somewhat reluctant. “Miss, let me take one more look. I’ve never seen so much money before, and might never get the chance again.”

Ying Yue smiled and nodded. “Alright.”

Having decided to return it, she felt much more at ease. She took out the silver note again, and the three of them gathered around to admire it curiously—none of them had seen a silver note before.

After their silly little moment of joy, they put it away. It was nearly noon when meals arrived from the kitchen.

This time, the food was delivered by a neatly dressed woman with a headscarf, who introduced herself as Mrs. Wu, sent by Fang Han Xiao.

Yuzan invited her to sit and chatted with her briefly. According to Mrs. Wu, she would be responsible for delivering meals to the bridal chamber from now on. Once Ying Yue recovered and could manage household affairs, she could choose to send someone to the kitchen instead.

Yuzan thanked her and saw her out, then turned back with a smile. “Master Fang treats you quite well, Miss. When he comes tonight, you could mention the dowry—I’m sure he’ll help retrieve it.”

No matter how little Madam Xu had prepared, there must be something usable. The bridal chamber couldn’t remain this empty forever—at the very least, Ying Yue needed a change of clothes.

Ying Yue, who was busy finding a place to hide the red envelope, turned her head nervously at this. “He’s coming?”

Yuzan was taken aback. “…Isn’t he?”

Last night had been a special circumstance, but no bride should be left alone night after night. Since he’d acknowledged her, even if Ying Yue’s injury prevented certain activities, he should at least come to sit with her.

Ying Yue frowned in thought, then relaxed. “He won’t come. Old Master Fang asked him to, but he refused. I think he doesn’t like me.”

She didn’t find this troubling at all—in fact, she was quite relieved. When Old Master Fang had summoned him earlier, she’d stayed silent beside them, terrified that he might agree.

Shinan didn’t agree, but to say Fang Han Xiao already liked Ying Yue now would be too self-deceptive. So she compromised, “Don’t worry, Miss. The young master will come to like you eventually.”

Ying Yue muttered, “I’m not worried at all.”

In her naive mind, it would be best if Fang Han Xiao simply forgot about her in the bridal chamber.

Yuzan had already opened the food box and laid out the dishes. The meal sent by Sister-in-law Wu was truly excellent—far better than what they had in the Xu family. Ying Yue’s mouth watered at the sight, but due to her injuries, the more fragrant dishes with heavier seasoning were off-limits. She could only pick at the soft, bland ones and eat slowly.

After the meal, with nothing else to do, Ying Yue stayed indoors and lay back down to rest. By mid-afternoon, she grew restless and got up again out of sheer boredom. Then she remembered the books she had left behind in the Xu family and lamented to her maids, “My Su Shi collection—I saved up for so long to buy them! And also—”

Before she could finish, bustling footsteps sounded outside the door.

Then, Madam Hong entered, followed by two maids.

Caught completely off guard, Ying Yue looked up and froze in fright.

Yuzan and Shinan stiffened as well. They had fled from under Madam Hong’s rod and had no idea what had become of Mama Cai and the others. The mere thought of it terrified them.

But Madam Hong appeared unexpectedly amiable. Stepping over the threshold, she gave Ying Yue a once-over and asked with a smile, “Feeling better?”

Only then did Ying Yue snap out of her daze. She stood up and stammered, “Yes.”

She didn’t invite Madam Hong to sit, but the latter made herself at home, settling into the host’s seat with ease. She then beckoned to Ying Yue, “Sit down. You’re still weak—no need for formalities.”

Ying Yue sat stiffly.

Though timid by nature, she wasn’t usually this fearful. She had even mustered the courage to argue with Fang Han Xiao using a brush. But Madam Hong was different. For one, her shrewdness was evident—she clearly wasn’t someone to be trifled with. For another, her age and demeanor reminded Ying Yue too much of Madam Xu. And when it came to women like Madam Xu, Ying Yue was genuinely terrified.

At the sight of her, Ying Yue instinctively wanted to shrink into herself, hoping Madam Xu wouldn’t notice her.

Her behavior wasn’t exactly polite, but Madam Hong seemed pleased. After scrutinizing Ying Yue further, she grew even more satisfied.

Here was a meek, easily controlled concubine-born daughter, accustomed to being disciplined by her legal mother. Her frail frame resembled an unripe fruit—even the bright red wedding dress couldn’t lend her the grace of a bride. (The dress originally belonged to Wangyue. With the rushed wedding date, there was no time to embroider a new one, and buying one outside risked raising suspicions. Ying Yue’s petite figure made the ill-fitting dress only accentuate her childishness.)

To Madam Hong’s seasoned eyes, Ying Yue could be summed up in three words: not yet matured.

And that was good. An unripe fruit left room for Liuxian and Lanxiang to shine. No man enjoyed biting into something sour and astringent.

Madam Hong’s tone grew even gentler as she said leisurely, “Last night was too chaotic. Many matters were left unsettled, and I wasn’t sure how to arrange things here. Afraid of gossip spreading outside and tarnishing our family’s reputation, I temporarily dismissed the extra servants, leaving only your own maids to attend to you.”

Leaving Ying Yue with an empty bridal chamber was unreasonable in the first place. Shinan and Yuzan were only brought back after Fang Han Xiao intervened. Yet from Madam Hong’s lips, it sounded as though it had all been her thoughtful consideration. Though Ying Yue sensed something amiss, she dared not argue for fear of being dragged out for a beating. She kept her head meekly bowed, listening obediently.  

Of course, whether she took any of it to heart was another matter entirely—the skill she had honed most during her time in the Xu family was letting words go in one ear and out the other. As long as she didn’t talk back, she could avoid much suffering.  

Madam Hong saw nothing wrong and continued, “I took special care in selecting them—anyone prone to gossip or mischief was weeded out. Ah, that Han Xiao… neither the Earl nor I can fathom what goes through his mind. But never mind that. Since he’s acknowledged you, you are now the rightful First Madam of the household. I’ve brought these people here for you to manage. If any prove disobedient or unruly, just report them to me. I have plenty of ways to deal with them!”  

At the last sentence, she deliberately sharpened her tone, watching with satisfaction as Ying Yue flinched and the two maids at her side stiffened in fear. Smirking, she waved a hand. “Come in now, all of you. Greet the First Madam properly.”  

The doors swung wide, the curtains drawn high as two rows of servants—eight maids and four matrons—filed in to bow before Ying Yue.  

Madam Hong explained from the side, “I inquired and found that only these two maids attended to you personally before. Following our family’s customs, I’ve assigned six more for you. The matrons are for rough work. Normally, there should also be some young maids for errands, but considering you had so few to begin with, I hurried to fill your household staff first. As for those needed outside—for chores like watering flowers or menial tasks—I’ll check the registry later and send you the best picks. Ah, who would’ve thought your Xu family would treat you so poorly?”  

The implication was that Ying Yue’s dowry entourage had been too meager, forcing Madam Hong to scramble and assign a batch first. Depending on the situation—or rather, the intelligence gathered by these spies—she could always add more later. With this explanation, Madam Hong had secured herself a flexible position, ready to advance or retreat as needed.  

As Ying Yue listened, her heart sank like a stone.  

The Fang and Xu households were vastly different. Even her elder sister Wangyue in the Xu family hadn’t had so many attendants. Ying Yue had grown accustomed to just Yuzan and Shinan—quiet and harmonious. Now, Madam Hong had nearly packed her entire room with people. Whether they harbored ulterior motives aside, her first instinct was sheer annoyance.  

She neither liked nor was used to being surrounded by so many.  

But her preferences had never mattered. Suppressing her frustration, Ying Yue truly didn’t mind living modestly or enduring hardship. Yet having her safe little circle invaded left her deeply unsettled.  

A rebellious little flame flickered in her chest.  

Even the meekest, most timid person had a line that, once crossed, would provoke displeasure.  

Had Madam Hong brought just two or three maids, Ying Yue might have swallowed her reluctance and accepted them. But this deluge? She wanted none of it.  

And—weren’t there supposed to be six maids? There were clearly eight!  

With so many crammed into the room, she could barely turn without bumping into someone!

She remained silent, which made Madam Hong a bit impatient. Following her gaze, Madam Hong thought she understood and smiled, “Are you curious about Liuxian and Lanxiang?”

Ying Yue hadn’t actually been staring at them intentionally, but since they were standing in the most prominent position, it appeared that way. She wanted to shake her head, but Madam Hong continued first, “Han Xiao has been away these past few years and hasn’t had anyone by his side. Now that you’re joining the household, it’s only fitting to arrange two for him as well. If not for Old Master Fang’s grave illness, these two should have been added long ago—ah, his mother passed early, so naturally, as his aunt, I must take care of such matters for him.”

She added, “Of course, they’ll also serve you. Don’t hesitate to assign them tasks just because they were bestowed by an elder. If any of them dare disrespect you, I won’t let them off lightly.”

The delicate Liuxian and radiant Lanxiang both curtsied sweetly, saying, “This servant would never dare.”

Madam Hong curled her lips, “Good. From now on, serve the young master and First Madam well, understood?”

Liuxian and Lanxiang replied, “Yes, this servant will heed Madam’s instructions.”

Though Ying Yue had been neglected in the Xu family, she was still a proper young lady, and no improper talk had ever reached her ears. So when Madam Hong first mentioned “adding people” for Fang Han Xiao, she didn’t grasp the implication. It wasn’t until Madam Hong said they would “also” serve her that a sudden realization struck—she understood what these extra maids were truly for.

Her spirits lifted!

No, she wasn’t thinking of foisting these women onto Fang Han Xiao to free herself. She didn’t even feel she had the right to arrange his life—she hadn’t yet settled into the role of “First Madam Fang.”

What she thought was: If she had no right to manage Fang Han Xiao, then she certainly couldn’t accept Bedchamber Servants on his behalf either!

If she could refuse these two meant for Fang Han Xiao, then she could also return the six meant for her—if not all, at least a couple. The thought of living daily under the scrutiny of so many people made her uneasy.

Straightening her back, Ying Yue found her reason and spoke slowly, “Madam, I cannot… accept them—”

Her speech was unhurried, and before she could explain further, Madam Hong heard her blunt refusal. Taken aback, her expression darkened immediately: She had underestimated this little concubine-born girl. She seemed like an unripe fruit, but there was calculation beneath.

Ying Yue leisurely continued, “The young master hasn’t agreed. I dare not accept them.”

She was utterly justified in her mind—if Fang Han Xiao consented, she’d accept them right away. So she wasn’t rejecting Madam Hong outright; she simply couldn’t make decisions for him.

As for whether Fang Han Xiao would accept them, Ying Yue had a fair idea. That morning, when Fang Han Xiao spoke with Old Master Fang, they hadn’t excluded her. Though she stood farther away and couldn’t see what he wrote, she heard Old Master Fang’s words clearly. She pieced together—and was quite certain—that Fang Han Xiao was at odds with the second branch. And not just mildly so—if even his father acknowledged and resigned himself to it, how could it be false?

Since they were so at odds, why would Fang Hanxiao accept the bedchamber servant Madam Hong offered? He didn’t seem like a lecher—though Ying Yue wasn’t sure what a lecher should look like, but it definitely wasn’t like Fang Hanxiao.

Madam Hong’s mood eased slightly upon hearing her next words and she smiled. “Silly child, why would you need his agreement? Hanxiao cares about his pride. If you really ask him, of course he’ll say no. But what man doesn’t like a beauty? Once you arrange it for him, how could he refuse?”

She continued slowly, “Logically, I shouldn’t even be saying this, but seeing how sweet you are, I’ll give you an extra piece of advice. Listen well—your marriage was originally meant for your elder sister, but she fell ill, so you took her place. I won’t go into the details, but Hanxiao accepted you out of respect for our Old Master. Still, do you really think he’s happy about it?”

Ying Yue shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t tell.”

She was still afraid of Madam Hong, so she answered honestly—she truly couldn’t tell whether Fang Hanxiao was happy or not, nor did she understand his thoughts about her.

Honesty didn’t mean she wasn’t frustrating. Madam Hong: “…”

She wasn’t a particularly patient person. Taking a deep breath, she spoke a little faster. “Child, how could you not know? You can guess! Maybe you’re too proud to admit it, but that’s where you’re losing out. Hanxiao must be resentful inside. Learn to be magnanimous—don’t wait for him to say anything. Do things that please him before he even asks, slowly coaxing and accommodating him. A man’s heart isn’t made of stone. Once he sees how virtuous you are, he’ll gradually soften toward you. Only then will your days become easier.”

Ying Yue blinked, her cheeks flushing from pale pink to deep pink. Though Madam Hong’s words weren’t explicit, no one had ever taught her anything about relations between men and women—she was practically a blank slate in this regard. Hearing Madam Hong talk about coaxing and softening him in front of so many people was enough to embarrass her.

Why should she have to coax Fang Hanxiao, a grown man?

Bowing her head and fiddling with her collar, she said shyly, “I—I don’t know how.”

Seeing her bashfulness, Madam Hong mistook it for maidenly shyness rather than a complete lack of intention to live harmoniously with Fang Hanxiao. Thinking she was making progress, she pressed on with renewed vigor. “You’ve just married, so of course you don’t know. But that’s why you must learn. Men are easy to figure out—just be gentle, virtuous, and avoid petty jealousy. Everything I’ve said is for your own good. Think it over carefully.”

Ying Yue was too embarrassed to think deeply about it. She pushed Madam Hong’s advice on how to coax a man to the back of her mind and focused instead on the underlying meaning—she was still trying to push someone onto Fang Hanxiao. She nodded first. “Mm.”

Madam Hong brightened, but Ying Yue continued, “If the young master is here, Old Master’s place, Madam—”

She struggled a bit to get this string of words out. Shinan, standing beside her, had been sweating nervously, afraid her mistress might naively agree. But as a servant, she didn’t dare interrupt the masters’ conversation. Seeing Ying Yue speak with difficulty yet hold her ground, Shinan relaxed slightly and stepped forward to reply on her behalf:  

“Madam, what our mistress means is that since the young master is currently with Old Master Fang, and she has just entered the household, she dares not make decisions on his behalf. If Madam has such a kind intention, you may send someone to inquire with the young master—or this servant can run the errand. Once we have his approval, our mistress will certainly not oppose it.”  

Of course, she very much wished to oppose it. But if Fang Han Xiao had any intention of taking a concubine, there would be nothing they could do to stop it. They would simply have to accept it.  

Madam Hong: “…”  

After all this effort, with the sky nearly dark, they had circled right back to the starting point!  

If she could just shove someone into Fang Han Xiao’s presence, would she even need to go through such roundabout methods here?! Besides, Fang Han Xiao was currently day and night in the Tranquil Virtue Courtyard attending to Old Master Fang. This matter wasn’t even something she could bring up to him—what kind of image would she project if, as Old Master Fang’s daughter-in-law, she didn’t share the concern for her father-in-law’s illness but instead went to her grandson about giving him women?  

The only way to make it seem natural was under the cover of Ying Yue’s recent entry into the household as a new bride. But this bride was far too dense—was she truly this foolish, or was she pretending?!  

Madam Hong tried hard to steady her temper, but failed. However, she found an outlet for her frustration. With a cold sneer at Shinan, she said, “First Madam, I must say the attendants by your side are not only too few but also lacking in propriety. It’s already the second day after your wedding, and they still haven’t learned to address you properly—what laziness they must be accustomed to!”  

Shinan paled, realizing she had still referred to Ying Yue as “young mistress,” a habit from many years that she hadn’t yet broken. Timid by nature, she dropped to her knees with a thud. “This servant was wrong—”  

Madam Hong pointed sharply. “Teach her a lesson—make sure she remembers.”  

Having witnessed Madam Hong personally slap Mama Cai before, Ying Yue quickly stood and shielded Shinan. “It’s not a big deal, she’ll change it.”  

Madam Hong’s smile was thin and mocking. “First Madam, you’re young and inexperienced. No matter how close these maids are to you, they must be disciplined when necessary. Otherwise, they’ll take advantage of your gentle nature, and by the time you realize it, it’ll be too late to rein them in.”  

Without waiting for further instruction, the maid behind Madam Hong stepped forward to drag Shinan out for her “lesson.” Ying Yue and Yuzan both rushed to intervene. Though it was just one maid against the two of them, breaking through proved difficult, and the scene quickly became a standoff.  

Had Madam Hong succeeded in delivering those two slaps, her anger might have dissipated. But Ying Yue shielded Shinan so stubbornly, disregarding all decorum as she wobbled unsteadily while grappling with the maid. Unable to vent her frustration, Madam Hong’s rage surged. She stood abruptly and strode forward.  

The three were tangled in a chaotic struggle, with no clear target. When Yuzan flung out a hand, she accidentally brushed Madam Hong’s abdomen—just the lightest touch, but it was enough of a pretext.  

Madam Hong’s voice turned shrill with fury. “How outrageous! Have you no fear of the law? You dare raise your hand against me now?!”  

When someone is determined to find fault, even the smallest flaw can be magnified. Seizing this opportunity, Madam Hong no longer aimed only to discipline Shinan—she included Yuzan as well. “Take both these maids away! Such wild, unruly behavior has no place serving their betters!”

Both maids were terrified, unable to comprehend how things had escalated so suddenly. Apart from them, everyone else in the room belonged to Madam Hong’s faction. When the four matrons stepped forward to seize them, they had no chance to resist and were quickly overpowered.  

Madam Hong finally felt at ease and said to Ying Yue, “First Madam, I know these two maids have served you for a long time, and you’re reluctant to part with them. But don’t worry—I’ll take them away for a few days to teach them proper manners. Once they’ve learned their place, I’ll return them to you.”  

“No—”  

Madam Hong ignored her and ordered the matrons to drag Yuzan and Shinan away. However, all the maids she had brought with her remained in the room.  

Ying Yue took a few futile steps after them before turning back in confusion, meeting the gazes of a room full of strangers.

Liuxian stepped forward to support her: “First Madam, don’t worry. We servants are here to attend to you.”

She didn’t want these people!

She wanted her Jade Hairpin Camellia—they had grown up together. After her wet nurse passed away, Jade Hairpin Camellia were all she had left!

Ying Yue slapped her hand away and ran out, gripping the doorframe.

Madam Hong and her entourage had already left the courtyard, their figures still visible in the distance. Ying Yue glanced at them but didn’t give chase—it would be useless. She couldn’t wrest them back from Madam Hong.

Instead, she headed in the opposite direction.

Ahead lay the Tranquil Virtue Courtyard.

Her memory was quite sharp. Having made the trip there and back once that morning, she already remembered the way.

The only one who could retrieve people from Madam Hong’s grasp was Fang Han Xiao. If he had done it once, he could do it again.

Though she didn’t know if he would be willing to help her, she had to try.

Fang Han Xiao was, of course, in the Tranquil Virtue Courtyard at this time. His routine was rigidly fixed, unchanged even after marriage.

This worked in Ying Yue’s favor. Sobbing, she successfully found him in the side room used for preparing medicine.

“Waaah—!”

Fang Han Xiao: “…”

He looked up from the medicine stove.

The thought of what Jade Hairpin Camellia might be suffering had made Ying Yue burst into tears along the way. Now her face was streaked with them, but her mind remained clear. Aware she couldn’t speak long sentences, she sobbed her way directly to the wooden table and began scribbling furiously with a brush.

Once finished, she wiped her tears and turned to show Fang Han Xiao—only to find he had already risen and was standing beside her. Hastily, she thrust the paper before him.

—Madam took all my maids away, saying she’ll punish them. Please help me.

A simple, straightforward plea for help.

Fang Han Xiao frowned, pulled over another sheet of paper, and wrote: Why?

Ying Yue wrote: Said Shinan shouldn’t call me “Miss,” that it was improper— She scratched this out, realizing she’d missed the point, and started again.

—She wants to give you two concubines. I didn’t dare agree and told her to ask you. She refused, got angry, and took my maids.

Fang Han Xiao’s furrowed brows shot up—What nonsense?

He underlined the words “two concubines.”

Ying Yue understood. She grabbed another sheet and wrote: It’s true. Their names are Liuxian and Lanxiang. They’re very beautiful.

Fang Han Xiao knew these maids. Beyond their looks, what set them apart from other servants was their literacy. Madam Hong’s intentions in selecting these two were unmistakably clear.

Growing anxious, Ying Yue added: It’s not that I refused. They’re for you—why ask me? I couldn’t decide. If you like them, take them. They’re still in the room now. Just give me back my Jade Hairpin and Shinan.

Fang Han Xiao gave her a sidelong glance—Why ask her? As the First Madam of the household, it was her right by custom to arrange serving women for him. Whether he wanted them was another matter.

But she didn’t seem aware of this.

That was… not bad.

Given how unexpectedly she’d stood up to Madam Hong, he ought to make this trip and retrieve the two maids she’d lost.

Fang Han Xiao tossed his brush aside, stepped out, and beckoned to a servant boy, pointing toward the medicine stove.

The boy understood immediately: “Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ll keep watch here.”

Fang Han Xiao then turned and gave Ying Yue a look, signaling her to follow.

Ying Yue: “Oh, okay.”  

She hurriedly put down her brush and went out.  

Fang Hanxiao’s straightforward explanation eased her worries a little. His strides were long, and she trotted after him, slightly out of breath as she recounted the incident with gestures, hoping to help him assess the situation.  

Fang Hanxiao didn’t really need the details, but her murmuring wasn’t annoying either, so he half-listened as they walked.  

His destination was clear—he headed straight for the main hall where Madam Hong resided. When the grand complex came into view in the distance, Ying Yue realized something and glanced around. Indeed, it was just the two of them. Anxious and concerned, she asked, “Are we—just going in like this?”  

Shouldn’t they gather some help? Madam Hong had plenty of people around her.  

Fang Hanxiao ignored her and strode ahead without pause.  

Worried about Yuzan and Shinan, Ying Yue mustered her courage and followed.  

As luck would have it, Yuzan and Shinan were being held down on the stone pavement in the courtyard. Two matrons stood on either side, each holding a long paddle about the width of a palm, ready to strike.  

The paddle didn’t look particularly menacing, but for delicate young girls, a few hits would be more than enough to cause pain.  

Fang Hanxiao barged in abruptly, startling the two matrons, who froze mid-swing.  

Tears welling in her eyes, Ying Yue rushed past him to inspect the two maids.  

Yuzan and Shinan were also tearful from fright, but their eyes lit up the moment they saw them. Without waiting for help, they scrambled to their feet and quickly pulled Ying Yue behind Fang Hanxiao. Yuzan reassured her while tugging her along, “Miss, we’re fine—they didn’t get to hit us yet.”  

Fang Hanxiao turned and walked away.  

Yuzan and Shinan immediately flanked him, one on each side.  

Sandwiched between them, Ying Yue was bewildered. “—We’re just leaving?”  

Shouldn’t they confront Madam Hong or something?  

Shinan, ever carefree, had escaped Madam Hong’s punishment twice now and suddenly found her less intimidating. She whispered to Ying Yue, “Yeah, that’s how we left last night too.”  

Seeing Ying Yue still confused, Yuzan elaborated. It turned out that while Madam Hong enjoyed wielding the paddle, she was too dignified to stand outside and watch people being beaten bloody and wailing in agony. She always stayed inside. Last night, Fang Hanxiao had brought a servant to question them. Yuzan and Shinan, summoning their courage, answered. The servant then gestured for them to get up and follow, and they had obediently trailed along without any direct confrontation with Madam Hong.  

Now, Fang Hanxiao once again avoided meeting Madam Hong and simply turned to leave. The two maids instinctively followed as before.  

Ying Yue was stunned—was this really allowed?  

She glanced back worriedly, only to see the matrons standing helplessly in the courtyard while someone else hurriedly lifted the curtain to report to Madam Hong inside. But no one came after them.  

Of course—Fang Hanxiao couldn’t speak. What could they argue with him about even if they caught up? It would just be an awkward standoff.  

Even if Ying Yue had questions for him, she had to hold them back and follow him all the way back to the bridal chamber.  

There was still unfinished business there.  

Liuxian, Lanxiang, and the others were still inside.  

Earlier, when Ying Yue had dashed out, Liuxian had hesitated to follow, afraid that if she stepped out of the bridal chamber, she wouldn’t be allowed back in.

However, her concern was unnecessary. Fang Hanxiao strode into the room with his long legs and, after identifying her among the maids, was the first to beckon her over.

Yuzan and Shinan tensed, their expressions changing—could it be that the young master truly favored this maid sent by Madam Hong? Otherwise, why would he seek her out immediately upon entering?

Liuxian was also taken aback but quickly stepped forward from the crowd, lowering her head with a faint smile as she curtsied. “Young Master—”

There was no paper or brush in the bridal chamber. Fang Hanxiao stood by the table, his slender index finger slowly tracing words on the surface: *Have you slept with my second brother?* (?)

Whether it was a question or a statement remained unclear, but Liuxian’s instantly pale face revealed the answer.

“Ah—”

This soft exclamation came from Ying Yue, who had instinctively leaned in to peek at what was written, only to be met with such a shocking sentence.

Wha—what did he mean by “slept with”?!

Ying Yue’s cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. She scurried backward two steps, feeling too embarrassed to even share the same room with Fang Hanxiao.

How could he say something like that—honestly!

While the others stood frozen in confusion, her intense reaction made her stand out. Fang Hanxiao couldn’t help but glance at her.

Under his gaze, Ying Yue grew even more flustered. Though he hadn’t so much as touched the hem of her robe, the way he spoke—and now looked at her—made her feel as if she’d been tainted.

…

Liuxian fell to her knees with a thud.

“Young Master, spare me! Wuwu—” She began to sob.

It was true—she had been intimate with Fang Hancheng. She hadn’t thought it a serious matter at the time, as Madam Hong had already hinted that once she finished training Juxiang, her second-tier maid, Liuxian would be sent to serve Hancheng. In her mind, giving herself to him was only a matter of time. So when Hancheng pressed her, she didn’t resist.

Who could have guessed Madam Hong would suddenly change her mind and assign her to Fang Hanxiao instead?

Liuxian felt utterly betrayed. But when Madam Hong summoned her and tasked her with extracting as many secrets as possible from Fang Hanxiao, the order came too abruptly. Liuxian had no time to react. Madam Hong was a woman of strong control—normally, she might not have cared about Liuxian’s early involvement with Hancheng. But now, with the risk of ruining her plans, the consequences were unpredictable.

So Liuxian hadn’t dared to confess.

Yet, what Madam Hong didn’t know, Fang Hanxiao somehow did.

Now exposed in front of everyone, her composure shattered completely.

Fang Hanxiao’s finger moved again across the table.

Liuxian hastily wiped her tears and strained to read.

*You know who to go to.*

Liuxian froze—who else but Fang Hancheng? At this moment, only he could plead with Madam Hong to spare her life.

She kowtowed twice in gratitude for his mercy, then scrambled to her feet, stumbling as she prepared to flee.

Suddenly, Fang Hanxiao pointed at Lanxiang.

Still standing among the maids, Lanxiang had no idea what was happening. But Liuxian, struck by sudden understanding, grabbed her and dragged her away. The young master wasn’t letting her off scot-free—she had to contribute something. Taking Lanxiang with her was the price she had to pay.

Lanxiang, bewildered, was pulled out of the room, leaving behind six equally confused and now trembling maids.

They didn’t understand what had just happened, but seeing their two most formidable peers taken down so swiftly—that alone was terrifying.

Fang Hanxiao’s gaze slowly swept over the faces of the six maids. None dared to meet his eyes, all involuntarily lowering their heads.

But in truth, Fang Hanxiao had no intention of doing anything further. He had been away from home for too long, and there were few left in the mansion who hadn’t been won over by Lord Fang and Madam Hong. The number of people he could absolutely trust was even fewer.

Since there was a risk of being spied on regardless, using these six maids made no difference. After all, even the mistress of this bridal chamber wasn’t on his list of trusted individuals.

His gaze shifted to Ying Yue. The moment she noticed, her mind began replaying the words he had meticulously written stroke by stroke: “Slept together, slept together, slept together—”

The color that had just returned to her face flushed crimson again. She subtly shifted her position, hiding even her profile from view.

Fang Hanxiao: “…”

If she was this embarrassed, why had she deliberately leaned in earlier to watch him write?

Bringing trouble upon herself.