Chapter 16
Suffer

Lin Jiayue never imagined that she would suffer such a great loss because of a slap.

After slapping the old woman named Li, she was dragged into the house by other women from the Xiu Yan Pavilion. These women, who did rough work all day, had frighteningly strong hands. Not only could she not break free, but she couldn’t even curse.

Her mouth was stuffed with a soft cloth while other women brought out a bunch of delicate but unsettling items.

“Concubine Lin is quite fortunate. These items were specially made when the ancestors established the family, and no one has used them for a hundred years.”

Nanny Li selected a pale yellow jade board from a lacquered fan-shaped tray. The board was as long as a forearm, as wide as a palm, wide at the front and narrow at the back, thin and translucent.

Lin Jiaoyue struggled and mumbled, and Nanny Li said, “Let go of Concubine Lin.”

“Old woman, I want to see if you dare to touch me.” Lin Jiaoyue was somewhat afraid, but she was certain that these servants wouldn’t dare to do anything to her: “Jiang Xingjian is always very polite to me and never says a harsh word. How dare you, a bunch of servants, treat me like this?”

Qi Shun’s wife sneered, “The Master and mistress are considerate of the servants. Even when they see the night soil collectors (*) in the mansion, they say a few kind words and give them two strings of coins. Madam, don’t think that you have the Master’s favor.”

T/N: Human’s waste.

“And you can’t call the master’s name directly.”

Nanny Li smiled and said, “I don’t know where to start teaching these rules, so let’s first correct your habit of speaking without respect.”

She took a soft cloth from the rosewood washstand, soaked it in cold water, and wrapped it around the rhinoceros horn ruler.

Seeing Nanny Li getting closer, Lin Jiaoyue couldn’t help but feel scared.

“Concubine Lin, don’t be afraid. The rhinoceros horn ruler is thin and wrapped in a cold cloth. Although it hurts when it hits, it won’t leave marks or really hurt you.”

As soon as the words fell, Lin Jiaoyue heard a “slap,” and her cheek immediately started to hurt.

A thin and tough object struck her face, causing her cheek to heat up quickly. But because it was wrapped in a cloth soaked in cold water, the heat remained trapped under her skin, creating a painful and numbing sensation that made her gums and tongue feel numb.

“Slap.”

With each strike of the ruler, Nanny Li recited loudly: “A virtuous woman speaks cautiously, does not utter nonsense, does not engage in teasing, does not involve herself in filth, and does not place herself in suspicious situations.”

“Slap…”

“Women’s virtue is calm and upright, women’s speech is simple and gentle, women’s work is thorough and careful, women’s appearance is elegant and graceful… Say it out loud!”

Lin Jiaoyue’s limbs were firmly held down, and she gritted her teeth, refusing to speak.

Nanny Li sneered and repeated the same sentence over and over again, each time accompanied by a slap.

She had served Mother Jiang since childhood, living in the Liang Mansion for fifteen years and the Marquis Mansion for over twenty years, and no master had ever spoken a harsh word to her. Now, being slapped by a lowly concubine, her decades of dignity were lost. Although she had never thought of making things difficult for Lin Jiaoyue before, she now wondered how far these rules would need to be learned.

“Pure and steadfast, the way of self-conduct…”

“Pure and steadfast…”

Lin Jiaoyue could not endure the repeated slaps and finally began to speak slowly.

Seeing her obedience, Nanny Li snorted coldly: “Invite Concubine Lin over to learn the rules of walking, lying, and sitting with me.”

She threw down the ruler and signaled a young maid with a bun to change Lin Jiaoyue’s clothes.

The young maid clumsily stripped off Lin Jiaoyue’s clothes, making her feel ashamed but powerless to resist.

The new clothes, washed with some unknown substance, were stiff and uncomfortable to wear.

Then another woman approached, holding a roll of embroidery needles, and quickly pinned them to Lin Jiaoyue’s dress.

Nanny Li took out a thin, long rattan stick and said coldly, “Concubine Lin, follow me to learn the proper etiquette.”

Lin Jiaoyue felt her teeth go numb from clenching them, but she had no choice but to follow Nanny Li’s movements. Her clothes felt like iron plates, and any slight misstep caused the silver needles to pierce her skin. After just a few steps, she was drenched in sweat from the pain.

“Slap.”

The thin rattan stick struck Lin Jiaoyue’s leg. “Stand still, don’t shake your skirt.”

“Slap.”

“Don’t look back while walking.”

“Slap.”

“Don’t open your lips when speaking.”

“Slap…”

“Walk lightly and slowly, keep your hands folded and speak softly…”

In the middle of the night, Lin Jiaoyue suddenly woke up from a nightmare, shouting a phrase about proper conduct.

Coming to her senses, she couldn’t help but sob.

“Concubine Lin, would you like some tea?”

“No… no need.” Lin Jiaoyue lay back down with red eyes, feeling more disgusted with this era than ever before.

The intricately carved bed was heavy and exquisite, with a dressing table and a small desk built into it. Inside the bed were dozens of delicate wooden boxes for storing various items.

When she first saw it, she liked it very much and couldn’t help but imagine how luxurious the main bed in the Lan Ting Courtyard must be.

Outside the large bed was the embroidered couch for the night maid, ostensibly to take care of her nearby, but in reality, even her turning over at night would be noted. Beyond the embroidered couch where her personal maid slept was the small room for the rough maids, and further out was the room for the night watchwoman. If she talked in her sleep at night, it would be widely spread by the next day.

Lin Jiaoyue looked at the green gauze canopy above her head and bit the quilt, crying silently. Half asleep and half awake, she endured a night of torment. Before dawn, Nanny Li pushed her up again.

She had barely survived the previous day, fantasizing that Jiang Xingjian would come to find her today, like a hero stepping on colorful clouds to save her from the fire and water. But Nanny Li saw through her thoughts at a glance.

Nanny Li sneered, “Concubine Lin, are you thinking that First Master will appear?”

Lin Jiaoyue pressed her lips together and said nothing.

“Heh, let me tell you the truth, Concubine Lin, such wishful thinking is unnecessary. The current emperor, Consort Jiang, and Consort Yun have returned to the palace after their summer retreat. First Master and Young Madam went to the palace before dawn to meet the emperor. Even if they return to the palace, they still have to visit the Song family to pay respects.”

“It will be at least three to five days before they return.”

Lin Jiaoyue was shocked, her face turning pale. Nanny Li continued, “Young Madam is fortunate. Concubine Lin, you should pray early that the First Master and Young Madam can have a noble child. Otherwise, drinking too much of the contraceptive soup will make it difficult to conceive in the future.”

“Although the children of concubines must be sent to the legitimate mother for upbringing, if you are obedient and plead with the Young Madam, she might show mercy.”

Lin Jiaoyue bit her lip, and a trace of red appeared where her teeth had bitten.

She was suffering here for Jiang Xingjian, but Jiang Xingjian was entering the palace with Song Wan to see the emperor and even visiting the Song family?

Lin Jiaoyue’s heart was broken with hatred, but she didn’t know that Song Wan’s time in the palace was not comfortable either.