Chapter 19: Backing Up

Quietly sitting on the side, Jiang Chuyue suddenly lifted her head to look at Madam Xiao, her emotions subtly complicated.

Madam Jiang froze—she had never expected Madam Xiao to see right through all her intentions.

She quickly dropped to her knees with a thud, eyes reddened as she defended herself:

“Madam, please understand! I was born into humble circumstances, and after entering this household I have been careful and restrained. I never meant to target Second Miss, only to save the general some silver.”

Madam Xiao rebuked her sharply:

“You are not the mistress of the Xiao household. It is not your place to make the decisions here. What are you, to dare to skimp on my granddaughter’s food, clothing, and daily needs?”

Madam Jiang trembled in fear.

She had never imagined that Jiang Chuyue held such weight in Madam Xiao’s heart.

Opening her mouth to explain, she was cut off by Madam Xiao:

“You are a concubine. Your mind should be on serving your lord and producing heirs. Go kneel in the outer courtyard for three hours. From now on, you will not manage the household.”

Madam Jiang dared not speak again.

She knew that if she kept arguing, she might even be expelled from the general’s residence. All she could do was kneel in the courtyard, tears in her eyes.

The household authority she had just obtained hadn’t even warmed in her hands before it was taken away. Closing her eyes, she was overcome by a mix of emotions.

Inside Shou’an Hall—

Madam Xiao held Jiang Chuyue’s hand, speaking with warmth:

“Yue girl, you are the only young lady in the Xiao family, your status is noble. If you ever feel wronged, do not keep it to yourself—come to Grandmother.”

Jiang Chuyue said softly:

“Grandmother, I don’t feel wronged. Brocade is expensive, bird’s nest is not cheap. If I use less, it does save quite a bit of silver.”

Madam Xiao disagreed:

“When a kind person yields today, they’ll be pushed further tomorrow—until they have nothing left. Life is only a little over a hundred years; your own joy matters most.”

Jiang Chuyue’s nose suddenly prickled with emotion. She nodded gently:

“Granddaughter will remember.”

Madam Xiao continued:

“Madam Jiang comes from a small background and is short-sighted—she’s not fit to manage a household. Yue girl, from now on, you will take over.”

Jiang Chuyue was stunned.

“Me?”

Madam Xiao smiled:

“You’ve studied arithmetic since childhood and know the workings of the Xiao household well—it will come naturally. Besides, you will soon be engaged; you’ll have to manage your marital household too. This is a good chance to gain experience.”

Jiang Chuyue lowered her head.

“Yes.”

…

Outside, Madam Jiang knelt in the courtyard.

Late spring edging into summer, the sun was growing hotter. Kneeling on the blue stone slabs, pain gradually spread through her knees.

That pain finally made her realize—she was no longer the cherished daughter of a county magistrate in Lixian.

She was only a concubine in the general’s household. With a single word, Madam Xiao could crush all her pride and dignity.

She lifted her head, and through the carved window lattice, she saw Jiang Chuyue inside Shou’an Hall.

Jiang Chuyue leaned on a soft couch, reading an account book. Her features were delicate, her skin pale and beautiful—like a well-tended peony, radiant and noble. Madam Xiao sat beside her, smiling as she handed over an exquisite snack, which Jiang Chuyue ate obediently.

The scene was warm and harmonious.

Madam Jiang gripped her sleeve so tightly her nails nearly broke her skin.

She knew the noble daughters of the capital were raised in affection. But she had never expected an outsider like Jiang Chuyue to be cherished in Madam Xiao’s very palm.

Both had lost their parents—so why was Jiang Chuyue’s fate so good, while she was left kneeling on the stone, stripped of pride?

Life was so unfair.

“Grandmother!” A call came from outside—Xiao Ji had returned.

As soon as he entered the Xiao residence, a maid from Madam Jiang’s side, Dujuan, came stumbling and crying to him, begging him to save her mistress.

When Xiao Ji stepped into Shou’an Hall, he saw Madam Jiang kneeling in the courtyard.

From the back, she looked much like Jiang Chuyue. At a glance, he thought it was Chuyue who was being punished.

His heart tightened—he strode forward, only to realize it was Madam Jiang.

She looked up, stray hair damp with sweat clinging to her pale cheeks, her reddened eyes full of tears as she whispered:

“General…”

Xiao Ji frowned.

“Get up.”

She gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

“I have committed a wrong and will accept the punishment. I will rise once Madam’s anger has passed.”

Face cold, Xiao Ji entered the hall.

His eyes first swept to Jiang Chuyue, still reading the account book, before turning to Madam Xiao.

“Grandmother, Madam Jiang is delicate by nature. Even if she erred, her punishment should be lighter.”

Madam Xiao replied sternly:

“She tried to mistreat Yue girl. I will make sure everyone in the Xiao household knows—anyone who dares to wrong my granddaughter will not be forgiven.”

Xiao Ji said:

“Kneeling too long will damage her knees. If she’s injured, it will delay household management.”

Madam Xiao retorted:

“Let Yue girl manage it—she’ll marry one day, and learning now will serve her well.”

The word “marry” struck like a knife, stabbing deep into Xiao Ji’s heart.

Only now did he notice the account book in Jiang Chuyue’s hands.

It felt as though a large hand was crushing his chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Grandmother, Chuyue has never managed a household before. She may make mistakes.”

Madam Xiao only smiled.

“No young lady is born knowing how. She can learn from nothing, step by step.”

Jiang Chuyue sensed a trace of displeasure in Xiao Ji’s tone.

She assumed he doubted her ability as a sheltered girl to run the household.

So she said softly:

“Brother, don’t worry—I will study hard.”

Xiao Ji’s fingers clenched until his knuckles turned white, shadows darkening his gaze.

At that moment, a maid cried out from outside:

“Madam! Tenth Concubine has fainted!”

Xiao Ji rushed out.

Madam Jiang had collapsed on the ground, her pale face delicate and pitiful.

Bending down, he scooped her into his arms. Turning back, he gave Jiang Chuyue a deep, cold look.

“For the sake of a mere household authority, you would stoop to such a despicable trick?”