Chapter 320
Chapter 320: Poor Judgment
Although dawn had not yet broken, Yu Zhi Yi had no more sleep in her eyes. She dressed neatly and, after washing up, began her morning practice.
About an hour later, daylight fully brightened the sky. Yu Zhi Yi tidied herself, then went to find her mother so they could eat together.
Elsewhere, after leaving Yu Zhi Yi’s place, Nuan’er slung a small bundle on her back and headed to Chen Xin Yue’s courtyard. At that time, Chen Xin Yue was still asleep. The courtyard maids blocked Nuan’er so she wouldn’t disturb their mistress, but Nuan’er didn’t mind; she thought to herself: [Miss Chen is gentle and kind-she deserves to sleep a little longer.]
She looked around at the sisters here, who all seemed poised and gracious. [They’re much better than that Li Rou,] she thought with scorn. [When that awful girl leaves the Martial Alliance with the Second Miss, she’ll definitely regret it! I’m smarter than that and already left myself a way out. Miss Chen is beautiful and kind, and with the Martial Alliance as her backing, the man she marries in the future will surely be someone truly distinguished. Then my own worth will rise with hers.]
When Chen Xin Yue opened her eyes, she immediately learned that Nuan’er had come to pledge herself to her. Her face twitched: [What an idiot!] Back then she had bribed Nuan’er because Li Rou was stubborn and impossible to sway; when she went to find that little wretch, the girl had shown guarded alertness before Chen Xin Yue even said why she had come. Nuan’er, though, was easy to handle.
Now it was clear: the “easy to handle” one was truly foolish-she had stayed only two days beside that little wretch and already been kicked out.
Taking the rinse cup from a servant, Chen Xin Yue gargled, and in that short moment formed her plan. She personally received Nuan’er and promoted her to a third-class maid. If the little wretch saw the person she expelled being reused by Chen Xin Yue, wouldn’t she be furious? The elder aunt’s side would also likely judge the little wretch as narrow-minded. In contrast, Chen Xin Yue herself would appear gentle and kind.
When Yu Zhi Yi and her mother, Xiao Qing Xuan, reached the dining hall, they saw from a distance that Nuan’er was standing guard by the door. Xiao Qing Xuan already knew Nuan’er had been dismissed for poor care. She hadn’t yet had time to ask the steward about it, and now here was the very girl who should have been reassigned by the steward.
Xiao Qing Xuan frowned and asked, in a low, cool voice: “Why are you here?”
Nuan’er bowed and replied, looking respectful: “To report to Second Madam, this maidservant is now Miss Chen’s third-class maid.” After speaking, she sneaked a pleased, smug glance at Yu Zhi Yi. [See? You look down on me, but Miss Chen knows a treasure when she sees one.]
Xiao Qing Xuan’s face darkened at once. What was that supposed to mean? Her daughter had rejected this girl, but Chen Xin Yue had taken her in-was that meant to hint that her daughter lacked tolerance?
[So she really is that woman’s daughter-full of crooked schemes!] Rage rose; Xiao Qing Xuan was about to storm off to confront Chen Xin Yue.
“Mother,” Yu Zhi Yi said, catching her hand with a light smile: “Why care about someone who betrays her mistress?”
If Nuan’er could betray her once to climb upward, she could betray Chen Xin Yue the same way-if she ever had the chance. Whether Chen Xin Yue ended up abandoned by Nuan’er, or Nuan’er ended up discarded by Chen Xin Yue, it would be a dog-eat-dog show. They only needed to watch; there was no need to get angry.
Seeing that her daughter truly didn’t mind-and that her reasoning made sense-Xiao Qing Xuan hesitated, then chose not to make trouble for Nuan’er. Of course, that was only on the surface.
As for in secret… [A traitor who dumped her mistress and then dares to gloat to our faces doesn’t deserve an easy life.]
What Xiao Qing Xuan didn’t know was that Yu Zhi Yi didn’t need to do anything at all; in fact, even the shadowy plan she was considering would be unnecessary-the traitor would soon regret things on her own.
Mother and daughter entered the dining hall and found that Alliance Leader Jiang and the brothers Jiang Yu Wei and Jiang Yu Chuan were, for once, all at the table together. Before long, Chen Ruo Lan and her daughter arrived as well. As the family gathered, Chen Ruo Lan glanced-almost casually-at Lin Jing Xuan’s face and quietly knit her brows. [Why is she not how I imagined? This woman looks perfectly composed.]
Alliance Leader Jiang asked, calm but intent: “How did the operation go?”
Yesterday, Alliance Leader Jiang and the brothers Jiang Yu Wei and Jiang Yu Chuan had joined forces to clear out a Demonic Cult hideout. Though it was a small den, it was full of hidden experts, and even two of the Demonic Cult’s guardians were inside. Those two guardians were cunning and slipped away despite the brothers’ strong skills; the rest of the remnants were eliminated. Overall, the gains were great-but it also counted as stirring the grass and alarming the snakes.
Chen Ruo Lan said, with a gracious smile: “The two brothers fought with outstanding valor. The Demonic Cult must have learned a hard lesson this time and will know our Martial Alliance isn’t a target to bully. I expect they won’t stir up trouble again in the short term.”
Alliance Leader Jiang nodded, agreeing.
Xiao Qing Xuan took a slow sip of tea and said evenly: “If the Demonic Cult retreated that easily, it wouldn’t be the Demonic Cult. They’re all extremely sly; no one can promise they don’t have three burrows for every rabbit.”
Jiang Yu Chuan said with approval: “Xuan’er is right. The closer we get to the Earthly Ranking tournament, the more cautious we must be, so they don’t make a comeback.”
Lin Jing Xuan added: “Yes, the Demonic Cult’s tricks are hard to guard against.”
Watching her earlier remark pass by lightly while Xiao Qing Xuan’s words won agreement, Chen Ruo Lan’s eyes flashed cold for a heartbeat, though her face didn’t show it. She fell silent.
Chen Xin Yue opened her mouth several times, wanting to speak, but when she saw her mother sitting so calm and steady, she didn’t dare say more.
After the meal, Lin Jing Xuan hesitated, then said to her husband: “Husband, in a little while, let’s personally take Jin’er to the commandery governor’s manor.”
“To the commandery governor’s? Why?” Jiang Yu Wei hadn’t yet heard what happened and looked puzzled.
Lin Jing Xuan explained what the two foolish boys had done the previous night: far outside the city they ran into ghosts, and Yu Zhi Yi had to rush over to save them-so Jin’er (Yu Zhi Yi) missed her appointment. She sighed and said: “Jin’er missed the meeting because of Shuang’er and Bin’er. She isn’t at fault. I’m only afraid the commandery governor’s side will think we slighted Madam Song. With the Earthly Ranking tournament about to begin and the Demonic Cult eyeing us like tigers, if we also offend the commandery governor’s manor now, the tournament may not go smoothly.”
“There was such a thing?” Jiang Yu Wei looked at Yu Zhi Yi in surprise, clearly not expecting his niece to catch ghosts. More than that, the place was tens of li away; even if he used his lightness skill, a round trip would take about an hour. Yet his little niece had reached the brothel in less than half an hour. His assessment of her rose again. Even if she lacked other skills, her lightness skill was first-class.
He nodded decisively: “All right. In a while, prepare some apology gifts, and we’ll go to the commandery governor’s manor.”
Jiang Yu Chuan said: “Big Brother, how about I go with Xuan’er instead?”
Jiang Yu Wei replied: “Jin’er missed the appointment because of Shuang’er and Bin’er. It should be the two of us, husband and wife, who go. You and Sister-in-law can stay home and wait.”
Watching a scene of brotherly respect and loving elders, Chen Ruo Lan dug her nails into her palm until they nearly broke the skin. She couldn’t understand it. With Lin Jing Xuan’s usual temperament, after a whole night, she should be worried sick-so anxious she’d be dragging that little wretch straight to the commandery governor’s to apologize. How was she calm now, weighing pros and cons with a clear head? Because she stayed so composed, Jiang Yu Wei wasn’t influenced. Even though they were still going to apologize, a steady, sincere couple taking their niece to apologize was very different from a flustered pair dragging Yu Zhi Yi over in a panic. The effect would not be the same!