Sitting in my "Fragrant carriage", I finally return to the mansion. The one standing at the door to welcome me is still that Hong Feng, who carefully a.s.sists me down and immediately handing over a copper stove to warm my hands on. Winter in this period sure is a lot chillier compared to winters in my time. Not to mention there are no small, mobile heaters one can carry outside and conveniently warm your hands around.
As I walk through the main gates and head indoors, Hong Feng draped a black fox fur cloak around my shoulders, all the while reprimanding Xiao Lu for not taking proper care of me and ensuring I was warm during the ride back. A little impatient, I said: "It's not even snowing, what's the point of putting on a cloak now?"
"Although it has stopped snowing, the weather is still chilly. Daren's body const.i.tution is weak and the national affairs are a heavy burden. It would not be amusing if you fall sick."
I am too lazy to argue with a long-winded woman, so I obediently stop walking in order for her to properly tie the cloak's belt together. By accident, my gaze met with Xiao Lu's s.h.i.+ning pair of eyes that are full of wors.h.i.+p, and couldn't help the softening of my heart. I know his position is just that of a slave boy tasked with following the carriage everywhere and thus has a low status amongst the mansion's servants. Nevertheless, I feel that he is both clever and innocent, which meets my liking, so I tell Hong Feng: "From today onwards, let Xiao Lu serve me in my study."
Once he hears this, Xiao Lu is unable to contain his joy, nearly jumping to his feet in excitement. The surrounding servants cast repressed looks of jealousy and admiration towards him one after another.
Smiling faintly, I tell him: "You need to do well in the future and cannot be naughty."
Xiao Lu repeatedly agrees and nods his head, then kneels happily at my feet and kowtows several times to express his grat.i.tude. Waving my hand to allow him to stand back up, I enter the inner courtyard.
As for the still-following Hong Feng, if she is in any way astonished, nothing shows on her face, merely a respectful and calm affirmative before a knitting her brows in a slight frown. Hesitantly, she said: "Jin'er from this morning, I have already ordered someone to give her forty strikes of the wooden rod and had her chased out of the mansion."
Startled, I yell, "What?"
Hong Feng suddenly kneels down in front of me. "Daren, Hong Feng acted on my own accord. The penalty is too light, but Hong Feng thought about it. That child is usually honest and sincere and did commit no mistakes. If she offended Daren, it can only be her name that offended. If you are unsatisfied, then let her repent. If doing so is bothersome, then chase her out. Either way, she does not deserve death."
Will I really kill someone just because a letter of their name is identical in p.r.o.nunciation to mine[1]? Due to Jin'er's honest character and risking her (HF) life to save her (Jin'er), Hong Feng ordered someone to hit a delicate woman forty time with the wooden rod, and that is considered a light punishment. Where's the humanity? Where's the logic?
I laughed in fury. "Do you always act on your own accord?"
Hong Feng lowers her head. "Asking Daren to please punish me."
I look at the woman kneeling before me, and suddenly realise that this woman doesn't fear me, doesn't hate me, and doesn't fawn over me, thus is able to act so brazenly. Is this kind of pampering not alarming? In ancient time, she can be considered soft on the inside but hard inside[2]. I can appreciate that.
"Forget it. Next time you want to punish any servants in the household by beating or flogging, ask me first before acting. Give this Jin'er ten liang of silver for her injuries then check her natural character. If you feel this person is still of use, bring her back to the mansion."
Hong Feng raises her head to look at me in alarm. I make my tone gentler. "Hong Feng, before, I was too harsh on people. Because of that, now I have to slowly correct myself. This morning, Jin'er was not to blame for anything. The reason I told her to get away from the carriage is because acting as a footstool is not something a woman should do. Even if that person is a man, it is also unsightly. The next time, bring an actual footstool for me to climb onto the carriage."
Hong Feng's constantly expressionless face finally undulate a little, a myriad of emotions enters her eyes. It seems like disbelief, a good kind of surprise, emotionally moved and finally comfort. Her gaze searches my face eagerly, seeking some sort of guarantee from my expression. However, when she opens her mouth to speak, only two words emerge. "Yes, Daren."
For my first "act of benevolence", not receiving flowers and applause left me a little disappointed. However, judging from Zhang Qinglian's usual deeds and conduct, I definitely cannot win people over easily, so simply making steady progress will have to do.
"Hong Feng, where is Yao Jinzi currently?"
She is taken back by the sudden change of topic and hesitated for a bit. "Yao…ah, gongzi[3] is currently chained as per usual in the third dungeons…"
Not waiting for her to finish speaking, my anger explodes. Dungeons? As per usual? Treating my pretty boy this way? This is the way Zhang Qinglian treats his bed partner? What is he, a black widow?!
Hardening my face, I suppress the fury in my voice and say lowly; "Are you still not going to take me there?!"
Angrily stalking through the Zhang mansion, we eventually reach a place where the scenery is vastly different from the rest of the house: the gloomy and sinister look dungeons.
My eyes narrow as I look at the stout, ugly building, walking towards the third door and snappily tell the old servant serving as the jailer: "Open the door quickly!"
The door opens, revealing the dim interior. It took a while before my eyes adjust enough to allow me to see the thing within clearly, only to see the four bare walls and practically empty room. At one corner is a pile of straw, probably used for sleeping. Near the door is a tray with yet-to-be-washed plates and bowls. The place can be considered fairly clean, as there are no foul or strange smells within.
Yao Jinzi is wearing a simple white s.h.i.+rt that doesn't even cover down to his feet and I can guarantee he is not wearing anything else beneath. In this wintry season, without his martial arts…isn't that old man outside worried Jinzi might freeze to death? That's not all, for the silver chains on this body are fastened to an iron ring embedded deeply in the wall behind, restricting his range of movements.
He has been watching me the moment I walk in, with a gaze I'm not even willing to describe. It is the kind of meticulous hatred unleashed on a hostile party when planning their deaths, a disdain that is long carved deep into a person's bones, one that is unforgettable and not easy to reckon with.
Basically speaking, his current situation is bad, but not the level of terrible I imagined, therefore, I am able to let out a breath of temporary relief. The sound has barely left my mouth when a ball of black dashes over, dodging everyone as they try to block him. His head knocks into my waist, small hands firmly pus.h.i.+ng against me while shouting: "Felon! You are here again to bully my older brother!"
Ah, so it is Yao Jinfeng. The kid is not chained and is also wearing warm attire and cotton-padded jacket. His strength is fairly big for a child's while I am weak, so it isn't a surprise I am pushed over. The scene explodes into chaos, some freeze in shock, some curse, someone cried out, but fortunately, Hong Feng is behind me, supporting me with one hand on my back. Finally able to stabilise my feet, I am slightly surprised to discover she is a martial artist. Huh, looks like I do have some skilled people in my mansion.
Whatever the case, my attention is back on the pretty youth, who had shouted "Jinfeng, don't!" just as the kid rushed over and pushed me. However, his expression was amused and doubtful as he looks at me.
Suddenly at this moment, a rat-haired man rushes inside, most probably the person put in charge of this gloomy little compound. Grabbing the little brat by the back of his neck, the man slaps him across the face twice, shouting: "You little b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Must not want to live anymore!" Tossing the kid onto the floor, the jailer tramples down once. That one step isn't light, and the brat didn't have the strength to push himself up for a while.
That one action is like poking the hornet's nest. I have long since concluded that Yao Jinzi is very protective of his little brother. Even before the rat-haired man stepped on Jinfeng, a bellow rips out from the youth's throat. Like a caged beast, he pulled relentlessly on his chains, full of bloodthirsty desire to attack the old jailer.
Although his martial arts has been wasted, his pure physical power is still more than enough to scare people. The chains and the iron ring were being pulled to the point of straining, and even the scoundrel who hit the kid is scared enough to retreat a few steps. A few other servants run up to stop Jinzi. But he struggles as if facing death, causing the chain piercing his scapulars to strain as well, pulling on skin and flesh. Phantom pain ripple from my shoulders even as I watch, and can't help the s.h.i.+ver that runs up my back.
Heavens, I really can't bear watching it any longer. I may not be the saintliest or uncorrupted woman - I am heartless enough to efficiently cut the company's workforce during times of crisis without blinking an eye. I showed no mercy when making the best decisions for the firm I work for. I have been called "murderer" by some colleagues and have seen the dirtiest strategies being implemented beneath the glamourous cover of the business world. However, this kind of situation is one I am incapable of confronting with a straight face. If those chains are not quickly taken out of his body, I will likely be hearing that terrible sound even in my dreams!
But - but - I will die if you ask me to personally intervene. I can't do it.
So what can I do? Biting my lower lip, a daring plan suddenly pops up in my mind. Un, things have developed to this extent so I might as well take a risk.
"I order you all to desist!" I shout in a stern voice.
Everything fell silent instantly, whether it be the old jailer, the constantly noisy brat, the struggling Jinzi or the three servants trying to restrain him. Every one of them froze, staring at me foolishly.
My expression ice cold, I call Hong Feng over, putting my mouth to her ear to issue a few commands. She nods and stoop down to carry the little brat up from his p.r.o.ne position by the jailer's side, then turns and walks out. Yao Jinzi snaps out of his daze, struggling even more ferociously than before while crying out: "Stop! Zhang Qinglian, what are you planning on doing to him?!"
"Shut up!" I can't bear this kind of chaos any longer. I tell him icily: "I told Hong Feng to treat his injuries."
Hearing this, he obediently close his mouth. Hmph, seems like he is still salvageable/teachable.
My hard and stern expression causes the remaining people to be scared silent. Turning, I slowly pace towards the out-of-luck jailer. Every step I advance makes him retreat in equal measure until he can retreat no longer and I end up directly in front of him. This rat-haired scoundrel has already broken into cold sweat.
I don't open my mouth, staring harshly for a full minute before running my eyes up and down his shaking body scornfully. Under my scrutiny, his legs seem to be on the verge of giving out.
"In this place, who is the master, and who is the slave?" My voice is soft, calm and unhurried.
The man finally falls to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly. "Daren, spare my life, spare my life!"
I scoff. "Daring to act so unrestrainedly in front of me. Who knows what kind of tyrannical abuse you dare dish out behind me back!"
This useless scoundrel who only knows how to kowtow and plead for forgiveness. The type of people I dislike the most is men who hit women without reason, rascals who abuse children and those who bully the kind while fearing evil. These sorts will only have unfortunate endings. Living without moral integrity, don't blame me for being ruthless!
"Whichever hand was used to hit, chop off that hand…and scram out of my mansion! Don't ever let me see you again! And you are forbidden to say you were once a slave under me! The day I discover you outside swindling people using my name will be the day you die!" Using my harshest and most callous tone to throw words down on him. Un, the one period that I am most in tune with Zhang Qinglian's original character must be right now.
This jailer is truly gutless, already weeping piteously, banging his forehead against the floor, body shaking as though he is having a seizure. Giving him one more loathing glance, I turn my back, ignoring him. Surely, the more a person is malicious and villainous, the more gutless they are.
A guard comes in to drag the jailer out with a practised efficiency that will surprise most. Judging from this, I suppose it is not uncommon for the original Zhang Qinglian to order someone killed or thrown out of the mansion. Taking the keys to the shackles, I personally unlock the iron ring and unwind the length of chain, letting Yao Jinzi go.
Footnotes:
[1] Before, the author used Jin (仅) for her name, and now it became Qing (清), which is the same character as the MC's first character in her name. But decide to leave it as Jin'er.
[2] Soft on the outside, hard inside = Appears to be delicate/weak in appearance/physically but is actually mentally/spiritually strong.
[3] Gongzi: Usually used to address sons of officials, but can be used like "Mister" to address wealthy and/or high-status men if one is not so sure of their t.i.tles (if they have any)