Pastoral Splendor

Author's Note: Wishing all the ladies a happy May Day! I'll be going on a trip, but I'll still be updating daily as usual, so don't worry about any breaks!

The room immediately fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Old Madam He and Yan Ying stared at each other, neither willing to give in, as if whoever backed down would have already lost.

Madam He stared at Yan Ying without blinking. Although the girl in front of her was young, her composure and sharp eyes were not what one would expect from someone her age. She stood there calmly and openly, as if she had no fear at all, while Madam He herself became somewhat hesitant.

Could this Miss Xiao be skilled in martial arts? Old Madam He was somewhat puzzled. She looked Yan Ying up and down a few times. She was thin and bony, and didn't seem like someone who knew martial arts.

"Madam He, to cover up one lie, you'll use countless lies to salvage it; and to cover up one conspiracy, you'll use countless conspiracies to conceal it." Yan Ying gave Madam He a contemptuous smile: "Does Madam think that killing me will solve everything and keep the secret?"

Madam He was somewhat moved: "What exactly do you know?"

“I know everything I need to know.” Yan Ying sneered, “Now I can respect Princess Yu as my mother in my heart, but I can’t see you as my maternal grandmother.”

"I never intended to treat you as my granddaughter." Old Madam He chuckled. "Don't think too highly of yourself."

"Madam He, you are cold-hearted and ruthless. What do you have besides your so-called noble birth? If you hadn't been lucky enough to be born into a good family, what else would you have to be envied by others? As for me, Xiao Sanhua, even if I were to be relegated to the countryside, I would not envy you at all, because you live such a tiring life, only thinking about scheming against others. You have done so many bad things in your life, and I don't even know if the Bodhisattva will let you enter the cycle of reincarnation."

As Yan Ying watched Madam He's face gradually turn pale, she felt a sense of satisfaction. Although the old lady in front of her was dressed in fine clothes and wore expensive jewelry, she could not hide her decadent soul. She was completely rotten. Even though sandalwood was burning in the room, one could still smell a stench.

"What are you talking about! You country bumpkin, how dare you spout nonsense in front of me!" Old Madam He was so angry that her lips trembled, and she could hardly speak. To be unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation—what a vicious curse! Did this mean she would be stuck in hell after death, never to have another chance to reincarnate? Old Madam He's heart trembled, and she suddenly felt a little scared. She forced herself to remain calm and said, "I donate a lot of money to the Bodhisattva every year. The Bodhisattva will surely bless me with peace and tranquility in every lifetime."

"That's just self-deception. If a Bodhisattva could be bought off with a few coins, then she wouldn't be a Bodhisattva. Madam, if you don't sincerely do good deeds, then..." Yan Ying stopped, looking at Madam He's face slowly turning pale, and said with a smile, "Let's not get sidetracked. Let's talk about the roast duck. What exactly is Madam He dissatisfied with that she would send someone to lecture me just because of the taste of the roast duck?"

"I didn't send anyone to teach you a lesson." Old Madam He was determined not to admit it. How could she say that she sent someone to do it? Was she going to lose her composure in front of such a young girl?

"So the old lady didn't send anyone to teach me a lesson? Then we should investigate which enemies deliberately framed me." Yan Ying said seriously, "Why don't you send someone to the Jingzhao Prefecture to see who deliberately framed me after the case is heard?"

"What? You sent those people to the Jingzhao Prefecture?" Old Madam He was getting restless. If those four guards couldn't withstand the torture and confessed, they would lose face. "Since they say I ordered them, Miss Xiao should bring them to me. I want to ask them properly."

"Alas, I'm afraid the old lady will be soft-hearted and won't want to use torture. Those people are stubborn, so naturally they won't confess." Yan Ying shook her head regretfully: "Originally, the commander of the Qingyi Guard wanted to take them back to the Qingyi Guard station for interrogation, but I thought this matter should not alarm the Emperor, so I had them sent to the Jingzhao Prefecture."

"What? The Blue-Clad Guards?" Old Madam He suddenly stood up, her eyes filled with a sinister light as she looked at Yan Ying, her hands trembling slightly. "How did this get brought up with the Blue-Clad Guards again?"

“Oh, Madam He, haven’t you found out about my situation yet?” Yan Ying raised an eyebrow: “My fiancé is a member of the Blue-Clad Guard. Although he’s not a high-ranking official, he still oversees several hundred Blue-Clad Guards. He has the authority to take a few people back for interrogation.”

Large beads of sweat dripped down Madam He's forehead. Those old women, Yi and Xiuyun, were truly hateful. She had told them to tell her everything they knew, but the two of them had forgotten such an important point! She stood there, her sandalwood prayer beads hanging down to her feet, touching the marble floor and making a soft sound.

Although the leader of the Green-Clad Guards was not of high rank, he played a crucial role, directly subordinate to the Emperor, and had a great opportunity to speak to the Emperor. If this girl's fiancé were to reveal the matter, then she... Old Madam He's face changed color as she looked at Yan Ying, unsure of what to say.

"Madam, please don't be nervous." Yan Ying smiled slightly. "I didn't mention my background to him. He said he wanted to take your men to the Qingyi Guard, but I stopped him." Seeing Madam He's expression gradually relax, Yan Ying sneered inwardly. "But if something happens to me again, my husband isn't stupid. He'll definitely know who to come to."

"You dare threaten me?" Old Madam He sized up Yan Ying. "You country bumpkin, how dare you act so arrogantly in front of me?"

“Madam, I think I have my reasons for being so arrogant.” Yan Ying simply sat down instead of standing respectfully. “Although I am your granddaughter, I have never thought of returning to the Prince Yu’s mansion to live that so-called life of wealth and luxury. I just want to manage my Bai Xiang Garden well, live a life free from worries about food and clothing, and live happily with my husband for the rest of my life. That’s all I want.”

Madam He placed her palm on the table and slowly sat down. Yan Ying continued, "I remember a little story from the village: the phoenix will not eat anything but bamboo seeds and will not drink anything but sweet spring water. Yet an owl with a dead mouse in its beak, seeing the phoenix fly by, flapped its wings and bulged its eyes to threaten it, thinking it wanted to steal its food. Isn't that ridiculous? In my eyes, whether it's the Prince Yu's mansion or the General Zhenguo's mansion, they are nothing but rotten meat. They look shiny on the outside, but they are rotten to the core. Only you yourselves are still smug, thinking yourselves superior. Madam He, please rest assured, I really don't want to have anything to do with you. I'm just a little shopkeeper, and I have nothing to do with you nobles."

Madam He sat there silently. Yan Ying glanced at her with her hands clasped together and said, "Madam He, I've said all I need to say. You should send someone to bail out those four people as soon as possible, lest the Zhenguo General's Mansion be embarrassed if we're too late."

"You..." Old Madam He stared intently at Yan Ying, but instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, her radiant glow gone: "Aunt Zuo, come in!"

The personal maid entered, her hands hanging at her sides: "Madam, what is it?"

"Take the name card of the Lady of Yongding and go to the Prefect of Jingzhao to bring back several guards from our mansion. Remember to handle this matter smoothly and don't let it involve our mansion." Old Madam He waved her hand: "Go quickly and do not hesitate."

Princess Yu strode in, rushed to Yan Ying's side, took her hand, and asked in a trembling voice, "Miss Xiao, how have you been lately?"

Yan Ying stood there and smiled slightly: "Not bad. Thanks to the Princess, I've made quite a bit of money. After the Dragon Boat Festival, I will send half of the shop's profits to the Prince Yu's residence."

"The shop has only been open for less than two months. You're short on cash right now. If you need money, don't send it to me yet. Wait until you have some money available before you send it to me." Seeing that Yan Ying was completely unharmed, Princess Yu finally felt relieved. Her nose tingled, and she wanted to cry, but she didn't dare to be too presumptuous. She could only silently look at Yan Ying and hold her hand tightly.

For fifteen years, she hadn't been this close to her. Princess Yu felt a luxurious happiness at this moment, able to hold her daughter's hand so unrestrainedly—something she had always dreamed of. In her dreams, she could only ever hear that heart-wrenching cry: "Mother, I want to come back." After waking, the cold autumn rain outside the window brought unspeakable bitterness, but no one knew.

Now that she could finally see her and hold her hand to talk, Princess Yu felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. Her eyes were fixed on Yan Ying, as if afraid that she would disappear from her sight in the blink of an eye.

“Since Your Highness is so understanding, I will send it over in June.” Yan Ying smiled and nodded to Princess Yu. “Your Highness, I’m busy at my shop, I’ll go over there first.”

Princess Yu watched with a sense of loss as Yan Ying walked past her. The warmth of her touch vanished from her hand, leaving her feeling utterly empty. The curtain swayed a few times, then remained still. Only then did Princess Yu turn around and walk to Old Madam He, asking, "Mother, what were you saying just now?"

Madam He stared at the Buddhist prayer beads between her fingers without looking up. After a while, she sighed softly, "Each generation is better than the last."

"Mother, what's wrong?" Princess Yu asked, puzzled. She didn't know what Yan Ying had said to her mother, which had left her looking so dejected. "That Miss Xiao, does she know that I sent someone to..."

"Let's leave it at that," Old Madam He quickly interrupted Princess Yu. "Just pretend it never happened. And try not to go to Baixiang Garden so often. That girl is clever; if you go too often, she'll become suspicious." Although Yan Ying's words indicated she already knew about her background, her words to Princess Yu clearly showed she didn't want to acknowledge her as her mother. Since she didn't want to associate with the Prince Yu's residence, there was no need for Old Madam He to say it aloud, lest her daughter worry. Old Madam He wearily waved her hand. "Ru Xue, you're almost forty; you should know what to do. Don't be like before, acting without thinking things through. Go now, and think carefully about what I said."

Princess Yu raised her head and stared blankly at Madam He. She could clearly see a kind of weariness on her mother's face, an expression she had never seen before.

Chapter 244 Punishment

In the center of the backyard of Baixiang Garden, four people stood motionless, dumbfounded. Jian Yifei and two guards in blue uniforms sat on the veranda of the house, talking quietly, none of them looking in that direction.

The four people under the tree were all wearing thick cotton-padded clothes. Under the warm sunshine of late April, they were covered in sweat, with large beads of sweat popping out on their foreheads. Their lips were parched, with a crack on each lip. "Sir, sir, please give us a drink of water."

Xiuwen stood on the steps, looking at the group of people with a touch of sympathy in her heart. She whispered to Jian Yifei, "Young Master Jian, I'll go and bring them some water."

Jian Yifei glared at her: "Never mind that, go out and help out at the shop."

These people are incredibly audacious, daring to ambush Sanhua on their way. They're practically courting death. If he didn't still have a shred of reason left, he would have stabbed each of them through the heart with his sword. Seeing him so angry yet unable to kill them, his two subordinates quickly offered a suggestion: "Commander Jian, these guys deserve some punishment. How about we give them some thick cotton-padded coats, let them stand in the sun until they're dizzy, and then throw them into a well to soak for an hour or two, torturing them half to death?"