A Lady’s Tranquility Chapter 7.1

Chapter 7 (1): Meeting with Xie Wei

Watching the last maidservant put a golden hairpin back into the case, Jiang Xue Ning finally nodded in satisfaction.

Jiang Bo You glanced at the ‘Qiong Lin For Youth’ she was holding in her hands, gave a cough and asked tentatively, “Have they spat out everything that they took? Do you want to count it?”

Count?

Count using this book?

When Jiang Xue Ning had said some of the things Yan Lin had gifted her on her eighteenth birthday to bluff people earlier, it was already the limit. How would she know any more?

Hence, she only replied, “Not everything has been returned for sure. A lot of people probably have taken things out of the mansion to have exchanged so it would be too difficult for them to take anything else out. I won’t count these two cases either, it’s just to give them a knock to let them know not to be so unbridled in the future. Father, what do you think?”

This was picking something up heavily only to put it back down lightly.

Jiang Bo You frowned, “No punishment?”

Jiang Xue Ning thought for a moment then looked at the maidservants in the yard who had re-knelt in an orderly manner, “They were originally assigned to my room after being trained by the mansion. They used to follow the rules and would flatter up to me. Their skills with serving people aren’t bad either.  When they were called over to kneel, aside from a small number, they don’t dare to argue back. There are many people in the world like this who bully the soft and fear the strong, they’re ‘simple people’. In the end, it is because this daughter is too agreeable, too indulgent yet think too much and can’t allow others to say even one word against the people in my room. Hence, this daughter thinks, why not give them a chance. This time, they can each go and get five beatings each and fined two months wages. In the future, if they do their best to serve and don’t repeat this again then it’s fine. If they repeat the offense, then we can bring out the old and new accounts to settle together and deal with them directly.”

These words sounded plain but when they fell into Jiang Bo You’s ears, he had mixed feelings.

Ning girl has really grown up…

Originally, he thought that she would make a big fuss and was afraid that there would be fighting involved but he didn’t expect that other than looking for other people’s faults, she’d actually reflect on her own faults as well. Plus, someone who was as blunt as her suddenly gained a little more of the magnanimous demeanour of a large family.

Most importantly, she didn’t lose her benevolence either.

Although this method couldn’t be said to be the strictest and most effective, but why would a girl need to have such a ruthless hand for?

Jiang Bo You looked at his daughter. Subconsciously, she had already become much more pleasing to his eye than before. He couldn’t help but nod, “Okay, we’ll do as you say.”

Jiang Xue Ning’s heart though, was calm without any disturbance.

Of course, she wasn’t completely pure and kind-hearted but after experiencing the last life, she deeply understood the principle of “Leave others some room in case you meet in the future again”.

Just like with Yan Lin back then.

She had wanted to be the Empress no matter what so even if the Yongyi Marquis Mansion didn’t lose their power, in the end, she would still choose to marry Shen Jie, However, why did she have to say everything so resolutely and why did she choose to say it at the critical juncture?

Her words were resolute and she didn’t leave herself any room.

If she was Yan Lin, she’d also hate herself. It was completely reasonable that Yan Lin would bully her after he returned to power.

There were two things in the world that were best not to do, one was bullying a teenager for being poor and the second was to force a mad dog to jump over the wall.

Dealing with these servants was the same reasoning as the latter.

Firstly, mediocre people were all the same. It was better to keep these people who already knew their faults and would be more cautious in their words and deeds than change to a new batch. Secondly, if she dealt too heavily with them, she’d leave behind a reputation for being too cruel and merciless. They had served her for so long, their misdeeds weren’t enough to warrant them to be killed. If they all went out and talked, who knew what they’d say?

Moreover, sometimes, not dealing with it isn’t necessarily worse than dealing with it.

When most of the people had returned the items just then, they definitely would’ve hidden some as well. There were some that brought out a little more and some that brought out a little less.

Jiang Xue Ning didn’t know how much each of them took and was too lazy to bother to investigate further.

However, they may be suspicious of each other.

You may think that she hid too much, she may think that you brought out too little. Once everyone dispersed, those that were guilty will naturally suffer.

No matter what happens then, they wouldn’t be able to blame it on her.

Thus, she’d be able to stay clean, gain a good reputation and gain more of Jiang Bo You’s favor, what’s there not to be happy about?

After all, if she wanted to leave the mansion in the future, she still had to get Jiang Bo You’s approval first.

Jiang Xue Ning thought about it then asked Chang Zhuo to instruct someone to bring out a braiser before standing up to face everyone, “Did you all clearly hear what I said just now?”

Everyone below trembled, “We heard clearly.”

Jiang Xue Ning continued leisurely, “You’ve all been serving for a long time and are aware of what kind of temperament I have. This time, I take some blame on myself, not because I really think I am at fault but because most of you have elders that you need to care for so I don’t bear to have you sold out off the mansion. It’ll damage your reputation so it’ll be hard to find another good family. Just serve like how you used to but with a little more care in the future. However, if anyone makes a second mistake, don’t blame me for turning my face away.”

Wang Xing Jiade crouched on the floor in front of her and shivered violently.

The courtyard turned quiet.

There were many servants in the corners around them who came to secretly watch. When they heard her words, they shuddered inside: this Second Miss seemed to have turned different. In the future, if anyone didn’t serve her with their best effort, they might end up the same as the ones kneeling on the floor and end up in regret.

Jiang Xue Ning raised her hand, picked up the ‘account book’ and walked to the brazier.

The hot air that floated up covered her face.

She threw the book directly into the brazier and watched as the bright red flames licked up and swallowed the pages. Very quickly, it was burnt to a crisp.

Everyone kneeling below watching secretly sighed a breath of relief.

“The matter this time will only end here and I won’t implicate or pursue it further. Go down and receive your punishments.”

Wang Xing Jiade immediately kowtowed on the ground and started flattering her, “Second Miss is really kindhearted and merciful. The ancestral tombs of this old slave and these servants must be emitting green smoke* to meet a master like you! This servant will go and receive punishment immediately, go and receive punishment immediately.”

*[Referring to someone very fortunate]

The others also expressed their gratitude.

Not long after, they all left to receive their punishments.

Both Lian’er and Tang’er were literate. Knowing what was written in their Young Miss’ ‘account book’ just then, they were completely stunned by the progression of the situation. Even Chang Zhuo who was serving on the side couldn’t help but use a ‘I’m impressed that you’re able to use this book to speak nonsense and scare people’ gaze to look at Jiang Xue Ning.

Jiang Xue Ning’s gaze however, stayed on those maidservants for a while.

She turned her eyes and softly asked Tang’er, “Just then, who was the talked back while kneeling?”

Tang’er was startled then thought about it.

There was only one person in the group who talked back despite being in that type of situation.

“It’s also someone who is able to serve in the inner rooms, she’s called Tian Xiang.”

Jiang Xue Ning nodded.

After the good show was over, she didn’t immediately rush to leave but rather, she followed behind Jiang Bo You back outside the study.

Jiang Bo You was able to tell, “You want to deal with that girl?”

Jiang Xue Ning frowned a little and nodded slightly but then lowered her head again, “The others are alright, they don’t have much ability and at most, they just bully the soft but are afraid of the strong. This Tian Xiang however is eloquent and can speak very well. Just now, this daughter was almost made speechless by her words. If it wasn’t because this daughter really didn’t do those things then after listening to her words, this daughter would’ve thought it was my fault. It’s just that firstly, this daughter had already agreed not to pursue further and secondly, this daughter has never dealt with similar things before and really doesn’t know how to deal with her.”

Jiang Bo You had also seen the scene just then.

That girl who had talked back was someone who would bite if they were pushed too far. Plus, the others were still somewhat afraid of Jiang Xue Ning, it was only this girl who was swollen with arrogance that she didn’t seem to care about her master.

Keeping her would more or less be a disaster.

With a plan in mind, he made a gesture to Chang Zhuo but didn’t say anything out loud.

Although the Jiang Mansion wasn’t a big household, but there were still some methods in the mansion that were still known.

Chang Zhuo was taken aback and replied, “This one has kept note.”

Jiang Bo You stroked Jiang Xue Ning’s back while saying, “This matter has come to an end. There will naturally be someone who will take care of that girl so you don’t need to worry about it. However, speaking of it, are the actions and words today what the Little Marquis taught you?”

Naturally it wasn’t.

However, Jiang Xue Ning certainly wouldn’t tell others that she was reborn. She had used Yan Lin as a shield before so this time wouldn’t matter either hence she nodded, “It was taught by Yan Lin too.”

Jiang Bo You sighed, “It seems that the Yongyi Marquis Mansion has a successor.”

Jiang Xue Ning lowered her eyes and didn’t speak.

Jiang Bo You continued, “You’re tired as well so go back and rest. You didn’t return at all last night and there was such a big commotion today. Remember to go and pay respect to your mother tonight so that she can rest assured.”

Jiang Xue Ning responded with a “Yes.”

Hence, the father and daughter who weren’t particularly close finished their conversation.

She bowed to leave.

Jiang Bo You lifted the curtain again to go inside the study and laughed, “Ju An, have you waited for a long time?”

At this moment, Jiang Xue Ning who had only taken a step out was full y stunned.

A chill crawled up from her feet to her head!

It was clearly just two simple words but when they entered in her ear, it was like a sharp scream that was bone-shattering!

She turned her eyes and caught a glimpse of the corner of the study that was revealed when the curtain was lifted: on the delicate and elegantly carved tea table lay a book. A long and slender hand stretched out and gently turned the page over. The ring finger of the hand habitually stroked lightly along the edge of the page in a very natural manner before pressing on the corner of the page.

This action was all too familiar to Jiang Xue Ning!