In the Wang family's two branches combined, there was only one young master, Wang Zijing.
While the first branch boasted a multitude of wives and concubines, their ability to produce offspring paled in comparison to his father's prowess in the fields.
Despite being the sole young master of the Wang family, Wang Zijing was raised to be refined, elegant, and of noble character, even to the point of being somewhat rigid. He had not picked up any of the habits of a dissolute young master.
He and Tian Yu studied together at the Imperial Academy, both renowned talents in the capital. However, ever since Tian Yu broke off his engagement with Wang Qingyao and became engaged to Wang Qinglin instead, Wang Zijing began to distance himself from Tian Yu, looking down on Tian Yu's disloyal conduct from the bottom of his heart.
Both he and Tian Yu were now successful candidates in the imperial examinations, and both intended to participate in the spring imperial examination in March. Consequently, they had barely returned home even during the first lunar month, staying at the Imperial Academy to diligently pore over their books.
Today was not his scheduled day off. It was the tutors at the Imperial Academy who, unable to bear it any longer, ordered him to combine work with rest and go home for a day of recuperation. It was then that he stumbled upon this whole affair.
The Old Madam was furious. Before Wang Qingyao even entered the main courtyard of the second branch, she could hear her roaring from the entrance.
"Drag her out, strip her pants, and beat her soundly!"
"Old Madam, spare me! Old Madam, spare me!" Dong Mei's cries of desperation were also exceptionally tragic.
She deserved it. Wang Zijing was the rising star of the Wang family, bearing great expectations, and was not to be trifled with in the slightest.
Wang Qingyao entered the courtyard. Dong Mei had already been dragged out and was pressed onto a long bench. Her pants were pulled down to her knees, revealing her snow-white buttocks and thighs.
The Old Madam intended to make an example of her. Many maids and servants stood in the courtyard. Dong Mei, both ashamed and terrified, trembled all over, her head bowed, not daring to look at anyone.
The servant woman wielding the stick was accustomed to rough work; she was strong and had no pity. After a few blows, Dong Mei's screams were like those of a slaughtered pig.
Yinzhu, following behind Wang Qingyao, had lost all color from her face in terror.
As they approached the main house, the maids guarding the doors on either side held up the curtains for them and announced their arrival inside.
Wang Qingyao had barely stepped one leg inside when a celadon teacup was hurled at her. With agile reflexes, she shifted her weight and dodged it. She even remembered to pull the stunned Yinzhu closer.
The teacup hit no one. It struck the thick, soft door curtain with a muffled sound, and then, with a "crack," it fell to the ground and shattered.
"You dare to dodge?!" The Old Madam was incandescent with rage. Her voice, hoarse from shouting, sounded as if she were about to cough without being able to.
She sat in the Grand Tutor's chair in the place of honor, with the First Madam, Madam Bai, seated below. The eldest young master, Wang Zijing, was not in the room. Madam Bai, hearing the unusual tone of her voice, personally poured a cup of tea and offered it to her. The Old Madam took it to moisten her throat, coughed heavily a few times, and then felt much more comfortable.
Wang Qingyao said solicitously, "Why don't you smash it again, Old Madam? I promise I won't dodge."
The Old Madam was so choked by her words that she was speechless for a long time. She glared at Wang Qingyao for a while before saying coldly, "You know about the good deed Dong Mei did?"
Wang Qingyao replied, "I've heard vague rumors."
"Vague rumors?" The Old Madam savored her words with a sneer. The deep wrinkles at the corners of her eyes seemed to sink further. "Dong Mei has already confessed. She claims she was acting on your orders to provoke Young Master Jing..."
As the Old Madam spoke, the anger that had finally subsided surged back into her heart.
Young Master Jing was such a good child. He was as studious as his father but had not inherited his father's lecherous nature. Apart from a diligent concubine, he had not touched any other disreputable women.
While the Old Madam would defend her son in front of others, she knew her son's true character.
Young Master Jing was due to take the spring imperial examination next month, a crucial time. If he were to be infatuated by these vixen-like maids at this juncture, how could he bring glory to his ancestors and ascend to high office? Fortunately, Young Master Jing was a man of integrity. Upon discovering the seductive maid's intentions, he had kicked her out.
Wang Qingyao found herself caught in a predicament not of her making. She immediately put on an expression of shock and indignation: "How could I possibly order Dong Mei to provoke Eldest Brother? Old Madam, you don't actually believe her fabricated tale, do you?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Before the Old Madam could speak, Madam Bai could no longer contain herself. "You sent Chunlan and Xiahe to Eldest Master; could you not also have intended to send Dong Mei to Young Master Jing? You, a young lady not yet married, how can your heart be filled with such sordid schemes? Have we, the first branch, offended you in some way?"
Madam Bai's torrent of words immediately placed a heavy burden on Wang Qingyao.
When she received the news today, she was both shocked and delighted. Shocked that her son had almost been ruined, and delighted that Wang Qingyao had so conveniently handed her such a handle. She was determined, regardless of whether Wang Qingyao had instigated this matter, to pin it on her.
Moreover, before she even had to resort to threats or enticements, Dong Mei, in her desperation to survive, had already implicated Wang Qingyao. Truly, heaven was helping her!
Upon hearing Madam Bai's words, the color drained from Wang Qingyao's face. She looked at Madam Bai with a meek and helpless expression. "How could First Madam think of me like this? Chunlan and Xiahe, the four of them, were all carefully chosen dowry maids by First Madam. They are both beautiful and talented, and it was only by chance that Eldest Master took notice of them. What does that have to do with me?"
Her eyes reddened, as if she were about to burst into tears.
Madam Bai, seeing her affected demeanor, wished she could slap her face. "If you hadn't brought them to him, how could they have caught Eldest Master's eye?"
"My Cold Fragrance Courtyard is already short-handed. Is First Madam sending me maids to be pampered and unable to be utilized?"
"You..." The current Wang Qingyao was sharp-tongued, and Madam Bai was no match for her.
Wang Qingyao dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "I admit that my management of subordinates is not strict, First Madam. But if you say I did it intentionally, I would rather hit my head on this pillar and die than admit it! Although I am an orphan, raised without parents, I am a daughter of the Wang family and dare not forget the Old Madam's teachings. If your words were to spread, my reputation would be ruined, and what about Eldest Sister, Third Sister, and Fourth Sister? They still need to get married!"
As she spoke, her indignation grew, displaying a noble, self-sacrificing spirit of putting the greater good above personal interests.
Madam Bai opened her mouth, about to retort, when Wang Qingyao immediately added, "Eldest Brother is participating in the spring imperial examination next month; this is known to everyone in the family. Let alone ordering maids, I myself have not sought him out... My second branch has no male heirs. No matter how glorious my marriage into the Ding'an Prince's manor may be, I will still rely on Eldest Brother for support in the future. Why would I destroy my own pillar of support?"
These words struck a chord with the Old Madam. Women, no matter how high their marriage, if they wish to live comfortably and be respected in their in-laws' household, their maiden family's support is indispensable. The second branch had no men; they had to rely on the first branch, didn't they?
Thinking of this, the Old Madam glanced askance at Madam Bai. "I believe this matter has nothing to do with our second girl. It's likely that that wretched maid was frightened and made false accusations."