Chapter 26: Vengeance Achieved, Preparing to Leave the Manor

“You said your mother is… the nursemaid in this residence?” Only now did Lu Jin recall the information Shen Yanxi had just shared, and for a moment he didn’t know how to address Shen Yanxi, so he hedged his words.

“Sir, my mother is not the residence’s nursemaid, she was only the young lady’s nursemaid…” Yuan Fang explained.

What does it mean to be the residence’s nursemaid? As if she had nursed a whole brood of children.

Is there really any difference? Lu Jin griped inwardly, thinking this boy might just be a nitpicker.

“You said your mother’s surname is Yuan? So you took your mother’s surname?” Lu Jin asked, puzzled.

“Yes, sir. My mother raised me!”

“Yuan Fang, what is the duty of a guard?” Lu Jin looked at the “spirit hanger” with interest.

“To protect the safety of the young master,” Yuan Fang replied.

“But I don’t feel very safe right now. Just a few days ago, I was bullied by two mutts!”

“What? Who would dare bully you, sir?” Yuan Fang exclaimed in surprise.

Looking at Yuan Fang’s astonished expression, Lu Jin felt even more wounded.

Truth be told, those two retainers were only following Shen Hao’s orders to escort him, and he had no real complaint; everyone has their role to play. But to have been struck and forced to his knees—now that was a humiliation too bitter to swallow.

“Two family guards!” he declared.

Yuan Fang now recalled what his mother had mentioned, but this was out of his hands—those were Shen family guards.

“So, you won’t protect me in this case?”

“Sir, family guards are enforcing house rules. My duty is to protect you outside the residence,” Yuan Fang replied awkwardly.

“Caiyun!”

“Yes, sir, I’m here!”

“Go inform your young lady and have her bring those two family guards to me.” Lu Jin was curious to see how Shen Yanxi would handle the matter.

“What?” Caiyun was stunned.

“What do you mean ‘what’? You know it was those two who knocked your young master to his knees that day. Do you think your master deserves such treatment?” The more Lu Jin thought about it, the angrier he became.

“Ah?” Caiyun was genuinely surprised; no one had mentioned this before. She had thought his scraped knees were only from kneeling on the ground.

Now realizing Lu Jin was serious, Caiyun had no choice but to take Yuan Fang to Xiyuan.

——

“Young master said those two family guards forced him to his knees that day?” Shen Yanxi asked, astonished.

“Yes, miss, that’s what the young master said. I didn’t know either; I thought he’d scraped his knees from kneeling. They went too far, especially as the young master is already so frail…”

A faint smile touched Shen Yanxi’s lips. Frail, indeed—her young master was the epitome of fragility.

“How daring!” The thought of Lu Jin being forced to his knees was intolerable to her.

Whatever else might be said, Lu Jin was still her husband. She’d spared him from punishment before for that very reason.

And yesterday, Lu Jin had given her an enormous surprise. Under the influence of such emotion, she found it even harder to bear.

“Shuqing, go find the steward of Plum Garden and have him bring those two family guards from that day.” Shen Yanxi had not forgotten the steward who had taken Lu Jin away.

“Yes, miss!” Shuqing accepted the order and hurried off.

Less than half an hour later, Shuqing returned with the disheveled Steward Jiang from Plum Garden and the two crestfallen guards, arriving at Guanyun Pavilion in Xiyuan.

“Miss, Shuqing has brought them,” the maid Huayan announced.

Only then did Shen Yanxi rise and approach the doorway, seeing Steward Jiang and the two family guards already kneeling.

“Steward Jiang, did you order them to strike Lu Jin?” Shen Yanxi’s tone was icy as she stood at the threshold.

“Second Miss, this old servant meant well. The master was furious that day, and I thought it best for the young master to show some submission to appease him and avoid harsher punishment. The fault lies in my misjudgment. Please punish me as you see fit,” Steward Jiang said gravely.

He hadn’t expected there to be follow-up on this matter. But at his age, there was little he cared about. A servant’s life is always at the mercy of their master’s mood.

Shen Yanxi frowned but said nothing. She knew Steward Jiang’s nature—stern on the outside, but actually a kind man. She believed his explanation completely.

Besides, he was old; what more could she do? She was angry, yes, but not irrational. It would be unwise to deal harshly with a loyal steward.

“What did my father say?” she asked. For the steward and the guards to be summoned, her father must be aware.

“The master said to let you handle it, miss,” Steward Jiang replied, bowing his head.

“Suniang!” Shen Yanxi’s bright eyes now turned to the two family guards kneeling behind Steward Jiang.

“Miss, I’m here.” A spirited young woman stepped forward.

“However they struck your young master that day, strike them just the same—ten times each!” Shen Yanxi commanded coldly.

If there was reason to show Steward Jiang some leniency, she would not allow her husband, in name or in fact, to be abused by mere brutes.

“Second Miss!” Steward Jiang protested. After all, he had been the one to give the order for Lu Jin to kneel that day.

“Steward Jiang, you have served long and faithfully; I won’t make things hard for you. But those two must not go unpunished. Is the husband of Shen Yanxi someone they can casually strike?” she said sharply.

“Miss, I admit my fault! Steward Jiang, there’s no need to plead with Second Miss,” the guards hurriedly said, bowing their heads.

In the end, a soldier—whether at home or at war—has little say; everything depends on the will of their superior.

Suniang quickly learned the specifics of how the two guards had struck Lu Jin that day. Shen Yanxi’s frown deepened, but after a moment’s thought, she decided not to escalate the punishment further.

“Miss, allow me,” Yuan Fang offered. After all, Lu Jin was his master, and he worried that the young lady might strike too harshly. In the end, the guards themselves had not committed a grave offense.

“Very well. You may repay them on your master’s behalf.”

Yuan Fang, without hesitation, used his sword sheathe to strike the two family guards to their knees ten times each.

To their credit, the two guards bore the blows without a sound, even as their knees bled.

“That’s enough. Steward Jiang, take them to Lu Jin. Let him deal with them as he sees fit, until he forgives them.” With the punishment concluded, Shen Yanxi’s anger faded, replaced by reluctance.

“I know you feel wronged; you were only following orders. But do you think your master doesn’t feel wronged? In the end, the fault is mine,” Shen Yanxi said, her words tinged with regret.

“Miss, you mustn’t say that. If blame is to be assigned, it is mine alone,” Steward Jiang said, bowing deeply. To treat a mere son-in-law so leniently was already generous, but who could have foreseen things would become so complicated?

“Enough. It’s too late for regrets. Siqin, give each of them twenty taels of silver for medicine,” Shen Yanxi said, turning away, her expression still clouded.

Upon hearing they’d each receive twenty taels of silver for medicine, the family guards’ frustrations dissipated. Twenty taels was enough for their families to live comfortably for a year. Compared to that, what did a little grievance matter?

“Thank you, miss!” the guards intoned loudly.

——

“Sir, here they are. Are these the two?” Yuan Fang asked.

Lu Jin stared in surprise at the group Yuan Fang had brought in—they really had been brought here, but why were the knees of those two already bloodied?

“Sir, it was this old servant who failed in his duty that day, causing you to suffer humiliation. Please punish me,” Steward Jiang said, kneeling with the two family guards.

Lu Jin ignored him, looking instead at Yuan Fang and Caiyun.

“Sir, the young lady was furious when she heard. She called them over and punished them thoroughly, avenging you with ten hard strokes—Yuan Fang did not hold back…” Caiyun hurried to explain.

Lu Jin’s lips twitched—this little maid certainly knew how to talk.

But after hearing this, Lu Jin’s anger dissipated. Shen Yanxi had already punished them, and they were in this sorry state; what else could he do? To go further would be to bully them with his newfound standing.

“Kneel until noon, then be gone,” Lu Jin said coldly.

“Thank you for your magnanimity, sir!” Steward Jiang replied gratefully.

Having vented his grievances, Lu Jin had no more interest in the matter. Now that he had his own attendant, it was time to see what the world outside had to offer.

Lu Jin stood, his voice solemn: “Yuan Fang, are you here?”

Yuan Fang: “…”

“At three quarters past one, prepare the carriage. We’re heading to Jianglin City…”

Everyone: “…”