Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 55
Chapter 55 - I Have Said All There Is to Say
Xie Jingyu's proposal to send him to the military was merely a choice made out of sheer desperation.
After calming down and pondering it further, there were indeed still many misgivings.
He stared coldly at Xie Shiwei, who was being held in He Shi's arms. "Have you truly decided to study diligently?"
He Shi hurriedly pulled the piece of cloth out of Xie Shiwei's mouth.
"Father, I was wrong. I know I was wrong, and I will never dare to do it again." Xie Shiwei wept bitter tears. "I will definitely study hard, striving with as much diligence as Big Brother. Please, Father, do not send me to the military camp!"
Qiutong from Madam's courtyard had given him a profound taste of how agonizing practicing martial arts was; he did not want to go and get bullied.
As long as he could remain in the estate, he was willing to study properly.
Disregarding the whip wounds across his body, he crawled on all fours over to Xie Jingyu and pleaded, "Father, please give me one more chance."
"Husband, please give Wei'er another chance. Even if he were to be sent to the military, he is still far too young right now. If he fails to study well, it won't be too late to send him off then." Yunchu bent down and helped Xie Shiwei up. "Wei'er, your father whipping you was also for your own good; you are not allowed to harbor resentment against your father in your heart. Since you have promised to study properly, you must no longer indulge in playfulness from now on. You are to go to the schoolhouse at the very beginning of the hour of Chen, and you may only return to your own courtyard at the very end of the hour of Shen. Can you do that?"
Things having reached this pass, what else could Xie Shiwei possibly refuse? He nodded frantically like a pecking chick.
Yunchu continued, "You and Yugeer are starting your studies at the same time, yet you are so much older than Yugeer. If you cannot even surpass Yugeer, it will prove that you have not been studying seriously. If your father wants to send you to the military camp the next time, I will no longer try to stop him."
"Mother, I will definitely study hard!"
Xie Shiwei was in so much pain he was practically on the verge of fainting; facing any demand whatsoever, he knew only to nod.
He Shi, feeling immense heartache for her son, hastily spoke up, "My Lord, Madam, the Second Young Master's back has lost a lot of blood. Will you allow this concubine to take the Second Young Master to apply medicine?"
The Old Madam chimed in, "Mother Zhou, quickly go invite a doctor!"
Xie Shiwei was supported into the bedroom, with both the Old Madam and Lady Yuan following along to inspect the situation.
Xie Jingyu turned his gaze toward Yunchu. "There are still some aftermath matters that will have to trouble Madam with handling. If there is anything requiring my personal presence, Madam, please feel free to speak up."
Yunchu lowered her gaze. "I can handle the remaining matters. Husband should go attend to your business."
Xie Jingyu pinched his fingers; after delivering those few lashes earlier, blisters had rubbed open on his palms as well. At this moment, he felt a twinge of regret for having struck with such excessive harshness.
He only hoped that Wei'er could genuinely study hard, not asking to bring glory to the ancestral lineage, but simply praying he would grow into a steadfast man who stood tall between heaven and earth.
Yunchu looked toward the maidservants who served in Xie Shiwei's courtyard, signaling them to stand up. "The ten liang of silver promised to you by the Old Madam will be delivered into your hands later today. As for which courtyard you wish to go work in, just speak up. If you no longer wish to remain in the Xie family, I can also take charge of returning your deed of enslavement to you."
The moment those maidservants thought of the Second Young Master, a chill of terror gripped them.
They were even more terrified that once the Second Young Master recovered from his injuries, he would take revenge out on them to vent his spleen, knowing that Madam could not protect them for a lifetime.
Aside from Jiuer, the other three maids unanimously decided to take their deeds of enslavement and leave the estate.
These maids had all been purchased by Yunchu from slave traders after the Xie family expanded its household staff, and their deeds of enslavement were gripped tightly in her own hands.
She immediately instructed someone to fetch the deeds of enslavement and handed them one by one to the maidservants. On top of the ten liang of silver promised by the Old Madam, she personally added another five liang to each of them out of her own pocket. After inviting a doctor to examine the maids and prescribe medicinal treatments, she finally arranged for them to depart the estate.
Holding the very last deed of enslavement, Yunchu stood before Jiuer's bed. "Do you truly wish to remain in the Xie family?"
Xie Shiwei was a person with an intensely vindictive nature; all of these maids who had lodged complaints would face retaliation, especially Jiuer, who had blown the matter wide open.
She could not fathom why Jiuer insisted on staying behind.
Earlier, the doctor had extracted dozens of silver needles from Jiuer's body. Her physique was shockingly weak, and she lowered her gaze, veiling the emotions swirling deep within her eyes. "This servant has neither father nor mother; aside from the Xie family, this servant has nowhere else to go. Furthermore, this servant believes that after going through this ordeal, the Second Young Master will definitely change for the better. Madam, this servant is willing to stay and continue serving the Second Young Master."
Yunchu smiled.
Jiuer was far too similar to her.
When she had first been reborn, she carried that exact same mindset—climbing back up precisely where she had fallen, rather than fleeing far away.
She said gently, "There are still many silver needles inside your body, and you will require the doctor to treat you three more times before they can be completely cleared out. We can discuss the matter of your staying or leaving once that is done. Focus on recuperating during this period; I will arrange for an elderly servant to tend to your daily needs."
Guilt shadowed Jiuer's eyes.
She had approached her decision to stay with ulterior motives, yet Madam was still treating her with such kindness.
How wonderful it would have been if she had entered Madam's courtyard right from the beginning... Even if her physical body were to be completely healed now, it was already ruined, her entire life destroyed beyond redemption...
Yunchu went over to take a look at Xie Shiwei.
Although Xie Jingyu had struck with heavy force, when all was said and done, he was merely a scholar. These injuries looked terrifying, but in reality they had merely broken the skin. The doctor had prescribed topical ointment and instructed that they must not come into contact with water; in about three or four days, once scabs formed, he would be almost fully recovered.
Yunchu sneered inwardly.
A human life—Jiuer's—had nearly been extinguished, yet Xie Shiwei received nothing more than this minuscule punishment.
Since the Xie family was incapable of properly teaching Xie Shiwei how to be a decent human being, they would simply have to let outsiders teach him instead. When that time came, it wouldn't be as simple as just a few whip lashes...
Following three days of recuperation, Xie Shiwei was soon able to get out of bed.
Daring no further attempts to skulk in his room and slack off, by the third day he hurried over to the estate's small schoolhouse to attend classes, injuries and all.
Jiuer underwent needle-extraction treatments three or four times, yet still failed to draw out every single silver needle embedded within her flesh.
Yunchu sighed silently.
Xie Shiwei was truly far too vicious—he was nothing short of a demon.
"Madam, this servant feels that her body is no longer suffering quite so severely." Jiuer knelt upon the floor. "This servant has no way to repay Madam's boundless grace and immense virtue, and can only kowtow to Madam."
After knocking her head against the floor three times, she continued, "This servant must go attend to the Second Young Master."
Yunchu bade her rise. "Once you return to Wei'er's side, he will inevitably make things difficult for you. How much more torment can this frail, fragile body of yours endure? I am well aware of what you intend to do."
Jiuer raised her head in utter disbelief.
Yunchu met her gaze. "Continuing to bide your time in submission will only cause you further harm. When the moment comes to strike, strike without hesitation. I have said all there is to say; you may go."
Stepping out of the Sheng Residence, Jiuer still found it hard to believe.
Madam clearly knew that she intended to take revenge on the Second Young Master, yet rather than driving her out of the estate, she had told her to strike decisively...
Why? What on earth was the reason behind this?
Yunchu arranged for an elderly servant to tail Jiuer in secret, ensuring the girl wouldn't suffer injuries once more; since she had saved Jiuer, she would naturally see it through to the end.
By this time, twilight was fast approaching. Yunchu laid aside the matters in her hands and walked out to the front courtyard, where Xie Jingyu had already been waiting, visibly harboring a degree of anxious agitation.
The three-day courtyard examinations had drawn to a close, and Xie Shi'an was about to emerge from the examination grounds; it was only natural for a father to feel nervous.
The two of them boarded the carriage together. As Yunchu gazed out the window at the passing scenery, Xie Jingyu opened his mouth several times as if to speak, but lacking any idea of what to say, he lapsed back into silence all the way until the carriage pulled up before the entrance of the examination grounds.
"There is an excessive throng of people over on that side; I will not go over." Yunchu remarked casually, "I shall wait for An'er right here."
Without giving it excessive thought, Xie Jingyu nodded and headed toward the main gates where the crowds were thickest.