Volume 1, Chapter 6: A Strategy for Preservation

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Dusk had already fallen, and the sky darkened. The courtyard remained unlit, illuminated only by the dim yellow light spilling from inside the house.

The early spring cold wind brushed past Steward Zhao’s neck, causing him to shiver. His voice involuntarily faltered.

“Miss, you mean to say…”

Jiang Rui clenched her handkerchief tightly, anxiety evident in her tone. “I’m worried someone has taken Nurse Liu, intending to bring harm to the Hou family.”

Steward Zhao exhaled deeply. “Nurse Liu is just a wet nurse; it’s unlikely…”

“Zhao, Nurse Liu is an elder in the Hou household and has been by my side for a long time. She knows quite a bit about the family’s business affairs.”

Jiang Rui’s face was filled with worry as she spoke earnestly.

“Now, Nurse Liu has mysteriously disappeared. I must trouble you, Steward Zhao, to send people to search thoroughly. Even if she can’t be found, at least inform Father so he can make a decision.”

Steward Zhao nodded. “Understood, I will dispatch people immediately.”

When it came to the affairs of the Anle Marquis household, this was no trivial matter. Zhao knew how to prioritize.

Moreover, he was already planning to report the matter of Chunyan’s theft to the Marquis, so mentioning Nurse Liu’s disappearance was not an inconvenience.

Once Steward Zhao had left, Jiang Rui wearily returned to her room.

At present, she had only one loyal servant, Cuiliu, available to her and could not mount a large-scale search for Nurse Liu; she had to rely on Steward Zhao’s men.

On this very night in her previous life, Jiang Rui had been punished to kneel in the ancestral hall and was barely able to protect herself. She was unaware of Nurse Liu’s disappearance and never saw her one last time. She only knew that Nurse Liu had been beaten to death, her corpse desecrated, and thrown onto the city’s mass grave outside the walls.

In Jiang Rui’s memories, Nurse Liu was a slightly plump middle-aged woman, nearing fifty, with half-white hair. She was a native of the Hou household but had no surviving family and remained alone in the estate.

Therefore, in her past life, when she learned she was supposedly Nurse Liu’s niece, Jiang Rui’s first reaction was disbelief.

She had heard Nurse Liu say that sixteen years ago, when the capital was thrown into chaos, Nurse Liu’s entire family perished. Only Nurse Liu, who had served Madam Shen, managed to escape the capital with the Marquis family, saving her life.

If Nurse Liu’s whole family was gone, where could a niece have come from?

If Jiang Rui truly was Nurse Liu’s niece, why had Nurse Liu never mentioned a word about it during all the years she stayed by Jiang Rui’s side?

But with Nurse Liu’s death in the previous life, the answers to these questions became impossible for Jiang Rui to uncover…

Seated on the warm kang bed, Jiang Rui rested her head on her hand, troubled in thought.

“Miss, you’re unwell; you should rest early,” Cuiliu said, taking a blanket nearby and draping it over Jiang Rui’s legs.

Only then did Jiang Rui notice that the three maids—Xing’er, Tao’er, and Li’er—were standing quietly by the kang, their eyes lowered as they awaited her instructions.

“Ahem…” Jiang Rui cleared her throat. “Here, rewards and punishments are clear. Chunyan made a mistake and deserves punishment. You all performed well today; there will be rewards.”

After giving each of the three maids a silver tael, Jiang Rui dismissed them.

Now, only Jiang Rui and Cuiliu remained in the room.

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“Cuiliu, this is your freedom contract. Keep it well.”

Jiang Rui took Cuiliu’s contract from the box and placed it in her hand.

“From now on, you are free. Your brother has long wished to bring you home.”

“Miss!” Cuiliu knelt at Jiang Rui’s feet, tears shining in her eyes. “Are you abandoning me?”

Jiang Rui stroked Cuiliu’s head gently. “Cuiliu, Nurse Liu has disappeared. Something serious may happen tomorrow, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of you.”

Tomorrow was the day the real eldest miss, Jiang Yao, was to come and recognize her kin. Jiang Rui was far from confident she would come through it unscathed.

Letting Cuiliu regain her freedom and leave the Marquis household might be the best way to protect her.

“No need, Miss. Cuiliu can take care of herself!”

Tears soaked Jiang Rui’s skirt as Cuiliu crawled forward, clutching Jiang Rui’s legs tightly.

“Miss, I was sold into this household at eight years old. If you hadn’t saved me and protected me, I’d have been bullied to death long ago. You have been the kindest to me in this world. I don’t want to leave you!”

“Silly girl, get up!” Jiang Rui helplessly pulled Cuiliu up and let her sit beside her.

When Cuiliu was sold into the Marquis household, she was only a lowly maid in the outer courtyard, sweeping and cleaning.

She wasn’t very clever or quick-witted and was often bullied by the senior maids. Jiang Rui had occasionally noticed and taken pity on her, eventually bringing her closer.

“Cuiliu, I’m not driving you away. Returning your contract means restoring your freedom. If you wish, you may still stay with me.”

Jiang Rui gently patted Cuiliu’s head solemnly.

“But my days ahead may not be easy. Are you sure you want to stay with me?”

Without hesitation, Cuiliu nodded. “No matter how hard it gets, Cuiliu wants to stay with Miss!”

Jiang Rui sighed and embraced the steadfast Cuiliu.

“Miss?”

Cuiliu was overwhelmed with affection.

Jiang Rui held back tears, clutching Cuiliu tightly.

“Silly Cuiliu, I will protect you.”

“And Cuiliu will protect Miss!”

…

The next morning, Jiang Rui, citing illness, sent word to the main hall and did not go to pay respects to Madam Shen.

She had just offended Madam Shen the day before and did not want to tempt fate by showing up now.

Last night, Steward Zhao had sent people to search the estate but found no sign of Nurse Liu.

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Early that morning, Jiang Rui also instructed Cuiliu to keep watch at each gate, and if Nurse Liu returned, to immediately report to Qingfang Garden.

After a breakfast filled with countless anxieties, Jiang Rui was anxiously waiting when Nurse Qin, who served Madam Shen, came to summon her to the main hall.

Jiang Rui’s heart tightened; this was the guest hall, not Madam Shen’s quarters.

Could it be that Jiang Yao was here to acknowledge kinship?

Accompanied by Cuiliu, Jiang Rui followed Nurse Qin to the main hall.

The Anle Marquis had gone to the magistrate’s office for roll call, leaving only Madam Shen sitting at the head of the hall, staring darkly at Jiang Rui as she entered.

Jiang Rui’s eyes quickly scanned the hall; besides Madam Shen and her serving maids, only the steward of the Caiyun Pavilion knelt nervously to one side.

She immediately understood—the real Jiang Yao had not yet arrived. This was about the incident yesterday when Caiyun Pavilion was vandalized.

“Daughter pays respects to Mother,” Jiang Rui said respectfully.

Madam Shen snorted coldly. “Do you still consider me your mother?”

“You speak too harshly, Mother,” Jiang Rui replied perfunctorily. “I have always respected you.”

“Harsh? You are disrespectful, failing to pay your respects and what you did yesterday—you know well enough!”

Thinking of yesterday, Madam Shen was furious that Jiang Rui not only failed to defend her but also revealed to the Marquis the estate’s income figures from last year, making her furious enough to wish she could kill this unfilial girl.

After Jiang Rui left the main quarters yesterday, the Marquis and Madam Shen had a fierce quarrel.

Suspecting Madam Shen of embezzlement, the Marquis had, against her protests, opened her dowry chest and taken out ten thousand silver taels.

Had Madam Shen not threatened with her life, he would have taken even more.

“Mother, I was unwell and couldn’t come to pay respects. You know that already from yesterday.”

Jiang Rui swayed slightly, and Cuiliu quickly helped her sit down.

“And about yesterday—you already hit and scolded me. Now, in front of Steward Tao, you want to humiliate me?”

The steward of Caiyun Pavilion, kneeling on the ground, shrank into a small bundle, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. He had no wish to hear the family’s secrets, which might be dangerous.

Madam Shen’s expression darkened further.

Yesterday’s quarrel over the Marquis taking a concubine was a harsh blow to her pride.

She glanced at Steward Tao on the floor and pointed at Jiang Rui, beginning her interrogation.

“How do you manage the shop? Did you offend the Princess of Qingcheng, causing the Caiyun Pavilion to be vandalized?”