Yun Chu smiled faintly.

She looked around the entire room. Apart from the four walls that belonged to the Xie Family, which item here hadn’t been purchased by her?

These things, even if she fed them to dogs, would be better than giving them to this pack of ungrateful wolves.

She spoke: “Since Shiwei has said as much, if I as a mother still insisted on beating you with the rod, that truly would be too heartless. However, can you produce one thousand taels of silver?”

Xie Shiwei was immediately at a loss for words.

He received a few taels of silver as monthly allowance. The old matriarch would give him some silver, and his grandmother would give him some too. Adding it all up, about twenty or thirty taels of silver, all of which he had spent recklessly. He couldn’t produce even a single coin from his pocket.

Yun Chu raised her hand slightly: “Can’t produce it? Then we’ll reluctantly piece something together.”

Tingshuang and Tingxue stepped forward and began moving things.

Several manservants and servants from outside walked in to help with the moving.

The originally exquisite bedroom became empty in an instant.

Xie Shiwei endured the pain and asked with restraint: “What is Mother doing?”

“First, these items are barely worth some silver, so consider it your compensation for the cricket.” Yun Chu said unhurriedly. “Second, books say that when Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on someone, it must first make their mind suffer, make their sinews and bones toil, make their body endure hunger… When Shiwei first entered the Xie residence, you were well-behaved, sensible, and obedient. Now you’re becoming increasingly unruly. It seems I’ve been raising my child too meticulously and spoiling you. From today onward, your food, clothing, and daily necessities will all be reduced by half. When you show improvement, that’s when things will be restored.”

Xie Shiwei burst into wailing tears: “Mother, no! I know I was wrong!”

Yun Chu turned around and left with her people.

“Mother, don’t go! I really will change, I promise I’ll change! Please, Mother, don’t treat me like this…”

Xie Shiwei climbed down from the bed, crawling on both hands and feet, but was held tight by He Shi.

“Shiwei, the madam is doing this for your own good…”

He Shi spoke with difficulty to console him.

Compared to Shi’an, Shiwei was indeed far too immature.

This time she wouldn’t go complain to the old matriarch. She hoped that under the madam’s discipline, Shiwei could truly improve.

He Shi comforted him for quite a while before Xie Shiwei gradually fell asleep and quieted down.

She walked into the courtyard and let out a sigh.

Too many things had happened these past few days—more than all of the previous four years combined. She felt somewhat overwhelmed.

Walking outside, she heard several servants whispering among themselves.

“What are you saying? Starting tomorrow, there’ll be no afternoon melon seeds or tea?”

“That’s what people from the eldest miss’s courtyard said. Tomorrow morning they’ll announce it. The eldest miss’s first day helping the madam manage the household, and she’s already targeting us?”

“Melon seeds and tea cost barely anything. The eldest miss really doesn’t regard us menial servants as people.”

“If the eldest miss truly won’t even give us a cup of tea, then from now on when the eldest miss orders me to do things, I won’t do them either.”

“…”

“What are you all gathering here for in the dead of night!” He Shi emerged from the shadows and said coldly, “Disperse immediately.”

Everyone knew she was Nanny He, the most trusted person by the master, so they dared not say anything more. Lowering their heads, they scattered to attend to their own tasks.

She took advantage of the night to go to Xie Ping’s courtyard.

Xie Ping was still reviewing account books. When she saw her arrive, her brows immediately furrowed: “Didn’t I tell you? Come to my quarters less often.”

She was now the legitimate eldest miss of the Xie residence and didn’t particularly want to associate too closely with a servant, even if that person was her birth mother.

He Shi carefully chose her words: “Ping… Miss…”

“What are you calling me?” Xie Ping said with displeasure. “You’re a managing matron in Father’s courtyard. You should properly address me as eldest miss. Don’t make me keep reminding you.”

“Yes, eldest miss.” He Shi concealed her disappointment and spoke: “I heard the servants in the courtyard say that eldest miss has canceled the daily afternoon tea and refreshments?”

Xie Ping nodded: “Yes. What of it?”

“This won’t do.” He Shi said slowly and gravely. “You’ve only just begun helping the madam manage the household, yet you’re making such drastic changes. This will make those below resent you. Later when you need to handle matters, they won’t obey and will create many difficulties for you. Don’t think that just because those menial servants have lowly status that you shouldn’t take them seriously. They…”

“Enough!” Xie Ping’s face was full of impatience. “Mother already said my method is excellent. What qualifications do you have to say it won’t work? Mother is the eldest miss of the Yun Family and understands everything. You’re just a menial servant. Do you think I should listen to you or listen to Mother? I still need to review the account books and have no time to talk with you. Someone come, please escort Nanny He out.”

A maid walked in and made a gesture of invitation.

He Shi wanted to say more, but Xie Ping gave her no opportunity, taking the account books straight into the inner chamber.

She walked out of the courtyard, her eyes narrowing.

She replayed the events of these past few days repeatedly in her mind.

Although the madam’s outbursts each time had their reasons, somehow she vaguely sensed that the madam seemed to be deliberately targeting her children.

The old matriarch and the mistress listened to everything the madam said. The master also allowed the madam to discipline the children freely. Even if the madam beat the children to disability, the Xie Family would probably think the madam was doing it for the children’s future prospects…

Whether or not she was overthinking it, she couldn’t just sit idly by.

A plan surfaced in He Shi’s mind.

Rising early in the morning, spring rain pattered lightly outside the window. The fresh air improved Yun Chu’s mood somewhat.

As Tingshuang was arranging her hair, she said quietly: “Last night, Nanny He delivered a pot of flowers to Concubine Tao on behalf of the master.”

Concubine Tao was Xie Jingyu’s third concubine, a fine concubine bestowed by his superior. She was currently pregnant and would give birth in a little over three months.

Yun Chu selected a hairpin to wear: “Continue monitoring He Shi.”

She knew it—under her successive moves, He Shi would certainly take action.

In her previous life, Concubine Tao’s child had met with trouble… All evidence pointed to her, claiming she had intended to harm Concubine Tao’s child.

Originally the Xie Family had still respected her, but after this incident, her status in the residence plummeted…

Concubine Tao’s child hadn’t died, but had suffered brain damage—unable to speak or walk, looking utterly foolish. It was she who searched everywhere for famous physicians to treat this child. It was she who begged and pleaded to obtain that divine physician. It was she who cared for the child day and night without rest… But after curing this child, what had she gained?

Yun Chu smiled mockingly.

In this lifetime, He Shi had acted more than a month earlier than in the previous life. She wondered whether the Xie Family’s fourth young master would have the fortune to be born alive.

Just as she finished washing up, Xie Shi’an came to pay his respects.

Because he needed to attend his studies, he came first every day, waiting properly in the side hall for Yun Chu to emerge.

Yun Chu chatted casually with him for a few sentences. Seeing he wasn’t rushing to go to the school hall, she couldn’t help but ask: “Is there something else?”

“I’m waiting for Father.” Xie Shi’an replied. “Father is going to Prince Pingxi’s residence and wants me to accompany him. Does Mother have any instructions?”

Yun Chu said warmly: “Just be careful on the road.”

Xie Jingyu valued this eldest son most. Starting so early to pave the way for his eldest son—such devoted paternal love truly moved her.

What a pity that Xie Shi’an would never again achieve the accomplishments of her previous life.