What should have been a wonderful night of the full moon was now made heart-stopping by the swaying glazed lamps. The red tassels of the landscape painting lanterns in the corridor spun round and round in the wind, rising and falling.
“Ming’er, Zheng’er, stand by your wives. Though men usually don’t need to manage such matters, it’s rare for you two brothers to witness the execution of family discipline—teaching a lesson to a treacherous slave who climbs above her station despite her master’s kindness.” Zhang Shi was determined today to dampen Qiu Sanniang’s spirit. In her heart, she even believed that if she beat Mo Zi to death, from then on Qiu Sanniang would be meat on a chopping block, to be sliced however she wished. The entire Qiu mansion would be truly controlled by her, with no one daring to oppose her anymore.
Seeing that the maid his mother was punishing was an unfamiliar face and not one of those treasured darlings from his own courtyard, Qiu Wu walked over to Fifth Mistress’s side with a grinning face. Taking advantage of her inattention, he hid his hand behind his back to pinch the hand of Fifth Mistress’s dowry maid.
This brazen behavior—everyone turned a blind eye to it.
Qiu Si, however, didn’t stand with Fourth Mistress. Instead, he positioned himself to Zhang Shi’s right side. When he opened his mouth, it was surprisingly to persuade. “Mother, spring nights are cool. You only recently recovered from your cold—don’t harm your health over an insignificant slave and relapse into your old coughing ailment.”
His voice was neither high nor low, but everyone in the courtyard could hear clearly. Others didn’t react much, but Fourth Mistress immediately cast him an astonished glance.
Just as Qiu Si was Zhang Shi’s most beloved and trusted son, Fourth Mistress was also Zhang Shi’s favorite daughter-in-law. This was not only because her maternal family were major silk producers in Yun Zhou, but also because she was born a legitimate daughter, virtuous and gentle, with an especially good temperament. When Zhang Shi placed Ai Lian and Ai Liu in Qiu Si’s quarters, she accepted them completely—she’d even personally arranged the ceremony for Qiu Si to take Ai Lian as a concubine.
“My son, if I don’t punish this lowly thing tonight, I’ll be angered to death instead.” Zhang Shi’s mind was made up. “Just thinking that she almost seduced Master Wei makes my chest tighten.”
Nearly blurting out that this was completely fabricated, Qiu Si opened his mouth but closed it again. In his view, since Mother insisted on punishing Mo Zi, persuasion would be useless—he could only wait for a better opportunity to speak.
“Someone, pull these two lowly maids away from me.” Zhang Shi roared in anger.
No one dared defy Zhang Shi at this moment. Ai Xing and Ai Tao each brought junior maids forward to pull Bai He and Lu Ju away.
“Beat her, beat her hard.” The bitter pleas of Bai He and Lu Ju only made Zhang Shi even more furious.
Granny An bent down and said to Mo Zi, “Quickly lie down on the ground yourself.” She’d never disliked Mo Zi and hadn’t expected the mistress to make an example of this maid—she felt somewhat sorry for Mo Zi.
Mo Zi still sat upright. The hand covering her face had already lowered. In the lamplight, her complexion was bright red, her liquid eyes rippling with clear light—she actually radiated a compelling beauty. Her hair scattered but not disordered, her clothes stained with dust yet dancing—she seemed like an immortal banished from beyond the heavens.
Looking at Mo Zi like this, Qiu Si’s eyes grew even darker and more profound.
The two servant women executing the family discipline raised their rods high, hesitating to strike—
“Wait.” Neither hurried nor slow, neither high nor low in volume, Qiu Sanniang broke the silence.
Though Zhang Shi ostensibly had the say in this household, Qiu Sanniang’s position as legitimate eldest daughter still commanded respect. Hearing this, the servant women stopped the rods in mid-air, eyes fixed on Zhang Shi, awaiting her meaning.
“Sanniang, this family discipline rod was left by your grandmother to the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qiu family, specifically for disciplining the mansion’s servants. Your father is the sole heir of his line, your mother passed early. Though I’m a replacement wife, I’m still the legitimate wife recorded in the family genealogy. As a junior, you should understand the rules.” Zhang Shi had requested the family discipline rod precisely to prevent Qiu Sanniang from saving anyone.
“It’s precisely because your daughter understands the rules that I ask Mother to stop.” In contrast to Mo Zi’s radiant beauty, Qiu Sanniang’s face was cold and aloof, high and distant, unapproachable.
“What rule is this?” Looking at Qiu Sanniang’s proud coldness, Zhang Shi felt an inexplicable fear in her heart and grew even more hateful.
“Mother is now the unquestionable authority of the inner quarters, so naturally you have the power to use family discipline. On this point, Sanniang cannot object. However, if Sanniang remembers correctly, the family discipline rod Grandmother passed to the eldest daughter-in-law can only discipline servants who meet one condition.” Qiu Sanniang was confident.
“How could I not know this? Those who can be beaten must only be servants sold for life. But in my inner quarters, everyone from second-rank maids and above has signed a death contract, unless I tear up the contract and release—” Zhang Shi suddenly couldn’t continue.
Mo Zi lowered her head, her lips pressed flat, then gradually curving slightly upward.
“Does Mother have Mo Zi’s indenture contract in hand?” Qiu Sanniang’s eyes flashed with brilliance, then pressed aggressively. “If you do, that would be strange indeed—she was clearly bought by me from outside.”
How could Zhang Shi possibly have such an indenture contract? And only now did she remember—never mind Mo Zi’s, she didn’t have a single one for Bai He, Lu Ju, or Xiao Yi either. Because she’d always regarded those four maids as servants of the mansion. Since they belonged to the mansion, they were hers to beat and scold. Having brought out the family discipline rod, she’d thought their little lives were in her palm and Qiu Sanniang could only watch helplessly.
Zhang Shi had been so pleased with herself, but she’d been overconfident. If Qiu Sanniang hadn’t brought it up, she’d almost forgotten about this conditional restriction. Having long been accustomed to beating and scolding servants, she’d regarded herself as the mistress of all maids, servant women, and old women.
“Though the indenture contract is in your hands, as long as you’re still part of the Qiu family and I’m your mother, can’t I discipline slaves on your behalf?” Wanting to have proper justification, Zhang Shi used her status to pressure Qiu Sanniang.
“You’re an elder—if you want to say something to my maids, I’m deeply grateful. However, no matter what, I’m Mo Zi’s directly serving mistress. If you beat her to death, I’m afraid that wouldn’t be proper? A death contract means the life of the seller on the contract belongs to the buyer. If relatives went to the authorities and filed a complaint against Mother, that would be troublesome.” Qiu Sanniang’s momentum was like a rainbow, her words sharp as swords.
Zhang Shi was already completely on the losing end, her eyes bulging wide, unable to say a single word.
“Mo Zi doesn’t understand the rules, and Mother has already slapped her once. Properly speaking, without my permission, that also shouldn’t be done. But I understand Mother did it for my good. So I’ll consider it tacitly approved. However, the family discipline rod is too excessive. Please calm your anger, Mother. I’ll go back and teach her properly.” Qiu Sanniang truly stomped on her while she was down.
Mo Zi saw that Zhang Shi was about to faint from anger.
“Mo Zi, what are you standing there in a daze for? I say you’re stupid, and you really are slow to catch on. The mistress won’t beat you anymore—hurry and thank her.” Qiu Sanniang gave Mo Zi a significant look.
“Thank you for the mistress’s magnanimity.” After Mo Zi finished speaking, she changed from sitting to standing.
“The matter is concluded. Mother, please rest early. Don’t harm your health over a small maid.” Qiu Sanniang curtsied. “Your daughter will take her leave now.”
Bai He and Lu Ju stood there dumbly, wondering how this matter had ended.
“Sister Bai He, aren’t you going to hold the lamp for the young miss?” Mo Zi, however, acted as if nothing had happened, her voice like pearls falling on a jade plate—crisp and clear.
Only then did the two respond, hurrying to raise the glazed lamps. Qiu Sanniang was led by the two of them, followed by Mo Zi and Xiao Yi, walking toward the courtyard gate.
The maids and servant women blocking the door to watch the excitement all made way.
After the five had left the courtyard, they heard a commotion of shouting inside. Those calling for Mother, those calling for Mother-in-law, those calling for the Mistress, and those saying to fetch a physician.
It turned out Zhang Shi had actually fainted from anger.
Must be too little exercise, too wicked a heart, not enough exposure to stimulation, leading to difficulty breathing and oxygen deprivation. Though Mo Zi thought this, she didn’t have the slightest bit of sympathy.