A flash of anger passed through Jirong’s eyes. She had already warned Chunxiu long ago not to go too far with everything, but she just wouldn’t listen. Now look what happened—she had angered Nanny Yang, and who knew how this would end.
“I didn’t!” Chunxiu exclaimed upon hearing Nanny Yang’s words. “It was Wu Meixue and Jiang Caiping who caused trouble—they’re the ones who should be expelled from the residence!”
Nanny Yang said coldly, “I’m not yet blind with age. I can see perfectly clearly who’s causing trouble. I didn’t speak up before because I wanted to give you a chance, but not only did you fail to restrain yourself, you became even worse. Do you really think this music hall is a place where you, Feng Chunxiu, call the shots?”
She spoke that last sentence with particular emphasis, making Chunxiu’s body tremble as she said uneasily, “I… I didn’t!”
“Whether you did or not, I know in my heart.” With that, Nanny Yang impatiently urged, “Enough, leave quickly. Don’t obstruct others from practicing dance here.”
Chunxiu was unwilling to comply. Just as she was about to argue with her, she was already pulled back by Jirong, who said, “Nanny, although Chunxiu did wrong, expelling her from the residence is no small matter. Perhaps… we should discuss it with Steward Lin before making a decision?”
Chunxiu caught on and quickly said, “Exactly! Although you manage this music hall, you have no authority to expel me from the Governor’s residence.”
Nanny Yang stared at her expressionlessly for a long time. Then a smile appeared on her no-longer-young face as she said, “You’re right—I indeed have no authority to expel you from the Governor’s residence. So the one who gave this order wasn’t me, but… Second Madam!”
Upon hearing this, not only Chunxiu but even Jirong turned pale. Second Madam was not only the mistress of the residence but also managed all its affairs, large and small. If she had truly given this order, it meant there was almost no possibility of reversal, unless they could persuade the Governor himself—but was that possible?
“Impossible! Second Madam wouldn’t do this. I don’t believe it—you must be lying!” Chunxiu murmured. She had worked so hard to enter the Governor’s residence and struggled to become lead dancer. Now Nanny Yang wanted to expel her with just one sentence—how could she accept this!
Seeing that Chunxiu still stood there without moving, Nanny Yang said displeasedly, “Why aren’t you leaving yet? Do you want me to call people to drag you out?”
Jirong quickly said, “Nanny, please don’t be angry. I’ll take Chunxiu to pack her things right away and return later to practice dance.”
After Nanny Yang nodded, she hurriedly pulled Chunxiu away. Watching their retreating figures, Jiang Caiping said with satisfaction, “This is wonderful! Now we won’t have to endure her bullying anymore.” She looked at Yunyi with both joy and admiration, “Sister, you’re amazing! You just spoke about it yesterday, and today it came true. It’s simply…” She thought for a moment and said with a grin, “Like a prophetic immortal.”
Someone nearby heard her words and asked curiously, “Immortal? What immortal?”
Yunyi smiled and said, “It’s nothing—don’t listen to this girl’s nonsense.” After that person looked away, she made a silencing gesture to Jiang Caiping and lowered her voice, “Don’t tell anyone else, or next time something happens, I won’t tell you about it!”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Caiping quickly covered her lips with her hands. After a while, she released them and said in a voice only they could hear, “I understand—heavenly secrets must not be revealed!”
Meanwhile, on Chunxiu’s side, after being forcibly dragged back to their room by Jirong, she violently shook off Jirong’s hand and said harshly, “Why did you drag me back? I wasn’t finished speaking!”
Jirong stared at her coldly, “What more could you say? Didn’t you hear Nanny Yang’s words? This is an order from Second Madam. Even if we go to Steward Lin, it won’t help. Unless you’re planning to seek out the Governor?”
“I…” Chunxiu was left speechless by her question. With their status, they couldn’t even enter Songtao Residence, let alone persuade the Governor to intercede. The next moment, she grabbed Jirong’s sleeve and said frantically, “Sister, you must help me this time. I… I don’t want to leave!”
Jirong said irritably, “Tell me, how many times have I advised you not to always target Wu Meixue and Jiang Caiping? After all, Nanny Yang was still there, but you just wouldn’t listen. You even said Nanny Yang couldn’t do anything to you. Now look—forget staying in the music hall, you can’t even remain in the residence. And that Zhang Chenyue—I also told you she was scheming and to be careful when speaking with her. You agreed verbally, but in your heart, you didn’t take my words seriously.”
Chunxiu said urgently, “No, I listened to sister’s words! I didn’t say a single word to her about helping the Crown Prince prepare medicine.”
“What about other things?” Jirong said coldly. “Every time Zhang Chenyue whispered a few provocative words in your ear, you couldn’t help but run off to trouble the Wu women. Now that you’re in trouble, has Zhang Chenyue said even one word to help you? She acts respectful to your face, but she’s actually just using you. Smart people use their mouths, stupid people use their hands—how true that is.” With that, she sighed, “It’s also my fault for being so busy with medicine preparation lately that I didn’t have time to talk with you properly, giving her the opportunity.”
Chunxiu also thought of how Zhang Chenyue had remained silent just now, allowing Nanny Yang to expel her. Her heart filled with resentment as she gritted her teeth, “That wench! Don’t let me find an opportunity in the future, or I’ll make her pay.” Then she pleaded again, “I know I was wrong. From now on, I’ll listen to sister in everything. Please help me just this once.”
Jirong said with annoyance, “This matter has even alarmed Second Madam—how do you expect me to help you?”
Chunxiu also understood that things had gotten serious this time. She truly hadn’t expected Nanny Yang to be so cunning—appearing silent on the surface but turning around to complain about her to Second Madam. It was all because she had thought things too simply.
“But if I leave the Governor’s residence now, I’ll have nothing left. I’m not willing to accept this—I really can’t accept it.” She pleaded, “Sister, you’ve always been resourceful. You must be able to think of a way. I can leave the music hall—I just need to stay in the residence.”
She valued not only the Governor’s residence’s monthly wages but also hoped to win the favor of one of the young masters here, so she could soar to great heights and become a person of status.
Jirong sat in the chair and said helplessly, “I also wish there were a way, but Nanny Yang is determined to expel you this time, even willing to alarm Second Madam. And I’m just a small dancer—what can I do? Right now, you only have one path: leaving the residence.”
“No! I don’t want to take that path!” Chunxiu rejected Jirong’s words without thinking, frantically pacing back and forth in the room, trying to think of a solution. Surprisingly, she actually came up with an idea. She said urgently, “Sister, aren’t you helping First Young Master prepare medicine? Why don’t you go beg First Young Master? If he’s willing to intervene, Second Madam will surely give him face.”