Volume 1, Chapter 9: A Ridiculous Apology

Shang Yinqiong twirled a strand of her hair around her fingertip, her voice gradually cooling. Though she did not raise her tone, there was an inescapable sense of oppression in her words. "You must all understand that regardless of how long you have served in this estate, your position is that of a servant. No matter how poorly you may think of me, I am still the legitimate Third Miss of this household. If you wish to overstep your bounds, you had better see if my father agrees."

Although the Duke of Zhen was mercenary and always swayed by his wife’s pillow talk, he was sharper than anyone when it came to his own interests and reputation. The servants below exchanged uneasy glances.

Shang Yinqiong stopped there. "As long as you keep to your duties, I will not make things difficult for you. You may go now; I will arrange your future tasks one by one."

As most of the people left the room, it instantly became empty. She made a mental note of those who had been eager to take the lead, waiting for the right moment to deal with them.

"Third Miss, these are the jewelry pieces my young master sent as a formal apology."

The servant boy had walked straight in without waiting for any announcement. Such behavior made it clear that he did not regard Shang Yinqiong as his mistress.

Shang Yinqiong lifted her eyelids slightly, gazing coldly at the uninvited guest. "If you do not understand the rules, I do not mind having my eldest brother teach you a lesson."

The servant was stunned into silence by this sudden, forceful display of authority.

Shang Yinqiong continued, "In the three years I spent in the palace, I learned many ways to leave a mark without a trace. If you don't believe me, feel free to try. I am not a person of gentle nature."

The servant knew full well that the Third Miss before him held no real power, yet under her piercing gaze, his legs felt weak with fear. He retreated a few steps, looking visibly terrified, and bowed respectfully.

"That is more like it."

Shang Yinqiong’s fingertip traced the rim of her teacup, her expression unchanged. "Put the items on the table."

She did not believe for a moment that Shang Fei would truly offer something valuable as an apology. Given the humiliation he had suffered, it was impossible that he wasn't harboring some malice.

The servant placed the wooden box on the table and slowly opened it. Inside lay several hairpins and earrings made of silver—not only was the craftsmanship crude, but they were not even a matching set.

Shang Yinqiong picked up a hairpin and toyed with it. "I must thank my eldest brother for taking such pains to gather these."

"Third Miss, my young master was naturally meticulous in his collection. However... you should understand that in this estate, no one takes you seriously. Being able to use such things is already an act of great benevolence from my master." The servant’s words were filled with thinly veiled condescension.

As a servant, he would never have dared to speak so bluntly on his own; it was clearly Shang Fei using the boy's mouth to express his true thoughts.

Shang Yinqiong curled her lips slightly, her gaze languid and indifferent. "The items are delivered; why are you still lingering here? Aren't you going to report my reaction to your master?"

It was obvious that Shang Fei had specifically chosen a set of low-grade silver ornaments to humiliate her. He was likely hoping she would fly into a rage, giving him a reason to use family law to "discipline" her.

The servant had not expected the Third Miss to show no flicker of emotion or the anticipated anger upon seeing the gift. Seeing that he would get nothing more, he left in chagrin.

Shang Yinqiong exerted force, bending the hairpin into an arc. "Boring."

She had intended to take a few days to familiarize herself with this long-lost home, but it seemed some people would not grant her even a moment of respite. She could no longer afford to sit still and wait for disaster.

She shoved the box of jewelry into a cabinet and, without taking any maids with her, stepped out of the courtyard.

In the garden, Nanny Tang had been waiting for some time.

Shang Yinqiong bowed respectfully. "Nanny Tang, I have come because..."

Before she could finish, Nanny Tang mysteriously produced a heavy cloth bag and placed it before her. "Third Miss, the things you wanted are all inside."

Nanny Tang had been accompanying the Old Madam in the temple, chanting scriptures and incense, and had wished to stay away from the dust of the secular world. Yet, after hearing of the Third Miss’s tragic plight, she felt deeply moved.

"Grandmother is truly..."

Shang Yinqiong’s eyes brimmed with tears. She bit her lip hard to prevent them from falling. "Grandmother is, after all, part of the Duke of Zhen’s estate. For me to do this..."

She could not bring herself to finish the sentence.

Nanny Tang’s weathered face softened into a kind expression. She placed her calloused hand over Shang Yinqiong’s. "The Old Madam knows that you are a kind-hearted child by nature. We all understand your desire for revenge, and we know you are not a cruel or heartless person."

"Oh, right." Nanny Tang gestured to a wooden tray on the stone bench behind her, which held several bolts of fabric. "The clothes you are wearing are styles from three years ago. The Old Madam specifically ordered the finest fabrics; the tailor will arrive at the estate shortly to take your measurements."

Shang Yinqiong touched the fabric, its soft texture something to cherish.

"At your age, Third Miss, you should be dressed beautifully," Nanny Tang said sincerely.

A flicker of sweetness grew silently within Shang Yinqiong’s heart. "Please convey to Grandmother that I will forever remember her kindness."

Nanny Tang nodded approvingly. The Old Madam was right about her after all.

***

Elsewhere, Jiang Xuanyan stroked the jade pendant in his palm, lost in memory. He kept feeling that the woman he met at the temple had a familiar air about her, and the faint scent of gardenias on her only served to overlap her image with the person in his memories.

"Canren, how goes the investigation I tasked you with?" Jiang Xuanyan’s voice was low, his emotions impossible to discern.

Canren, standing guard with his blade at his side, replied, "Your Highness, it is true that the Third Miss of the Duke of Zhen’s estate lived in the palace for the past three years, but..."

"Continue." Jiang Xuanyan felt a slight jolt in his heart, his aura becoming increasingly somber.

Canren continued, "The Third Miss entered the palace as a servant and suffered much abuse. As for whether she is the girl from the village you are looking for, it has yet to be verified."

"Has she lived in the Duke of Zhen’s estate all this time?" Jiang Xuanyan’s face was half-hidden in the shadows, his expression obscure and heavy with a sense of encroachment.

Canren lowered his head. "The Duke of Zhen’s estate claims the Third Miss was sickly from a young age and was raised in a temple in the suburbs. She was only brought back upon coming of age, and later entered the palace to atone for a mistake."

This was the result of their investigation, but Canren knew clearly that this information would not satisfy Jiang Xuanyan.

Jiang Xuanyan also found the conjecture absurd. How could a proper young lady of a noble house end up in a remote border village thousands of miles away?

Had he really been wrong?