Fifteen Servants Educated

“I see it’s not that you don’t dare, but that your audacity knows no bounds. Since I can’t control you, from now on, go wherever you please. Our Magnolia Court can no longer afford to keep you.”

All heads lifted simultaneously—some glanced at the matriarch Jiang, others at Lady Li and Jiang Shuyu.

“Why are you all looking at them? Did Grandmother, Second Madam, or your younger sister instruct you to act this way?”

Their faces instantly darkened as they glared fiercely at those before them.

Foolish brutes!

Matriarch Jiang picked up a cup and hurled it at Aunt Wu. Scalding tea spilled over her hand; she dared not utter a sound, bowing her head and trembling.

“You have acted recklessly, bullying Wan’er like this. For all the years you’ve served, I’ll have you all beaten with twenty lashes.”

“Mother is right. If this happens again, you’ll be sold off immediately,” Lady Li added in agreement.

The group’s earlier arrogance vanished; they kowtowed, pleading, “Please spare us, Matriarch and Madam.”

“Guards! Drag them out,” Matriarch Jiang ordered impatiently.

“Wait,” Jiang Shuwan spoke up, looking at her grandmother. “Grandmother, you promised me earlier that if their words were untrue, I could decide their fate.”

Matriarch Jiang paused, then nodded. “They belong to your household, so you may deal with them as you see fit.”

“Thank you, Grandmother. You heard their laziness yourself, so I no longer want them here. After their punishment, I intend to either sell them or send them to the outer courtyard.”

Their faces turned pale as they begged for mercy, “Please, Matriarch, Miss, have mercy.”

Matriarch Jiang cast them a sidelong glance and said coolly, “It’s all up to you. I’m tired; you may leave now.”

“Very well. Since this concerns my household, I will take them to my courtyard for punishment. I won’t disturb Grandmother’s afternoon rest.”

Matriarch Jiang pressed her forehead and nodded lightly.

The servants were dragged away.

Everyone dispersed.

Just as they stepped out of the Hall of Eternal Grace, Jiang Xunian suddenly remembered something and called out sharply to Jiang Shuwan, who was walking ahead.

“Jiang Shuwan, stop!”

A flicker of disdain crossed her eyes before she turned with a quick smile. “Father, what is it?”

“Where did you go this morning?”

“To Cien Temple to pray for the Marquis of Pingning!”

A woman’s marriage was traditionally arranged by parents and matchmakers, yet yesterday Jiang Shuwan had privately agreed to the match. Though she harbored thoughts of accompanying him in death, she had still challenged his authority.

By agreeing on her own to marry the Marquis of Pingning, she had brought shame upon the family patriarch.

His face darkened like iron. “Ungrateful daughter! Who allowed you to agree without consulting me first?”

“Grandmother did,” Jiang Shuwan replied innocently.

“You…” Jiang Xunian was speechless.

“If Father has no other business, I have matters to attend to. I will come find you later.”

Without another word, Jiang Shuwan left.

Jiang Xunian’s chest heaved with anger.

“Uncle, don’t be upset. It’s bad for your health,” Lady Li stepped forward and patted his back.

Jiang Xueyu echoed, “Yes, Father. She won’t trouble you for long—she’ll soon be consigned to the afterlife. Then she won’t anger you anymore.”

Their comfort eased Jiang Xunian’s fury considerably.

“Uncle, the goods from the Shen family have arrived.”

Suddenly, a young servant came to report.

Their eyes brightened.

Clearing his throat, Jiang Xunian said, “Have them place the items in the main hall. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Xueyu’s eyes sparkled as she urged, “Father, let’s go.”

“Mm.”

The anger that had nearly made Jiang Xunian spit blood quickly melted into a smile.

They briskly made their way to the main hall.

***

Magnolia Court.

Returning to Magnolia Court, Jiang Shuwan heard wails and howls outside the courtyard.

A smirk played on her lips as she entered.

Before her stood a row of servants, pressed against a long bench, their backsides being struck by two wooden paddles roughly the size of palms.

Liusu, who had returned earlier, hurried over. “Miss.”

“Hm, go fetch me a chair, some sunflower seeds, and tea for the courtyard.”

Liusu hesitated briefly but quickly caught on to Jiang Shuwan’s intent, smiling as she went inside.

Soon, she returned with everything Jiang Shuwan requested, plus an extra small table.

Jiang Shuwan sat directly across from the punished servants, grabbed a handful of seeds, and cracked one open. Liusu handed her a cup of tea, which she accepted, sipped, then set on the table.

Turning to Liusu, she said, “You should have some too. It’s been a tiring day outside, and you must be hungry.”

Normally, out of respect for the master-servant divide, she wouldn’t partake. But seeing those she usually despised being disciplined one by one lifted her spirits immensely.

She grabbed a generous handful of seeds and stood beside Jiang Shuwan, cracking them open.

The servants being punished, upon seeing their masters casually cracking seeds, and knowing they were about to be cast out anyway, gave up on suffering in silence.

They hurled curses. “Jiang Shuwan, you little wretch, no manners at all! No wonder your mother died young—an unloved beast with no one to care for her!”

Jiang Shuwan’s expression darkened instantly.

She rose and approached Aunt Wu, looking down on her with a face as cold as frost.

“What did you just say? Say it again.”

A chill seemed to envelop Aunt Wu; Jiang Shuwan’s stormy glare was like a demon rising from hell. Aunt Wu’s face drained of color in fear.

“I… I…”

She stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Jiang Shuwan raised her foot and stomped hard on her back, voice flat and unyielding. “I said, say it again.”

Pain radiated from her back along with the sting on her backside; Aunt Wu perspired heavily.

“Ahhh! It hurts so much!”

Her scream was like that of a slaughtered pig.

Jiang Shuwan reached up and rubbed her ear lobe, then lowered her foot and said coldly, “Noisy. Bring a needle and sew her mouth shut.”

Those present looked at Jiang Shuwan in disbelief; the timid girl they once knew was gone.

Terrified, the servants who had been screaming in pain immediately fell silent, afraid that another command would have their mouths sewn shut.

Afterward came Aunt Wu’s terrified screams.

Then complete silence, broken only by the sound of the wooden paddles striking flesh.

When the punishment ended, Jiang Shuwan glanced at Aunt Wu and said lightly, “Aunt Wu committed insubordination just now, so add thirty more lashes.”

For some reason, the others trembled and fully realized that Jiang Shuwan was no longer the person she used to be.

She was now a living hell.

Thirty more lashes would surely be too much for Aunt Wu to endure.