Chapter 70 - A Goddess Descended From The Heavens
Chapter 70: A Goddess Descended From The Heavens
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Su Jiu sat down on a chair and rested her legs on the armrest. Her eyes hardened. “Chang Huan! If anyone enters through the door, break her legs and throw her into the pond to feed the fish!”
“Yes!”
Chang Huan walked onto the steps. He was tall to begin with, and even a dress and makeup couldn’t conceal his stern aura. With him in the way, the servant girls were hesitant to move. They all shakily retreated a few steps.
Xie Ying narrowed her eyes and laughed cooly. “What big words! If I try to enter, will you throw me into the pond to feed the fish? I’d like to see if you dare!”
Xie Ying’s fiery red cloak and highly-pinned hair added to her powerful aura. She stepped forward and leaned closer to Chang Huan, looking at him with her nose in the air.
“Throw me! Touch me, and see what happens!”
Chang Huan narrowed his eyes. He retreated back a step. “Don’t force my hand!”
Nanny sensed trouble, and hurriedly rushed forward. “Anything can be resolved through discussion. Second Young Mistress, let’s discuss this more.”
Xie Ying forcefully pushed Nanny to the side. “Scram! Who do you think you are, to discuss anything with me?”
With that, she advanced forward another step, more arrogant than before. She stared coldly into Chang Huan’s eyes.
“So what if I’m forcing your hand? You lowly little b*tch. If you don’t throw me like you said you would, I’ll beat you to death, b*tch!”
Chang Huan’s knuckes cracked as his fists tightened. His eyes hardened. He raised a hand to strike Xie Ying, but was suddenly blocked by someone.
Su Jiu stood up, unnoticed by everyone, and leaped forward. She grabbed Chang Huan’s hand and yanked him back. She lifted her skirt and kicked forcefully.
Before the servants could even shout in alarm, Xie Ying was already soaring through the air like a discarded bag. Su Jiu leaped off a rail and flew into the air. Mid-air, she grabbed Xie Ying’s arm and yanked hard, throwing a screaming Xie Ying outwards.
Splash!
The loud splash shocked everybody back to their senses!
Bang, bang, bang!
All of Xie Ying’s servants dropped what was in their hands, and sobbed and screamed as they rushed towards the pond.
“Second Young Mistress!”
“Second Young Mistress!”
All the servants of Perched Phoenix Pavilion stared at Su Jiu, looking as if they had been struck by lightning.
Silence!
Deathly silence!
A cold breeze swept some yellow leaves past the silent atmosphere.
Young Mistress really… she really threw Second Young Mistress into the pond to feed the fish?
The pond was quite far away!
Su Jiu turned, mid-air, and landed on the stone steps. She clapped her hands and said, “Last time, she requested a slap on the face. This time, she requested to be thrown into the water to feed fish. Second Young Mistress has some unique interests, indeed! Fortunately for her, I’m happy to entertain her interests, no matter how difficult!”
She kicked open a treasure chest and saw the valuable jewelry inside. She grinned.
What a prize! she thought to herself. I’ll take it!
“Chang Huan, Second Young Mistress walked all this way to give us these gifts. Quick, collect them!” Su Jiu ordered.
“Yes, mistress!” Chang Huan replied cheerily. He started moving the jewelry chests inside, and ordered Nanny to do the same. “Nanny, don’t just stand there! Quickly now, move these!”
“Oh!” Nanny and Mrs. Fan returned to their senses and ran into the yard to begin moving chests.
Mrs. Fan suddenly paused after lifting up a chest. “Is this… proper?”
Su Jiu carelessly lifted up a mahogany chest that was half her height. She chuckled. “What’s improper about this? If somebody delivers a gift to your door and you don’t accept it, people will take you for a fool!”
Mrs. Fan nodded her head, still quite startled. “Yes, of course.”
Meanwhile, Xie Ying’s servants were busy carrying a soaked Xie Ying back to Lotus Pavilion. Shaoyao followed behind the group. She turned back, only to see that Mrs. Fan was moving a mahogany chest.
Shaoyao knew that there was a zither in the chest. It was Xie Ying’s dowry, and her most treasured possession.
Shaoyao anxiously looked at Xie Ying, and then looked at the zither. She stomped her foot and ran over to Mrs. Fan to grab the zither.
Mrs. Fan held onto the chest tightly while Shaoyao used all her might to wrestle it out of Mrs. Fan’s grip. After struggling for a moment, Shaoyao leaned in and bit Mrs. Fan’s hand.
Mrs. Fan let go. Shaoyao, hugging the chest close to her, fell onto the ground. She glared at Mrs. Fan and then ran away, screaming and crying.
“Second Young Mistress!”
Xie Ying was carried out of Perched Phoenix Pavilion soaking, frightfully pale, and unconscious.
The servants in Ji Manor who previously saw Second Young Mistress leading her servants arrogantly into Perched Phoenix Pavilion now watched as the servants of Xie Ying wept and shouted as they carried out an unconscious Xie Ying.
How sorrowful they felt!
Something greatly interesting must’ve happened in Perched Phoenix Pavilion, and they weren’t able to witness it!
This time, Second Young Mistress really did become ill.
That night, she came down with a fever than wouldn’t subside. The manor physician wrote her a prescription and applied some acupuncture. Her servant girls and nurses took turns wiping her body to cool her down. After half a night, and after her skin nearly cracked from all the wiping, her fever finally subsided.
At around noon the next day, Second Young Mistress finally came to. Her throat was sore, mucus seeped from her rose, and her head buzzed loudly. She felt as if her very bones were falling apart. The fall into water and the fever combined outer and inner ailment into one. She drank herbal medicine and water, but her throat was too sore to eat anything else.
She sobbed as she drank, and muttered nonsensical sounds.
Shaoyao stepped forward, teary-eyed. “Second Young Mistress, do you have something to say?”
“My… my…”
Shaoyao sobbed, “Second Young Mistress, you won’t die!”
Xie Ying nearly fainted again. She reached out a hand and grabbed Shaoyao’s shirt. She stared hard at Shaoyao, and spoke with great effort. “Jewel…. Jewelry!”
Shaoyao immediately understood. “Second Young Mistress, you’re asking where our belongings went?”
Xie Ying nodded her head hurriedly.
Shaoyao sobbed with even more ferocity. “Second Young Mistress, I sent some people to ask for our belongings back. Young Mistress said that since we delivered the gifts to her door, she’s not going to give them back!”
Thump!
The cup in Xie Ying’s hand landed on the ground. Xie Ying’s hand went limp. She fainted again.
Perhaps Su Jiu really took things too far this time. Second Mistress, who rarely interfered with these matters, became involved. She first went to visit Xie Ying, and then, the next day, went to Perched Phoenix Pavilion.
Su Jiu and Chang Huan happened to be out at the time, leaving only Nanny in Perched Phoenix Pavilion.
“Have some tea, Second Mistress!” Nanny poured the tea, and then stood to the side along with Mrs. Fan.
“What exactly happened? I just went to see Ying’er. But of course, I cannot just listen to one side of the story, so I thought I would come here to ask Yuejiu.” Second Mistress was dressed quite elegantly on this day. She spoke with a gentle attitude, with no obvious intention to place blame.
Nanny stepped forward and explained everything, though she modified some details when she got to the part about Su Jiu throwing Xie Ying.
Second Mistress sighed. “Ying’er is a daughter of a governor, and she is indeed arrogant in nature. In the past, Third and Fourth Young Mistress lived in fear of her. I suppose it’s time she’s disciplined. But Yuejiu was too harsh.”
“Young Mistress was spoiled and doted on by her mother, and she has never been treated like this before. She couldn’t control her temper. This was my fault. If somebody must be punished, then please, Second Mistress, punish me!” Nanny spoke respectfully, with a lowered head.
Second Mistress took a sip of tea. She smiled. “You’re too harsh on yourself, Nanny. Yuejiu shouldn’t have hit Ying’er, but Ying’er also shouldn’t have offended Yuejiu. Insubordination is a much greater crime. Why would I punish you?” She suddenly hesitated, and then asked suspiciously, “Back in Fuyang City, did Yuejiu study martial arts?”
“Young Mistress was a sickly child. Master and Mistress hired a tutor to teach Young Mistress some basic fighting techniques to help her health,” Nanny explained.
“Just some basic fighting techniques, and she can knock a person unconscious?” Second Mistress was clearly doubtful.
The servants in Ji Manor told the story like it was a miracle. They said Young Mistress flew into the air, glowing with colors and aided by purple clouds. She threw Second Young Mistress with a flick of her sleeve, looking like a goddess descended from the heavens.
Of course, Second Mistress knew that the rumors were exaggerated and not to be fully trusted. But she also knew that it would take much more than a few basic fighting techniques to throw a person.
“Young Mistress is aware that she was harsh on Second Young Mistress. These past few days, guilt has haunted her. Today, she left early in the morning to go pray for Second Young Mistress.”
Second Mistress nodded her head. “When Yuejiu returns, tell her not to let this burden her heart.”
“Of course. You are very forgiving, Second Mistress. I’ll be sure to give Young Mistress the message.”
“I must say, however, that Yuejiu should be gracious and accepting as Young Mistress. Ying’er acted inappropriately, but Yuejiu best not be too harsh to the concubines. Yuxian is busy with the business. We women must be understanding and helpful. We must not let the men worry about the back courtyards as well!”
“Yes, Second Mistress.” Nanny spoke with increasing modesty.
After exchanging a few more words, Second Mistress rose and left. Nanny let out a breath of relief.
After this incident, hopefully Xie Ying will know better than to cause more trouble! My old bones cannot handle any more trouble, Nanny thought to herself.
It was strange, however, that the main courtyard still remained silent on the matter. Ji Yuxian must’ve heard about what had happened by this time. Was he contemplating how to punish Su Jiu?
Meanwhile, Su Jiu, who should’ve been praying in a temple outside the city, was with Hu Dapao and the others. They sat in the restaurant on Xieyang street and drank merrily as they played games.
There were many customers in the restaurant. The aromas of cooked meat and fine wines mixed in the air, making this cold day feel particularly cheerful.
Chang Huan exaggeratedly told the others about what had happened in Ji Manor in the past few days. Hu Dapao and Ah Shu laughed loudly when they heard that Su Jiu had beaten Ji Yuxian’s concubine. Qiao An sipped some wine quietly, deep in thought.
Li Tai’s daughter helped the waiters serve Su Jiu and the others their entrees. When she had a moment to spare, she sat down behind Su Jiu and listened to them chat.
Su Jiu poured half a cup of wine and gave it to the girl. She said with a smile, “Sip some wine. It’ll warm you up!”
The young girl had quite a delicate and adorable face, but she looked unusually pale. The girl cautiously looked back at Li Tai, who was busy behind the counter, and then took the cup and slowly drank the wine. She suddenly started coughing loudly.
Li Tai looked over when he heard the coughing. “Don’t bother Young Master! Go help in the kitchen!”
“Oh!” The girl, Li Xin, smiled mischievously at Su Jiu, and then rose to head towards the kitchen.
She had barely taken two steps when suddenly, she collapsed onto the ground.
The surrounding people were startled. Li Tai rushed over from behind the counter and hugged Li Xin to his chest. He shouted worriedly, “Xin’er? Xin’er?”
The girl’s eyes were tightly shut. Her pale face was unnaturally red. She didn’t move at all.
Li Tai asked, frightened, “What did you give her to drink?”
Su Jiu was startled. “Wine!”
“Young Master, how could you give her wine?” Li Tai was worried, but didn’t dare to shout at Su Jiu. Tears welled in his eyes. He suddenly ran out of the restaurant, carrying Li Xin in his arms.
Su Jiu hurriedly rushed to catch up. She gestured towards Chang Huan. “Quick, bring the carriage here!”
“Yes!” Chang Huan replied, and then rushed away to fetch the carriage.
Qiao An and Hu Dapao were puzzled as well. How did the girl faint after only a few sips of wine?
“Let’s go take a look!” Qiao An ordered the waiters to watch the shop, and then followed the others out.