Chapter 12: Plans
After returning the authority to punish Yan Jingshu to the Duke of Anguo, Yan Jingshu ignored everyone else's reactions and turned to the Dowager Lady, saying, "Grandson is tired and would like to rest. I will come tomorrow to pay my respects to you, Grandmother."
"Very well, go and rest properly. An Momo, personally escort the Second Young Master back to Mingxuan." Yan Jingshu's face was so pale it seemed bloodless. Though the Dowager Lady's stern expression showed nothing, her heart ached deeply for him.
"Shu'er..." As Yan Jingshu was supported by An Momo and turned to leave, the Duke of Anguo instinctively called out to him. He wanted to say something but found himself at a loss for words.
Yan Jingshu, however, seemed not to hear the Duke of Anguo. He didn't even glance at him, pausing not for a moment as he walked straight past him without stopping.
The Duke of Anguo was stunned. Yan Jingshu's disregard was entirely unexpected. Watching the frail, thin figure of Yan Jingshu being slowly led away, his heart suddenly ached. He opened his mouth but could say nothing more.
Yan Jingshu left just like that, but Yan Jingyu was overjoyed. She had already sensed her father's softening attitude and knew he still loved her dearly. Now that Yan Jingshu had left the decision of her punishment to her father, she believed that if she pleaded earnestly, her father wouldn't be too harsh on her.
Xie Shi, however, was not as optimistic as Yan Jingyu. Though Yan Jingshu appeared reluctant to punish Yan Jingyu and returned the decision to the Duke of Anguo, it was actually a strategic retreat. His silent, sorrowful departure only made the Duke of Anguo feel more pity for him and further anger toward Yan Jingyu, the one who had caused all this.
Sure enough, before Yan Jingyu could even plead with the Duke of Anguo a few more times, the Duke of Anguo, with a dark expression, waved his hand and ordered, "Someone, take the Third Young Lady to the ancestral hall!"
"Father..." Yan Jingyu was stunned. Her tear-swollen eyes widened in disbelief.
Only when the servants, following the Duke of Anguo's orders, came to take her to the ancestral hall did she snap out of it. She struggled desperately, crying out, "I won’t go! I won’t go! Father, please! Mother, save me! Mother—"
Xie Shi's heart ached terribly, but the situation was irreversible. She could see that the Duke of Anguo would not change his mind now, so she gritted her teeth and endured it. She even stepped forward to comfort her daughter, urging her to calm down, lest she provoke the Duke of Anguo further and invite even harsher punishment.
"It's alright, Yu'er, be good. Mother is here. I’ll stay with you. Don’t be afraid..." Under Xie Shi's gentle and patient coaxing, Yan Jingyu seemed to realize there was no room for negotiation. Though she continued to cry, she no longer dared to make a scene, clinging tightly to Xie Shi's sleeve as if afraid her mother would abandon her.
"Master, please allow me to personally take Yu'er there. Otherwise, in her current state..." Xie Shi pleaded with the Duke of Anguo.
The Duke of Anguo had no desire to watch Yan Jingyu’s tantrums either. With a wave of his hand, he granted Xie Shi’s request.
After Xie Shi and Yan Jingyu left, the room fell silent. Recalling everything that had just happened and thinking of Yan Jingshu, the Duke of Anguo felt increasingly unsettled. With a long sigh, he seemed to deflate entirely.
The Dowager Lady, however, felt no sympathy for him. At this moment, she had no desire to speak to him further and merely said coolly, "You may leave as well. Let me have some peace."
The Duke of Anguo had much he wanted to say to the Dowager Lady, but seeing her close her eyes, visibly impatient, he could only swallow his words awkwardly and say guiltily, "This son has disturbed you, Mother. Please rest well. I will visit you again tomorrow."
After leaving Rong'an Courtyard, the Duke of Anguo considered visiting Yan Jingshu but worried he might be resting and did not wish to disturb him. In the end, he returned to Canglan Courtyard.
In the study of Canglan Courtyard, the Duke of Anguo sat alone for a long time. Reflecting on his life, he had only three children. His eldest son was a boy, intelligent and steady, but due to premature birth, he had been frail since childhood and died before the age of twenty, leaving behind only a posthumous child as consolation.
Of his remaining two children, one was a shuang'er and the other a girl. But he loved them equally and had hoped they would support and rely on each other. Yet now, such a feud had erupted between them. Heartbroken and furious, he felt deeply shaken.
As the Duke of Anguo pondered how to make amends to Yan Jingshu, discipline Yan Jingyu, and restore their former harmony, Xie Shi returned from the ancestral hall.
As the Duchess of Anguo and a first-rank noblewoman, Xie Shi had always maintained impeccable, dignified attire. But today’s turmoil left her no time for such concerns, and her appearance bore traces of uncharacteristic distress.
However, with her children in such a state, it would have been more alarming if she had still cared only about her appearance.
"How is Yu'er?" the Duke of Anguo asked.
Xie Shi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "She drank the physician’s calming medicine and is now asleep in the ancestral hall. As per your orders, no one was left in the hall, and the doors and windows were sealed shut. You need not worry, Master."
Hearing the resentment in Xie Shi’s tone, the Duke of Anguo sighed helplessly. "I know you think I’m being cruel, but consider this: How can we let Yu'er off lightly after what she’s done? Moreover, if I don’t punish her severely and give Shu'er justice, he will forever harbor this grievance and believe we are biased.
"We are old and will not live forever. Our eldest son is gone, and Xin'er is still too young. The family’s future rests on Shu'er's shoulders. If he resents Yu'er, then when she marries and faces hardship in her husband’s household, she will have no one to defend her. Better to let her endure punishment now, let her learn her lesson and never dare repeat such folly. At least this way, Shu'er's anger will be soothed."
"Besides, you know Shu'er’s nature—he is soft-hearted and generous, and he has always doted on Yu'er as his younger sister. Even if he is angry with her now, seeing her suffer will surely soften his heart. In time, they will reconcile as before. Wouldn’t that be for the best?"
The Duke of Anguo laid out his well-intentioned plans. Hearing that his punishment of Yan Jingyu was ultimately for her own good, Xie Shi’s expression gradually softened, and she even seemed ashamed as she lowered her head." I was foolish not to realize your good intentions. My Lord, I wronged you."
"We are husband and wife, there is no need for such words." The Duke of Anguo was unbothered by Xie Shi’s resentment. As a woman, she was more emotional than rational, and her maternal instincts were strong. Her reaction was understandable.
Though the Duke of Anguo was considerate of Xie Shi, he didn't know that while she verbally agreed with him, her heart was set on rescuing Yan Jingyu from the ancestral hall.
To Xie Shi, who had never regarded Yan Jingshu highly and thus never expected anything from him, the Duke of Anguo’s reasoning held no weight. As for Yan Jingshu’s resentment—she was his mother, and filial piety was paramount. Even if he was displeased, he would have to endure it.
As Xie Shi thought this, the Duke of Anguo added, "After this incident, all the servants around Yu'er will be replaced, as you previously arranged. As for Shu'er’s side... ask him if there are any he wishes to keep. The rest will be replaced with better ones. As for Li Wang, Qiulan, and that Biyun, along with their families—I will deal with them personally." By the end, his tone was icy.
Clearly, these three wouldn't live to see another day, and their relatives wouldn't remain in the Duke’s estate either.
"My Lord, need not say more, I understand. I will see to it at once." Xie Shi nodded and stood, instructing a maid to summon the stewardess in charge of personnel.
Knowing his presence would make the servants uneasy, the Duke of Anguo left for the study.
Once he was gone, Xie Shi immediately called her trusted confidante, Aunt Liu, into the inner chamber and whispered to her for a long time. After Aunt Liu left on her mission, Xie Shi composed herself and went to meet the stewardess.
The servants of Linglong Pavilion were easily dealt with—with Yan Jingyu absent, all could be dismissed outright. As for Yan Jingshu’s side, since he was still asleep and the Duke of Anguo had specifically instructed that his wishes be consulted, the stewardess had no choice but to wait obediently outside Mingxuan for him to wake up.
"Young Master, Stewardess Zhang is still waiting outside," the maid Chuntao reported as she entered the bedchamber.
Though Yan Jingshu had said in Rong'an Courtyard that he wished to rest and had instructed the maids to tell anyone who came that he was asleep and not to be disturbed, he was not actually sleeping.
After sleeping nearly six or seven hours the entire previous night and much of the morning, though physically weak, he felt no drowsiness at all. Instead, he sat upright at his desk, writing something.
"Did she say what it was about?" Yan Jingshu asked casually, not lifting his gaze from the paper.
"She—she said she was sent by Madam to replace the servants in the courtyard. She wishes to ask if there are any you would like to keep." As she spoke, Chuntao’s face showed unease, but her eyes held hope as she looked at Yan Jingshu.
After all, the estate had few masters, and Yan Jingshu was known for his gentle, easygoing nature. Serving him was dignified and effortless, with many rewards—a highly coveted position. If transferred elsewhere, such benefits would be lost.
Chuntao hesitated, unsure whether to beg Yan Jingshu.
But Yan Jingshu needed no words to understand her thoughts, this had happened in his past life as well.
Back then, Chuntao had pleaded with him to let her stay. At the time, he had thought she and the others in his courtyard had done nothing wrong, so he allowed them all to remain.
But not long after, when his marriage to Jiang Chenghan was finalized and the servants learned that Jiang Chenghan came from a humble rural background (a coarse military man), and that he would be leaving the capital to marry far away in the border city of Ningcheng, they immediately forgot their vows of lifelong loyalty. They begged and schemed, feigning illness or deceit, all to leave his courtyard and avoid being chosen as part of his dowry entourage.
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