Chapter 28: Without ruthlessness, one cannot stand firm

The poor cultivate only themselves; the capable benefit the world?

Xie Zian sized up Zhang Weizheng, asking curiously.

Zhang Weizheng let out a long sigh, saying, "Not at all!"

"One must save oneself first; then heaven will help!"

"True insight, Brother Zhang!"

Xie Zian gave Zhang Weizheng a thumbs‑up; only then did he sincerely regard him as someone worth befriending.

In a lifetime, true friends are hard to find.

The tale of Boya and Ziqi exists only in legend.

Xie Zian doesn't actually need a confidant; he just wants a few people he can talk to.

But there are too many mediocre people in this world.

Jingcheng is said to gather more than half of Dayong's talents, yet most of them are conceited.

Accustomed to looking down on others, Xie Zian really finds them hard to stomach.

Given the court's policy on selecting officials, even his emperor‑brother‑in‑law can't change it—what can Xie Zian do?

"Brother Zhang, would you like to go for the spring examination next year?"

Xie Zian glanced at the somewhat drunk Zhang Weizheng, smiling as he probed his future plans.

"Of course I'll go!"

Zhang Weizheng's face grew solemn: "I've mastered the literary and martial arts to serve the imperial house. I've spent ten years in study and three years traveling ten thousand miles; now I'm ready to put my ambitions into action."

"Then I wish you a smooth journey and a swift rise to prominence."

"And you, sir?"

Zhang Weizheng also thought well of Xie Zian—he was someone you could talk to.

In three years he's traveled more than ten thousand miles, yet he's met hardly anyone worth talking to.

"Young master, I need to marry first before I can do anything else."

"As for what I'll do then, it's too early to say now."

"There are elders at home who are a bit strict!"

Xie Zian's expression grew heavy when he mentioned this.

Xie Lu shifted his posture, rolling his eyes repeatedly.

The Xie Family certainly has many elders, but can any of them really control this little terror?

But Xie Lu couldn't possibly undermine his own young master's authority.

……

Shen Family.

In Shen Yunyao's small courtyard.

After bringing back the eight maidservants, Shen Yunyao had Cuiyu summon the Shen Family's storehouse steward to arrange for a few beds to be delivered.

Lady Lu had not yet given instructions, but Shen Yunyao couldn't rely on this unreliable mother for everything.

The steward quickly arranged for beds and bedding to be delivered.

Cuiyu's once‑private side room was now completely filled.

They were ordinary flat beds, placed side by side in the room.

The side room, already small, had become entirely a bedroom.

There was now space for people to sleep, but no room left for dressing.

"Let's clear out the storage room and make it a dedicated dressing room!"

Although the maidservants don't need elaborate grooming, they still need to tidy their appearance.

Shen Yunyao immediately had the storage room cleaned out, discarding everything unnecessary.

In the storage room lay all her belongings from childhood, even the rattle drum she played with as a toddler.

"Miss, these are all things you used as a child!"

"You're throwing them all away?"

Cuiyu thought it was a shame.

Shen Yunyao thought it over and decided to keep a few special items.

She hadn't inherited the previous owner's memories, so what counted as special?

She could only judge based on her own emotional reactions.

Each little thing, when held, evoked an instinctive reaction that couldn't be faked.

In this process, Shen Yunyao discovered that she was gradually awakening the previous owner's memories.

Just like that rattle drum, it was made by her adoptive father, Master Shen San.

Master Shen San had also been very fond of this daughter.

When did things change?

Shen Yunyao didn't know.

Although she had awakened part of the previous owner's memories, some memories remained without any clue.

Soon, Shen Yunyao had finished gathering her belongings, packed them into a large wooden chest, and moved it into her room, placing it in the corner of the bedroom.

During this process, Shen Yunyao also observed the expressions of the eight maidservants.

She noticed that two of the maidservants, upon seeing her handle those little items, showed contempt and mockery in their eyes.

"Interesting!"

Shen Yunyao's eyes also lit up.

"Cuiyu, send those two out and hand them over to the Outer Courtyard Steward!"

No matter why those two maids showed such looks, Shen Yunyao could not possibly keep them by her side.

This is the destabilizing factor!

As for the Xie Family, what kind of grand aristocratic household it is, Shen Yunyao cannot comprehend by imagination alone.

But her elder aunt is the Empress!

Shen Yunyao could not possibly drag herself into trouble for the sake of the maids nearby.

So, some troubles must be nipped in the bud.

"Miss, spare my life!"

"Miss, what did the servant do wrong?"

The two maids singled out by Shen Yunyao both knelt down on the ground.

One simply begged for mercy, pitiful and helpless.

The other spoke up in protest, seeming quite spirited.

"Drag them out!"

Cuiyu didn't even ask Shen Yunyao whether she wanted to show leniency; she simply looked toward the rough maid helping tidy the miscellaneous room.

These rough maids were quite decisive, lacking any pity for fragrance and jade; they stepped forward and, like a hawk catching chicks, seized the two maids and dragged them outside.

Wails and pleas for mercy immediately rang out.

Shen Yunyao did not soften her heart.

She is no saint.

If, in such a world, she still clung to that impractical compassion, then what awaited her would likely be a grave overgrown with grass three feet high.

One who is not ruthless cannot stand firm!

"I don't know what your previous status was!"

And I don't care either!

"Since you've come to my household, for now you are my people; obey the rules, understand your station, know what to say, what to do, what to think—figure it out yourselves!"

Shen Yunyao glanced at the remaining six maids and said this lightly.

Then Shen Yunyao stopped looking at them and left the arrangements to Cuiyu.

"Let me tell you, our miss is the kindest."

"Of course, the premise is that you must follow the rules."

"Those two maids must have done something improper for their status; otherwise, the miss would not have driven them away!"

"Don't think that because the miss is getting married she will definitely take one of you, making you feel so important!"

"I will be watching you!"

Cuiyu gave the six maids a fierce, scrutinizing glance.

"Now, go change your clothes!"

The maids of the Shen Family have a uniform dress requirement.

The attire of the six before us is clearly against the rules.

And just now, when the Storehouse Steward came over, he also delivered their clothing.

Two outfits each!

As for the two driven away by Shen Yunyao, they did not take their clothing with them.

"Miss, should we return the clothing of those two maids?"

Cuiyu looked at the four extra outfits and decisively went to ask her own miss.

Such a matter is not something a lowly maid can decide on her own. After all, this set of clothing is worth half a tael of silver.

(End of chapter)