Chapter 348: Clear Stream Washes Away Old Guilt

The garden was lush with flowers and trees, their shadows overlapping, birds chirping, blossoms radiant on branches and treetops—a vivid portrait of midsummer's verdure.

A slender figure stumbled aimlessly through the garden, her demeanor mournful and desolate.

The garden, once a delight to behold, had now become strange and cold.

Jin Jin Chuan had been beautiful since childhood; at age five she entered Lady Wang's chamber as a maid, when Bao Yu was still a child—now ten full years had passed.

Lady Wang was the mistress of Lady Rongguo Mansion; serving in her chamber was a mark of great honor within the household.

Though Lady Wang was not always gentle with her servants, she never abused or humiliated them, making her a decent mistress.

Not long after, Jin Jin Chuan's younger sister, Yu Jin Chuan, also entered Lady Wang's chamber to serve.

With both daughters serving in the mistress's chamber, Jin Jin Chuan's mother felt proud and esteemed, boasting of it to all in the household.

Over these ten years, Jin Jin Chuan had worked diligently and meticulously; Lady Wang was satisfied and promoted her to first-class maid status. Though her temperament was lively and her speech sharp and unguarded, it was not a serious matter.

If I am driven out of the mansion like this, within two days everyone inside and outside will know I was dismissed for seducing Young Master Bao—and my maiden reputation will be utterly ruined.

The sting on her face seemed to vanish instantly; the humiliating curses no longer swirled in her mind, fading away into cold indifference.

Young Master Bao had always spoken freely with maids since childhood; Lady Wang had seen it before, yet she flew into such a rage this time.

Jin Jin Chuan ran dazedly for a long distance until she reached a stone bridge in the garden, where beside its bank stood an octagonal well built of clear stone.

Even my own mother struck me without mercy!

Afternoon sunlight glinted on the water's surface, clearly reflecting her tear-streaked face and the enduring palm print on her cheek.

Yet she never imagined that because of a few jesting words from Young Master Bao, her retort and teasing him to fetch Jia Huan Ge and Seeing Seeing Caiyun from the eastern chamber—

She choked on several mouthfuls of water, her mind growing hazy, her body heavy, sinking slowly downward.

She suddenly recalled Qing Wen in the Eastern Mansion courtyard, her long hair wet and hanging loose, her smile sweet.

If I leave this world so unclearly, I'll never be able to marry into a respectable family—my entire life as a girl is finished.

I am pure and innocent with Young Master Bao; we merely exchanged a few words—how am I any worse than Seeing Seeing Caiyun and Jia Huan Ge? Why must I be driven out? I refuse to accept it!

She was unwilling, she was indignant—why should she be humiliated and abused for doing nothing wrong? Better to die clean than live like this; even in death, she would not swallow this outrage…!

……

The green waves parted, icy well water enveloped her, making her shiver; she could not swim and had no intention to struggle, only feeling an unprecedented lightness and release.

She staggered to the well's edge and looked down—more than a zhang below the platform, the well water lay dark and deep, bottomless.

Through the rippling green surface above, she clearly saw a stunningly beautiful face appear at the well's rim, radiant in the afternoon sun.

Entering Lady Wang's chamber had always been her mother's greatest pride; now, being driven out of the mansion had shamed her mother and family beyond repair.

It seemed an eternity had passed—or perhaps only a moment—the boundaries of time blurred, and she faintly heard a woman's terrified cry.

She wiped her tears from the water's surface, without the slightest hesitation, her slender figure leaned forward and plunged into the well…

Over these ten years, Jin Jin Chuan had served beside Lady Wang longer than with her own parents; it had become her natural way of life.

This grand household was a place where wind blew through every crack—white could be called black, the living could be driven to death.

She insisted on driving me out, hurling vile, shameful words at me, and made sure Jia Cong saw it all—how can I face anyone again?

The Jia Cong standing beside her had wet hands, his robe splashed with water.

At the time, though she teased Qing Wen, she secretly envied her, thinking Qing Wen's fate was truly fortunate…

……

Jia Zheng met Fu Shi in Rongxi Hall; there was no urgent matter—Fu Shi was merely making a routine visit, exchanging polite words of respect and inquiry.

He spoke of outside observations, then casual matters, such as his younger sister still in seclusion, a jewel of refined virtue, devoted to poetry and books.

Jia Zheng, however, was thinking of his nephew's quiet conversation, responding to Fu Shi only with hollow agreement.

Even if he sensed Fu Shi's hidden intent, he pretended ignorance to avoid awkwardness.

Because his mother and wife regarded Bao Yu as a precious pearl, and as a ducal family, any future marriage must be to a high-ranking noble house.

Jia Zheng was not one to despise poverty or worship wealth, yet if he truly understood Fu Shi's meaning, a twenty-year-old daughter of a sixth-rank Assistant Prefect was far too lowly for Bao Yu.

After finally seeing off Fu Shi, Jia Zheng hurried back to the eastern corridor study to resume his conversation with Jia Cong.

For conversing with Jia Cong was infinitely more engaging than enduring Fu Shi's empty pleasantries.

As Jia Zheng returned eagerly, Jia Jia Huan dashed toward him like a startled hare, startled to see him, and tried to flee—but it was too late.

Jia Jia Huan and Bao Yu shared the same flaw: they fled from Jia Zheng like mice from a cat, likely because both were deemed useless in his eyes.

Jia Zheng could not bear his sons' lack of decorum; if they had even half of Cong Ge's bearing, he would not grow weary of them daily.

Seeing Jia Jia Huan's unseemly behavior, he frowned and snapped: "What are you running for? Don't your attendants control you? Letting you run wild like a wild horse—is this proper conduct?"

Jia Jia Huan shuddered, then said: "I wasn't running. Just now, passing by the octagonal well, I saw a maid from the mansion jump in—Third Brother Cong is ordering people to rescue her."

"I don't know if she's dead or not—I was frightened, so I ran."

Jia Zheng was stunned. The mansion was known for its kindness and benevolence; servants were never abused or humiliated, and suicide was exceedingly rare.

He turned to his personal attendant and barked: "How could this happen? Go summon Lin Lin Zhixiao at once—I must question him!"

Jia Jia Huan's eyes darted, as if to speak, but he glanced at the attendant and held his tongue.

Jia Zheng dismissed the attendant, frowned at Jia Jia Huan, and ordered: "Speak!"

Jia Jia Huan said: "Only those in Lady Wang's chamber know this. I heard that at noon, Young Master Bao went to her chamber and tried to rape Jin Jin Chuan."

"Lady Wang found out, beat Jin Jin Chuan, and she, in anger, jumped into the well—no one knows yet if she can be saved."

Jia Zheng flew into a rage, pounding his chest and stomping his feet: "You wicked, lawless beast! How dare you commit such a disgraceful act!"

He shouted for his attendant: "Go bind Bao Yu and bring him here!"

……

Outside the eastern corridor study, Qing Wen had followed Jia Cong's orders but arrived too late—she had lost sight of Jin Jin Chuan.

Jia Cong, uneasy, followed out himself, searching nowhere else but near the garden's well.

The two hurried through the garden until they reached the stone bridge beside the octagonal well.

Jia Cong rushed to the well's edge and saw a figure sinking steadily—no one but Jin Jin Chuan—and immediately ordered Qing Wen to call for help.

Two sturdy kitchen maids happened to pass by; Jia Cong called them over to dive in and rescue her.

After great effort, they pulled Jin Jin Chuan up, but she was unconscious; judging by the time, she had been in the water only briefly.

Jia Cong ordered the two maids to fetch a physician, while he and Qing Wen stayed by the well beside Jin Jin Chuan.

Jia Cong knew Jin Jin Chuan's drowning was severe; waiting passively for the physician would be perilous.

In this emergency, he disregarded propriety and taught Qing Wen the chest-compression method—but the young maid lacked both skill and strength, accomplishing nothing.

He had no choice but to act himself; after much effort, he finally expelled the water and saved Jin Jin Chuan's life.

……

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Mengpo Study.

Bao Yu was brought to the room by two of Jia Zheng's attendants; he was already pale with terror, having learned that Jin Jin Chuan's suicide had prompted his father to summon him.

Now he cared little whether Jin Jin Chuan was dead or alive—his heart pounded like a drum, his legs trembling, unsure how his father would punish him.

As soon as Bao Yu entered, Jia Zheng kicked him to the ground, ordered one attendant to pin him on a bench, and another to administer the family cane.

Zhan Guang, Shan Shan Pinren, and other hangers-on rushed over to plead for mercy, only inflaming Jia Zheng's fury further.

He roared: "It's your fault for corrupting him all along! Such licentiousness and baseness—shouldn't he be severely punished? Are you waiting until he kills his father or the emperor before you act?!"

"Whoever dares stop me today, I'll kill them too—I'll turn myself in for murder!"

The attendant wielding the cane dared not strike hard—if he injured Young Master Bao, he would be the first to die.

Seeing the attendant's feeble blows and Bao Yu's weak whimpers, Jia Zheng's rage boiled over; he snatched the cane, kicked the attendant aside, and swung it with full force.

Bao Yu had merely whimpered before; now he screamed in agonized torment.

After only six or seven strokes, Bao Yu's silk trousers were stained with blood.

Outside the study, Zhan Guang and Shan Shan Pinren heard Bao Yu's screams, their hearts jolted; they abandoned all caution and rushed in to intervene.

But Jia Zheng drove them out with furious blows of the cane.

Zhan Guang and the others realized the situation had spiraled beyond control; if Jia Zheng killed Bao Yu this way, the old lady would unleash her wrath—and they, as Jia Zheng's hangers-on, would all be implicated.

They immediately summoned an attendant to rush to the second gate and summon the old lady and Lady Wang to save him.

(End of Chapter)