Chapter 9: Mama, Be Careful

Jun Ziqin, with Xiao He in tow, arrived at the room of Mama Xue.

At this moment, lamplight shone from within Mama Xue’s room, and a silhouette was pacing back and forth; judging by the figure, it was undoubtedly Mama Xue.

Jun Ziqin pushed open the door and stepped inside, with Xiao He following closely behind to close the door.

"Mama Xue, not asleep yet?"

Jun Ziqin asked with a smile.

"You, you, what are you doing here?!"

Mama Xue looked as if she had seen a ghost; shouldn't the Second Young Lady be with Wang Er at this time...?

"It is almost dawn. I have come to ask if Mama wishes to set off now, or if Mama needs to rest a while longer."

Jun Ziqin continued, speaking in an understated tone.

"You, you..."

Mama Xue retreated in terror, and with a "clatter," she knocked a stool to the ground.

As she fell backward, Jun Ziqin grabbed Mama Xue’s wrist:

"Careful, Mama."

Although Jun Ziqin’s face was smiling, there was no warmth in it, and her gaze was sharp.

Seeing Jun Ziqin, Mama Xue felt as if she were looking at a fierce ghost; where was the timid Second Young Lady who could be molded at will? Filled with both hatred and fear, she dared not be dishonest and said tremblingly:

"I await the Second Young Lady's instructions..."

"Good, then we shall rest for a while."

Jun Ziqin let go and shook the rope in her hand:

"I must wrong you for now, Mama Xue."

Xiao He understood; once she had bound Mama Xue securely, she swiftly took off her own sock and stuffed it firmly into Mama Xue’s mouth.

Ignoring Mama Xue’s muffled, angry roars, she clapped her hands and said:

"Done! Perfect!"

Now it was Jun Ziqin’s turn to be stunned; she had not expected this girl to have such potential. Hmm, a good seedling.

The original owner had been in a difficult situation, timid and cautious. Xiao He had secretly brought food to the original owner, and after these few days of getting along, the girl was indeed very much to Jun Ziqin’s liking.

Xiao He, a little money-grubber, seemed addicted to snatching silver and naturally did not let the silver on Mama Xue’s person go, regardless of Mama Xue’s furious and helpless expression.

Jun Ziqin did not stop her, only instructing Xiao He, whose eyes were shining after gaining another 100 taels of silver, to keep the money safe.

With money, things are easy to handle; without money, even ghosts are hard to deal with.

With this silver, things would be much easier to handle in the future.

Jun Ziqin and Xiao He rested for a while, and by then it was broad daylight.

Because Mama Xue feared the matter would be exposed, she dared not bring a coachman from the residence, and the hired coachman, seeing that things were amiss, had long since run off to parts unknown.

Xiao He hired a new coachman and, taking the still-bound Mama Xue, headed toward the village entrance.

Traveling and resting along the way, through rugged mountain roads and dense forests, the carriage jolted until nightfall, when it finally arrived before the gates of the Jun residence.

A large mansion stood with towering walls, green bricks, and azure tiles.

Two large lions carved from bluestone in front of the gate looked lifelike.

The plaque was inscribed in a conventional manner with the large characters: "Minister Jun's Residence."

Jun Ziqin felt both strange and familiar, and she silently murmured, "Rest assured, I have returned. From now on, the things you did not finish, I will do."

Mama Xue, who had been stifled the entire journey, secretly gritted her teeth:

"Little slut, once I return to the residence, I’ll show you!"

Jun Ziqin ignored her and ordered the unbound Mama Xue to go and knock on the door.

Mama Xue was filled with extreme hatred, but she dared not cause a scene at the residence gate to attack the Second Young Lady, so she had to knock on the door in frustration.

The gatekeeper saw that the leader was Mama Xue, with two scrawny, poorly dressed young girls of twelve or thirteen standing beside her.

Mama Xue did not instruct the gatekeeper to report the Second Young Lady’s return, and the gatekeeper, assuming they were someone from Mama Xue’s family, did not make things difficult and let them pass, given Mama Xue’s status in the residence.

Jun Ziqin had no intention of arguing over Mama Xue’s deliberate actions.

Since the Old Lady wanted her brought back, even if Jun Zhengming was muddled, he was still filial; to try and intimidate her here so impatiently—surely he hadn't lost his mind.

Crossing the heavy vermilion gate, Mama Xue led Jun Ziqin toward the main hall.

Bluestone paths, winding corridors and pavilions, rockeries and strange stones, jade lotuses and golden carp...

What a magnificent and imposing sight.

Crowds of servants, too many to count—at least eighty or a hundred—all wore expressions of confusion, whispering to one another with varied looks.

Jun Ziqin remained composed, though Xiao He looked somewhat indignant.

Mama Xue led Jun Ziqin around another pond of lotus buds, finally arriving at the main hall.

Xiao He was stopped at the door by Mama Xue. Jun Ziqin looked at Xiao He with a firm gaze and nodded slightly, then entered the main hall with calm composure.

Seated at the head was a man in his thirties or forties, wearing a grey-blue long gown, with thick brows and large eyes, looking quite scholarly.

Beside the man sat a noble lady adorned in pearls and jewels, with a gentle and kind expression, but the flash of hatred and ruthlessness in her eyes did not escape Jun Ziqin’s notice.

Jun Ziqin knew that was her father, Jun Zhengming, and Lady Wu.

Standing beside Lady Wu was the current legitimate daughter, Jun Yiyi, dressed in exquisite white, looking pitiful.

Only, the disdain and disgust in her eyes at this moment ruined the beauty.

Below them sat a man of about forty, who was also sizing up Jun Ziqin with a calculating look.

Jun Ziqin searched the original owner’s memories; this was her second uncle from another branch, Jun Zhengyuan.

Her grandfather, Jun Zhongxian, had two sons, and this was the son of Jun Zhengming’s uncle.

Because the Jun family had few descendants, both branches lived in the Jun residence.

Sitting opposite was the second aunt, Lady Li. Jun Ziqin remembered that before the original owner went to the farm, Lady Wu had been elevated to the position of mistress, and this Lady Li had followed Lady Wu’s lead, frequently tripping up the original owner. At this moment, she was likely eager to watch the show.

Next was the second concubine, Lady Zhou. In the original owner’s memories, Lady Zhou was not bad-hearted but timid and fearful; after her son died years ago, she rarely stepped out of her quarters.

Leaning against Lady Zhou was a little girl of about ten, with sweet features, who was blinking her large eyes and looking at Jun Ziqin with curiosity.

Jun Ziqin stepped forward, knelt before Jun Zhengming, and said:

"Your daughter pays her respects to Father."