Volume One, Chapter 15: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

“By the way, when the punishment is carried out, have all the servants of the Shen family watch. Let everyone know the consequences of disrespecting me, the young mistress.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Nanyue suddenly stood up, staring at Jiang Jinshu in disbelief.

“Jinshu, you actually want to sell them off? They have all served the Shen family for many years. Aren’t you afraid this will chill people’s hearts?”

Jiang Jinshu smiled softly.

“Eldest sister, you just said they have been serving the Shen family for many years, yet they still haven’t learned to obey the rules. That clearly means they are useless. They have defied authority and disrespected their superiors. If I don’t rectify the family discipline, how can I command respect?”

Shen Nanyue wanted to argue further.

“Jiang Jinshu, you have to know your limits…”

But Jiang Jinshu interrupted her.

“If we have different opinions, then perhaps this household should be under your management.”

At this, Shen Nanyue finally gritted her teeth.

“Fine, you are the true young mistress of the Shen family. Do as you please.”

Caiping had already left, carrying the contracts of servitude.

Shen Nanyue glanced at Jiang Jinshu, feeling an inexplicable unease in her heart. She didn’t want to speak to her, yet recalling her mother’s advice, she eventually said,

“Jinshu, living together as one family will inevitably have its ups and downs. But in the end, we must live in harmony. These past few days of turmoil have caused rumors to spread outside and chaos within the Shen household. Now that you have regained control over the house, I hope you can manage things properly.”

Jiang Jinshu listened, lifted her tea cup, and took a slow sip.

“When I managed the household before, I don’t recall ever causing you any trouble.”

With that indifferent tone, Shen Nanyue felt as if staying here would only drive her to madness.

“Jinshu, Xing’er is no longer young. I know you don’t like Yunyan, but she was raised in the Shen family. Now that she has a child, it’s good for Xing’er to have descendants. Don’t target her—just keep her in the backyard.”

“Besides, the child she bore will call you ‘mother.’ Taking in a son for free is a good thing. As for Xing’er, once he recovers, his mother will persuade him to come to your courtyard…”

No, better not. Such an unprincipled person should be locked away together and kept under strict watch. Before Shen Nanyue could finish, Jiang Jinshu interrupted her incessant chatter.

“Mm, eldest sister, you’re right. Taking in a son for free is indeed a good thing.”

Truly, some lessons only hurt when they land on oneself. Shen Nanyue hoped she could bear the weight of her own words someday.

Seeing Jiang Jinshu’s cold demeanor, Shen Nanyue felt a surge of anger but dared not provoke her further. She had no choice but to say,

“Just understand that. I have matters to attend to at my manor, so I’ll be going now. Remember to take good care of mother and Xing’er.”

Outside, the courtyard was already packed with people.

Those who had come to cause trouble with Shen Nanyue at Yayun Residence were all dragged here, now bent over long benches.

Nearby, a young servant raised his hand and struck down heavily with a wooden board.

“Ah!”

“Aah…”

“It hurts…”

Piercing cries echoed through the courtyard, accompanied by the dull thuds of the board striking flesh.

The onlooking servants were frozen in fearful silence, their faces filled with dread.

Listening to the wails outside, Jiang Jinshu set down her teacup.

“Eldest sister, there’s no rush for you to leave. Why not stay a little longer and see what it means to ‘make an example’? In the future, don’t rush to call for reinforcements from your natal family whenever there’s trouble in your in-laws.”

Shen Nanyue heard this and felt her face flush with shame. She had indeed tried to sweet-talk Jiang Jinshu to gain favor with the in-laws before.

“You…”

But Jiang Jinshu was already stepping out.

Two perceptive maids immediately brought chairs for Jiang Jinshu.

“Young Mistress.”

Jiang Jinshu glanced at them and slowly sat down.

Taking the teacup handed to her, she sipped leisurely.

Shen Nanyue followed and saw Jiang Jinshu’s composed demeanor.

The maids and older servants being punished cried out as soon as they spotted Shen Nanyue.

“Miss, save us, please…!”

“Miss, you must help us!”

“Miss, this old servant is about to be beaten to death…”

“Miss, we were only following your orders that day. You can’t abandon us…”

“Ah… it hurts so much… Miss, please beg for us.”

Seeing this, Shen Nanyue could only turn her eyes toward Jiang Jinshu.

“Jinshu…”

Jiang Jinshu regarded her with a faint, inscrutable smile.

Shen Nanyue felt inexplicably weak in the face of Jiang Jinshu’s gaze and eventually turned her head away.

The servants and maids, seeing this, spoke bitterly.

“Miss, we followed your orders, yet you don’t care about our lives. If the mistress acts like this, who would dare to be loyal in the future?”

“Exactly… Miss, you may have a noble status, but we are human too.”

“You are simply humiliating us.”

“Ah…”

Hearing their accusations, Shen Nanyue bit her lip.

“Shut up, you worthless slaves! How dare you accuse me? You deserve to be sold off.”

The surrounding onlookers felt a chill deep in their hearts.

This young lady truly did not regard the servants as anything.

Looking at Jiang Jinshu, still the young mistress, although her punishments were harsh, as long as no mistakes were made, their monthly wages were sufficient, and their meals were never lacking. The Shen family servants were always well-fed.

The sound of the wooden boards gradually ceased.

Caiping stood by Jiang Jinshu and said,

“Drag them all out and sell them. Tell the bailiffs about the crimes they committed in the Shen household.”

Jiang Jinshu placed her teacup on the table, scanning the assembled servants.

“Today, you’ve all witnessed the consequences of defying authority. If anyone disrespects the rules again, the fate of these maids and servants will serve as a warning.”

An invisible pressure lingered in the air, reminding everyone that the Shen family answered to Jiang Jinshu.

The maids and servants lowered their heads in fear and relief.

“Yes, we will obey the rules, work diligently, and never disobey the orders of the young mistress.”

Shen Nanyue felt as if the palms of her hands were about to bleed.

Aunt Qiu, standing beside her, secretly observed Jiang Jinshu.

The young mistress was becoming increasingly formidable. She had to hurry back and inform the matron.

“Today, the young mistress has asserted her authority. The servants will respect you even more. The madam is waiting for me to report back. I will take my leave now.”

Shen Nanyue also said,

“Jinshu, I’ll be going first.”

She quickly turned and left, feeling somewhat like a fugitive.

Jiang Jinshu looked at the gathered servants.

“All right, disperse now. Everyone back to their duties.”

The maids and servants quickly bowed.

“Yes, we take our leave.”

As they left, Jiang Jinshu looked toward the two maids who had brought her chairs—her household helpers.

“You two are quite perceptive.”

They hurriedly bowed.

“The young mistress has always treated us well. We just want to do something for her. Serving the young mistress is our greatest honor.”

Jiang Jinshu smiled at them.

“You speak well. Caiping, train them. From now on, these two will be second-class maids, staying by my side to serve.”

The two knelt quickly.

“Thank you, young mistress. Please bestow names upon us.”

Jiang Jinshu pondered for a moment.

“Call one Yuling, the other Baoling.”

They kowtowed deeply.

“Yuling thanks the young mistress for the name.”

“Baoling thanks the young mistress for the name.”

Jiang Jinshu raised her hand to signal them to rise.

“Get up. Learn the rules from Caiping for a while.”

She then looked at Caiping.

“Summon the bailiffs and select a batch of maids to fill the vacancies.”

This was the perfect opportunity to arrange personnel in the Shen family’s household.