Chapter 3: The Legitimate Daughter is Worth Only One Tael

The two people looked up in terror, gazing at Yu Linlang, who was looking down at them from above.

For some reason, the moment they met those dark, bottomless eyes, they felt as though their entire being had been thoroughly seen through from head to toe.

"As servants of the Governor's manor, you have disregarded the dignity of the manor, the official reputation of the Governor, and the suffering of the starving, specifically drawing these refugees here just to cause me trouble."

"Should I call you both stupid and wicked, or poisonous and ignorant?"

Yu Linlang’s expression remained indifferent, devoid of joy or sorrow. "Village Chief, please have them bound and sent to the county magistrate's office."

Chen Funong was still somewhat dazed, struggling to process what had just transpired.

Before he could react, Nanny Hu stepped forward, her face pale with alarm. "Absolutely not, Miss! If this matter gets out, it will be the reputation of our Governor's manor that suffers!"

"This is a family matter after all; we shouldn't trouble the government officials for every little thing."

"I must be senile in my old age; I didn't realize that wretched old woman would take matters into her own hands and secretly send her son to cause trouble."

Nanny Hu squeezed out a look of remorse and bowed deeply in a submissive manner. "Miss Yu has been wronged! But please rest assured, I will handle this properly! Once we return, I will have the Madam sell that woman and her entire family off!"

"Hu, by what right do you sell me?"

Nanny Fang’s eyes bulged as she let out a piercing scream. "My son and I were merely following orders! Besides, didn't you all tacitly enjoy the show all along?"

"You were even betting on whether Miss Yu could resolve this smoothly! Now that the truth is out, you want to pin everything on my son and me. I'm telling you, no way!"

Nanny Hu turned her head and interrupted viciously, "This madwoman is talking nonsense. Shut her mouth and drag her away before she fouls Miss Yu's ears."

The guards moved swiftly, binding the old woman and Datou's group and forcibly dragging them away.

Yu Linlang watched coldly, casting a faint glance at Nanny Hu.

"There is no need to be in such a hurry to cover for others. You and I both know exactly what happened. This old servant also said she was merely following orders. Was she following the wishes of your Madam, or was it someone else?"

"It is not as you think, Miss, that shrew was just talking nonsense..."

"Actually, you don't need to go to such lengths. I never explicitly said I wanted to return to the Governor's manor, did I?" Yu Linlang's voice was cool and detached. "If it is a hassle, there is no need to take me back. Fu Village is a place of great spirit and talent; I have grown accustomed to living here."

Nanny Hu forced a very strained smile. "Miss Yu, what are you saying? This trip to fetch you back was ordered directly by the Old Madam. Over the years, the Old Madam and the Madam have missed you dearly. You must not let a few words from that madwoman deceive you!"

"Oh? Is it... the 'missing' that comes in the form of one tael of silver every month?" Yu Linlang blinked, her tone laced with irony. "Then I truly must thank your honorable manor for its kindness. Thanks to that monthly allowance of one tael, I haven't starved or frozen to death in the manor."

Nanny Hu couldn't help but frown. "One tael? How could it be only one tael? How much should Miss Yu's monthly allowance be?"

A maid named Hongwei stepped forward, lifting her chin proudly. "Ten taels a month. Although it is not as much as the thousands of gold pieces our manor's daughters receive, the Eldest Madam said that since she is at the small manor, all her vegetables, fruits, and grains are provided by the manor itself. She is quite self-sufficient and doesn't need much money, so ten taels is plenty."

The surrounding villagers looked at one another in confusion.

The Village Chief, Chen Funong, also looked extremely embarrassed.

It was common knowledge that this Miss Yu came from a great family but had been left to fend for herself at their small manor in Fu Village.

They knew she was unfavored, but they hadn't expected her to be so neglected by her masters that even the maids and servants held her in such low regard.

Meanwhile, Nanny Hu wished she could reach out and cover the girl's mouth.

*How can she speak like that?* Without any filter, she blurted everything out in front of everyone!

Such a brainless girl—and here she was thinking of promoting her. Now it seemed she was nothing but a useless waste.

With absolutely no sense of propriety, she had spilled the Madam's private thoughts to everyone!

She was making them lose face in front of outsiders!

Hongwei curled her lip, stepping back with an air of indifference.

She had accompanied the nannies on this errand somewhat reluctantly.

Lately, refugees were everywhere, and the roads were littered with the frozen corpses of the starving; it was extremely unsafe to travel.

It had taken at least six days to get from the Weizhou Governor's manor to this remote little manor, and the return trip would involve squeezing among those stinking, filthy, begging refugees along the way. It was truly loathsome!

Seeing that this legitimate daughter had an ordinary appearance and bore no resemblance to the Madam, Hongwei held her in contempt. She looked down on her from the bottom of her heart, and without realizing it, her tongue had become loose.

Nanny Hu hurriedly smiled to smooth things over. "Miss Yu, do not listen to this dead girl's nonsense. As for the monthly allowance, I will personally send someone to investigate. But the most important matter right now is your return to the manor."

"The weather is getting colder by the day. If frost sets in on the road, it will be even harder to travel. Why don't we set off early tomorrow morning? I must trouble you, Miss, to hurry and pack your personal belongings today."

Yu Linlang cast a glance at her, dropped a "do as you wish," and turned to walk away.

"Hey, Miss Yu! Our Nanny hasn't finished speaking!" Hongwei shouted, stomping her foot at the departing figure.

A girl who had been abandoned in a manor since childhood dared to have such a temper?

One had to realize that after all these years, there was no place for her in the manor anymore; she didn't know why she was acting so arrogant.

So what if she was the legitimate daughter?

She wasn't even as good as the Second Miss, who had been brought into the manor by mistake years ago!

Though that lady was not the Eldest Madam's biological child, she was treated better than a biological one, making her far more noble than this legitimate daughter raised in the countryside!

If you asked her, this legitimate daughter was worth at most one tael; if she had any more, she wouldn't have the luck to enjoy it.

Nanny Hu's eyes shifted strangely as she stared at the direction the master and servant had gone for a long time without speaking.

As the two turned a corner by a small gate, Miss Yu turned her face slightly and cast a slow glance back.

Nanny Hu felt that the gaze thrown from a distance was thin, cold, and piercing—chilling and lingering. She recoiled in sudden alarm, withdrawing her inquisitive gaze.

Turning back, she offered a nod to the old Village Chief. "Then I shall trouble the Village Chief to... uh... settle the remaining matters."

Chen Funong nodded repeatedly. "No problem, no problem." His gaze swept toward the refugees, and he sighed. "Follow me."

***

That night, the candlelight flickered.

Yu Linlang finished pruning a uniquely shaped green plant with focused eyes before gently setting down the shears and washing her hands.

A soft sound came from outside the window. Yu Linlang turned and glanced at Jiujin.

The latter understood, nodded, and immediately pushed the window open.

"Where are they now?" Yu Linlang stepped forward, her voice cool.

Shadows of trees swayed beneath the window as a figure flickered.

"Please follow me, Master."

A moment later, the master and servant arrived at an inconspicuous backyard. They lifted a partition and descended a dirt ladder, slowly entering a cellar.

Two torches hung on the walls, providing decent light.

The cellar was not large; it was usually used for storing grain and vegetables.

Now, a large vat sat in the center. Nanny Fang and her son were bound, their bodies from the shoulders down submerged in freezing, wet water.

(End of Chapter)