Chapter 23: Disciplining the Servants

Zhou Yuexue was three years older than Lin Jinyan and was just turning twelve this year. At the age of twelve, she had already begun to develop a graceful figure. At this moment, her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, and a look of concern appeared in her watery eyes.

Lin Jinyan thought to herself: She wondered whether Zhou Yuexue was truly so deeply calculating, or if her young nature had not yet gone astray; even though she knew full well how malicious Zhou Yuexue's heart was, she could not see any flaws in her expression at this moment.

Seeing Lin Jinyan staring at her, Zhou Yuexue asked in confusion

"What is the matter, Sister Jinyan?"

Lin Jinyan withdrew the hand that Zhou Yuexue was holding, smoothed out the crease made by the grip on her book, and said with a faint smile

"Sister, you have worked hard these past few days."

Zhou Yuexue sensed that Lin Jinyan had become considerably colder toward her, but her expression remained unchanged as she continued to smile brightly

"It is no trouble at all. As long as you are well, I am at peace. I only blame myself for taking you so far away that night. When I turned around and couldn't find you, I was so anxious searching everywhere, only to hear from the servants that you had fallen into the water."

Lin Jinyan said indifferently, "Did Grandmother know that you were playing with me alone that night, Sister?"

Zhou Yuexue's eyes flickered as she replied, "When they heard you fell into the water, the whole family was very worried. Great-Aunt could not even sleep. I haven't had the chance to inform her yet. Now that your health has greatly improved, Great-Aunt's heart is at ease, and I will find an opportunity to apologize to her. Is Sister Jinyan blaming me for taking you too far and causing you to fall into the water?"

Lin Jinyan chuckled softly. "How could that be? I am deeply grateful to Sister for kneeling through the scriptures on my behalf for several days; how could I possibly blame you? As for the matter of playing together... I am fine now, so there is no need for Sister to inform Grandmother. It was simply my own carelessness; I truly cannot blame Sister."

Zhou Yuexue patted her chest as if a great burden had been lifted

"It is good that you do not blame me. I was afraid that Sister Jinyan would grow distant from me because of this. I only have a younger brother at home, and since coming to the Lin family over a year ago, I have truly liked Sister Jinyan from the bottom of my heart, treating you like my own biological sister."

Lin Jinyan smiled faintly. "I have always kept Sister's kindness to me in my heart. In the future, I will surely treat Sister well."

Zhou Yuexue smiled. "It is too formal to say such things between sisters. This is the soup I had Dong'er stew for you before I went to bed this morning. Hurry and drink it while it's hot."

As she spoke, the maid behind Zhou Yuexue placed a food box on the stone table. Zhou Yuexue stood up, opened the box, and brought out a small soup pot, placing it in front of Lin Jinyan.

Lin Jinyan smiled lightly. "Thank you, Sister, but I have just finished lunch and truly cannot eat more right now. Yulan, take the soup away; we will reheat it for dinner."

Yulan responded crisply and took the food box with a bright smile

"Thank you, Miss Yuexue. I have just made some osmanthus cakes. I will set the soup down and pack a portion for you to take back and taste."

Zhou Yuexue agreed with a smile. Lin Jinyan said with a faint smile

"Yulan seems more like Sister's maid; look at how thoughtful she is. She has already taken the initiative on my behalf before I even spoke."

Yulan laughed. "I know that you and Miss Yuexue have always been close. Even if you didn't say anything, Miss would surely have told me to pack it."

Lin Jinyan: "Now you can even make decisions for me; you look more like a young mistress than I do."

Sensing that the tone was wrong, Yulan's hand tightened on the food box as she whispered

"Miss..."

Zhou Yuexue also sensed something was amiss. Just as she was about to speak up for Yulan, Lin Jinyan said with a smile

"I am only teasing you, what are you afraid of? Could I be like those ill-tempered young ladies in other households and beat or scold you? Although hitting and scolding servants is a common occurrence, our Lin family does not do such things. At most, people like Yuling or Yuxiu are expelled from the household for committing great errors."

(End of Chapter)