Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Answer

Yang Tao’s face still bore the pallor of illness—ashen, with cracked lips. Bai Mei and Xiao Ke stood quietly to the side, watching intently.

The Second Miss said nothing, her expression unreadable; no one could discern the thoughts behind her eyes.

Rumors had already spread throughout the mansion. When they fetched their meals from the kitchen that morning, whispers had already begun among the servants.

Why was the Second Miss now taking out that jar of wine? Wasn’t it supposed to be sent to the county magistrate’s residence? Why bring it back again?

Hong Xing’s face was cold; she had long wanted to get to the bottom of this. If it weren’t for having to accompany the Second Miss to the magistrate’s office yesterday, she would have turned the courtyard upside down to investigate.

Now, seeing the three of them with innocent faces only made Hong Xing feel sickened.

Chun Cao waited nearby for Xu Ruo Jin’s command.

Xu Ruo Jin calmly finished her tea before speaking:

“Open the wine.”

“Open it?” Hong Xing questioned softly, but upon meeting Xu Ruo Jin’s resolute gaze, she hurriedly set to work.

“Chun Cao, bring three bowls and pour the wine into them.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Having received the order, Chun Cao quickly stepped forward to assist Hong Xing.

Bai Mei furrowed her brows slightly, Xiao Ke watched with curiosity, while Yang Tao turned her head slightly, coughing softly, her throat red and swollen, unable to speak.

“Second Miss, you’re pouring the wine—what is your intention?” Xiao Ke couldn’t help but ask, but Hong Xing shot her a sharp glare.

“What the Second Miss does doesn’t require your explanation. Just watch!”

“Oh.” Xiao Ke dared not argue, shrinking back and returning to her place.

Once the wine was poured, Xu Ruo Jin looked at Bai Mei, Xiao Ke, and Yang Tao, speaking slowly:

“You three have been with the Xu household for some time now, working in my courtyard doing various chores.”

She scanned their differing expressions before pointing at the wine in front of her.

“Working in the courtyard isn’t easy, especially in this biting cold. I truly feel for you all. From now on, you are under my care. Behind closed doors, we are family. Today, I’m treating each of you to a bowl of wine. Drink it down, and I will regard you as my own. Whether cold or warm, if anything happens in the house, tell me if I can help—I will never wrong anyone.”

She gestured again at the wine, a faint smile touching her lips.

“Come get it yourselves.”

After she finished speaking, Bai Mei instinctively stepped back, Xiao Ke stood curiously in place, not moving forward.

Yang Tao looked at the two of them, hesitation plain on her face—waiting for someone else to make the first move, unwilling to be the leader.

Hong Xing stood with her hands on her hips, mocking:

“Why aren’t any of you moving? Don’t you usually complain about the Second Miss’s favoritism? Today, she’s even granting you this favor, yet you still stand frozen. What’s wrong? Afraid something’s wrong with the wine? This is the very jar that’s been kept in the corner…”

Seeing Xiao Ke and Yang Tao looking at her, Bai Mei felt a pang of guilt for having hesitated and forced herself to speak up:

“Such precious wine—how could we dare drink it? We are truly grateful for the Second Miss’s kindness, but we still have chores to do this afternoon and dare not drink…”

“If I tell you to drink, you drink. The Second Miss is favoring you and you still refuse? What, don’t like this bowl of wine?”

Hong Xing was hot-tempered. Xu Ruo Jin had chosen her to confront the three of them.

Bai Mei hurried to explain, “No, it’s just that we’re afraid after drinking we won’t be able to work.”

“This courtyard belongs to the Second Miss. When the master gives an order, what are you hesitating for? Drink!”

Hong Xing pointed mockingly at the bowl, her voice slow and sneering, “What, you still afraid the wine’s poisoned?”

Her words struck the three maids like a thunderclap.

If they didn’t realize there was a problem now, they would be truly foolish.

Though she called it a treat, it was actually a test…

Could it be that the wine really was tainted?

Xiao Ke glanced at Bai Mei, who found Yang Tao’s gaze on her.

The three exchanged looks for a long moment, yet no one spoke.

Xu Ruo Jin studied them quietly, her mind already forming a conclusion.

“If none of you are willing to give me this face, then I won’t waste my feelings. This is how things are in the Xu household. If you were somewhere else, my words wouldn’t count, and wouldn’t that be a problem?”

She looked at Chun Cao and instructed, “Tell Mother to bring three more for me. I need attendants who are close at heart, not distant.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Chun Cao was about to leave when Yang Tao, usually unassuming, suddenly stepped forward.

“Thank you for the Second Miss’s kindness!”

She lifted the bowl and immediately drank it down.

Being weak, she choked violently, spilling more than half onto the floor.

Hong Xing rushed to steady her, handing her a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

Yang Tao looked shocked, wanting to speak but Hong Xing pinched her from behind.

“I’ll help you lie down in your room first. You need to rest for a couple of days.”

“Second Miss?” Yang Tao looked toward Xu Ruo Jin, who nodded.

“Go. There’s not much work in the courtyard. Rest well, then you’ll switch with the others.”

“Thank you, Second Miss.”

Yang Tao bowed, and Hong Xing escorted her away.

Xu Ruo Jin turned to Bai Mei and Xiao Ke.

With Hong Xing gone, Chun Cao stepped forward, while the hurried departure of Yang Tao left the other two feeling uneasy.

Xiao Ke eyed the bowl of wine with confusion; Bai Mei wrung her handkerchief, refusing to step forward.

“I—I will drink too,” Xiao Ke pondered for a moment, then moved forward.

Bai Mei stopped her, “Yang Tao can no longer work. If we all drink too much, who will do the chores? Sister Chun Cao is busy embroidering the Second Miss’s wedding gown. The two of us will have to do the work of four!”

After speaking, Bai Mei looked at Xu Ruo Jin.

“Second Miss, I will save this wine for tonight. Please grant me this favor. There are still seven or eight tasks unfinished in the courtyard. I truly fear it will delay everything…”

“No need to rush. If not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, the day after.”

Xu Ruo Jin pointed at the wine.

“Drink it now.”

“I’m really afraid of delaying things. If Mother Huang finds out, not only will I be punished with the rod, but my monthly wages will be docked,” Bai Mei said tearfully.

“Besides,” she continued, “there are rumors outside. I understand the Second Miss’s intentions clearly. I will serve you wholeheartedly, never harbor ill intentions, and never speak nonsense outside.”

“I hear you,” Xu Ruo Jin said firmly. “I have only one request now.”

She pointed at the wine.

“Drink it, or all of you get out of the Xu household.”

Bai Mei’s heart jolted, her face full of shock as she looked at Xu Ruo Jin.

“Second Miss, why must this be? I have never done anything to betray you…”

“Do you refuse to obey my words? Then why keep you in my courtyard at all?”

Xu Ruo Jin picked up her teacup and sipped.

“There is another choice—you decide if you’re willing.”

“I will obey the Second Miss…”

Xu Ruo Jin narrowed her eyes slightly. Though her voice was soft, it struck Bai Mei’s heart like a heavy hammer:

“Let me be clear—I’m too tired to play these mind games with you. Who told you to touch my wine jar? Speak.”