1.7 You Erjie and You Sanjie

Volume One
Chapter 1.7: You Erjie and You Sanjie

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“Mother!” Unexpectedly, You Erjie’s clothing was not yet properly arranged. Seeing her biological mother enter and unable to hide in time, she turned away embarrassedly, clutching her half-open garment as she hurried toward the inner chamber to wash up and tidy herself, hoping to avoid further trouble by simply not facing it.

“If only you had a shred of decency—” You Sanjie finally lost patience and scolded aloud.

“You two are flesh from my own body; why be so shy?” the matron showed no hint of shame, casually dismissing her daughters and turning her gaze toward Lin Rui. “Master Rui is a benefactor worth more than a thousand fortunes; how could you be so stingy with your little wives?”

“Is that so?” Lin Rui’s smile was faintly mocking. “Madam You of An County is quite generous.”

After her remarriage, her husband had served as a sixth-rank magistrate in Yangzhou and had granted her the title “Madam of An County.”

This was the foundation that allowed the You family to become the successive wife’s family of Jia Zhen. Unfortunately, the old gentleman died early, leaving some estate behind, but the women squandered it so badly that by two years ago, their living conditions had become quite meager.

Most likely, she could no longer sustain herself and thus fled to the capital to seek refuge with her stepdaughter, disregarding her own two daughters and their lack of shared paternity or maternity, all while professing to “take care” of them.

In the end, she ruined her two daughters utterly, leaving behind a reputation so sullied it stank to the grave.

“My two daughters are as lovely as flowers; how have we wronged you, sir?” The matron showed no shame; instead, her spirits rose. “Now that you have seen them and tried them out, surely you wouldn’t just speak empty words and take advantage without giving anything in return?”

Yet, she never mentioned the generous twenty taels of silver given to them every month.

In this day and age, that sum could support a moderately well-off family for a whole year.

Even though Lin Rui already knew this, he was utterly disgusted by the shamelessness of the woman before him.

In the Grand View Garden, You Erjie and You Sanjie were indeed victims of tragic circumstances, but then what?

More often than not, it is true that “one must disgrace oneself before others can disgrace you.” Among the thirty-six girls listed in the official and secondary rosters of the Golden Hairpin, these two sisters were the only ones openly described as being promiscuously exploited—by fathers, brothers, and even extended family, with no regard for social propriety.

Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Rong were almost confirmed perpetrators, and even Jia Qiang, and possibly outsiders, were involved.

Yes, these men were scoundrels and bastards, but what of it?

A scoundrel paired with a lowly bean—no one has the right to judge another.

Therefore, when Lin Rui unknowingly rescued a mother and her two daughters who were being harassed by ruffians outside the gate, he did not initially realize it was them. According to his understanding, since Madam You was the successive wife of Jia Zhen in the capital and had sought refuge with her stepdaughter, they should all be in the capital.

Upon learning their identity, he intended to simply abandon them—he truly looked down on them.

It was only when You Erjie heard one of the ruffians call out his name and knelt before him, crying for help, that Lin Rui, pitying them and moved by the “Golden Hairpin sentiment,” gave them only some silver and sent them away casually.

Unexpectedly, Madam You set her sights on him, determined to find a “settlement” for her daughters.

Unable to bear seeing these two flower-like girls suffer, Lin Rui arranged for them to stay.

After all, the courtyard was confiscated property from before.

Lin Rui initially thought it was merely “a mother’s anxious love,” but soon found that these woman only regarded their daughters as tools for chasing wealth and status. Even when he deliberately teased and embraced You Erjie in the main hall, the matron simply withdrew outside, allowing her daughters to be humiliated.

Reflecting on her behavior in the Grand View Garden, perhaps the You sisters were not beyond salvation; no one chooses their birth. With such a mother, their tragic fate was already sealed.

After more than a year of “trial,” Lin Rui was nearly certain of this, but the two sisters believed it was because of his great influence and high status that Madam You dared not provoke him, and so allowed him to humiliate and toy with them.

Today, he intended to tear away the last remnants of this woman’s pretense.

As for the You sisters, as long as he took good care of them henceforth, what was there to worry about?

“If that’s the case, I won’t delay any longer—someone!” Lin Rui barked sharply. Soon, a burly guard came running from the gatehouse, placing a cloth bundle on the table. Lin Rui yanked it open. “This is fifty taels... in gold.”

He paused deliberately; as expected, the matron’s face darkened at the number, but brightened again when she realized it was gold. Yet, she quickly controlled herself, returning to a displeased expression.

“Lord Lin, what I meant was—” Madam You tried to bargain.

“Either you agree, or I take them away directly.” Lin Rui was tired of arguing, pulling the flushed You Sanjie into his arms and playing with her in front of the matron. “You can try filing a complaint at the magistrate’s office and see if anyone bothers to listen.”

Madam You wanted to ask for more but dared not speak further.

“Is this how Mother treats us?” You Sanjie broke free, her pretty face twisted by anger. “These past two years, you let us... We thought it was for our own good, but we even gave you the silver we earned ourselves!”

“You are flesh of my flesh; filial respect is only right,” Madam You showed no shame, only fixated on the gold. “Lord Lin has said so much; what else can this old woman say? I only hope you will take good care of them—”

“That’s none of your concern.” Lin Rui cut her off coldly. “Remember, this is the last pension you will receive. They will never return. Keep the money and live well!”

“Sir!” You Erjie, having overheard the conversation from the inner chamber, rushed out to plead.

Interestingly, You Sanjie simply turned her back, refusing to speak.

“And Madam You of An County?” Lin Rui didn’t bother to entertain the question.

“Oh, sir, as you say, isn’t that so?” Madam You forced a smile.

Judging by her demeanor, she would surely continue to squander and, when penniless, come begging again, since this was her usual way with the You family, utterly devoid of shame.

“Very well.” Lin Rui nodded as if he hadn’t seen, then rose, embracing the two sisters. “Madam You, do as you please. Let me be clear: there has never been a concubine who also had to be supported in old age.”

The family of a concubine is not considered kin; that was the feudal custom.

For instance, in the Rongguo Mansion, the maid Zhao’s brother, Zhao Guoji, was still a servant of the Jia family, tasked with driving the carriage for the Jia’s nephew Jia Huan. When he died, he only received servant’s benefits.

“Yes, sir, you speak truly!” Madam You’s expression stiffened immediately.

Lin Rui paid no further attention, escorting the sisters inside to prepare.

“Sir, what about Mother—” Only then did You Sanjie hesitate and plead.

“If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life in disgust, you’d better listen to me.” Lin Rui interrupted her. “Five hundred taels of silver is enough for her to live comfortably until eighty. No one will come looking for this courtyard. Isn’t that enough?”

“Thank you for your care, sir!” You Erjie knelt quickly, pulling her dissatisfied sister along.

“Fine, it’s settled.” Lin Rui had no intention of negotiating further. “I just promised to take you as concubines, but that won’t happen now. I’m not yet married; my rear quarters are empty. Taking concubines now would damage my reputation and do you no good. We’ll see about it later.”

“You said it yourself; what else can we do?” You Sanjie turned her head to the side. “These past two years, we’ve lost all shame. We could only let you humiliate us!”

“You’re sharp-tongued!” Lin Rui smiled faintly, sitting her on the edge of the bed, his large hand slowly sliding down. “Though I’ve made you ‘work’ hard, I haven’t really harmed you, have I?”

“That’s... the same thing!” You Sanjie said boldly, but her body went limp in his arms.

After a moment, she knelt before the bed, her delicate head slowly bowing.

Lin Rui pulled the blushing You Erjie into his embrace and kissed her fiercely.

Time passed—

“You two go back first. I still have matters to attend to.” At the gate, he pulled aside the carriage curtain, beckoning the seated sisters, watching the carriage depart before turning slowly back, his gaze cold as ice upon the courtyard.

“Sir?” Lin Zhao, who had followed, bowed deeply.

“Clean it up well; leave no trace.” Lin Rui said as he vaulted onto his horse. “The bundle I just handed over need not be submitted; consider it a reward. Also, tomorrow spread the news that I’ve taken these two sisters in, to avoid any ‘misunderstandings.’”

“Rest assured, sir; I understand!” Lin Zhao nodded firmly.

Lin Rui said no more, riding off with several guards.

Lin Zhao watched his figure disappear into the distance, then his expression turned grim. He nodded to two men left behind, pushed open the gate, drew his short knife, and strode toward the brightly lit main house.

A faint, almost imperceptible scream pierced the night, then silence.

Soon, the gate opened again, followed by the sound of heavy, disordered footsteps. Two strong men carried a long, narrow object, tossed it onto a horse’s back, mounted quickly, and vanished into the darkness.

Lin Zhao, the last to leave, glanced at the wrapped bundle in his hands, then turned to lock the gate and depart.

At the Lin residence, in the heated pavilion of the back garden, Lin Daiyu tossed and turned, unable to sleep as she kneaded flatbread as usual.

“Miss?” The maid lying on the small bed beside the main one could not bear it and sat at the bed’s edge.

“What do you think Mother meant today, Xueyan?” Lin Daiyu slowly sat up.

“Which mother, Miss?” The maid quickly grabbed a pillow to prop her up.

“Logically, the maternal family should be the closest relatives.” Lin Daiyu was puzzled. “But from childhood until now, I’ve never heard my mother speak in detail. I only know my maternal grandmother and have no idea who else is on that side.”

“That—” How could Xueyan possibly understand?

“Perhaps one day we should ask Nurse Wang.” Lin Daiyu said softly.

“Miss, it’s better to ask Madam directly.” Xueyan shook her head urgently.

“True!” Lin Daiyu realized. “So what do you think we should do?”

“What about Master Rui?”

“Hmm?”