Chapter 80- A Maid Has Died – Transcendental Translations

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Chapter 80

“But… Mother, I don’t believe she’s genuinely so kind-hearted! Her behavior has changed too much. How many times has she even met Miss Liu? And yesterday, they went out together without informing me. Today, she’s putting on a show, spending so much money on jewelry, and even trying to win over those low-born concubine-born girls!”

“Silence!” The third madam glared at her. “Do you even know what you’re saying? Jealousy is a grave flaw in a woman’s virtue. Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”

“I haven’t forgotten, I just…”

Jiang Ruoting’s defiance was crushed under her mother’s anger. She lowered her head, unwilling to speak further, but the injustice she felt made her tears fall in large drops.

“If you want the world to know you can’t tolerate your concubine-born sisters or Jiang Ruohua’s friendships, then by all means, throw your tantrum!” The third madam’s voice was sharp with frustration. Ever since Jiang Ruohua had broken off her engagement, her reputation had blossomed like bamboo shoots after the rain. She had earned Princess Shangyang’s admiration and even the empress’s favor. The third madam’s painstaking plans had all but been rendered useless.

But if they didn’t endure, everything would be completely ruined!

“You might as well not hold back. Tell everyone you’re a malicious, ill-mannered woman. With you as a contrast, Jiang Ruohua will be even more sought after and adored. By then, forget about stealing her engagement; you won’t even have a suitor to call your own. You’ll end up living your days as an old maid!”

Nobody wanted to be labeled ill-mannered or live out their days as a spinster—an eternal joke to others. Jiang Ruoting turned pale and cried out, “Mother! Mother! I was wrong! I was wrong!”

“I won’t do it again. I’ll endure! I promise I’ll behave from now on!” Jiang Ruoting made a hasty vow. Now that her anger had dissipated, she realized the extent of her actions. “I don’t want to be a spinster forever. Mother, you said if I behaved and did well, everything Jiang Ruohua has would become mine. I don’t want to lose that!”

Hearing this, the third madam’s expression softened. “Ting’er, I know it’s hard to bear, but no matter how difficult, you must endure. Whether Jiang Ruohua’s actions are deliberate or not, as long as you perform better, how could those young ladies distance themselves from you?

“If you treat your concubine-born sisters well, they will pave the way for you in the future. I’ve planned all of this for you, but remember, if you want to openly and legitimately claim everything for yourself, you must win in a way that leaves no stain. Right now, you hate her, and you might even want to ruin her reputation with some scheme, but what about you?

“No matter how much you despise her, you’re both daughters of the Jiang family. Ruining Jiang Ruohua will only ruin yourself. You can’t rush these things, do you understand?”

Some methods of sabotage were too obvious—using them would harm both sides. Even if Jiang Ruohua’s reputation was destroyed or she was killed, as long as someone suspected or questioned their involvement, the things they seized would never be securely theirs.

Even though Jiang Ruohua seemed entirely unaware of their schemes, they couldn’t let their guard down. Jiang Ruohua was far too intelligent. Any mistake could alert her, and once she caught on, everything they worked for could be lost.

“I understand.” Jiang Ruoting obediently nodded, burying her grievances. She leaned into her mother’s embrace and said, “I won’t do it again. I’ll listen to you from now on.”

Looking at the mess in the room, the third madam waved her hand and said to her trusted maid, “Help Second Miss clean this up.”

By noon, Huachan hurried in with a food box. “Miss.”

“What’s the matter?” Jiang Ruohua was reading.

“Second Miss’s courtyard… Her personal maid Yuxiu has been dealt with—beaten to death.”

“Yuxiu is dead?”

Jiang Ruohua’s eyes narrowed in surprise, but she quickly pieced things together. “Did they say what she did wrong?”

“They claimed she suddenly went mad, smashed Second Miss’s belongings, and almost injured her. The third madam dealt with her.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ruohua chuckled. “Went mad? That’s quite the excuse.”

“I thought it was odd too,” Huachan murmured. “Yuxiu always seemed fine before.”

“She wasn’t mad—she was covering for her mistress.”

Jiang Ruohua was crystal clear. This talk of Yuxiu smashing Jiang Ruoting’s things was a cover. Most likely, Jiang Ruoting had thrown a fit and wrecked her room, and to avoid any unsavory rumors, they conveniently used a maid as a scapegoat.

To the masters, this might be a trivial matter, but to the servants, it was a chilling blow.

As Jiang Ruoting’s personal maid, Yuxiu had lived a relatively privileged life. A maid in her position had opportunities most didn’t—learning to read, gaining etiquette, and even benefiting from her mistress’s marriage. Yet, no one imagined she would die so suddenly.

“Don’t think too much about it.” Jiang Ruohua extended her hand toward Huachan. “I would never let you all do such things for me.”

Huachan hesitated, then said softly, “But if Miss ever needs it, I would willingly do it…”

“If I value you, I would never let you lose your life for me,” Jiang Ruohua said firmly. “Life is precious. Don’t say such things. If I can’t handle such small matters without costing a life, how am I worthy to be your mistress?”

She believed that gaining strength was not just for her own sake—it was to protect those around her, ensuring that no one who loved and supported her would suffer undeserved harm.

Huachan, deeply moved, knelt down and said, “It’s my greatest fortune to serve Miss.”

“Enough of that,” Jiang Ruohua dismissed gently. She had no desire for such declarations. Her dreams had been soaked in blood. If she had been more vigilant before, perhaps heaven wouldn’t have needed to intervene for her to start preparing. “How are the preparations?”

“They’re nearly complete,” Huachan replied. “Miss can rest assured.”

In the days that followed, Jiang Ruohua lived as usual. On the surface, the Duke’s residence seemed peaceful. Jiang Ruoting, with a new maid, appeared more docile, diligently studying under the tutor and excelling among her sisters.

By arrangement, Jiang Ruohua didn’t need to attend such lessons. This had been decided when her engagement was still intact—an intentional effort by the third madam to make her learn other skills so she wouldn’t overshadow Jiang Ruoting.

Now, this preferential treatment gave Jiang Ruohua ample time to manage her other affairs.

She made several trips to the estate, during which the third madam’s envoy, Nanny Wang, became more active. The nanny busied herself advising Jiang Ruohua, sharing the lessons she had learned over the years.