NOVEL WEB Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Depart
Qin Jiuru froze momentarily, realizing Jiang Huaiyu's words held truth. But she had come with a firm resolve to secure the soap beans and couldn't imagine leaving empty-handed—what a laughingstock she'd become!
As she struggled to find a retort, Li Sumeng timidly tugged at her sleeve. "Third Sister spoke without thinking, Jiuru. Please don't take it to heart. I don't feel wronged."
Jiang Huaiyu barely resisted rolling her eyes. If Li Sumeng's feeble defense hadn't been accompanied by such a contrived look of fragility, it might have carried more weight.
"I don't care which noble family you belong to," Jiang Huaiyu said coldly, cutting off any response. "I've said my piece twice, and I won't repeat it a third time. If you believe your status entitles you to bully me, go ahead and summon the authorities. Have them lock me up and torture me to see if I've hidden any soap beans for you."
Her calm yet scornful demeanor left Qin Jiuru momentarily speechless.
Qin Jiuru's expression flickered, not with anger but with grudging acknowledgment that Jiang Huaiyu had a point. Yet, she couldn't forget how Li Sumeng's third sister had mocked and gloated about her supply of limited-edition soap beans earlier that day. The memory stoked her frustration, fueling her desire to reclaim some dignity by storming over here.
"How much silver do you want? Name your price, and as long as it's not outrageous, I'll pay it now!" Qin Jiuru's forthright manner matched her bold, energetic appearance—a stark contrast to the delicate refinement of most capital city ladies.
Jiang Huaiyu's serene expression didn't waver. "No amount of silver will suffice. The soap beans are a matter of business between myself and Qin Ziqin, and I won't breach that agreement."
Before Qin Jiuru could respond, one of her coarse-mannered servants interjected with a booming voice. "Our lady is the daughter of the Minister of Personnel! Selling to her is your great fortune!"
The servant's crass attempt at intimidation backfired spectacularly. Jiang Huaiyu almost laughed out loud at the irony. This woman dared boast of Qin Jiuru's lineage in front of a princess? Truly, ignorance knew no bounds.
"Minister's daughter or not, even the imperial family would have to purchase their soap beans through the proper channels," Jiang Huaiyu retorted evenly, her tone razor-sharp.
The servant's boldness faltered, her eyes darting nervously. But emboldened by her perceived importance, she pressed on recklessly. "You'd better not be hiding any soap beans! If we search this place and find them, don't say I didn't warn you! You're nothing but a common woman selling trinkets; don't start acting high and mighty!"
The servant's glaring eyes and harsh words filled the air.
Qin Jiuru winced at the outburst. She had no intention of escalating things this far. Just as she opened her mouth to berate the servant, Li Sumeng clutched her arm, her teary eyes glimmering pitifully. "Jiuru, there's no need to make such a scene for my sake."
Qin Jiuru sighed, feeling tangled in the chaos. She reassured Li Sumeng, "Don't worry. You know I don't bully people. This servant has clearly lost her mind; I'll—"
Before she could finish, the servant rolled up her sleeves and charged toward the eastern wing, rallying the others to search for the soap beans.
"Stop this at once! Do you think yourselves bandits, barging into private homes to rob and plunder?"
A commanding voice rang out. Ruyi, the princess's maid, strode into the courtyard, exuding an air of authority that immediately cowed the intruding servants.
Jiang Huaiyu's faint smile faded. Predictably, these people bullied the weak and feared the strong. Her gaze flitted to Li Sumeng, who inexplicably seemed to relish the spectacle. When their eyes met, Li Sumeng's expression quickly shifted to one of practiced innocence.
Jiang Huaiyu turned to Qin Jiuru, her voice low but cutting. "I wonder, how would the authorities rule on this? Or does the Minister of Personnel's daughter enjoy immunity from judgment while commoners are left to suffer?"
Qin Jiuru froze, her gaze drifting toward the main house. The glimpse of a golden hairpin sent a wave of realization crashing over her. Stumbling into a curtsy, she stammered, "I didn't realize the princess was here. Forgive my servant's rudeness, Your Highness."
The revelation sent shockwaves through the group. Li Sumeng turned pale, and the servants trembled as if facing divine judgment. The brash servant's bravado evaporated entirely as she sank to her knees, her legs quaking.
Ruyi's cold gaze swept over them before she turned to Jiang Huaiyu with a measured bow. "Miss Jiang, if you wish, I'll accompany you to the authorities to file a report."
The implied threat was clear. The imperial family's authority would easily outweigh any influence wielded by the Minister of Personnel.
Qin Jiuru flushed with embarrassment, her boldness diminished. She turned to Jiang Huaiyu, offering a contrite bow. "Miss Jiang, I acted rashly. If I've wronged you, I'm willing to accept any punishment you see fit."
Jiang Huaiyu's expression softened slightly. "Punishment isn't necessary. I ask only one thing: if we meet again, kindly maintain a distance of three paces from me. Agreed?"
Qin Jiuru blinked in confusion, taken aback by the unusual request. Interpreting it as a subtle rebuke, she nodded earnestly. "I swear it. Wherever you are, I'll stay three paces away."
Satisfied, Jiang Huaiyu watched the group retreat. Qin Jiuru even left behind a silver note worth fifty taels, though her expression betrayed a pang of regret over the hefty sum.
As the courtyard fell silent again, Jiang Huaiyu turned to find Ruyi lingering at the door, her demeanor unusually deferential.
"This way, please," Ruyi said, gesturing politely.
Earlier, while Jiang Huaiyu had dealt with the commotion, Ruyi had knelt before Princess He Linglong, admitting her misjudgments and vowing to correct them. The princess's response had been cryptic yet enlightening.
"Do you know why merchants and craftsmen have risen to prominence over the centuries?" He Linglong had asked softly. "Many of them descend from reclusive sages who emerged during the chaos of our nation's founding. Their ingenuity forged dynasties, and though their numbers have dwindled, their influence remains undeniable. It's not a lineage to be underestimated."
Ruyi's initial disdain for Jiang Huaiyu evaporated, replaced by wary respect.
When Jiang Huaiyu reentered the house, she offered the princess an apologetic smile. "I don't know what I've done to invite such trouble. Please excuse the disturbance, Your Highness."
"It's nothing," He Linglong replied with a serene smile, her composure unshaken.