Chapter Seven: Revenge

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Shen Tuba was taken aback; she had not expected Li Tinghan to so quickly grant her the status of a servant concubine. Unlike a proper concubine, a servant concubine was half servant, half mistress—truly a “servant” who was required to work. Therefore, Shen Tuba could not live in the rear courtyard and had no maidservants to attend her.

Considering she had just offended Consort Lu, not being sent to the rear courtyard was actually a relief.

Shen Tuba showed no resentment at Du Ruo’s discreet avoidance; instead, she lifted her face and smiled sweetly at her. “Thank you for informing me, sister. There are still some belongings in my old room. Could you accompany me to retrieve them?”

Whether for the sake of appearances or to express her apology more sincerely, she should not refuse.

Soon, the two appeared together at the door of the former room. No voices came from within, but the clattering sounds suggested someone was throwing a tantrum.

Times had changed; Shen Tuba pushed open the door with great determination. Inside, she saw Su Ye hurriedly packing in a chaotic manner.

Upon seeing Shen Tuba, Su Ye’s expression flickered with guilt for a moment, but she quickly snorted coldly and looked away disdainfully. Yet her face clearly revealed she had not been doing well recently.

Shen Tuba covered her mouth in surprise. “What’s going on? Could it be that Sister Su Ye has been expelled from the mansion?”

Shen Tuba held grudges deeply; if she wasn’t given a chance to rise, she would let it go, but once she did, she would find a way to reclaim the humiliation she had suffered.

“Disappointing you, I’ve been transferred by Consort Lu to serve her personally,” Su Ye said, forcing a proud tone. As she passed Shen Tuba, she shoved her hard and whispered, “You owe my aunt a debt, and I will repay you myself one day.”

“Why wait for one day? Let’s settle accounts today,” Shen Tuba’s face turned cold. She grabbed Su Ye’s arm and pushed her to the ground.

She hated being threatened, especially by a drowning dog.

Shen Tuba glanced at the two frightened little maids. “Go close the door.”

The two exchanged hesitant looks, standing frozen. They had been punished with half a year’s salary for bullying Shen Tuba; if they acted against Su Ye again, they might be expelled from the mansion.

Shen Tuba sneered at them. “Aren’t you good at closing doors? Does it fail when I’m in front of you? Do as I say. After today, all our past accounts are wiped clean, or else...”

Her dark, ruthless gaze was like a different person from a few days ago. Instinctively, they did not want to know what the threat entailed.

“What... what do you want to do?” Su Ye swallowed nervously and shrank back in fear.

Without Madam Xin, she was like a pheasant stripped of its phoenix tail feathers, destined to be beaten back to her original state. If Shen Tuba truly meant harm, she would have nowhere to plead, just like before.

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In this moment, Su Ye’s fear peaked.

But Shen Tuba did not rush to deal with her; instead, she glanced sideways at Du Ruo, who seemed completely indifferent, as if blind and deaf.

Shen Tuba couldn’t help but look at her with newfound respect.

The more silent Shen Tuba became, the deeper Su Ye’s fear grew. Habitually, she resorted to threats. “I’m telling you, if you do anything to me, Consort Lu will not spare you.”

Shen Tuba picked up a cup and slammed it heavily on the ground, then covered her mouth in surprise. “Oh, how did the teacup break?”

She picked up a shard of porcelain and held it near Du Ruo’s face, taunting, “Aren’t we settling accounts? Sister, why so nervous?”

“It’s my fault... it’s my fault!” Su Ye’s trembling voice betrayed her fear. If her face were ruined, she would have no standing left in the Wang family. “It was my aunt who wanted to ruin your face. I was just influenced by her. Please spare me, please!”

Shen Tuba sneered. “Such a moving aunt-niece bond, truly pathetic.”

She mockingly tossed the shards aside, ignoring Su Ye’s ugly expression as the other stretched out her hand toward her.

“What?” Su Ye looked confused.

Shen Tuba said, “Return what you took of mine.”

Born into the music troupe, Shen Tuba had followed the stewardess from the age of seven, performing and singing in the mansions of nobles, gradually accumulating considerable silver and jewels.

When she first entered the mansion, she had specially chosen some valuable items to give to those living with her, like Su Ye, hoping to build good relations.

But they only pretended to disdain her belongings as dirty and mocked her openly, while secretly plundering all her possessions.

At the time, she was unaware of Su Ye’s relationship with Madam Xin, and when she complained to Madam Xin, she was instead whipped.

In front of Du Ruo, Su Ye’s face turned pale and then flushed.

She tried to deny, but the other two maids had already packed the items on the table and accused, “These were given to us by Su Ye to keep us quiet, plus ten taels of silver. We didn’t spend a single coin; she and Madam Xin took the bulk.”

Shen Tuba raised her eyebrows at her.

Knowing it would be hard to end this peacefully without returning the goods, Su Ye reluctantly produced them one by one with a cold face.

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After the last piece of jewelry was handed over, Shen Tuba still held out her hand. Su Ye broke down, “There really is nothing left.”

“There are still three hundred taels of silver and a cloisonné bracelet with eight treasures,” Shen Tuba said, recalling her assets clearly.

That bracelet was her most precious item, worth more than all the jewelry in the box combined. She would be very angry if Su Ye refused to hand it over.

“My aunt took those. I don’t know where she put them,” Su Ye wailed, clutching her head.

Seeing her expression was sincere, Shen Tuba turned and found pen and ink. “Sign this.”

Su Ye, tear-streaked and wary, asked, “What is this?”

Shen Tuba was surprised; she had assumed all servants in the mansion could read.

Having recovered most of her jewelry, Shen Tuba was in a good mood and patiently explained, “An IOU. From today onward, you must give me half your monthly wages until the debt of eight hundred taels is repaid.”

“Eight hundred taels? I won’t!” Su Ye screamed and backed away.

As the chief maid to the prince, her monthly wages were only five taels of silver, and now that she was with Consort Lu, the wages would surely drop.

Eight hundred taels meant she would be working for Shen Tuba for the rest of her life.

Shen Tuba did not press further; calmly, she put away the IOU. “If you don’t want to, fine. I will report this to the prince now. Everyone here will be a witness. I just wonder if the grand Wang mansion can tolerate a servant with dirty hands.”

With that, Shen Tuba rose and walked out.

“Wait!” Su Ye’s face turned utterly ashen. “I’ll sign. Don’t take it to the prince.”

Once a proud chief maid, she had fallen so low in just two days. The two little maids who had witnessed everything exchanged bitter glances, silently vowing never to fall into Shen Tuba’s hands.