Chapter 2: Less Than Beasts!
No matter whether it was Steward Liu or anyone from the Yang household, Shen Yan wished he could skin them alive and devour their flesh. Yet he was nothing more than a terminally ill servant; the only thing he could do now was to drag Steward Liu down with him to their mutual destruction.
Though called a steward, Liu’s position was only marginally higher than that of Shen Yan—a man whose duty was to keep the fishery’s servants in line. Within the Duke’s household, aside from bullying the likes of Shen Yan, he too was forced to bow and scrape before anyone of true standing.
Perhaps to find some sense of balance, whenever Shen Yan or the other servants made the slightest mistake, Liu would seize the opportunity to vent his frustrations, tormenting the fishery’s servants to the brink of death.
Shen Yan had made up his mind—once the household’s investigators arrived to question the incident in detail, he would see to it that Liu was implicated and made to die alongside him.
…
Not long after, a commotion arose outside the Fishery Courtyard. The people within turned their heads to see a woman, proud and haughty, dressed as a maid, striding briskly toward them, several burly men in tow.
“Greetings, Miss Mingyue!” Steward Liu, recognizing her, hurried forward with a fawning smile.
Her name was Mingyue, the personal maid to Miss Yang Yun, the eldest young lady of the Yang household. Rumor had it Yang Yun was a prodigy in martial arts, her status within the family so high that even the Duke himself would consult her on important matters. As a result, Mingyue’s position had risen with hers; even the young gentlemen of the house were wary of offending her.
“You’re the steward of the Fishery Courtyard?” Mingyue raised a brow, fixing Liu with a slow, deliberate gaze.
“Yes, Miss Mingyue, that is I,” Liu replied obsequiously, bowing deeply.
“Is that the servant who stole and ate the Crimson Gold Silver-Eyed Fish?” Mingyue asked, glancing at Yang Yun for confirmation before turning her eyes on Shen Yan.
“That’s him! Shen Yan, the little wretch, caught the fish but instead of presenting it to the young lady, he secretly ate it himself—he deserves to be cut to pieces!” Liu spat, desperate to curry favor with Mingyue, slandering Shen Yan with venom.
Crack!
At Liu’s words, Mingyue strode over to Shen Yan, seizing him by the throat with one hand. Shen Yan felt his entire body tighten, a sharp pain shooting through his neck as she lifted him bodily from the ground—by the neck, no less, and she was but a maid.
So the rumors were true—the eldest Miss Yang truly was a martial arts master. Otherwise, how could a mere maid at her side possess such strength?
Shen Yan made no attempt to evade; his mind, curiously detached, was busy confirming the rumors of the young lady’s prowess. He did not try to dodge—not only was the gulf in ability too vast, but as a sickly servant, he could not hope to escape. Even if he could, he dared not. Years of servitude had taught him that the trusted retainers of the powerful were the most petty and vindictive; to anger Mingyue would be courting disaster.
Bang!
Still gripping his throat, Mingyue flung him brutally to the ground. “How dare you! You must have a death wish!” she barked, punctuating her words with a savage kick that sent Shen Yan rolling across the floor.
“Why didn’t you present the Crimson Gold Silver-Eyed Fish to the young lady first?” Mingyue demanded coldly, ignoring the agony twisting Shen Yan’s face.
“I am afflicted with a cold poison; only the Crimson Gold Silver-Eyed Fish can cure me,” Shen Yan replied through gritted teeth, enduring the pain and answering honestly.
Everyone in the Fishery Courtyard knew of his illness—there was no hiding it. Better to speak the truth.
“A servant must always remember to put his master first. That is the rule in our household,” Mingyue said sternly, her words measured and unhurried. “You all know our rules: transgressions are punished, merit is rewarded.”
Her admonition was directed at Shen Yan, but served as a warning to all. Under Mingyue’s gaze, not just Liu but every servant lowered their heads in fear, voicing their assent.
Having cowed the room, Mingyue turned back to Shen Yan, her tone tinged with puzzlement. “The young lady says the half of the Crimson Gold Silver-Eyed Fish you ate contained only a little of its essence; most of it remains in the pot.”
“So your merit outweighs your offense. You are specially rewarded with a Blood Ginseng Pill to cure your cold poison completely.”
At this, the entire Fishery Courtyard exchanged incredulous glances. So Shen Yan ate half the fish and was found to have greater merit than fault?
Shen Yan himself was dumbstruck. He had thought himself doomed, yet suddenly the tables had turned; not only was he spared, but he was to be rewarded?
Mingyue, anticipating their disbelief, paid no heed to the servants’ reactions.
On the contrary, a trace of disdain curled her lips as she looked at Shen Yan as one might an ant. “Catching the Crimson Gold Silver-Eyed Fish is a merit; eating it without permission is a crime.”
She paused, drew a porcelain bottle from her sleeve, and tossed it onto Shen Yan. “Beating you is your punishment; granting you the Blood Ginseng Pill is your reward. However, the pill’s effect is strong. The essence of the fish within you has not yet been fully absorbed. You would do well to wait a few days before taking it, or your body will burst from the excess.”
She fixed him with a lingering, covetous gaze. “Shen Yan, are you satisfied with the young lady’s judgment?”
Hearing this, Shen Yan tucked the bottle close to his chest, rose, and bowed deeply. “Thank you, young lady, for your magnanimity. I am utterly convinced and grateful.”
He could not fathom why Yang Yun would make such an unexpected decision, but neither he nor the others dared voice any objection. To oppose the Yang household or its eldest miss—did one wish to die?
“Punishment has been dealt, and reward given,” Mingyue said coldly, her face hardening as Shen Yan put away the bottle. “Truly greedy—no wonder you dared to eat the fish in secret.”
Normally, a perceptive servant would present their reward as tribute; Shen Yan, however, stashed it away without hesitation—sheer audacity. Though she seethed inwardly, Mingyue had yet to complete her orders. Her voice, once severe, now turned glacial.
“The young lady commands: from this day forth, Shen Yan of the Fishery Courtyard shall be solely responsible for catching Crimson Gold Silver-Eyed Fish in Jinzhou Bay. Within three years, you must present another such fish—or you’ll be stewed yourself, and the spirit fish essence boiled out of you.”
Chilling words, spoken from such a beautiful mouth, sent a shiver through the courtyard. Shen Yan’s face turned ashen.
Catch another Crimson Gold Silver-Eyed Fish? The young lady had not spared him—she was simply pushing him toward his grave.
In an ordinary house, even a dog bringing home a scrap of meat would be lavishly praised. But in the Yang household, a man was only ever worked to death.