Chapter 12: It's Been a Long Time Since I've Beaten Up a Punching Bag This Big

Jun Buwen was surrounded by a crowd, exchanging pleasantries non-stop, while Xia Jiujiang sat at her seat, bored out of her mind. She was such a conspicuous target—why had no one tried to scheme against her yet? It was far too tedious.

Xia Chan approached and stood before Xia Jiujiang. There was a stain on her clothes, evidence of tea having been spilled on her. She addressed Xia Jiujiang, "Sister, could you accompany me back to Qinlin Courtyard to change my clothes?"

Xia Chan's intentions were all too obvious. She believed her excuse flawless, but in Xia Jiujiang’s eyes, her every move was as blatant as someone hiding silver in plain sight and then loudly denying it.

Immediately, Xia Jiujiang’s eyes brightened. At last, a lamb had wandered into her sights.

Feigning confusion, Xia Jiujiang asked, "Sister, we aren’t usually so close. Why do you want me to go with you to Qinlin Courtyard to change today?"

At this, Xia Yue’er stepped in to support, "Chan’er wanted me to go with her, but I can’t leave right now. I still have to perform on the zither later, so I hoped eldest sister could accompany Chan’er to Qinlin Courtyard."

Xia Jiujiang made it clear she had no wish to go. "Where’s Chan’er’s personal maid?"

Her persistent reluctance seemed to put Xia Yue’er at ease. Xia Yue’er explained, "Today is Grandmother’s birthday banquet. All the maids are busy helping in the kitchens, so we don’t have any personal attendants with us. That’s why we have to trouble you, sister."

A sly smile played at Xia Jiujiang's lips. She was curious to see what tricks they might try to play.

With a look of forced reluctance, Xia Jiujiang finally said, "All right, I’ll go with you to Qinlin Courtyard, sister."

As soon as she spoke, Lülüo, her maid, tried to follow. Xia Yue’er quickly pulled Lülüo back and whispered, "Why would a servant follow? Third sister wants to use this chance to properly apologize to eldest sister. With you there, how could Chan’er bring herself to say what’s on her mind?"

Before leaving, Xia Jiujiang exchanged a meaningful glance with Lülüo and Youhua. After Xia Yue’er’s words, Lülüo stepped back, saying, "I understand, miss." She remained where she was and did not follow Xia Jiujiang.

Pretending not to notice anything odd about Xia Chan, Xia Jiujiang followed her toward Qinlin Courtyard. Along the way, they passed many busy servants within the residence. Qinlin Courtyard lay beyond the Garden of Blossoms, and at night, the air there was filled with a delicate fragrance, soothing and far removed from the clamor of the main banquet—a place of rare tranquility.

Thanks to her memory, Xia Jiujiang quickly familiarized herself with the Xia family’s grounds.

Xia Chan said, "Sister, I wanted to apologize to you. I caused a scene in Anke Courtyard today in front of you and the Prince, and I feel terrible about it, so..."

Her gaze suddenly sharpened. The door to the room ahead was ajar, and inside it was pitch dark. Xia Chan gave Xia Jiujiang a hard shove, pushing her into the room, then quickly shut and locked the door.

Xia Chan’s voice grew cold, "Sister, just stay in this room for a while."

Xia Jiujiang began pounding on the door in feigned panic, "Chan’er, what are you doing? Open the door! Why are you locking me in here? Open up!"

Xia Chan sneered. No matter how much Xia Jiujiang screamed, no one would hear her; in Qinlin Courtyard, Xia Chan was mistress of all.

With a triumphant smile, Xia Chan handed the key to a male servant. She then instructed a maid to inform Prince Jin that Xia Jiujiang had gone back to rest in Anke Courtyard. That way, as long as incense was lit and the lights put out in the room there, she would only need to wait quietly for her plan to unfold.

After Xia Chan’s footsteps receded, Xia Jiujiang sat back down in the room. The frantic display was over and she could finally rest, wondering what surprises awaited her next.

Meanwhile, at the birthday banquet, Xia Yue’er caught sight of Xia Chan’s personal maid approaching Prince Jin, Jun Buwen. Xia Yue’er knew Xia Chan’s plan had succeeded; now it was time for her own special performance.

There was no lamp lit in the room, but Xia Jiujiang’s eyes soon adjusted to the darkness by moonlight. She grew bored waiting and wondered if Xia Chan’s only plan was to lock her up in a room. Such a foolish move—she could easily escape. Hardly worth her attention.

While Xia Jiujiang was amusing herself with idle thoughts, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. The door creaked open.

A man entered. He wore rough linen clothing—the garb of a household servant. His face was lecherous and greedy, his intentions written plainly across his features.

Xia Jiujiang fixed him with a cold stare. "Who sent you here? Do you know where this is? Do you know who I am?"

Her voice was thunderous, her bearing regal, as though determined to cow him into submission.

But the man had no fear at all. "Of course I know who you are. You’re the eldest miss of the Xia family, Xia Jiujiang, the Princess Consort of Prince Jin. But Princess, I wouldn’t shout if I were you. If anyone comes and finds us alone in this room—a man and a woman—won’t that be interesting?"

Xia Jiujiang remained utterly composed, not the least bit flustered by his words. She looked him up and down. "I remember you... You’re Zhang Fu, a kitchen hand here at the Xia residence!"

Zhang Fu’s face lit up with excitement. "To think the Princess Consort would remember a humble servant like me! I must have left quite an impression."

With all those pockmarks on his face, Xia Jiujiang thought wryly, how could he not leave an impression?

Zhang Fu leered, "I’ve never tasted the Princess Consort before. But after you’re defiled, you’ll be no princess at all. Even if you scream, it’s useless. There’s no one else in Qinlin Courtyard but us—you can shriek until your voice breaks and no one will hear."

A crooked smile played at Xia Jiujiang’s lips. "I won’t be the one screaming, but you’d best hope you don’t."

Zhang Fu, still leering, replied, "Why would I scream? I can hardly wait; it’s been so long since I’ve had a woman."

Xia Jiujiang flexed her fingers, making her knuckles crack. "Is that so? Well, it’s been ages since I’ve beaten up such a big punching bag as you."

Hearing this, Zhang Fu burst out laughing. Beat him? How ridiculous! "You can’t even lift a thing, and you think you can—"

He never finished. Soon, the room echoed with his cries, "Stop! Don’t hit me—stop, please!"

Xia Jiujiang kicked him. "I’m not even hitting your face, so why are you covering it? Besides, your face is already pitted enough—I hardly need to give it a few more bruises for color."

Zhang Fu wailed, "Princess, I was wrong—I was wrong! Please, stop!"

Xia Jiujiang’s voice was icy. "Stop? Weren’t you just planning to ruin my reputation, to make it look like I was having an affair with you, to help the third miss deal with me? When you were plotting against me, did you ever think to show mercy? If you want to play this game, you’d better be prepared for what happens when you lose!"

She walked over to the bed, yanked off the bedding, and tied Zhang Fu up in a manner both secure and uncomfortably revealing, every limb bound with expert precision.

Just then, a voice drifted down from the beams above. "I never thought the Princess Consort’s skills would be so practiced—almost as good as the ladies at Fragrant Pavilion."