231 Justice

Xiaojun gasped faintly, clutching her hand to herself with wild eyes. "Cut--cut off?" she repeated in a barely audible voice.

She looked appealingly to Jiyue, but Jiyue's eyes were relentless.

Lord Yang looked at her coldly. "You're Madame's personal maid, aren't you? The one she brought with her from the Mao manor when she got married?"

His face hardened. "Do you think you'll get off easily because of that?"

Xiaojun fell back. "My lord," she panted, faintly at first, then with rising terror. "My lord, mercy! I wasn't stealing. I wasn't stealing, I swear, I would never dare!"

The servants who had caught her came forward respectfully. "My Lord, we heard a sound and found her in Master Zhao Jing's room. There was a broken vase on the ground."

There was a brief silence at this unexpected turn of events. Lord Yang raised his eyebrows, considering. Since she hadn't been caught stealing his possessions or meddling with his private papers as he had immediately suspected once he realized she was from the Mao manor, he was somewhat placated. Just a petty little thief then. He thought briefly of Xiang Er, and how she would surely make a fuss if he insisted on cutting off her personal maid's hand. What use was a maid without a hand, anyway?

Zhao Jing turned to him, wide-eyed. "My lord! She was snooping around in my chamber. My lord, you must deal justice for me! Who knows what devious plans this wretch had, to plant something that might incriminate me, or--"

He suddenly blanched. "--or--or taking something...my Lord! Justice, please! Have her searched, to see what she took!"

Jiyue's lip curled ever so slightly as she watched his face, and saw the exact moment he made the connection. It was a serious situation, and the tension was very real--she might be exposed any moment. But she had the satisfaction of seeing that Zhao Jing only realized their plot when it was already too late. If they managed to get past this storm, she could deal with him easily, as long as she had some help--someone more capable than that little fool Xiaojun, of course.

Zhao Jing was in a frenzy as he put two and two together and realized that his precious letter, the proof of Lady Yang's underhand dealings he had been gloating over and waiting to show Lord Yang, must have been what Xiaojun was after. He had only enough good sense to know that he could not blurt out that it must have been Lady Yang who was behind this. Until he had clear evidence, any insinuations against Lady Yang that he dared to make could cost him his life.

Lord Yang glanced at his servant's face, seeing how agitated Zhao Jing was. He sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. What precious things could Zhao Jing have anyway? At most a bag of gold he was saving up. Definitely not worth angering Xiang Er over. However, he knew he had to make at least an appearance of justice to satisfy his servant--Zhao Jing, though not the brightest, was at least loyal, and it would not do to let him feel aggrieved. After all, he would need him for his next project--the fellow had some good contacts.

He cleared his throat. "Well, of course, Zhao Jing. Naturally I, Lord Yang, will ensure there is justice done for you."

Mao Xiang came up to them, her gleaming robes sweeping across the ground with the faintest rustle. Jiyue noticed her and quickly raised her voice. "Madame! Lord Yang is back."

She hurried over. "Madame. The unthinkable has happened. They say they found Xiaojun in Master Zhao's chamber. They're accusing her of stealing, Madame."

The muscles in Mao Xiang's throat spasmed faintly as she swallowed, and Jiyue saw the fear in her mistress' face. Silently she warned her as well as she could with her eyes, not to betray any emotion.

Jiyue quickly took her arm, tugging at her elbow. "Madame, what should we do?" she repeated tearfully.

Mao Xiang glanced down and saw Jiyue open her fingers ever so slightly to reveal a glimpse of crumpled paper inside her palm. She released a faint, shivering breath of relief. So they had managed to get the letter. Then, all was not lost. They had still succeeded in the main thing they needed to do. She felt courage come back to her, and rallied quickly.

"Preposterous," Mao Xiang said coldly, turning sharply towards where Xiaojun huddled on the ground before Lord Yang and Zhao Jing. "How dare you accuse my personal maid of doing such hideous things? Do you have proof?"

Her voice was cutting. Xiaojun looked up at her with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

The servants scratched their heads. "Well, we caught her inside, Madame," they faltered. "Isn't that proof enough?"

"Master Zhao Jing, what did my maid steal from you?" Mao Xiang startled him by addressing him directly.

"We'll know well enough when we have her searched," he said confidently. "My Lord! Have the wretch searched, and you'll see."

Lord Yang considered. He glanced shrewdly at Mao Xiang, who met his gaze coolly. "Very well. Have her searched." He gestured to two of the maids standing by.

Xiaojun's eyes widened as they approached her. She wrapped her arms around herself hastily. "Right here? In front of everyone?" she stammered.

Lord Yang raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Why, how else would you prove your innocence? Search her!"

Xiaojun gasped as the maids caught hold of her roughly.

Mao Xiang swallowed hard and averted her eyes. Jiyue looked down fixedly as Xiaojun whimpered. Zhao Jing watched on eagerly, a slight smirk on his mouth, and Lord Yang expressionlessly with a kind of cold detached interest.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the maids stepped back. Xiaojun hastily pulled her disheveled clothes closer around herself, red with shame and fear.

"There's nothing on her, my Lord."

Aghast, Zhao Jing stepped forward. "They must have missed it, then. I'll search her myself! She's sure to have taken it--"

Mao Xiang stepped forward suddenly as he made a movement towards Xiaojun. Her shadow fell across Xiaojun like a garment. "Master Zhao Jing, you've got nerve. How dare you molest my personal maid? Have you forgotten your place? Only Lord Yang has the power to make decisions like that here." She turned imperiously to Lord Yang, eyes bright and hard in her pale face.

"Of course." he said quickly. "Lady Yang need not fear. Zhao Jing, they've already searched her. Enough."

"My Lord!" Zhao Jing protested.

"Enough." Lord Yang's voice rang out. There was a stunned silence in the courtyard and the servants scrambled to kneel down, each afraid that they would somehow get incriminated.

Zhao Jing chafed helplessly. Jiyue watched him and Lord Yang keenly, holding her breath in her mouth.

Abruptly he turned to Mao Xiang. "What does Lady Yang think?"

How beautiful she looked, with that jade set he had gotten her, and her lips touched with vermilion. He would prefer not to make her angry, but on the other hand he also wanted to test her. After all, this was still a suspicious incident.

There was a moment of silence. Xiaojun glanced up timidly at Mao Xiang, but she could not see her face. Mao Xiang caught sight of Jiyue's face, warning her silently.

She raised her arms gracefully in a low bow. "My lord is wise. Mao Xiang is happy to accept the justice my lord thinks best."

Lord Yang smiled. He reached out and caressed her cheek. "Ah, indeed."

Turning to the others, he cleared his throat. "She did not have anything on her that proves she was stealing, so she will be spared from having her hand cut off. But, she gravely overstepped her place in trespassing into Master Zhao Jing's chambers, where she had no place to be. For that, she will be whipped with fifty lashes, and locked in isolation for two days."

"My lord is gracious," chorused the servants, bowing. Jiyue closed her eyes as she bowed as well, breathing a sigh of relief. Xiaojun had gotten off this time. But Zhao Jing would know now, for sure. They had need to watch out for him now; he would want revenge. No--better still, get rid of him completely...

"Fifty lashes," Xiaojun murmured dazedly. The maids took hold of her by the shoulders and dragged her away.

Her eyes locked onto her mistress'. "Young Mistress," she called out piteously, just once, and then fell silent.

Mao Xiang blanched. She composed herself with an effort and stood stiff and resolute as they took Xiaojun away.