Chapter 14: A Sensible Conversation

As Su Yuxin arrived at the entrance of Yimei Garden, she heard a commotion from within—Peach Hong's voice, seemingly scolding someone. Pushing the door open, she saw Peach Hong, hands on her hips, wielding a broom, exuding an air of menace. Qingque sheltered a young maid behind her, her forehead smeared with oil stains. Nearby, several other women displayed bruises.

Fuming with anger, Su Yuxin ordered, "Stop!"

It was her own fault for indulging Peach Hong, leading to such bullying behavior. Upon seeing Su Yuxin, instead of fear, Peach Hong's arrogance escalated. "This servant caught this wretched girl stealing. Qingque shielded her; they are in league. Miss, you cannot overlook this."

"Madam, I am innocent. I've been wrongly accused," the maid cried, her swollen eyes brimming with tears.

"How dare you address the Madam?" Peach Hong swung the broom. "Do you wish to lose your teeth?"

Su Yuxin, unaware of what had happened when she had ordered Qingque earlier, retorted sharply, "Kneel!"

"Do you hear? Miss wants you all to kneel," Peach Hong arrogantly pointed at everyone.

"I'm telling you to kneel!" Su Yuxin cast a cold glance at Peach Hong.

"Miss…"

"I had ordered you to kneel earlier. Who allowed you to rise?" Su Yuxin interrupted firmly.

Publicly reprimanded, Peach Hong's face reddened rapidly as she reluctantly knelt. "Miss, this servant…"

"Face slap!" Su Yuxin looked down upon Peach Hong, refusing to listen to her.

Puzzled, Peach Hong hesitated.

"Do you want me to do it myself?" Su Yuxin raised an eyebrow, a glint of frost in her eyes.

Confronted by Su Yuxin's chilling gaze and recalling the morning's slaps, Peach Hong involuntarily shrank back, revealing her fear.

"I'm worthless, utterly worthless," Peach Hong began slapping her own face.

"Haven't you eaten?" Su Yuxin's voice deepened.

Gritting her teeth, Peach Hong increased the force, her face stinging and burning, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Remember this well—I am now the rightful wife of the General. If you address me incorrectly again, I will strike you," Su Yuxin sneered. "Furthermore, you need not attend to me anymore; just focus on your cleaning duties."

"Madam, I repent. I will never err again," Peach Hong pleaded, crawling over, tearfully lamenting, "I have served by your side since childhood, contributed in my own way. Without me, Madam would face numerous difficulties."

"You overestimate yourself," Su Yuxin sneered. "The ones who have been by my side since childhood are Qingque and Ziyuan. With them by my side, you need not worry."

"Madam, both of them are treacherous. Have you forgotten about Ziyuan stealing your earrings?" Peach Hong tugged at Su Yuxin's skirt.

Ziyuan trembled at the accusation, feeling indignant.

She was falsely accused.

"If you're willing to bring it up, then let's discuss it thoroughly," Su Yuxin consoled Ziyuan with a pat on the shoulder, gazing at Peach Hong with a half-smile. "There's a pawnshop called Wan An on Ping'an Street. The shopkeeper's surname is He. Does that ring a bell?"

Shocked, Peach Hong's face drained of color. She was well-acquainted with the pawnshop; she visited regularly over the years, becoming familiar with the shopkeeper and his assistants. However, how could Su Yuxin be aware of this secretive behavior?

Muddled, Peach Hong struggled to offer an explanation.

"In Wan An Pawnshop, you signed several pawn tickets, correct?" Although Su Yuxin's tone was calm, it resonated like thunder in Peach Hong's ears, leaving her flustered.

In her previous life, she had only discovered Peach Hong's secret pawnings after Qingque and Ziyuan were executed. At that time, she had been overwhelmed with regret and helplessness, enduring it all, hoping for the General's return to seek justice. Yet, in the end, she never got to see the General.

"No, I didn't," Peach Hong whimpered, drenched in sweat.

"Are you sure?" Su Yuxin raised an eyebrow. "Why not report this? How do you think theft should be punished? How should disloyalty be dealt with?"