Chapter Forty-Nine: Unbelievable

If the elderly matron of the Fourth Residence had been dragged behind the rockery by He Dalang, the wet nurse wouldn't even know whether to intervene or not.

The news was simply too explosive; she couldn't decide how to react.

At that moment, a noise came from behind the rockery, and suddenly a shadow dashed out, sprinting toward a deserted area.

The two maids from the First Residence were the first to react, shouting, "Thief! After him—"

They gave chase, followed closely by the two gatekeepers.

The wet nurse...

Should she join the pursuit or stay back?

She was at a loss, unable to find a way to mock the Fourth Residence matron being dragged into a cave by a man. Without that, she couldn't judge whether chasing after them would benefit their Third Residence or not.

While she hesitated, Aunt Jiang arrived.

Seeing the commotion nearby, Aunt Jiang furrowed her brow slightly. Having served in the rear mansion for many years and being a woman herself, her instincts told her something was amiss in the garden.

She glanced at Xue Liuniang, noting that the young lady’s clothes were neat, though her face was unnaturally pale under the lamplight. Relieved by this, she asked, "Liuniang, what happened?"

Though young and unmarried, Xue Liuniang had seen a figure running out from behind the rockery. She sensed something was wrong. If it concerned her grandmother and wasn’t good news, should she speak of it?

Aunt Jiang was anxious. After all, the elderly matron of the Fourth Residence was just that—an elderly matron. Scandalous gossip could ruin a young girl’s prospects, but it held little sway over an old woman, only serving as fodder for gossip. The family’s unmarried daughters, especially those in the First Residence, would be more vulnerable.

She quickly assessed the situation and asked, "It seems the Fourth Residence matron is in trouble, yes?"

Since the matter was already known, Xue Liuniang dared not conceal anything further. She hurried forward toward the rockery cave, calling out, "Grandmother..."

Aunt Jiang let out a relieved breath at that last word. Indeed, it was the Fourth Residence matron. Though unfortunate, it was a small mercy. The matron had likely been defending Liuniang. Though the feelings involved were difficult to express, the matron’s virtuous nature shone through.

Xue Liuniang, the wet nurse, and Aunt Jiang arrived simultaneously at the rockery entrance. Holding lanterns, the wet nurse and Liuniang peeked inside and indeed found an elderly lady with silver hair lying there. Her shoulder shawl was missing, and her upper garment’s sash was undone, exposing half a shoulder. She lay semi-conscious, groaning softly—a clear scene of assault. Yet it aroused no pity, only a sense of absurdity.

Of course, Xue Liuniang would never mock her grandmother. She knelt beside the old lady, calling out, "Grandmother!"

The Fourth Residence matron groaned again, "Oh... oh..."

Aunt Jiang sensed she was injured. With no other servants nearby, she said to the wet nurse, "Let’s carry the matron out."

The wet nurse, reluctant to do such heavy labor, eyed the matron’s robust frame—well-fed and sturdy, much more so than the young lady—and feared she couldn’t lift her. But since Aunt Jiang had ordered it, she could not refuse. Handing her lantern to Xue Liuniang, she and Aunt Jiang each took one end and carried the matron to the garden path.

Once outside, perhaps due to fresh air or the assailant fleeing, the Fourth Residence matron slowly opened her eyes.

Aunt Jiang hurriedly asked, "Matron, are you hurt? What happened just now?"

"Oh, heavens!" The matron’s anger flared at the memory of her humiliation. At her age—her husband deceased for fifteen years—how could a man still try to strip her, to touch her thigh?

"Damn that wretched beast! Where did this lustful demon come from, daring to lay hands on an old woman like me? He can’t be after our Fourth Residence’s inheritance, can he? I never planned to remarry!"

She was more accepting of remarriage now. After all, the mother of Emperor Wu of Han remarried and became empress. Remarrying was no great scandal. A woman’s power and status mattered, not her marital state.

Yet her words were awkward—was she admitting she’d been violated? Even if remarriage was common, being assaulted was no trivial matter. As head of the First Residence, having such rumors spread would never sound good. Why did she speak of it aloud?

Aunt Jiang and the wet nurse from the Third Residence exchanged strange, incredulous looks.

In truth, the Fourth Residence matron truly thought she had encountered a ghost, cursing a phantom no one else understood.

Xue Liuniang felt heartbroken and guilty, knowing this calamity was because of her. Little Eighth had clearly told her not to go out no matter who called.

Trying to steady the old lady, Xue Liuniang urged, "Grandmother, let’s discuss what happened after we return."

At that moment, the Fourth Residence matron finally recovered from her shock. Seeing Aunt Jiang and the Third Residence wet nurse, her face paled. So the man earlier might not have been a ghost. What had she encountered?

At seventy-five years old, she had been assaulted? The world was truly mad.

She hurriedly grabbed Xue Liuniang’s hand, saying, "Let’s go back!"

Once standing, she narrowed her eyes at Aunt Jiang and the wet nurse, commanding, "Mind your tongues. Don’t spread baseless rumors."

Aunt Jiang, a woman of propriety, lowered her head in agreement.

But the wet nurse from the Third Residence was different. Being from the Third Residence herself, why should she heed the Fourth Residence matron’s orders?

With a tone dripping sarcasm and anticipation, she asked, "Matron, what exactly happened to you? Were you robbed? I saw a man running from behind the rockery. Did you suffer any harm? Tell us so we can investigate!"

The Fourth and Third Residence matrons had weathered many storms, but this woman's words were clear insults.

The Fourth Residence matron was furious, sputtering incoherently and pointing at the wet nurse.

Yet the wet nurse seemed to want more, feigning shock: "No way, matron, you weren’t seriously harmed, were you? I saw your clothes in disarray. Could it be that you were taken advantage of? That would be absurd! What kind of man would ignore the young lady and target the matron instead?"

Her words carried another implication—hinting to Aunt Jiang that the assailant's real target was Xue Liuniang. Why else would the young lady be spared? Was this truly a one-time incident?

Her insinuation not only insulted the Fourth Residence matron but, to the discerning ear, was meant to ruin Xue Liuniang’s reputation.

Though the Fourth Residence matron was not very sharp, Aunt Jiang caught on immediately. She warned the wet nurse with a sharp glance, "The man hasn’t been caught yet; Mistress Zhang, don’t jump to conclusions."

At that moment, voices came from nearby: "Caught him! See where you can run now..."