Chapter 3

Chapter 3: I Am but a Fish on the Chopping Block

Mother He produced several silver notes from her bosom, "Here, this is a thousand taels from the senior madam for you, with another two thousand to follow upon success. Not only will your wealth last a lifetime, but your son's future is also secured by the third master."

Xun Xiang wondered why, despite the Long Princess's residence being wealthier than the Xun residence, the spiteful old woman could casually offer three thousand taels and still not be impoverished. Why risk such a wicked deed? If exposed, she and her descendants would suffer greatly.

Thinking about her own impending demise the following night, Xun Xiang felt fear and helplessness. Overwhelmed by the sense of being as vulnerable as a fish on the chopping block, unable even to turn over like a fish might, she struggled to control her emotions, often crying and unknowingly falling asleep when upset.

It took all her strength to hold back her tears and continue listening to their scheme.

After pondering, Mother Li made up her mind, "Alright, I'll do it."

Mother He smiled, "That's the right decision. Once your son becomes an official, and you've raised young Miss Feng and sent her out of the residence, you might even become a lady of imperial command."

The lure of wealth in the face of danger. Envisioning such a day, Mother Li nodded emphatically.

A rustling sound ensued as the two left for the door.

Mother Li's voice grew louder, "That soft cloth is perfect for diapers. On behalf of my daughter, I thank Madam Xun for her concern. She's unwell but still thinks of the young miss."

Mother He laughed, "I'll tell the senior madam and bring some more soft cloth later."

Xun Xiang felt devastated. At this moment, she was alone, except for the wicked servant.

"She also figured out something: why there were so many servant girls attending to her, yet Li Mama always kept a tight hold on her, rarely letting them come close. It turned out it was to prepare for changing the child."

"Li Mama returned, smiling at Xun Xiang, 'Aww, is little sister awake? Are you hungry?'"

"The gentle voice sent a chill down Xun Xiang's spine."

"Xia Mama returned from the sewing room and heard the little mistress's cries before she even entered the East Cross Courtyard, each wail louder and more piercing than the last."

"She rushed into the room, 'What's wrong with little sister, crying so terribly?'"

"Li Mama, somewhat panicked, hurriedly said, 'I don't know, she started crying the moment she woke up and refuses to nurse.'"

"Xia Mama's hand reached into the diaper, 'Little sister has soiled herself, that's no reason to cry.'"

"She glanced at Li Mama with some displeasure. The baby’s skin was cool, suggesting she had been in a soiled diaper for quite some time. Li Mama usually seemed attentive – what happened today?"

"Pretending not to notice Xia Mama's disapproval, Li Mama quickly went to fetch warm water, thinking to herself, 'Enjoy it while it lasts, you'll be out by tomorrow morning.'"

"A maid brought in the warm water, and the two women proceeded to clean Xun Xiang."

"Xun Xiang clutched at Xia Mama’s clothes, wanting to scream 'Help!' and to warn her that Li Mama was plotting against her, that they were planning a switch. She even wanted to sneeze, hoping Xia Mama would mistake it for a cold and summon the imperial physician..."

"But all that came out was, 'Ah~~ Ah~~ Ah~~'"

"Before she could cry much, Xia Mama stuffed the pacifier back into her mouth."

"Xun Xiang turned her head away, refusing it, but the pacifier was pushed back in."

"Forced to take it, she calmed down under Xia Mama's soothing and began to analyze the conversation between the two women."

"The mastermind behind this incident was clearly Lady Xun, with participants including Third Master Xun, Third Madam Xun, Li Mama, He Mama, and an unwilling participant, Feng Jie, along with Feng Jie’s wet nurse."

"She had to remember these people."

"If the switch wasn't successful, when she grew up, she would deal with those who tried to harm her. If it was successful and she miraculously survived, she would seek revenge, bringing those villains to justice and exposing the fake Xun Xiang. If she unfortunately 'died young,' she would be the most tragic and short-lived transmigrant, such was fate."

"She also had to remember Xia Mama, an important witness."

"However, apart from a few masters, the involved servants might gradually be silenced..."

"After nursing, Xia Mama held Xun Xiang upright to burp her, gently bouncing and coaxing her to sleep."

"Xun Xiang didn’t want to sleep and began to cry loudly again."

"Crying was her only way to draw Xia Mama's attention, hoping to spit up her milk and attract the imperial physician."

"Li Mama was terrified, her hands trembling. If the imperial physician came and stayed the night, their plan wouldn't proceed smoothly. Once Princess Dongyang returned to the estate, the opportunity would be lost."

"Knowing about their switch plan and its incomplete status, they wouldn’t leave her and the man alive..."

"Xia Mama, puzzled by why the usually well-behaved little sister was crying non-stop today, felt her forehead, which wasn’t hot. She checked her diaper, which was clean."

"She began to hum a lullaby."

"The rocking and lullaby made Xun Xiang extremely sleepy. Her eyes became hazy, knowing she shouldn’t sleep, yet uncontrollably drifted off."

"When she woke up again, Xun Xiang was alone in bed. There was light but no bird songs. It must be night, with the light coming from candles."

"She opened her mouth and started crying loudly again."

"Crying was the only way she could attract attention now."

"Footsteps approached, and she was scooped into someone’s arms. From the scent, she knew it was Li Mama."

"A gentle voice followed, 'Oh, little sister has soiled herself again.'"

"Li Mama pulled off Xun Xiang’s diaper."

"Seeing that Xun Xiang hadn’t soiled herself, Li Mama attempted to reattach the diaper."

"Xun Xiang flared her nostrils, kicked her legs, strained hard, and soiled Li Mama’s hand with a watery mess."

"Li Mama cursed under her breath, wiped her hand with the diaper, then wiped Xun Xiang’s bottom without washing her, and reattached the diaper."

"Such negligence, and with no one else in the room, not even Xia Mama."

"Had Xia Mama been poisoned?"

"Xun Xiang cried incessantly, unresponsive to Li Mama’s consoling and refusing to nurse."

"In her heart, Xun Xiang roared, hoping someone would come and quickly take her away..."

"Li Mama, both afraid and angry, leaned close to Xun Xiang's face and hissed, 'Silent, girl, no more crying.'"

"Xun Xiang felt her vision improve slightly, getting a clear view of the malevolent servant's face. A long face, thin lips, bulging round eyes with slightly upturned corners, and a green pea-sized mole at the right end of her eyebrow, in her twenties."

"At this moment, this face seemed especially despicable, like a witch from the comic books of her previous life."

"Xun Xiang stared at her intensely, unsettling Li Mama, who quickly looked away."

"Xun Xiang started crying loudly again."

"Finally, she heard a series of footsteps approaching the door."

"'Sister Li, what's wrong with the little mistress? Did she soil herself? I'll go fetch some warm water.'"

"Thank you for the rewards from Yi Sha Ou and Qi Yuan-De. During the new book period, please recommend and add to your favorites."