Zhe Jing grew more and more annoyed. She wanted to act but her martial arts skills were not enough to impress, so she could only vent her anger on Steward Zhou. "I'm buying these two people. Hurry up and bring them over!"
Uh… Steward Zhou, pointed at by the whip, was stunned. This little ancestor really knew how to pick on the weak.
But no matter how wronged he felt, Steward Zhou could only force a smile. "The maids are all here. It's their good fortune if the eldest young lady fancies them."
"Are you blind? I said I want these two people!" Zhe Jing angrily whipped her whip. Fortunately, she didn't intend to hurt anyone, and the whip flew past Steward Zhou's cheek.
Steward Zhou retreated two steps with lingering fear. It was said that the eldest young lady of the Zhe family would whip people at the slightest disagreement. Steward Zhou had previously dismissed it as a rumor, but now he was pale with fright. After steadying himself, he stammered, "Eldest young lady, these two people have already been bought and their contracts have been registered at the yamen."
"I said I want to buy these two people!" Zhe Jing reiterated forcefully. The Zhe family was not short of maids or cooks. She had only come to the agency to browse, but now that she had clashed with Zhan Feiyu, Zhe Jing was determined to take the cook and maid with her. "Ah Da, pay the money!"
Before Steward Zhou could speak, two bank notes were stuffed into his hand. He took a closer look and saw two fifty-tael notes. This made Steward Zhou's heart flutter. He couldn't earn a hundred taels a year.
But Steward Zhou didn't dare to offend someone whom Zhe Jing dared not offend directly. Even if he had the courage of a leopard, he wouldn't dare. He reluctantly handed over the bank notes, enduring the heartache. "Eldest young lady, why don't you take another look? These maids are all well-behaved, and two of them know how to cook. But these two, with their contracts registered at the yamen, are truly not for sale."
"What if their contracts are registered? It's just a matter of a word. I want these two people!" Zhe Jing said arrogantly. The Zhe family's reputation was at stake. Would the minor officials at the yamen dare to disrespect the Zhe family? "There are problems with these two people's contracts, so they are void. That's settled. I'm taking these two back to the Zhe family."
Zhan Feiyu smiled and watched Zhe Jing, who was talking to herself. "According to Miss Zhe, the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen seems to be run by the Zhe family. Contracts in black and white at the yamen can be voided with just a word. I'd like to ask Prefect Bai about this."
"You?" Zhe Jing glared at Zhan Feiyu, this sharp-tongued little vixen, with eyes spewing fire.
Prefect Bai was upright and incorruptible. For any case handled by the Shuntian Prefecture, Prefect Bai would not show favoritism regardless of who interceded. Everything was handled impartially, and there was absolutely no abuse of power.
"Miss, please rest assured, these registered contracts are absolutely valid," Steward Zhou said with a苦脸 (bitter face). If it were a minor matter, the yamen runners might show some leniency, but if it really escalated, which runner would dare to abuse their power and risk losing their official uniform?
"It seems that Miss Zhe cannot cover the sky with one hand in the capital," Zhan Feiyu said with a smile. "Ah Nuan, put away the contracts and take the two people back."
"Yes, Miss." He Nuan replied.
"This slut…" Watching Zhan Feiyu and her group swagger away in the carriage, the furious Zhe Jing resentfully whipped Steward Zhou. She couldn't do anything to that slut, but she could still deal with these commoners!
Ah Da and Ah Er did not stop her. Their winter clothes were thick, and in her anger, the young lady's whip missed its mark. It wouldn't kill anyone anyway.
Steward Zhou fell to the ground as if he had been hit, crying out in pain. He shielded his head with his arms and dodged left and right. Although he was whipped repeatedly, he only felt a burning pain on the back of his hand and was not too badly off.
After all, there were people coming and going outside the agency. Zhe Jing, tired after whipping more than ten times, couldn't dissipate her anger. "Return to the manor!"
Zhan Feiyu knew that Zhe Jing would not give up. It was just a matter of dealing with each move as it came. After returning to the courtyard of Yufeng Tower, she continued with her studies for the day, which surprised the cook Madam Xiao and Cui Ya who had returned with her.
"The young lady prefers quiet and reads every day, so whether in the kitchen or tidying up the courtyard, you must move gently..." He Nuan roughly explained the tasks they needed to do.
Cook Madam Xiao was responsible for the three meals a day, while Cui Ya helped with miscellaneous tasks. As for Zhan Feiyu, she had He Nuan to attend to her, so they didn't need to interfere.
"I've noted everything the young lady said," Cook Madam Xiao said. She led the somewhat dull Cui Ya to bow to He Nuan, then continued, "We stayed at the agency overnight. I'll go and boil some water to wash up first, and then I'll prepare lunch for the young lady."
"Cui Ya, go and boil water." He Nuan took out two taels of broken silver from her purse and handed it to Cook Madam Xiao. "Judging by your accent, you're also from the capital. Go and buy some clothes and necessities for the two of you. After you're settled, you can start working tomorrow."
"Thank you, Miss He." Cook Madam Xiao gratefully accepted the silver. She knew she had found a kind mistress, and her anxious heart finally settled.
After arranging everything, He Nuan turned and went to the study, reporting in a low voice, "Miss, Madam Xiao is hiding something."
"Our trip to the agency today was sudden. Outsiders couldn't have planned it in advance. As long as Madam Xiao has no connection to us, that's fine," Zhan Feiyu estimated that Madam Xiao's background was not as simple as the agency had said. Good cooks would serve in the main household and not go to the estates, unless there was a special reason.
Furthermore, when Zhe Jing appeared, Madam Xiao's expression clearly changed. Although she concealed it quickly, He Nuan still noticed it. She must have met Zhe Jing before. When Zhe Jing tried to force a sale, Madam Xiao's eyes showed tension and unease, and she only relaxed after returning to Yufeng Tower.
The Zhe family was considered a top family in the capital. Since Madam Xiao had met Zhe Jing, her previous master was likely similar to the Zhe family. The reason Madam Xiao was sold to the agency was probably to avoid something, likely domestic intrigue.
...
Compared to the peace on Zhan Feiyu's side, the Zhe family was in turmoil. Several old women tried to stop the frenzied Zhe Jing, but they were all whipped away.
Lü Liu stumbled and, disregarding her near fall, anxiously shouted towards the house, "Madam, it's not good! The eldest young lady is coming..."
Having been angered by Zhe Sanlang yesterday, the First Madam was leaning on a soft couch talking to the Second Madam, who had come to visit. Hearing Lü Liu's shout, she couldn't help but frown.
"What is my little sister fussing about now?" The Second Madam quickly got up and walked towards the window.
Through the gap in the window, the Second Madam saw Zhe Jing running like a madwoman with a whip, followed by old women and maids who wanted to stop her but dared not. Guards had arrived, but they were all blocked by Ah Da and Ah Er.
The First Madam's face darkened. Zhe Sanlang cared more about his aunt than his own mother, which had already made the First Madam feel stifled. Now, his aunt was barging into her courtyard without any regard for etiquette.
Hearing the commotion outside and the painful cries of the servants being whipped, the First Madam laughed in anger. "I lowered my status to apologize to a junior, and even used my dowry. If she didn't accept it, fine, but now she's holding a grudge against me."
"Sister-in-law, there's no need to be angry. Every villain has their match. Let's just wait and see," the Second Madam had always disliked Zhe Jing's behavior, thinking she had completely disgraced the Zhe family.
It was just that with the doting of her parents-in-law and the protection of the second sons of the Zhe family, if the two sisters-in-law dared to say a word against Zhe Jing, they would become public enemies of the entire family. They could only watch and see if her future in-laws would still indulge her unruly behavior after she got married.
The First Madam walked to the door and looked at Zhe Jing, who was rushing over like a madwoman. She said coldly, "Little sister, did you get angry outside and come to my courtyard to throw a tantrum?"
"Sister-in-law, you don't need to speak sarcastically. I just want to ask one question." No matter how overbearing Zhe Jing was, she didn't dare to whip the First Madam. She was not only her sister-in-law but also the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, Zhao family.
Before the First Madam could speak, Zhe Jing angrily questioned, "That slut clearly offended me, but you, sister-in-law, went to apologize to her behind my back. Now everyone in the capital is laughing at me. Sister-in-law, what are your intentions?"
Zhe Jing tightened her grip on the whip, but ultimately did not dare to lay hands on the First Madam. However, she couldn't vent her anger, so Zhe Jing cast a sinister glance at Lü Liu beside her and suddenly raised her whip and struck.
"Ah..." With a pained scream, Lü Liu was whipped across the face without any defense, and immediately cried out in pain.
"How dare you cry, you lowly servant! It's your honor that I'm whipping you!" The more Lü Liu cried in pain, the more smug Zhe Jing became. She fiercely swung her whip again. If she couldn't deal with that slut, couldn't she deal with this lowly servant!
The First Madam and the Second Madam truly did not expect Zhe Jing to be so lawless. Even beating a dog required looking at its owner. Lü Liu was the First Madam's personal maid. Each whip that landed on Lü Liu was also a slap in the First Madam's face.
"Stop!" The First Madam's face turned ashen, and she trembled with anger, roaring uncontrollably, "Someone, stop the eldest young lady!"
The maids, snapping back to their senses, disregarded propriety and rushed forward, finally managing to restrain the frenzied Zhe Jing. Two old women took the opportunity to push the whipped Lü Liu into the house.
Three whip marks appeared on Lü Liu's once beautiful face. The deepest one ran from her left brow bone to her right cheek, tearing the skin. Lü Liu's face was likely ruined, and she could no longer serve in the inner courtyard. Sending her to the estate was the best outcome.
"Little sister, have you gone mad?" The Second Madam was truly worried that Zhe Jing would go mad and hit them too. Taking advantage of the maids restraining Zhe Jing, she quickly stepped forward and snatched the whip from her hand.
"I am mad, and you have driven me mad. You are helping outsiders humiliate me, your sister-in-law. You just can't stand to see me do well and want to ruin my reputation!" Zhe Jing yelled sharply, her hateful gaze fixed on her two sisters-in-law.
"Don't think I don't know. Sister-in-law went to Yufeng Tower to apologize and embarrassed me. Second sister-in-law, you deliberately concealed information so I wouldn't know. You two are colluding and working together to bully me!"
"Little sister, don't forget that Cheng Wu led people to scout Yufeng Tower at night, but ended up returning in defeat. The reason I apologized to you is that I don't want the Zhe family to gain an enemy for no reason!" The First Madam said with a cold smile, looking down at the unreasonable Zhe Jing from the steps. "Father, your elder brother, and nephew are all fighting bravely on the battlefield, but you are dragging them down in the capital. Little sister, consider it my plea as your sister-in-law. If you continue to be so willful and reckless, you will harm them!"
The Zhe family had a death-exemption token, but the Zhe family was a military family with few connections in the court. If someone secretly caused trouble, whether it was a shortage of food, military pay, or medicine, it would affect the outcome of the battlefield. It would be too late to regret it then.
The First Madam went to Yufeng Tower to apologize, partly because she didn't want to provoke a strong enemy for the Zhe family, and partly because she did intend to embarrass Zhe Jing. However, in the end, Zhe Jing's loss of face was her own doing.
Seeing her calm and dignified sister-in-law's eyes redden with anger, the Second Madam also felt a pang of sadness. The men of the Zhe family fought desperately on the battlefield, and a slight mistake could result in their death. Yet, their sister-in-law, Zhe Jing, caused trouble all day long, tarnishing the Zhe family's reputation, and making enemies for the Zhe family every few days. If this were her own daughter, the Second Madam would have wished to slap her to death.
The maids, old women, and guards inside and outside the courtyard were all silent, but it was clear that everyone was dissatisfied with Zhe Jing. Chasing after the eldest young master of the Ning family all over the capital had completely disgraced the men of the Zhe family.
Now, she had offended someone for no reason. Her elder sister-in-law apologized to her, but Zhe Jing not only refused to accept it but also caused a disturbance in the back courtyard, even beating her elder sister-in-law's personal maid. Looking at the entire capital, there was no sister-in-law as overbearing and arrogant as this.
"Jing'er, apologize to your sister-in-law!" A scolding voice sounded at the courtyard entrance. Old Madam Zhe, who had rushed over after receiving the news, had a solemn expression. For the first time, she spoke to Zhe Jing in such a stern tone. "Apologize to your sister-in-law now, and then go to the ancestral hall to kneel. You can get up when you've reflected on yourself!"
"Mother?" Zhe Jing looked at Old Madam Zhe with dissatisfaction. Her mother had become senile and was actually helping her elder sister-in-law bully her.
The First Madam and the Second Madam also suppressed their emotions and bowed respectfully to Old Madam Zhe. "It is our filial impiety, disturbing Mother's Buddhist meditation."
In the Great Qing Dynasty, filial piety was the foundation of governance. Moreover, apart from spoiling Zhe Jing, Old Madam Zhe's demeanor in dealing with people was impeccable. The First Madam and the Second Madam were also genuinely respectful and filial towards the old madam.
The old madam, leaning on her cane, waved her hand and sighed, looking at Zhe Jing, who refused to admit her mistake, with disappointment. "It's all my fault for spoiling Jing'er. You are sisters-in-law. If Jing'er has any faults, please point them out. It's better to correct them now than to suffer and be taught a lesson later."
The First Madam and the Second Madam exchanged glances. Their mother-in-law had said this many times, but if they, as sisters-in-law, were to discipline their sister-in-law, their mother-in-law would likely be the first to be unhappy.
Perhaps it was the old madam's unprecedented sternness that made Zhe Jing reluctantly apologize. She angrily went to the ancestral hall. Whether she knelt to reflect or went to the ancestral hall to seek peace was unknown.
...
As night fell, a north wind began to blow, followed by falling snowflakes.
The kitchen lights were still on. Cui Ya added a log to the stove and then said in a low voice, "Why does the young lady take a bath every night on such a cold day?"
Cui Ya was sold by her family when she was ten years old. The five taels of silver from the sale were used to treat her elder brother's broken leg. Cui Ya remembered that at home, she rarely bathed in winter. It was too cold, and who would want to bathe? If she caught a cold by accident, she might die of illness, and the family didn't have extra money for medicine.
Later, she was sold to the merchant Wang family as a maid, where she bathed once a month.
"Don't say what you shouldn't. We, as servants, should do our jobs properly. We shouldn't ask about or inquire about the master's affairs," Cook Madam Xiao liked Cui Ya's personality. She was not troublesome and was obedient. Whatever she was told to do, she did without slacking, otherwise, Cook Madam Xiao would not have taught her the rules just now.
Cui Ya nodded with a dull expression. "I've remembered."
After waiting for a quarter of an hour for the water to boil, Cook Madam Xiao skillfully poured the hot water into two wooden buckets and covered them. Then she shouted outside, "Guard He, the hot water is ready."
The two large buckets of hot water seemed weightless to He Sheng. Carrying a bucket in each hand, he was still as swift as a flying horse. In a moment, he left the kitchen.
He Nuan had just prepared the clothes and opened the door, letting He Sheng bring the hot water in. "Brother, have you found out?"
"Madam Xiao was previously on the Wen family's estate. The second young lady of the Wen family lived there..." He Sheng quickly reported the findings.
It was estimated that people in the capital had almost forgotten about this second young lady of the Wen family. After all, she had been mad for seven or eight years, so the Wen family had to send her to the estate to be raised. Cook Madam Xiao and several maids and old women had gone to the estate with her back then.
Although she was the second young lady of the Wen family, she was still a madwoman. Over time, the Wen family only ensured the second young lady's food and drink. Steward Tang of the estate could be considered to have benefited from his wife's status. His wife was a born servant of the Wen family, and her parents and brothers all served in the Wen family, otherwise, Tang Maocai would not have been able to become the steward.
On the estate, Tang Maocai was the absolute authority. Madam Tang disliked the inconvenience of living on the estate and lived in their home in the back alley of the Wen family for more than half of the year. This led Tang Maocai to develop lustful thoughts and set his sights on Cook Madam Xiao.
"Cook Madam Xiao seems like a cautious person. Does she have no connections at the Wen family?" Zhan Feiyu interjected, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of gossip. A prominent family like the Wen family, let alone a cook, even a woman who emptied chamber pots had some connections, not to mention that Tang Maocai was clearly in the wrong in this matter.
"The doctor said that the second young lady of the Wen family's madness is getting worse. Cook Madam Xiao probably didn't want to get into trouble, so she took the opportunity to escape." The information He Sheng had gathered was that Cook Madam Xiao had deliberately revealed the news of Tang Maocai's interest in her to Madam Tang. Therefore, Madam Tang had set a trap and framed Cook Madam Xiao, obtaining her contract and driving her out of the estate.
The Wen family might not care about this mad daughter, as she was a stain on the Wen family. However, if the second young lady of the Wen family died, the servants who attended to her might be punished by the master. Cook Madam Xiao, to avoid disaster, used her being sold as an opportunity to leave the estate.
"Yufeng Tower seems to be a property of the Wen family," Zhan Feiyu paused, then looked at He Sheng and asked again, "Is the second young lady of the Wen family illegitimate?"
Madam Wen was佛口蛇心 (a Buddha's mouth and a snake's heart). When the second young lady of the Wen family was alive, she disliked her for disgracing the Wen family and ignored her, abandoning her on the estate to fend for herself.
But now that she was dead, Madam Wen would use the second young lady of the Wen family's corpse to showcase her benevolence and generosity as a legitimate mother. She would definitely ensure that the second young lady of the Wen family had a grand funeral and severely punish the servants who attended to her, shifting all the blame for the death of the second young lady of the Wen family onto the servants.
A quarter of an hour later, soaking in the warm bathtub, Zhan Feiyu closed her eyes and thought of the Wen family again. "If Madam Wen has such a vicious and cunning nature, the second young lady of the Wen family might have been driven mad by someone."
"The eldest young lady of the Wen family is the foremost talented woman in the capital. Moreover, after the second young lady of the Wen family suffered a fright and went mad in her early years, it was the eldest young lady of the Wen family who always sent people to take care of her. It is said that the old madam of the Wen family, who disliked this illegitimate granddaughter for disgracing the Wen family, wanted her to die of illness. It was also the eldest young lady of the Wen family who stopped her and sent her to the estate with great fanfare, forcing the old madam of the Wen family to give up her thoughts."
He Nuan also felt scared thinking about it. She had also taken human lives, but those were the lives of enemies. However, in the back courtyards of these noble families, it was normal to kill not only a servant but even one's own family members. Human lives were like weeds.
"A Nuan, you said that Cook Madam Xiao was bought by me. Will the Wen family come to claim her?" Zhan Feiyu opened her eyes, her face flushed red from the heat, and a gleam of excitement appeared. "If the second young lady of the Wen family's madness was man-made, Cook Madam Xiao might know something. She fled because she was afraid of being silenced, but the Wen family probably won't let her go."
"Then, Miss?" He Nuan had not expected this. Zhe Jing had caused a scene at the agency during the day. It was likely that the Wen family also knew about it. In that case, they would certainly know the whereabouts of Cook Madam Xiao.
Zhan Feiyu pondered for a moment. "If Cook Madam Xiao is innocent, it's fine to keep her. If she was an accomplice, then let the Wen family take her back."
"Yes." He Nuan replied. Recalling her brief interaction with Cook Madam Xiao, He Nuan could not determine whether she was an accomplice.