Chapter 68 The Wang family mother and daughter come to pay their respects

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ge Lao's sons panicked.

Grand Secretary Zhao is the pillar of the Zhao family. If he were to suddenly retire now, and the second son's affairs were not yet settled, wouldn't the Zhao family be thrown into chaos?

"No!" "No!" "Absolutely not!"

The group almost unanimously objected.

Grand Secretary Zhao raised his hand, interrupting them, "Let me finish. Second, let the eldest son's wife take Zhiheng back to their hometown. Without my permission, neither she nor their son are allowed to come to the capital, especially that child Zhiheng! He has completely lost his way; staying in the capital will only bring trouble to the Zhao family!"

What he didn't say was that his eldest daughter-in-law had also suffered greatly at the hands of Consort Zhao, and her situation was not much different from Zhao Zhiheng's. But at least he gave his eldest daughter-in-law some face and didn't make the matter explicit.

Everyone was stunned, and the eldest son, Zhao Yue, even stiffened. "Father, I have no objection to sending Zhiheng back to his hometown. But Zhou Shi is, after all, the eldest daughter-in-law. If she doesn't stay in the capital to manage the household affairs, I'm afraid outsiders will gossip."

Grand Secretary Zhao snorted coldly, "Afraid that outsiders will gossip if they go back alone? Fine, I'll retire tomorrow and return to my hometown with them. If anyone asks, just say that Zhou and the child are returning to their hometown to serve me in my old age. Is that alright?"

Zhao Yue was startled and quickly stood up, bowed deeply, and apologized: "Your son was wrong, your son has no objection. Everything is up to your father to decide."

Grand Secretary Zhao snorted coldly: "What's going on with Consort Zhao? Others may not know, but do you think you don't? Now that Zhiheng and Zhou Shi have been affected by her to this extent, do you want the Zhao family to be buried with her as well?"

At this point, everyone's faces fell.

"We shouldn't have let Zhao Yan into the palace in the first place," the fourth prince said angrily. "She's a menace!"

The third brother shook his head and didn't say anything.

The eldest brother said with a heavy heart, "The matter concerning the Zhou family and Zhiheng is all my fault for being negligent. I knew about Zhao Yan's situation, but I didn't stop them from contacting her. That's why we're in this situation today."

"Alright," Zhao Ge Lao interrupted his son's useless confession, sighed, and said helplessly, "This is all I owe her. Don't mention this matter again! The third and fourth sons have also kept a close eye on their children. I don't want to see another Zhao Zhiheng in the Zhao family."

"Yes," they all replied in unison.

***

On the other side, Madam Min took Rongrong to the clinic for a check-up. Fortunately, the injuries were all superficial and had not affected any internal organs.

After the doctor prescribed medicine for both external and internal use, Madam Min Qiao returned to the Marquis's residence with her entourage.

After returning to the mansion, Madam Min Qiao settled the father and daughter in the courtyard where Min Hui had previously lived. She also arranged for two young maids to take care of them.

That courtyard is closest to Songhe Hall, and Weijia wanted to visit Rongrong, so it would be more convenient for her.

Having arranged everything, Madam Min was also a little tired.

Just as I returned to Songhe Hall and was about to rest, I heard someone from the gatehouse looking for Granny Fang.

Granny Fang hurried out and returned shortly afterward with a gloomy face.

Madam Min asked, "What happened?"

Granny Fang said indignantly, "We hadn't been gone long when Aunt He had the two servants on duty at the gatehouse beaten up."

Madam Min frowned, displeased, and asked, "What's going on?"

Granny Fang explained, "Aunt He said that one of them abandoned his post without permission, and the other let people into the mansion without reporting it."

"The one who deserted his post was ordered by the Dowager Madam to go and deliver a message to Yang An."

"The one who let people into the mansion without reporting it is referring to letting Uncle Wu into the mansion."

"Because Uncle Wu said he was looking for Miss Weijia from Songhetang, the servant let her in."

Granny Fang frowned and said angrily, "Aunt He is clearly using a trivial matter as a pretext to target the Grand Madam!"

"She's only been in charge for a few days, and she already wants to challenge the Grand Madam?"

Madam Min Qiao sneered, "This is just a new broom sweeping clean! Madam Wu voluntarily relinquished her power as head of the household, leaving Madam He with no target to attack. So, Madam He has to find a new target to establish her prestige as the head of the household."

"I'm just an old woman who doesn't get involved and isn't close to Min Rong, so isn't that the perfect target for her to establish her authority?"

Granny Fang was furious and said bitterly, "She's just a concubine, how dare she target the Grand Madam?"

Madam Min Qiao curled her lip, "A concubine? That depends on the person! With Min Rong backing her up, what wouldn't she dare to do?"

As the two were talking, Ah Jiu came in to report that Aunt He and the Second Miss had arrived.

Upon hearing the message, Madam Min Qiao glanced at Granny Fang and laughed, "Well, speak of the devil, and he appears."

"Please let them in," Madam Min Qiao instructed.

"Yes," Ajiu replied and was about to leave.

Granny Fang stopped her, saying, "After you finish delivering the message, A-Jiu, you can come in and wait with us."

If Madam He dares to disrespect the Grand Madam, she will have Ah Jiu smash Madam He's mouth!

"yes."

Ajiu responded and went out, but soon returned with Madam He and her daughter. After that, Ajiu stood silently to the side.

"I am here with Rui'er to pay my respects to Mother."

With a beaming smile, Madam He curtsied to Madam Min.

Min Yuerui also curtsied, saying, "Rui'er greets her grandmother."

Madam Min glanced at the two of them, her gaze finally settling on Madam He. "Not just anyone can call me Mother. You should follow the rules and call me Grand Madam."

Min Qiao's tone was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet it was enough to embarrass He.

The smile on Madam He's face froze instantly, and she replied with a wronged expression, "This servant will obey the Grand Madam's orders."

Madam Min frowned impatiently. "If you have something to say, say it. If not, you can leave."

This act was one thing to do in front of Min Rong, but now they've taken it to her too. How unlucky!

Seeing that Madam Min Qiao's attitude was bad and her words were cold and harsh, Min Yuerui frowned and was about to get angry, but Madam He stopped her with a look without making a sound.

Madam Min Qiao curled her lip in disdain, simply serving tea and dismissing the person.

Seeing this, Madam He dared not linger any longer and quickly said, "Madam, I have come today to discuss something with you."

Min Qiaoshi did not respond.

Madam He didn't seem to care and continued, "I've been in charge of the household for a while now. I've noticed that the maids in the Grand Madam's courtyard are all paid for by the Grand Madam herself. This is very irregular."

Min Qiao glanced sideways at He Shi, waiting for her to continue. She didn't believe He Shi had any good intentions.

"Logically speaking, the monthly wages of the maids and servants in each household and courtyard should all be paid from the Marquis's public funds. The monthly wages of the maids and servants in the main courtyard, the Madam's courtyard, and the courtyards of the eldest young lady and young master should all be paid from the public funds. It is only the Madam herself who pays the monthly wages of the people in the Grand Madam's courtyard. Isn't this treating the Grand Madam as an outsider?"

Madam Min smiled, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "So, you came here today to tell me that you'll be paying the monthly wages for all the servants at Songhe Hall from now on?"

He pretended not to notice the sarcasm in Min Qiao's words and said with a smile, "That's exactly how it should be."

Min Qiaoshi saw through Wang Shi's petty scheme at a glance.

Does her paying monthly wages indirectly mean she controls the income of the maids at Songhetang and has a connection with them?

The next step, shouldn't we say that since the monthly salary comes from the public treasury, then the maids of Songhe Hall should also be servants of the Marquis's mansion, right? Shouldn't we then find an excuse to move them elsewhere?

Even worse, shouldn't they just brazenly demand the maids' indentures from her? And then completely control the servants of Songhe Hall? So that they can turn this old woman into a useless piece of trash to be manipulated by everyone?