Chapter 3 Purge Songhetang
"It's alright. The Marquis's mansion will be handed over to them sooner or later. Whether it's good or bad, it's their business. I can't worry about them for the rest of my life, can I?"
Madam Min Qiao took Fang Mama's hand, patted it, and comforted her, "I've come to terms with it now. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. If I interfere too much, they may not appreciate it."
Granny Fang sighed, her mood somewhat downcast. "What the Grand Madam says is true. There are quite a few people in the manor who are gossiping about the Grand Madam behind her back. They say that the Grand Madam is too domineering, clinging to the power of managing the manor and unwilling to relinquish it."
Min Qiaoshi didn't take it to heart.
These rumors also appeared in my past life.
However, after the rumors reached her ears in her previous life, she used swift and decisive methods to find the person who first spread the rumors and had him beaten to death in public.
After that, no one dared to speak out of turn anymore.
But she knew that the man was just being instructed by someone else.
As for who instigated it, needless to say, it was definitely Wu. Of course, her own son, Min Rong, was also involved.
In her past life, in order to firmly control the Marquis's mansion, she acted toughly and ruthlessly, never showing mercy to her servants.
Therefore, these servants later caused her a lot of trouble.
But now, she doesn't care anymore.
She didn't care about any of the housekeeping power or the rumors!
"Let them say what they want. Now that I've relinquished authority, these rumors will naturally fall apart on their own."
"I just feel sorry for the Dowager Madam." Granny Fang genuinely felt wronged for Madam Min.
"Alright. I don't feel wronged at all, so why are you feeling wronged on my behalf?"
Madam Min smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "Now that I don't have to worry about anything, I can eat, drink, and have fun, and enjoy my wealth and luxury. Isn't that a good thing?"
Granny Fang thought for a moment and gradually smiled. "That's true. The Grand Madam used to love listening to operas. It's a pity that she's been working so hard for the Marquis's mansion all these years and hasn't had time to enjoy a few operas properly."
Madam Min Qiao nodded, "I haven't had a moment's peace these past years, and you've suffered a lot along with me. From now on, we, master and servant, can live a carefree and happy life."
"Have someone find out which opera troupes are in the capital. Find out everything, whether they're famous or not. Then we'll listen to them one by one."
Seeing that Madam Min was in high spirits, Granny Fang smiled and replied, "Yes," raising her voice slightly.
Granny Fang was a maid who came with Min Qiaoshi as part of her dowry, and also the person Min Qiaoshi trusted most.
In her past life, when Madam Min was abandoned by everyone, only Granny Fang stood by her side and protected her steadfastly.
That's why Granny Fang became a thorn in their side.
Later, as her health deteriorated due to poisoning and she lost control of the Marquis's mansion, Granny Fang became the first target of those people's suppression and attacks.
At that time, she couldn't even protect herself, let alone Granny Fang.
In the end, they could only watch helplessly as Granny Fang was tortured, humiliated, and eventually lost her life.
This time, she would never allow herself to fall into that situation again, nor would she let Granny Fang suffer collateral damage.
Min Qiao narrowed her eyes and said meaningfully, "We can hand over the power, but we can't really become deaf and blind and let others fool us."
Granny Fang nodded, understandingly saying, "Don't worry, Madam. I'll have people planted in well-informed places like the gatehouse and the back corridor. I'll make sure no one misses a single thing in the Marquis's residence."
"That's good." Madam Min smiled.
Handing the Marquis's mansion over to the Wu family will inevitably lead to chaos sooner or later.
If she wanted to live comfortably in this chaotic Marquis's mansion, she had to ensure that the chaos of the mansion would not affect her Songhe Hall.
Only by staying informed and taking preventative measures can we remain calm and composed in the face of adversity.
Granny Fang went to various places to spread the word.
Madam Min then summoned everyone from Songhetang to her side.
If you want things to go smoothly in the future, you also need to clean up the people who serve you.
Songhe Hall has the largest staff of the Marquis's residence.
There were two head maids, four first-class maids, four second-class maids, eight third-class maids, and several rough maids.
There are more than thirty people in total.
In the depths of winter, the weather is freezing cold.
Seeing the group of servants standing shivering in the courtyard, yet not daring to make a move, Madam Min Qiao didn't waste any words and went straight to the point:
“I have decided to hand over the management of the household to Madam Hou. In this way, my Songhe Hall will no longer need so many people to serve it.”
Among these people, some were dedicated to serving her daily life, while others assisted her in managing the entire Marquis's mansion.
Everyone was taken aback by these words.
Immediately, some people showed joy, while others looked solemn.
Despite their varying expressions, no one dared to make a move or speak recklessly.
They had all witnessed Min Qiao's formidable power; a slight misstep could result in punishment or even death. Naturally, these people would not let their guard down just because Min Qiao said she was relinquishing power.
Min Qiaoshi didn't care what these people thought and continued, "Those who used to assist me in managing the Marquis's mansion, please stand aside."
Of the thirty-odd people, more than a dozen stepped forward instantly. Among them was another head maid surnamed Zhou.
"Granny Zhou, take these people to Begonia Residence later. From now on, you will all be at the disposal of the Lady of the Marquis."
Granny Zhou hesitated for a moment, but still obediently nodded and replied, "Yes."
Immediately afterwards, Madam Min Qiao randomly selected seven or eight more people, mostly second or third-class maids.
"You all go with Granny Zhou to Haitang Residence later, and let Madam Hou arrange new places for you."
In their previous lives, these individuals were all later bribed by other places.
Therefore, we cannot keep them.
After two rounds, Songhe Hall was left with only two first-class head maids, two third-class maids, and seven rough maids.
There were exactly ten people.
Madam Min's gaze swept over the remaining people, finally settling on the two first-class maids.
There was a nineteen-year-old girl named Lüwu. She planned to get married after the New Year.
In her past life, Lüwu also married at the age of twenty. After that, she stayed at home to be a good wife and mother and never returned to work for her. Therefore, she never had the opportunity to betray her later.
This time, she has no intention of changing Green Willow's life trajectory.
The other girl was fifteen years old, named Feixu. She was pretty, lively, and a lovable girl.
At the beginning of the year, Madam Min Qiao promoted her to a first-class position.
In her past life, Madam Min Qiao genuinely liked this girl.
In her previous life, although she held great power and was surrounded by servants, she was troubled by the affairs of the Marquis's mansion every day, and her life was very dull.
Apart from Granny Fang, the people serving her were all very cautious and apprehensive, and they were all terrified of her.
Only Feixu, with her lively and spirited nature, can be easily chatted and laughed with, feeling relaxed and at ease in her presence.
Therefore, the special flying catkins also received her special favor.
She made an exception and promoted her from a third-class maid to a first-class position, so that she could serve her personally.
However, her fondness for the flying catkins also attracted schemes against her.
Not long after Feixu was promoted to first class, Wu instructed her son, Wu Cheng, who was in charge of her affairs, to create a chance encounter and deliberately get close to Feixu.
Wu Cheng is very handsome and eloquent. At only eighteen years old, he is already a junior manager and has a promising future.
Faced with Wu Cheng's deliberate attempts to please her, the naive Fei Xu almost immediately succumbed.
Within six months, he proposed to her that he wanted to marry Wu Cheng.
But she firmly refused.
After that, Feixu begged her twice more, but she still refused.
Min Qiaoshi did not allow Feixu to marry Wucheng, not because she was unwilling to let her go.
Rather, it was because Wu Cheng was treacherous and scheming, and not suitable for simply flying catkins.
Moreover, Wu Cheng had never intended to marry Fei Xu. At least not in the short term.
He went to great lengths to seduce Feixu, not to marry her and make her a haggard housewife.
Instead, she wanted Feixu to be by her side as a spy for the Wu family.
Min Qiao saw through everything and told Fei Xu her guess.
After hearing her words, Feixu never mentioned marrying Wucheng again.
She thought that Feixu had understood her good intentions and also seen through Wu Cheng's sinister intentions.
However, the truth is that Feixu never married after that. She stayed by her side and served her wholeheartedly. Then, taking advantage of her trust, she secretly put slow-acting poison in her food.
Over the years.
By the time she realized it, her health had deteriorated to a critical stage.
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