Chapter 263 Re-establishing Rules
Ayi covered her right hand and angrily looked in the direction from which the stone had come, only to see a man in a tight-fitting outfit staring at her with icy eyes not far away.
“You…” Ayi was furious and about to explode when she saw Min Qiaoshi walk out from behind Zhen Huan.
"Grandma, Grand Madam!" Ayi was immediately shocked and tried to explain, but she didn't know when Madam Min had arrived or how much she had seen.
Just as they were wondering what to do, they heard Madam Min Qiao coldly order, "Go and call Wei Jia to come to the main courtyard to see me. Also, call all the servants in the entire household."
"Yes." A-Shuang quickly replied and hurriedly went to instruct the maid to pass on the message.
Min Qiaoshi also led Zhen Huan, A Yi, and Xiao Feng and Xiao Yu back to the main courtyard.
Min Qiaoshi truly never expected that Ayi would become like this.
Arrogant, conceited, bullying others, disrespectful of hierarchy, outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant...
After Ayi left with the cloth, she found two more bolts of brightly colored fabric, intending to deliver them to Huanzhen as well. That's why she lagged behind Ayi by a few steps.
Unexpectedly, she saw a completely different Ayi than the one in front of her.
Shock made her momentarily forget to react. When Ayi was about to hit her, she finally came to her senses and was about to speak up to stop her.
Unexpectedly, they actually made their move before she could.
It was only then that she realized that he had quietly returned to his old profession and was now her bodyguard.
Fortunately, she came from the main courtyard and didn't notice it along the way.
To be honest, the reason she actually agreed to return to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion was because she and Wei Jia came up with the idea together. They tricked her by saying that if she could go back to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion as a young lady, the Yongning Marquis's Mansion would be her support in the future.
As long as the Yongning Marquis's mansion can help and protect her when necessary, that would truly be a sign of their loyalty to her.
He also said that this was far more important than her being his bodyguard.
Bodyguards can be replaced at any time. But a powerful backer like the Marquis of Yongning's mansion is not someone that just anyone can help win over.
So, the loyal Zhen only frowned slightly before nodding in agreement.
Since Zhen Huan nodded, Madam Min Qiao prepared to treat her as a young lady of the Marquis's mansion.
She wanted to prepare a large courtyard for her to live in near the main house, but she refused, choosing instead a small, secluded courtyard in her own right. She said that there was a distinction between master and servant, and she couldn't overstep her bounds.
She wanted to select a few capable maids for Zhen Huan to serve, but Zhen Huan refused, saying that she was used to being alone. In the end, she couldn't refuse any longer, so she asked two young maids to help take care of the household, run errands, and deliver messages.
Despite her repeated assurances that she was a genuine young lady from the Marquis's mansion, Zhen Huan remained the same as before, always ready to lurk in the shadows to protect her safety, showing no awareness of her changed identity.
Just like before. He really slipped up to her without her even noticing.
If Ayi hadn't intended to hurt someone, she wouldn't have rashly revealed herself.
Thinking about it now, and then about Ayi, Min Qiao felt heavy-hearted.
Because Madam Min walked slowly, when the group returned to the main courtyard, Wei Jia was already there with seventy or eighty people from the entire household, waiting in the courtyard.
On the stone steps, under the eaves, a chair and a small tea table have already been set up. The chair is covered with a soft cushion, and tea is placed on the tea table.
There was also a round stool next to the chair. It was clearly intentional.
Ah Shuang helped Min Qiao Shi to a chair and sat down. Min Qiao Shi then beckoned and called out to her, and she indeed sat down on the round stool.
She was about to refuse, but seeing Xiaofeng and Xiaoyu looking at her expectantly, she glanced at Ayi, who looked indignant, and then sat down next to Min Qiaoshi.
Ayi lowered her head and bit her lip hard.
Wei Jia looked at Ayi standing beside her, then at Zhen Huan, feeling helpless, guilty, and mostly self-reproachful.
If I hadn't acted on my own initiative, overstepped my bounds, and acted carelessly, Ayi wouldn't have followed suit, becoming arrogant and distorting her character.
She had already sensed something was wrong when Ayi treated the old lady with disdain and when she argued with Ashuang.
However, before she could figure out how to correct Ayi's mindset, something bad happened today.
Seeing that Zhen Huan had actually glanced at Ayina, Wei Jia's heart sank. It seemed this matter wouldn't end well.
"Madam."
Wei Jia stepped forward, about to confess her sins, but was stopped by Madam Min Qiao.
Madam Min didn't give Wei Jia a chance to speak. She swept her cold gaze across everyone in the room before slowly saying, "I was too lenient with you before, which caused you to lose your sense of propriety and manners, and not understand the way of being a slave."
Min Qiao's tone was not cold or stern; on the contrary, it was slow and leisurely, as if she were discussing the weather.
For some reason, everyone felt a chill and even their breathing became lighter.
"Today, I'm going to teach you what rules are."
As she spoke, Min Qiao waved to the leader of the guards, Old Woodcutter.
The old woodcutter quickly bowed and stepped forward: "Madam."
Madam Min pointed at Wei Jia and said, "Drag him away and give him ten lashes."
"Yes." The old woodcutter barely hesitated for a moment before beckoning his subordinate over and whispering a few instructions.
Soon, someone brought over two benches and placed them in the southwest corner of the yard, while others brought over long sticks and ropes.
All preparations are complete.
Two guards hurried over, intending to take Wei Jia to the southwest corner for execution.
Wei Jia did not resist or utter a single word of rebuttal. She turned around and was about to follow the guards without hesitation.
But as soon as she lifted her foot, Ayi knelt down with a thud, grabbed her leg, and blocked her from moving forward.
Wei Jia frowned and scolded, "Let go."
"No!" Ayi clung tightly to Weijia's legs, turned to look at Madam Min Qiao, her eyes full of doubt, "Madam, Sister Weijia did nothing wrong, why did you hit her?"
Faced with Ayi's questioning, Min Qiao felt a chill in her heart.
This was her trusted and trusted personal maid, whom she entrusted with important responsibilities.
They obstructed her orders, questioned her decisions, and looked at her with no respect whatsoever.
Is this still a maid? Does she think she's some kind of mistress or mistress?
No! Min Yuexi wouldn't even show that expression in front of me now!
Before Madam Min could speak, Wei Jia had already bent down and forcefully pried Ayi's hand away, knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Madam Min, and pleaded anxiously, "Madam, Ayi is still young and doesn't understand, please don't be angry!"
“It’s all my fault! I’ve gone astray, acted improperly, and broken the rules, which is why Ayi followed suit and became like this today.”
"Whether it's being beaten, having my monthly salary deducted, or being demoted to a lowly maid, I don't care. As long as the Grand Madam doesn't kick me out, I'm willing to accept any punishment!"
"I only beg the Madam to consider Ayi's youth and ignorance and to punish her leniently."
As soon as Wei Jia finished speaking, A Yi looked at Wei Jia in disbelief, "Sister Wei Jia, you didn't do anything wrong, why are you saying this about yourself?"
“I made a mistake, I offended Miss Yu, I accept the punishment, if you want to beat or kill me, come at me.”
"But Sister Weijia did nothing wrong! Why did the Grand Madam hit you?"
"And in front of so many people, and they even made the guards do it..." The guards were all men!
"How will Sister Weijia ever have any face left?"
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