Chapter 264 Ayi's End
As she spoke, she turned to Madam Min Qiao and kowtowed three times, pleading, "Madam, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have targeted Miss Yu, and I shouldn't have laid a hand on Miss Yu's maid. I am willing to be beaten and punished, I only beg you to forgive Sister Weijia. She is innocent! She shouldn't have suffered such humiliation because of me!"
Ayi kowtowed sincerely, and after three deep thuds, her forehead was visibly red and swollen. Her words were also sincere and heartfelt, and anyone could hear her desire to protect Weijia.
However, those who truly knew the inside story all frowned and sighed inwardly.
For example, Wei Jia, Zhen Huan, and A Shuang.
Min Qiao smirked, but said nothing, only casting a sarcastic glance at Wei Jia.
Wei Jia took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and then steeled herself and said, "Madam, Ayi is no longer suitable to stay in the manor to serve. Please send her to work on the estate."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Wei Jia in shock.
Ayi was the Grand Madam's personal maid, and even her head maid in charge. How could Miss Weijia say she wanted to send her to the estate?!
Moreover, Ayi is absolutely loyal to Weijia!
Thinking of this, the crowd, who had not understood what Ayi had done wrong, suddenly understood why the Grand Madam was angry.
He was still sitting there expressionless, and no one knew what he was thinking.
However, when Ah Shuang heard Wei Jia's words, she showed an expression of disbelief.
She had secretly resolved that when the time was right, she would take the initiative to tell Weijia about Ayi's situation.
If Wei Jia thinks A Yi is right and is biased towards A Yi, then she will take the matter to the Grand Madam.
She knew that the Dowager Lady relied heavily on Wei Jia for many things; otherwise, Wei Jia wouldn't have been able to easily return to work after doing so many outrageous things.
However, even if the Dowager Madam couldn't live without Weijia, even if it meant risking her life, she couldn't allow someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong, who couldn't respect others, and who didn't take the Dowager Madam seriously, to continue staying by her side.
But unexpectedly, before she could even go to find Weijia, Ayi got into trouble.
What surprised her even more was that Wei Jia didn't seem to be biased towards A Yi.
After the initial shock, A Shuang felt a slight sense of relief. At least, she didn't have to risk her life fighting Wei Jia.
"Sister Ayi, what are you saying?"
The most shocked person was none other than Ayi herself.
She stood there stunned for a long time before looking at Wei Jia with a wronged and hurt expression.
"Sister Weijia, why did you have the Grand Madam send me to the estate? I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have acted impulsively and caused trouble for Miss Yu."
"But I only had a few words with her maid, is there really any need to send me to the estate?"
"I am the Grand Madam's head maid! If you send me to the estate, how will I ever have the face to live again? I'd rather be dead!"
Is this a threat?
This is a threat!
Everyone looked at Ayi in surprise.
Wei Jia was heartbroken and slapped Ayi across the face, scolding her in a deep voice, "Don't you know where you went wrong?"
"You still dare to threaten the Grand Madam with your own life?"
"Ayi! Of the dozen or so people who entered the manor together, you were the first one I took a liking to!"
"But where has your steadiness and reliability, and your unwavering devotion to the Madam gone?"
"When I returned from Jiangnan, you reminded me to consult with the Grand Madam before doing anything, and never to act on my own and upset her."
Where did your caution and prudence from back then go?
"How dare you outwardly comply with the Madam while inwardly defying her? How dare you place me before the Madam? How dare you disregard the Madam to this extent?"
"It's only been a few months since you came back from Jiangnan! How could you change so quickly in just a few months?"
After saying her last words, Wei Jia was already sobbing uncontrollably.
These questions posed to Ayi were, in effect, also questions directed at herself.
She blamed herself, she felt remorse, and her heart was breaking.
If it weren't for her, Ayi wouldn't have become like this.
Because of her intelligence, her competence, and her boundless tolerance and encouragement towards Ayi, Ayi found spiritual sustenance in her.
People who had never been affirmed before entrusted their entire loyalty to her simply because of her support and praise.
But she forgot to teach her what it means to be a servant girl, and what it means for a master to be above all else.
Ultimately, it's still her fault!
Wei Jia covered her face in heartache, and large tears rolled down her cheeks through her fingers.
Ayi collapsed to her knees as if the sky had fallen, tears streaming down her face.
She stared blankly at Wei Jia, her whole being appearing lifeless, pale and fragile.
Only then did Madam Min sigh and indifferently instruct, "A-Shuang, from now on, you will take over A-Yi's duties."
"Yes," Ah Shuang replied quickly.
Madam Min glanced at Wei Jia before continuing her instructions: "Take some men and pack up Ayi's things. Arrange for someone to take Ayi to the estate tomorrow."
"Yes." A Shuang looked at A Yi with mixed feelings.
Just then, Ayi suddenly turned her head, looking at Ashuang with hatred in her eyes, "It's you! It's you, isn't it? What did you say to the Grand Madam that made her treat me like this, treat Sister Weijia like this, right?"
A Shuang turned her face away helplessly, refusing to look at A Yi. She no longer recognized A Yi in front of her.
Ayi became increasingly enraged by A Shuang's disregard and even tried to pounce on him.
Fortunately, Wei Jia grabbed her in time.
Madam Min shook her head in annoyance and waved her hand, saying, "Take the person away."
Soon, two guards came up and arrested the man.
Wei Jia shook her head at Ayi, signaling her to stop fooling around.
Ayi gritted her teeth, quieted down, and left with the two guards.
Before she could even step out of the courtyard, she heard Min Qiao's cold voice behind her, "Continue with Wei Jia's ten strokes of the cane."
At that moment, she clenched her fists and turned to look at Min Qiaoshi with hatred in her eyes.
This glance was so subtle that almost no one noticed it.
But it still caught Zhen's eye.
Wei Jia suffered a severe beating, which greatly damaged her reputation, and Min Qiaoshi seized the opportunity to regain control. She also readjusted the maids' duties.
Wei Jia remained the head steward, but the stewards, maids, and matrons under her now had the right to report directly to her, bypassing her.
Minor matters should be handled by Wei Jia, but major matters must be reported to her.
Whoever makes the mistake is responsible.
Moreover, the responsibilities that Wei Jia was in charge of changed from managing both internal and external affairs to only managing matters outside the government.
That is, the management and operation of shops and estates, as well as external planning.
The former also had Yang An as her assistant, as a check on her.
The latter, however, requires her consent to be implemented.
To put her mind at ease, she also assigned Ajiu to be Weijia's personal bodyguard.
Of course, besides being Wei Jia's bodyguard, A Jiu also had his own responsibilities. That was to contact Chen San and the other children who had been assigned to various places and gather information.
In addition, Ayi was sent to the estate, and Ashuang took Ayi's place as her personal maid, in charge of all matters related to Min Qiao's clothing, food, housing and transportation.
Ah Si is in charge of the kitchen and works with the new housekeeper. She is mainly responsible for Min Qiao's three meals a day, as well as snacks and desserts.
Ah San officially took over the vacancy left by Ah Qi when he left, and was responsible for tea supply, tea and teaware procurement, and other matters.
Ah Wu took over Ah Shuang's previous job, reading to Min Qiao Shi and finding safe and fun activities for her to pass the time.
...
With Lin Ling's arrangements, Min Qiaoshi essentially took back the rights that she had entrusted to Wei Jia over the past year.
After a long day, Madam Min Qiao ate dinner and went to bed early.
The next morning, before dawn, and before Min Qiao's time to get up, she suddenly heard a panicked voice outside: "Sister Ayi is dead! Sister Ayi is dead!..."
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