Chapter 164 Who Makes Who Submit?
Madam Min Qiao didn't even bother to look at Min Rong, much less pay him any attention. She only turned her mocking gaze to Butler Ding, "Butler Ding, do you think you could kill me silently while I was on guard?"
Butler Ding frowned, his gaze towards Madam Min filled with complex emotions.
The last time they met, it was a harmonious and pleasant meeting between master and servant. This time, however, they were at loggerheads, exchanging sharp words.
In his memory, Madam Min Qiao was a woman who understood the bigger picture, prioritized the overall situation, wholeheartedly protected the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion, and valued the old Marquis's wishes more than her own—the perfect mistress of the mansion.
But what has happened to Min Qiaoshi over the past six months is gradually destroying his understanding.
Previously, he had tried to pull Min Qiao back from the wrong path, but the results showed little success.
It wasn't until today, with the scandal involving the Marquis of An'nan's mansion, that he had to admit that the old lady before him was no longer the old lady who always put the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion first in everything he remembered!
All he could do for the old Marquis was to eliminate the existence of the Dowager Lady, who was out of control and even threatening the Xuanping Marquis's residence!
However, to his surprise, Min Qiaoshi was so difficult to deal with!
He had barely made a move when she blurted out his intentions!
"Do you believe that even before I die, the news that Marquis Xuanping, Min Rong, conspired with an old servant in his household to murder my mother will spread throughout the city?"
"Is this the result your master wanted to see?"
Madam Min Qiao said leisurely, "Your master has spent his whole life planning for the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, from scheming against the Wang family, to scheming against the Qiao family, and then to scheming against the Lu family... Everything he has done is to protect the Xuanping Marquis's mansion!"
“You, me, Min Rong… we all live for the Xuanping Marquis’s mansion.”
"Tell me, if I destroyed the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, wouldn't your master be so angry that he'd crawl out of the ground?"
Butler Ding's complex gaze turned icy cold at that moment, but his tone became increasingly submissive.
"Madam, you are overthinking it. This old servant brought people into the manor today only to help the Marquis sort things out and, incidentally, to eliminate any potential threats to the Marquis's manor, so as to better prepare for any retaliation from the Lu family."
Madam Min Qiao smiled and said sarcastically, "So, Steward Ding is using my Songhe Hall's servants as a scapegoat just to help Min Rong establish his authority?"
Old Steward Ding dared not admit it and immediately retorted, "Madam, you have misunderstood. Today, everyone in the manor, including servants, has been brought in for questioning. It's not just those around you that are being targeted."
"Really? Then why don't I see anyone else?"
"After reviewing the others, they found no problems and were all returned."
Madam Min narrowed her eyes. "So, you mean that among everyone in the household, only the maids in my Songhe Hall have a problem?"
Butler Ding nodded: "I am dissatisfied with the Madam. The maids of Songhe Hall are indeed inappropriate. Especially the head maid. She refused to be investigated. Inside, she was lining her own pockets and currying favor with the people. Outside, she was running a private business and frequently visited brothels, using the name of the Marquis's mansion to commit despicable acts. Her crimes must be severely punished to appease public anger."
After listening to the fabricated charges against Wei Jia by Steward Ding, Madam Min Qiao was immediately amused and said, "Corruption? I, Madam Min Qiao, have entrusted her with managing my entire fortune. Do you think she would even look at those petty trinkets in the Xuanping Marquis's mansion?"
"Moreover, the accounts of my Songhe Hall and the accounts of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence were separated as early as last year. You accuse Wei Jia of embezzling funds, then I would like to ask, when has Wei Jia ever handled any of the Marquis's property?"
"If by 'embezzlement' you mean she's taking advantage of me, then I can only say, I'm happy to! It's none of your business!"
Butler Ding's face flushed red, and he was speechless for a moment.
Then Madam Min Qiao continued, "As for your claim that she's winning people's hearts, yes, she has indeed been winning people's hearts in the mansion! But that was something I asked her to do! I have money, can't I reward a few obedient maids and servants?"
"Let me make this clear: either you keep a single servant in the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion, or you don't keep a single one. Otherwise, for every servant who enters the mansion, I will bribe them all! For every servant who enters, I will bribe them all!"
"I may not concern myself with the affairs of the Marquis's mansion, but if you think you can make me blind and deaf, allowing me to be fooled and manipulated by others, then you've made a mistake!"
Looking at the old steward, who was already red-faced with anger and whose chest was heaving, Madam Min Qiao remained calm and composed.
She looked at Butler Ding with a half-smile and asked in a mocking tone, "Butler Ding, do I need to refute all the other charges you listed against Wei Jia?"
Butler Ding took a deep breath, suppressing the anger surging within him, and said in a deep voice, "No need. It seems that the people below did not investigate thoroughly. Since Miss Weijia has not done anything wrong, then let her go back."
"Heh, is it enough to just let her go back?" Madam Min scoffed, looking at Steward Ding as if he were an idiot.
Butler Ding frowned. "What else does the Madam want?"
Madam Min's face darkened, and she said coldly, "Since Steward Ding admits that he wrongly punished Wei Jia, then Steward Ding should kneel on that broken porcelain shard for two hours, and this matter will be over."
Butler Ding trembled, staring at Madam Min in disbelief. "You, what did you say?"
He's eighty years old! He has trouble even walking, and you want him to kneel on broken porcelain shards? And for two hours?
This is going to kill him!
"Is Old Steward Ding getting old and his hearing failing him?"
Madam Min Qiao repeated, "I said, let Steward Ding kneel on the broken porcelain shards outside for two hours before this matter is over!"
"You..." Old Ding, the housekeeper, was so angry that his hands trembled.
Madam Min sneered, "What? You can secretly plot against my life, so I can't openly punish you by making you kneel down?"
Old Ding, the housekeeper, was so angry that he swayed and was about to lose his footing.
Just then, Ding Mian, the son of Steward Ding, quickly stepped forward and volunteered to take the blame for Steward Ding, saying, "Madam, my father is getting old, so I will kneel in his place as punishment."
Madam Min didn't even glance at Ding Mian, only coldly staring at Old Steward Ding.
Soon, the grandson and great-grandson of Old Ding, the steward, stepped forward and expressed their willingness to take the punishment in Old Ding's place.
Seeing that all the members of the Ding family had stepped forward, Madam Min Qiao reluctantly agreed: "Considering that you three generations are all extremely filial and pure, then you three will kneel in place of Old Steward Ding as punishment."
"Thank you, Madam."
The three members of the Ding family repeatedly expressed their gratitude.
Min Qiao gave Ajiu a wink.
Ah Jiu understood and quickly stepped forward, inviting the three of them to kneel outside. "Please."
The three of them glanced at Old Ding, the butler, and then walked out.
Butler Ding watched helplessly as his children and grandchildren left before turning back to look at Madam Min with a sinister gaze. He said in a deep voice, "Madam, must you go to such extremes?"
"When the Grand Madam said she was giving up, she really stopped caring about the affairs of the Marquis's mansion and disregarded its reputation!"
"The same goes for the Lu family's matter. We clearly know that the Lu family is behind this, and there are clearly better ways to resolve it, but the Grand Madam insists on using this method that hurts the enemy eight hundred while damaging herself a thousand, putting both the Lu family and the Marquis's mansion in the fire!"
"And now, I've already had the Grand Madam take all the people from Songhetang back. Why does the Grand Madam still have to press the matter so hard?"
"What good will it do for the Grand Madam to push things to the extreme?"
"Hasn't the old lady heard the saying, 'Leave a way out for others, so that you can meet again in the future'?"
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