Chapter 162 A Backhand Slap
However, as soon as she stepped out, she saw Qiao Yuanyao helping Su Rongrong walk quickly towards Songhe Hall.
She stopped on her way to Minghui Hall and waited for the two to approach before asking, "Were the maids and servants in your two courtyards also taken away?"
The two nodded quickly, and Qiao Yuanyao asked with a worried expression, "Aunt, has something happened to the Marquis's residence?"
Madam Min Qiao did not answer, but looked at Su Rongrong, "Your eyes are not fully healed yet, why are you out here?"
Su Rongrong made a move to kneel down before Madam Min, but Madam Min had someone stop her, saying, "What is it? Just say it. There's no need for this."
Su Rongrong then said in a hoarse voice, "Master Wu has been taken away by them! Please, Madam, save Master Wu! He's my only family! Please, Madam, save him!"
Madam Min's brows furrowed even more deeply. "They even took Uncle Wu with them? Didn't you tell them that Uncle Wu was a servant of the Marquis's mansion?"
Su Rongrong said with a sob in her voice, "I told them, but no one paid any attention. Those people were fierce and menacing, saying that it was the Marquis's order to take everyone away for questioning."
"Was it around noon?" Min Qiao asked Su Rongrong, then looked at Qiao Yuanyao.
Seeing that the two of them nodded in unison, Madam Min Qiao then asked, "Have you had lunch yet?"
Su Rongrong lowered her head and wept, while Qiao Yuanyao honestly shook her head, "No. But Aunt, don't worry, my mother and I have some snacks in our room, we can just fill our stomachs, it'll be fine."
"Oh, it's alright for Fangfeng. I'll let him stay in the yard with my mother, and I'll accompany Rongrong to find her aunt."
Madam Min patted Qiao Yuanyao on the shoulder, "Thank you for taking care of the three of them."
"I just got back and I'm about to go see what happened. You take Rongrong to your yard first, don't wander around, and wait for my message."
"Should I go with my aunt?" Qiao Yuanyao suggested.
"No need, you all stay put and wait for my news."
"Then Aunt, please be careful."
"Hmm." Madam Min Qiao responded, then turned and led Ayi, Ashuang, Asi, Ajiu, Wenxiu, and Huanzhen, a group of seven, toward the main courtyard in a grand procession.
The main courtyard had already learned of Min Qiao's return. When Min Qiao arrived at the main courtyard, Min Rong, along with Wu Shi and Min Yuexi and several other siblings, were already standing at the door to welcome her.
Madam Min glanced at the crowd. Min Rong, Madam Wu, Min Yuexi, Min Yuerui, Min Changzhong, and Min Changyi were all there, and even Min Rong's two former concubines, Madam Liu and Madam Zhang, were present. Only Madam He was absent.
Just as Madam Min was about to look away, she suddenly spotted several familiar yet unfamiliar figures among the servants behind the crowd.
Old Ding, the housekeeper, and his son, grandson, and great-grandson.
Old Steward Ding was the old steward of the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion. Twenty years ago, he personally mentored Yang An and promoted him to the position of head steward of the mansion. Then, he voluntarily resigned to retire.
At that time, Madam Min was completely convinced of the old steward's abilities.
After all, Yang An was her man. To be able to nurture Yang An without reservation and to hand over the position of chief steward of the Marquis's mansion without clinging to power was something that not everyone could do.
Then, after the uproar over the broken engagement last year, this old steward came to her with Min Ji's "deep affection." He tried to win back her heart and get her to continue guarding the Marquis's mansion by using the "affection" Min Ji had left her.
Unfortunately, Min Ji's plan failed.
Now, upon seeing Old Steward Ding again, Madam Min Qiao knew what was going on.
It seems that gentle approaches aren't working, so it's time to try a tougher one!
To demonstrate his stance, Steward Ding not only resigned as the head steward of the Marquis's mansion, but also sent his son to work as a manager on the estate before stepping down, and sent his grandson to manage the mansion's shops. Only a great-grandson in his teens remained as an insignificant steward in the mansion.
But now, all of Old Ding's descendants are standing behind Min Rong and the others.
It's obvious without even guessing that Old Ding and his family are determined to take back control of the Marquis's mansion!
"Mother, you're back?" Min Rong had just spoken when he stepped forward to help Min Qiao Shi.
But the coldness in Min Qiao's eyes stung him, and he immediately stopped in his tracks, his smile faltering.
"mother……"
Min Qiaoshi, however, did not pay attention to Min Rong's embarrassment and awkwardness, but instead focused her attention on Old Steward Ding.
"Old Ding, how have you been?"
Butler Ding hurriedly bowed tremblingly, "Ding Mao greets the Madam!"
The eighty-year-old man was very thin and frail, and just like the last time we met, he still looked like he wasn't in good health.
"What is Old Steward Ding doing?" Madam Min Qiao didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Sealing off the mansion and investigating the servants, are you going to search every room and courtyard later?"
"What? The Emperor hasn't even ordered the confiscation of our property yet, and Steward Ding is already preparing a rehearsal?"
Steward Ding quickly adopted a fearful and trembling demeanor, saying, "Madam, you misunderstand. I was merely following orders."
"Obey orders? Obey whose orders?" Madam Min Qiao scoffed, looking at Min Rong with disdain. "Obey your orders?"
Min Rong looked embarrassed and didn't dare to respond.
Madam Min looked at Steward Ding again, "It seems you're following Min Ji's orders."
Steward Ding bowed respectfully towards Minghui Hall and replied, "In response to the Madam, it was indeed the order left by the old Marquis."
Madam Min Qiao glanced at Min Rong with disdain. She wondered how Min Rong could have such audacity—daring to seal off the mansion and arrest all the people from her Songhe Hall for interrogation. It turned out that this old geezer was acting under Min Ji's name.
"I just came back from outside and I'm exhausted. Would you like to bring me a chair at the door, or would you like me to come inside and sit down to talk?"
Min Qiao stretched out her hand to the side, and Ayi quickly stepped forward to help her up.
Without waiting for Min Rong and Steward Ding to reply, Madam Min Qiao took Ayi's hand, led several maids through the crowd, and strode inside.
Seeing this, the others quickly followed them inside.
Upon entering, the scene of people crowded together in the courtyard did not materialize.
On the contrary, only a dozen or so guards stood sparsely around the huge courtyard, while only a dozen or so maids from Songhe Hall knelt in the courtyard.
The first to be affected was Wei Jia, the head maid in charge.
Everyone else was kneeling on the bluestone pavement, but Wei Jia's knees were kneeling on a layer of broken porcelain tiles, sharp and jagged.
At this moment, Wei Jia's face was pale, her lips were bloodless, and the hem of her skirt below her knees was stained with blood.
Everyone else looked at Wei Jia with concern. A Shan and A Wu, who were kneeling behind Wei Jia, leaned forward and used their hands to support Wei Jia's obviously unsteady kneeling posture.
Upon seeing this scene, Madam Min's eyes turned bloodshot, and her anger surged to the top of her head.
Seeing this, Ayi instinctively helped Min Qiao Shi steady, while Ajiu, Wenxiu, and Zhen Huan also cautiously protected Min Qiao Shi in the middle.
Ah Shuang and Ah Si rushed to Wei Jia's side in three steps at a time.
"Sister Weijia, are you alright?"
"Sister Weijia, the Grand Madam has returned."
With tears welling in their eyes, the two turned to look at Madam Min Qiao with anticipation.
Madam Min raised her hand. "Help him up. Go and fetch a doctor."
Then, she looked at the other maids of Songhe Hall and said, "Get up, all of you. You are all maids of Songhe Hall. No one can order you to do anything without my permission!"
As soon as Madam Min Qiao finished speaking, Min Rong stepped forward, "Mother, about this matter..."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Min Qiao slapped Min Rong across the face.
This was the first time that Madam Min Qiao had personally taken action, and it was also the first time in history that Min Rong had been beaten!
The slap left everyone present stunned. Even the maids who were about to get up stopped in their tracks.
...
P.S.: "清风雅静" is a Sichuan dialect expression describing a very quiet and peaceful environment. Haha, I suddenly thought of this phrase and used it!
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