Chapter 70 A Warning That Was Not Good
Granny Fang choked. "So you saw it clearly, and you still want the person to talk for themselves? If they don't talk, you're going to break all their fingers?"
Madam Min found it amusing, gave Ajiu a fond look, shook her head, and looked at Madam He and her daughter, "Alright, take them back to see a doctor. Don't come to Songhetang again unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Although I am a useless old woman, everyone in my Songhe Hall is a loyal servant who protects their master. Before you scheme against me, I advise you to weigh your own strength."
Madam He dared not reply, but helped Min Yuerui to her feet and prepared to leave.
However, before they even stepped out of the main hall, they heard Madam Min Qiao continue, "Oh, by the way, the two gatekeepers will be under my command from now on. I will have someone reassign them to new jobs. Remember to have Madam Hou find their indentures and send them to Songhe Hall."
Madam He felt a sudden, sharp jolt in her heart. Indeed, nothing she did in this Marquis's residence could escape the eyes of the Dowager Madam!
***
When Wei Jia returned from Lingyun Pavilion, where Rongrong was staying, she heard from Granny Fang that He Shi and her daughter had come over. Then she heard A Jiu's earnest question to Granny Fang at the end. Her heart skipped a beat, and she took the opportunity to go to the small gatehouse to find A Jiu.
"The Grand Madam has already let them leave, so don't cause any trouble and actually break the Second Miss's right finger too! Do you hear me?" Wei Jia warned sternly.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Ajiu, but that Ajiu was absolutely capable of doing such a thing.
When Third Master slapped her before, she worried that A-Jiu might retaliate on her behalf in private. At the time, A-Jiu told her she was overthinking it.
But what was the result?
In the middle of the night, Third Master's bed collapsed, leaving him dazed and confused, and the broken bed frame also caused several cuts.
Fortunately, they were all superficial injuries and not serious. They healed after a few days of rest.
Subsequent investigation revealed that termites had hollowed out the bedposts, not that it was caused by human intervention. After all, that bed was part of Min Hui's mother's dowry. It was an old item, decades old, so it was not surprising that it suddenly broke down.
The incident was eventually proven to be a complete accident, so naturally no one suspected Ah Jiu.
Although she didn't know how Ajiu did it, Ajiu denied it when she questioned him.
But Wei Jia had a gut feeling that A Jiu was definitely the one who did it.
If Ajiu could go to such lengths with her, Weijia couldn't imagine what Ajiu would do, given that the Second Miss dared to point her finger at the Grand Madam and curse her to her face.
Ajiu pouted and said with dissatisfaction, "When did I say I was going to break the Second Miss's fingers? Why are you guarding against me like I'm a vicious thug? Have I done anything murder, arson, looting, or burglary? No, right?"
Wei Jia frowned, speechless.
Although she hadn't caught Ah Jiu in any way, she always felt that Ah Jiu was extremely dangerous, like a completely uncontrollable powder keg that could hurt others or herself at any time.
"Remember my words, don't cause trouble for the Grand Madam! Otherwise, I will never let you off the hook!"
Wei Jia left after giving a warning.
As soon as she left, Ajiu pouted, closed the door, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep instantly to recharge.
***
That evening, Min Rong returned home but didn't see Madam He. Upon asking, he learned that Min Yue Rui had been beaten by the Song He Tang men, and Madam He was taking care of her in Min Yue Rui's courtyard.
Min Rong frowned, feeling somewhat displeased.
He had previously told the He family that they didn't need to pay their respects to Songhetang, and that they shouldn't go there unless necessary.
Why did they suddenly go to Songhetang? And they got beaten up?
Min Rong was agitated, but she quickly composed herself and prepared to go to Min Yue Rui's courtyard to take a look.
However, before he could leave, Madam He hurriedly returned.
Upon seeing him, Madam He said with a guilty expression, "My lord, you're back. It's all my fault; I was so busy taking care of Rui'er that I forgot the time. My lord, you haven't had dinner yet, have you? I'll have someone prepare it right away."
He then hurriedly ordered people to prepare dinner.
Seeing He Shi's red eyes, Min Rong's heart softened. He took He Shi's hand and said softly, "I heard that Rui'er was beaten by the Grand Madam?"
Madam He's expression stiffened, and she immediately denied it, saying, "No, the Grand Madam did not have anyone beat Rui'er. It was Granny Fang. Oh well, it's all Rui'er's fault. She only wanted to protect me, which is why she offended the Grand Madam with her words."
Min Rong frowned. "Why are we bringing up Granny Fang again?"
After hesitating for a moment, Madam He said with a wronged expression, "I have been in charge of the household for some time now. I have discovered that the monthly wages of the servants in Songhe Hall are not paid from the public funds, but are paid by the Grand Madam herself."
“I thought that it was fine if the conditions didn’t allow it before, but now that I’ve taken over the Marquis’s mansion, there’s no reason for me to wrong the Grand Madam.”
"Furthermore, I also want to help ease the tension between the Marquis and his mother, the Dowager Madam."
"Therefore, during the day I took Ruier to Songhe Hall to pay my respects to the Grand Madam and mentioned this matter."
Min Rong nodded, touched, and said, "You're so thoughtful. So what happened next?"
Madam He's eyes reddened, making her look even more pitiful. "I don't know either. Perhaps the Grand Madam felt that I looked down on her and humiliated her with money? Or perhaps the Grand Madam simply disliked me?"
“I said I would pay the monthly wages for the servants of Songhetang, but the old lady said I should pay for all the expenses of Songhetang. She also said that the monthly expenses of Songhetang would add up to at least a thousand taels of silver.”
"The Marquis knows me now. Where would I get any money? All the money was left to Rui'er by her father."
"When the Grand Madam said those words, Rui'er misunderstood and thought that the Grand Madam was deliberately making things difficult for me. That's why she spoke rudely and offended the Grand Madam."
"But before the Grand Madam could speak, Fang, the old nanny beside her, ordered that little maid named Ajiu to slap Rui'er's face. And that wasn't all; Fang then had Ajiu break one of Rui'er's fingers!"
“The ten fingers are connected to the heart! My lord! Rui’er, Rui’er’s scream back then, even now when I think about it, my heart aches.”
He Shi leaned against Min Rong's chest and sobbed, "My lord, I know that Rui'er was in the wrong first. Rui'er was disrespectful to the Grand Madam. It was Rui'er's fault. I have no way to refute it, and I don't blame the Grand Madam."
"But what I don't agree with is that the Grand Madam hasn't even said anything yet, so how dare Fang Mama, a mere servant, give orders and lay a hand on Ruier?"
"Although Rui'er is not the Marquis's biological daughter, she is still nominally the second legitimate daughter of the Marquis's mansion, right? Does she really disregard Rui'er like this? She hits her whenever she wants! She breaks her fingers whenever she wants?"
"Waaaaah, my poor Ruier!"
"If the Marquis doesn't get an explanation for Rui'er, how will Rui'er maintain her standing in the Marquis's mansion in the future?"
Upon hearing He's words, Min Rong frowned.
Since they couldn't do anything to the old lady, they turned their anger towards Granny Fang, who was standing next to her.
Granny Fang is the old lady's confidante. Not to mention Madam He, even he wouldn't easily offend Granny Fang.
Moreover, without the old lady's permission, Granny Fang wouldn't have given such an order. To put it bluntly, Granny Fang's words represented the old lady's wishes.
Is Madam He now trying to get him to settle accounts with Granny Fang, or is she trying to get him to settle accounts with the old lady?
Saying he can't make a living here? Isn't that just threatening him to leave?
This woman is such a nuisance!
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