Chapter 6: Let Wanwan spank Madam Liu instead of throwing a tantrum
The west courtyard of the Chi Mansion is the residence of Ye and Chi Wanwan. Because it faces away from the sun, the lighting is very poor and it is dark all year round. In winter, it is extremely cold.
The east is superior and the west is inferior. The east courtyard is usually where the eldest son or the main wife lives, while the west courtyard is mostly where illegitimate sons and concubines live.
After Chi Jing'an married Feng Yuyun, he never took a concubine, so there were no illegitimate sons or concubines in the Chi family. He was therefore well-known in the capital for being a loving and virtuous wife.
At first, Ye lived in the east courtyard, but Feng Yuyun said, "My elder sister has given birth, and the doctor said that my younger sister is pregnant with twins. We must live in a place with plenty of sunlight."
Ye was forced to move into the west courtyard with the infant Chi Wanwan. The most ridiculous thing was that this house was bought by the Ye family when Ye married Chi Jingan.
The west courtyard had been uninhabited for a long time. Even though Feng Yuyun had sent a letter a few days ago, it was obvious that she had not sent anyone to take care of it.
After entering the mansion, Tang Li took her luggage and went straight back to the west courtyard. After half a day, she could only clean up a side room.
Tang Li was sweeping the dust with a feather duster. Seeing Luo Wan coming back, she coughed and said, "Miss, you're back. I hope Aunt Feng didn't give you any trouble. She seems to say nice things, but in fact, every word she says is hurtful. She is definitely a smiling tiger."
Luo Wan glanced around the room and said calmly, "Isn't she already in trouble?"
Unnecessary furnishings were covered with a thick layer of dust, there was not a single piece of necessary bedding, and the room was filled with the smell of rotting dead wood.
Tangli opened the windows wide to let in some air, and the cold wind made the room chilly. She said angrily, "Madam Feng is really abominable. It's almost dark, and just now I went to get some bedding, but the housekeeper said it was cold in winter and there were no extra bedding."
Luo Wan looked outside the room and said, "Someone will deliver it."
Just as he finished speaking, a commotion was heard outside the west courtyard.
"How can such a thing be possible in this world?"
"This is the Chi Mansion, we should listen to the Chi Mansion's principles!"
"No matter what kind of mansion you belong to, even if it's the mansion of the king of heaven, there is absolutely no reason to interfere with other people's business!"
"Who knows what you guys are up to? On the surface you're delivering bedding, but who knows what you're up to behind the scenes!"
"I'm warning you, old woman, not to spit blood at me. We at Jinluhang are doing legitimate business."
As Luo Wan walked out of the west courtyard gate, she saw Madam Liu arguing with several servants in coarse linen clothes. The servant in the lead had obviously no experience of quarreling with a fierce woman, and his face was red with anger. Several servants behind him were holding a cart with several sets of bedding on it.
Tang Li followed behind Luo Wan and whispered, "No wonder the young lady gave the driver extra money when she got the carriage. It turned out to be because of this."
In her previous life, Luo Wan was too lazy to engage in intrigues with them, and she was hasty in her revenge for Chi Wanwan. She turned a blind eye to Feng Yuyun's tacit difficulties, feeling that she could not cause her any harm, so she climbed over the wall and went to sleep in the inn that night.
Looking back now, I just don’t know how Tangli got through that night.
Madam Liu said sternly, "I don't care whether you are doing legitimate business or illicit business. Everything in this mansion must be done by Madam. Without Madam's orders—"
"Madame Liu," the old woman was saying when Luo Wan interrupted her, "There aren't enough beddings in the mansion in winter. I just want to buy a few quilts. Do you think Madame Liu is interfering with this?"
Nanny Liu remained calm, "The eldest young lady has just returned home and doesn't know the rules. Every penny spent in the mansion must be approved by Madam before it can be disbursed from the accounting office. This is to prevent some people from being immoderate."
"So that's how it is." Luo Wan nodded slightly and asked, "Does the accountant have records of every penny spent in the mansion?"
Aunt Liu said, "Of course."
Luo Wan said nonchalantly, "Then where did my mother's dowry go? Not only the dowry, but even the maids who came with it are gone."
Aunt Liu froze, and suddenly turned her attention to the leading servant: "Why don't you get out of here!"
Luo Wan glanced at the leading guy.
The clerk understood: "The young lady has already paid the silver, and the Jinluhang must deliver the goods."
"Don't come in!" Madam Liu blocked the cart with her bloated body, sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh and howled, "Oh! Someone, come here! So many people are bullying an old woman like me!"
Seeing this, Luo Wan couldn't help but laugh. He was still the same scoundrel who threw a tantrum as before.
The clerk, fearing he would be ripped off from his meager monthly salary, angrily said, "You old woman, I didn't even push you. You fell down on your own!"
Luo Wan ordered: "Tangli, take them in."
Tangli responded: "Yes."
Nanny Liu couldn't stop several people by herself. Seeing that it was hopeless, she cried and wailed, wishing that the whole capital could hear her.
If Feng Yuyun didn't hear it, she would have to ask a doctor to check whether she was deaf tomorrow. It was obvious that she was deliberately allowing Liu Ma to provoke her in order to test whether Chi Wanwan was easy to control.
Luo Wan said, "Madame Liu has tried, why don't you go back? The servants have all seen what Madame Liu is like, and they're gossipy. Madame Liu, please don't ruin Concubine Feng's reputation."
Madam Liu hesitated for a moment, then stood up, patted her butt, and snorted, "Qi!"
The window of the wing room was broken, and it was too late to call a carpenter to repair it, so they finally just covered it with a layer of paper.
Luo Wan felt very uneasy before falling asleep. She was afraid that her rebirth was just a dream on her way to the underworld, a last glimmer of hope, and when she woke up she would find herself in the Hall of Hell.
He was drowsy and haunted by countless absurd scenes. It was not until the sun was high in the sky and Tangli came calling that Luo Wan struggled to wake up from the nightmare.
Tangli said, "Miss, the master wants to see you."
Oh, it’s that Phoenix man Chi Jingan.
If Feng Yuyun is a smiling tiger, then Chi Jingan is a hypocrite who matches her.
In his previous life, Chi Jing'an was busy trying to please everyone in the capital, and he hadn't seen her many times in that half month. When the fire burned him, he remembered that he had a daughter, Chi Wanwan.
It was Rong'an Hall again. Bright sunshine poured into the hall. Chi Jing'an and Feng Yuyun were sitting in the hall, while Chi Mingshi was sitting beside them playing the piano. The scene was peaceful and harmonious.
Aunt Liu said, "The eldest lady is here."
The piano music stopped abruptly and everyone looked over.
Although there were many things wrong with what he did in his previous life, Luo Wan felt happy when he thought about it now. It was really annoying to deal with these bastards.
Chi Jingan said angrily, "I heard that you ordered someone to beat Aunt Liu last night?"
The father and daughter who had not seen each other for many years said these words to each other when they met again.
Feng Yuyun comforted Chi Jingan, saying, "Wanwan has never been to school. She is young and ignorant, so her outrageous behavior can be forgiven."
Sweet words, but a sharp knife in the heart.
Chi Mingshi said, "Madame Liu is an elder by Mother's side, and I have always respected her. Isn't it just to embarrass Mother that my eldest sister is always beating and scolding her?"
Sarcastic and sarcastic.
Madam Liu said, "I am a servant. It is normal for the young lady to beat and scold a servant."
They are all idiots, Luo Wan thought to himself.
Luo Wan asked innocently, "Madam Liu said I had someone beat you, do you have any evidence?"
Feng Yuyun: "What?"
Luo Wan added, "Since Aunt Liu said I ordered someone to beat her, is there any witness or physical evidence? Who saw me order someone to beat Aunt Liu, or are there any scars on Aunt Liu's body?"
Chi Mingshi corrected him, "You should produce evidence to prove that you didn't hit Aunt Liu."
"Really?" Luo Wan asked back, "Then I said today that Third Sister hit the maid next to me yesterday. Shouldn't Third Sister also provide evidence to prove that you didn't hit my maid?"
"You..." Chi Mingshi was speechless: "It's nonsense!"
Nanny Liu suddenly stepped forward, rolled up her sleeves, and the bright red marks on her arms were from being whipped by willow branches.
She sobbed, "It was because I blocked the west courtyard yesterday and refused to allow outsiders to enter. The young lady was so angry that she hit me with a willow stick. I thought it was nothing. The young lady hit me because she was unhappy."
Luo Wan asked, "Why is Madam Liu blocking the way in front of the West Courtyard?"
Aunt Liu said, "Of course, outsiders are not allowed to enter."
Luo Wan said, "My friend entered my West Courtyard, and Madam Liu is a servant in the East Courtyard. How can you be so nosy?"
Madam Liu said, "The eldest young lady has not been home for many years, and I have always been watching over the West Courtyard. Yesterday, I saw an outsider entering, so I naturally had to stop him."
"It's always been Madam Liu who's looking after it? Then why, when I returned to the West Courtyard yesterday, I didn't even have a place to stay? The only wing room was cleaned up by Tangli. Is this how Madam Liu manages the West Courtyard?"
Luo Wan made a prompt decision: "It seems that Madam Liu has never done her duty as a servant seriously, and always thinks of some evil ways to frame others."
Aunt Liu hurriedly explained: "Madam, I don't have any!"
Feng Yuyun said, "We have seen how Madam Liu has been doing in the mansion over the years. Wanwan can't completely deny her just because of one thing."
"What Aunt Feng said makes sense. But Wanwan has only been back home for a day, and what she's seen and heard is limited. Even Nanny Liu hasn't taken care of the West Courtyard matter properly." Luo Wan pressed on, "Aunt Feng wouldn't cover up for the East Courtyard's dereliction of duty, would she?"
"lady!"
Feng Yuyun's maid brought in a branch: "This was found in the eldest lady's room."
Feng Yuyun immediately breathed a sigh of relief and her face became calm and composed.
"That's it!" Madam Liu pointed, "The young lady hit me with this yesterday."
Chi Mingshi said, "Okay, the first piece of evidence is the wound on Madam Liu's arm, and the second piece of evidence is the willow branches in your room."
Chi Jingan sighed and said, "Wanwan, you weren't like this when you were a child. Is there anything else you want to explain?"
Luo Wan didn't answer. She walked forward and took the willow branch from the maid's hand. She looked at it carefully and found it was very thick and strong.
Tangli fell to her knees with a thud, crying anxiously, "This is a false accusation, Master, please understand. Someone must have framed me."
Chi Mingshi said, "You are Chi Wanwan's maid, how can I trust your words?"
When Madam Liu saw Luo Wan taking the willow branch from the maid, she smiled and had a bad premonition in her heart. In an instant, the willow branch came towards her arm!
Nanny Liu immediately pulled back her arm, and with a "snap" sound, the willow branch hit the ground, stirring up a few wisps of dust.
Chi Mingshi stood up and angrily accused, "Chi Wanwan! We're all still here! How dare you attack me!?"
Luo Wan laughed and said, "Why is Aunt Liu hiding now?"
"I..." Matron Liu was speechless and bent down.
"It's obvious that Madam Liu isn't someone who would allow Wanwan to beat or scold her." Luo Wan smiled. "Why lie? If Father and Mother still don't believe it, why not have Wanwan spank Madam Liu a few times? Then we can ask the coroner and the doctor to come and see if the wound on Madam Liu's arm was caused by Wanwan."
Although Madam Liu had never been actually beaten by Chi Wanwan, the force of the whip just now was far from that on her arm. If this whip had really hit her, her skin would have been torn to pieces.
She shook her head in shock. It would be better to confess before being beaten than to be found out she was lying after being beaten.
Madam Liu knelt down and said with her head bowed, "It was I who lied."
Chi Mingshi frowned: "Madame Liu!"
Luo Wan sat down beside him, propping up her chin with the willow branch in her hand, and asked slowly, "Why did Aunt Liu lie?"
Madam Liu said awkwardly, "I had an argument with the servants, and those servants were here to deliver something to the young lady. I was narrow-minded and started to hate the young lady."
Luo Wan asked, "How did Aunt Liu get the wound on her arm?"
Madam Liu lowered her sleeves and said, "This old servant beat me myself."
Chi Jingan slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "Nonsense! How dare a servant like you frame the master?"
"Husband." Feng Yuyun looked at Chi Jingan.
"Look at the people around you!" Chi Jingan pointed at Aunt Liu who was kneeling on the ground, "Handle it yourself, I have something else to do."
After saying that, he turned away.
Not only is Madam Liu still the same scoundrel as in her previous life, but Chi Jingan has not changed at all. He retreats and avoids responsibility, and whenever something happens, he is the one who runs away the fastest.
Luo Wan really couldn't understand how Chi Wanwan's mother could fall in love with such a person.
Now that Feng Yuyun is the one speaking in Rong'an Hall, she will definitely protect Madam Liu. It would be a waste of time to waste time here.
Luo Wan stood up, walked to Tangli's side, and said, "Tangli, get up, let's go back."
"Wanwan." Feng Yuyun suddenly called her over and said gently, "Madame Liu is old. You shouldn't bother with her."
"Don't worry, Madam Feng." Luo Wan paused and said, "But Madam Feng should also reassure Wanwan. As the mistress of the household, Madam Feng will naturally not condone servants framing the master. Wanwan believes that you will punish Madam Liu."
Feng Yuyun reluctantly said, "Of course."
Feng Yuyun fined Liu Ma one month's salary, which made Tang Li very angry, thinking that the punishment was too light.
Luo Wan had not originally expected Feng Yuyun to punish Madam Liu. This matter was most likely planned by the two of them. Otherwise, considering Chi Wanwan's status as a young lady, it would not matter if she beat a servant.
Feng Yuyun brought this matter to Chi Jingan simply because she wanted to give Chi Wanwan a title of arrogance and domineering, making her truly lonely and helpless in the Chi Mansion.
In the afternoon, the streets of the capital became noisy, with the sound of horse hooves and cheers coming from afar. It was the major general returning to the capital in triumph.
Luo Wan leaned against the corridor and watched Chi Mingshi, who had already combed her hair into a fairy bun and changed into a brand new apricot-red skirt, and was excitedly heading out to the street with her maid.
However, he soon got angry in the East Courtyard because he could not attend the palace banquet.
The young general did not like noise, so the emperor deliberately reduced the regulations of the palace banquet and only allowed first-rank officials to enter the palace to attend the banquet.
Chi Jing'an was a fourth-rank official, so he was naturally not among those invited.
In the past two days, Luo Wan has been secretly investigating the cause of Ye's death. However, the past is like smoke, and the truth is like dry bones buried deep underground, sleeping in the nine springs with Ye.
Chi Wanwan and Tang Li were both young at the time and had limited memories of this incident. However, according to Tang Li's recollection, the doctor who came to treat Ye had a black mole on his forehead. Because it looked a bit scary, she always remembered it.
A doctor in the capital with a black mole on his eyebrow.
Shortly after entering the Chi Mansion, the west courtyard welcomed an "uninvited guest".
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