Chapter Twelve: Punishing the Maid
The two maids shook their heads vigorously: "We didn't mean it either, and we will never speak ill of you again, Madam. Please calm down, Madam."
Meng Jinyao's expression hardened, and she said in a deep voice, "No matter how I married the Marquis, I am now the master and you are the servants. You maids who talk about their masters and don't know the difference between superior and inferior can not be kept in Weirui Pavilion."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Qingqiu and Ningdong, "Qingqiu, Ningdong, each slap your face twenty times, then hand them over to the steward and send them to the estate."
Qingqiu and Ningdong responded, "Yes, Madam."
As soon as she finished speaking, the other three maids who hadn't been gossiping were stunned. These two were second-class maids in the courtyard. Did Madam really just send them away like that? Suddenly, they were extremely glad that they didn't like gossiping, otherwise they would have suffered the same fate.
The two maids were deathly pale, their bodies trembling like leaves. They kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Madam, we know we were wrong. It was all because we were too talkative. It was our mouths that made us so foolish. Please forgive us this time. We have been working in the Marquis's mansion since we were young. We have served our master with all our heart and soul. Even if we have no merit, we have worked hard."
Meng Jinyao ignored her completely and showed no mercy, saying indifferently, "Qingqiu, Ningdong, what are you standing there for? Make your move."
Qingqiu and Ningdong raised their hands and slapped the maids' faces mercilessly, using skillful force that made the two maids cry out in pain.
"Ah... Madam, spare me..."
Gu Jingxi had just returned when he heard a woman wailing and howling from inside the house. His brow twitched. She had only asked for his opinion in the morning, and she was already causing trouble in the afternoon. She was quite fast. Even the maid was begging for mercy. This seemingly delicate young girl was actually quite ruthless. He hoped that no one would die.
He strode into the house and looked up to see his newlywed wife leisurely drinking tea, while two of her personal maids were slapping two other maids kneeling on the ground. The other three maids were also terrified and turned pale.
Seeing this, Gu Jingxi's expression darkened. He disapproved of her hitting the maid. Even if the maid hadn't done a good job, she could be punished in other ways. However, he didn't want to embarrass her in front of the maids just because of the two maids. So he asked, "Madam, what happened?"
Upon hearing Gu Jingxi's voice, the two maids who had made a mistake looked up as if they had seen a savior. In perfect unison, they scrambled towards Gu Jingxi for help: "Lord, Lord, please save us! Madam is so cruel, she actually wants to send us away. Please, Lord, consider that we have served Wei Rui Xuan for several years and have always served her with all our heart, and save us."
Gu Jingxi ignored them and asked Meng Jinyao again, "Madam, what did they do wrong?"
Meng Jinyao answered truthfully: "They gossiped about me behind my back, saying, 'You really think you're a proper Marquis's wife just because you married into the family. Don't you even think about how you married the Marquis? You messed with the Marquis's courtyard on your second day after you entered the house?' They also said that I 'lacked confidence but put on airs.'"
After she finished speaking, she saw Gu Jingxi frown. She continued, "Husband, I thought that after I married you, I would be your proper wife. I didn't expect that I am not. I wonder who is your proper wife in your heart? If you are not satisfied with me, you can divorce me and I will step down and make way for a worthy one."
Gu Jingxi frowned even more upon hearing this. He never expected that the usually well-behaved maid would dare to speak ill of her master like this. He said, "Madam, don't listen to their nonsense. Since you married me, you are my wife, and you are my only wife."
He paused, his cold gaze falling on the two maids, before asking, "What does Madam intend to do with these two disrespectful maids?"
Meng Jinyao replied, "They maliciously slandered their master and showed no respect for hierarchy. They should be slapped twenty times and sent to the estate. If my husband is reluctant to let them go, they can stay, but they must never appear in front of me."
Gu Jingxi then asked, "How many times have you hit them so far?"
Ningdong replied, "Your Excellency, ten blows have been delivered so far."
Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao were of one mind and made the final decision: "After the remaining ten lashes, in accordance with Madam's wishes, they shall be handed over to the steward and sent to the estate, and shall not be allowed to return to the manor to work."
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