"This was decided after my discussion with the young master."
oh!
Pei was in mixed feelings.
None of the charming maids were laid off. Could it be that Liu Zhao was thinking of taking a concubine?
But if you want to take a concubine, why wait until now?
"You went to visit Zhao'er, did he say anything?"
Gu Jiu said softly, "He said the matter of tailoring expenses is very good, it should have been done long ago."
"Yeah?"
Pei finally heard something that made her happy.
Liu Zhao was insightful and knew how to consider the overall situation and the royal palace.
Unlike the people here, everyone has their own little calculations and takes the opportunity of staff cuts to exclude dissidents.
Pei was angry, but she didn't show it.
It was she who requested the layoffs, and she cannot go back on her word now.
She put the list away and said, "Later, this princess will give the list to the Lord of the Household, and the Lord of the Household will arrange for these people to leave the house. If anyone wants to modify the list, it's not too late now."
No one responded.
In other words, no one intends to modify the list.
Pei smiled coldly, "If that's the case, then let's disperse."
"Excuse me, Princess, how many people will be laid off in Chunhe Hall?" Concubine Shen suddenly asked.
Pei was furious. "How dare you! It's not your turn to ask about my affairs."
Concubine Shen smiled awkwardly, "I'm just curious."
"go out!"
Pei scolded harshly, not giving Concubine Shen any face at all.
Concubine Shen's face turned pale, then purple, then blue, and she turned and walked away. Ouyang Fu hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly chased after her.
…
Gu Jiu returned to the East Courtyard.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Aunt Sun coming to greet me.
She smiled flatteringly, "This servant greets the Madam."
"No need to be polite! Is there anything I can help you with, Auntie?"
Madam Sun smiled and said, "I heard that the list of layoffs in each courtyard has been submitted, so I wanted to come and ask. Madam, you don't know that everyone in the East Court is in a panic, worried about being laid off."
No one in the palace wanted to be laid off.
The palace is like one of the Fortune 500 companies in the future, or a top 50 high-quality company.
The benefits are good, the salary is high, and there is no need to worry about getting sick. The palace will arrange for a doctor to diagnose your pulse and prescribe medicine. You don't even have to pay for medicine yourself.
Four sets of clothes for each season. Plus various rewards during festivals.
The palace also takes care of weddings and funerals.
There is dowry for marriage and the palace will help pay for the funeral when someone dies.
All you need to do is sell yourself to the palace and work diligently.
If one is favored by the master, then he will be as respectable as half the master of the palace. When he goes out, he will be more respectable than the fifth or sixth rank officials of the imperial court.
The maidservant beside the master is more noble than the daughter of a proper official.
This is the servant of the palace.
You won’t find such treatment anywhere in the world.
If we are laid off, all of this will be gone.
Let me ask you, which servant would not be afraid?
Therefore, from top to bottom, the palace was resisting the staff reduction from the bottom of their hearts. They would rather take a lower monthly salary than be dismissed.
However, the prince had spoken, and there was nothing he could do.
No one can veto the 10% layoff list.
Aunt Sun was very capable and she immediately ran to Gu Jiu to inquire about the news, as if she intended to be the insider in the East Courtyard.
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "The list has been submitted. The Lord of the Household will send someone to handle this matter soon, so there's no need to panic."
"Then, then, who was laid off?" Aunt Sun asked curiously.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "You will know when the time comes."
She didn't want to say more and let Aunt Sun guess.
Aunt Sun pondered the meaning of Gu Jiu's words. The list she submitted should be adopted.
Even if not all of them were adopted, at least those enchanting maids would not be able to escape.
I heard that the Fourth Madam directly replaced the maidservants around Master Yi.
Aunt Sun thought that the eldest lady must also be dissatisfied with the maids like Shiqin. She was clearly a maid, but she was always acting like a maid, pretending to be a young lady.
snort!
Aunt Sun came to Wenshuyuan with confidence.
"Oh, it's really hard for you to be willing to do needlework. What a pity, it's too late to cram at the last minute."
Aunt Sun ridiculed Shiqin and the others.
The secretary had a bad temper. "Madam, you have nothing to do. Go back to your room and drink your wine. Do you really think you can call the shots in the Wenshuyuan when the young master is not around?"
"You little bitch, I'm going to kill you."
Aunt Sun was so angry that she rushed forward to hit the secretary.
Shiqin and the others hurriedly stopped her, "It's broad daylight, and you're acting like a fool even without drinking. If you have the guts, you can kill us all."
After being beaten several times, the maidservant felt extremely aggrieved and shouted, "Let her kill me! That old fool has been relying on her mother's milk to live with the young master for a few days, acting like a master all day long."
Bah! You don’t even know to take a piss and look at yourself. You are old and have a black heart. Do you really think the young master will keep you?
"We can't escape this time because of the layoffs, and you can't stay either. I'm going to see my wife right now and make a serious complaint about you in front of her."
Having said that, Shishu was about to go out.
Shiqin and the others quickly pulled her back, "Why bother getting angry with her? She's old and confused, and all she does all day is stir up trouble. She wishes we were all dead."
Aunt Sun cursed angrily, "You bitches, the master has spoiled you like children. Maids are just maids. The housekeeper will come over soon and drive you all away."
Wow……
The secretary lay on the bed and burst into tears, "I can't stay here any longer. I'm packing my bags and leaving the house now."
"What nonsense are you talking about? The list hasn't been announced yet. How do you know we will be on the list?" Shiqi comforted Shishu.
Aunt Sun laughed heartily, feeling both proud and arrogant.
She said to the maids in a smug manner, "I heard that the Fourth Madam dismissed all the maids serving the Fourth Young Master. You serving the Young Master has long been an eyesore to the First Madam. How could the First Madam keep you?"
Shiqin and the others all changed their expressions.
She said to Aunt Sun, "Auntie, don't be so quick to gloat over this misfortune. Your words don't count. Only the Madam's words count. The Madam can't say anything, so we will continue to work in the Wenshuyuan."
"You're just being stubborn. Just wait and see."
Aunt Sun left cursing.
Chunjuan appeared out of nowhere and said, "Sisters, my mother has that kind of temper. Don't bother with her."
The secretary pointed at Chunjuan and chuckled twice, "It's like the cat weeping over the rat, don't be so hypocritical. Do you really think we don't know your plan? You've been hoping for Madam to send us all away. Then, with you as the leader, you can serve him every day. Who knows, one day, when the young master is in a good mood, he might honor you and take you as his concubine. You'll be in great glory then."
Chunjuan stamped her feet and said, "I spoke up for you sisters with good intentions, but you didn't appreciate it."
"Don't give me that! Auntie Sun is always giving us trouble. She comes to cause trouble every few days. How dare you say you don't know anything? Maybe you are the one gossiping about us behind our backs, and Auntie Sun is taking it out on you."
The secretary was very sharp-tongued and could make Chunjuan furious with just a few words.
Her eyes were red. "I treated you sisters sincerely, but I didn't expect that you all misunderstood me. I won't say anything more. Sooner or later, you will know my true feelings."
Chunjuan left.
The secretary was still unwilling to give in. She ran to the door and cursed at Chunjuan's back: "Hypocritical!"
"Okay, Shishu, stop making trouble. It's already this late, just calm down." Shiqi looked irritated and uneasy.
Shi Hua asked quietly, "Do you think Madam will really lay us off?"
Everyone was silent, with miserable expressions on their faces.
The secretary burst into tears, "I don't want to leave the house. If I am dismissed, my brother and sister-in-law will definitely marry me to the old man as a concubine. If it really comes to that, I would rather die."
"Don't keep talking about death. It hasn't come to that point yet. Don't make any random assumptions until the list is released."
Shiqin is still steady.
The secretary said, "Sister Shiqin has parents who love her at home, so she naturally has nothing to worry about. Even if she leaves the house, she can marry into a good family with the money she has saved over the years."
Shiqin sighed, "Things are not as good as you think. Even if you marry into a good family, you still have to make a living every day. It's not as comfortable as living in a palace."
Everyone was silent.
There is no better place in the world than the palace.
Even the imperial palace can't compare to it.
The imperial palace is too big and has too many rules. It can't compare to the freedom and opulence of the prince's palace.
But when the maids thought about the fact that the eldest lady had already submitted the list, they all looked worried.
They will definitely be laid off.
Just like the Fourth Madam, she replaced all the maids around Master Yi.
"The Fourth Madam is really cruel, yet the Fourth Young Master agreed to it."
Shihua suddenly said.
Shiqin sighed and picked up her needlework, "Before I leave the house, I must at least make the young master's shoes and socks."
After she said this, the other maids also picked up their needlework and started working on it.
Similar situations occurred in various places in the palace, and everyone in the palace was in chaos.
It was not until mid-afternoon that the people sent by the Lord of the Household arrived at the East Courtyard.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and waited quietly for news.
The secretary pulled the needle and thread, and the thread became tangled, and the more he pulled, the more it became tangled.
Shiqin advised her not to be so nervous and to take it easy.
Shishu suddenly burst into tears.
Shi Hua stood up and said, "I'll go pack my luggage."
I'm leaving, and I'm reluctant to leave.
She was alone, silently packing her bags and crying silently without telling anyone.
Shiqin sighed, "I'll go out and take a look."
"I'll go with you." Shiqi stood up.
The two of them went out together and went to the upper room.
Go up to the room.
Gu Jiu looked at the person who came and said, "How can I trouble Manager Li to come here in person?"
"The housekeeper has ordered me to take the person away. Madam, please call the person here according to the list."
Gu Jiu nodded and told Qian Fu, "You are an old man in the yard, you know what to do."
Qian Fu bowed and said, "Don't worry, Madam. I will bring the person over right away."
Qian Fu led a few strong women and servants to call for help.
Anyone who disobeys will be dragged away by force.
After a while, angry roars rang out from the East Courtyard. "Who gave you the courage, you bastards? I'm the young master's wet nurse, who dares to attack me? I want to see the Madam, let me see the Madam. I refuse to accept this! Madam, this servant refuses to accept this."
Shiqin and Shiqi looked at each other.
"Is this Aunt Sun's voice?"
"Was she laid off too?"
The two were confused and hurried to the upper room.
Gu Jiu walked out of the house.
Spring is here and the wind is warm.
She stood under the eaves and asked loudly, "Madam, you are making such a fuss. How disgraceful! If you have something to say, please speak up. If not, please leave."
Madam Sun asked loudly, "Madam, are you mistaken? The people you should lay off are Shiqin and the others, not this servant. This servant is loyal and devoted, and is an old member of the family."
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "So Auntie was making a fuss about this."
Then, her face fell, and she asked sternly, "Auntie, are you questioning my decision?"
Madam Sun cried out, "Who on earth whispered such slander in Madam's ears? It's clearly Shiqin and her other seductresses who should be fired. Madam, you must not be deceived."
"presumptuous!"
Gu Jiu scolded, "Does this lady need to consult with you before she can lay off anyone? Although this lady is young, she is not without her own opinions and cannot be manipulated by others.
Auntie, please be polite when you speak. I will allow you to take all your luggage with you.
If you continue to speak without restraint, I won't have to carry your luggage anymore. I'll have you thrown out."
Aunt Sun was stunned, and then she shouted again, "I refuse to accept this."
Gu Jiu sneered, "I don't need you to obey me when I do things. You just need to follow my orders.
"And the person who decided to fire you wasn't me, but the young master. He said it himself, 'It doesn't matter who else is fired, but you, Aunt Sun, must be fired.'"
Aunt Sun was struck by lightning and could not believe it at all.
She shook her head. "I don't believe it. How could you fire me, Master? It's impossible. It's absolutely impossible."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "You should know best what Auntie did in the past."
Aunt Sun suddenly collapsed to the ground, as if she still couldn't accept the reality.
Chunjuan took the luggage and threw herself on Aunt Sun, "Mother, mother..."
"What happened? Why are you also..." Aunt Sun came back to her senses and looked at the luggage in Chunjuan's hand with a confused look on her face.
She looked at Gu Jiu and said, "Madam, you can just fire this servant. Why did you fire Chunjuan? She did nothing wrong!"
Gu Jiu said softly: "Auntie, don't you know best whether Chunjuan has made any mistakes?"
Aunt Sun was stunned.
Gu Jiu walked down the steps and came to her side, and said, "Auntie, aren't the things you eat and use every day brought back by Chunjuan?"
“You, you…”
Aunt Sun was sweating profusely. She hadn't expected that Chunjuan's secret attempt to take things home had already been discovered.
Gu Jiu said, "After all, you nursed the young master, so I will treat you with respect. If you are sensible, you can take your luggage and leave quietly. If you are not sensible, then I can only hand Chunjuan over to the authorities for prosecution. I wonder which method you will choose?"
Aunt Sun's face turned pale and she no longer had the spirit she once had.
She said, "Don't worry, Madam. I will take Chunjuan away from the palace right away."
Gu Jiu nodded with satisfaction, "That's great."
Aunt Sun got up from the ground and pulled Chunjuan, "Come on, pack your luggage for me."
"Mom, are we really going to be laid off?"
Aunt Sun glared at her and said, "Listen to me and don't talk too much."
She forcefully pulled Chunjuan away.
Chunjuan lost her balance and almost fell flat on her face.
Dealing with Aunt Sun is equivalent to dealing with the biggest troublemaker in the East Courtyard.
Gu Jiu ordered Qian Fu to do things according to the plan.
Qian Fu took the order and left.
Shiqin and Shiqi stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking at each other.
Shiqi was very brave and walked into the courtyard. "Madam, I dare to ask a question."
Gu Jiu nodded, "What do you want to ask? Tell me."
Shiqi pondered for a moment, then boldly asked, "Madam, won't you lay off the servants and others?"
Gu Jiu smiled, "Although you don't respect me that much, I will let you go this time because you serve the Master wholeheartedly. I hope you can learn from your mistakes. If you disrespect me again in the future, I will deal with you without the princess having to order you to lay off any staff."
Shiqin and Shiqi felt relieved, but then became anxious again.
Shiqi bowed and said, "This servant dares not be disrespectful to Madam."
Gu Jiu hummed, "Go down and do some work. If you're good at sewing, do more."
"As you command."
Shiqin and Shiqi left the upper room in a hurry as if they had escaped from death.
Gu Jiu returned to the small study and prepared to read as he heard the outside gradually quiet down.
Deng Cunli came in from outside, "Madam, the prince is furious at the Bixi Pavilion right now. Many of the servants in the Bixi Pavilion have been beaten with sticks."
"What's going on? Could it be that the servants of Bixi Pavilion were making too much noise and angered the prince?"
Gu Jiu stopped reading and asked curiously.
Deng Cunli shook his head. "The servants of Bixi Pavilion didn't dare to make a fuss. The reason the prince was so angry was because the Minister of the Imperial Household, Wen Guangren, had died."
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