Peony, who was walking behind the crowd, was trembling and shrinking back. After the Fujin sat down in the main seat, and Yin and Lanqin sat down on the guest seats on the left and right respectively, she knelt down on her own.
"You audacious servant! I've heard you have many complaints about serving Consort Yin, and seeing you today confirms it. Also, where are Die'er and Xiao Zhuzi? I remember I assigned those two to serve her." The Fujin roared sternly.
Peony panicked and immediately kowtowed on the ground, saying in a flustered voice, "This servant does not know where they have gone."
The princess said to Granny Li, "Take some men and bring those two derelict servants to me immediately."
After Granny Li left, the Fujin stood up and slowly walked over to Shaoyao, asking, "Shaoyao, I heard you were disrespectful to Consort Yin. Not only did you not do the tasks assigned to you properly, but you also dared to give Consort Yin a hard time?"
Peony lay prostrate on the ground, her mind racing as she pondered how to overcome the current predicament. Seeing the Fujin directly questioning her like this, she gritted her teeth and said tremblingly, "This servant dares not show disrespect to Princess Yin, nor has she ever dared to be disrespectful to her. It's just that Princess Yin comes from Yangzhou and is used to having maids who come to the mansion with her. She is not used to us maids, so this servant has not often served by Princess Yin's side."
In fact, there was no evidence to prove that she was not serving well, and there was nothing that Yin had incriminating against her. That's why Shaoyao came up with this excuse.
Hearing Shaoyao's blatant distortion of the truth, Madam Yin's chest heaved with anger, but she refrained from lashing out due to the presence of the Fujin and Lanqin. However, Ye Ying, who was trying to soothe her, couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up: "Reporting to Fujin, ever since Shaoyao was assigned to my mistress's quarters, she has been very disrespectful to her. She's always been lazy and cunning, secretly disobeying the mistress's orders. Recently, it's gotten even worse; she practically treats this place like her own home, disappearing during the day and returning at night to sleep, and even..."
When Peony heard Ye Ying spill all her secrets, she was frantic and didn't know what to do. Just then, Die'er and Xiao Zhuzi were brought in by Granny Li. They immediately knelt behind Peony, both with mournful faces.
"Reporting to Your Highness, this old servant caught Xiao Zhuzi in the garden. The other girls like to gamble a little money on weekdays, and he was still gambling when I arrived. As for Die'er, she's sleeping in her room," said Granny Li.
"Die'er, Xiaozhuzi, is this how you serve Consort Yin?" the Fujin asked in a low voice, but the authority in her words made the two young servants tremble with fear.
"Your Majesty, this servant knows his mistake and deserves to die. This servant and Die'er were instigated by Shaoyao, which is why we neglected Lady Yin. Please forgive this servant this time, Your Majesty. This servant will definitely serve Lady Yin with all his heart in the future." When Xiaozhuzi saw Shaoyao, he knew that the current situation was likely caused by her. Moreover, he and Die'er had indeed been instigated by her to become estranged from Lady Yin.
When Die'er saw Xiao Zhuzi say this, she naturally knew that he was implying that she should follow his lead and confirm that it was indeed because of Shaoyao. She immediately said in a trembling voice, "This servant was also caused by Shaoyao's machinations, which is why I did not serve the princess well. Please punish me, I only ask to be given another chance to make amends."
At this moment, Peony was extremely angry, but what the two of them said was indeed true. She had instigated Xiaozhu and Die'er that day to force Madam Yin to submit to her and stop relying on Ye Ying. But now she couldn't help but regret it. Her explanation just now was obviously untenable under the testimony of Xiaozhu and Die'er.
"You, Shaoyao, are incredibly audacious! You've been watching your father and mother working at the Prince Zhi's residence, and you've been running amok right under my nose!" The Fujin's face turned pale instantly. These servants, including Shaoyao, were originally assigned by her to serve Madam Yin. If they were to actually pursue her, it would be a real loss of face for her.
"This servant knows her mistake, please forgive me, Madam. I promise I will never do it again. Please forgive me this time, Lady Yin. I will never dare to do it again." Peony kowtowed repeatedly, her head hitting the cold bluestone bricks. Thump, thump, thump, and soon her brow began to bleed. But now, no one felt sorry for her; instead, they felt she deserved her punishment.
Lanqin felt somewhat uncomfortable watching this; she simply wasn't used to such scenes. However, Yeying felt genuinely pleased to see that Shaoyao had finally lost her arrogance.
"Peony has no respect for her mistress and instigated the servants. She should be given thirty strokes of the cane first. If she survives, she will be sent to Granny Ma, who is in charge of the night soil. Since Xiaozhu and Die'er are accomplices, they should each be given ten strokes of the cane and have half a year's salary deducted. They should continue to serve Lady Yin. If I find them disrespectful to their mistress again, I will not let them off easily next time. Granny Li, go and call them in immediately," the Fujin said angrily.
A moment later, several burly men came in and dragged the constantly begging Peony away. Little Pillar and Die'er followed them out to receive their punishment.
Moments later, chilling screams echoed from outside the courtyard. First, there were three people, and then naturally, only Peony's shrill cries remained.
This was the first time Lanqin had heard of caning, and she felt a little reluctant to do it. Although Shaoyao had indeed gone too far, it was still too much to beat her to death like that.
Alas, this wicked feudal society truly devoured people without spitting out their bones.
After the three servants were carried away, the Fujin looked at the pale-faced Madam Yin and said, "If it weren't for Sister Niu telling me today, I really wouldn't have known you were wronged. In the future, don't indulge such unruly servants like this. I will send someone to replace Shaoyao."
Yin immediately curtsied and said with tears in her eyes, "It's all my fault. I've caused you so much trouble, Madam, and Sister Niu so much worry."
From then on, Yin's daily life and expenses were no longer embezzled. After lying in bed for three days, Xiao Zhuzi and Die'er naturally returned to her side to serve her, but they dared not let their guard down again.
As for Peony, no one mentioned her, as if she had never existed. The Fujin then asked the head nanny for a maid named Caiping and assigned her to Madam Yin.
This little incident was like throwing a pebble into a calm lake; although it created ripples, it eventually returned to stillness.
On the day agreed upon by the Third Prince's wife, Lanqin, along with Lady Yin, Lady Song, and Lady Wu, arrived at the Third Prince's residence in a grand procession.
Third Princess Consort Dong'e was already waiting at the door. As soon as she saw Ulanara alight from her sedan chair, she greeted her warmly, saying, "Cousin, it's been so long! How have you been?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
