But the jadeite was not one to be trifled with; after a few words, it couldn't win the argument and decided to fight.
But this is Mingyue Pavilion, how could Qiu Kui let them act so recklessly!
The maids and servants of Mingyue Pavilion all sided with Qiu Kui. Qiao'er ran fast, but Fei Cui was not so lucky. She was beaten until her mouth and nose bled and her forehead was cut.
By the time everyone realized what was happening, they were all in a panic.
"Speak!" Yin Wenxiao suddenly shouted, "Okra, you speak for yourself, if you dare utter a single falsehood—"
"Yes, if there is even a single false word, according to the rules of the Yin family, they will be beaten, have their legs broken, and be sold off."
A cold female voice came over.
Qin Sheng brought Qiao'er and Caiyue over, her gaze cold. She stood a few steps away and said, "Qiu Kui, think carefully before you speak."
"..."
Okra was already afraid, and when the lady gave her such a cold look, her legs went weak and she almost couldn't help but kneel down.
"What are you doing here?" Yin Wenxiao walked over, blocking Ye Jiaoniang with half of his body.
“What you say is strange, Lord.”
Qin Sheng didn't give him a friendly look: "My maid came to deliver something out of kindness, but she was beaten and injured all over and is now lying in bed unable to move. As the mistress of the house, am I not allowed to come and ask the culprit?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Yin Wenxiao said, "The matter hasn't been investigated yet..."
Qin Sheng's voice suddenly rose several octaves, "What do you mean it hasn't been investigated yet? How else does Lord Bo want to investigate?"
"..."
Yin Wenxiao was stunned by her shout. His first thought was, "When did Qin Sheng become so fierce?"
In his memory, Qin Sheng had always been dignified and self-possessed, and she always spoke softly no matter what happened.
"Madam has misunderstood..."
Ye Jiaoniang quickly stepped forward from behind Yin Wenxiao: "Qiu Kui is usually very respectful, so I... this servant thinks there might be some misunderstanding..."
"Misunderstand?"
Qin Sheng sneered, her gaze sweeping over the kneeling maids and servants in the courtyard. She pointed at two of them and said, "You two, get up."
"..."
The two maids who were pointed at stood up tremblingly, their heads almost touching the ground, not daring to look at the lady at all.
It was the madam who transferred the two of them from the backyard to Mingyue Pavilion to serve the new concubine.
Qin Sheng said, "Why did Emerald and Qiao'er fight with you when they came to deliver bird's nest? Speak! If you can't explain, I'll sell you all off!"
"Madam, spare us!" The two maids' knees buckled, and they knelt down again. One of them mustered her courage, raised her head, and pointed at Qiu Kui. "We didn't say anything! It was Qiu Kui who was disrespectful to you, Madam. It was only when you two sisters argued with her that you resorted to violence!"
Qin Sheng asked, "What disrespectful things did Qiu Kui say?"
"..."
The two maids exchanged glances, then the other gritted her teeth and said loudly, "Qiu Kui said that Madam has been married into the Yin family for almost half a year and has not yet conceived. There must be something wrong with her belly, and she can't give birth!"
Okra shuddered, and Ye Jiaoniang was also startled.
She said this a few days ago while taking a bath, chatting with Qiu Kui, saying that the lady had been in the mansion for so long but had not yet conceived, and wondered if there was something wrong with her health.
That brat!
Ye Jiaoniang was furious. How dare Qiu Kui say anything out loud? Wasn't she afraid of having her tongue cut out?
Qin Sheng's expression was unreadable as she asked, "Anything else?"
"Okra also said... that if Madam didn't have a good family background, the Earl would never have married her!"
"They say the lady can't hold onto the Earl's heart, and has no children. What good is the principal wife? She'll be all alone in her old age."
"They even said that the Earl and his concubine are deeply in love, and that once the concubine gives birth to a son, he will be the Earl's eldest son. What business is it of the Madam's?"
"..."
Ye Jiaoniang's face gradually turned pale.
These were things she said to Qiu Kui in casual conversation when Yin Wenxiao was not around.
No, we can't let Okra say that she said all these things, or the Lord will be angry!
The sound of a sharp slap was clear and loud; Ye Jiaoniang had used almost all her strength to slap Qiu Kui across the face.
She looked delicate and frail, but she was surprisingly strong; the slap made Okra bleed from her mouth and nose.
"Auntie..."
Qiu Kui looked at Ye Jiao Niang in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes.
“Lord…” Ye Jiaoniang sobbed, “It’s all my fault for not disciplining the people in the courtyard properly. Qiu Kui is so reckless and can’t stay in the manor any longer. Why don’t we sell her off?”
Yin Wenxiao remained silent.
He felt a little irritated. Qin Sheng had always handled these trivial matters. Since she married into the family, he hadn't had to worry about anything in the household.
Furthermore, it was indeed Jiao Niang who was in the wrong.
How come you can't even manage a few servants?
When Yin Wenxiao looked over again, Qin Sheng stood upright. Today she was wearing a pomegranate red dress and a gold hairpin in her hair. Every gesture she made was that of a dignified lady from a prestigious family.
He said, "What do you think?"
Qin Sheng glanced at him first, then slowly turned her gaze to Qiu Kui.
At this moment, Okra was kneeling on the ground, sobbing and begging her aunt not to sell her off.
Qin Sheng suddenly sighed, "Never mind."
She said, "Deduct three months' wages from all the servants in Mingyue Pavilion. As for Qiu Kui, punish her by making her clean the outhouse. Let's temper her character. What does the Earl think?"
"..."
Yin Wenxiao had no objections.
What bothers him now is his second uncle's impression of him. The only thing he can do now is to perform well in the Hanlin Academy and try to change his second uncle's opinion of him.
"Lord..."
Ye Jiaoniang, on the other hand, was terrified and wondered what was wrong with Qin Sheng. Why wasn't she going to sell the okra?
He had just said he wanted to sell the okra, firstly because that brat okra had no sense of propriety and knew too much about him, and secondly because he wanted to do Madam a favor.
The okra was sold, and I hope that Madam will let the matter drop.
Ye Jiaoniang gently tugged at Yin Wenxiao's sleeve, then looked at Qin Sheng, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Madam is kind and won't sell okra, but this girl is really... How about we send her to the estate instead?"
Anyway, the Yin family has many estates, so they can send Qiu Kui to any one of them.
It was Fang who first suggested selling the okra.
Ye Jiaoniang knew that this girl must already hate her. If she continued to keep Qiu Kui in the manor, what if one day...
She dared not gamble!
"But she did come to the manor with you, Aunt Ye." Qin Sheng said with a forced smile. "Considering that Qiu Kui is still young, it's fine to punish her by making her wash the outhouse. There's no need to send her to the estate. The estate is exposed to the wind and sun; how can a little girl like her endure that?"
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