Xu Wen leisurely ate her breakfast, served by the maid Qiuzhi. Qiu Linghou said, "Those people, they've only been waiting for a quarter of an hour and already got impatient and came. The eldest lady used to be too easygoing. Back in our Jinling Marquisate, concubines wouldn't see the mistress until they had waited an hour or two, and the mistress didn't bother to see them either. The housekeeper would arrange for the concubines to copy Buddhist scriptures one day or kneel before the Bodhisattva the next."
Xu Wen ate the glutinous rice balls in her bowl and laughed. "That's right, isn't it? She used to be too kind to those women, allowing them to run wild." She wondered if Empress Jing'an was like her, regretting that her pity for others had hurt herself.
There was a noise outside, Qiu Ling's eyes flashed, she lifted the curtain and went out.
Qiu Ling looked at Hong Yi Niang at the door with disgust in her heart. If she hadn't seen the calculation in her eyes, if it weren't for the kindness of the eldest lady, she would have gone to hell by now. Qiu Ling looked at Hong Yi Niang who was stopped at the door and asked, "Hong Yi Niang, what's the matter? Why did you trespass into the mistress's main courtyard?"
Aunt Hong was stunned for a moment, then she regained her graceful demeanor and said softly, "Sister Qiu Ling, I'll serve Madam at dinner."
Qiu Ling replied solemnly, "Unless the mistress has sent a message, how can you wander around the main courtyard at will? You can only come when the mistress wants you to serve. Don't forget your status."
Aunt Hong's face turned pale. She raised her finger and then put it down. She said in a low voice, "Madam has always allowed me to come and go as I please. You, a servant, are so arrogant that you dare to stop me."
Qiu Ling said disdainfully, "Auntie, are you going to leave on your own or be dragged away? Think about it carefully for yourself."
The words that were about to come out of Aunt Hong's mouth were completely blocked, and she left gracefully with a flick of her sleeves.
Qiu Ling looked at the woman's graceful back and smiled meaningfully.
"Greetings, Madam." The five concubines and three maids bowed and saluted when they saw Xu Wen come in.
After Xu Wen sat down, she raised her hand and the concubine took her seat, with the maid standing behind her. Xu Wen didn't say anything, and Aunt Hong began to speak anxiously, "Sister, I went to look for you just now, but I couldn't even get in. Did I do something wrong to make you angry?"
Xu Wen looked at Aunt Hong with amusement. Qiu Ling stepped forward and said, "Aunt Hong, my eldest daughter is the legitimate daughter of the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion. There is only one daughter in the entire mansion, and no younger sisters."
Hong Yi Niang wiped her forehead with a handkerchief in embarrassment, and then said: "Madam, if I am wrong, please punish me."
Qiu Ling immediately said, "Hong Yi Niang, you are a lowly concubine. When speaking to Madam, you should call yourself a humble concubine. You trespassed into the main room today and broke the rules. Madam is being lenient by not holding you accountable for your past mistakes."
Xu Wen then spoke and ordered the punishment: "Hong Yi Niang will go back today and kneel down to recite the female ring thirty times. Send a little maid to accompany Hong Yi Niang."
Hong Yi Niang looked at Xu Wen anxiously. She had treated her like a sister before, so what had happened now? She punished her without hesitation. Could it be that the affair had been exposed? Hong Yi Niang thought about it and knelt down with a plop. She said with tears in her eyes, "Madam, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me."
Qiu Ling winked, and the old woman next to her covered her mouth and dragged Hong Yi Niang out directly.
Xu Wen always remembered her mother's teachings and wanted to maintain her authority over the concubines and servants. Never show your emotions, and be concise when praising. Don't reprimand someone yourself; let the respectable wives and servants do the talking. Just sit back and clearly distribute rewards and punishments.
Qiu Ling's stern words made an example of someone killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, and the entire hall fell silent. Concubine Lan, who had been lazily leaning back, immediately straightened her back and lowered her head, fearing that she would be next.
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