Chapter 39 Using Intimidation to Train Servants Lately, Cheng Qianyue has been constantly thinking about raising...
Lately, Cheng Qianyue has been focusing solely on nurturing her pregnancy. After all, childbirth is like passing through the gates of hell for a woman, especially in ancient times when medical care was underdeveloped. So, Cheng Qianyue is thinking of controlling her diet and exercising to keep the fetus small so that delivery will be easier.
After all, she hasn't lived enough yet, and she doesn't want to lose her life just to have a baby.
So ever since she found out she was pregnant, she started taking care of her health, eating only until she was seven or eight tenths full at each meal, and if she got hungry after mealtime, she would have a couple of snacks. Because it was cold in winter and the roads were slippery after several snowfalls, she didn't leave the house, she just wandered around inside.
However, when people have more free time, they tend to pay more attention to the things around them. Recently, Cheng Qianyue noticed that Ruoyun had changed a lot compared to before.
Now Ruoyun is her head maid. The three new maids who came in are under Ruoyun's command. The new maids' names are also derived from Ruoyun's name, namely Ruoxia, Ruohong, and Ruocai.
Then she discovered that Ruoyun was particularly harsh on the new palace maids, even somewhat bossy. Not only that, she also put on airs towards the new eunuchs.
It all started with Ruoxia. One day, she presented two small gourds woven with red string, saying that she had made them herself for the young mistress to play with. Cheng Qianyue thought she was skillful, so she hung the gourds by her bedside. However, not two days later, she heard Ruoyun scolding Ruoxia in the corridor, saying that she couldn't do proper work and was always thinking of ways to cheat.
At that time, Cheng Qianyue called Ruoyun over and instructed her not to be so harsh on the servants. Ruoyun replied, "I didn't mean to do anything to them, but at least they have to do their jobs well. Ruoxia is in charge of your clothes and fabrics, but she drags her feet even when she's looking for a piece of material."
Later, Ruoyun was seen privately summoning all the palace maids and eunuchs from the West Courtyard to give them a lecture.
Cheng Qianyue didn't think being strict with rules was bad; in the palace, not learning the rules was a death sentence. But one thing was certain: you couldn't be too harsh or inhumane, and you certainly couldn't nitpick or bully people. She was thinking of disciplining Ruoyun and not letting her continue like this.
Just as Cheng Qianyue was about to do that, Ruoyun did something else. She actually put on airs towards Jing Shun, who came to deliver the gifts.
Since moving to Yuqing Palace, Yinreng hasn't visited Xiefang Hall very often, maybe only two or three times a week. Cheng Qianyue thought he was busy, and also perhaps he didn't want people to say he was a womanizer. Although he himself didn't come often, he frequently sent people to deliver things to her and inquire about her daily life.
On this day, Jing Shun came to deliver ornaments to her. Yinreng thought that there were few flowers in winter, and although there were winter plum blossoms, he was afraid that the fragrance of the flowers would be too strong, so he asked someone to bring over two potted plants of jade and flowers for her to enjoy.
She sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, touching the cool, green jade leaves, and heard Ruoyun and Jingshun talking outside.
Jing Shun said, "Although the Crown Prince is busy, he always keeps Consort Cheng in his heart."
Ruoyun proudly raised her head and said, "That's for sure. Just look at how the Crown Prince always stays here whenever he comes to Xiefang Palace."
"That's right, that's right." Jing Shun nodded and bowed, "Now that you've made something of yourself, you might even need to ask you for help in the future."
Ruoyun smiled and said, "This is nothing. But you're right, palace maids are easier to serve their masters than eunuchs."
Cheng Qianyue's brows furrowed more and more as she listened, and she glanced to the side and said heavily, "Call Ruoyun in!"
A short while later, Ruoyun came in, but judging from her smiling face, she didn't think she had done anything wrong at all.
Cheng Qianyue asked, "What nonsense were you spouting outside just now?"
Ruoyun was taken aback for a moment, but quickly replied, "You heard everything just now?" She paused and continued with a smile, "Actually, what I said wasn't wrong. You are now pregnant and also favored by the Crown Prince."
Seeing her like this, Cheng Qianyue slowly closed her eyes and said in a deep voice, "Kneel down."
Ruoyun was a beat slow, but after kneeling down, she still looked up and asked in confusion, "Princess?"
Cheng Qianyue asked her, "Do you know the meaning of the four words 'be kind to others'?"
Ruoyun didn't take it seriously, still smiling: "Princess, you are now the Crown Prince's princess, you should have some dignity."
Seeing that Ruoyun was still unrepentant, Cheng Qianyue didn't want to say anything to her anymore. She had originally intended to give her a warning and tell her not to get so arrogant, but who knew she would be so bold as to offend even Jing Shun. Even if Jing Shun was a eunuch and a servant, he was still a eunuch serving Yinreng. As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner. How could she throw words at someone like that? Moreover, if Ruoyun didn't even respect Jing Shun, then wouldn't everyone else be insignificant in her eyes?
Yes, Ruoyun doesn't even want to listen to her anymore.
Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but think to herself: when you find one cockroach, it means there are cockroaches everywhere. Even she herself wanted to make good connections, but Ruoyun's actions went against her wishes, and perhaps without her noticing, Ruoyun had already offended everyone outside.
Cheng Qianyue sighed and slowly asked, "Ruoyun, how many years have you been in the palace? How old are you now?"
When Ruoyun heard Cheng Qianyue ask the question, her heart skipped a beat. She raised her head slightly and found that her mistress's face was completely expressionless. Suddenly feeling uneasy, she said softly, "I entered the palace to serve when I was fourteen, and I am seventeen this year."
"You're seventeen." Cheng Qianyue lowered her eyes and said softly, "May I beg the Crown Prince for a favor and let you leave the palace?"
These words were like a bolt from the blue. Ruoyun thought that she had finally managed to get her mistress promoted and gain face along with her, how could she leave the palace after only enjoying a little bit of good fortune? She panicked, but seeing Cheng Gege's serious expression, she was also afraid, and hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "Gege, this servant does not know where she has done wrong, please forgive this servant."
Cheng Qianyue ignored her and continued, "You have served me for almost a year. I will not mistreat you when you leave the palace. Before you leave, I will have someone wrap up fifty taels of silver for you, and give you several bolts of cloth, as well as a pair of gold and silver hairpins, pearl pendants and the like, as part of your dowry."
Ruoyun had completely lost any hope. She believed the princess was serious; the princess genuinely wanted to release her. Although the reward was substantial, the money wasn't inexhaustible, and leaving the palace to marry was far less respectable than staying with her mistress. Ruoyun was truly terrified, and with a sob in her voice, she said, "Princess, this servant truly knows her mistake." As she spoke, she repeatedly kowtowed.
Cheng Qianyue still had deep feelings for Ruoyun. For one thing, when she first entered Xian'an Palace, Ruoyun was the only one by her side. After a long silence, Cheng Qianyue felt a pang of pity and continued to ask her, "Do you truly understand the meaning of 'being kind to others'?"
She told her all her thoughts: "When I have dignity, I am willing to share it with you; when I have rewards, I am willing to share them with you. I only hope that you will do two things: be loyal and act with composure, and do not bully others. Whether they are family or outsiders, there is no reason to offend anyone casually."
She paused and continued, "Go back and think it over carefully." If she figured it out, she wouldn't mind continuing to use her; but if she couldn't, she wouldn't keep her.
After Ruoyun left, Cheng Qianyue sighed, glanced at the others in the room, and said softly, "These words are not only for her, but you should all be aware of them."
Back in her room, Ruoyun was in a state of utter turmoil. She sat quietly on the kang (a heated brick bed) all night.
The next day, while Cheng Qianyue was taking a nap at noon, Ruoyun summoned Ruoxia and the others to her room. Ruoyun was a head palace maid, and she lived alone in a side room next to the main house, while the others lived in a shared room opposite hers.
She called several people over and stuffed the prepared items into their hands.
Ruoyun actually had quite a few good things. She only suffered a bit during the first two months of serving Cheng Qianyue. Later, Cheng Qianyue gained favor, and the Crown Prince frequently bestowed gifts upon her, which improved Ruoyun's life as well. In particular, Cheng Qianyue was lenient with her subordinates, giving them silver as rewards during festivals. Sometimes, she would even give Ruoyun jewelry that Cheng Qianyue didn't like to wear, such as rings. Cheng Qianyue didn't like wearing things on her fingers, no matter if they were gold, silver, jade, or inlaid with gemstones. She only kept the rings that the Crown Prince had given her as a memento from the Empress. Most of the other rings were given to her.
Now, Ruoyun is giving rings to Ruoxia and the others. They are all made of gold and inlaid with cat's eye stones, turquoise, coral and other items.
Ruocai and Ruohong couldn't figure out what she wanted to do for a moment, and none of them dared to accept the gifts, but she forced them into their hands.
Ruoyun was unwilling to lose face in front of the newcomers, so she said, "I was in a bad mood a while ago, please don't take offense, sisters. Our princess is a good person, I was just worried that you wouldn't take the young mistress seriously, so I gave her some advice."
She stopped stopping Ruoxia and the others from taking the lead, and said with a smile, "Gege is pregnant and it's been hard for her. If you can find a way to make her happy, I'd be happy to help. Ruoxia's gourd weaving was quite good. Why don't you weave a few more patterns for Gege to see?"
Ruoxia thought that Cheng Gege still needed to use Ruoyun's name, and she was also a little afraid that she had been too conspicuous in trying to please her master by bypassing Ruoyun. So she said, "Then I'll finish composing it and show it to my sister first."
Ruoyun agreed and then told them to go out and serve the princess.
After Ruoxia and the others left, Ruoyun's smile faded as she sat down in front of the small dressing table. She hadn't tidied up this place in a long time, so she started tidying it up aimlessly. When she opened the box on top, she saw a pair of earrings in the shape of hexagonal palace lanterns, with beaded tassels hanging from the bottom.
This was also a gift from Cheng Qianyue, given to her on her birthday. However, she was reluctant to wear it, and besides, no matter how powerful she was, she was still a palace maid and was afraid that wearing it would be too conspicuous.
Ruoyun looked at the gold pendant shaped like a palace lantern, then suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself hard.
She had been blinded by greed. Even her own princess hadn't become arrogant because of her elevated status, yet she had already gotten carried away. Thinking of her haughty demeanor these past few days, her attitude towards Jing Shun and the others, and the disappointed look in Cheng Gege's eyes, her pride was completely extinguished.
Ruoyun was now filled with regret, regretting that she had brought trouble upon the princess. She gritted her teeth, thinking that since she had made a mistake, she had to make amends quickly. She didn't want to leave the princess; if she left the princess, where would she find such a master?
As evening fell, inside Yuqing Palace, Jing Shun heard from the eunuch who relayed the message that Ruoyun, a maid of Consort Cheng from Xiefang Palace, was looking for him. He was somewhat surprised, wondering if something had happened to Consort Cheng. Thinking this, he hurried out of the inner courtyard and arrived near the outer courtyard's guardhouse, only to find Ruoyun with her face swollen like a bun.
Seeing that Ruoyun's face was flushed red, like a bright red steamed bun for the New Year, he couldn't help but ask her, "Sister, what's wrong?"
Ruoyun dared not call him "sister" now, and quickly said, "I can't accept the title of 'sister.' I should be calling you 'brother.'" She took out a purse from her sleeve and stuffed it into his hand, saying, "I offended Brother Jingshun a while ago, and our princess was furious when she found out. I was wrong to you before, and I came here specifically to apologize to you."
Hearing her say that, Jing Shun immediately felt better.
People in the palace looked down on eunuchs. Although they were all servants, the palace maids in the Forbidden City were more precious than them. After all, the palace maids who could enter the palace were all from the Upper Three Banners, while the eunuchs were mostly Han Chinese who had cut off their genitals to survive.
He was angry when Ruoyun mentioned his pride, thinking, "Your Lady Cheng is favored now, but can you guarantee she'll stay that way? What if she loses her momentum?" But seeing Ruoyun like this now, all his anger has vanished.
He took the purse and said, "Look at what you're saying. We're all servants, what grudges could we possibly have? Even if there's a bit of a grudge, it'll all be resolved in time, won't it?"
These words meant that she had indeed offended him before. Ruoyun's heart skipped a beat, but she felt relieved when she saw him accept the purse. She bowed slightly to him and said softly, "Thank you for your generosity, brother. Then I won't disturb you while you're on duty. I still need to go back and serve the princess."
Jing Shun wanted her to wait a while so he could get some ointment to apply, but Ruoyun waved her hand repeatedly, saying she would disappear in the blink of an eye.
The lowly eunuch on duty immediately stepped forward to flatter Jing Shun, saying, "Brother, you have such a great reputation that even the princess's head maid is fawning over you."
Jing Shun glanced at him and said, "Watch your mouth." Then he swaggered into the inner courtyard. When he got to the tea room, he secretly opened his purse and saw, good heavens, there were two five-tael silver ingots inside. He had certainly spent a lot of money.
He tucked it into his arms, and a smile crept onto his face.
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Author's Note: Report! We've already reached 400,000 words! Hehehe, time to roll up my sleeves and keep writing!
I've been reading everyone's comments lately, and I'm amazed at how talented you all are! Hahaha~
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