Kindness is not the key to success in military affairs
After saying that, he walked out of the room with Hongyue and Luyun.
When I got to the door, I saw Mother Yu walking quickly towards me and said respectfully, "Madam, everyone is in front of the main house, waiting for your order."
Ling Wan ordered Luyun to get pen, ink, paper and inkstone, asked Hongyue to write, and asked Qingque and Zhuchi to check the visitors one by one according to the list of Yan Xiju.
After everyone arrived, Ling Wan straightened her clothes and was led by Mother Yu to the main hall of the front hall.
At this time, the six latticed windows in the main hall were opened at the same time.
It was already dark, and all the flower-branch lamps in the house were lit. The rows of sheep-horn lanterns under the eaves in front of the hall were as bright as modern incandescent bulbs. Several pine oil torches were also burning around, making the front and inside of the house as bright as day.
Inside the main house, there are two landscape paintings on the east and west walls respectively, and on the north wall hangs a plaque with the words "Liusantang" written by his father-in-law, Prime Minister Shen.
Below was a shiny eight-immortal table, with two large high-backed chairs of the same color on both sides of the table, and a number of low-backed wide chairs arranged upright in two rows below.
Xu Lingwan thought to herself that such a main seat at the top was suitable for people like the eldest sister-in-law or mother-in-law who were in charge of the household for many years.
However, she was now the mistress of Yanxi Residence, so if she didn't sit down, who would? So, with a solemn face, she calmly sat down on the high seat under the plaque.
"I called everyone here today because someone in the courtyard secretly passed on a message to Aunt Qiu without my knowledge."
Ling Wan looked at the twenty or so people standing below, all laughing in unison, and went straight to the point, "When working at Yanxi Residence, the top principle is no gossip. I made this clear to everyone after I took charge."
"That person now has two choices: either he comes forward himself, and I will give him a lighter sentence in view of his honesty in admitting his mistakes and correcting them. Or he gets caught by me, and then there will be no talk of lighter punishment, and he will be expelled from the house directly." Ling Wan changed the subject and glanced at everyone in front of her one by one.
After waiting for a while, he saw that everyone was standing solemnly with their heads down and no one spoke, and his eyes couldn't help but become slightly cold.
I think in the hearts of many people, they still don't take her, the mistress of the second house, seriously.
After arriving in ancient times, Chen Yuanyuan held the indentures of the slaves and maids in her hands.
The eldest sister-in-law told her that she had the right to manage the servants in any way (yes, anything, and you will understand it after reading "Dream of Red Mansions"), but Chen Yuanyuan was a good young person who grew up in a socialist society after all, and she really couldn't speak harshly to them, or even beat or scold them.
Even the lively and good-natured Tao, when she saw a maid in the mansion flirting with Mr. Shen Liu, immediately had her mother Lin slap her in the face and sent her to exile in the farm.
In her yard, when Mother Yu said that a maid was deliberately getting close to Chen Cong, she smiled indifferently.
She thought that whether a man is loyal or not depends entirely on his own consciousness, and it is not something that can be monitored all the time.
What's more, Chen Cong was an ancient man, an ancient person, so how could we expect him to be "loyal and devoted"?
In short: Even if a maid climbed into Chen Cong's bed, Chen Yuanyuan could calmly give her a concubine. But if she betrayed her master and did something sneaky...
Chen Yuanyuan narrowed her eyes, making her unable to lie down peacefully, so don't blame her for being ruthless!
"I am a person who likes to speak first and then calm down. Since everyone is silent, don't say that I, the mistress, didn't give you a chance." Ling Wan laughed in anger. Although her tone was not harsh, her eyes were cold and there was a hint of chill in her eyes.
Then, regardless of the changing expressions on everyone's faces, he called over Red Moon and Green Cloud and whispered a few words to them.
At first, they were confused when their wife asked them to bring pen, ink, paper and inkstone. But after hearing what their wife said, their eyes lit up.
Holding today's duty roster, Hong Yue said in a clear voice, "From 5:00 PM to 5:00 PM today, those who have been on duty at Yanxi Residence should come over first!"
After hearing this, everyone automatically divided into two distinct teams.
"Caizhu, what were you doing at noon and noon yesterday?" Hongyue asked sharply, holding a pen.
"I was mopping the floor under the eaves of the main hall—" The little girl didn't understand what was going on and said timidly.
She was a maid of the "Cai" generation who came with Xu Lingwan as a dowry, so when Xu Lingwan adjusted the staff at that time, she was promoted to Yan Xiju.
"Can anyone prove it?" Madam had just instructed that those brought as dowry and those sent by the Shen family must be treated equally, so Hongyue still had a cold face.
"Sister Cai Ling and Sister Cai Xing can both testify."
"Where have you been since you took over the shift at Shenshi? Who can testify?" Hongyue continued.
"After my shift, I went back to my room to rest and didn't go anywhere else. My two sisters Chunliu and Chunyue can testify to this." Caizhu saw that although Hongyue's tone was stern, she did not mean to embarrass her, so her voice gradually became louder.
"Alright, come over here and place your fingerprints." Hongyue glanced at the ink pad on the table, then said to Cailing, Caixing, Chunliu, and Chunyue, "If you have no objection to what Caizhu said, come and place your fingerprints as well."
"However, if they find out that you helped to forge the evidence, and then you are all expelled from the mansion, then you won't be able to blame anyone else!"
Ling Wan was very impressed by how Hongyue grasped the interrogation techniques so quickly and efficiently.
As the saying goes, a leader who cannot arrange tasks for his subordinates is not a good leader, and a good team is not created by management, but by leadership.
Everyone realized that the lady was using the method of interrogation and elimination to find this person. She really wanted to investigate this "gossipmonger" thoroughly, and "expel him from the house" was not just a way to scare them.
Immediately, many people changed their expressions.
Logically speaking, "gossiping and informing on Aunt Qiu" is not a big deal.
If the servants of a family do not have their own opinions about the master or want to rely on him, even if the mistress finds out, at most they will be punished a few words; if they encounter a strict mistress (such as Mrs. Lu), at most they will be exiled to the farm.
But Mrs. Shen Er really wanted to punish this man as a "betrayer" and expel him from the house.
Even the eldest lady had never been so cruel! Some of the servants in the Shen Mansion were worried and afraid.
After several rounds of interrogation, a girl with big breasts, a slim waist, almond eyes and rosy cheeks suddenly rushed out from the crowd. She knelt before Ling Wan, kowtowed and sobbed, "Second Madam, please forgive me and don't drive me out of the house!"
This maid looked unfamiliar, and Xu Lingwan didn't quite recognize her.
Unexpectedly, when Mrs. Yu next to her saw the girl, she leaned close to Ling Wan's ear and gritted her teeth, "Madam, this slave is Yan'er."
Yan'er? Ling Wan was stunned for a moment.
Suddenly I remembered that some time ago, Yu's mother said that she wanted to get close to Chen Cong and that the person she was looking for was called "Yan'er".
After Yan'er knelt down, another girl behind her also knelt down crying, her face as pale as paper: "Madam, this servant knows nothing."
"At that time, Sister Yan'er asked me to help you sweep the side hall. I was not feeling well at that time, so I asked Sister Yan'er to take over. I, you know nothing..."
Seeing that the mistress didn't say anything, Yan'er seemed to be bolder. She knelt down and walked forward to pull Ling Wan's clothes to beg.
Unexpectedly, she had just taken half a step forward when Qingque beside her reached out to stop her. Qingque said coldly, "Don't be presumptuous in front of the lady. If you take another step forward, don't blame me for chopping you with a palm!"
Qingque and Zhuchi are the second lady's maids, and everyone in the mansion knows it.
Yan'er's pretty face couldn't help but turn pale.
Xu Lingwan had some impression of the girl behind Yan'er. Her name was Cuiyan, and she was a dowry from the Xu family.
Mother Yu looked at her own family member who had abandoned his post and got involved with Yan'er, and slapped Xu Jia in the face in public. She wished she could slap him a few more times.
But seeing that his wife didn't say anything, he didn't dare to say anything, and could only stare at her with his fiery eyes.
"I understand you're not feeling well." Xu Lingwan smiled and said softly.
When the work standards for Yanxiju staff were previously formulated, in order to improve the employees' happiness index, it was not a problem if they were not feeling well or were sick and took leave for less than twice within a month. They just needed to report to Hongyue and someone would arrange for a replacement.
Seeing the mistress's face soften, Cuiyan's anxious heart gradually calmed down. Just when she thought everything was fine, she heard the mistress gently ask, "Have you reported to Hongyue?"
Cui Yan was shocked when she heard this, her face turned even paler, and she trembled and said, "No, I forgot..."
Lu Yun had long been dissatisfied with Cui Yan and Yan Er's close relationship. Seeing that she was still forcing herself to argue, she couldn't help but curse, "You're lying! When have you ever felt unwell today?"
"I saw you and Cuiyun laughing and joking in the room this afternoon!"
The maid named Cuiyun turned pale and knelt down crying in fear: "Madam, I dare not lie or conceal anything. Sister Luyun is right. Sister Cuiyan is indeed not unwell."
"Besides, Sister Cuiyan and Sister Yan'er have secretly swapped roles several times before."
"You bitch!" Cuiyun said, and Cuiyan turned around and pushed her.
Just as the two were about to start fighting, Mother Yu stepped forward and slapped each of them, her eyes blazing with fire. "How dare you be so presumptuous in front of the Madam!"
As a modern person, Chen Yuanyuan was extremely displeased with such beating and scolding.
But every dynasty has its own way of survival. In order to survive, she needs to act according to the rules of this era.
If the maid dares to act rudely in front of her today, she will be able to bully her tomorrow.
After seeing that the kneeling people were at peace, Xu Lingwan looked at Cui Yan and said quietly, "Tell me, what benefits did Yan'er give you that made you so willing to let her take your place several times?"
Anyone who can work in the main house of Yan Xiju is eager to show his face in front of Xu Lingwan and feel useful. How can they bear to be replaced by others again and again?
After hearing this, Cui Yan's face lost all color.
Seeing that Madam Yu was about to take people to search the house, she crawled over on her knees and cried, "Madam, it was Yan'er who gave me some broken silver hairpins and asked her to replace me."
"Madam, please forgive me! I will never dare to do that to you again. I beg you to consider that I am a child of the Xu family, please—"
"Slut, shut up! You followed the Madam here so you belong to the Madam. Why are you mentioning the Xu family?" Even though Mother Yu was so experienced, she didn't expect the maid of the Xu family to say that. Her old eyes were blazing with fire as she scolded angrily.
Haha, Ling Wan didn’t know whether to say this girl was smart or stupid.
Although the servants in Yanxiju all said that they were under Lingwan and Mr. Shen, they were divided into two factions. One faction was brought by Lingwan as a dowry, and the other faction was sent by the eldest sister-in-law and the old lady.
When the Shen family knew that Ling Wan had replaced the people in the main courtyard of Yan Xiju with people from the Xu family, they were quite dissatisfied.
Now she begged for her forgiveness and even brought up her identity as a member of the Xu family. Was she afraid that the people of the Shen family would think that she, as the mistress, was not partial enough?
Ling Wan took a sip of tea and felt conflicted.
How could a maid have so much private money?
However, she felt that this was enough, so she put down her teacup and smiled slightly, but without looking at the people kneeling below, she said gently to everyone, "This is only my second time meeting you all. I guess you guys don't know my rules yet."
"Since this is an opportunity, I'll tell you all at once."
"I have never liked people throwing tantrums and crying in front of me. If you do that again in the future, no matter whether you are right or wrong, I will just gag you with a cloth and tie you up and kick you out." The voice was neither slow nor slow, but the chill in it made everyone's heart shudder.
Although I knew that the mistress was straightforward and straightforward, not afraid of offending others, but seeing her young and kind, I never expected that her methods of dealing with people would be so ruthless.
The faces of the three kneeling people turned pale. Even Yan'er, who had been crying the loudest just now, was frightened and fell silent. She bit her lip hard to stop herself from sobbing.
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