Chapter 019: Heavy punishment
Chapter 019: Heavy punishment
When Yuchuan heard that Lin Wanhui was flattering the old lady again, she tightened her handkerchief in anger.
In the past, whenever the eldest lady quarreled with Lin Wanhui, the old lady would always side with Lin Wanhui. Not only that, but after everyone left, she would also keep the eldest lady alone and lecture her, which would last for half an hour.
When she was leaving after the scolding, the eldest lady's eyes were red. When she was asked again, the old lady said that she was the eldest lady and should consider the overall situation, and asked her not to always make such an ugly scene with a concubine. If it got out, it would be bad for the marquis's mansion and Su Jin's reputation.
In fact, the old lady also took Su Jin into consideration, but Yuchuan didn't think so much. She just felt that the eldest lady had been wronged, but the old lady didn't seek justice for her.
Now, Lin Xiaoniang has taken advantage of the old lady again, and Yuchuan's eyes are red with anger.
"Humph, it must be nothing again. Who doesn't know that the old lady favors Miss Lin?"
She hummed softly, Su Jin glanced at her and shook his head silently: "Shh, just watch the fun."
Watch the fun?
What are you looking at?
Madam, next, very soon, they will become the biggest party.
Yuchuan's eyes were red.
Lin Wanhui had the same thought. She always felt that Zou would definitely stand on her side, but she didn't know that the old lady already knew what Liu Po had done.
"Since you agree, I'll just say it straight."
Zou looked at Mother Wen.
"Go and fetch the account book for the daily withdrawals."
Lin Wanhui was shocked. What does today's incident have to do with the account book?
She was still wondering when Mother Wen brought the account book. Zou said as she flipped through it.
"Mrs. An's daily allowance is one pound of pork, two pounds of seasonal vegetables, and two pounds of flour. Why is there only half of each left when you take it away?"
Mrs. Liu, who was lying on the ground with her mouth covered in pain, trembled violently and finally looked up at Zou in panic.
Zou continued reading: "It's not just Miss An, the rest of the concubines have also had their share deducted. In recent days, it has even been deducted from the head of the eldest lady. You, a lowly servant, will you also deduct it from me, an old lady, in the future!"
The scolding frightened Liu Pozi so much that she knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly despite the pain, begging for mercy in a vague manner while kowtowing: "Lao Oh...I dare not!"
"Don't dare? You didn't dare, but you did it all. Where did the extra share go? Did you take it away secretly? Tell me!"
After all, Zou was the wife of Marquis Yong'an. She was very majestic and frightened Liu Pozi so much that she trembled with fear. At this moment, Lin Wanhui knew everything. She collapsed to the ground with a pale face, but her heart was extremely nervous and frightened.
Sometimes, if things are not exposed, you can fool people at any time, but once everything is exposed and hung out in the sun, no one can cover it up.
Lin Wanhui was completely dumbfounded.
Now she only hoped that Mrs. Liu would not give her away, absolutely not!
"Madam... you are very observant..."
Mrs. Liu was not very good at talking. Su Jin beat her mainly because he didn't want her to talk. This old woman was cunning and crafty, and who knows what lies she would make up if she was given a mouth.
It’s best to say nothing to save yourself the trouble.
Zou was also a straightforward person, and she said directly: "Expel Liu Pozi from the house and never employ her again."
Was Mrs. Liu driven away?
That’s right, who would dare to employ such a person? Even the allowance can be deducted, and who knows what will be deducted in the future.
"Mrs. Sun, you are an elder in Changqing Courtyard after all. You actually did something so rude today. I should have spanked you, but the mistress has already taught you a lesson. You should kowtow to the mistress and admit your mistake. Go to help in the kitchen tonight."
“Woo woo!!”
Mrs. Sun was even more shocked.
Just because of a little trouble, you demoted yourself from the yard to the kitchen?
Actually, you don’t have to do any rough or strenuous work when following Gu Changqing, but working in the kitchen is a very tiring place, requiring you to get up early and go to bed late.
She wanted to beg for mercy, but she couldn't utter a word and had to kowtow to Su Jin.
"Forget about the kowtow." Su Jin covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed a few times at the right time: "I am weak and can't bear it."
The cold sarcasm made Grandma Sun read a different meaning. She could only say that the lady today was really weird. The old lady used to side with Lin Wanhui, but now she side with Su Jin?
He who knows the times is a hero. After Mrs. Sun understood this, she kowtowed to Su Jin several times.
"As for the share of the harem, Madam Wen, call everyone in the mansion and we can discuss it face to face."
Zou was angry.
This was such a good thing, but it turned out like this. To put it simply, it was the servants in the marquis's mansion who had complaints. To put it more broadly, the entire Yong'an Marquis's mansion was pretending to obey the emperor but actually disobeying him. If someone with ulterior motives reports it, the Yong'an Marquis's mansion will definitely be in big trouble.
Zou was angry about this, so she punished the two old women severely.
After everyone arrived, she asked Mother Wen to take Su Jin out.
Naturally, she didn't need to personally take the lead in such matters.
Mother Wen glanced at the people standing in the yard and spoke in a dignified tone.
"Reducing the monthly allowance by half is the emperor's national policy. There are still many people who don't have enough food to eat. The emperor is doing this for the people, so we, as his subjects, must set an example. However, the monthly allowance will not be changed. I don't know who spread the rumor that it's all the madam's fault. Well, today I will speak for the madam and explain it clearly to you who only care about money!"
"At the beginning, the old lady thought that since we were going to reduce it, then we should reduce it all at once, the monthly allowance, but the eldest lady felt that the maids and servants still depended on the monthly allowance for their livelihood, so she didn't reduce your monthly allowance, but only reduced the allowances of each courtyard. In the end, you were blamed. If I see anyone gossiping about the eldest lady in the future, I will punish them according to the family rules!"
The servants indeed showed delighted expressions on their faces.
“It turns out that the monthly salary will not be reduced!”
"That's great, but who said anything about reducing the monthly salary?"
"It was Mrs. Liu. She was the first to say that the Madam was not right."
"Yes, all the courtyards have reduced their allowances, but they haven't touched our monthly salary. By comparison, it's much better than when Miss Lin was in charge of the courtyard!"
Mother Wen glanced around, and everyone immediately quieted down. Mother Wen said, "Mrs. Liu has been driven out of the house. You should also do your job well and don't let down the Madam's kindness."
After the scolding, she sent everyone away and Su Jin returned to the old lady.
Zou nodded to her repeatedly: "She did some bad things in the past, but she has behaved herself recently. If you beat the old women, you can beat them. Our status as the daughter-in-law of the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion cannot be humiliated."
Su Jin covered her mouth with a handkerchief and pretended to cough, then nodded sickly, "Yes, old lady."
"Imperial Physician Zhang said that you need to take good care of your body. I happen to have a hundred-year-old ginseng here. You can take it back and use it. In addition..."
Zou glanced at her with a smile, and that look made Su Jin raise her eyebrows subconsciously.
Wait, old lady, mother-in-law, dear mother, please don't assign her any more work, please!!