Chapter 12: Lady Zhen's Melon
Su Qianqian remained expressionless as she listened to what Madam Zhen needed to do in the young lady's courtyard, which she was in charge of.
"The weather is hot, so we need to add ice to the two young masters' teacher's room, and we also need to buy some supplies for the young masters' daily reading and playing..."
[Mrs. Zhen always acts calmly and indifferently. She is in charge of the food, clothing and expenses of all the young ladies' courtyards. The housekeepers of each courtyard have to report any shortages to her. 】
[But Madam Zhen paid too much attention to the two young masters. The two young ladies trusted and relied on her, but she approached the young masters quietly, making the young masters gradually only listen to her and unwilling to reveal their true feelings to their mothers! 】
Qin Hanzhang's elder sister-in-law, Ms. He, was 28 years old. She had a son, Qin Mian, 11 years old, and a daughter, Qin You, 9 years old.
The second sister-in-law Xin was 25 years old and her son Qin Li was 9 years old. He was the posthumous son of Qin Hanzhang's second brother. Everyone in the marquis's mansion paid special attention to these three children who had lost their father.
The two young ladies suddenly heard Su Qianqian's thoughts, their faces gradually became solemn, and they looked at each other, clearly knowing that what Su Qianqian said already had a clue.
[What is scary is not these. Under the instigation of Lady Zhen, Qin Mian and Qin Li wrote many poems and essays complaining about the emperor and the Great Qi State. They even expressed doubts and complaints about their father's death. If this is discovered by someone with ulterior motives, it would be a crime of treason! 】
The system had no strength left and was replaced by Su Qianqian's pleasant and soft voice, but this voice was also extremely cold and serious.
[Some of these poems are hidden in the study of the two young masters, and some are still in the study of the deceased first master and the second master. Some are even in the hands of Lady Zhen. If we take them out and compare the handwriting...]
In the July weather, the two young ladies were already sweating profusely.
It turned out that what the Qin family heard from Su Qianqian was not false. If this was true, there would be clues. They just thought that their son didn't want to be close to his mother when he grew up, but they didn't expect this to be the reason.
If the confiscation of property and extermination of the clan really happened, then their sons would most likely be accomplices...
"Madam Zhen, the teacher has a salary, and the mansion also distributes ice and charcoal to each courtyard according to the quota. Why did the teacher add extra ice?"
Su Qianqian had a smile on her face, but the smile did not reach her eyes. As someone who manages an organization full of capable people, her own vision and acumen must be outstanding.
Madam Zhen still replied calmly: "Young Madam, the quotas received by each courtyard are only enough for the master. The residences of the young masters are cooler, and the teacher is afraid of heat, so..."
【I see! This melon is hidden so deeply! From the outside, you can't tell that Madam Zhen has such a background! 】
When Su Qianqian said this in her mind, all the Qin family members inside and outside the hall, except the Third Madam and Old Madam Qin, pricked up their ears.
[Mrs. Zhen fell in love with the late prince at first sight because of his kindness. However, due to her low status, she could not marry him, so she sold herself into the palace as a slave for more than ten years. With her intelligence and eagerness to learn, she gradually became the housekeeper. 】
[The Crown Prince Qin Hanwei had already been engaged to He, and he was a loyal and upright person, so he had never looked at Madam Zhen in the eye.
The strong-willed Lady Zhen believed that dripping water could wear away a stone, so she remained single and waited for her lover all her life. She never expected that nine years ago, when she thought they would meet again, she would instead receive the news of the death of the old marquis and his son. She was immediately disheartened. 】
[She originally wanted to commit suicide for the prince, but later the crying of the young master woke her up. The young master's eyebrows and eyes were like his father's. From then on, Madam Zhen put all her attention on the young master. 】
[But her unwillingness distorted her mind, and she gradually wanted to possess the little boy. Although she could not be a mother, she was better than a mother, which gave her a sense of accomplishment.
Because she had no place to vent the hatred in her heart, she subtly influenced the two young masters to change their minds according to her ideas and write articles that would bring disaster. 】
Su Qianqian had a smile on her face the whole time, but the Qin family members couldn't laugh anymore.
The eldest son's wife, Madam He, tried hard to suppress her grief, her body trembling slightly. She was already heartbroken over the loss of her husband, and now even her son had been taken away by someone.
The second young master's wife Xin reached out and grabbed her sister-in-law's hand, and said with a hint of eyes:
"Sister-in-law, are you greedy for coolness? In summer, you should avoid greed for coolness and catch a cold. Come back to my yard and I will prepare a decoction for you to try."
He suddenly woke up. She couldn't let Su Qianqian and Zhen Niang find out at this time, so she suppressed her sadness and anger and listened to how Su Qianqian responded.
"Master, you are afraid of heat. Madam Zhen is really considerate...
The eldest sister-in-law, the second sister-in-law, and the younger sister-in-law are overstepping their authority and want to ask the attentive maids and servants to go to your yard and check where the young masters live and walk every day, and then compare it with where the teacher and Madam Zhen live, to see if it is really cooler?
If this is true, then my sister-in-law is careless and the servants are partial to some and they must be taught a lesson. ”
He and Xin nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. Madam Zhen's expression froze slightly, but she smiled and replied, "Don't look at my residence. How can it be compared with the masters? Besides, I prefer heat to cold."
"What Madam Zhen said must have been a comparison in her mind. If the words came from Mr. Xi, then he should have informed the head of the front courtyard academy why Madam Zhen came to report. It is better to check it out."
Su Qianqian's analysis was clear and concise. Madam Zhen was slightly stunned. When did the timid and cowardly Third Young Master's wife dare to express her thoughts so thoroughly?
Su Qianqian looked at Madam Liu, who had always been at odds with Madam Zhen:
"Madam Liu, take my eldest maid and the eldest and second young masters' wives' eldest maids to carefully check these places. Report anything that is wrong. Don't let Madam Zhen and Mr. Xi down."
After Su Qianqian finished speaking, she whispered a few words into Su Mu's ear, and Su Mu nodded.
Madam Liu's eyes lit up and she immediately bowed and accepted the order. She took Su Mu and the eldest maid of the He and Xin families, and called a few maids with good eyesight, and left the council hall in a majestic manner.
Su Qianqian was not in a hurry. The other managers continued to eat melons, but suddenly two boys rushed in from outside the meeting hall, followed by Qin Hanzhang with a serious face.
"Third Aunt, why did you let them search my brother's and my study room? I told you that no one except Aunt Zhen is allowed to enter there at will!"
Although the young master Qin Mian is only eleven years old, he already has the advantages of the Qin family's appearance. He has lost his roundness and has the edges and corners of a man. At this moment, he stands there with a bit of majesty.
"That's right, me too. No one else is allowed to sleep in my study!" Qin Li was two years younger and followed his cousin's lead, just like Qin Mian's yes-man.
He and Xin's faces changed. They stood up to teach them a lesson, but the two boys stiffened their necks and refused to obey. Madam Zhen immediately turned cold:
"How could you be so rude to the Marquis's wife and not listen to the Young Madam's teachings? Have you forgotten all the rules that the master taught you? Why don't you apologize to the Marquis's wife and the Young Madam!"
The two boys were startled, looked at Madam Zhen guiltily, but then blushed and apologized to Su Qianqian and their mother obediently:
"I'm sorry, Aunt San, I'm sorry, Mother, we were wrong, please punish us, Aunt San and Mother!"
The Qin family looked at the two children in disbelief.
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