After meeting Granny Cheng, Xu Chen's little servant finally felt reassured.
First, she tearfully apologized, and then she reported everything Dezi had done in the past few days to Granny Cheng without missing a single detail.
When he spoke, the old lady's nanny, Granny Lu, and Xu Shaoqing's wet nurse, Granny Lin, were both listening.
Granny Lu gave a cold snort, and several servants came forward and subdued Dezi.
The old lady summoned the second wife and gave her a good scolding. Xu Shaoqing was also furious. How dare a servant treat her family so harshly and disrespectfully!
After the doctor examined them, prescribed medicine, and brewed a pot of herbal soup for them to drink, everyone left.
The second wife sat in the courtyard. Zijuan covered the stool with thick fur, lit four charcoal braziers, and handed a hand warmer to the wife.
Zijing had someone bring a long table and placed it in front of the second wife, on which a pot of hot tea was placed, and a cup was poured.
Xu Shaoqing sat on a chair to the side with Gu Tingyang and his aunt, her face tense.
All the servants of the second branch of the household had to be present. In addition, many servants from other courtyards of the Marquis's mansion were also peeking out from outside the courtyard.
Several rough-working women stood to one side, each holding a cane. Dezi was tied up and lying face down on the bench.
"Speak! Who gave you the audacity to slight our distinguished guest? You have some serious nerve!"
After Zheng Jin finished speaking, he slammed the teacup heavily on the table and shouted, "Beat it!"
The old woman stepped forward, stuffed a handkerchief into Dezi's mouth, and struck him hard.
After the three strokes of the cane, several rough-working women hesitated whether to stop, as the Marquis's mansion usually punished people with three strokes of the cane.
Xu Shaoqing scoffed coldly, "Stop what? Keep fighting."
Several old women looked at the second wife, and Zheng Jin picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea.
After seeing that the second wife did not object, the group resumed their fight.
Xu Shaoqing raised his voice and demanded, "Has no one eaten? Why are you hitting me so lightly!"
Upon hearing this, the group hurriedly increased their force, and even with a handkerchief stuffed in his mouth, Dezi's screams still echoed throughout the courtyard.
When the ten strokes were finished, the old women quietly eased their blows and turned to look at Zheng Jin.
If they keep hitting him, he'll be ruined! But Xu Shaoqing wouldn't let it go. When Xu Chen fell into the water, he stuck out one leg and didn't move.
Since these legs aren't used to run errands for their master, what's the point of keeping them?
When Granny Zhou was about to give the third stroke of the cane, she tried to plead for mercy, but Aunt Yang stopped her with a look.
It was clear that if the fight continued, Dezi would be finished; blood was already dripping down his face.
Ignoring the wink Yang gave her, she quickly stepped forward, knelt down, and slapped herself repeatedly in the face.
"Please forgive me, Madam. I was bewitched. I saw that Young Master Chen gave generous rewards to every servant, but Dezi, who served him closely, didn't receive any.
That's why they egged him on, hoping he'd act out and ask for more rewards.
"This old servant has lost his mind. Madam, please forgive him. This old servant accepts the punishment, this old servant accepts the punishment."
Granny Zhou is Gu Ting's wet nurse. She has been in the household for almost 20 years. Even if she has not made any great contributions, she has certainly worked hard.
Moreover, she only had one son, Dezi. Upon hearing this, Zheng Jin nodded impatiently, and the old women who were hitting her immediately stopped.
Xu Shaoqing didn't care about any of that; she was the kind of person who would never forgive someone once she got angry.
With a stern face, he said, "Granny Zhou's instigation and instigation cannot be ignored. How about giving her three strokes of the cane as a warning to others?"
Gu Ting and Aunt Yang both frowned, and Xu Shaoqing glared at them.
Zheng Jinwei nodded slightly, and Zijuan stepped forward and said sternly, "Didn't you hear what the Third Young Mistress said? Tie this old hag up!"
Granny Zhou got up herself, stuffed a handkerchief into her mouth, and went to receive the beating. As long as Dezi could be saved, that was all that mattered.
With just one stroke of the cane, Granny Zhou cried out in pain. After three strokes, she lay trembling on the bench, covered in cold sweat.
The old nanny beside the second wife stepped forward and said, "Watch carefully. From now on, anyone who is blinded by greed and fails to keep to their duty will be beaten to death and sold off!"
After saying that, he said loudly, "Dezi has already found a matchmaker, and they will be taken out to be sold in no time. Granny Zhou will lose a year's wages."
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhou couldn't catch her breath and fainted.
Xu Shaoqing was fairly satisfied with the outcome. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and left with her maid.
Aunt Yang dawdled until most of the maids and servants had left before walking over to Zheng Jin.
Hesitantly began to speak, uttering his first words since the call came in.
"Isn't this punishment a bit too harsh, Madam? After all, he is Gu Ting's wet nurse's son."
Zheng Jin gave her a half-smile and said, "Then why don't you go and apologize to the Anbo family?"
Or let Gu Ting jump into the water and soak for a while too; that would make up for it, and even if you don't seek justice, the other person will calm down.
Aunt Yang was speechless, awkwardly flicked her handkerchief, and left.
………………
At Ronghua Garden, Granny Cheng came to resign, saying she wanted to take the young master back to the Earl's Mansion to recuperate.
How could Madam Hou dare to let them leave now? Otherwise, who knows what kind of rumors would spread outside?
They sent people to open the warehouse, and ginseng, deer antler, snow frog, and other tonics were delivered to Xu Chen's courtyard in a flurry.
The old lady smiled kindly, "Chen'er is still so young, how can he withstand being moved around so much? Listen to me, let him rest in the courtyard for a while, and then he can return to the Earl's Mansion when he's fully recovered."
Since the matriarch has gone to such lengths, it's only natural that a servant like Granny Cheng couldn't refuse.
They could only send a message back to the Anbo Mansion, asking Jiang Shiyi to make a decision.
Jiang Shiyi and Xu Wei discussed it and agreed!
Originally, the plan was to move Xu Chen back and spread the news among her own elder sister, but then disaster struck.
The purpose was to dispel the despicable actions of Xu Shaoqing and Gu Ting, so that the world would know that there was a reason why their relationship as siblings had cooled from then on.
But this would indeed cause Xu Chen suffering, so let him stay at the Marquis's residence to rest.
However, the Anbo Mansion sent people to deliver stewed dishes and tonics to the Marquis's residence three times a day, passing through the bustling city.
So they wanted to achieve the same effect. After listening, the old lady quickly realized why the Earl's family was acting this way.
He sighed and instructed the maid beside him not to do anything else. "Never mind, let them be."
As long as you don't offend the Marquis and his wife in private, it's fine.
Since their anger and actions are not directed at the Marquis, it doesn't matter.
Although Xu Shaoqing doesn't go out often in winter, she has heard a lot of gossip lately.
These rumors made Xu Shaoqing feel wronged, even though she didn't like her younger brother.
She also felt that her parents hadn't given her enough dowry, so she wanted to get more of the family fortune.
But to say that I would push him into the water and deliberately let him drown is something I have never thought of.
Now outsiders are spreading rumors about her, saying she's worthless and malicious. How can Xu Shaoqing swallow this insult?
She sent another invitation through Guixiang, wanting to return to the Earl's residence to explain, but Jiang Shiyi and the others still ignored her!
They made all sorts of excuses to avoid her, not even letting her in the door. Even now, when Lian Guixiang goes back to deliver her invitation, she can't get into the mansion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com