Ning Wu smiled happily upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words:
"Yes, madam, don't worry. As long as I'm here, this business won't cause any major trouble."
Aunt Zhou also put down her work and moved closer to Jiang Yuwei, saying with a worried expression:
"Madam, you've become so thin in just a few days. How is Miss's health now?"
Jiang Yuwei smiled and patted Aunt Zhou's hand.
"Wan'er is fine now, and I'll take care of things over there, so you don't need to worry about her."
Everyone nodded in relief upon hearing this. Jiang Yuwei was anxious to go back and see Wan'er, so she bid farewell to everyone, got into the carriage, and headed towards the Prince Jing's residence.
Ning Zixuan went to the shop alone to check the accounts, only instructing Jiang Yuwei to send the two maids to the head maid for a few days of training after returning to the manor before bringing them back to the courtyard.
Jiang Yuwei returned to the Jingwang Mansion with her entourage, only to run into Madam Sun leading Ning Xin and Xu Qianqian out as soon as she entered. Jiang Yuwei was curious about how the two of them were getting along so well now, and wondered what tricks Xu Qianqian had used to keep Madam Sun by her side.
Just as Jiang Yuwei was about to leave, she heard Xu Qianqian standing behind Sun Shi and shouting sternly:
"You audacious countrywoman! Don't you even know whose courtyard you're standing in? You dare not bow and greet the First Lady of the Prince's Mansion!"
Jiang Yuwei stopped in her tracks, raised an eyebrow, looked at Xu Qianqian standing behind Sun Shi, and slowly spoke:
"Oh, I thought it was someone important. I'm just a village woman. And who are you two? I was wondering why this Sun woman suddenly had such a change of heart, managing to get a woman like you, who's been through so many hands, to marry into the Prince's mansion as Ning Chunlin's concubine. Turns out, you've been a master at flattering people, haven't you?"
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Madam Sun's face flushed red with anger.
"Jiang Yuwei, what nonsense are you spouting? Stop spreading rumors and misleading the public!"
Jiang Yuwei turned her head and stared intently at Madam Sun. After a moment of thought, she feigned sudden realization and said:
"Oh, I was wondering why you're protecting Xu Qianqian like this now. It's not just because she's so good at flattering you. You two are now in cahoots. If Xu Qianqian's dirty deeds in the village are exposed, you won't get away with it either. After all, you'll be accused of covering up for her, right?"
A hint of panic flashed in Madam Sun's eyes, and she quickly began to explain:
"Stop talking nonsense. How could I be in cahoots with her? Xu Qianqian's marriage was Chen Guixiang and Ning Chunlin's idea in the first place. As her wife, what could I say? I could only go along with my husband's wishes."
Upon hearing this, Xu Qianqian quickly grabbed Sun's arm and angrily said:
"Don't let her trick you into revealing information with just a few words. We're family now. She's just a general's wife; she's not even an ant in front of us. Why should you take her seriously!"
Madam Sun's complexion had improved somewhat, and she turned to the two maids following behind Jiang Yuwei, saying:
"These are maids we just bought from the servants? You're really funny. It's one thing for your whole family to shamelessly stay in our manor and refuse to leave, but now you even need maids. Aren't you quite capable? I'll take these two maids. As for you, you'd better know your place and move out of our manor as soon as possible."
Xu Qianqian chimed in from the side:
"Yes, don't always rely on the fact that you took in the young master for a while in Ningjia Village and then cling to him like a parasite. Ning Huaizhi is a general after all. If this gets out, it will be disgraceful!"
Standing behind Jiang Yuwei, Si Xi and Xia Yue exchanged a nervous glance after hearing Sun Shi's words, then shouted in unison:
"We are the maids that Madam brought back; we will follow Madam wherever she goes!"
As soon as the two finished speaking, they saw Sun's face turn pale and then flushed.
"Fine, now that Jiang Yuwei has entered the manor, none of you respect me as the First Madam. Even two newly arrived maids dare to challenge me."
As she spoke, Madam Sun turned to the old woman standing beside her and instructed her:
"What are you all standing there for? We can't keep these insolent maids in the Jing Prince's Mansion. Men, go and tie these two little sluts up, give them ten lashes, and then sell them off!"
Upon hearing this, the two men turned deathly pale. They had just been brought back to Jiang Yuwei's mansion, and now they were facing both beatings and being sold off—they were truly unlucky. So, crying, they knelt before Jiang Yuwei.
"Madam, you can't abandon us."
"If you don't want us, we might as well die now."
Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei quickly helped the two up and said with a smile:
"It's alright. You are my servants, not servants of the Prince Jing's mansion. Naturally, you should follow me wherever I go, since your indentures are still with me."
When Madam Sun heard Jiang Yuwei say that the two maids' indentures were in Jiang Yuwei's possession, she immediately lost her temper. If that was the case, Jiang Yuwei was right; these two maids did not belong to the Prince Jing's mansion, and she naturally had no right to sell them off.
At this moment, the old woman standing to the side, caught in a dilemma, spoke up:
"Madam, what should we do about this? These two maids don't seem to be from our Prince's manor..."
Madam Sun glared fiercely at the old woman.
"I'm not deaf! I don't need you to tell me!"
Jiang Yuwei sneered.
"Oh, Madam, you're so arrogant! I never knew the people in the Prince Jing's mansion were so domineering and tyrannical. Not only did you try to steal my maid, but you also wanted to use torture to punish her. You're even so arrogant as to sell my maid off!"
As Jiang Yuwei spoke, she took a step closer to Madam Sun and continued:
"Isn't the First Madam afraid that if this matter gets out, people outside will say that you, a country woman, are unworthy of the title of First Madam of the Prince Jing's Mansion and should step down?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun quickly took a step back, pointed at Jiang Yuwei, and stammered:
"You, you did this on purpose! You had your maid provoke me and embarrass me!"
Jiang Yuwei glanced at Madam Sun with disdain.
"Madam, you really flatter yourself. I didn't say anything just now. It was Xu Qianqian who stopped me and wouldn't let me leave. If we trace it back to the source, it was all Xu Qianqian's doing that made you look bad today."
After pondering for a moment, as if she had figured something out, Sun turned and glared fiercely at Xu Qianqian, scolding her:
"I knew you were up to no good. You deliberately provoked Jiang Yuwei so I would embarrass myself!"
As she spoke, Madam Sun reached out and pinched Xu Qianqian hard.
Xu Qianqian winced in pain, her eyes filled with hatred as she glared at Madam Sun and said:
"Mrs. Sun, don't push your luck. If Brother Chunlin finds out you're bullying me like this, he'll definitely not let you off the hook!"
Sun sneered upon hearing this.
"Heh, Chunlin, my foot! Your Chunlin is so engrossed in Wanghua Tower that he's forgotten all about you, Qianmei. Don't think I don't know, he hasn't even stepped into your room for over half a month!"
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