Get out of here with your auntie identity

  The fabrics chosen by Ruo Qing were mostly formal colors, classic pine flowers, light purple, ginger yellow, lake green, emerald green, sky blue, crimson and rose red. She picked a few pieces and after the shopkeeper calculated the bill, she was ready to settle the account and leave. Unfortunately, there were still many people waiting in line to pay, so she didn't rush and instead wandered into the corner of the store, aimlessly admiring the finished garments on display on the wall.

  In general fabric stores, there are also embroidery and sewing services available. They will make some finished garments to hang in the store. If a customer likes one, they will make it for them. Although I don't particularly like the design standards of this era, it's undeniable that their embroidery skills are very good.

  The master of the embroidery, like the beautiful woman Hong, was Su Xiu. Su Xiu's designs were ingenious, her craftsmanship exquisite, her needlework lively, and her colors elegant and full of local flavor, giving a vivid impression. More importantly, she had a long history, with lively patterns, elegant and dynamic, and could be said to have embroidered everything. The embroidery art of Su Xiu had already formed its own unique artistic style in terms of needlework, color, and pattern, and the large quantities of embroidered goods used by the imperial family were almost all made by Su Xiu's skilled hands.

  While other Xiang embroidery, Shu embroidery, and Yue embroidery have their own characteristics, such as being used to the elegance of Su embroidery, but also admiring the characteristics of other embroidery schools. The current light blue bias-cut cheongsam uses silk velvet thread for embroidery, which should be Xiang embroidery.

  This was also the first time Ruqiu saw Xiang embroidery, and she couldn't help but stare intently at the needlework.

  Suddenly, the dark green curtain beside was lifted, and a sound was heard. As soon as she turned her head, she saw a pale-looking woman come out from inside. The woman had a sickly complexion and needed to be supported by a maid when walking. She seemed not to have noticed Yu Qing in the corner, but after glancing around the shop, she suddenly sneered at the old woman beside her: "This fabric store was that old hypocrite's most prized shop. Now look at it, ruined by her shortsighted niece. I bet she'd be furious enough to spit blood if she saw it now."

  The woman beside her, also dressed in a spirited manner, presumably the wet nurse or confidante of the lady, spoke softly: "Indeed it is so. Originally, she was well taken care of by you, milady, but was snatched away by Ping's wife. Now look at her, ruined in just over a year, and our elder madam has been worried sick."

  "Nowadays, expenses in the mansion are increasing, but income is declining day by day. If this shop is closed again, madam, can you really guarantee that young master will be able to escape unscathed?"

  The woman remained silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a deep sigh: "Heng'er that child has been frail since childhood, whether he can survive to adulthood is uncertain. I only need to consider the present and that's it. Mom, you are my confidant, this life of mine will be like this from now on. It's just that I'm worried about Heng'er..."

  The woman suddenly furrowed her brow, as if suppressing discomfort. Suddenly, she discovered the inquiring gaze that had been probing around, and felt a bit embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping, so she smiled apologetically and friendly at her.

  The woman's expression changed suddenly, and a smile appeared on her face. She stroked the hand of the maid in front of her and took a few steps forward, "You are Fang Si's daughter, aren't you?"

  As if she was shocked, she didn't recognize this woman at all.

  The woman, not taking Yu Rong's astonishment to heart, smiled faintly and said: "I had previously seen your portrait in my husband's study. Now that I've finally met you in person, I didn't expect Miss Fang to be even more lovely than her portrait."

  As if having a bad premonition, he almost guessed the identity of this woman, "Madam is..."

  The woman smiled and said: "My husband's family is the Jiang family of Yongning, you can call me sister or Mrs. Jiang."

  "Madam Jiang."

  It turned out that the woman in front of her, who was thin and pale with a sickly complexion, was none other than Madame Kai'an, the wife of the eldest son of the Duke of Yongning. Madame Kai'an wore a half-new sky-blue embroidered silk jacket with a sea-otter fur trim and a double-knife hairstyle on her head, but there were hardly any pearl decorations, only a single biyu linglong hairpin, with a strand of golden thread and pearls hanging down.

  Kai An County Magistrate smiled warmly and looked at Ru Qing, saying: "Can I call you sister?"

  Ruqin hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said: "If Madam doesn't despise Ruqin, just call me whenever you want."

  Kaian County's smile was faint, "Little sister is also here to choose materials?"

  She nodded slightly. She wasn't very familiar with Kaian County either, and couldn't even manage to have a conversation that flowed smoothly, only able to ask one question and answer one at a time.

  "Sister, have you all chosen?" Kai An County looked at the several pieces of fabric in Ling's hands, glanced at them briefly, and suddenly admired, "Sister really has a good eye for things. The fabrics she chose look ordinary, but they are actually durable and can be stored for a long time. I suppose you also know about those things in my house."

  As if she didn't know how to answer. Usually, these are private matters of the family, and she knows it's one thing, but in front of them, it's best to pretend not to know.

  Kaian County didn't seem to mind that his private matters were exposed, he just pulled Ruoqing's hand and said "come in", seeing her thin and yellow hands, she couldn't refuse, so she steeled herself and entered the inner chamber.

  After the woolen curtain was lowered, the noise outside immediately subsided, and the room became quiet. The maidservants stood respectfully in a row, one of whom poured tea for her before retreating to the side. Ruan Xiang held the teacup but didn't drink from it. She wasn't familiar with Kai An County Magistrate, yet today they suddenly met and addressed each other as sisters-in-law. The more she listened, the more uncomfortable she felt, especially since she had almost married Jiang Yunran earlier.

  Kai An County Magistrate looked at Ru Qing's nervousness with a faint smile, "No need to be surprised, sister. Running into you here is purely coincidental. But since we've met, we can't help but exchange a few words. I've long heard about what happened between you and that person from my household, but it's been so long ago, there's no point in bringing it up again. Today, I have something to ask of you. Please, Miss, you must agree."

  She straightened her back and looked at the pale, thin face of Kai An County Magistrate, feeling puzzled about his behavior, but said: "Please speak, madam."

  Kaian County adjusted the half-old clothes on her body, with an infinitely sighing tone: "In the past, in the boudoir, I often came and went with your sister-in-law. Unfortunately, now everyone has married, and it's been years since we've seen each other. Now that I think about it, my days are not many, but I do miss my old friends, especially your sister-in-law."

  "As if sensing her silence, he spoke softly: 'It's just a minor illness, why must you... torture yourself like this?'"

  The county of Kai'an smiled lightly and shook her head, "I am clear about my own illness. Life and death are determined by fate, I have long been open-minded, but I pity my innocent child, who is still young and has a poor body. If I leave one day, I don't know what kind of humiliation she will suffer." As she spoke, she secretly wiped away her tears, while the nurse beside her hurriedly comforted her in a low voice, seemingly with the intention of consoling her. However, it seemed to have the opposite effect, and Ping's heart skipped a beat as she dared not speak out loud, only weakly comforting her for a few moments. Until now, she still couldn't understand why the county of Kai'an had called her over, what was his purpose.

  It can't be that she wants to confront Ping's arrogance and overbearingness in front of her, so she must have found the wrong person.

  Of course, An Kai's purpose was not that. She secretly wiped away her tears and said in a low voice: "This body is too useless, I thought of going out to see my old friends, but it didn't work out. I miss your sister-in-law so much, just want to trouble you to go back and communicate with your sister-in-law, I have some private words to tell her."

  Isn't it that you want to leave a last testament? As the emotions struck, she stopped her chaotic thoughts and responded with one word. Anyway, she was just passing on a message, whether Madame He went or not had nothing to do with her.

  As expected, the purpose of visiting Kaian County has been achieved. He then said, "Then I'll thank my sister first."

  The young lady smiled and said, "It's just a small effort, no need to thank me." The county magistrate of Kai'an then said, "Miss should have other things to attend to, so I won't delay your important matters."

  As she was about to speak, the curtain outside suddenly opened with a loud noise, startling Ruhua. A young woman in a bright red silk skirt with purple peony patterns and a crimson hundred-pleat auspicious moon dress rushed in, saying: "I heard that sister came to the shop, thinking of sister's current body, my younger sister's cold sweat was all stirred up. Without regard for other things, I hurried over in a hurry, fearing that something might happen to sister. What brings you to the shop, sister?"

  Kai An County Magistrate's expression was cold and detached. "What, I have to go through Ping Niang's questioning even when I come to the shop?"

  It turned out that this young woman was the legendary Ping Niang.

  As she secretly sized her up, Ruqing recalled that four years ago, she had met Yunping'er once before. At the time, although she was still young and hadn't fully developed, she could already see that Yunping'er had a few good features. Unfortunately, back then, whenever Yunping'er saw Ruqing, she would be filled with hostility, which made Ruqing not have a very good impression of her either. Now, looking at Yunping'er dressed so luxuriously and elaborately, Ruqing thought to herself that the rumors were indeed true.

  Yunping'er's face was smiling, but her heart wasn't: "Sister, your body isn't well, this is something everyone in the household knows. But why do you still want to run around everywhere? Do you know, because of your willfulness this time, it has caused our family to be restless and disturbed."

  Kai An County Magistrate's expression was calm, and he only glanced at her lightly, "From what Ping Niang said, I've become a burden to the Jiang family?"

  Ping's aunt sneered, "Whether it's a burden or not, sister knows in her heart, why ask me?" Then she turned to Ruqing, "Who is this girl..." Suddenly seeing Ruqing's face, her expression changed and she shouted, "What are you doing here?"

  As if sighing, he praised her good eyesight, having not seen each other for years yet still recognizing her. She calmly stood up and smiled slightly at the county magistrate of Kai'an: "Madam, it's getting late, I should be going back."

  Kai An county magistrate also stood up and smiled: "Alright, little sister, take care on your way, I won't see you off."

  Ruqin smiled politely and said, "As for the instructions from your husband, I will pass them on to my sister-in-law. As for what she does with it, that's not something I should ask about."

  Then smiled and said to the woman with a frown in front of him: "Excuse me."

  Since marrying Jiang Yunran and giving birth to a son, Ping Niang has been walking sideways in the Jiang mansion, but she has never been ignored to this extent. Ping Niang proudly raised her chin, looked down at Ru Xian with a glance, and smiled lightly: "I remember that Miss is of the same age as me, how come Miss still wears the hairstyle of an unmarried girl? This won't do! At our age, we are already married women."

  "Our family's ancestral teachings say that a woman would rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."

  Ping's expression changed, as if she was being sarcastic about becoming a concubine. She couldn't help but sneer: "Miss, your words are wrong, no matter how proud the chicken is, it's still not as good as..."

  With a stern expression and raised eyebrows, she said, "No matter how fallen I may be, I am still to be the legitimate wife of a respectable family. You, a mere concubine, had best keep your distance from me."

  "You... you this..."

  "You think you're so clever, but let me tell you, any respectable family would never associate with a concubine like you. You may not care about your reputation, but I do."

  "You, you..."

  "Get out of the way."

  Yun Ping'er, whose nose was twisted with anger, originally wanted to scold Ru Qing severely, but seeing her stern face, suddenly became timid and involuntarily turned away.

  He didn't even look at her and led Xiao Tou out with a swagger.

  ……

  She came out from inside, just as Qing was about to let Ya Tou go and settle the bill. Just as she was about to pay, Yun Ping Er suddenly rushed out from inside and shouted at the shopkeeper, "Don't sell it to her!" Then he turned to Qing with a cold smile, "Miss Fang, please leave. I won't sell these fabrics anymore."

  Chen Xiang angrily said: "This is indeed reasonable, your shop is open for business, it's for customers to buy things, how can you say you won't sell something and then not sell it?"

  "I'm happy, I can choose not to sell to whoever I don't like, what's it to you?"

  "You..."

  As if pulling a fragrant scent, she said lightly: "I dare say this shop is managed by the Jiang family's aunt? No wonder it has to be closed. However, a humble aunt actually dares to act as the master? I really have my eyes opened wide." Then turned around and said to the already stunned partner: "Settle the bill."

  That fellow looked at Ping Niang in fear, and Ping Niang coldly laughed, "Can't Fang Niang understand human language? I said I won't sell."

  "Doesn't even glance at her, 'Is this what your mistress means?'"

  Ping's aunt was just about to say that she could do this, but Kai An county magistrate walked over with the support of Yiniang. She said to Ruqing: "I'm sorry, I'm young and don't understand things. If there's anything wrong with me offending you, please forgive me."

  "What's wrong? No matter how angry you are, it's not worth arguing with a concubine. However, madam, this concubine of yours really needs to be taught some discipline."

  Ping's aunt was furious, her eyes gleaming with anger. However, the county magistrate smiled and replied, "Miss, you are absolutely right. I will definitely discipline him more when we return. Since this has caused you discomfort, let me offer another piece of fabric as a gift to make amends."

  Without a word of thanks, she took the silk from Ping's wife and, ignoring her, led Yinger away with a flourish.

  ……

  After returning, Ru Qing still kept his promise and told He Shi about the opening of An County.

  He said he would go and see her when he had time. After passing on the message, let He see the fabric she bought. He looked at it for a few moments and praised Ruyi's good eyesight, saying that the fabric was durable and could be stored for a long time. Moreover, she also said that the price was so cheap, she would go to buy some tomorrow to stock up.

  After several days, Yu Xiang brought the finished shoes to Fang Jinglan's outer study and asked Yatou to put them on to see if they fit. Fang Jinglan was in his study, with his head down, summarizing his life experience and creating poetry, showing that even though he had lost his official position, he still had a progressive mind.

  As soon as the emotions brought a new pair of cloth shoes with a calm smile, Fang Jinglan was deeply moved. After letting the servant try them on, he felt good, light and sturdy, and couldn't help but praise: "My son is so filial and considerate, his father is very pleased." What's more important is that since the big change in Fang's house, except for his son, even the servants didn't come here.

  "It is the father's credit that his daughter grows up safely and happily under his wings, and the daughter dare not forget her roots. Moreover, being filial to parents is a child's duty. Compared to what Father has done for his daughter, what she has done is nothing but just showing some filial piety."

  Fang Jinglan was deeply moved, almost with tears streaming down his face. He said emotionally: "My daughter is so considerate and wise, whoever marries you will be blessed. It's a pity for the Xiang family to have no eyes. My daughter must not grieve anymore, don't worry, I will definitely find a suitable match for you, which will be a hundred times better than the Xiang family."

  Looking at her father with deep emotions, "With Father supporting me, why should I be sad? However, Father must also take care of himself. Look, you have white hair again." Looking at the white hair on her father's temples, she was very saddened.

  Fang Jinglan chuckled and stroked his beard, saying: "As people age, how can they not have white hair? My son doesn't need to worry. Birth, aging, illness, and death are all normal things."

  When I see the white hair on my father's head and the wrinkles on his face, my heart is also extremely gloomy. Father was deeply troubled by his concubine, but half of it was also a disaster he had brewed himself. However, this taste is indeed not good to love.

  She glanced at the still-wet writing on the desk and couldn't help but say, "Father has suffered such a blow, yet he can remain calm and composed while reading and painting. This kind of demeanor is not something ordinary people can match. With Father as a role model, his daughter will not say that she will strive to become stronger, but at least she will reflect on her mistakes and get back up from where she fell."

  Fang Jinglan's face lit up with a smile, and his previous gloominess dissipated. He let out a hearty laugh and said: "As the saying goes, 'to be unmoved by praise or blame, to watch the flowers bloom and wither in front of one's courtyard.' To come and go without attachment, to drift along with the clouds outside the sky. It is indeed true that 'the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold,' and 'the sharpness of a precious sword comes from being honed.' The ancients also said: 'Without experiencing bone-chilling cold, how can one appreciate the fragrance of plum blossoms?' My child has such a temperament, it makes me feel extremely delighted." Fang Jinglan looked at Ruoqing with great admiration, as if he had only now finally understood that his little daughter was actually so strong-willed. He thought about how for his own sake, this mother and daughter pair had almost exhausted their private savings, and thinking about Ruoqing's sudden change of heart regarding her marriage, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret. He asked softly: "Is your financial situation tight lately?"

  "Thank you, Father, for your concern. My sister-in-law has been very considerate of me, and the people around her have never shortchanged me."

  Fang Jinglan frowned, having spent many years in the official circles, he had long mastered the art of speaking with subtlety. He immediately picked up on the underlying tone in his daughter's words and asked: "Has your mother mistreated you?"

  "Mother is always busy with her Buddhist devotions and doesn't have time to bother with me. Father, you don't need to take my side. It's just that in a few days it will be your birthday, and you've already said not to make a fuss about it beforehand. Mother also didn't intend to make a big deal out of it, but I want to show some filial piety. Father, can you come to my place tomorrow? I want to celebrate your birthday personally with you, without disturbing anyone else, okay?"

  Actually, every year on Fang Jinglan's birthday, even though there was no big feast with guests at home, the family members would still celebrate. This time, Fang Jinglan said he didn't want to celebrate, but it was just because he was depressed about losing his official position recently and wasn't in the mood for a birthday celebration. Now that someone has offered to celebrate his birthday on his behalf, how could he not be delighted?

  On the second day, as soon as it got light, the maids of Yiyu House got up early and cleaned the courtyard inside and out. Ruhua told Linglong to go to the kitchen and give some instructions, to make a few more small dishes because she had a particularly good appetite today.

  Linglong Fox gazed at Ruqing with suspicion, thinking to herself: "So many dishes, how can a young lady finish them all by herself? Even when she ordered three or four dishes before, it took more than half a day for them to be served. She had argued about this before, but the kitchen staff said: 'Recently, such a big thing happened in the mansion, how can we still think of being extravagant like before?'"

  Linglong also knew that her own daughter actually knew about these things, but she had been enduring and not willing to speak out, only because she didn't want to bother with these lowly people who flattered those in power and trampled on those without. Moreover, now that Madame He was in charge, if this were to be exposed, it would also greatly embarrass her. Because the person in charge of the kitchen was a trusted aide of Li's, and couldn't be easily touched.

  Linglong went to the kitchen and ordered the dishes as directed by Ruoqing. The cook immediately started shouting, "The fourth young lady is getting more and more extravagant, so many dishes, how can I do it all by myself? Besides, the silver money allocated by the madam for food expenses has also decreased a lot compared to before. Trouble Linglong sister to go back and say some good words on my behalf, ask her not to make things difficult for me again. I'm also a skilled cook who can't cook without rice."

  Linglong was secretly impressed by her own daughter and had expected this busybody to say something like that. Thinking about the unusual behavior of the girl today, she roughly guessed what the girl wanted to do. She was secretly delighted and didn't stay long, quickly running back to Xieyizhai.

  It's almost lunchtime, and Ling unexpectedly saw Fang Jinglan appear at Xieyi Residence. She stared at him in surprise, with a flash of inspiration in her mind...

  Fang Jinglan entered the Writings Residence, looked around and was very satisfied. However, when he glanced at the few maids in front of him, he suddenly furrowed his brow. "Why are there only a few maids here? Where are the others?" He remembered that each of his daughters had two senior maids, six secondary maids, four tertiary maids and two rough servant women assigned to them. Now, why were there only five or six scattered maids by their side?

  Chen Xiang stepped forward and replied respectfully, "Master, after the incident at the mansion earlier, the mistress thought of cutting expenses. Each courtyard had one or two maids dismissed. In Miss's courtyard, only a third-class maid was let go, the others remained unchanged."

  Fang Jinglan was silent for a while, then glanced at the maids in front of her and asked: "What about the remaining maids? Where did they all go?"

  Chen Xiang's face was expressionless, "At the beginning of last month, Tiao Hong took the initiative to go to Master's place. Green Willow received the girl's errand and went to deliver things to Madame's house, but has not returned yet. As for the three maidservants, Yin Chun and Yin Qiu...Yin Chun was clever at doing things and was favored by Second Madam, so she followed Second Madam to her husband's family. And Yin Qiu had a deep sisterly affection with Yin Chun, after a few days, she also went together."

  Then, Chen Xiang waited for Old Master Fan to fly into a rage, but after waiting for half a day, there was no movement, and he couldn't help feeling stifled. He looked up and saw that Fan Jinglan's face did not show anger, but rather deep frustration and melancholy. He let out a long sigh: "Indeed, it has fulfilled an ancient proverb - in this world, where there is adding flowers to brocade, there will also be throwing stones into a well." Then he looked at his little daughter with pity, "My children are all suffering because of their father's troubles. If not for this sudden and drastic change, how would these servants have become so arrogant?"

  Just like the emotions that follow a smile, "Dad, why blame yourself? It's not your fault, it's just that I'm useless and can't keep people around. However, it's good that these people are gone, at least now I understand one thing - you can only know a horse's strength after a long journey, and you can only see a person's heart after a long time."

  Fang Jinglan carefully looked at Ru Qing, seeing that there was no sadness, anger or resentment on her face, and only then did he put his mind at ease, entering the house with Ru Qing.

  As soon as Fang Jinglan sat down, Ru Qing respectfully welcomed him and personally made tea. He also brought melons and pastries to entertain him. Then he sat beside Fang Jinglan and personally invited his father to drink tea and eat fruit.

  Fang Jinglan saw the grapes in the plate made by Tengmu and doubted: "Why are these grapes so soft?" Normally, medium to high-quality grapes should be slightly hard, which is good for peeling, and the taste is clear and sweet. But the ones in front of him were not only soft, but also had some rotten ones, and the taste was not good either. When eating, there was a faintly musty smell.

  "Replying to Old Master, today this slave went to the kitchen to fetch grapes. The kitchen's mother gave these to me. I also think that these are not presentable, but mother said that nowadays the household is not like before, and we should save wherever possible." She didn't say another word.

  Fang Jinglan was furious, "Although the government has lost a large sum of money, it's not to the point of being so poor? What is this cunning wife doing?"

  "Father, this has nothing to do with Eldest Sister. She's been very good to me. It's just that things have been tough in the manor lately, and we need to endure a bit longer." Madame He had her own troubles too. With Zhi Li being promoted and gaining recognition from his superiors and the Emperor, his colleagues on the official scene not only sent him lavish gifts but also tried to curry favor with him by sending women. Although Zhi Li politely declined most of them, he couldn't resist the pressure from his highest-ranking superior and ended up accepting two concubines, who were placed in the house. Even though he hadn't visited their quarters, these two women took advantage of being sent by his superior and bullied Zhi Li into submission, making him hesitant to discipline them. Madame He was seething with anger, feeling that her lifelong happiness and a woman's dignity were at stake. She couldn't wait any longer to take action and put an end to this situation.

  Fang Jinglan thought about the things in his eldest son's room, and heaved a slight sigh. He looked at the grapes in the basket, which were twisted and turned, and felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He had always known that his youngest daughter loved to eat fruit the most, and every day there would be more or less some fruit placed in the house. Now, his daughter was actually eating this kind of almost spoiled thing, how could he not feel guilty?

  After finding an excuse to send the maids away, Fang Jinglan took out a stack of silver bills from his pocket and handed them to Ruqing. "Take these silver bills, if you want to eat something, just let the maids go buy it directly. No need to go through the kitchen anymore."

  Fang Jinglan's words were filled with emotion, he didn't know that his daughter was born out of wedlock, and now there are huge changes, not to mention the servants in the house will be lazy, I'm afraid others will also look down on her from the bottom of their hearts. Now, his wife is becoming more and more estranged from him, although his daughter-in-law is a good person, but after all, she was married into the family from outside, he can't bear to give orders to his daughter-in-law to take care of his younger sister, so he can only secretly give some money to Ruoxi as her private allowance. With silver in hand, naturally, things will become easier.

  As it turned out, she just wanted to use her father's hands to collect those increasingly arrogant and unscrupulous slaves, and really didn't plan to embezzle her father's private money.

  Fang Jinglan grasped Ruoqing's hand, placing a stack of silver notes in it. "Take good care of this, but whatever you do, don't let anyone else know. If you want to eat or use something, just go out and buy it yourself. As for those slaves in the mansion, don't worry about them, I'll take care of it. It's already past lunchtime, and they still haven't sent food over - truly brazen. They even dare to neglect their master, really treating people like dirt." Then, with a fierce expression, he stormed out of the Xieyizhai and rushed straight to the kitchen.

  ……

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, before long, Fang Jinglan's roar was heard, followed by a chaotic and panicked begging voice. After a while, Linglong rushed in, panting and excitedly sharing her good mood with Ruoqing, as well as the good news that had just happened outside.

  The old lady in the kitchen was severely beaten by the old master and was tied up and sent to a rural village. Many other servants in the kitchen were also implicated, and they were all taken away by someone and sold far away.

  "There were also those who bought and stored, all of whom were sent to the countryside. The old lady was angry and had a dispute with the master. The master was so domineering that he even scolded the old lady."

  Linglong learned about Fang Jinglan, and with a flick of her sleeve, she angrily said: "Don't think I don't know that these slaves are all your confidants. Only you can do something as outrageous as deceiving your master. What's the point of being so cruel to a humble girl like me?"

  In the end, Li was splattered with dog blood because he didn't occupy the reason and could only watch as his confidant of many years was sent away. He was so angry that he spat up blood, but there was nothing he could do. The slaves were thin and slow to their masters, and they also embezzled their master's expenses. This fate would be beaten and sold no matter which family it was in.

  Fang Jinglan exerted her authority, severely scolding several of the maids who dared to speak out, and then reprimanded He Shi, blaming her for being such a poor manager that even the servants were bullying their masters.

  He was scolded, and it wasn't easy to bear. In the past few days, he had been forced to respond to two concubines, and now he couldn't find a place to vent his anger. On top of that, he was blamed by his father-in-law, and his heart was filled with unspoken rage. He declared on the spot that he would reorganize everything. Then, Fang Fu's new round of clearing out the slaves began...

  Outside, all the officials were beaten to death and cried out for their parents. They all sought protection and begged for mercy. Outside, every household was in an uproar, but inside Ruyi Residence, everyone was rejoicing. The young maids all cheered, even the normally composed Xiangxiang couldn't help but smile, cursing those people for getting what they deserved.

  Among them were some who had insight and knew that the old man was so furious because he wanted to stand up for the fourth girl, and they knelt down in front of Ruqing to beg for mercy.

  As if she had not shown her face, she was only locked in the study room practicing her writing, and the various sounds outside were unheard.

  Chen Xiang, as the eldest maid of Yi Yu Residence, not only had to serve her but also manage the younger maids and take charge of receiving guests. These things, she believed Chen Xiang could handle well; even if she couldn't, it didn't matter.

  "If I had known this, why bother at the beginning?" Only a cold voice came, "Mothers don't have to ask me, this is what Old Master and Madame decided, we girls are just small concubine-born daughters who can't even appear in public, how can we make decisions for mothers? Mothers shouldn't put us girls in a difficult position either."

  "...... Xiang girl, it's because we're blind to our own faults, and our hearts are muddled by worldly desires. We've wronged the Fourth Girl. Please let us see her, she's always been kind and compassionate, following the old lady in her Buddhist devotions. She'll surely show mercy... Xiang girl, please..."

  "Mother, I don't like to hear you say that. Are you implying that if our daughter doesn't forgive you, she's heartless and cruel? Mother, let's just drop it. As a servant, I have no authority over this matter."

  Immediately followed by another burst of begging for mercy and crying, as if enduring annoyance, without taking half a step out of the study, after a long time, all the noises finally disappeared.

  Chen Xiang walked in, with a look of pride on her face. "Miss, this time the old lady has really lost her temper, and many of the older servants have been driven out of the house. The people below are now much more subdued." In fact, what she wanted to say was that Li Shi's power in Fang Fu had further weakened and was being marginalized.

  The lady of the house, however, had a firmer grasp on the Fang household. The lady was kind and generous, treating those beneath her with kindness, so they were happy to let her take charge, especially since the master of the house was becoming increasingly steady.

  "As it seems, sister will be busy again. The old and new forces in the mansion are shifting, and another high-level battle for power is about to unfold. Only the winning side can truly take control of the mansion's internal affairs."

  The old forces represented by Li, this time being cut off from the majority of their power, will inevitably come back with a fierce counterattack. The new forces represented by He, although currently in an advantageous position, are still junior and cannot afford to be too presumptuous on the surface.

  ……

  After the big change in Fang's mansion, with the loss of the capable and reliable nanny Hua, the masters' lives were almost turned upside down. Qing'er no longer had time to indulge in sorrow and nostalgia, so she mustered up her spirits to assist Mrs. He in managing the inner quarters.

  This time, taking advantage of the rectification of the stubborn and incompetent officials, Mr. He arranged his own people in various positions, including Zhou Mama, who was also assigned a lucrative job to oversee the kitchen. To take care of the relationship between the two houses, many lucrative jobs were also given to people around Lin's side.

  Because of assisting the He family's steward, Jing also frequently entered and exited the Yi Song Institute, and got to know those two formidable concubines who were well-versed in etiquette. As they were sent by their superior and were not lowly entertainers or thin horses, but rather distant nieces of the supervising eunuch, they relied on this relationship. Jing had just taken office and, in order to get along with his direct supervisor, these two concubines did not dare to fight back or scold him, and still had to provide for him.

  In Ruhua's perception, since ancient times, those who didn't want to be favored concubines weren't good concubines. None of them were willing to humbly serve as a low-ranking concubine. However, these two treated He Shi with such respect. As soon as He Shi got out of bed in the morning, they would attend to her until she went to sleep. When He Shi was thirsty, they would immediately pour tea and water for her. When He Shi was tired, they would immediately come forward to massage her back and legs, serving her with great care and attention. Especially during her afternoon nap, when the weather was sweltering hot, the two still stood in front of He Shi's bed, fanning her. The scene of them sweating profusely and secretly rubbing their arms, deeply etched in Ruhua's mind.

  As soon as they were ordered to return to the house just before nightfall, she finally had the opportunity to ask He Shi: "Sister-in-law is so majestic, actually making them so obedient." If it were her, apart from being disgusted herself, she couldn't even make her concubine serve her in front of her. And still be so humble and condescending.

  He took over the tea from Xi Qing and drank a big mouthful, bitter smile, "Sister thought I liked them serving me like this?"

  What woman would truly be able to make peace with the woman who shares her husband? The questioner asks: "If you don't like it, why let them serve by your side?"

  "What the lady should understand is that under this sky, once there's a soft-hearted mistress, there will be arrogant concubines. If I don't restrain them and set rules for them, over time, they'll bully me instead."

  "Ah, sister-in-law is right! When wives and concubines fight, it's either the east wind overpowering the west wind or the west wind overpowering the east wind. All that talk about harmony between wife and concubine, being as close as sisters, are just lies to deceive outsiders."

  He smiled and said, "Sister, you're right. When it comes to dealing with concubines, one can't be soft-hearted. Although they are pitiful." Then He sighed and said, "Sister, looking at them being submissive in front of me, but actually, it's all just for show. As soon as they're out of my sight, they'll try their best to get close to your brother. Fortunately, your brother has some conscience and knows my grievances, so he's never been intimate with them."

  Yu Qing smiled and said, "Brother's affection for his sister-in-law is so deep, with beauty in front of him, he can sit and not be disturbed. What kind of skill is this? Sister-in-law shouldn't blame him anymore, treat brother even better, let brother have no intention to go to other women's rooms, this is the right principle."

  He glared at him with a hint of affection and scolded: "You're so poor-mouthed. You even dare to tease your own brother. Is your skin itching?"

  With a sunny smile, she laughed and joked with Mrs. He for a while, then suddenly became serious and said: "These days, has Taohong been getting used to living at your sister's place?"

  He stopped what he was doing, sat up straight, smoothed out his wrinkled clothes and smiled: "Do you think I need to get her used to it, little sister?"

  Does it mean Taohong is having a tough time now?

  He laughed unscrupulously and smiled, "I knew sister-in-law was formidable, but I didn't know what errand sister-in-law had sent her on?"

  Madam He said with a smile, "This girl is not simple at all. As soon as she came, she boldly said that she wanted to serve by my side and gave a lot of grandiose reasons. I let her stay, but she was restless and often ran into my room. She also often lingered in front of your brother. At first, he didn't recognize her and asked where she came from. This girl is either blind or foolish, and she actually answered honestly that she had come to serve me from your place." Madam He covered her mouth and laughed, "Your brother has always hated those who are disloyal and try to climb up the social ladder. This time, it's her bad luck that she was demoted to the outer courtyard to do chores without me having to lift a finger."

  He said with a smile, "Sister, this move is really wonderful."

  "Ah, it's not about being good or bad, I only have a few girls around me, and they're all countable. Peach Red is one of them, she's got the looks and the talent, wanting to climb higher is reasonable. If I were to restrict her, who knows how much she'd resent me? Might as well turn a blind eye. Who made me the head of this clean and honest yamen anyway?" Ru Qing said with a half-joking tone.

  He shook his head, looking worried and guilty, "Sister, are you still upset about the previous servant's affair? It was all my fault, I was only thinking of those two, and ended up wronging you."

  "Big sister says which words, I've already grown up. If everything has to be taken care of by big sister, won't brother and big sister blame me for being useless? However, regarding Tao Hong this servant girl, don't put the blame on me, okay? It's actually brother who has become a fat sheep in the tiger's mouth. Tao Hong's thoughts are not hard to understand. But I'm a useless person, knowing her thoughts but can't speak out. Can only rely on brother and big sister's hands to deal with this disloyal servant. Big sister, haven't caused you trouble, have I?"

  He sidelong glance, "You love to be poor? But it's just not satisfactory in marriage, why humiliate yourself like this? I don't believe that among the many men waiting to be married in the capital, there isn't one suitable for my sister? My sister doesn't have to lower her status, your marriage will be decided by Old Lady and Father, they won't let you suffer. However, dealing with a maid, can't my sister bear to do it herself?"

  Ru Jing lowered her head, a bitter smile spreading across her face. "Dealing with just one little maid is not worth mentioning to my sister. But what I'm afraid of is that the maid has a powerful backer. Sister-in-law, you know that Tao Hong was originally brought in through Liu Mama's connections. And Liu Mama's eldest son married Tao Hong's older sister Zhu Lan as his wife. If I were to take action against Tao Hong, wouldn't I be offending Liu Mama and Zhu Lan?"

  Liu's mother was Li's confidante and the overall manager of the inner courtyard. Her son used to be a small servant by Fang Jinglan's side, but now he has married Da Yuerong Zhu Lan, and is currently in charge of external affairs, while Zhu Lan serves Liu's mother, with the appearance of replacing her mother-in-law as the overall manager of the inner courtyard.

  He understood the relationship here and said in a low voice: "I know your difficulties. I heard from Xi Qing that many of the girls in your house have already left to make their own way in life. It's better for them to leave anyway."

  As if reading her mind, she thought so too.

  After the meeting, Qing asked again, "What about those two beauties? How does Sister plan to deal with them?" Even if they are suppressed by rules, it's not a long-term solution. The people have been sent to the mansion for several months, but there is still only one Huang Hua, and there is no name or status. If a knowledgeable superior asks about it, it would also be difficult to explain.

  He smiled lightly, "I am a virtuous and magnanimous legitimate wife. Why bother with these people? Of course, let your brother take the fall as the bad guy."

  With a flirtatious glance, he gazed at He Shi in an odd manner, "Will brother listen to sister-in-law?"

  It's no wonder that Ruhua would ask such a question, as the beautiful woman is right in front of him and has even taken the initiative to offer herself. Taking concubines and sleeping with maids are all perfectly normal things, and from ancient times to the present, how many men can resist temptation like Liu Xiahui? Although he knows propriety and has a good temperament, with sufficient cultivation, when beautiful women come knocking on his door, he doesn't believe that he would still be able to maintain the demeanor of a humble gentleman and not take advantage of it.

  He smiled wryly, "The matter of Zhang Niang is still pending, and the downfall of Rong Guo Gong cannot be separated from the struggle between his wives. I only slightly enlightened your brother about the harm of taking a concubine, especially one given by a superior. Your brother has always been open-minded, how could he not understand?"

  The Rongguo Duke's estate was implicated in a huge scandal caused by the reckless behavior of the younger generation, but instead of taking responsibility, the parents and elders not only failed to address the issue but also helped to cover it up. They used their power and influence to suppress others, which eventually led to the indignation of the officials who impeached them, and the emperor was so enraged that he dismissed and investigated them, confiscating their property.

  Of course, this is just a superficial account of the situation. In reality, if the Rongguo Duke's three generations of men had not taken in too many concubines, resulting in more illegitimate children than legitimate ones, the wives would have been overwhelmed by the internal conflicts and would not have had the energy to discipline the younger generation.

  As a result, no one was able to manage the younger generation, which ultimately led to disaster. The concubines also played a significant role in this, as they used their influence to help their sons compete with the legitimate children for power and women. When they lost favor, they would use every means possible to destroy the reputation of other legitimate and illegitimate children.

  When the illegitimate children caused trouble outside, they would simply mess up their hair, wipe away a few tears, and go cry to the men, making excuses and claiming that the legitimate children were at fault. The wives wanted to severely punish the misbehaving illegitimate children, but the concubines made it impossible for them to do so.

  In the end, the family was destroyed, and everyone was happy.

  Of course, the legitimate wife couldn't even handle the concubines, which was really useless. This can't be blamed on the legitimate wife's lack of ability. The fact is that the concubines in the Rongguo Duke's mansion all had a background, having been bestowed by the emperor, so who dared to neglect them? They were treated like ancestors and worshipped at home. Moreover, when Princess Rong was in the palace as the empress, she pitied her nephew for marrying a wife like a tigress, so she sent beautiful palace maidens to be concubines for her nephews. She also feared that the palace maidens would be suppressed by their low status and humble position, so she formally established documents and promoted them to secondary wives. Or, as a mother-in-law who couldn't stand her daughter-in-law, she would angrily stuff the concubine into the household, ultimately causing chaos and creating a drama that made people sigh endlessly.

  He's using the downfall of Rongguo Gongfu to illustrate the harm that concubines can bring to a family, and you can't say he's not clever. Of course, under certain circumstances, men must have insight and brains. If they encounter someone who thinks with their lower body, then they'll only end up suffering themselves.

  Fortunately, Mr. He is intelligent and knows etiquette, also considering the overall situation and thinking clearly.

  ……

  The next chapter will start serving some real dishes, um, diamonds, monthly tickets, and flowers are all surrendered, haha.

  Digression

  I'll check everyone's comments every day, but I'm slow in responding, so I'll respond uniformly here.

  Yī zhōu xiǎo pén yǒu hé bó cè xī xiǎo pén yǒu: dì yī bù zài 17K, shū míng 《shù nǚ dàng dào》

  Translation:

  Yi Zhou Xiao Pen You and Bocgx Xiao Pen You: The first part is at 17K, the book name "The Rise of a Concubine's Daughter"

  We are now writing with our heads down, and the fewer people who know, the better. The original family is very extreme, we must guard against them.

  Little friend 71: The road is winding and slippery, but the future is bright, don't lose heart.

  My little friend Lin Yonghong: My Taobao store name is Peach Beauty Food Hall, Wangwang name: Lovely Peach 3521. Specializing in Sichuan-style fragrant sausage and cured meat, as well as homemade small dishes.

  Lie 800425 Little friend: Calm down, being impatient won't let you eat hot tofu.