Chapter 82

Chapter 82

The head of the Kitchen, Mu Wufu, replied first, "We're running low on sesame oil. We need to purchase about a hundred catties."

Wen Shi's smile faded from her face. "Didn't it come from the manor? I remember that sesame wasn't listed as a crop affected by the drought this year."

Mu Wufu's face was contorted with worry. "It hasn't arrived. According to usual practice, it should have been delivered two days ago. When it didn't come, I assumed there was some delay. Seeing that we still had some sesame oil left, I waited for two more days. But today, we've truly run out, so I had no choice but to report back."

Wen Shi asked, "Who is in charge of delivering the sesame oil?"

Madam Xia, the wife of the Marquis household's chief steward, promptly replied, "Matriarch, the one who was supposed to deliver the sesame oil is Head Wang from the estate. He got drunk a couple of days ago and accidentally knocked over the oil jar, which is why the delivery was delayed. He's been trying to make up for it these past few days."

Princess Wen fell into a pensive silence.

Jin raised an eyebrow. "What use is there in keeping a servant who ruins matters while drunk? Just give him a sound beating and sell him off."

Granny Xia smiled apologetically, "He'll find a way to make up for it."

Lady Jin showed no quarter, her words sharp as a knife: "Make up for it? How is he supposed to do that? A mere servant having his own private stash? It's nothing but extorting more sesame from those tenant farmers to cover up his misdeeds. When the time comes, the farmers won't blame him; they'll only curse the Marquis's Manor for its heavy-handed exploitation. The reputation of our manor will be ruined by such a cunning servant."

Wen: "Sister-in-law speaks the truth. If they spill oil while drinking today, who knows what mistake they might make tomorrow while under the influence."

Jin: "Indeed. Look at them, not bothering to report such an error immediately, only thinking of covering it up. Their audacity is alarming. Who knows what else they might have been up to in their daily lives? Sister-in-law, we cannot let this slide. A thorough investigation is necessary."

Wen: "Exactly. Nurse Xia, assign a reliable person to take charge of his duties temporarily and keep that young King Village Head under watch. Then, have Manager Xia interrogate him closely."

Nurse Xia bowed and replied, "As you wish."

Zhou Shunchai's wife responded, "The estate usually purchases a batch of felt during winter. This is the amount we should acquire for this year."

Wen Shi took the ledger, examined it silently, then passed it to Meng Die, who in turn gave it to Jin Shi. Only then did Wen Shi speak: "Our residence has never purchased more than fifty rolls of felt in previous years. Why do we need eighty this year?"

"The lady may inquire, last year, new felt was used only at key locations, while less important spots utilized recycled ones from the previous year. This time, during the summer, we failed to properly manage the stored old felt, which got soaked in rain. Hence, the need for fresh purchases this year."

Wen Shi harrumphed coldly. "Failed to manage? How come I wasn't informed? Why wasn't this reported at that time?"

Zhou Shunchai's wife bowed her head. "We initially thought that after airing and tidying them up, there wouldn't be an issue. We didn't expect the felt left outside to be severely damaged by rats."

Jin Shi interjected, "Damaged by rats? How many enormous rats could have chewed through so much felt in one night? It's clear that you weren't attentive. You assumed it wouldn't rain and left the felt outdoors, uncared for, isn't that right?"

Mrs. Zhou Shuncai dared not utter a sound.

Madam Jin sneered repeatedly, "Who is the supervisor? Drag her out and give her twenty strokes of the paddle. Sell her entire family for me."

Aunt Xia shot a meaningful glance at Aunt Chi, who responded, "It's just a servant woman, Madam Hui. Don't be angered. She has already been punished for her mistake. Selling off her whole family might not look good. Our estate hasn't sold anyone in many years."

Meng Die smiled, "It's precisely because we haven't sold anyone that you all have become increasingly careless. You slack off whenever possible and try to shirk responsibilities. You don't respect anyone anymore."

Madam Jin nodded, "Exactly, they all follow each other's examples and become even more negligent."

Meng Die chuckled and said, "But it's almost the New Year, and selling people at this time doesn't sound very pleasant."

Wen Shi suggested, "Why not send their entire family to the manor? If there are still issues, we can sell them off from afar to resolve it."

Jin Shi agreed, "That's a good idea. Let them stay in the manor so that everyone can see. They shouldn't take advantage of the masters' leniency and behave recklessly, neglecting their duties day after day."

Nanny Chi bowed her head and replied, "Yes."

Upon returning to her chambers from the Jingcu Pavilion, Meng Die couldn't help but laugh, and Lu Wei followed suit. "After all, she is a legitimate lady from an aristocratic marquis household. Her confidence is truly remarkable."

Meng Die concurred with this statement. The Jin and Wen families were indeed different from her own. When she first assumed the responsibilities of managing the household, Li Ai was nowhere to be found, and her own family had suffered a major setback. It could be said that the servants of the Marquis's residence did not genuinely respect her, nor did they take her seriously at heart.

Upon entering the household, Lady Wen did not immediately embark on learning the art of managing the estate. On one hand, it was because she became pregnant swiftly; on the other hand, it could be that Madam Ning, aware of her humble origins, believed she lacked the authority to assert control over others. Thus, she granted Lady Wen some time to establish her footing within the manor and gradually introduced her to the responsibilities of managing the household affairs.

Meng Die thought of JIN's demeanor, "She has a forthright nature, not tolerating the slightest bit of hypocrisy."

Meihong helps Meng Die remove her jewelry. "In my opinion, they should be disciplined like Madam Hui does. These household managers and their wives are really getting out of hand."

Xing Huang remarked, "I agree. The other day when I visited the kitchen, they managed to boil dry the pot of water. It's evident how indifferent they all are."

Meihong: "Exactly, they wouldn't even bother to help if an oil bottle fell over. They're so lazy, one might mistake them for the mistresses."

Xue Qing chimed in: "Not only that, they're nowhere to be found when it's time to work, but all of a sudden, they appear when there's gossip to share. Each one is more energetic than the last."

Hulu gave a cold snort. "Talking gossip is one thing, but stirring up trouble is even more hateful. The other day, Mu Wufu's and Zhu Da's families got into an argument. I later heard from others that their dispute was provoked by someone else."

Meng Die pondered for a moment. "I recall that Xiao Wang Zhuangtou is the younger brother of Wang Zongzhuangtou. Are they related to Mother Xia? And didn't he marry one of Fifth Madam's maids?"

Hulu replied: "Second Lady hasn't forgotten. Wang Zongzhuangtou's eldest son married the elder daughter from Mother Xia's family, making them in-laws. Wang Zongzhuangtou's youngest son took as his wife the maid who accompanied Fifth Madam. As for Xiao Wang Zhuangtou, he is related through his children with Nurse Chi."

Meng Die closed her eyes. "I want to see how Chief Eunuch Xia interrogates Lord Wang's village head."

Meihong pouted. "Second Grandma might not even witness Chief Eunuch Xia questioning Lord Wang's village head. For all we know, Lady Hui might let this matter slide. When Lady Hui was speaking just now, Ama Yin didn't seem too pleased."

Lu Wei commented, "Perhaps Ama Yin doesn't wish for Lady Hui to take the lead in this situation."

Meihong continued, "She will definitely advise Lady Hui against it when they return home."

Meihong's speculation was spot on. As soon as they returned to Ming Guang Courtyard, Ama Yin couldn't wait to say, "Oh my young lady, why did you step forward like that?"

Madam Jin: "Why, are we not allowed to reprimand the servants when they make mistakes?"

Nanny Yin: "Of course, they can be criticized for their wrongdoings. But if Second Lady hasn't spoken up, why should Miss feel the need to do so?"

Jin: "Whether Second Sister-in-law chooses to speak or not is her matter, and whether I do or not is mine. They are unrelated."

Nanny Yin was frantic. "Why doesn't Miss understand? Back when one is a maiden, there are so many young misses in the marquis's residence, but are they all truly the same? They may seem to have similar attire and food on the surface, but in reality, whether one is a legitimate or a concubine-born daughter, each branch of the family has its own distinctions. And when one becomes a daughter-in-law, the differences become even more pronounced."

The second grandmother-in-law comes from a noble family. The Meng family is highly favored by His Majesty and holds significant positions. Her grandfather and brothers are all capable, and her husband, the second master, is the most competent in the marquis's household. She herself is now a legitimate imperially conferred lady. To speak frankly without offending the young lady, whether it be the young lady or the eldest master's wife, who can surpass her? Not to mention the young wives of the current generation, even the matrons of the previous generation are no match for her.

"If she doesn't speak up, why should Miss be the villain? Especially since the two families Miss targeted today, I've investigated – they're all on her side."

Jinshi was surprised. "On her side?"

Nanny Yin: "Indeed. The younger Wang village head's brother has a daughter serving as a maid in Second Lady's courtyard. Her name is Ying'er. And that woman in charge of the felt, her family has Meihong from Miss's chamber as their niece. Both families are loyal to Second Lady. Miss is needlessly offending her by confronting them now."

Jinshi chuckled. "That's all? You're being too cautious. How could they possibly be Second Sister-in-law's people? They're just trying to curry favor and improve their own status. I doubt even Second Sister-in-law herself knows that you believe they're on her side."

Nanny Yin was left speechless.

Lady Jin's prediction proved true. Upon learning that Lu Wei had been requested elsewhere, Meng Die was utterly bewildered for the first time. "Xue Qing, you're saying Lu Wei has been asked to leave? What do they need Lu Wei for? If they were seeking mercy, why didn't they come to me? It was Sister Hui who had the fit, and it was Eldest Sister-in-law who made the final decision. If things got serious, Mother would intervene. I had nothing to do with this, neither in the dry nor the wet aspects, so why would they come to me?"

Meng Die's confusion was echoed by Lu Wei, who had been summoned to the garden by Ying'er. Surrounded by several managing concubines, Lu Wei posed the same question as Meng Die, "Why do you seek me in this matter? It wasn't Second Lady who fell ill."

The head of the Xiaowang Village's wife wore an apologetic smile. "My dear miss, he will certainly be punished for his mistake this time. However, we are all under Second Lady's wing, so her punishment will suffice."

Lu Wei blinked. "What do you mean we are all Second Lady's people? We are clearly servants of the Marquis Household."

The young king's wife paused in her steps.

The matron in charge of the feltwork was married into the Tie family. Her daughter-in-law was present as well, and the formidable Mrs. Tie said, "Miss Lu Wei, although we're all servants in this residence, we serve Lady Second directly. Doesn't that make us closer? It's true that my mother-in-law deserves punishment for her mistake, but since we all serve under Lady Second, it wouldn't look good if Madam Hui punished her without Lady Second's involvement."

Lu Wei gave a cold laugh. "Lady Second is our mistress, and every servant in this residence works under her. There's no difference between you, me, or anyone else."

Mrs. Xiao Wang scolded, "Are you afraid, Miss Lu Wei, and trying to distance yourself? You have no backbone at all. So what if Madam Hui is from the Marquis household? Our Lady Second is an honored lady, and by proper etiquette, Madam Hui should bow and pay respects to our Lady Second."

Lu Wei laughed through her anger. "You don't need to provoke me with words. Matters between the mistresses will be settled by them. I'm just a servant, aware of my position and doing what I ought to do."

"Ying'er, what have I taught you all these days? As servants, our top priority is to fulfill our duties and carry out our tasks diligently, without associating with disreputable people. Lady Second prefers simplicity and tranquility, so she doesn't keep many servants in her courtyard. Why? To avoid trouble from those who are ignorant yet overly self-assured, disrupting her peace."

The Iron Lady glared furiously at Lu Wei. "You..."

Lu Wei replied coldly, "I'm quite occupied. Instead of trying to plead for mercy, you'd better confess everything honestly and see if your masters will spare you."

Ying'er's eyes were reddened. She glanced at Lu Wei's retreating figure and then at the group of housekeepers. With a stamp of her foot, she followed Lu Wei. Upon returning, Mei'er and the other two girls immediately pulled her aside.

Mei'er scolded, "You fool! Why did you involve yourself in this mess? Trying to show off, huh? Look at Sister Meihong – that Iron Lady is actually her real aunt. Did she step forward?"

Tears tumbled down Ying'er's cheeks. "Sister, I didn't want to show off. It's just that my father was sighing at home, and my mother kept urging me to ask Sister Lu Wei for help. I couldn't resist, so I asked her. Will Sister Lu Wei expel me?!"

Mei'er huffed. "Now you're afraid? Everyone in this household knows that serving Second Lady is the most desirable position. There are countless pairs of eyes watching us, hoping for us to make a mistake so they can take our places."

Ying'er's fear grew more apparent. "Big Sister Mei'er, what should I do? I...I..."

Li'er spoke up. "Sister Lu Wei isn't that kind of sharp-tongued person. Go apologize sincerely to her first."

As Ying'er took a step forward, she hesitated again.

Mei'er pointed at her head. "Look at you, so lacking in courage. I'll go with you."

Ying'er: "Thank you, Sister Mei'er."

Lu Wei returned and discussed the matter with Meng Die, "I truly didn't expect that they would claim allegiance to Second Lady. It's genuinely amusing."

Meng Die wore a dazed expression, "To be honest, I didn't anticipate it either."

The mistress and servant exchanged glances and burst into laughter simultaneously. Meng Die commented, "Ying'er is still too young; she probably couldn't resist reacting after hearing it from her family."

Lu Wei smiled, "When I came back just now, I heard footsteps trailing behind me. It must have been her following me. Thankfully, she still had some sense not to act impulsively."

Meng Die: "She must be quite frightened today."

Lu Wei: "A good scare might do her some good. It'll prevent her from being too softhearted and failing to distinguish right from wrong. For now, it's acceptable for her to be just a young servant girl, but if she remains so confused in the future when she has to fend for herself, she'll suffer the consequences."

Meng Die laughed heartily. "Listening to you, one would think you're her elderly mother, already worrying about her life-long wellbeing."

Lu Wei showed no embarrassment and spoke confidently. "They all work diligently and don't engage in gossip or stir up trouble. Of course, I care for them."

Xue Qing entered, lifting the curtain. She glanced at Lu Wei, then nodded towards her with a subtle gesture. Lu Wei understood and nodded slightly back at Meng Die before turning to leave.

Xue Qing whispers softly, "Mei'er and Ying'er have come to apologize to Sister Lu Wei. It's ridiculous; this incident has nothing to do with us, yet it's brought a pile of troubles to our doorstep. It's as if we're sitting at home, yet calamity falls from the sky."

Meng Die lies calmly on the couch, "Well, if not for this incident, I wouldn't have known there were so many in the household claiming to be on my side. This is a good opportunity to distance ourselves from them. Sects forming within a residence are the root of familial chaos."

Xue Qing agrees, "That's true. Speaking of which, I used to think Meihong was just preoccupied with jewelry and styling Second Aunt's hair, clueless about the bigger picture. But she seems to have her own plans – she hasn't been involved in this recent affair at all. I heard her cousins cried to her, but she didn't budge."

Meng Die concurs with this observation.

Xue Qing continues, "I'll go out for a stroll later. I wonder how those people will react now that they know Second Aunt's stance."

Meng Die gazed out the window. "I'm afraid it won't be possible for a while. Tonight is the main event."

Xue Qing chuckled. "I reckon that, apart from Ying'er's family, the others will be summoned back home tonight."

True to her words, after dinner, when nothing significant occurred, Li'er received a visit from her family. Since she wasn't on duty that day, she returned home without hesitation, attracting countless gazes along the way. Unperturbed, Li'er greeted those she knew with a warm smile, as if she was unaware of the day's happenings.

Upon entering her home, her sister-in-law said, "Miss is back! We just made handmade noodles. What topping would you like? I'll get it for you."

Li'er smiled radiantly. "Everything Sister-in-law makes is delicious, especially the one with egg and scallions."

"I'll serve it for you."

Madam Zhao, Li'er's mother, eagerly inquired, "Li'er, what happened during the day? How is Ying'er doing?"

Younger sister Er'ya clutched her garment tightly.

Li'er took a bite of noodles. "What else could have happened? Ying'er always works diligently and speaks little. Sister Lu Wei adores her. A scolding was all that it amounted to."

Madam Zhao continued, "So Second Grandma truly isn't going to intervene in this matter?"

Li'er slurped a few more mouthfuls, saying nonchalantly, "Mind your own business." Spotting a shadow flickering on her neighbor's wall, she deliberately raised her voice, "Second Aunt made it clear that those who make mistakes should be punished. And if one dares to conceal knowledge of wrongdoings, they ought to be severely punished."

Wu Zhu couldn't help but interject, "They are all under Second Madam's command. Won't meting out such punishment make others feel disheartened?"

Madam Zhao added, "It wasn't Second Lady who made the initial decision either. How could she save face?"

Li'er put down her chopsticks. "What do you mean by 'people under Second Lady's command'? Didn't Sister Lu Wei say today that we are all servants of the Marquis household, no different from one another?"

Madame Zhao shot her a disdainful glance. "Miss Lu Wei only said that out of respect for Lady Hui of the Second Household. Among our own family, why bother with such talk? Does Second Madam truly not fear chilling the hearts of those beneath her?"

Li'er clenched her fists in frustration, massaging her aching stomach. "None of you took a single word of what I said last time to heart. What does she, Second Aunt, care about her own people? Didn't I already make it clear that she has no interest in the estate's belongings nor seeks allegiance from anyone?"

Wu Zhu sneered. "Without her own people, who will she be able to command when she needs to get things done in the future?"

Li'er returned his sneer. "When Second Aunt takes on tasks, they are matters concerning the estate. Who would dare not give their all? She herself has no personal agenda. Besides, even if there were tasks, would she ever worry about lacking people to command? Who doesn't know how much silver Second Aunt possesses? Who in the entire capital doesn't recognize her as a living money deity? People would fight over the chance to do her bidding with just a hint of her favor. Why on earth would she need this so-called group of loyal followers?"

"You all talk about these so-called loyal followers, but I think it's more about using Second Aunt's influence to shirk responsibilities and cut corners."

Wu Zhu countered, "Does she always seek outsiders for help when she has tasks to accomplish? Wouldn't she still rely on the estate's people, her own people?"

Li'er smiled and said, "Second Madam has purchased many servants for her manor in the past two years. She doesn't lack anyone to attend to her needs. Moreover, Second Madam's family is of high status; would they lack a few close confidants? No one should think about Second Madam wanting someone from our own household. I still maintain my stance: Second Madam isn't interested in the affairs of the mansion, nor does she want to be involved in any disputes."

Madam Zhao hesitated and said, "Then, then...?"

Li'er replied, "Mother, the other day Tao'er's mother was constantly chatting with others, causing Tao'er to lose face in front of Sister Lu Wei. In the future, you should also avoid idle talk and focus on your duties."

Elder Sister Two finally couldn't hold back and interjected, "Now that Sister has a good position, of course, she doesn't need to socialize with those housekeeper wives. But we don't have proper tasks. If we don't talk to those housekeeper wives and build relationships, how will we make ends meet?"

Madam Zhao tugged at Elder Sister Two's sleeve. "How can you speak to your sister like that? Li'er, although what Elder Sister Two said might not sound pleasant, it's the truth. There aren't many people in Second Madam's courtyard. Could you ask Miss Lu Wei if Elder Sister Two could also join? Even as a lowly servant for chores like fetching water or sweeping would be fine."

Li'er cast a glance at her younger sister. "If you think it's suitable, she might not. Back when Nurse Zheng was selecting servants for Second Aunt's courtyard, she was of the right age and eligibility. But she complained about the exhaustion of errands and chores, so she didn't even bother to visit Nurse Zheng. Has Mother forgotten that?"

Lady Zhao fell silent for a moment before saying, "She's grown up now and understands the difference between right and wrong. She is your own sister. If she were to enter the courtyard, you would have an ally, and life within the confines of the yard would become easier for you."

Li'er: "I'd like to live for at least two more days, you know. Don't think I'm unaware of her deeds." With a twist of her body, Li'er cuddled her nephew and began teaching him the Three-Character Classic.

Her words spread through the marquis's residence at the speed of light.

Lady Jin was ecstatic. "Auntie, what do you think?"

Nanny Yin chuckled. "Second Madam seems to understand the rules, knowing her position as the second wife, not the first."

Madam Jin shook her head with a smile. "It's not that she understands the rules; she simply doesn't place much value on these domestic affairs."

Madam Wen echoed similar sentiments. "Ever since Sister-in-law received her title from Lady, you've been worried she'd snatch the authority to manage the household from me. Are you reassured now?"

Ruixue blushed. "First Madam truly sees through people. Second Madam isn't that sort of person."

Madam Wen smiled gently. "Though she is also a woman, she is different from us. To be able to correct the writings of an imperial scholar, what kind of vision and perspective must she possess? She wouldn't be caught up in petty squabbles within the inner courtyard. Her sights are set on greater matters."

Ruixue nodded repeatedly. "Speaking of it, Second Grandma is indeed full of affection and loyalty. She genuinely cares for First Grandma. I really misunderstood her intentions earlier."

With a warm smile, Wen Shi's eyes curved gracefully.