Chapter 30: Worldly Sobriety

Women are inherently weak!

When a man and a woman have a conflict, many people's first impression is, "How could this man be like this!"

This is actually a cognitive misconception!

Or perhaps, this is a tendency to pity the weak that the public itself hasn't even noticed.

The entanglement between Shen Yunyao and Zheng Si Que—most commoners know that it exists but not why; many just follow hearsay.

However, Zheng Si Que had the added status of being a top scholar, so in this situation they dissolved their engagement.

In the hearts of most commoners, Zheng Si Que is a heartless cad, a Chen Shimei.

But his status as a top scholar also made them dare to be angry but not speak out.

This feeling of resentment is awkward, yet it truly exists.

If time passes, this matter might just fade away. After all, commoners often find themselves in such a state.

But at this moment, things are different.

Shen Yunyao gave the commoners an opportunity to vent.

Thus, the commoners took action, acting with righteous vigor and mighty momentum.

Zheng Si Que was shoved aside, and some even took advantage of the chaos to punch him twice.

However, with too many people, Zheng Si Que was soon squeezed by the crowd into a street corner.

Zheng Wangshi had it even worse.

She was pushed apart by the crowd, and a rascal took the opportunity to grope her wildly, shocking her to the point of near madness.

However, when she began to shout, there was no one in sight around her.

This injustice, she could only endure.

When someone reported the situation to the county yamen, the patrolling constables rushed over, saw the scene, and decisively chose to stand aside "maintaining order."

Can't afford to provoke them!

First, there are too many people; second, they recognized many familiar faces.

Our own people are in there—are they supposed to righteousness over kin?

Xie Zian witnessed this miraculous turn of events, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Young master, young lady this..."

Xie Lu was a bit flustered.

His family's young master is already a little troublemaker; marrying such a wife, this couple might well become the twin scourges of Jingcheng.

"Uncle Lu, don't you find this satisfying?"

"I've learned, I've learned!"

Seeing Shen Yunyao's move, Xie Zian felt his own previous actions were indeed lacking.

Look, this is what my future daughter-in-law has done—who could say anything bad about it?

Most people have become vested interests; as for the targeted Zheng mother and son, who are they?

People, really are realistic!

Xie Lu, seeing Xie Zian's educated appearance, hurriedly said, "Little troublemaker, this is not something to learn!"

"In this small place, making a fuss like this is nothing, but if we did the same in Jingcheng, it would cause a major incident."

Jingcheng, under the emperor's feet, everything has its own rules.

If everyone were to play mind games in Jingcheng, wouldn't that be chaos?

"Uncle Lu, I know!"

Xie Zian gave him a glance, "I'm just speaking casually!"

"Hopefully!"

Xie Lu doesn't believe Xie Zian's nonsense.

This young master is best at putting on one face in public and another behind the scenes.

Shen Family.

Third Branch's main courtyard.

Madam Lu also learned of what happened outside; upon learning what the maid Cuiyu by Shen Yunyao's side had done with others, Madam Lu's face lit up with satisfaction.

"Go, reward that little maid ten taels of silver and two sets of contemporary clothing!"

The delighted Madam Lu directly had the nearby granny pass a message to Shen Yunyao's place.

When Cuiyu heard she had been awarded ten taels of silver and two sets of seasonal clothing, her face broke into a smile.

"Miss, let me give you half of the silver!"

This is the young lady's own idea; I'm just a messenger, I can't take all the benefits for myself.

"Don't you!"

"Do I look like someone who's lacking five taels of silver from your young lady?"

Shen Yunyao raised her hand and flicked Cuiyu's forehead.

"But, Miss, your monthly allowance isn't much either; why not give you all ten taels?"

Cuiyu was reluctant, but for her young lady's sake, she gave it up.

Shen Yunyao chuckled, "Little money-grubber, keep this cash; use it when you gather information. Besides, your young lady I have no use for money."

"How is it useless?"

Cuiyu insisted that money couldn't possibly be useless.

"What use does it have?"

Shen Yunyao directly retorted, "I am the legitimate daughter of the Third Branch; my monthly silver allowance may be small, but I don't need to spend money on food, clothing, or jewelry and headwear—what is rightfully mine has never been lacking!"

"Tell me, what would I need silver for?"

"Well, you could give us little maids a reward!"

Cuiyu immediately thought of the answer.

"Miss, let me tell you, when the master rewards the servants around them, they will carry out their duties more wholeheartedly!"

"Cuiyu, but I have never given you any silver!"

"It's different for us servants; we are bound to the miss—when the miss is well, I am well; when the miss is not well, I will not be well either."

"So, I don't need the miss to give me silver here."

"But for others, it's different."

"They can seek another master."

Shen Yunyao looked at the earnest Cuiyu, reached out and stroked her head—she had truly encountered a particularly perceptive little maid!

Truly, a clear-headed person in the mortal world!

Such a simple principle, yet how many fail to see it; for a bit of wealth they sell their own master, thinking they can thereby climb to a high branch, not expecting the outcome—when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.

"Cuiyu, tell me, how are you so adorable?"

"I have decided—from now on, you will be the head of the little maids in my quarters!"

"Miss, wasn't I already that before?"

Cuiyu wrinkled her nose, indicating she would not accept being coaxed.

Shen Yunyao chuckled and said, "Before, there was only you by my side; you were your own head—don't you find that ridiculous?"

"Not at all!"

"If it's just one person, I am the head; if it's a group, I still have to be the head!"

"Alright, you have always been the head!"

Shen Yunyao lightly laughed, "Then may I ask this head, how should I select four dowry maids for my lady?"

"Listen to the madam!"

Cuiyu pondered briefly, then gave her answer.

Shen Yunyao heard this answer and fell silent.

The dowry maids will be the people she will command in the Xie household thereafter.

If nothing unexpected happens, they could serve by her side for at least ten years, possibly even longer.

"Miss, the madam will not harm you!"

Seeing Shen Yunyao lost in thought without speaking, Cuiyu continued explaining, "The madam is actually formidable; I heard from my mother that when the madam first married in, even the eldest madam had to yield three bows, and for a time she managed the household provisions."

"In the manor, the servants and stewards dare not act rashly before the madam."

"During that period, our Shen family was quite imposing."

"What happened later that caused the household to become what it is now?"

Shen Yunyao truly did not know these matters.

"Lack of memory is one aspect; on the other hand, this matter ought to be a secret of the manor."

"I heard that when the old grandpa passed away, the household fell into turmoil. Moreover, the third old master made a mistake, and the madam, in anger, took the two young masters back to her natal home."

"Since then, this household has come under the eldest madam's control of the provisions!"

(End of chapter)