Chapter 138: Sheng Hong: Shuang'er

Hearing Mama Fang's rebuke, Sister Xiaodie hastily said, "Nanny, no, no."

Minglan was also somewhat frightened.

Seeing Seeing Qingcao, seeing that the person who had helped her was being wrongly accused, grew anxious as well; she quickly knelt in Mama Fang's arms and said, "Nanny, it wasn't them, they saved me, they are good people, Nanny!"

Seeing Seeing Qingcao, in her anxiety, spoke somewhat loudly, Mama Cui in Shou'an Hall frowned and whispered to the young maid at the door, "Go, see what is happening!"

At this moment, the Old Lady also woke up, rising on her own to sit by the bedside and gather her wits.

Mama Cui Cui Ruan quickly walked to the couch; the Old Lady, eyes closed, wondered curiously why the handkerchief had not yet been handed over, and asked softly, "What hour is it?"

"Old Lady, it is around the first watch of the Mao hour."

"Mm, it is indeed somewhat early." The Old Lady felt something different from usual; after pondering for a while, she recalled the events of yesterday.

'I am old; even the matters of yesterday require a moment of recollection.'

Outside the courtyard of Shou'an Hall, Mama Fang, hearing Seeing Seeing Qingcao speak clearly and coherently, wore an unpleasant expression.

Mama Fang said, "You may rise; it was this old woman who wrongly accused you; let me first offer you an apology."

As she spoke, she bowed toward Sister Xiaodie; before she could complete the bow, Sister Xiaodie supported her.

"Nanny, this must not be done."

The young maid had now arrived; Mama Fang looked at Sister Xiaodie, who was shivering somewhat from the cold, then lifted Seeing Seeing Qingcao into her arms and said to the three of them, "Your name is Sister Xiaodie, is it? Wait a moment and explain the matter thoroughly, inside and out."

"Yes, Nanny, but as for Little Lady Wei..."

Mama Fang, looking at the young maid who had come out, said, "You go now to Little Lady Wei's quarters and wait there; serve her well, and only after the Sixth Miss and the others have returned should you come back."

"Yes, Nanny." The young maid from Shou'an Hall hurriedly walked toward the side courtyard.

Having finished speaking, Mama Fang led the group into Shou'an Hall, where she also met Mama Cui, who had come out to see what was happening, and instructed Mama Cui to prepare for the Old Lady's rising.

She had the several people wait in the main hall, while she herself entered the Old Lady's bedchamber and explained the matter clearly.

The Old Lady sighed with frustration at iron that would not become steel: "Ai!" She sighed first because Xu Xu Zaijing had risen early and shown maturity, and second because her own family's rotten affairs—her unpromising son and his concubine managing the household—had been managed into such a state.

"Go, immediately to Weirui Pavilion; fetch my son and the Principal Wife, and let them see for themselves and handle it themselves."

"Yes, Old Lady."

"Heat the main hall; do not let her catch a chill."

"Yes."

Mama Fang had Sister Xiaodie and the other four wait in the main hall, while she herself strode swiftly toward Weirui Pavilion.

Master Sheng and his wife, still in their dreams, were awakened by Mama Liu: "Master, Principal Wife, Mama Fang from Shou'an Hall has arrived, saying there is an urgent matter concerning Young Master Jing."

This single sentence startled Master Sheng and his wife on the couch; they hastily had Caihuan and Mama Liu help them dress.

The east had begun to whiten, but lanterns were still needed.

Master Sheng and his party arrived at Shou'an Hall in a rush.

Outside the gate, Sheng Hong anxiously entered the main hall, uneasily calling out in a low voice, "Mother! Mother!"

Wang Shi also entered with an unpleasant expression on her face.

Seeing the several people standing in the main hall, Wang Wang Ruofu looked at Sister Xiaodie and said, "Mama Liu, is this not a maid from Little Lady Wei Wei Shuyi's courtyard? And the Sixth Girl? What are you doing here?"

Mama Liu beside them quickly affirmed this, her face also showing curiosity.

The Old Lady walked out from the bedchamber and said in a tone neither fast nor slow, "In the early morning, has this old woman disturbed the Assistant Prefect and the Principal Wife?"

"How could Mother say such a thing?" Sheng Hong and Wang Shi quickly bowed.

Looking at the two who had not yet washed or dressed, the Old Lady nodded and said, "It is also troublesome for you. Sister Suqin, you speak with the Assistant Prefect."

"Yes, Old Lady." Mama Fang, in the gradually brightening morning sky, squatted to perform a bow, then began speaking with Master Sheng and his wife.

After Mama Fang finished speaking, Sheng Hong, with an ugly expression, looked at Seeing Seeing Qingcao's miserable state, then turned around angrily and growled at Wang Shi, "You, is this how you manage the household?"

Wang Shi was also frightened by this situation; having just woken, her mind was unclear, and she could only stammer, "I... this... it was not me!"

Mama Liu beside them quickly said, "Old Lady, Master! Our Principal Wife, because of previous matters concerning the Eldest Miss, has not managed the great kitchen for a long time, for more than half a year!"

Wang Wang Ruofu caught her breath and instantly perked up, saying somewhat loudly, "Yes, yes, it is the Master's beloved concubine, Little Lady Lin, who manages it. When trouble arises, it is wrongly blamed on me!"

Sheng Hong stalled.

The Old Lady said, "To make you see clearly, I have already let this little girl freeze for quite some time. Sister Suqin, take Young Master Jing's maid to bathe and ward off the cold. That maid from my natal family's people actually had a whole basin of cold water poured on her first thing in the morning! The Sheng family's reputation is truly... Assistant Prefect, you may handle this as you see fit."

Having finished speaking, the Old Lady waved her hand.

"Mother, your son will certainly enforce strict discipline! Mother, rest assured!" Sheng Hong hastily saw the Old Lady off.

Speaking thus, in the morning light, Sheng Hong, with an ugly expression, said on the way to Weirui Pavilion, "Go, summon the people from Linqi Pavilion. Also drag over the old woman from the great kitchen!"

Dongrong outside the gate quickly bowed and assented.

Arriving at Linqi Pavilion, Zhou Zhou Xueniang hastily entered the inner room and woke Lin Lin Qinshuang.

"What is happening? Why call me so early?"

"Little Lady, just now the Master sent Dongrong to ask you to go to Weirui Pavilion!"

"Did you not ask Dongrong what the matter is?"

"I asked, but Dongrong was not entirely clear; he only said the Master just went to Shou'an Hall, and that the Sixth Girl from the side courtyard and the maid Sister Xiaodie were also there, and that we should drag over the old woman from the great kitchen, so it may be related to the great kitchen."

As she spoke, Zhou Zhou Xueniang handed over a handkerchief; Lin Lin Qinshuang slapped Zhou Zhou Xueniang's hand away and said with some excitement, "That vixen from the side courtyard has finally started crying out."

"Let us go directly; you quickly send someone to fetch the account books and those documents with signatures in black and white! She has finally started crying out; I thought she would endure a while longer! Once she cries out, there will be a way."

Saying this, she took the handkerchief again to wipe her eyes, looked into the bronze mirror, nodded with satisfaction.

Zhou Zhou Xueniang beside her also showed the kind of joy one has only when laying out a trap and closing the net.

At this time, the sky had begun to brighten.

Weirui Pavilion,

Lin Lin Qinshuang, seemingly without having washed or dressed, walked into the main hall, looked at Sister Xiaodie, Xiao Xiaotao, and Minglan, the three who had been summoned to Weirui Pavilion, and felt some confusion at not seeing Wei Wei Shuyi.

Lin Lin Qinshuang performed a gentle bow and said, "Master, Principal Wife."

No one paid her any mind; it was Wang Wang Ruofu who rolled her eyes at her and said, "You certainly manage a household well; the Sheng family's reputation and face are about to be thrown all the way to Bianjing by you."

"Da Da Niangzi, how can you say such things? During the time I have managed the household, I have always been diligent and conscientious, daring not to relax even a little."

At this moment, Dong Rong shouted from outside, "Master, the old women from the main kitchen have been brought."

Sheng Hong called out in a low voice, "Drag them in."

Soon, three or four old women from the main kitchen, with their clothes disheveled, were dragged in by Dong Rong along with some servants.

Sheng Hong frowned, looking at the trembling old women, and asked in a cold voice, "Who was on night duty in the main kitchen this morning?"

Guan Da Niangzi, whose face was dark and sallow, trembled as she replied, "Hui, Master, it was this humble servant!"

At this, Sheng Hong laughed with extreme anger turning to mirth, "Good! Excellent! Men, drag them out and beat them; do not stop until I say stop!"

Guan Da Niangzi instantly lost her composure and cried out, "Ah? Master! For what reason! This is unjust! Master! Lin Da Da Niangzi, save me! Wei Xiaoniang, save me!"

Hearing these words, Lin Lin Qinshuang blinked, thought for two breaths, then softly knelt on the ground, saying, "Master, this concubine is dull and stupid; for what matter are you punishing the servant women? Please, Da Da Niangzi, make it clear!"

Zhou Zhou Xueniang beside her also knelt down, saying, "Master, Wei Xiaoniang has always been diligent and conscientious in managing the household, never daring to be negligent in the slightest."

Sheng Hong shouted loudly in rebuke, "Silence! Do you know that this old woman splashed a basin of water onto Brother Jing's personal maid, an attendant of such an honored guest! To offend in such a manner—is this how you manage the household?"

Outside the Weirui Pavilion, Guan Da Niangzi, who was being tied to a stool by servants, screamed like a fat pig tied to a chopping block, "Master! This is unjust! This humble servant did not mean it! This humble servant is innocent! This humble servant thought it was Wei—"

Guan Da Niangzi thought of something and shut her mouth.

Hearing this, Sheng Hong glanced at Xiao Xiao Xiaotao beside Minglan, who looked somewhat frightened, then scanned Xiao Xiaotao's figure and compared it with Seeing Qingcao's; he painfully closed his eyes, covering his brow and eyes with one hand.

Afterwards, Sheng Hong sighed in despair, and with pain and irritation, he closed his eyes and shouted loudly, "Beat them!"

Lin Lin Qinshuang lowered her eyelids, her eyes rolling around before she understood the general situation; she hastily began kowtowing on the ground, saying, "Master, Da Da Niangzi! It is this concubine's fault! It is this concubine's fault! This concubine once had Zhou Xueniang instruct Guan Da Niangzi! Because Sister Wei is with child, she must be cared for with utmost caution, yet unexpectedly she... she... has turned black-hearted!!! Such..."

Speaking thus, Lin Lin Qinshuang wore a look of utter disbelief, her eyes filled with tears as if about to weep, saying:

"Say a thousand words or ten thousand, it is all this concubine's fault!"

"It is this concubine's fault! It is this concubine's fault! I beg Master to punish me! I beg Da Da Niangzi for forgiveness!!" Lin Lin Qinshuang prostrated herself on the ground, kowtowing incessantly, weeping so heartbrokenly that she could hardly speak through her sobs.

Hearing these words, Sheng Hong straightened his body, his eyes filled with the expression of "So that is how it is, it must be so."

Zhou Zhou Xueniang also hastily joined Lin Lin Qinshuang in crying out:

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Master, when Wei Xiaoniang was managing the household, she specifically instructed this humble servant to care for Wei Wei Xiaoniang with utmost caution! This humble servant conveyed it exactly so, but could it be that the old women in the kitchen are so black-hearted!!! This humble servant is willing to accept punishment in Wei Xiaoniang's place! It is this humble servant's fault! This humble servant did not convey it clearly!"

"Da Da Niangzi! Master! Those black-hearted servant women secretly guessed Wei Xiaoniang's intentions; this has nothing to do with Wei Xiaoniang! This humble servant will go accept the beating with the staff immediately! This humble servant ought to replace... Wei Xiaoniang! And go... to... death!!!"

The final word "death" paused slightly. Saying this, Zhou Zhou Xueniang began crawling outward!

"Master, it is this humble servant's fault! This humble servant ought to go... to death!"

Outside the Weirui Pavilion, Dong Rong also heard these words, his eyes full of contemplation, while Guan Da Niangzi was stunned; she glanced at Dong Rong, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Guan Da Niangzi shouted half a sentence, "Master! It is Lin—"

"Slap!" Dong Rong struck the back of Guan Da Niangzi's head with his staff.

"Master, having been a concubine in the Sheng family for so many years, does Master not yet understand this concubine's heart?! This concubine, managing the household, has caused such a major incident and lost the Sheng family's face; I am willing to go immediately before Brother Jing to kowtow and apologize, kneeling to beg his forgiveness!"

Speaking thus, Lin Lin Qinshuang rose as if to leave,

"This concubine will go immediately to kneel on the ground and beg Brother Jing for forgiveness!" Lin Lin Qinshuang looked at Sheng Hong with eyes full of tears, her face bearing an expression of pain as she rose, but then her steps faltered, and she collapsed against the large incense burner in the Weirui Pavilion.

"Shuang'er!"

Sheng Hong was greatly alarmed, his face draining of color!!!

Wang Shi was also startled by this chaos, standing up with trembling hands, saying, "Th-this..."

Sheng Hong, as if he had lost his beloved, hastily rushed to Lin Lin Qinshuang's side and shouted at Zhou Zhou Xueniang, "Fetch a Physician!!!"

Sheng Hong looked at the incense burner merely three inches from Lin Lin Qinshuang's powdered face, then glanced at Wang Shi, saying with great post-fear, "She nearly had her face ruined!!! Come help!"

This sudden turn of events frightened Sister Sister Xiaodie and the others into silence; Sister Sister Xiaodie had just wanted to complain about the main kitchen incident, but seeing Lin Lin Qinshuang's condition, Zhou Zhou Xueniang's panic, and Sheng Hong's fury, she dared not speak.

At this moment, Zhou Zhou Xueniang had also crawled quickly several steps to the entrance of the Weirui Pavilion; seeing Guan Da Niangzi already bleeding from her seven orifices, she looked up at Dong Rong, who gave a discreet nod.

Zhou Zhou Xueniang stood up with somewhat weak legs, saying, "Quick, quick, help me back to the Linqi Pavilion, get money to fetch a Physician!"

Hearing this, Dong Rong hastily helped Zhou Da Niangzi up, and the two walked quickly toward the Linqi Pavilion; upon arriving, Zhou Zhou Xueniang frowned, her mind racing like wind and lightning as she tried to think of ways.

She quickly turned her head to scan the Linqi Pavilion, looking for someone.

Upon spotting a trusted servant woman, Zhou Zhou Xueniang hastily beckoned her over, whispered a few words in her ear; seeing the trusted servant woman's surprised expression, Zhou Zhou Xueniang said sternly, "Go quickly, otherwise if something happens, we will all die! Fast!"

Dong Rong, however, acted as if he had heard nothing, continuing to support Zhou Zhou Xueniang into the room, followed by that servant woman.

After the two took the silver notes, Zhou Zhou Xueniang went straight out the door with Dong Rong, yet the cabinet locking the silver was not locked again.

The servant woman from earlier, seeing the two depart from the doorway, took several neatly cast ingots of silver from the silver box, wrapped them in a handkerchief, placed them in her bosom until it bulged, and went out the door.

She hurried hastily to the courtyard where the servant women resided.

At this time, in the courtyard of the main kitchen, the managing old women and maids were all detained in the Weirui Pavilion; this servant woman looked at the rooms, then entered the place where Guan Da Niangzi lived.

When she came out, the bulging place on her person had become flat.

Just finished typing; if there are typos or awkward passages, readers are requested to point them out.

The author will listen to it once to correct errors!

Shuang'er~~~~

The author seems to have said in Chapter 3 of the book that there wouldn't be much face-slapping or showing off... so why is there still...

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(End of Chapter)