Chapter 751: Beating the Mandarin Ducks

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Lady Wang was full of smiles, chatting happily with the Old Matriarch. She knew the Old Matriarch was advanced in age and loved hearing about such happy events as matchmaking and marriage.

She already feared and detested She Yue, only wanting to use her to win over Qin Xian and his wife, not caring at all about her life after marriage.

Besides, the Old Matriarch was enjoying her old age and had long stopped managing trivial matters. How would she know if Qin Yong was good or bad, round or crooked? It was all up to what she said.

The Old Matriarch didn't know Qin Yong's background, and the young ladies like Yingchun couldn't possibly know either.

Lady Wang was cutting the Gordian knot; once she spoke before the Old Matriarch, this matter would be set in stone, and she would take She Yue back to the Eastern Courtyard when she returned.

By rushing these few days, she would have that cheap girl enter the bridal chamber. Once the raw rice was cooked into porridge, others wouldn't be able to say a word against it.

Qin Xian and his wife would be even more devoted to her. Trading a mere young girl for such benefits was a very practical matter.

However, Lady Wang never expected that this matter had nothing to do with Wang Xifeng, yet she would jump out to make trouble.

She said She Yue and Qin Yong were a perfect match, but Wang Xifeng said this marriage was very inappropriate. This was tearing her face off in front of everyone.

Lady Wang was furious, unable to help but feel the dignity of an elder, and rose abruptly from her chair.

She asked righteously, "Sister Feng, what do you mean by this? How is this marriage inappropriate!"

……

Wang Xifeng didn't take Lady Wang's bluster to heart at all.

She knew Qin Xian was the steward of the Eastern Courtyard and was now her aunt's confidant. Her aunt giving She Yue to him as a daughter-in-law was naturally to win him over.

Qin Xian was from the same family as Wang Shanbao's wife at the root. When Si Qi was sent away to marry, Qin Xian was also kicked to the Eastern Courtyard by her.

Although Qin Xian and his wife hadn't made any major mistakes, how could they not have grudges against her and Third Brother Cong?

Letting these people be devoted to her aunt would be no good for her and Third Brother Cong. Publicly or privately, she had to prevent trouble before it happened and had to tear down her aunt's stage.

She laughed, "What kind of goods is this Qin Yong? Others might not know for a moment."

"Because I manage the household daily, I know a little about the background of the people inside and outside. This Qin Yong eats, drinks, whores, and gambles, wandering day and night; he is not a good thing."

"The stewards in various places in the prefecture, knowing his character, dare not assign him any tasks. He is a grown man who does nothing all day; everyone avoids him."

Lady Wang's expression changed upon hearing this. She naturally knew Qin Yong's character long ago, but she didn't care about that; she was just using She Yue as a favor.

She hurriedly defended, "Sister Feng, you are overstating it. A half-grown boy having a somewhat unruly temperament is a common thing."

"Once he gets older and marries a wife, he will become experienced and sensible. Isn't that how everyone in the world comes through?"

Wang Xifeng laughed, "Second Lady, that's not right. Qin Yong is already twenty years old, and his beard has grown out; he is not a half-grown boy."

"At his age, he still behaves recklessly every day, just living off his parents' free meals. His family has quarrels every three days and disturbances every five days."

"If you just find someone on the back street to ask, the neighbors nearby all know."

……

Upon hearing this, the Old Matriarch's expression also became ugly. Last time, she knew She Yue had persuaded Xi Ren not to publicize Jia Cong's words.

From this matter, one could see that this She Yue was a clever girl, and her thoughts and behavior were quite to the Old Matriarch's liking.

To marry such a good girl to a hoodlum like Qin Yong would be a waste of a person. What kind of muddled thing was her daughter-in-law doing?

After hearing Wang Xifeng's words, not only was the Old Matriarch disgusted, but Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters also felt dissatisfied.

They all knew Lady Wang was a seasoned woman of the inner chambers and had been the steward lady of Rongguo Prefecture for many years; she was not a muddled person.

Since Sister Feng could know Qin Yong's background, Lady Wang must have known it too.

Yet she still wanted to marry She Yue to Qin Yong. Wasn't this clearly wanting to ruin the girl? This matter was handled too improperly.

Wang Xifeng continued, "She Yue is not only a maid of the Second Branch but also a maid of the Western Prefecture. Her slave contract is in the public treasury."

"Since the Second Lady has sent her out of Baoyu's room, logically, she should be returned to the public treasury for us to reassign tasks. That is the proper way."

"The Second Lady is now silent and wants to set her marriage, and she is matching her with goods like Qin Yong."

"Third Brother Cong is a scholar and has always been strict in managing the family. If this marriage leads to accidents in the future and he asks about it, I, as a sister-in-law, won't be able to answer."

……

Lady Wang was so angry that her chest hurt from Wang Xifeng's retort. Seeing the Old Matriarch sitting on the side without saying a word, she felt even more indignant.

She blurted out, "Sister Feng, your words are becoming more and more evil. Third Brother Cong goes out early and returns late every day, busy with matters in the government office."

"How could he have time to manage the trivial matters of a maid? You don't need to use Third Brother Cong to talk about things."

Wang Xifeng said, "Second Lady, that's not right. Third Brother Cong inherited the Rongguo family estate; the servants and maids in the prefecture are all his family property at the root."

"He naturally has the status to ask about it. Let's not talk nonsense. Since the Second Lady fancies this marriage..."

"We, as the younger generation, must always consider the feelings. Why not call She Yue over and ask her? If she is willing to have this marriage, then consider me meddlesome."

"Her destination will be decided by the Second Lady. At worst, if something happens in the future, I will just let Third Brother Cong complain a few times."

Lady Wang was almost angered to death by Wang Xifeng's words. My maid in Baoyu's room, how did she become Third Brother Cong's property?

The Second Branch had raised the maid for many years, but she herself had no authority to manage her, only to let that kid play and control her. It was simply unreasonable!

But although she was angry, she couldn't pick out a single flaw in the other party's words. Even the Old Matriarch present didn't say a word.

……

After Wang Xifeng finished speaking, she said to the maid Feng Er, "Go to Baoyu's courtyard and call She Yue over. Say the Old Matriarch and I have something to ask."

Lady Wang's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. In the morning in Baoyu's courtyard, she had just mentioned the marriage to Qin Yong, and that dead girl She Yue had been full of unwillingness.

She had just suppressed her by force. Now, letting this girl come to Rongqing Hall to be questioned, with that sharp tongue of hers, wouldn't she just make a scene on the spot?

Before she left, she had also been thoughtful, specifically letting two old women watch She Yue.

But this Feng Er was Wang Xifeng's capable maid and was never a person to be trifled with. If she used the Old Matriarch as an excuse, those two old women wouldn't have the courage to stop her.

Wang Xifeng's gaze was sharp. Seeing that her aunt was still holding on to her posture but her expression had changed when she ordered someone to call She Yue, she became even more certain.

As for how She Yue would speak when she came, Wang Xifeng wasn't worried at all. This girl was also a ghost of a person. Since she had already sent word to Third Brother Cong, she was determined not to submit before her aunt, let alone marry low-class goods like Qin Yong.

Seeing her daughter-in-law unable to parry Wang Xifeng's series of blows, clearly in a passive state of being beaten, the Old Matriarch didn't know how she couldn't see it. This Sister Feng's words were smooth; how did it look like she came prepared?

The Old Matriarch felt dejected, feeling as if she had fallen into a pit. This First Branch and Second Branch were fighting again...

……

The Old Matriarch could see it, and the clever girls like Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun naturally saw the clues.

Daiyu felt that since the maids in the prefecture were all Third Brother's property, Sister Feng standing up for Third Brother was naturally a good thing.

Seeing Tan Chun, as a girl of the Second Branch, was more familiar with She Yue than others and knew she was a favorite in Baoyu's room.

Not only did the Lady drive her away for no reason, but she also married her to an unbearable person like Qin Yong; the means were too overbearing.

If it were in the past, Lady Wang being retorted so miserably and losing face in front of others...

As a daughter of the Second Branch, Seeing Tan Chun was a clever and outspoken person and was present at the scene.

She should have come out to speak for her legal mother and smooth things over to ease the atmosphere.

But last time she was severely punished by Lady Wang in the Eastern Courtyard, and the rift between the legal mother and the daughter of a concubine was already deep. She no longer had such a mood and just watched coldly from the sidelines.

……

Yingchun's temperament was gentle and careful, and she was best at deep thinking and deliberation. Hearing Wang Xifeng's sharp words, she completely controlled the trend of the situation.

Thinking of the words Wang Xifeng said to her before the Second Lady arrived, they seemed meaningful now.

She said the servants in the Eastern Prefecture were all Southerners and were not used to the customs of the Northerners, so she should use some Northerners born into the family, which would make managing the household and doing things more convenient.

She also said the few maids around Third Brother Cong were all maids born into the family, so he used them very satisfactorily.

She also said that the maid she fancied was useless; only the maid Third Brother Cong also fancied was truly useful.

Yingchun pondered back and forth in her heart and concluded that before the Second Lady entered Rongqing Hall, Sister Feng must have known about She Yue's matter.

The strange words she said to her earlier would never be aimless; they sounded like Third Brother Cong also knew about She Yue's matter.

Sister Feng's actions in the hall today were mostly instructed by Third Brother Cong; otherwise, Sister Feng wouldn't have hinted at her like that...

……

Just when everyone in the hall had their own thoughts and Lady Wang was sitting on pins and needles.

Feng Er had already brought She Yue into the hall. Lady Wang felt disappointed; the two old women guarding her really didn't dare to stop Feng Er.

Wang Xifeng didn't wait for others to speak and asked first, "She Yue, the Second Lady wants you to leave Baoyu's room and has arranged a marriage for you. Do you know about it?" Just now, Feng Er went to Baoyu's courtyard and only said two words, which scared the two old women guarding She Yue, and she easily took the person away.

Feng Er was a maid trained by Wang Xifeng and naturally learned her master's cleverness and adaptability. On the way, she explained all the matters in the hall to She Yue.

This She Yue was also a clever person among the maids and immediately understood that Xiao Hong had already passed the word to Third Brother Cong, and the Second Young Mistress was going to take action to save her.

At this time, Wang Xifeng asked this, and how could She Yue not know what it meant? She immediately knelt down in the hall with a thud.

She said, "Lady said there were too many people in Bao Er Ye Bao's room. When the Second Young Mistress enters the door in the future, she will also bring dowry maids, and it won't be able to support so many people."

"Lady wants to let Bi Hen and me go. Since Lady has already spoken, I am willing to leave Bao Er Ye Bao's room, but I am not willing to marry, and even less willing to marry Qin Yong."

"If Lady forces me, I would rather die by hitting my head; I will not submit!"

"I beg the Old Matriarch and the Second Young Mistress for grace. I am a maid born into the family. No matter what task you assign me—washing clothes, cooking, guarding the door, patrolling at night, or rough work—"

"Just don't force me to marry. I can do anything, as long as I can have time to be filial to my parents for a few more years."

……

She Yue's temperament was originally strong, and she never easily gave in. She asked herself that in serving in Baoyu's room, she had always been diligent and had made no mistakes.

She never expected Lady Wang to be so unwelcoming; driving her out was one thing, but she also wanted to push her into a fire pit like Qin Yong.

Now that she spoke of it in front of everyone, she couldn't help but feel angry and sad.

She also thought that she had encountered a disaster, and Baoyu, whom she had served for many years, was completely helpless and only knew how to avoid things and stand by.

Instead, it was her good sister from the past, Xiao Hong, and Third Brother Cong, whom she had never spoken to, who reached out to help her and pull her out of this fire pit.

Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. As she spoke from the bottom of her heart, tears fell down. Seeing her so sad, everyone in the hall was moved.

Seeing her pitiful appearance, the Old Matriarch also felt a sourness in her chest and said, "Alright, since you are not willing to marry, then don't marry. No one will force you."

She then said to Lady Wang, "Since she is no longer used in Baoyu's room, just let her go. How old is she? She can still serve the master for a few more years."

"As for this matter of matching people, a twisted melon is not sweet. If she is not willing herself, it is not good to be reckless. It is meaningless to be dead or alive. I think this matter should just be forgotten."

Lady Wang was hit by Wang Xifeng's series of chaotic punches and had no power to parry.

Seeing She Yue speak such firm words in front of everyone, making her lose all face, the anger in her chest was raging, and she was almost about to set herself on fire.

But in front of all the younger generation in the family, she didn't dare to tear her face off and erupt; otherwise, it would be hard to step over the threshold of the Western Prefecture in the future.

Now that the Old Matriarch had already said such words, could she still say no?

……

At this time, Lady Wang felt regret in her heart. Yesterday, because she saw She Yue and Xi Ren whispering, she worried that this unpleasant maid would one day discover Baoyu's hidden illness.

If the matter were leaked, the Second Branch would become the laughingstock of the Jia family, and she would have no hope for the rest of her life. That was why she was in such a hurry to drive She Yue away.

If she had known She Yue was so stubborn, she shouldn't have been so hasty, but should have lightly transferred her to the Eastern Courtyard first.

Once she was on her own turf, how she would punish her would be up to her. Even if Wang Xifeng was shrewd and formidable, she would be beyond her reach.

At that time, she would tie the cheap girl's hands and feet, throw her onto Qin Yong's bed, and once the raw rice was cooked into porridge, let's see if this dead girl would still dare to be arrogant...

……

Seeing her daughter-in-law's gloomy expression and silence, how could the Old Matriarch not know what she was thinking?

This second daughter-in-law had been the steward lady for more than ten years and was also a person used to holding power; she was afraid it would be hard to turn around for a while.

It was just that Sister Feng had exposed the matter of Qin Yong. In front of these granddaughters, this matter could not be left to the daughter-in-law to mess around with; otherwise, it would be a big handle.

The Old Matriarch said, "Sister Feng, since She Yue is no longer in Baoyu's room, you arrange a task for her first."

"She has served Baoyu for many years and has never heard of any mistakes. She is also a maid raised in the family, so it is not good to wrong her too much."

Wang Xifeng was about to speak when Yingchun said on the side, "Old Matriarch, I originally had two steward maids by my side who usually run errands for me."

"Last time Third Brother Cong asked Liu Wuer to help Sister Feng manage the household, he asked for a steward maid to help Liu Wuer."

"Now the vacancy is temporarily filled by Xiu Ju. This girl also serves me daily and is busy spinning around."

"Now that the end of the year is approaching, the matters in the inner chambers will become increasingly complicated, and it is just the time when people are needed."

"I see She Yue is a clever girl and has always heard that she is very capable. Since she is idle now, let her come to my place to fill the vacancy of the steward maid first."

"Once the end of the year is busy, if Sister Feng wants to use her, I will return her to you."

……

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng was amazed. This Second Sister was now in charge and had truly cultivated into a spirit.

She had only given a slight hint, and she understood her meaning. This excuse of having a maid around Liu Wuer was found very cleverly; it was seamless.

In fact, it was an easy task for Wang Xifeng to arrange a task for She Yue in the Western Prefecture.

It was just that last night Jia Cong had Ying Lian come over in a hurry, asking her to find a way to protect She Yue, as if he had known she would marry today.

Seeing Jia Cong care so much about She Yue, Wang Xifeng couldn't figure out for a while what kind of dealings he had with this girl...

If it were Jia Lian, if he dared to provoke the maids in the prefecture, Wang Xifeng could peel his skin.

But Jia Cong was just her brother-in-law and was unmarried, and was regarded by Wang Xifeng as a backer, so she wasn't so particular.

Besides, Jia Cong was born so handsome and had always been favored by the maids in the prefecture. Whether he had hooked up with She Yue, who the ghost knew.

Since he cared about this maid, rather than keeping She Yue by her side, Wang Xifeng might as well push her to Jia Cong's side, which would at least be a favor.

It was precisely because she was blindly guessing in her heart that she had hinted at Yingchun earlier.

Yingchun had always been the most protective of her brother. Hearing Wang Xifeng's words, she understood that Wang Xifeng must have been instructed by her brother to protect this She Yue.

Since this girl had a connection with her brother, she naturally had to pull her to her side first.

Besides, when she was in the Western Prefecture, Yingchun knew there was a She Yue around Baoyu, who was quick-witted, steady, and shrewd, and was an excellent maid.

Regardless of whether she had a connection with her brother, she would pull her to her side to work first.

Moreover, the Second Lady treating her like this also looked quite pitiful. Giving help in a time of need was a blessing for others and herself, and it was never wrong.

……

Wang Xifeng laughed upon hearing Yingchun's words, "Second Sister is fast enough. Since you fancy this girl and use her to run errands in the Eastern Prefecture, it is her great blessing."

"I, as a sister-in-law, am not so stingy as to shamelessly ask for her back. She Yue, why are you still stunned? Why don't you kowtow to the Second Young Lady?"

Hearing Yingchun's words, She Yue was stunned for a moment. She originally thought that Third Brother asking the Second Young Mistress to come forward to save her life would mostly result in being assigned to another task in the Western Prefecture.

She never dreamed that the Second Young Lady would fancy her and let her go to the Eastern Prefecture to be a steward maid. This was too surprising.

To say she wasn't happy in her heart would definitely be impossible. The Eastern Prefecture was Third Brother Cong's living place and was much more proper than the Western Prefecture.

Besides Third Brother Cong, there were only a few young ladies in the prefecture, which was the most refreshing and tidy.

The servants and maids in the Western Prefecture all knew the threshold of the Eastern Prefecture was extremely high; few maids in the Western Prefecture could enter, even Bao Er Ye Bao couldn't step in.

She had just been driven out by the Lady and could actually go to the Eastern Prefecture to work. This made She Yue's mind a bit dazed.

Hearing Wang Xifeng's reminder, she suddenly woke up and hurriedly kowtowed to Yingchun to thank her, then kowtowed to the Old Matriarch and Wang Xifeng.

Seeing this result, the Old Matriarch's mind was even more dazed than She Yue's.

A maid driven out by the Second Branch was wanted by the First Branch to be a steward maid. What kind of rare thing was this?

Her second daughter-in-law always did things that were not proper, and as a result, she was slapped in the face by the sister-in-law and sister-in-law of the First Branch. What kind of broken thing was this?

……

Lady Wang felt as if she had been struck by lightning upon hearing Yingchun's words, a breath stuck in her chest, unable to go up or down.

The maid she drove out was wanted by the First Branch to be a steward maid in the Eastern Prefecture. This was clearly elevating She Yue and tearing her face apart.

The head maids of the Jia family were generally divided into two types: one was the personal maid around the master, specifically taking care of the master's food and daily life.

Zi Juan around Daiyu, Xiu Ju around Yingchun, and Shi Shu around Seeing Tan Chun were this type of maid.

Another type of maid was the steward maid, who held a certain position in the prefecture, held a certain authority, and assisted the master in managing household affairs.

Ping Er around Wang Xifeng was a famous steward maid. When Wang Xifeng didn't manage affairs, Ping Er could almost act on her behalf.

Liu Wuer around Jia Cong and Yuan Yang around the Old Matriarch, although they also served in daily life, also belonged to the steward maid category to a large extent.

She Yue was originally not the chief head maid in Baoyu's room, but she was deliberately elevated by the First Branch. Lady Wang was almost driven crazy.

Her heart was burning like fire, and her mind was filled with crazy thoughts, just wanting to know how to stop this matter.

Otherwise, when the news spread back to Baoyu's courtyard, she would have to lose face again... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 752 =====

She felt as if her heart were burning; a flurry of frantic thoughts raced through her mind, and she could only think of how to stop this matter.

Otherwise, if the news reached Baoyu's courtyard, she would lose face yet again... (End of chapter)