Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Lax Control of Servants Ling Jiayue and her two maids were on their way back to the Ling Residence when Lingxue cautiously asked, “Miss, did we deliberately not return to the residence when we first entered the city?” Ling Jiayue gave Lingxue an approving glance. “You’re becoming cleverer by the day. The Seventh Prince had only just left when he sent a maid over. If she can’t be made to work for me, she’ll become a disaster. In the future, she’ll certainly hinder me.” “Miss, now that we’ve given Danyun a show of authority, she should be able to devote herself wholeheartedly to working for us,” Lingzhu said. “Actually, whether she can devote herself to working for me, or how long she does so, isn’t important. What matters is that for every day she remains under my roof, she must abide by my rules. I have no room for people who refuse to follow them,” Ling Jiayue said. Lingzhu and Lingxue declared in unison, “This maidservant and Lingxue swear to serve Miss loyally unto death.” “Enough. I know how you feel. Let’s return to the residence. I need to tell Mother that I’ll be adding another maid tomorrow.” Ling Jiayue led Lingzhu and Lingxue back to the Ling Residence. After watching Ling Jiayue return to the residence, Danyun also went back to report to the Seventh Prince. Inside the secret chamber, Danyun knelt on the ground and awaited Mu Yuheng’s punishment. After learning what had happened, Mu Yuheng said only one thing: “I sent you to her. She is your master now. You know what you should do. Go down and receive your punishment.” Although Mu Yuheng’s tone was mild, he possessed an imposing authority that inspired fear without anger. If Danyun had been horrified when facing Ling Jiayue, then when facing Mu Yuheng, she felt only submission from the depths of her heart. From then on, Ling Jiayue was her only master. After returning to the residence, Ling Jiayue went to Madam Liu’s courtyard to pay her respects. Madam Liu was embroidering. When she saw Ling Jiayue return, she put down the embroidery frame in her hands and came over to take Ling Jiayue’s hand. “Yue’er, why have you only just returned? When the coachman came back and reported everything to me, I was frightened out of my wits.” “Mother, aren’t we perfectly fine? We came back safe and sound. By the way, Mother, I’d like to add another maid. Please call the female servant broker tomorrow and arrange a few more maids for me,” Ling Jiayue said. “Very well. I’ll call the female servant broker tomorrow and arrange a few more maids for you. Have you eaten? I had some soup simmering in the back kitchen. Have a bowl.” “No, Mother. We already ate outside. I’ll return now, so you should get some rest.” Ling Jiayue rose and returned to her own courtyard. Ling Jiayue and her two maids walked slowly toward the courtyard. Spring had now arrived. Not only were the winter jasmine flowers blooming, but even the soil gave off a unique fragrance. Walking along the path, they seemed to be like the tender shoots emerging at its side, brimming with vigorous life. What a wonderful season, Ling Jiayue thought silently. Before long, Ling Jiayue and her two maids returned to their courtyard. Yet Mama Wang, who was supposed to be standing guard at the entrance, was nowhere to be seen. “Miss, would you like me to look for Mama Wang?” Lingxue asked carefully, afraid that Ling Jiayue would become angry. “No need. Let’s go in first.” Ling Jiayue was not angry, and the three of them pushed open the door and entered. With a creak, the three slowly made their way into the courtyard. Since it was evening, the night was hazy, and the maids and senior servants stationed there had all grown lax. The entire path was dark, without a single light. Ling Jiayue remained silent as she slowly walked into the courtyard. Once inside, Lingxue went to light the lamps, while Lingzhu cut and prepared a pot of tea. Since Ling Jiayue enjoyed tea, Lingzhu always remembered to brew her a pot whenever she returned. Only after everything had been arranged did Mama Wang suddenly appear and hurriedly plead guilty at the entrance. “Miss, should we let Mama Wang come in?” Lingzhu asked as she poured Ling Jiayue a cup of tea. “Let her kneel there. Lingxue, go call everyone in the courtyard. I have something to say.” Ling Jiayue gave her orders. Lingxue went to summon everyone. Ling Jiayue left Mama Wang kneeling in the courtyard while she leisurely drank her tea inside. “Miss, everyone has been summoned,” Lingxue reported upon her return. Ling Jiayue set down her teacup and moved gracefully into the courtyard. The maids and young male servants in the courtyard were standing in a neat row beneath the veranda. She instructed Lingxue to bring out a chair and sat down in front of the courtyard. Although it was already early spring, the nights were still somewhat cold, and Ling Jiayue pulled her clothes more tightly around herself. “Mama Wang, what sort of dream were you having tonight? Why couldn’t we find you when we returned?” Ling Jiayue asked mildly. “Please forgive this old servant, Miss! My granddaughter suddenly came down with an acute illness tonight, so I went home for a short while. If you don’t believe me, ask Mama Zhou.” Mama Wang spoke hurriedly. But Mama Zhou, whose name she had called, shifted her eyes about and did not dare look at her at all. “Mama Zhou, is that so?” Ling Jiayue asked, fixing her with a sharp gaze. “In response to Miss, y-yes, that’s right. This old servant can vouch for Mama Wang.” Mama Zhou lowered her head and spoke softly. Hmph. They truly don’t know when to stop, Ling Jiayue scoffed inwardly. “Lingxue.” Ling Jiayue signaled for Lingxue to investigate. Lingxue acknowledged the order and went over. As she approached Mama Wang and Mama Zhou, the two women’s hearts began to pound faster and faster, and they grew extremely flustered. Lingxue searched their belongings and found a great deal of money. She also smelled alcohol on both of them. “Miss, Mama Wang and Mama Zhou both have a great deal of money on them, and they both smell of alcohol,” Lingxue reported after completing her investigation. “Oh? I had no idea your granddaughter’s acute illness required the two of you to drink alcohol,” Ling Jiayue said, her voice rising at the end. The two women were so frightened that they repeatedly kowtowed and begged for mercy. “Miss, please spare this old servant! It was simply unbearably cold, so we drank a few mouthfuls of liquor to warm ourselves. Please forgive us, Miss. We’ll never dare do it again. Never again!” “Heh. I had no idea my courtyard had fallen into such dire straits. Even the women guarding the entrance take advantage of my absence to drink and pass the time.” Ling Jiayue absolutely could not tolerate servants like this remaining in her courtyard. Today, she was determined to deal with them harshly. “Lingzhu, go fetch the family disciplinary implements. Today, they will be punished and driven out. My courtyard has no use for people like them.” Ling Jiayue gave her orders. Upon receiving Ling Jiayue’s command, the young male servants brought out the family disciplinary implements. The servants forced Mama Zhou and Mama Wang facedown over a long bench, pulled down their clothes, and beat them viciously. Mama Zhou and Mama Wang wailed for their fathers and mothers as they were beaten. Ling Jiayue merely watched them coldly. The young male servants and maids who had been summoned were terrified by the sight. “Look carefully, all of you. This is what happens when you fail to perform your duties properly while serving Miss. You’d better take this as a warning,” Lingxue suddenly said sternly as she stood beside Ling Jiayue. “Thank you for reminding us, Sister Lingxue. We will certainly devote ourselves to our duties. Please rest assured, Miss. Sister Lingxue, you can rest assured as well.” The servants in the courtyard had long since been frightened out of their wits, and at that moment, they could do nothing but declare their loyalty. At last, the beating ended, and Ling Jiayue immediately drove Mama Zhou and Mama Wang out. She then rose and returned to her room. The next day, Madam Liu called in the female servant broker and sent Danyun to Ling Jiayue’s courtyard. As for the matter of Mama Zhou and Mama Wang, Madam Liu only said that Ling Jiayue had done the right thing.