Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 38: Song Yunzhao Learned Another Trick
Song Yexi left with a face full of anger, looking as if she and Song Yunzhao had a terrible argument.
About fifteen minutes later, Hanshao, who served Song Qinghan, arrived. The old woman at the gate didn’t open it, only saying, "Miss Hanshao, the Third Miss is in a bad mood right now and isn’t seeing anyone. You should go back."
Hearing this, Hanshao said in a gentle voice, "The Eldest Miss heard that the Third Miss is unwell, so she sent me to visit. I wouldn’t dare go back and report to her without having seen the Third Miss."
From the other side of the door, the old woman’s lips twitched. She replied with a sarcastic jab, "Miss Hanshao, don’t make things difficult for a simple gatekeeper like me. If I let you in and the Third Miss gets upset, I can’t bear the consequences."
Hanshao was displeased to hear this. ’How dare a mere gatekeeper speak to me like that?’ She then said, "The Eldest Miss is concerned for the Third Miss. If I can’t even pay my respects, I won’t be able to report back. When the Eldest Miss holds me accountable, I might just have to tell her the truth."
The gatekeeper’s mouth twitched. ’Using the Eldest Miss to pressure a lowly servant like me.’ Remembering what Miss Qiancao had told her, she held her ground and said, "Miss Hanshao, you certainly have a way with words. Neither Miss Xi nor the Second Miss were seen by our Miss when they came, and they didn’t say a word about it. Yet you, Miss Hanshao, seem to put on more airs than both of them. An old woman like me is truly terrified. You’re afraid you can’t report back, but I’m afraid I can’t do my duty either."
Listening to the old woman’s snide remarks, Hanshao’s expression was a sight to behold. ’How dare she? Does she think a servant like me would dare compare myself to Miss Xi and the Second Miss?’
Hanshao knew she wasn’t getting in, so she left with a dark expression.
The gatekeeper listened to the fading footsteps from behind the door and spat. "Pah! Who does she think she is? Just a dog throwing her weight around because of her master’s power."
Qiancao came out just in time to hear the "Pah!" and, suppressing a laugh, praised the old woman, "Well done. I’ll be sure to ask for a reward for you from our Miss later."
The old woman beamed at her words, but said, "Oh, I wouldn’t dare ask for credit over something so small. The Miss treats us servants so well, it’s the least I could do."
Through the window, Song Yunzhao heard this and felt her mood lift.
’This world has shameless people like Song Qinghan, but it also has kind-hearted souls.’
The entire estate was on edge. Qiancao reported that the First Madam had tied up everyone in the kitchen, threatening to sell them all off if they didn’t confess. Apparently, things were getting intense over there.
Song Yunzhao frowned.
Qiancao said from the side, "Is our Miss feeling soft-hearted? There’s no other way. If the Eldest Miss really did this, she must have arranged her people carefully and erased all traces. How could it be easy for the First Madam to find the culprit? You know, the servants in this estate were born into service here. The relationships are incredibly complicated. When something happens, they all cover for each other."
Song Yunzhao understood.
’It’s like having a mole on a project team. When you can’t find out who it is, is it because the team members truly have no clues?’
’No, it’s because it’s not their problem, so they’d rather stay out of it to avoid offending anyone.’
’But what if their boss gets furious and fires the entire team? Wouldn’t they start to panic then?’
’Anyone can sit back and watch when their own interests aren’t at stake. But what if their future, their livelihood, or even their life is on the line?’
’Then it’s a different story.’
’I don’t care if you were the one who did it or not. The incident happened in the main kitchen, and if you can’t prove your innocence, you’re an accomplice.’
’The First Madam’s use of collective punishment is ruthless.’
Song Yunzhao had learned something new.
Song Yunzhao sat in her study and continued writing her storybook. The selection was in a few days, and she really didn’t have any more time to work on this. Having seen countless online exposés and true stories from the common folk, it wasn’t actually hard to adapt one into a storybook. The problem was her obsession with her own values; she wanted to write something that aligned with her philosophy but was still acceptable to the people of this era. Finding the right angle was proving to be a real headache.
’Sigh. I’m just making things difficult for myself.’
Writing about the frustrating parts put Song Yunzhao in a foul mood.
Just then, Qiancao came in to report, "Miss, Mrs. Dou, from the Madam’s side, is here."
Song Yunzhao could guess what she was here for with her eyes closed. "Tell her I’m not feeling well and can’t go anywhere. If the Madam insists on forcing me, then I’ll have no choice but to go to my father."
What could Mrs. Cai want with her?
’She just wants to pressure me, to force me to downplay the incident.’
’The First Madam’s methods must have scared Song Qinghan, so she ran to Mrs. Cai for support.’
"I’ll go right away." Qiancao turned and walked out. She didn’t want her Miss to see the Madam either; she’d only be bullied and forced to endure injustice under the guise of respecting an elder.
Mrs. Dou’s expression turned ugly when she heard Qiancao’s message. She said snidely, "The Third Miss is getting more and more high and mighty, isn’t she? She won’t even give the Madam any face."
Qiancao’s expression soured as well. She looked at Mrs. Dou, no longer as intimidated as she used to be. "Our Miss is unwell. The Madam is likely unaware; if she knew, she would only feel sorry for her. But coming from your mouth, Mrs. Dou, our Miss has suddenly become an unfilial and disrespectful person. When the Master returns to the estate, I will be sure to ask on your behalf whether our Miss is truly such a person."
Mrs. Dou heard this little wench daring to use the Master to threaten her, but she didn’t dare to retort forcefully. Ever since they arrived in the Capital City, the Master had become even more protective of the Third Miss than he was in Nanyu.
"Fine. Miss Qiancao, I will be sure to report your exact words to the Madam. The Master may protect the Third Miss, but can he protect a mere maid like you?" Mrs. Dou threw this parting shot and turned to leave.
’Qiancao and Jiangxiang aren’t young anymore. When it’s time for them to be married off, won’t their marriages be in the Madam’s hands?’
Mrs. Dou spat inwardly. ’Just you wait.’ ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Song Yunzhao, still in a bad mood, stepped out onto the covered veranda for a breath of fresh air, just in time to hear Mrs. Dou’s threat to Qiancao. She was about to explode with anger.
Just as she was about to order someone to drag Mrs. Dou back, she heard her father’s voice. "What an insolent servant! Men, drag her away and slap her face!"
The Third Master had a dark expression. He knew his wife was not good to Yun Zhao, but he never imagined that a housekeeper from his wife’s side would dare to threaten the maid of his own daughter, Yun Zhao.
’Does she even see Yun Zhao as her master!’
