First Concubine

 Chapter 76: Punishing the Disobedient Slaves (4)

Mrs. Luo turned her head, frowned and looked at the flustered mother Wu, and suddenly a flash of light flashed in her mind: "I remember, these days you always run to the woodshed when you have something to do, and you even invite me to drink! Are you taking advantage of me? What did you do to the firewood after you got high?"

Wu’s mother took a step back: “I didn’t!”

Shui Linglong was not angry but said with authority: "The branches are thick and the leaves are luxuriant. You can go to the laundry room and bring out two wooden boxes."

“Yes!” Zhi Fan and Ye Mao went to the laundry room opposite the woodshed and moved out two boxes containing old things. Shui Linglong ordered, “Chop it!”

Everyone was startled. What was the eldest lady doing splitting the box?

Without saying a word, Ye Mao took an ax from the woodshed and split the box into pieces in two or two strokes. Shui Linglong pointed at a pile of wood chips and said in a clear tone: "Burn it for me!"

Ye Mao and Zhi Fan took the fire sticks from the kitchen, put some hay to start the fire, and burned the wood chips on the ground. Due to some dampness, the fire was not strong at first, but it was definitely not impossible to burn. The laundry room is always wet with water and is the wettest area in the house. If the old wooden boxes in the laundry room can be burned, how can the firewood that has not been stored for a few days in the woodshed be so wet that it cannot light a fire?

Mrs. Luo glared at Wu’s mother fiercely: “It must be you!”

Mother Wu's neck shrank and she said harshly: "I don't have any! Don't accuse good people blindly!"

Madam Hu raised her eyebrows and hummed: "No matter who is responsible, there is indeed something wrong with the firewood delivered by the woodshed! It is an indisputable fact that our dining room cannot prepare dinner!"

Shui Linglong gave a cold look: "So you choose to vent your anger on others instead of trying to find a way to solve today's dinner, thinking that you can shirk responsibility? When encountering difficulties, you don't think of solutions, but of planning. How to get away with it, I don’t want this kind of slave in Shangshu Mansion!”

Mrs. Hu took a breath: "Miss!"

Grandma Luo was secretly happy, that crazy woman deserved to be kicked out of the house!

Shui Linglong turned her eyes again and looked at Mrs. Luo: "And you! Are you chopping firewood with your eyes closed? Since you know it is wet, why do you still send it to the kitchen? It's time to argue with Mrs. Hu about who is right and wrong. You could have informed your superiors a long time ago and brought back a few more bundles of firewood! This kind of servant is not worthy of the Master!"

 “Huh?” Mrs. Luo was stunned!

"As for you." Shui Linglong glanced at Wu's mother with cold eyes, "You stir up trouble and neglect your duties, so you can be beaten to death with a stick! Give thirty taels of silver and let your family collect the body!"

Mother Wu was so frightened that she lost her mind: "Miss, you can't do this to this slave! Miss...you...this slave has done so many things in the house for so many years. There is no merit but hard work. Didn't this slave just make a mistake? You beat me to death." My servant, it’s my servant’s heart that’s so cold!”

Shui Linglong's voice dropped, and her eyes were as bright as fire: "One mistake? Zhi Fan! Read out her crimes! If she doesn't show off her power, one or two of them will treat me like a sick cat, right?"

Zhi Fan took out a piece of paper from his wide sleeves and read in a serious tone: "Ten years ago in the winter, a basket of red charcoal and a basket of sausages were embezzled..."

 After reading for a full quarter of an hour, I finished reading all the charges of Mother Wu for taking leave of absence from the public service for personal gain, accepting bribes, and misappropriating public property. Mother Wu collapsed on the ground in despair. The eldest lady was actually prepared!

Zhi Fan looked at her with disdain. How could the movements of a group of shrimps be hidden from the eldest lady? From the first day Wu's mother gathered people to complain, the eldest lady sent people to turn over everything that had happened to her over the past ten years since she had been in the government. Fight with the eldest lady? Deserve to die with a stick!

Shui Linglong's condensed eyes wandered over everyone: "And those of you who come here to watch the fun and make noises without doing anything will be fined half a month's salary!"

Zhifan was stunned. It is said that the law does not punish the public. Will the eldest lady's behavior really chill people's hearts? You know, there were as many as thirty people watching! They accounted for almost one-fifth of the total number of slaves. If they turned around and maliciously conveyed bad emotions... the consequences would be disastrous.

Shui Linglong frowned lightly and said, "In addition, everyone who works hard in various departments at this time will be rewarded with one month's salary!"

Rewards and punishments are clear. Compared with more than a hundred others, this small group of thirty people is nothing. Moreover, most people have received benefits, so how can they listen to the instigation of a few people? A hint of admiration flashed in Zhifan's eyes. She really needed to learn the eldest lady's skills.

Mother Wu was killed with a stick, Madam Hu and Madam Luo were driven out of the Shangshu Mansion. For a moment, everyone in the mansion was in danger. When Shui Linglong was mentioned, they all looked frightened. Who would have expected that when they first entered the mansion, they would not even have one thing. A concubine with no decent clothes suddenly turned into a powerful figure in the inner house, and her methods were so decisive!

Mother Zhong is a little worried, fearing that this too radical approach may offend some villains.

Shui Linglong comforted her: "I am alone, without a biological mother or a younger brother. It has nothing to do with me what happens to the house after I get married. Why should I worry about offending others? Besides, I don't have a legitimate ancestry. If I don't There is no way to suppress them using thunderous means. Since the old lady has given me the full authority, I cannot let the old lady down." Although, she understood that the old lady might have ulterior motives.

Shui Linglong went to Fushou Yuan to report what happened before. The old lady put down the tea cup in her hand and looked surprised: "Ah, they are so presumptuous. You did a good job. You should be punished and rewarded." The tone is a little deeper, and the speaking speed is...slow. At first glance, it sounds like a casual remark, but when you think about it again, it seems to be something you said after deep thought.

Shui Linglong smiled and patted the old lady's back: "Grandma, don't you think Linglong's method is too cruel and overbearing? Sure enough, everyone understands the principle, but it is not the same in practice. If grandma were here today, He would not be as reckless as Linglong. Linglong was so angry that she suddenly lost her mind. Afterwards, she felt panicked and a little scared. "

 The old lady turned back with a half-smile: "Are you afraid too?"

Shui Linglong pretended not to understand and only showed an innocent smile: "Afraid! Linglong is afraid that she will not be able to calm down due to her youthful spirit and will lose her grandmother's face. After all, Linglong is the one who temporarily acts as a middle-income family on behalf of her grandmother! Those people have long since disappeared. It’s too late to cause trouble, but they started making trouble as soon as I took office. After all, they were bullying me because I was young and had no legitimate identity, so I couldn’t control them!”

An indiscernible light flashed through the old lady's old eyes, and she heard Shui Linglong say guiltily: "I won't be so reckless next time. My grandmother can tolerate me, but my husband's family may not."

With one sentence, the old lady successfully diverted her attention. The old lady took her hand and asked, "I heard that Miss Zhuge and Lord Yao have divorced?"

  What you are most concerned about is whether I have lost the opportunity to continue approaching Zhenbei Palace. Shui Linglong sighed regretfully: "Well, we are divorced. I went there today to help Miss Zhuge pack some gifts."

The light in the old lady's eyes returned: "So, Miss Zhuge likes you very much. A woman will not be in a good mood after divorce. You can spend more time with her when you have time. I will ask someone to prepare the carriage for you. ”

It is usually more difficult for a woman in a boudoir to go out than to go to heaven, but now she can come and go freely. Shui Linglong smiled: "Yeah, okay."

The old lady added: "Of course, we must not stay overnight in the Zhenbei Palace, lest people think we are dissolute and frivolous."

Shui Linglong nodded: "Linglong will remember her grandmother's teachings."

The old lady thought of Bingbing, and her intuition told her that Bingbing didn't seem to be very close to her. She frowned: "There are so many children, and you are the most reassuring to me. Lingqing is still young, and Lingyu is considered useless!"

The situations of Shui Lingyu and Leng Wei are very similar. The difference is that Shui Lingyu does not have a mother who plans for her wholeheartedly, nor does she have a daunting background. She fought alone and eventually failed. But when the old lady suddenly mentioned this, the focus was not on Shui Lingyu. Shui Linglong's lips curled up and she said: "The third sister is still young, so it doesn't matter if we discuss the marriage a few years later. When the limelight passes, things may not turn around. By the way, grandma, I heard that the second sister is recovering well and her life is good. The habit has gradually become normal, and I occasionally go out to bask in the sun, so I thought about asking a few handkerchiefs to be handed over to accompany her, but I had just arrived in Beijing and didn’t recognize many people, so I didn’t know who to invite. "

 Obviously, when talking about Shuiling River, her tone was not as good as before. The old lady's slightly frowned brows relaxed and she said slowly: "The days ahead are long."

After Shui Linglong left, the old lady's smile gradually faded. Wang's mother changed a cup of tea. The old lady picked it up but didn't drink it: "He is just a child after all, isn't he? There is youth and energy, but it's better to be more reckless. ”

Shui Linglong does have a way of managing the family, but she is too radical. Her temperament still needs to be refined, and she is also a bit petty and resentful. However, people with flaws are easier to control than those without flaws, so the old lady smiled a little.

Mama Wang's hands trembled slightly. She glanced at the old lady and shook her head imperceptibly. On the surface, the old lady let the eldest lady take charge of the house, but she was actually observing the eldest lady's style of doing things. Why didn't the eldest lady understand what the old lady was thinking? I'm afraid that what the old lady feels is exactly what the eldest lady wants the old lady to feel.

Shui Linglong took Ye Mao back to Lingxiang Courtyard. On the path with a row of ancient sycamore trees on the left and a clear water pavilion on the right, she met Ayi and Liu Lula.

"Let me go! Ayi, do you hear that? Let me go quickly!" Liu Lu tried her best to break free from Ayi's grasp, but the other person was too strong and she couldn't get rid of him, "I don't want to go out with you!" "

Ayi smiled and said: "What's wrong with me taking you out to play? You're not my sister and I won't take you with me!"

Liu Lu's face darkened: "Are you taking me out to play? You basically want me to sleep with those young men!"

Ayi choked, embarrassment flashed in his eyes, but he soon became arrogant again: "Anyway, you are no longer a young girl, what's the big deal in serving a few buddies for me? If you serve them well, they can still do it if they are happy I’ll give you a reward! That’s much more than my monthly salary!”

"Why am I not a young lady? Why should I let others sleep with my pure body? I am not a brothel prostitute, not to mention that the last person to get the reward is your own pocket!"

A Yi was so angry that his face turned red and his neck was thick. He promised those people that he would bring a stunning beauty to them tonight, and in return, they agreed to introduce him to a well-known powerful person. This was his future, he How could you miss it? "I've been with the eldest young master for more than a month and I still haven't lost my virginity? Who would believe me? I tell you, you have to go today, or you have to go if you don't! If you continue to resist, I will strip you of your clothes and throw them away. Enter the brothel!"

"You are so brave! You dare to take the servants of the Shangshu Mansion out of the house without my permission! This is a serious crime of kidnapping and trafficking servants! Even if you are my brother, it is against the law!"

A Yi was frightened by a cold voice. He looked sideways and saw Shui Linglong standing not far away as cold as ice. Her sharp eyes like knives went straight into his eyes. He gave him another fierce slap. Surprised: "Eldest...eldest lady..."

Shui Linglong waved her hands, not wanting to see his ugly face. Ye Mao took a step forward, twisted Ayi with both hands and threw him towards the lake on the right!

 Plop!

 Water splashes everywhere.

Shui Linglong glanced at Liu Lu indifferently and continued to move forward without saying a word.

Liu Lu gasped in shock and knelt on the ground facing Shui Linglong's back, kowtowing calmly: "Miss! I know my mistake! Please give me another chance! I don't think about anything anymore. This slave is willing to work for the eldest lady for the rest of his life, but I want to have a place to settle down! Miss, please help me!"

Shui Linglong's eyelids moved and she said calmly: "There is a tea server missing in the room."

Liu Lu was ecstatic in her heart. As long as she became the maid of Lingxiangyuan, Ayi would no longer dare to do anything to him: "Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Miss!"

 Yao Mansion.

Leng Wei was lying on a mattress covered with pink embroidered peonies, and felt a chill in her heart. The position of the legitimate wife, which she had been sure to win, had just disappeared. Even when the legitimate wife was vacant, without Zhuge Xi, the legitimate wife was gone. The wife should be her, Leng Wei! Why does this happen?

Mrs. Yao asked solemnly: "President Zhang, how is Aunt Leng's pregnancy?" She did not ask about Leng Wei's physical condition.

As soon as she heard the word "aunt", Leng Wei's hands tightened the mattress tightly.

Zhang Yuan checked his pulse and sighed slowly: "I will do my best to obey fate. For the first three months, I should stay in bed as much as possible."

 This is...cannot be saved?

Mrs. Yao frowned. The Yao family abandoned Zhuge Xi for Leng Wei and the fetus in her belly. If the fetus was lost like this, wouldn't the Yao family lose their wife and lose their troops?

Leng Wei warned herself not to be angry, absolutely not! Otherwise, it will cause fetal gas again! She suppressed her boundless unwillingness and forced out a gentle smile: "Mom, I will have a good pregnancy and childbirth. Don't worry, I will definitely give you a pair of precious golden grandchildren."

Mrs. Yao's expression softened slightly. Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, she could not give up. After all, there was no way out.

"It's good that you know that everything is empty right now. It's more important to raise the baby with peace of mind and continue Yao Cheng's legacy. As long as the son is born, everything will be easy, understand?" This was an ambiguous promise to Leng Wei that she wanted something. s things.

Leng Wei pretended to be happy and said: "I understand, mother, can you ask your husband to come over? I always miss him and feel uneasy."

As soon as Yao Cheng was mentioned, Mrs. Yao became angry, but her eyes flashed slightly and she said with a smile: "He is busy with official duties. When he has some free time, he will naturally come to see you and your children. Besides, Yuan Zhang has sentenced you to stay in bed for three months. It’s not appropriate for you to stay in bed. Young people are very fiery and tend to act recklessly when they meet. In my opinion, it’s right for him to stay away from you.”

In your heart, your son is always right. Leng Wei is used to living a life of stars and stars. Suddenly she entered her husband's house, lost her wife's position, and became like this half-dead state again. She has never seen Yao Cheng. Such a gap. …too big! How could Zhuge Xi endure such a selfish mother-in-law for five years?

Yao Cheng would come to the gate of Zhenbei Prince's Mansion every day and wait opposite him as soon as he came to court. When Zhuge Xi went out, he would take a long look at her from a distance, but he was disappointed. For half a month, he could not even see her figure. Not seen. How is she doing? Are you feeling a little sad so you can't eat or sleep? She is not as good at venting as other women. She holds everything in her heart and can easily hurt her body...

Yao Cheng was really worried, so he plucked up the courage to let the guards let him go, but the guards blocked him from the door unceremoniously.

Yao Cheng stuffed a piece of gold into the bodyguard and begged, "Brother, please do me a favor. I... I will just say a few words to your lady and then leave." A dignified third-rank young minister from Dali Temple actually begged in a low voice. A day in the life of a guard.

The guard threw the gold away and said expressionlessly: "The prince said that the Yao family and dogs are not allowed to enter!"

 (End of this chapter)