Chapter 9: Winning Hearts Through Virtue
The next day, early in the morning, several maids and old women arrived at Li Xiang Courtyard.
It was unclear what Xue Qingzhi had explained to Madam Fu the previous night, but Madam Fu assigned four maids, including Ru Yi, and several rough-handed old women to serve in Li Xiang Courtyard.
The leading old woman was Madam Fu’s dowry wet nurse, surnamed Liu. She surveyed the surroundings and let out a sarcastic cold laugh.
“The First Madam said that since the Sixth Young Lady has just returned from a dirty place like the Old Mausoleum Swamp, her etiquette and rules must be rusty. To avoid embarrassing the Princess Consort at Prince Duan’s Mansion, she needs to relearn and practice all the rules.”
“Until her manners are learned, the Sixth Young Lady is not to wander freely in the mansion, lest she offend any noble persons.”
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi exchanged a quick glance, their faces showing indignation.
Xue Sui smiled, her voice calm, “It is as it should be.”
Nanny Liu had visited Granny Fang the night before and heard her speak of the Sixth Sister’s ruthlessness and the horrors of the Old Mausoleum Swamp. She still harbored some wariness. Upon seeing Li Xiang Courtyard today, wasn’t this still the same soft persimmon, a mushy dough, as before?
A young lady who had never seen the world, who understood nothing, and had such a base mother. Upon suddenly returning to the mansion, she was likely already blinded by the splendor and wealth. Her so-called ruthlessness was merely poverty…
Granny Fang was too foolish, scared by the Old Mausoleum Swamp.
And the First Madam was truly making a mountain out of a molehill.
Such a low-born little maid, wouldn’t she be at their mercy to be molded and kneaded as they pleased? With a few simple tricks, she could be made to obey obediently, unable to escape their grasp.
Nanny Liu unconsciously raised her posture and stepped forward.
“From today onwards, I will teach the Young Lady the rules. We uphold strict family conduct, manifest wifely virtues, maintain order between elders and juniors, and respect hierarchy. The Sixth Young Lady must remember her status and not make the slightest mistake.”
Xue Sui listened to everything Nanny Liu said, with a smile on her face.
After Nanny Liu finished speaking, she finally said with a smile, “Very good.”
Nanny Liu pursed her lips and signaled for the maids and old women to stand in a neat line.
“Sixth Young Lady, please bestow your reward.”
The Xue Mansion had strict rules, and the young masters and ladies valued face. Rewards for servants were always generous.
Nanny Liu thought that to establish herself in the mansion, she would have to prepare some silver money to appease the servants and suffer less…
She did not expect that Xue Sui would not only give them not a single copper coin but would turn and call for Xiao Zhao.
“Tell them about the rules.”
Xiao Zhao responded with a smile, “To shout and call out to the Young Lady as if she were your peer, and then to order the Young Lady around? I see Nanny Liu understands no rules at all, you have disgraced the First Madam’s name completely.”
Before her voice faded, she pointed to an old tree in the courtyard.
“Go, kneel under the tree for two hours. Only when you have figured out what rules are, should you return to teach our Young Lady. If you cannot learn, then tie your feet, strip your clothes, hang you upside down from the tree, and ponder for three days!”
The maids and old women Nanny Liu brought had been eagerly anticipating a show. Servants bullying a young lady of noble birth, what better drama could there be in any garden?
Unexpectedly, the Sixth Young Lady was so bold as to punish the First Madam’s wet nurse.
How dare she?
Several people shrieked.
“Sixth Young Lady, please don’t.”
“Nanny Liu is someone from the First Madam’s chambers…”
“Silence!” Xue Sui looked at the old woman pleading, “Someone from the First Madam’s chambers is still a servant. I see you also do not understand the rules. You should kneel alongside Nanny Liu.”
The old woman’s face turned ashen. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, when she heard Ru Yi let out a cold laugh.
“Nanny Liu, Granny Zhang, if you do not listen to the Young Lady, shall I report to the First Master and the Old Madam, and then you can receive your punishment?”
The grannies and maids were all surprised that Ru Yi had recognized a new master so quickly, and were momentarily stunned.
But who was Nanny Liu? She was from the First Madam’s chambers, always considering herself half a mistress. When had she ever been reprimanded?
“Fine, Sixth Young Lady, you just wait for me!”
After she issued her threat, she turned to leave.
Xue Sui glanced at Xiao Zhao, “Li Xiang Courtyard cannot tolerate such unruly servants.”
Xiao Zhao had been waiting for this sentence for a long time.
Although she was young, she was one of the more skilled martial artists among the Corpse Keepers in the Old Mausoleum Swamp. Returning to the Xue Mansion, she felt her hands itching every day.
“Stop!” Xiao Zhao shouted. Nanny Liu hadn’t even understood what was happening before the young maid grabbed her by the collar. Her knees buckled as she was kicked, and she stumbled forward, falling to her knees.
“Ouch! Sixth Young Lady, how dare you…” She was about to throw her weight around, but Xiao Zhao slapped her on the corner of her mouth, and only then did she let out a pig-like howl.
“You crazy girl, are you insane?”
She twisted her neck and shouted again:
“What are you all standing around for? Come and help!”
Two grannies looked eager to step forward, but then they saw the Sixth Sister standing on the steps let out a cold laugh.
“Who dares!”
The maids lowered their heads.
The old women retracted their stepping feet, looking at each other in dismay.
Xue Sui scanned everyone, “Beat her until she understands what rules are and bows her head to admit her mistake.”
Hadn’t she just returned the First Madam’s words to her?
Xiao Zhao responded with a beaming smile, rolled up her sleeves, and began to beat her mercilessly.
She was a trained fighter and showed no restraint in her blows.
That day in Li Xiang Courtyard, amidst Nanny Liu’s wails, the air became much fresher and more cheerful.
In the end, the stout and broad-waisted Nanny Liu was beaten by Xiao Zhao until she looked like a pig’s head, crying as she left.
Ru Yi watched, dumbfounded, “My heavens, Sixth Young Lady is too formidable. That Nanny Liu was much more shrewish than Granny Fang. She usually acted arrogantly in the mansion, and even the First Master showed her some respect. And she was dismissed like this by the Sixth Young Lady?”
Xiao Zhao felt invigorated all over, laughing non-stop.
“You haven’t seen the Young Lady at her truly formidable best yet.”
This was nothing yet. There would be plenty to see in the future.
Ru Yi quietly leaned closer and whispered, “The Young Lady hitting Nanny Liu is like hitting the First Madam’s face, isn’t it? That old hag will go back and complain, and the First Madam will definitely come to trouble the Young Lady…”
Xiao Zhao replied with a smile, “Our Young Lady fears trouble the least.”
Ru Yi still felt uneasy in her heart.
“The First Madam will not give up, and the First Master and the Old Madam will not protect the Sixth Young Lady…”
Xiao Zhao: “Isn’t that perfect? My sword has been idle for a long time, it’s almost rusting…”
She fiercely made a “slashing” gesture.
Xue Sui turned back, “This is not the Old Mausoleum Swamp, don’t always think about fighting. We must win people over with virtue.”
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi exchanged a glance and stuck out their tongues.
Xue Sui acted as if she hadn’t seen their reaction. She called over the maids and old women Nanny Liu had brought, questioned them carefully, left two maids to care for Xue Ji, sent three old women for rough work in the outer courtyard, and dismissed the rest.
Having done all this, she finally smiled with relief.
“The weather is nice today.”
Xiao Zhao had been with her for many years and knew her preferences. She brought the Four Treasures of the Study, brewed some tea, and set it by the window for her.
“Does the Young Lady want to write or paint?”
She asked with a hint of excitement.
When the Young Lady wrote or painted, it was like mustering troops and generals; whoever was pointed at would be in trouble.
Xue Sui shook her head, “I will copy scriptures.”
Xiao Zhao: “Ah?”
Copying scriptures? Not killing?
Ru Yi, completely unaware of what Xiao Zhao was thinking, blinked her clear, large eyes and asked softly, “What scripture does the Young Lady wish to copy? This maid will prepare it for the Young Lady.”
Xue Sui: “Xiao Zhao, bring me my box.”
Ru Yi then realized that the scripture the Young Lady wanted to copy was the “Money Sutra.”
After leaving the Old Mausoleum Swamp, Xue Sui and her servants did not have much luggage, nor much money.
Although she had been an Imperial Envoy for many years, apart from keeping enough for necessary living expenses, she had used the rest of her money for her Master’s relief efforts.
So many people needed to eat, and the pitiful people needing relief were endless. No matter how much silver was invested, it was like a drop in the ocean.
Therefore, she hadn’t saved much money.
Xiao Zhao brought the box and counted the little money they had.
Ru Yi nervously bent over, tending to the embers in the brazier.
The three of them were quiet, contemplating their future days.
About a quarter of an hour later, a hurried woman appeared outside the window.
Ru Yi peeked out, “Oh, isn’t that Aunt Jinshu from the Old Madam’s chambers? Why is she here at Li Xiang Courtyard?”
Xue Sui did not move. After Jinshu came in to pay her respects, she then sent Ru Yi and Xiao Zhao out to keep watch.
“Unless I give the order, no one is allowed in.”
The two young maids went out and closed the door.
Jinshu curtsied and took a piece of plain paper from her sleeve, handing it to Xue Sui.
“Young Lady, burn it after reading.”
