Chapter 30: Fooling Someone to Death
“Steward Chen, Master is already working very hard, you must not add to his troubles.” Madam Song spoke, but her eyes were on Gong Xu, coaxing him softly, “Master, please do not be angry, anger harms the body.”
“Yes, Steward Chen, the matter cannot be hidden anyway, so just tell us plainly! What is there that cannot be said in front of Master?” Granny Yang urged, “If you anger Master again, the sin will be great.”
“Yes, yes,” Steward Chen nodded repeatedly, “It is this old servant’s fault, I beg Master not to be angry. Li Fu himself did not make a mistake; he was implicated by his mother, Granny Liu.
This old servant twisted his ankle at the time and was not present. I only heard about it from others. That day, Madam hosted a grand banquet for guests. It seems that a room in the courtyard managed by Granny Liu was left unlocked, and Fourth Young Master somehow ran inside.
Madam then scolded her a few words because of this. Granny Liu, too, insisted on arguing that it was an unintentional mistake.
Madam became even more enraged and said she would send her to the manor outside the city. Granny Liu naturally cried and pleaded, saying that her husband and son were both in this mansion, and if she were driven to the manor, it would be very inconvenient for both sides.
So Madam said that if that was the case, the whole family would go to the manor. Therefore, their family of three was driven out.
The Zhu family of three, who were originally at the manor, were called up.
Zhu Dashun thus replaced Li Fu’s task. The two of them were originally on a two-person shift. Sun Wan and Wang San both said it was the same as usual. However, one night Zhao Chun had a stomachache and ran all night. Zhu Dashun, who was on duty with him, said he slept like a log and knew nothing.”
Gong Xu snorted and laughed when he heard this, his lips pressed tightly together. Madam Song knew he was furious when he acted like this.
“Master, for people like us, it is not appropriate to go to the authorities over a matter of a thousand or two taels of silver. A dignified Earl’s mansion cannot afford to lose face. But there must be an explanation for this matter,” Steward Chen took out the banknotes again, “Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, it is my failure as a steward. I have no face to continue staying here…”
“You may go down first!” Gong Xu slightly lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the empty space in front of the table. “Whoever’s fault it is will bear it. No harboring of family thieves is allowed here!”
Steward Chen wanted to say more, but Madam Song gave him a look, and he retreated obediently.
“Quickly go and make Master some tea, and also ask the kitchen to stew a bowl of liver-soothing soup.” Madam Song got up and gently rubbed Gong Xu’s back, then earnestly instructed Granny Yang.
“This bitch!” After Granny Yang left the room, Gong Xu could no longer hold back and cursed.
“Master, please calm your anger. We can just ask about it behind closed doors.” Madam Song continued to play the good person, “Perhaps there is some misunderstanding in this.”
“What misunderstanding could there be? Isn’t it obvious?” Gong Xu sneered, his eyes narrowing slightly, his cheeks turning green, looking very frightening. “She took advantage of your absence and acted like a queen. She has lived a life of poverty all these years, and now that she’s back, of course, she wants to find ways to hoard some money for herself.
If she hadn’t instigated it, which servant in this mansion would dare to steal? Are they tired of living? She’s counting on the fact that even if it comes to light, we can only suffer in silence, which is why she is so brazen!”
As Gong Xu spoke more, he became angrier, pushing a jade screen from the table to the ground, shattering it into several pieces.
“Master, be careful not to hurt your hand.” Madam Song tightly held Gong Xu’s hand and pulled it to her chest, saying anxiously and with heartache, “Master, just consider those things as alms; they are not worth much anyway. Your health is important; do not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small matters.”
“This bitch! I knew she would bring trouble when she returned! I was too merciful to allow her to live in this home.” Gong Xu regretted it deeply. Wen Mingqian was a viper; even if she looked frozen, she would bite back if given the slightest room.
“Then what does Master intend to do?” Madam Song was pleased inwardly but showed nothing on her face.
“What to do? I will confront her!” Gong Xu gritted his teeth, “Drive her out!”
“Absolutely not, Master!” Madam Song desperately stopped him.
Confront her? How could that be possible! Give Wen Mingqian a chance to argue?
She only needed Gong Xu to thoroughly despise Wen Mingqian from the bottom of his heart once more, to believe that she was utterly beyond redemption.
“Xiu Lian, do not stop me. She is so willing to be base; why do you still plead for her?” Gong Xu was furious, his anger boiling.
“Master, even if Madam did not act correctly, among all things, there is still Fourth Young Master!” Madam Song cried, “That child is truly pitiful. If you go, what will become of him? How will he be able to hold his head up in the future?”
“Xiu Lian, you…” Facing Madam Song, Gong Xu could not maintain his anger. “You always think of others.”
“Master, I am not that magnanimous,” Madam Song said, tears flowing, looking at Gong Xu affectionately, “I am only considering you. Fourth Young Master is your own flesh and blood. You and your son have not seen each other for many years, and you should reconcile.
If, because of this trivial matter, it creates a rift between you, it will be a lifelong regret!
How can a son not side with his own mother? If you go to question and scold Madam, how will Fourth Young Master be close to you in the future?”
“Her conduct is improper, and she has also corrupted the child!” Gong Xu thought deeper, hating Wen Mingqian even more.
“But even if you go, how will Madam admit it? It will be like back then, forcing you to go to the authorities, and the entire mansion will lose face.” Madam Song’s tears flowed like a spring, “Master, when my Kang’er died tragically, I still endured it.
It is not that I do not love my son, nor that I do not hate her. It is because I know that the future of the Gong Family and Master’s reputation are the most important things…”
“You are truly… what can I say!” Gong Xu sighed deeply, pulling Madam Song into his embrace, his previous indignation gone. “If she could be half as good as you, she would not cause such unrest in the household.”
“Master, since things have come to this, there is no need to dwell on it.” Madam Song wiped away her tears and said, “As they say, an arm broken within a sleeve, or teeth swallowed into the stomach. It is enough to deal with those servants; there is no need to make a fuss.”
“That vicious woman got off too easily!” Gong Xu was unwilling but had decided to cease hostilities. “When Old Madam returns, I will definitely get rid of her from here!”
“Alright, Master, no matter what is said, your health is paramount.” Madam Song, having achieved her goal, began to coax Gong Xu again.
She knew clearly that men liked gentle women.
As long as they were appeased with sweet words, they could be ordered around like dogs.
At this moment, Granny Yang brought the liver-soothing soup and called a young maid to clean up the floor.
Gong Xu ordered, “Expel the Zhu Dashun family and do not allow them to settle in the Capital City.”
How could such servants who dared to be instigated by Wen Mingqian to steal be kept?!
Early in the morning, why don’t you all drink a cup of green tea to refresh your eyes?
