Chapter 32: Seeking Justice
Steward Chen naturally wanted to resist, but he was no match for Zhang Ma.
Zhang Ma rode on top of him, her slapping hands moving so fast they left afterimages.
Steward Chen was beaten until he was dazed, completely unable to fight back, only able to let out pig-like screams.
Some people came to persuade, some came to pull, and a few who intended to help Steward Chen were also slapped.
After much effort, Zhang Ma was pulled away, and Steward Chen was helped up.
“You… you old shrew!” Steward Chen’s half of his goatee trembled like leaves in the wind, the other half clutched in Zhang Ma’s hand.
“Pah! You black-hearted dog servant! If I don’t dig out your gallstones today, you’ll have recognized the wrong Zhang Grandma!” Zhang Ma put one hand on her hip, standing guard like a single soldier. “The old Zhu family was brought back by Madam, why are you sending them away?!”
The steward was both angry and ashamed, in pain and vexed, but his mind was still clear enough to say, “I won’t argue with you, let’s go to the Master to arbitrate!”
Zhang Ma threw a tantrum and beat people, and she suffered such a grievance; she had to let the Master and the Little Madam see it.
Zhang Ma showed no weakness, saying, “What? You think I’m afraid to see the Master? Then invite Madam too, and we’ll have a triple trial!”
Steward Chen didn’t say anything, but he cursed Zhang Ma in his heart for courting death and dragging his master into a fiery pit.
However, he was happy to see it happen. If Wen Mingqian and her servants were scolded and punished, the Little Madam would surely reward him, and even the Master would comfort and appease him, never letting him suffer this beating in vain.
“Zhang Ma, let it go! It won’t be easy to resolve if it escalates,” Zhu Xi said, trying to admonish Zhang Ma as he approached, clearly terrified by the scene.
“Don’t be afraid,” Zhang Ma flicked her sleeve. “Black can’t be made white, and white can’t be made black. I don’t believe there’s no justice in this world!”
Several people helped Steward Chen, with Zhang Ma following closely. The Zhu family naturally had to follow, and many onlookers joined them.
In the courtyard of Rui Xiang Residence, Hua Hong was making a knot under the corridor.
Steward Chen put on a very weak act and said, “Miss Hua Hong, please trouble yourself to go inside and report that I have been beaten and beg the Master to preside over the matter.”
Hua Hong was also surprised to see him, but without time to ask further, she hurried into the room.
At this moment, Gong Xu was drinking tea at the table, while Consort Song was doing needlework beside him.
“Who is making such a racket outside?” Consort Song asked before Hua Hong could speak.
“It’s Steward Chen, bringing many people to ask the Master to preside over the matter, saying he was beaten by someone.” Hua Hong added, “This servant saw that Steward Chen was indeed seriously injured.”
“Who beat him?” Gong Xu asked, very surprised. “Let them in.”
Meanwhile, Granny Yang had already shuffled in from outside, saying as she walked, “This is truly an act of rebellion! I’ve lived this long, and this is the first time I’ve seen such an absurdity!
So the Madam brought back not a servant, but a thug! That Zhang Ma almost beat Steward Chen to death! Oh my, blood was gushing from his nose and mouth! Poor Steward Chen is an old man.”
“Zhang Ma beat him?! Why did she beat Steward Chen?” Consort Song asked in surprise.
“This old servant doesn’t know,” Granny Yang shook her head. “But this matter must be clarified, otherwise, won’t it be chaos?”
Gong Xu was already full of anger. When he saw Steward Chen’s condition upon entering, his face turned even darker.
Steward Chen’s clothes were torn in several places, one eye was bruised, blood seeped from his nose and mouth, and only half of his goatee remained. He looked pitiful and ridiculous.
“Master, you must do justice for me!” Steward Chen cried, collapsing on the ground. “Otherwise, I’ll have no face to live in this world!”
“Don’t cry first, speak properly,” Consort Song said. “Who beat you for no reason?”
“It’s her!” The steward, tears streaming down his face, pointed at Zhang Ma. “This old shrew, she asked me why I was evicting the Zhu family, and I said it was the Master’s order. She didn’t listen and started hitting me. Look, this is what she did to me!”
“Zhang Ma, is that how it happened?” Consort Song looked at Zhang Ma.
“I did beat him,” Zhang Ma admitted without hesitation. “He deserved it!”
“Presumptuous!” Gong Xu’s pent-up anger erupted with these two words. “Such an ill-mannered village woman, quickly escort her out!”
He didn’t want to ask Zhang Ma anything, nor did he want to see her. What was the point of keeping such a disobedient servant?
“Master, if you truly expel me, I will go to the yamen to seek justice,” Zhang Ma was so brazen that she even dared to challenge Gong Xu.
Gong Xu’s eyes widened involuntarily. This old woman had reached a point of utter lawlessness!
For a moment, he even forgot his anger, only feeling disbelief.
“Zhang Ma, how dare you talk back to the Master like this? Hurry and withdraw! How does Madam usually teach you?” Consort Song rarely scolded anyone, but to protect Gong Xu, she naturally chose to put on a stern face.
Her last sentence reminded Gong Xu, and he directed all his anger and resentment towards Wen Mingqian: “Summon Madam! Let’s see her good servant!”
“Why is Master so angry?” Wen Mingqian’s voice came from outside, calm and unhurried. “No need to trouble anyone to summon me, I am here.”
This was the first time she had been in the same room as Gong Xu and Consort Song since returning to the mansion. The atmosphere in the room immediately became tense, and even Steward Chen’s groans quieted down considerably.
“You’ve arrived just in time. Your servant beat Steward Chen without cause. How do you propose we handle this?” Gong Xu questioned Wen Mingqian.
Wen Mingqian first looked at Steward Chen, then turned to Zhang Ma and asked, “Did you beat Steward Chen without cause?”
Zhang Ma shook her head. “I did beat him, but it wasn’t without cause.”
“Then what was the reason?” Wen Mingqian was neither rushed nor annoyed. The more she was like this, the angrier Gong Xu became.
She didn’t realize she had done something shameful, and she was still acting so fiercely and arrogantly. She was truly muddled and utterly disrespectful!
He had been too kind, allowing such a person to remain in the mansion!
“Madam, I was acting on the Master’s orders to have the Zhu family of three leave,” the steward said, his mouth twitching. “But she stood up for the Zhu family and beat me into this state. Those who know will say she is arrogant and rude, but those who don’t might think it’s Madam’s intention!”
“Steward Chen, I’m asking Zhang Ma,” Wen Mingqian’s eyes were chilling, carrying a sense of pressure. “We need to clarify the matter now. When will we get to the bottom of it if it remains so chaotic?”
Steward Chen was choked by Wen Mingqian’s words and looked helplessly at Consort Song.
Consort Song, naturally, had to act virtuous in front of Gong Xu, so she remained silent.
“Because Chen Youde is a scoundrel who steals from the household!” Zhang Ma spoke directly. “With such a scourge around, the mansion will never have peace!”
“You’re slandering me! My loyalty is as clear as heaven and earth!” Steward Chen, completely forgetting his pain, argued angrily. “I think you are clearly malicious and are just throwing mud at others.”
“Flower Branch Alley, the sixth house from the east,” Zhang Ma said with a half-smile. “There lives an eighteen-year-old courtesan. Chen Youde, why haven’t you visited her recently?”
Her words made Steward Chen’s face turn ashen, and his eyes went blank.
