Chapter 8: A Storm Brews
Hong Xing and Zhui Zi spent a lot of effort going back and forth. When they returned to Yun Feng Zhai, they saw Zhang Ma standing inside the door, looking at them with a half-smile.
“Zhang Ma, we’ve brought back breakfast,” Hong Xing said with a smile.
She always smiled and spoke respectfully when facing Zhang Ma.
Zhang Ma took the food box from her hand and opened it, then threw the lid back with a huff: “You only brought it back after it got cold. You’re really capable!”
“Zhang Ma, please don’t be angry. I didn’t do it on purpose. Our place is remote, and the people in the kitchen were busy preparing breakfast for the Master, so no one paid attention to me. That’s why I waited a bit longer,” Hong Xing had already thought of an excuse.
These days, she had been using excuses to deal with things, thinking that Zhang Ma could do nothing to her.
“Heh, if it’s remote, why didn’t you walk faster?! How big is this mansion? Did you turn into a maggot and crawl there? Besides, if you were afraid of wearing out your feet, you should have gone earlier,” Zhang Ma was not buying it. “It’s not like there are many guests at home and they can’t handle it. There are only a few Masters here, and you still want to make these leftovers?!”
“How was I supposed to know?” Hong Xing said aggrievedly. “They just wouldn’t pay attention to me, and when I asked, they said they were busy. I didn’t know which breakfast was for Madam and Fourth Young Master, so I didn’t dare… I didn’t dare to move anything.”
“You’re still feeling wronged!” Zhang Ma’s eyes were sinister. “You’re making such a fuss over fetching breakfast, does that mean Madam can’t order you around anymore?”
“The food is cold, I’ll go to the kitchen and ask them to heat it up again. I’m not afraid of wearing out my feet,” Hong Xing choked up. “Granny, please don’t try to suppress me with your authority. I’m just a little maid, I can’t bear it. I only have these two legs, and I have to walk one step at a time. My mother didn’t give me wings!”
Hong Xing knew that Zhang Ma was a shrew, but so what? Wasn’t she also a servant?
Mei Xiang was sworn as a servant, let alone the Madam behind her was just a clay Buddha. What was there to be afraid of?
It wouldn’t be a big deal to argue, it would just let everyone know what kind of unreasonable and shameless people their master and servant were, and how they were not respected.
“Oh ho, you spawn of a concubine!” Zhang Ma raised her hand and slapped her, a solid hit. “Your mother didn’t give you wings, but she gave you a sharp tongue! Stop talking nonsense to me. Your great-grandmother has fiery eyes and can see through your deceitful nature.
You’re not serving Madam and Young Master well, and you have the nerve to talk back? Let me tell you, give up your wicked thoughts! If you’re not afraid of me punishing you to death, then keep causing trouble!”
Hong Xing was hit and fell to the ground, her face burning with pain, and she was stunned.
Zhui Zi, Gao Ma, and Aunt Tian, who were nearby, were all frightened.
They knew Zhang Ma was fierce, but they didn’t expect her to be so unreasonable, she was practically a madwoman!
As soon as Hong Xing recovered, she started crying loudly, shouting that she didn’t want to live anymore: “Why did you hit me?! I’m not someone you bought with money! If you have the ability, call a human trafficker to sell me off, and then buy someone obedient for you to command!”
While this was happening, someone had already run to Consort Song’s place to spread the word.
“Little Madam, didn’t this old servant say it? It won’t be long before that old firecracker, Zhang Ma, explodes,” Granny Yang said with a look of a conspiracy succeeding. “Just let them make a scene, the bigger the better! Let everyone in the Capital City know what kind of person our Second Branch’s Madam really is.”
“Let’s go and see! We can’t just let them make a scene like this,” Consort Song said as she stood up. “After all, I’m in charge of the household now. If it’s too much, it’s also my fault.”
When Consort Song arrived at Yun Feng Zhai, she saw Hong Xing crying and lamenting, as if she wanted to die.
Granny Yang saw this and asked, “What’s going on?”
Hearing this, Hong Xing felt as if she had been enlightened. She ran over crying to complain: “Granny Yang, I can’t live anymore!”
“What is this commotion? Let’s talk properly! When has our mansion ever been so embarrassing?” Granny Yang began to play along. “What happened to your face?”
“Zhang Ma hit me!” Hong Xing cried. “She sent me to the kitchen to get breakfast, and then complained that I was late. I didn’t do it on purpose, it was because the road was a bit far and the kitchen was too busy.
She aggressively said that I was deliberately slacking off, and I couldn’t help but defend myself. Then she slapped me, called me a spawn of a concubine, and said she would punish me to death.
I am indeed a servant bought by the mansion, but the laws of the country clearly state that even servants cannot be casually beaten or killed. Moreover, who is she to be a Master?!
Even if I did something wrong, it’s fine if you hit me a couple of times and scolded me a bit, why would you say such hurtful things to humiliate me? Even if I’m a servant, I’m still a person.
I may not have much, but I have some backbone. I’m not a singer in a brothel with no dignity.
Besides, even if she’s older, it’s fine for her to criticize me a bit. But there’s no need to be so sarcastic, I don’t know if she’s scolding me or someone else.”
“Alright, stop crying. It’s so unsightly to make such a scene,” Wen Mingqian finally spoke. “Zhang Ma is old, and she’s someone close to Madam. If she scolds you a few words, then accept it. If you’ve done wrong, correct it; if not, learn from it. Why must you argue with her? And you’re disturbing Madam’s peace.”
Saying this, she walked over and paid her respects to Wen Mingqian: “I’ve been ill these past few days and couldn’t come to pay my respects to Madam, which is truly neglectful.”
“If you’re sick, you should rest well,” Wen Mingqian said with concern. “I also wanted to visit you, but I know you are a person who abides by the rules, and if I went, I would surely disturb your rest. It’s better for you to rest well.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Madam. This maid is ignorant. I will take her back and discipline her properly, and then I will send a more obedient one.” Consort Song said.
“You naturally want to make me worry less, but this matter today should be resolved on the spot,” Wen Mingqian said lightly, yet with an unyielding tone. “Since a commotion has already started, it’s necessary to distinguish right from wrong, after all, matters have their size, but reason has no size.”
“Madam’s words are very reasonable. Then let’s settle it here!” Consort Song would naturally not directly contradict Wen Mingqian, as she needed to maintain her reputation for virtue.
Because she knew how important this was to her. Although reputation was intangible, people valued it greatly.
And the higher their status, the more so.
She was unwilling to be a concubine, so she had to protect her reputation with all her might.
“Hong Xing, stop crying. Come over and explain things clearly with Zhang Ma,” Granny Yang was good at reading the situation.
At this moment, Yun Feng Zhai was crowded with servants watching the spectacle. The stage was set, shouldn’t a play be performed?
Hong Xing, covering half of her swollen face, walked over aggrievedly.
Zhang Ma, however, still had that fearless demeanor, showing no regard for Consort Song and the others.
