Glory

"You've already arranged everything so perfectly for our journey back, it will be completely comfortable." Ye Chongxian spoke with deep emotion to Ye Hongsheng, "Hongsheng, you truly have an exceptional daughter."

These clansmen had come for the wedding festivities, staying here all this time as guests and gaining new experiences. For the Ye family to provide travel expenses for their return journey was already quite generous, and there was no need for Ye Hongsheng or Ye Yaming to concern themselves further.

Yet during the meal, Ye Yaming had insisted on preparing generous farewell gifts for everyone, dispatching manor guards to escort them back, and arranging all their accommodations along the way—leaving nothing for them to worry about.

Ye Hongsheng nodded, once again realizing how much he still had to learn about social etiquette and human relationships.

After the bridal return ceremony concluded, Ye Yaming summoned Lu An the next day to gather all the household servants in the main courtyard.

"Xu Zan, call the roll," Ye Yaming instructed Zan'er.

After Zan'er, Song'er, and Yun'er followed Ye Yaming to the Xuanwu Marquis Household, they were promoted and resumed using their original surnames, becoming Xu Zan, Tang Song, and Ma Yun respectively.

Xu Zan served as the chief housekeeper by Ye Yaming's side, assisting her with all external affairs.

Xu Zan proceeded to read through the name list.

Watching from the side, Lu An's expression darkened considerably. Taking roll call was traditionally the steward's responsibility. For the young mistress to have her attendant handle it instead of him, the chief steward of the marquis household—was this implementing the "new emperor, new ministers" approach, intending to remove him from his position?

He kept glancing anxiously at Lu Guanyi, hoping the young master would intervene on his behalf.

An Tai couldn't resist rolling his eyes at him.

This Lu An had been promoted by Shi Shi—how foolish would their young master have to be to protect Lu An at the expense of his own wife's authority?

After finishing the roll call, Xu Zan turned to report to Ye Yaming and Lu Guanyi: "Granny Zhao and Dongmei from the kitchen are absent."

Someone immediately explained from below: "Granny Zhao took Dongmei out for market purchases."

No sooner had these words been spoken than two women were shoved into the courtyard—precisely Granny Zhao and Dongmei.

Those pushing them forward were recognized by the former gatekeepers of the Lu household as the replacements brought by the young mistress to guard the gates.

The already tense atmosphere among the servants grew even more strained.

Ye Yaming and Lu Guanyi sat in the corridor, with all servants standing below the steps. Xu Zan positioned himself slightly ahead and to the left of Ye Yaming.

Seeing the two women being escorted in, he read several names from the list, including Granny Zhao and Dongmei.

"The aforementioned individuals drugged the nuptial wine during the young master's wedding ceremony, attempting to publicly humiliate both the young master and young mistress. Plotting against their masters is a capital offense. They are hereby sentenced to fifty heavy strokes, to be carried out immediately."

Chaos erupted among the sixty-plus servants below.

"Wrongfully accused! We're innocent!" someone panickedly cried out.

"Young master, there must be some mistake?" Lu An appealed to Lu Guanyi before turning to yell at Ye Yaming, "Young mistress, you've brought so many attendants with you—if you want us to make way for them, we'll step aside without complaint. But framing us with these accusations is going too far!"

"Exactly, this is excessive!"

"We've always been honest and dutiful, never committing any misdeeds. Should the household really execute us just because there's a new mistress?""Young Madam, wouldn't it damage your reputation if word got out that you started killing people the moment you arrived?"

Those whose names had been called were all seething with indignation. Who knew if they would survive fifty strokes of the rod? Thus, they spoke without restraint, only wishing they had silver tongues to make Ye Yaming immediately retract her order.

Those whose names hadn't been called dared not speak up, but their faces were filled with anxiety, uncertain of what fate awaited them.

"Clap, clap, clap..." Lu Guanyi, who had been sitting nearby, suddenly began applauding as he stood up.

Gazing at the crowd below, his smile didn't reach his icy eyes. "I had no idea the Xuanwu Marquis Household under Shi Shi's management had such discipline. Each of you carries more authority than your masters and mistress."

Having killed on the battlefield and seen bloodshed, he now unleashed his full intimidating aura, his entire being radiating menace, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Under his sweeping gaze, the previously indignant crowd fell silent, not daring to make another sound.

Lu Guanyi coldly scanned the assembly. "Those pleading innocence, forget it. Every one of you was caught red-handed by my men—none are wrongly accused. If you dared scheme against your masters on our wedding day, you should have been prepared to die."

He turned to Granny Zhao and Dongmei. "You two were planning to flee the household and never return out of fear, weren't you? I didn't act these past two days not because I hadn't uncovered your plots, but because it's inauspicious during the wedding period. I also wanted to see how you'd secretly conspire."

With that, he commanded, "Drag them out and beat them."

Guards whom Lu Guanyi had brought back from the border—men who clearly had seen bloodshed—had quietly entered the courtyard. Under An Tai and Anning's direction, they dragged out each person on the list, lining them up in the yard for the flogging.

The remaining servants in the courtyard turned pale as paper, trembling like sieves. Lu An quickly knelt, wishing he could vanish into the ground to make himself invisible.

After all the listed individuals had been removed, Xu Zan picked up the list and continued reading names.

This time, far more names were called—the vast majority of those present. Everyone felt as if a blade hung over their necks, ready to fall at any moment.

Lu An desperately comforted himself that since he hadn't been dragged out for beating, he was safe. After all, the young master and young madam didn't possess their Indentured Servant Contracts and couldn't sell them off.

When Xu Zan finally finished reading the names, he declared, "All those named above, for their disrespect and improper conduct, are to be sent to the manor to become Manor serfs."

Another wave of unrest swept through the crowd.

But this time, no one dared protest or curse. Instead, they kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Young Master, Young Madam, have mercy! We swear loyalty to you both and would never dare disobey. May lightning strike us if we break this vow!"

"Young Master, though Shi Shi purchased me, I've never wronged either of you. I beg for your mercy—please don't send me away!" Lu An kowtowed so hard his head thumped loudly against the ground.

"Take them away," Lu Guanyi said, unwilling to waste more words on them.

These servants bound by lifelong contracts should have known from the moment they were purchased that all masters in the household had the right to punish them—even to execute them—without needing evidence.Although these named individuals hadn't been selected by Lu Guanyu to target the couple directly, they had frequently made disparaging remarks about their legitimate eldest son in private. Moreover, they had even helped Shi Shi and Lu Guanyu embarrass him on the rare occasions he visited the Marquis residence. None of them were innocent.

Author's Note

Massive update is here! Seeking monthly votes!

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