Chapter 83: Picking a Fight
Jinchao took Yu Xiang and Qingpu to the Affairs Office, asking to see Luo Liu.
Upon hearing of Madam Ji's death, Luo Liu had been terrified. Consumed by guilt, he suspected her demise was linked to the switched medicine. These days, he had been living in constant fear, unable to sleep soundly. When the Eldest Miss personally came for him, he dropped to his knees trembling, too frightened to speak.
Sipping her tea, Jinchao instructed Steward Sun: "...A few months ago, Luo Liu sneaked into the inner courtyard and harassed one of the maids. The poor girl kept it to herself for months before finally coming to me in tears. I was furious when I heard—such behavior is intolerable. Give him a beating and throw him out of the estate!"
She glanced at Luo Liu, who was trembling pitifully on the floor. She had her own plan—she wouldn’t mention the rhubarb yet to avoid alerting Steward Sun. Once she extracted a confession from Luo Liu, she could deal with Steward Sun directly. Accusing Luo Liu of harassing a maid was just the opening she needed to implicate both him and Steward Sun.
Steward Sun maintained a polite smile. "Eldest Miss... Luo Liu has worked under me for decades. He’s always been honest—perhaps there’s been some misunderstanding. May I ask which maid was harassed? When and where did this happen? And how did you come to know of it—did the maid report it to you?"
He privately scoffed at Gu Jinzhao. What kind of person was the Eldest Miss? Everyone knew. Coming here to accuse Luo Liu was just her making trouble—as if a maid’s word alone could justify punishing him! Once Concubine Song’s child was born and she was elevated to the position of mistress, what power would the Eldest Miss even have left?
He treated her like an ignorant child: "...Where is this maid now? Let me see her, Eldest Miss, so Luo Liu isn’t wronged without cause."
Luo Liu hastily nodded. "Eldest Miss, you must believe this servant! I never entered the inner courtyard or harassed any maid!"
Jinchao gave him a look but said nothing. Instead, she nodded. "The maid is waiting outside—she’s too afraid to face Luo Liu. If you wish to see her, Steward, step outside." Luo Liu would recognize Yu Xiang at a glance, but Steward Sun, who worked in the outer courtyard, wouldn’t have seen this second-tier maid of Concubine Song before.
Steward Sun glanced toward the door and soon stepped out. Sure enough, a maid stood waiting outside, dressed plainly, clearly not a favored servant. She was accompanied by Caifu, the Eldest Miss’s maid.
Yu Xiang bowed to Steward Sun, who acknowledged her and asked what had happened.
Following Jinchao’s instructions, Yu Xiang tearfully recounted how Luo Liu had harassed her: "...This servant works in the courtyard near the Moon Gate. That day, Luo Liu emerged from the twisted willow grove beside the gate and accosted me. I... felt my reputation was ruined, so I kept silent for months. But the guilt weighed on me, and I finally couldn’t bear it anymore, so I told the Eldest Miss..."
Steward Sun’s expression darkened. Luo Liu had indeed entered the inner courtyard months ago, near the willow grove. That part was plausible... but Luo Liu had always seemed so honest—could he really have done such a thing?
His face turned grim.
Regardless, Steward Sun had to protect Luo Liu—he was his man, after all.
When Steward Sun brought Yu Xiang inside, Jinchao looked up at him with a faint smile.Steward Sun immediately clasped his hands and said, "Look at this mess... How about I give Luo Liu a beating and dock two months' wages as punishment? That should teach him a lesson, and he won't dare do it again."
Upon hearing this, Luo Liu cried out, "Steward Sun, don't believe that maid's words! I'm truly innocent..."
Jinchao said leisurely, "That maid said you harassed her near the Haunted Willow Grove, with clear details of time and place. If you didn't harass her, what were you doing there? Could it be you were conspiring with someone?"
Hearing Gu Jinzhao's words, Steward Sun grew even more afraid she might continue. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward and kicked Luo Liu hard, shouting, "You dog! How dare you argue!"
Trembling in fear, Luo Liu collapsed to the ground from the kick. Steward Sun followed up with several more kicks: "How dare you do something so shameful! You've disgraced me and forced the Eldest Miss to intervene!"
Moaning in pain, Luo Liu curled into a ball on the ground, trying to evade Steward Sun's blows.
Watching this, Jinchao smiled faintly. "Since the steward has confirmed the matter, let's drag Luo Liu out and beat him to death with sticks. Otherwise, there'll be no discipline in the household. We must make an example of him."
Steward Sun froze—was the Eldest Miss really this ruthless?
Terrified, Luo Liu scrambled to his knees and kowtowed frantically. "Eldest Miss, spare me! I... I really didn't do it! When I went to the inner courtyard, I wasn't there to harass any maid—I wouldn't dare!"
Steward Sun grew even more frantic, slapping Luo Liu and scolding, "Nonsense! Shut your mouth!"
Luo Liu didn't understand why Steward Sun had turned on him—he was already terrified by Gu Jinzhao's words.
Jinchao set down her teacup. "No need to panic. I don't necessarily want you dead. Without rules, there's no order—you understand that. Since you've committed such an offense, unless you do something to atone for it, how can I spare you...?"
Luo Liu was momentarily confused—he didn't grasp Gu Jinzhao's meaning.
Gu Jinzhao took a slow sip of tea and said, "You claim you're innocent, and I believe you... Perhaps that maid misunderstood. Just tell us why you entered the inner courtyard or who sent you. If you can provide proof, your name can be cleared. Otherwise, I can't help you."
Hearing this, Luo Liu seemed to realize something—the Eldest Miss wasn't here because of the maid's harassment. She must have uncovered the truth about the rhubarb incident and was after the mastermind!
Steward Sun's expression shifted slightly. "Eldest Miss, are you implying someone ordered Luo Liu into the inner courtyard? Luo Liu is from the Affairs Office—are you suggesting I'm at fault?"
Jinchao smiled, skimming the tea foam. "Steward Sun, why so agitated? I never said you ordered him. Why the rush to defend yourself? If you react like this, I might start thinking you're guilty."
Luo Liu hesitated, glancing at Steward Sun, only to find him glaring fiercely. He immediately fell silent.
Angering the Eldest Miss wasn't so scary—she was just a figurehead. If he angered her, Steward Sun might still save him. But if he angered Steward Sun, he'd truly be doomed...Luo Liu whispered, "Eldest Miss... this servant did tease the maid a few words, but I never laid a hand on her. You must show mercy, Eldest Miss!"
Steward Sun also smiled. "It was just a few teasing words to a maid. If the Eldest Miss were to beat a servant to death over such a trivial matter, it wouldn't reflect well on you by any measure. Why not let this servant give him a beating instead..."
Jinchao raised an eyebrow. That Luo Liu would admit to even this much showed just how ruthless Steward Sun's usual methods were!
She fixed her gaze on Steward Sun and said with a steady smile, "Why are you interrupting, Steward Sun? I still have questions for you. Mama Xu came yesterday to inquire about the items sent by the Ji family, and you claimed they'd gotten mixed up and the ledger was lost. Are you usually this careless in your duties? How could such a mistake happen?"
Hearing it was about this matter, Steward Sun replied, "What do you mean by that, Eldest Miss! The items truly were mixed up, and I couldn't identify them, so that's what I said. It wasn't me who recorded them either—you can't pin this on me... If word of your handling of household affairs like this reaches the master, you won't come out looking good!"
Now he understood—Gu Jinzhao wasn't here to pursue Luo Liu's matter at all. She was clearly here to settle accounts and point out his mistakes!
Gu Jinzhao was truly being unreasonable! With Concubine Song pregnant, she ought to tread carefully. Acting so arrogantly now would only lead to her being oppressed later!
Just as he was sneering inwardly, a commotion erupted outside. It seemed someone was forcing their way into the Affairs Office, accompanied by the voices of servants protesting, "...This is the Affairs Office, how dare you barge in armed... Stop right there! Who gave you permission—"
Then came Xue Sixteen's cold voice: "By the Eldest Miss's orders. Get out of the way!"
So Mama Xu had brought Xue Sixteen with her!
Hearing Xue Sixteen's voice, Jinchao said, "Since Guard Xue is here, why not bring your men in? There's a servant here who's broken the rules. I was just thinking of having you beat him to death with clubs and drag him to the unmarked graves!"
Both Luo Liu and Steward Sun paled. The Eldest Miss had actually brought Madam Ji's former guards with her!
What was she planning? Did she really intend to have Luo Liu beaten to death?
Xue Sixteen strode in at the head of the group, a blade hanging at his waist. Towering and broad-shouldered, his hands like palm leaves, Luo Liu trembled at the sight—everyone knew Xue Sixteen had been brought from the Xue Martial Arts School in Tongzhou by Madam Ji! Not even several of the Gu family's guards combined could match him!
Xue Sixteen asked in a deep voice, "Is this the servant you spoke of, Eldest Miss?" He pointed at Luo Liu, as if waiting only for Gu Jinzhao's confirmation before pouncing to beat him to death.
Luo Liu cast a terrified glance at Xue Sixteen, then suddenly clung to Steward Sun's leg, wailing, "Steward Sun, you must save me! I don't want to die!"
Steward Sun glared darkly at Gu Jinzhao. After a long pause, he said coolly, "Eldest Miss, with Concubine Song currently pregnant, your actions will only disturb her and the master. You ought to think carefully." He wanted to warn Gu Jinzhao—if she had any sense, she'd know better than to target Concubine Song's people!Jinchao naturally understood his implication and smiled faintly. "Are you still counting on Concubine Song to back you up? There's no place left in the Gu family for her to have a say. Steward Sun truly lacks judgment. Since that's the case, I won't stop you. Send someone to the Waterside Pavilion right now and see if Song Miaohua dares to utter a single word!"
Steward Sun's heart skipped a beat. What did she mean by this? Although Concubine Song had been punished... she was pregnant—that meant boundless prospects!
After a long silence, he finally called a servant boy to deliver the message to Concubine Song at the Waterside Pavilion.
Gu Jinzhao sipped her tea slowly. The servant sent to the Waterside Pavilion returned swiftly, his face pale with fright as he reported to Steward Sun, "...There are matrons guarding the entrance—impossible to get in. I peeked from the side and saw only two young maids inside, with no one else attending. I didn't even catch a glimpse of Concubine Song..."
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