The next morning, Xia Qinghe was awakened by whispering voices.
"The madam has only been gone half a year, and the master has already elevated the Fang woman into the household. I used to think the master treated the madam well, but now it seems that wasn't entirely true. After all, she was born a concubine's daughter—even if her family holds high office, what of it? Look at her manner—she's truly a vixen!"
"Who says otherwise! If the madam were still alive, who knows how heartbroken she'd be!"
"Exactly… after all, she's not of legitimate birth… far inferior to our former madam!"
The speakers kept their voices very low—they seemed to be the kitchen maids in the courtyard, and their words were filled with indignation.
"I heard yesterday that the master seems to have received a letter from the capital… According to the study boy in the front courtyard, he's going to be promoted."
"No wonder! Perhaps knowing the master is about to be promoted, she couldn't wait to enter the household! She's calculated it well…"
"What do you know? They say it's precisely because of this that the master could smoothly transfer back to the capital, otherwise… it's uncertain!"
"Stop talking, be careful someone might hear. Yesterday when the madam came over, she dismissed Nanny Lin and Taohong—those two were servants who attended the former madam!"
Ha, it seemed she had actually guessed most of it. For the sake of his prospects, having lost Madam Lin, now here came a Madam Fang—both were stepping stones.
What? Nanny Lin and Taohong were dismissed? No wonder she felt something was off.
"Cough, cough…"
Xia Qinghe was listening when the voices outside suddenly fell silent, followed by the low scolding of the maid Caiyu.
"You've eaten too much and have nothing better to do—do you want to be driven out too? If you keep wagging your tongues, I'll tell the madam tomorrow and have you sold off by a broker…"
"Forget it, how many more days can they make trouble?!" It was another young maid, Caihuan's voice.
"Qingxin…" Xia Qinghe called out. Since she had heard, there was no reason not to ask clearly.
Qingxin was in the outer room. Having heard the voices outside, she was secretly grieving when she heard the young miss call. She quickly wiped her eyes and came in. Seeing that Xia Qinghe was already sitting up, she knew she hadn't just woken up—she must have heard everything said outside. Worried about her health, she hurriedly comforted her: "Young miss, don't listen to their nonsense. They're just idle and talking wildly. Please don't take it to heart."
Xia Qinghe could tell from her expression that something was being hidden from her, and she became determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Qingxin, tell me—what happened to Nanny Lin? And what happened yesterday? Where are Taohong and Cuilü? Don't hide it from me."
Qingxin looked at the thin, small young miss, her heart aching so much her eyes stung. Just then, Caiyu and Caihuan came in carrying washing supplies. Qingxin found an excuse to send them away, then knelt before Xia Qinghe. Before she could speak, tears already fell.
"Yesterday when the young miss was unconscious, the madam came to visit. She said the servants in the room had attended poorly. Nanny Lin argued with her a few words, and Taohong, unable to contain her anger, said some unpleasant things. Not only was she beaten with planks, but the madam also found a broker and had Nanny Lin and Taohong sold off together. I wanted to speak up for them, but Cuilü held me back and took the beating in my place. Nanny Lin also gave me a look, and I understood—they were afraid the madam would dismiss all of us, leaving only the young miss alone with no one to support her."
When Xia Qinghe heard this, her expression immediately changed.
This was about clearing out everyone in her courtyard one by one!
"Where is Cuilü now?"
"Locked in the firewood shed in the back courtyard."
"Come, let's go bring her back!"
At the entrance of the firewood shed, two old women saw Xia Qinghe approaching and curtsied, but their demeanor showed they did not regard her with any respect.
"Miss, the Madam has said that Cuilü overstepped her bounds as a servant and no one is permitted to visit her."
"Oh? Cuilü is someone from my Qinghe Courtyard. How does it fall to others to manage her?"
"What is the Miss saying? This entire rear courtyard is under the Madam's authority. We only take orders from the Madam. Please don't make things difficult for us, Miss."
Seeing that further talk would be useless, Xia Qinghe noticed some dry firewood nearby. She stepped forward and picked out a stick of moderate thickness and considerable length. "And if I insist on taking Cuilü with me?"
The two old women exchanged glances. If Xia Qinghe resorted to force, they were servants and absolutely could not raise a hand against her. Better to go tell the Madam and let the Madam handle the discipline.
Seeing that the two were sensible enough, Xia Qinghe said nothing more and signaled Yuxin to carry Cuilü on her back.
Cuilü had been beaten until her flesh was mangled, unconscious, not even given medicine—just thrown into the firewood shed. No one had even given her a sip of water. Touching her forehead, it was burning hot. Yuxin's heart ached at the sight, and she carried her back to Qinghe Courtyard on her back.
After applying medicine to Cuilü and giving her water, Xia Qinghe had Mrs. Li from the kitchen look after her. She waited a long while, but Fang-shi never sent anyone over to demand an explanation.
Xia Qinghe was somewhat surprised, but she knew Fang-shi would not let the matter rest.
That afternoon, Cuilü woke up. Seeing Yuxin beside her, she wept uncontrollably. She and Taohong had both followed Xia Qinghe since childhood, and they were already as close as sisters. Now Taohong and Mama Lin's whereabouts were unknown, and she herself had been beaten. She was anxious but could do nothing.
"Yuxin, take some silver and go find Xia Si. Xia Si offended Fang-shi yesterday and must be feeling uneasy. Here's what you do…" Xia Qinghe gave her instructions, and Yuxin quietly went to find Xia Si.
When Yuxin returned, she quietly told Xia Qinghe that Xia Si already knew he had offended Fang-shi and was feeling vexed. He had originally been one of the steward's more capable men. Now that he had offended Fang-shi, there was no telling how he would be made to suffer in the future. It just so happened that Yuxin came to find him and promised him no small benefit. Xia Si was a clever one—he had always disliked the way the stepmother bullied people, and now that he had offended Fang-shi, he was happy to take some silver to do things for them. At the very least, he needed to save some silver for the future.
Several days passed. Cuilü's injuries had mostly healed, and she could slowly walk while supporting herself against the wall. In truth, Xia Qinghe had secretly used some medicine from her space.
After Lin-shi passed away, Xia Qinghe was the only master in the rear courtyard, and everything was under her authority. She was young, and Yuxin and Mama Lin handled everything for her, so no major problems had arisen.
Early this morning, Fang-shi's head maid came to Qinghe Courtyard to deliver a message: the master would be going to the capital to serve as an official, and there were many parties that needed to be squared away. The household expenses needed to be economized. From now on, the small kitchen here would be abolished, and meals would be collected uniformly from the main kitchen. Also, the monthly stipends for the maids and old women would all be collected uniformly from the Madam's side.
Xia Qinghe thought to herself: Sure enough, she couldn't wait to make her move.
Because after Fang-shi was brought in, Xia Qinghe had been ill and her life was uncertain, so there had been no formal introduction. Therefore, the authority over the household had not yet been formally handed over.
This meaning was clear—she was using this opportunity to make her hand over the household management keys!
She believed that if she did not hand them over, her dear father would have to come demand them personally.
Xia Qinghe thought for a moment, "Things are different now. Since the Fang family has entered the household, it's only proper that she manage the household. Let's hand over the authority to her! While we're at it, settle all the previous accounts of the household and bring them along, so she can see clearly. As for whether the small kitchen stays or goes, let's see what she decides and act accordingly."
Dianxin understood as soon as she heard it—the young lady meant that managing the household was a hot potato, and keeping it in her hands was nothing but trouble. The household's income wasn't much; aside from the master's salary, it was basically supported by Lin-shi's dowry. Now that they were throwing it out, it was actually for the best.