Chapter 48

Gu Hui Yan merely took a glance and roughly understood what happened. He was a little surprised. This little girl had a brain and unexpectedly knew how to pull the carpet out from under someone and prepare herself in advance. How else could the Lin family vassal standing in the courtyard have travelled from Daxing to the capital in such a short time. Satisfied, Gu Hui Yan nodded to the Lin family vassal, “You did a good job today. It’s getting late. Hurry and leave the city.”

The vassal was overwhelmed by his favour. Although he was loyal and devoted to the Marquis Zhongyong family, he was actually brought in by Prince Yan and assigned to Lin Wei Xi for her protection. Because of this, he of course knew how rare it was to receive praise from Prince Yan. He also knew that when Prince Yan said “you did a good job”, it didn’t refer to his management of the Lin Family estate, but to him strictly complying to Lin Wei Xi’s orders. The Lin family vassal felt happy, but he understood Prince Yan’s meaning. He ought to leave the residence. The vassal knelt and bowed to Gu Hui Yan. When he first entered the room, he dared to bow to only Lin Wei Xi and ignored everyone else. But now he kowtowed to Gu Hui Yan without a hint of disrespect. He also didn’t address Lin Wei Xi as part of the Lin family, “Thank you Prince Yan. This subordinate wishes Prince Yan and the Princess Consort well. My Prince, Princess Consort, this subordinate will  withdraw first.”

After he left, only those of the residence remained in Jingcheng Courtyard.

Everyone keenly felt the atmosphere change. They lowered their heads and were too scared to speculate, but resigned themselves to waiting for Prince Yan’s final decision.

Gu Hui Yan no longer concealed his mighty and imposing aura, “Who gave all of you the courage to question the Princess Consort’s decision and gather everyone in front of her?”

Gao Ran still had her head bowed in submission. She thought her heart was ready, but couldn’t hide her shock when she heard this. Wasn’t Prince Yan being a bit biased? Was this really the point?

Granny Bu was obviously subdued. When she finally processed what happened, she couldn’t help saying, “my Prince, you haven’t asked about the whole story behind the situation today. How can you convict us straight away after only listening to the Princess Consort’s side of the story?”

Gu Hui Yan had a look of displeasure in his eyes. He glanced at her lightly, but Granny Bu almost fell to the floor in fright with just that glance, “Didn’t I say before that she is the Prince Yan Consort, the only master of the Prince Yan Residence’s inner courtyard. Do as she commands. You servants don’t need to know the whole story or the reason. I never say the same thing twice. This is the only exception. Do all of you understand this time?”

Everyone knelt on the ground, not caring that the floor was cold. Their foreheads all touched the ground and they were too scared to breathe too loud. Granny Bu cold sweated even more. She knelt on the ground in panic, with her cheeks pressed against the cold ground, looking like she was pleading guilt. Even so, her face was deathly pale and she was obviously extremely scared.

Although Granny Bu was a dowry maid from the Shen family, she’d been in the residence for many years and she already considered this place her home. However, since Granny Bu entered the residence, it was only when the old Prince Yan Consort passed away did she see Prince Yan’s terrifying emotions so explicitly.

Gu Cheng Yao was of course angry with Granny Bu, who had taken advantage of his trust to incite discord and twisted the story. But Granny Bu was Princess Consort Shen’s dowry maid, the old servant who’d watched him grow up. Now that she knelt trembling on the ground, without any dignity at all, he couldn’t continue watching. He could push against the tremendous pressure and step forward, bowing his head to Gu Hui Yan, “Father, Granny Bu’s mistakes today are due to my oversight and insufficient discipline. Father, please forgive her.”

Gu Hui Yan said lightly without even turning around, “The one you should ask for forgiveness isn’t me. She is the one in charge of the inner courtyard.”

Everyone in the courtyard was dumbfounded. But Gu Cheng Yao merely was startled for a moment before he submissively gave a cultured salute to Lin Wei Xi, “Mother, what happened today is this son’s oversight. I didn’t understand what actually happened and offended you. Mother can scold and punish me and I definitely will not object. I only ask that Mother consider Granny Bu’s years of hard work and forgive her muddle-headedness in her old age.”

When Lin Wei Xi first saw Gu Hui Yan, aside from being surprised, she actually felt quite nervous. Based on her experience from her previous life, she was quite worried about how her husband would treat her. But Gu Hui Yan’s actions went beyond her expectations. Not only did he go straight to reprimanding the servants without question, he also didn’t give Gu Cheng Yao any face.

Of course the inner courtyard was ruled by the women, but a husband’s family was different from one’s maiden family. Everyone had close relations with one another and the husband would be even closer to the servants whom he’d grown up together with. Understandably, this was human nature. Previously, Lin Wei Xi’s greatest hope was for her husband’s family to be reasonable. Her greatest fortune was to have a husband who was able to distinguish right from wrong. She never thought that her husband would unquestioningly protect her.

Gu Hui Yan now stood next to her. With him by her side, Lin Wei Xi’s confidence instantly rose. Before, she didn’t dare imagine that Gu Cheng Yao would one day beg her for mercy. She finally understood what it felt like to use powerful connections to intimidate others. She arrogantly snorted to herself, her expression haughty, “Shizi, you flatter me. After all, I’m just your stepmother, and a stranger compared to others in the residence. I know I can’t compare to Shizi’s birth mother. How could I dare dispose of the old and loyal servants Princess Consort Shen left behind? Not to mention, in a few days, Shizi and Shizi Fei will complain that I, as the second wife, didn’t understand the severity of the situation and persecuted a loyal servant left by her predecessor. At the end of the day, I can’t even change the menu left by Princess Consort Shen.”

Gu Cheng Yao’s face was unreadable, but Gu Hui Yan’s frown was clear as day, “did they actually say that to you?”

In front of Gu Hui Yan, Lin Wei Xi immediately dropped her mocking tone and blinked innocently, raising her head and smiling, “Of course they won’t dare to say that in front of my Prince. It’s just… “

Lin Wei Xi left her sentence hanging, precise in the art of hidden meaning. Gu Hui Yan was already very angry from the few words that were spoken previously. When he heard Lin Wei Xi say this, his expression sank completely. He glanced at Gu Cheng Yao, his eyes dark, and an invisible pressure washing over everyone, “You are truly mature. Because of a few wicked slaves, you disobeyed your mother, questioned her decision and wronged her?”

Gu Hui Yan had always been reserved. These were quite serious words, and a criticism of both morals and wisdom. He lacked morals because he’d disobeyed his Mother. He lacked wisdom because he wasn’t able to differentiate right from wrong. This was a very harsh criticism, not to mention they came directly from Gu Hui Yan.

Gu Cheng Yao’s face turned pale and the hands he held by his side tightened. In the end, he merely hung his head lower. Gu Cheng Yao himself was silent, but everyone else was close to going crazy.

Granny Bu considered Gu Cheng Yao as her hope for the future since he was a kid and had long since regarded him as belonging to her. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he was her most cherished person in her life. As for Gao Ran, becoming Shizi Fei was the proudest thing in her life. Now that her honour and pride was being condemned, she couldn’t bear it.

Granny Bu was so anxious that her eyes turned red. She simply hated that she couldn’t replace him. And Gao Ran was so angry that she cursed inwardly. This was truly a case of ‘forgetting one’s children after remarriage’. Was the magnificent Prince Yan actually this muddle-headed?

Of course, the three who were standing could see Granny Bu and Gao Ran’s movements. Lin Wei Xi took a glance and pretended not to see anything. Gu Hui Yan didn’t say a word. Gu Cheng Yao frowned and shouted, “Granny Bu, Shizi Fei, don’t be rude.”

Granny Bu was very afraid of Prince Yan. When Gu Cheng Yao said this, she became even more afraid. No matter how anxious she was, she could only bow her head. However, Gao Ran hadn’t been in Prince Yan Residence for a long and had never seen the other sides to Gu Hui Yan. She felt she was justified and took the opportunity to say, “my Prince, it’s not wrong for you to dote on the new Princess Consort, but Shen Shi is also your Princess Consort. Furthermore, Shizi is filial. When you scold Shizi like this, won’t it scare everyone?”

As soon as Gao Ran said those words about Princess Consort Shen, Granny Bu’s face turned white. Gu Cheng Yao was even more shocked and angry. He didn’t care that he was still being reprimanded by his father and immediately stepped forward with rare solemnity and severity in his eyes, “impudent! Quickly beg Father and Mother for forgiveness!”

Gao Ran bit her lip. She obviously didn’t feel that she’d said anything wrong. Fine, Gu Hui Yan had a new wife and forgot about the old one. But why was Gu Cheng Yao speaking to her like this? Hadn’t Granny Bu said that Prince Yan was deeply in love with Princess Consort Shen? Plus, with Gu Cheng Yao here, why should she be afraid of Lin Wei Xi, the second wife?

Gao Ran had argued in order to show Gu Cheng Yao her intentions, but was instead mercilessly reprimanded by him. She felt very unhappy, but at the end of the day, she was too scared to defy Prince Yan and Gu Cheng Yao. She could only choke back her actual thoughts and bite her lip as she saluted to Gu Hui Yan and Lin Wei Xi, “This daughter-in-law’s anxiety and excessive concern for Shizi resulted in my misconduct. May Father and Mother please forgive this child’s rudeness.”

Listen to this, was this the attitude someone had while apologizing? Gu Cheng Yao’s impression of Gao Ran almost did and about-face, but Gu Hui Yan didn’t say anything, so he didn’t dare rebuke her. Gu Hui Yan was still calm. He merely glanced at Gao Ran indifferently, the expression in his eyes telling others not to argue. But he quickly schooled his expression and turned his face to nod at Lin Wei Xi.

Lin Wei Xi understood that he was leaving the decision up to her. It was all up to her whether or not to forgive Gao Ran and how to deal with these people. She beamed and said to Gao Ran, “so it turns out Shizi Fei said that to protect Shizi. You husband and wife are very much in love. It’s truly touching. However, while it’s normal to talk to me like that, you were disrespectful to Prince Yan. This can’t be so easily let go.”

When Gao Ran realized that Lin Wei Xi was the one who would lecture her, she instantly felt her throat choke up with resentment and almost stopped breathing. But before she could settle her emotions and put up the act of being sensible but being forced to accept a compromise, Gu Cheng Yao replied for her, “Mother is right that Shizi Fei is young. If Mother wants to punish her, this son is willing to accept it in her place.”

“That’s a different matter. Shizi is the heir of the residence. Your education and punishment are all determined by the Prince. But Shizi Fei’s conduct and even the discipline of the servants are all matters of the inner courtyard. I, as the Princess Consort, am the rightful master. Furthermore, those who make mistakes must be punished. Whether it’s right and wrong should be considered before their status. I know that Granny Bu is an old servant who worked for more than 20 years and has made many contributions to the residence over the years. Of course she should receive generous treatment. But she ought to be judged the same way as any maid who’d just joined the residence. If a mistake goes unpunished and we sympathize with the servant who made the mistake, then what’s the point of having rules and regulations? “

Lin Wei Xi’s words were cold and cruel. As Granny Bu knelt on the ground, the chill crept up from her knees to her heart. Gu Cheng Yao also felt that she was too merciless. Humans weren’t sages who could do no wrong. It was alright to be lenient towards the elderly like Granny Bu who’d made many contributions. But now that he was in no position to speak, he could only listen in silence.

Gu Cheng Yao, who’d grown up in the residence and was looked after by the servants, felt that her views were too heartless. But Gu Hui Yan agreed. ‘Right and wrong should be considered before one’s status’ was a wonderful saying. He looked on with approval. He looked at Lin Wei Xi, his expression seemed to have softened, “According to you, how should what happened today be taken care of?”

Gu Hui Yan’s expression seemed to indicate that she was doing well. Lin Wei Xi felt calm and continued, “The estate Granny neglected her duty, cheated her master of their money, and then sowed discord. Her family will now be expelled from the Prince Yan Residence. In addition, someone will be sent to search her home to retrieve all the money she took from the estate all these years. Shizi Fei disrespected the Prince due to her anxiety. Considering it was her first offence, her punishment will be to copy the Classics of Filial Piety a hundred times. She will stay in the Buddhist sanctum for several days, eat a vegetarian diet, and reflect on her errors. She can come out after she’s finished copying.”

She had to copy a book a hundred times, and even had to stay in the Buddhist sanctum! Even though she’d mentally prepared herself, she was still shocked. Lin Wei Xi was actually so unbridled? Moreover, copying the Classics of Filial Piety and copying the Women’s Precepts were two completely different things. It would be the end of the year in a few days and the women from every family would start socializing. But she, the Shizi Fei, would be trapped in the Buddhist sanctum copying the Classics of Filial Piety. This punishment was far worse than physical punishments such as kneeling.

Gao Ran was dumbfounded, but when she raised her head to look at Gu Hui Yan, Lin Wei Xi, and even Gu Cheng Yao, none of them paid any attention to her. These people with the right to speak obviously didn’t intend to say anything. Gao Ran understood. She was distraught and angry, but could only squeeze out a “yes” with much difficulty.

After dealing with Gao Ran and the estate Granny, the few people who remained felt conflicted. The Granny Bu and the servants were very intertwined and were very involved with each other. Almost everyone in the residence was paying attention to this. If the punishment was too heavy, the servants under them would oppose. If she dealt with them too lightly, she wouldn’t win the servant’s respect. Lin Wei Xi thought for a while and said, “Granny Zhao accepted bribes from the estate Granny and conspired with her against the family for her own benefit. Although it’s not as bad as her accomplice, it’s undoubtedly corruption. According to law, Granny Zhao ought to be sent to the authorities and caned to death. But considering that she served the residence for many years, she will get a lighter sentence. She will be removed from her position as manager. We won’t take back her salary over the years, but she has to leave the residence in three days. After that, her life and death will be her own responsibility.”

Granny Zhao’s face turned ashen when she heard this. She was Granny Bu’s right hand man. She’d relied on her contributions to unscrupulously run rampant for many years and never thought that she’d be driven out of the residence. What family would want a servant that was driven out by the Prince Yan Residence? She was a slave. How would she survive without her master’s protection?

Granny Zhao wailed and tried to crawl over to beg Lin Wei Xi but was grabbed and dragged out. Listening to the noise, Granny Bu became increasingly scared. It was no more than a present of ten taels of silver but this Lin Shi had actually kicked them out? How dare she!

Lin Wei Xi turned her gaze to Granny Bu. Granny Bu’s whole body quivered and she unconsciously knelt stiffly. Lin Wei Xi merely smiled when she saw this and said, “Granny Bu, I also know that you served Princess Consort Shen for more than ten years and later served Shizi for eighteen years. You’re the residence’s biggest contributor. It’s no exaggeration to say that you’re almost a master. But everything has to follow the regulations. Granny has a high position, but if you do something wrong, you ought to be punished according to the rules. Granny Bu, don’t you agree?

Granny Bu sucked in her cheeks, gritted her teeth, and said, “Yes.”

“It’s good that Granny Bu understands.” Lin Wei Xi said unhurriedly, “Granny Bu couldn’t distinguish right from wrong and was instigated by the wicked slaves, bringing the inner courtyard’s matters to Shizi. Her first offence is overstepping her authority. As head manager, she indulged the corruption and deceit of her right hand men. Not only did she let it slip for many years, she was later tricked by someone else. Her second offence is neglecting her duties.”

Everyone listened with rapt attention to Lin Wei Xi’s next words. One was the new Princess Consort and the other was an old servant belonging to the previous Princess Consort who’d managed the inner courtyard for more than ten years. This was the first time the two of them were dealing with each other and it was clear how important the final outcome was. Even Gao Ran couldn’t help feeling tense. On one hand, she disapproved of Lin Wei Xi. After all, who was she to confront a powerful bully like Granny Bu? Gao Ran had been in the household for a year but she only dared to speak words of praise to Granny Bu. But on the other hand, Gao Ran couldn’t help being affected by the atmosphere in the room and became jittery.

Lin Wei Xi didn’t let everyone wait for long. She looked down at Granny Bu, her voice clear and delicate, “Granny Bu is at fault and there’s no good reason for her to continue managing the residence. But she’s an old servant who has served the residence for more than twenty years and served two generations of the family. Considering Shizi’s face, Granny Bu won’t be demoted but moved to Shizi’s Qingsong Garden and continue serving as it’s head manager.”

Gu Cheng Yao heaved a huge sigh of relief when he heard this. He was really afraid that Lin Wei Xi would take drastic action. Granny Bu was almost like a mother to him after all. She’d originally planned to make trouble endlessly. But when she heard that Lin Wei Xi would move her to Qingsong Garden, the hostility she felt faded. Although the head manager of the residence had the same title as head manager of Qingsong Garden, this was actually a demotion. But with Granny Zhao at the forefront, Granny Bu could accept this outcome. The power she had had been drastically reduced, but she would comply as long as she could take care of Shizi.

This conclusion satisfied both sides, but Gao Ran was the only one who almost lost her self-control then and there. What had Lin Wei Xi said? Granny Bu was going to be stuffed into her courtyard? Granny Bu had always been pretentious and acted like a mother-in-law. Gao Ran used to endure it and let it go, but would she be okay if she allowed Granny Bu to settle in Qingsong Garden?