妹妹 meimei – little sister, younger sister; can be added to names to show affection 姐姐 jiejie – elder sister, big sister; can be added to names to show respect or a close relations.h.i.+p 小姐 xiaojie – young miss; usually from a good family, but can be used to refer to any young girl 主子 zhuzi – the masters of the household; 姨娘 yiniang – concubine, not the legitimate wife; added to the end of the maternal name to show their (lower) status compared to the wife 奴才 nucai – slave servant 老爷 laoye, 相爷 xiangye – old master, master; the head of the house
(TL Note: Sorry, but I probably won’t be able to release more than one chapter every day this week&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; ?)
Su Qing didn’t expect that Yun Qian Meng would suddenly speak, her steps became somewhat disorderly. Calming down and fixing her expression, she turned with face full of smiles and warmly said, “Don’t know if da xiaojie needs anything?”
Su Qing had now experienced Yun Qian Meng‘s ability to quibble about the smallest matters. As a result, she paid increased attention to follow proper etiquette, not allowing Yun Qian Meng to find the slightest fault.
Yun Qian Meng saw that she was forcibly reeling in her anger, even pretending to smile. Without batting an eyelid, she asked with a mild smile, “Su yiniang and Ruo Xue meimei should still be under curfew. Why were you able to come and go as you please?”
Finis.h.i.+ng, Yun Qian Meng quietly stood at her original spot and turned her doubtful eyes at Yun Xuan Zhi, appearing very confused!
Hearing Yun Qian Meng purposely call attention to this matter, Yun Ruo Xue‘s face flushed red and, ignoring Su Qing‘s efforts to restrain her, fiercely glared at Yun Qian Meng. Unable to suppress her voice, she howled, “Yun Qian Meng! You&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;”
“Ruo Xue, watch your manners!” Glancing at Yun Qian Meng‘s lips which had gradually curled into a sarcastic smile, Yun Xuan Zhi momentarily furrowed his eyebrows then immediately scolded Yun Ruo Xue sternly, frightening all the servants in the drawing room into lowering their heads one after another!
Su Qing felt that things were not looking good and noticed that Yun Qian Meng hid a slight disdain in her eyes. She secretly stuck out her right foot and ruthlessly kicked at the advancing Yun Ruo Xue‘s calves&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
“Ruo Xue, how can you speak like that? Da xiaojie only said the facts, why did you get angry? Hurry up and apologize, don’t cause problems for your daddy!” Finis.h.i.+ng, Su Qing smiled at Yun Xuan Zhi then said gently, “Laoye, Ruo Xue is still immature. Moreover the sisters are accustomed to being intimate with each other so she accidentally acted impolitely. You also don’t need to lower yourself to argue with a child!”
Her words were pretty; simultaneously pointing out that Yun Qian Meng was purposely making things difficult for Yun Xuan Zhi, while mentioning that Yun Ruo Xue‘s actions were completely unintentional!
Yun Ruo Xue who was suddenly kicked by her own mother, immediately felt the pain on her calf and regained her rationality. Seeing Yun Xuan Zhi glare at her furiously, her heart tightened as she drooped her eyebrows and answered in an acquiescent manner, “Nü’er forgot her manners, daddy and dajie please don’t take it to heart!”
Yun Qian Meng coldly watched the mother and daughter perform their play, her sharp eyes were able to notice that although Yun Ruo Xue‘s mouth was apologetic, the hands hidden under her sleeves were gripping tightly on a silk handkerchief. Her heart immediately filled with understanding as the corners of her smile raised even higher!
When Yun Xuan Zhi saw his favorite daughter apologize, his tone also softened. Seeing Yun Qian Meng calmly standing within the drawing room, he spoke with pretention, “Don’t forget your manners in the future! The lax behavior in the houyuan shouldn’t be brought out in important occasions!”
At his words, Yun Ruo Xue‘s heavily repressed anger flared up. Her face full of unwillingness, she could only glare at Yun Qian Meng who had maintained her calm from start to finish.
Yun Qian Meng received her angry gaze, then followed along his lines to say, “Father is right! However, Su yiniang and Ruo Xue as part of the xiangfu‘s zhuzi, failed to present a good example to others. If everyone else started to treat father’s words as decoration, then wouldn’t the xiangfu be a mess?”
Did Yun Qian Meng really not catch the meaning between his lines?
On the surface, he was reproaching Yun Ruo Xue, but in actual fact, he was siding with his very same second daughter! He had even indirectly acknowledged Su Qing‘s explanation!
But Yun Xuan Zhi didn’t expect his eldest daughter to keep biting without letting go. In particular, there were currently many servants in the drawing room. If all of them started to imitate their example, then the xiangfu would be hard to manage in the future. Even his own prestige would also be affected!
Thinking so, Yun Xuan Zhi heart felt some feelings of blame towards Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue. They obviously knew that Yun Qian Meng was now different from the past, yet they still went to cause trouble for themselves. Under the presence of so many watchful eyes, even if he had it in his heart to help them, it was still impossible!”
After lowering head and shortly muttering to himself, Yun Xuan Zhi under Yun Qian Meng‘s mild smiling look, heavily announced, “Su yiniang will be confined to her quarters for half a month, Yun Ruo Xue will be similarly punished for twenty days!”
Hearing this, Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue lifted their heads at the same time. Only, Yun Xuan Zhi didn’t have a good expression right now, his eyes full of reproach. Su Qing immediately understood that Yun Qian Meng was straining the feelings between her and Yun Xuan Zhi!
But Yun Ruo Xue at her side had already forgotten her earlier lesson and just wanted to step forward and argue with Yun Qian Meng, but was deftly pulled back by the sharp-sighted Su Qing. The hall momentarily resounded with Su Qing‘s deferential voice, “Laoye is right, nubi‘s teachings are unsatisfactory and will pay more attention in the future!”
Finis.h.i.+ng, she wanted to pull away the unresigned Yun Ruo Xue and leave, only to see that Yun Qian Meng had something to say. She appeared somewhat conflicted as she walked to Su Qing‘s side and seeming very unwilling, said, “Father, just a few days of Su yiniang‘s confinement and the xiangfu has already become this wild. Wouldn’t it be better for father to select someone else to temporarily fill in for Su yiniang at managing the household affairs?”
Hearing Yun Qian Meng had finally revealed her purpose, Su Qing‘s leaving figure paused. She immediately turned around and expressed her disagreement, “What is da xiaojie saying?! Managing the affairs of the xiangfu is nubi‘s duty! Besides, you can’t find anyone else that is qualified for the task within the fu! We can’t place the burden on da xiaojie, after all, da xiaojie still needs to get married!”
Her words hid the meaning that Yun Qian Meng would one day, be of her husband’s family. Letting someone outside the household manage the domestic affairs of their maternal home was actually really inappropriate!
And Yun Xuan Zhi clearly understood her implied meaning and looked at Yun Qian Meng with an added layer of fierceness and suspicion!
However, Yun Qian Meng just smiled as her delicate hands gestured towards Liu yiniang by her side. She said unhurriedly, “Father must have forgotten that we still have Liu yiniang! Liu yiniang is part of the xiangfu, and also part of the zhuzi. Her status and position is equal to Su yiniang, trust that she is qualified and capable! Nü’er has grown tired of eating the dishes on the table. Father can’t possibly have the heart to, just because no one is in charge in the fu, let nü’er suffer injustice?”
While she was speaking, her fingers had changed direction. Everyone’s gaze was drawn towards the dining table, only to find that the large table only held a few meager dishes. It was likely that the lowest servants in the xiangfu dined with even more luxury than this!
Seeing that Yun Qian Meng was backing them into a corner, Su Qing‘s eyes became fierce. She instantaneously shot butler Zhao a meaningful glance&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
Butler Zhao had been suppressing his stomach full of anger towards Yun Qian Meng. Noticing Su Qing‘s prompt, he immediately spoke in terror, “Laoye, it must be because the kitchen staff is too busy that they lost their heads, messing up on the meal! In all likelihood, da xiaojie‘s food must still be in the kitchen, nucai will later bring people to tie up the kitchen staff that goofed off and have them apologize to the xiaojie!”
Yun Qian Meng observed both of their interactions and then coldly said, “Butler Zhao, you can be considered a guilty party, do you think your words would be able to convince father? Let me ask you, when is the monthly allowance in the fu given out?”
Su Qing and butler Zhao had already compared their notes regarding this matter. Hearing this question, he visibly relaxed and immediately recited his prepared response, “Answering da xiaojie, the third day every month! Only, money is in short supply within the fu this month, so it has been delayed for a few days!”
Listening to his explanation, Yun Qian Meng sternly said, “Butler Zhao, quickly kneel down! If a situation has occurred concerning the financial affairs of the fu, why haven’t you quickly informed father about it? Tell me, what use is a person who deceitfully conceals information from others in the fu? Speak! Is it because you coveted the spending money of the fu?”
Having such a large accusation dropped on his head, butler Zhao trembled from head to toe and kneeled down on the floor with a resounding plop, and kowtowed non-stop towards Yun Xuan Zhi, “Laoye, please investigate clearly, nucai absolutely doesn’t dare to use the money that belongs to the fu!”
As for Su Qing, was also momentarily shocked into a blank stare by Yun Qian Meng‘s shrewd response and her ability to entrap others with their words. She only remained at her spot with a deathly white expression&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
Yun Xuan Zhi‘s face was now completely ashen. Seeing the look on their faces, his heart had already started to believe Yun Qian Meng‘s words. Filled with disappointment, he decided, “Qing’er, you should just properly rest in your quarters for the next few days, the other things will be handled by Liu yiniang then!”
Hearing this, Su Qing staggered and almost fell onto the floor in a sitting position&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;