Chapter 184 So-Called Pampering Or Killing With A Stick?
After saying this, Madam of Duke Xing also seemed to realize that she had said something improper, and snarled, “Why do you mean by fighting again? Master Hao just came home. Today, most of the visitors are women. Who is he brawling with this time? Did you see it clearly?”
“Madam, I saw it clearly. It is Master Hao!” The old maid who was sweating and agitated, approached Madam of Duke Xing, and whispered a few words in her ears.
Shocked, Madam of Duke Xing turned to Qin Wanru, who raised her head and blinked when she saw madam’s shocked eyes. She lowered her head in confusion.
After getting over the initial shock, Madam of Duke Xing eventually already calmed down. Walking over to Shui Ruolan, she said, “Madam Shui, accompany me to take a look!”
Looking at her, she knew she had something to tell her. Shui Ruolan nodded and stood up.
“Madams, I have to retire to deal with something. I will return to keep you company in a while!” Madam of Duke Xing said courteously to all the madams.
“Madam, please go ahead!” everyone also said courteously.
“Madam Shui, please follow me!” Turing to Shui Ruolan, Madam of Duke Xing looked a little worried. After saying this, she left first, followed by Shui Ruolan, close at her heels.
The other madams found that something was wrong, and followed them out. The madam was followed by a large group of women, walked along the winding corridor.
On the road along the lesser parlor, there were bonsais of delicate and charming chrysanthemums, but no one had the mood to appreciate them at this time. They followed Madam of Duke Xing, who seemed quite anxious, and did not notice that many of the madams were following her.
When they arrived at the full moon-shaped entrance before their destination, they heard a loud noise coming from that direction. With a dramatic change in her expression, Madam of Duke Xing quickened her steps.
Not far from them, Qin Yuru was sitting on a stone stool at one side, looking wretched. The hem of her elegant dress was black, but it was unclear what had caused it. Obviously, she could not wear it any longer. Upon a closer examination, one could see that half of her sleeve had been ripped off.
Fortunately, those who were there today, were all female family members, and there were no men now. Otherwise, Qin Yuru’s reputation would be ruined.
Shao Yuanhao was at the opposite side, and he looked equally wretched. He sat on the ground, and cried and flayed wildly. The two servants beside him, could not hold on to him.
Qi Rongzhi was standing a few steps away from Qin Yuru, looking a little worried too. But when she raised her chin slightly, Qin Wanru could see the smile on her face.
“What happened?” Madam of Duke Xing asked calmly.
“Master Hao refuses to get up and wants this miss to apologize to him. Otherwise, he won’t get up at all!” An old maid said beside her, sweating in fear.
“Hao’er, what’s wrong?” Madam of Duke Xing walked to Shao Yuanhao, who was still crying and flaying wildly. Squatting down, she asked gently.
“Aunt, Second Aunt, she ran into me, pushed me, and also poured ink on me. I hate her, ask her to apologize to me!” Seeing that his elderly family member was here, Shao Yuanhao behaved even more wildly, kicking the ground hard, and shouting, as his hand pointed at Qin Yuru.
“Okay…okay, okay, I see. Can you get up now?” Madam of Duke Xing seemed very kind and continuously coaxed this child tyrant. Many madams could not help frowning, and vowed that they would tell their kids not to play with this bully of a child, after they went home.
This rude and provocative behavior was really not acceptable.
In the crowd, Qin Wanru’s watery eyes moved slightly, looking at the overly gentle face of Madam of Duke Xing. Even if he were her own child, she was putting on too much of an act!
Shao Yuanhao was still young, but an aristocratic family’s children always attended school very early. There were many children at his age, who were well taught, but it seemed that he had not learned anything.
Thinking back on his mischievous gestures since the day they met for the first time, Qin Wanru felt more and more suspicious.
When he heard what Madam of Duke Xing said, Shao Yuanhao stood up with her support. Walking aggressively to Qin Yuru, he raised his head high and shouted, “Apologize to me, I am Master Hao of the Duke Xing’s Mansion!”
Such behavior from a child was totally unacceptable. Qin Wanru really could not relate to this rude and tyrannical child in front of her. He seemed like a different Hao’er who looked after her so kindly, and was so much attached to her, before.
When so many people saw her in such a wretched state, Qin Yuru’s eyes reddened. Plus getting a scolding from a little child, she cried immediately. Mei Xue reached out her hands and hugged her, her eyes reddening too. Whimpering, she said, “First Miss, please…please don’t cry. If you cry, I will start crying too!”
The master and servant held each other and cried, but Shao Yuanhao stood arrogantly over them. If Shao was not such a small child, it would have looked like a drama of an evil Childe illegally taking women, and would be quite unpleasant.
Many madams eyed Shao Yuanhao with increasingly dismissive looks. This was no doubt a useless playboy in the making. When he grew up, there would be one more flaneur in the capital city. Look! He was doing such a thing at such a young age, and obviously took it for granted. He was a total brat!.
“Hao’er, be kind. Look at her, she is crying, forgive her!” Madam of Duke Xing walked over, gently stroking Shao Yuanhao’s head, and smiled.
She did not even try to clarify the situation, to ask what was wrong or right, and did not even ask for details of the matter. According to the on-site situation, everyone thought Shao Yuanhao was wrong, and Qin Yuru and her maid had been wronged.
“Humph, since Second Aunt is interceding for you, I will forgive you this time, but if there is a next time, I won’t be so kind!” Shao Yuanhao haughtily raised his little face.
“Hao’er, leave now! Let me deal with this matter!” Madam of Duke Xing said, and signaled to her two servants with her eyes, to carry out her order.
The two servants came over, each taking Shao Yuanhao’s hands, and persuaded him to leave.
After he left, Madam of Duke Xing walked to Qin Yuru, and asked, “Was Miss Qin hurt? It is all due to my poor handling of his upbringing that made you suffer! I will visit your mansion to apologize someday!”
Qin Yuru bit her lips, pushed Mei Xue away, and still with reddened eyes, bowed to Madam of Duke Xing. She was of a younger generation, and her status was far lower than the madam’s.
“Yuru, what on earth happened?” Shui Ruolan came over and asked.
“Just…just ran into!” Qin Yuru started crying again, and held the hem of her dress. That large patch of ink was the same as the one seen earlier.
“Just ran into, what is so bad about that?” Qin Wanru came over and held the hem of the dress soaked with ink. Looking around, she saw a small bucket lying on the ground, which still had some ink.
“What was Shao Yuanhao doing with such a large bucket of ink?”
“First Miss Qin, let me get someone to change your clothes. I am sorry about what had just happened, and I hope Madam Shui can forgive me. My apologies!” Madam of Duke Xing had an apologetic look on her face.
What happened was unexpected, but now Shui Ruolan could not blame Madam of Duke Xing, and she replied politely.
Madam of Duke Xing asked someone to help Qin Yuru to change her clothes, and Qin Wanru volunteered to follow them. Initially, Qi Rongzhi did not want to go, but when she found they were all going, she decided to accompany them.
The three of them walked after a girl servant of the Duke Xing’s Mansion, who made many turns, before leading them into a yard. After they stepped into a wing-room, she asked them to wait a while, and returned with a set of clothes.
When the set of clothes was taken out, both Qi Rongzhi and Qin Yuru were stunned, and their eyes shone.
The new set of clothes was very beautiful, much better than Qin Yuru’s, with pearls on the edges and golden woven threads. Its embroidery patterns looked exquisite and resplendent, and the light yarn felt delicate to the touch. After taking a look, Qin Yuru liked it, and could not help feeling quite happy.
“This is our First Miss’s yard, but she is not at home. Just now when we came, our madam asked me to bring you a set of First Miss’s clothes, for you to change to. The supervisor Nanny says First Miss hasn’t worn this set yet, and hopes that First Miss Qin will not mind!” the girl servant smiled and said.
Qi Rongzhi even wished she were the one who had suffered that time. This set of clothes was better than all the four or five sets of hers put together.
“Sister Yunru, did you bring extra clothes when you came here?” Qi Rongzhi felt the set several times, not wanting to put it down, and asked hopefully. She did not and hopefully Qin Yuru had not, too.
Misses of an aristocratic family would always bring an extra set of clothes, whenever they attended a banquet, in case of unexpected situations.
“Today, no!” Qin Yuru lowered her head and said.
“First Miss Qin, if you don’t mind, please put it on!” the girl servant smiled and said, as if she did not know what Qi Rongzhi and Qin Yuru really meant.
Qin Wanru gave a slight smile and went out, without giving any clear reasons. Yu Jie caught up with her, hurriedly.
When she saw them walking out, Qi Rongzhi also followed them out reluctantly, leaving Qin Yuru to change her clothes.
“What on earth happened? Why was Big Sister’s clothes smeared, but not yours?” Qin Wanru stopped and turned to Qi Rongzhi, who was walking after her.
“Qin Wanru, what do you mean? What do you mean by saying she got in trouble but not me?” Qi Rongzhi was angry when she heard these words, “She was blind, ran into his ink bucket and also pushed the little boy. How can I be blamed?”
“My Big Sister ran into that little boy?” Qin Wanru raised her eyebrows in disbelief. The look seemed to imply that Qi Rongzhi was lying.
Her att.i.tude angered Qi Rongzhi even more. “Of course, it was Qin Yuru who ran into him. Do you think I was the one who pushed her? She ran into that child, and also pushed him away angrily. No wonder, the child wanted to punish her!”
“Why…why did you not say it just now?” Qin Wanru said in surprise.
“Who knows? Maybe that child has been making trouble, and the adults would not believe what he said. So, they did not want to ask. Just apologize first!” Qi Rongzhi pursed her lips.
Now, she only wanted to make it clear to Qin Wanru, but she did not notice that the girl servant of the Duke Xing’s Mansion, was eyeing her coldly.
An old maid walked over from the entrance of the yard. Seeing so many people standing at the doorway, she was a little shocked. When the girl servant of Duke Xing’s Mansion saw the old maid, she walked to her hurriedly, and they had a whispered conversation at the corner of the wall. As they talked, they looked at Qian Wanru and her partners!