"My lord, I've never said a word about how you dote on the third young lady. But the losses incurred from this are immense! I've calculated it all, and the losses start from fifty thousand taels!" Madam Zhang clutched her forehead in pain.
"My entire fortune isn't even fifty thousand taels. How can a mere concubine's daughter from the Qin mansion have jewelry alone worth fifty thousand taels? No one would believe it if this got out!"
Her words were like a jolt to his senses!
Without a word, Qin Yuanzhang kicked Qin Yu to the ground. "You wicked creature! I never imagined you were so profligate! If this continues, you'll bankrupt the entire Qin mansion!"
"Fu Bo!"
"Your old servant is here!"
"Pass down an order. From now on, the third young lady will not receive any monthly silver. The accounting department is also to cease all expenses for the second household!" Qin Yuanzhang's face was ashen. He had never expected that Qin Yu's expenses on jewelry and other items would exceed the decorations in Qin Yun's chambers!
He hadn't entered this room for several years, ever since Qin Yu was approaching her coming-of-age ceremony.
He had always felt that Qin Yu had grown up and needed her own space, and that father and daughter should maintain some distance.
Who would have thought that his indulgence would lead Qin Yu and her mother to become so arrogant and presumptuous!
"Father, no, I truly know I was wrong. Please don't be so heartless. I'll change, won't I?" Qin Yu knelt on the ground, clinging to Qin Yuanzhang's leg, crying tears like falling petals.
"My lord, it's all my fault. This has nothing to do with Yu'er. It's because I, as her mother, failed to discipline her." Madam Min also knelt before Qin Yuanzhang, weeping with an air of extreme grievance.
Unexpectedly, Madam Min's tearful plea only angered Qin Yuanzhang further! He stepped forward and slapped her.
"Slap!" Qin Yuanzhang's forceful blow echoed throughout the entire room.
Madam Min, caught off guard, fell to the ground. Her fair, tender cheek instantly turned red and swollen, and blood even trickled from her nose.
It was evident that Qin Yuanzhang had used all his strength.
"My lord, you... *sob sob sob*..." Madam Min began to cry heartbrokenly, gasping for breath between sobs.
At the same time, she harbored even deeper hatred for Qin Yuanzhang in her heart.
*You old wretch, I'll remember this!*
*For the rest of your life, you won't have a single peaceful day!*
Despite her inner hatred, Madam Min maintained her facade of being wronged.
Madam Min's beating startled Qin Yu, who froze on the spot. Seeing the blood flow from Madam Min's nose, Qin Yu finally reacted.
"Mother, Mother, are you alright?" Qin Yu cried mournfully, then yelled at Qin Yuanzhang, "Father, how could you do this? Mother has loved you for so many years. After all these years together, even if she has no credit, she has suffered hardship! How can you hit her just like that?"
Seeing Qin Yu dare to defy him, Qin Yuanzhang let out a cold snort. "I've already been very merciful. Don't push my boundaries!"
"Someone, lock the third young lady in the woodshed! She is not to be released without my permission!"
Two young servants entered from outside, grabbed Qin Yu, and dragged her toward the woodshed.
"Father, you are so cruel. I hate you, I hate you!" Qin Yu's voice echoed in Qin Yuanzhang's ears. His heart ached slightly, but Qin Yuanzhang did not soften.
He then recalled Qin Yun. How many times had that boy been locked in the woodshed when he was young?
Perhaps at that time, he also hated his father?
"My lord, no, Yu'er cannot be sent to the woodshed. Yu'er has never suffered such grievances since she was little. Please spare her?" Madam Min knelt before Qin Yuanzhang, weeping incessantly.
Qin Yuanzhang showed no mercy, instead kicking Madam Min away. "How many times was Yun'er locked in the woodshed when he was little? Why didn't you feel sorry for him then?"
"My lord, Yun'er is a man, how can you compare him to Yu'er? Yu'er is a woman! How can she endure such hardship! As the saying goes, 'raise a boy with hardship, a girl with wealth,' has my lord forgotten these old rules?"
Qin Yuanzhang said angrily, "What a woman's opinion. You'd best behave yourself from now on. If you do anything else, don't blame me for being harsh!" Qin Yuanzhang flicked his sleeve and left in a huff.
Madam Min slumped to the ground. No one dared to approach her.
Madam Zhang, who had not left, suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha, Sister, I never thought you'd have a day like this! Heaven truly has eyes!" Madam Zhang covered her mouth with her handkerchief, laughing heartily.
"Bitch, what are you laughing at? You who can't even lay an egg, how dare you laugh at me?" Madam Min wiped the blood from her nose and stumbled to her feet.
"If you hadn't been adding fuel to the fire today, my lord wouldn't have punished me, nor would my Yu'er have been implicated. It's all your fault... Zhang Huifang, you are a true bitch, only deserving to be childless your entire life!" Madam Min roared in anger.
Madam Zhang was also provoked by Madam Min's words. She took two steps forward and stood before Madam Min. "You're the bitch! So what if you gave birth to a daughter? She's still not favored, is she? And these past few years, as you've aged and your beauty faded, my lord hasn't touched you, has he? You old hag! Anyone who sees you is disgusted, let alone my lord!"
"Hahaha, even if I'm old, I at least have a daughter to care for me and dote on me. What do you have? Nothing! For women in this world, if they don't have children, when they get old, what difference will there be between them and those beggars on the street! Zhang Huifang, you'll be driven out of the mansion sooner or later! You'll be far more pathetic than I am then!"
Madam Zhang, unable to contain her anger, grabbed Madam Min's collar and shouted, "Ugly old woman, say that again if you dare!"
"I'll say it if I dare, who's afraid of whom? You, Zhang Huifang, are a pathetic creature who can't lay eggs, what's the difference between you and the roosters in the back courtyard? A woman like you will sooner or later become a homeless, unwanted beggar!"
Madam Min continued to mock, "Do you think Qin Yuanzhang, that ugly old man, has favored and loved you all these years, and that you'll have a good life? I'm telling you, that old man is much older than you. The day he dies, you'll be nothing!"
"Ah...! Min Yueyue, go die! I'll beat you to death, you bitch!"
Instantly!
Madam Min and Madam Zhang began to fight!
You slap me, I kick you.
You pull my hair, I scratch your face.
The two quickly devolved into a brawl, continuing to fight even after falling to the ground.
Madam Min, being older, couldn't win by hitting, so she resorted to biting, firmly sinking her teeth into Madam Zhang's thigh.
Madam Zhang, not to be outdone, grabbed Madam Min's arm and began to bite as well.
Seeing the situation escalating,
The maids and servants around them began to pull them apart.
The two seemed to have gone mad, refusing to let go of their bites.
At this moment, the maid Xiao Mei suddenly had a plan and hurriedly called out, "My lord, you're finally here! The second concubine and the third concubine are fighting!"
Upon hearing that Qin Yuanzhang had arrived again!
Madam Min and Madam Zhang immediately released their bites.
Seeing that they had let go, the maids and servants quickly pulled them apart.
Madam Min thought Qin Yuanzhang had arrived and immediately knelt on the ground.
Madam Zhang thought Qin Yuanzhang had arrived and hastily tidied her clothes and hair ornaments.
However, when they looked up! They did not see Qin Yuanzhang, and only then did they realize they had been tricked!
But at this moment, neither of them was willing to concede, both glaring fiercely at each other.