Lu Qing Wan slept until the sun was high in the sky after a busy night.
Yue Er came in as usual to help her wash and change, but she kept snickering, like a gushing fountain.
Lu Qing Wan asked suspiciously, "What good thing happened to make you so happy? Did you find some money?"
"Happier than finding money!"
Yue Er giggled, "Miss, you don't know, but yesterday, so many snakes appeared in the manor from who knows where, and they bit Steward Zhou and the Second Madam.
Steward Zhou is fine, he was only bitten on the hand.
But the Second Madam was miserable. She was bitten on her buttocks. That area is difficult for a doctor to treat, so she could only take detoxification medicine.
I heard her buttocks swelled so much that she couldn't even sit down. This morning, when the governesses went to pay their respects, the Second Madam was still lying on her stomach in bed!
And although everyone dared not say it openly, they all whispered that the Second Madam and Steward Zhou had an unclear relationship!
Otherwise, why would it be such a coincidence that even the Second Madam's maid was fine, but only Steward Zhou and the Second Madam were bitten by snakes together?"
Yue Er's schadenfreude was quite obvious.
Lu Qing Wan, however, inwardly thought, so it was Steward Zhou that Lan Shi was having an affair with!
It made sense. Lu Zhen Ting was away from home for long periods, and the inner court of the Marquis's manor was not a place anyone could enter and exit freely. Only Steward Zhou could.
He managed all the affairs of the manor and had to report to Lan Shi from time to time. His comings and goings to the inner court would not attract attention. Considering all this, it seemed quite plausible.
She just didn't expect that before she could stir the pot, the servants in the manor had already guessed the truth. This was interesting.
When would be a good time to expose this scandal? Lu Qing Wan pondered seriously.
Seeing that her young lady had fallen silent, Yue Er thought she was sleepy and said softly, "Miss, the Second Madam is not free to bother us today. If you are tired, you can sleep a little longer. It's okay."
She herself was almost exhausted after returning so late last night, so it wasn't strange for her young lady to be sleepy.
Lu Qing Wan shook her head, "Yue Er, remember, there is no Second Madam in the Marquis of Zhaolie's manor, only Concubine Lan."
Lan Shi wanted to act like the main wife, but Lu Zhen Ting had long since split from his clan brothers, and there were no other concubines in the Marquis's manor for her to show off to. So, she had the governesses come to pay their respects every morning.
The servants also followed the wind, flattering her and calling her the Second Madam.
However, neither the original host nor Lu Zhen Ting had ever acknowledged Lan Shi as the Second Madam. Now, her time to show off was running out.
Yue Er heard this and quickly said, "This servant knows her mistake, this servant remembers, Miss."
Lu Qing Wan nodded, "Go get something to eat, I'm hungry."
Yue Er respectfully withdrew. Her young lady's eyes just now were so terrifying. If her young lady was always like this, Lan Shi and her daughter wouldn't be able to bully her anymore!
After sending Yue Er to get food, Lu Qing Wan used her divine sense to examine the items in the spatial laboratory.
She didn't need those gold and silver jewelry, and her various experiences since transmigrating had taught her that it was very inconvenient to be without resources.
If these items were converted to silver, she could stir up quite a bit of trouble.
While she was calculating how much those items could sell for, Yue Er returned.
She had a slap mark on her face and only two steamed buns in her hand. The stale smell could be detected from a distance.
"What happened? Who hit you?"
Yue Er shook her head repeatedly, "No one hit this servant, this servant accidentally bumped into it."
"Then you're quite something, to bump into a slap mark?"
Lu Qing Wan gestured with her chin towards the stale steamed buns in Yue Er's hand, "Is this also a result of you bumping into something?"
Yue Er quickly shook her head, "Miss, please don't be angry. Although these steamed buns are stale, they are still edible.
Please eat them to fill your stomach first, and this servant will go steal something else for you.
The Second Miss was supposed to return home yesterday, and Concubine Lan had the kitchen prepare many good dishes. If this servant steals a little for you, she probably won't be discovered."
According to the rules of the Great Qian Dynasty, only the legitimate daughters of officials ranked fourth or higher could be called "Miss."
Others, whether they were legitimate daughters of minor officials or illegitimate daughters of high-ranking officials, could only be called "Young Lady."
The wives of ministers were also only the principal wives of officials ranked fourth or higher who could be called "Madam." Others could only be called "Madam" and "Concubine."
Yesterday, Lu Qing Wan told Yue Er that there was no Second Madam in the manor, only Concubine Lan. Today, even her address for Lu Si Wan had changed.
This point made Lu Qing Wan quite pleased. She no longer put on a stern face, "I am, after all, the legitimate daughter of a dignified Marquis's manor, and I've been reduced to stealing food?"
Yue Er's eyes welled up with tears, "The Marquis is not often in the manor, and Concubine Lan controls the household. Your share has all been given to the Second Miss, including food.
She also hinted to the servants in the manor that anyone who dared to take care of you was defying her. The people in the main kitchen, who are all well-connected, have directly withheld your rations..."
"A fine Marquis of Zhaolie's manor!"
Lu Qing Wan got up and walked away, "Lead the way!"
Yue Er wanted to stop her, but thinking that even the formidable man in black last night couldn't do anything to Lu Qing Wan, she thought that her young lady might truly be capable and then happily ran ahead to lead the way.
The Marquis of Zhaolie's manor was different from other noble families. This title was earned by Lu Zhen Ting himself through military merit. The newly bestowed residence was larger than that of an ordinary Marquis's manor.
Lu Qing Wan's feet ached from walking before they finally reached the main kitchen.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she saw a plump woman dressed in luxurious brocade standing before a large square table.
All sorts of delicacies were laid out on it, and she was currently eating a whole large ham hock, her mouth greasy.
Yue Er whispered, "Miss, that's Granny Chen, who manages the kitchen."
Lu Qing Wan nodded and stepped forward, "Is it delicious?"
"It's alright, a bit inferior to the imperial meals bestowed by the palace."
Although she said it was alright, she ate without restraint.
Lu Qing Wan grabbed a kettle from the stove and aimed it at Granny Chen's head, pouring the hot water all over her.
"Ah ah ah!!"
Granny Chen jumped up from her seat with a scream, letting out a piercing pig-like squeal.
"Who, who dared to scald me? Guards, kill her for me!"
A group of servants inside and outside the kitchen heard the commotion and rushed over, only to be stunned.
Where did this noble daughter come from? Why was she scalding Granny Chen with boiling water for no reason?
"What are you all standing there for? Kill her for me!"
Lu Qing Wan put down the kettle and looked coldly at the two guards who rushed in first, "What are you waiting for? Didn't you hear her? Drag her out and beat her to death!"
The servants were stunned. They didn't dare to lay hands on Granny Chen, nor did they understand who this person was and why she was targeting a governess of the Marquis's manor.
Granny Chen was an old servant of the manor and knew about the birthmark on Lu Qing Wan's face. Upon recognizing her, she immediately felt confident. "Lu Qing Wan, I am someone the Second Madam trusts. How dare you touch me?"
"Today, I dare!"
Lu Qing Wan grabbed a piece of firewood, as thick as a calf's leg, and began smashing it against Granny Chen's face.
Granny Chen, as corpulent as a pig, screamed in pain but couldn't escape Lu Qing Wan's agile hands. She could only cover her head and curse incessantly.
Lu Qing Wan smashed while saying, "All of you remember this: in the Marquis of Zhaolie's manor, your lives are in my hands. If I want someone to die, even the government has no right to interfere.
If you dare to fleece me, this is the precedent!"
With that, she threw down the thick piece of firewood, and Granny Chen collapsed to the ground.
Everyone then realized that Granny Chen had been beaten so badly by Lu Qing Wan that she didn't even have the strength to fall. She only collapsed after Lu Qing Wan stopped.
Lu Qing Wan said coldly, "I am the only legitimate daughter of the Marquis's manor. Understand who your true master is.
Does anyone else want to put on airs in front of me?"
"No!"
At this moment, everyone was forced to remember that Lu Qing Wan was the legitimate daughter of the dignified Marquis of Zhaolie's manor, a daughter of a military family. How could she possibly be a useless person?