Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Impressive
Originally, a pill only cost two thousand taels.
Just because the second young lady wanted the maids and old women to drive away the Eldest Young Madam.
As a result—
Not only was she driven away herself,
The price of the pill also increased.
The Eldest Young Madam is indeed someone not to be provoked.
The Old Madam clutched the Buddha Beads in her hand tightly and said, "Go ask Princess Nanzhang for ten thousand taels."
Mrs. Wang had no choice but to turn back to Peony Garden to deliver the message.
This time, Princess Nanzhang was also furious.
She intended well and ended up doing bad, she admitted her mistake.
Not only did she pay ten thousand taels, but they wanted her to pay another ten thousand?!
Princess Nanzhang, full of anger, went to Qihao Hall.
"Why should I pay the ten thousand taels this time?" Princess Nanzhang’s voice was cold and stern.
"If not for the Eldest Sister-in-law meddling, would our master be like this?!" Third Madam exclaimed angrily.
Princess Nanzhang looked at Third Madam and took a deep breath to suppress her anger.
"Buying the same pill twice, and buying it under the Eldest Young Madam’s exorbitant prices, is the Third Branch so affluent that money burns their hands?" Princess Nanzhang mocked.
"If the pill is effective, the Third Master’s illness should have been cured, and I would have repaid what I owe to the Third Branch. Why should I pay this ten thousand taels?!"
"If it’s not effective, since I paid for it, I have the right to oppose spending such a large amount on a useless pill!" Princess Nanzhang stated imposingly.
Unable to do anything to that female bandit, could she not control Third Madam?
To bump into her gunpoint, it was to become her punching bag!
Princess Nanzhang and Third Madam started arguing, evidently, Princess Nanzhang had the upper hand.
The Old Madam’s head was splitting with pain.
"Enough!"
"Each of you pays five thousand taels!" she concluded decisively.
"I will only pay for the two pills I previously bought!" Princess Nanzhang said coolly.
After saying this, she left with a flick of her sleeve.
Third Madam stared at the Old Madam in anger, only to be stopped by a fierce glare from the Old Madam.
If she were not so jealous, where would all these troubles come from?!
Third Madam was filled with anger, unable to vent, unable to swallow, and it burned her internally.
After walking a few steps, Princess Nanzhang turned back and said, "Our Duke Zhen Country Mansion has never had a young lady who would drive someone away with a broom."
"Both the Second Young Lady and the Eldest Young Madam violated the family rules and are to kneel in the Buddhist Hall for three hours!"
"Copy the family rules three hundred times!"
Third Madam nearly crushed her silver teeth.
Knowing she was punished, Xie Jinxiu ran in to ask the Old Madam to stand up for her.
The Old Madam was annoyed at Xie Jinxiu for being meddlesome, costing a few thousand more taels on impulse.
"Go kneel in the Buddhist Hall!"
Xie Jinxiu’s tears fell aggrievedly.
The Old Madam waved her away.
Xie Jinxiu went to the Buddhist Hall.
But after waiting for a long time, there was no sign of Su Jin.
Rubbing her sore knees, Xie Jinxiu complained, "Why am I the only one punished to kneel?!"
The maid shook her head, "I don’t know, Miss."
"Go ask," Xie Jinxiu urged.
The maid went to Qihao Hall and happened to ask Hongxiu.
Hongxiu said, "Are you silly? The Third Master still relies on the Eldest Young Madam to get pills from Dongxiang Marquis Mansion to treat his illness. Would the Old Madam help Princess Nanzhang to punish the Eldest Young Madam?"
"Whoever wants to punish someone should be the one to send the message," Hongxiu said.
The maid suddenly understood.
Peony Garden.
After punishing someone, Princess Nanzhang felt much better.
The maid brought bird’s nest porridge, and she ate half a bowl.
The maid came in and said, "Commandery Princess, the Eldest Young Madam did not go to the Buddhist Hall to kneel."
Mrs. Zhao frowned, "Did the Eldest Young Madam refuse to go, or was there no one sent by the Old Madam to inform her?"
"It seems the Eldest Young Madam doesn’t know about this," the maid replied.
"Go deliver the message," Mrs. Zhao instructed.
The young maid turned pale.
Delivering a message to the Eldest Young Madam wasn’t going to get her beaten, was it?
But she dare not refuse.
The young maid slowly walked to the entrance of Agarwood Pavilion.
She did not dare to go in.
Standing on the steps of Agarwood Pavilion, she delivered the message.
The message passed into the ears of the little maid guarding the side door and was then relayed to Su Jin.
Su Jin’s response returned the same way.
With each maid the message passed through, they developed a deeper respect for the Eldest Young Madam.
They had no choice.
Their Eldest Young Madam was the epitome of poking a hornet’s nest and pulling a tiger’s whisker.
The dangerous part was she succeeded every time.
The young maid silently returned to Peony Garden.
Standing before Princess Nanzhang, the young maid hesitated for a long time without speaking.
Mrs. Zhao saw this and asked, "Did the Eldest Young Madam go to kneel?"
Could it be possible?
The young maid quickly glanced at Princess Nanzhang, hesitating to speak.
"Speak up if you have something to say!" Princess Nanzhang said coldly.
The young maid quietly said, "The Eldest Young Madam instructed me to ask the Commandery Princess: as the matter of her pretending to buy pills under her name hasn’t leaked from Duke Zhen Country Mansion, can it be considered an exchange condition to keep silent and exempt her from punishment?"
"If not, she will go kneel in the Buddhist Hall," the young maid’s voice floated.
She wasn’t afraid to speak; as a message deliverer, her body trembled like a sieve.
Seeing Princess Nanzhang’s face contort as if poisoned.
The young maid cried inwardly—
This isn’t what I said, it’s what the Eldest Young Madam said.
Don’t glare at me.
Clearly a threat, yet politely seeking agreement as if asking for consent.
In the whole Duke Mansion, only the Eldest Young Madam would do such a thing.
Afraid of becoming a scapegoat, the young maid quickly turned and fled.
As soon as she left, the sound of things being thrown came from the room.
Inside the Buddhist Hall.
Xie Jinxiu had been kneeling for half an hour.
Her knees were sore, and coupled with impatience, hatred rose from her heart to her cheeks, twisting her delicate face.
"Why hasn’t the Eldest Sister-in-law come yet?" she ground her teeth.
"Miss, the Eldest Young Madam won’t be coming to kneel," the young maid replied.
"Why?" Xie Jinxiu asked.
The young maid told Xie Jinxiu about how Su Jin threatened Princess Nanzhang.
Xie Jinxiu’s lips trembled with anger.
She wanted to get up but was stopped by the maid, "Second Young Lady, you are still being punished."
"If the Eldest Sister-in-law doesn’t have to kneel, why should I?!" Xie Jinxiu protested.
"If you act on impulse and spread the news about the Commandery Princess pretending to buy medicine using the Eldest Young Madam’s name, she won’t be lenient," the maid said.
"Let’s kneel for a while and take a break. If the Commandery Princess finds out, you might become her punching bag," she added.
Xie Jinxiu was frustrated to the point her delicate face twisted.
Why should she be punished for things her sister-in-law did not have to do?!
Does she pick the softer target to bully?!
She wasn’t that easy to bully either!
"Go spread the word about the Commandery Princess using her name to buy medicines," Xie Jinxiu ordered in retaliation.
"Second Young Lady, don’t be impulsive," the maid urged.
"Quick, go!"
...
Agarwood Pavilion, the back courtyard.
Xingxing came with a food box, Su Jin said, "Is it time for lunch already?"
"Young Madam, let’s have some bird’s nest porridge first," she said.
Xingxing placed the food box down and opened the lid.
Su Jin saw what was inside the box.
Xingxing continued, "I asked the maids at the front courtyard to help me pick some stones. Afraid that the young lady wouldn’t like them, they specially went outside the mansion to buy some and bring back,"
Su Jin, "...."
Xingxing pulled out a slingshot from her bag.
Face full of admiration, she looked at Su Jin, "Young Lady, you are so amazing."
Su Jin, "...."
Su Jin picked up a stone and joked, "I didn’t think throwing stones could be an art form."
"With more practice, you will hit your target every time," Xingxing encouraged.
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