Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 9: Convincing people with virtue
Early the next morning, several maids and servants came to Lixiangyuan.

I don't know what Xue Qingzhi told Fu last night, but Fu assigned four maids including Ruyi and several servants to serve in Lixiangyuan.

The old woman in charge was Fu's wet nurse who came with her as a dowry. Her surname was Liu. She looked around and sneered in a sarcastic manner.

"The eldest lady said that the Sixth Miss had just returned from a dirty place like the Old Mausoleum Swamp, and she must have forgotten the etiquette and rules. In order to avoid embarrassing the princess by going to Prince Duan's Mansion, she must learn the rules and regulations."

"Until you learn the rules, Sixth Miss, please don't walk around the mansion casually, so as not to offend the nobles."

Xiao Zhao and Ruyi glanced at each other quickly, anger showing on their faces.

Xue Sui smiled and said calmly, "As you should."

Matron Liu had just visited Matron Fang last night. After hearing her talk about Sixth Sister's cruelty and the horror of the Old Mausoleum Swamp, she became a little wary. But when she came to Lixiang Court today, she saw that Matron was still the same soft persimmon and rotten dough as before.
A girl who has never seen the world, knows nothing, and has a mother as mean as that, if she suddenly returns home, she will probably be blinded by the wealth and status. The so-called cruelty is nothing but poverty...

It was Nanny Fang who was too stupid and was frightened by the Old Mausoleum Swamp.

And the eldest lady is really making a fuss out of nothing.

This little girl of low birth, shouldn't she be allowed to do whatever she wants? With just a little trick, she can be obedient and out of her hands.

Nanny Liu unconsciously raised her posture and stepped forward.

"From now on, I will teach you the rules. The so-called strict family traditions, prominent women's virtues, respect for elders and juniors, and distinction between the high and the low, the sixth young lady must remember her status and must not make any mistakes."

Xue Sui listened to everything she said with a smile on his face.

After Aunt Liu finished speaking, she smiled and said, "Very good."

Matron Liu pursed her lips and signaled the maids and servants to stand in line.

"Sixth Miss, please take a look at the reward."

The Xue family has strict rules, and the brothers and sisters all care about their reputation, so they always give generous rewards to their servants.

Madam Liu thought that in order to gain a firm foothold in the mansion, she had to prepare some money to send servants away so that they would suffer less...

Unexpectedly, Xue Sui not only didn't give them a penny, but also turned around and called Xiao Zhao.

"Tell them some rules."

Xiao Zhao responded with a smile, "You yelled and yelled in front of the young lady, that's fine, but you even told the young lady what to do? I think Madam Liu doesn't know the rules at all. You've made the Madam lose face."

Before she finished speaking, she pointed at the old tree in the yard.

"Go, kneel under the tree for two hours. When you figure out what the rules are, come back and teach our girl. If you can't learn, I'll tie your feet, strip you naked and hang you upside down on the tree, and then let you think about it for three days!"

The maids and servants brought by Madam Liu were originally waiting to watch the fun with great joy. The servants were teasing the young lady, saying that no other play in the garden could be better than this one.

Unexpectedly, the Sixth Miss was so bold that she even dared to punish the First Lady's wet nurse.

How dare she?

Several people screamed.

"Sixth Miss, you can't do that."

"Madame Liu is from the Madam's room..."

"Shut up!" Xue Sui looked at the old woman who was begging for mercy. "People in the Madam's room are also servants. I think you don't know the rules. You should kneel with Madam Liu."

The old woman opened her mouth with a sullen face, wanting to say something, but then she heard Ruyi sneer.

"Madame Liu, Madame Zhang, you didn't listen to the young lady. Do you want me to report this to the master and the old lady before you can be punished?"

The maids and servant girls were stunned for a moment as they had not expected Ruyi to recognize the new master so quickly.

But who is Madam Liu? She works in the Madam's room and has always considered herself half a master. When has she ever been punished?

"Okay, Miss Six, wait for me!"

After she made these harsh remarks, she turned around and was about to leave.

Xue Sui glanced at Xiao Zhao and said, "Lixiangyuan cannot tolerate such unruly servants."

Xiao Zhao has been waiting for this sentence for a long time.

Although she is young, she is one of the most skilled fighters among the corpse-guarding officers in the Old Mausoleum Swamp. After returning to the Xue Mansion, she feels itchy every day.

"Stop!" Xiao Zhao shouted. Before Aunt Liu could react, the little maid grabbed her by the back of the collar and kicked her in the knee. She fell forward and knelt on the ground.

"Ouch! Sixth Miss, how dare you..." She was about to show off her power, but Xiao Zhao slapped her on the corner of her mouth, and she howled like a pig being slaughtered.

"You crazy girl?"

He twisted his neck and shouted:

"What are you guys standing there for? Come and help!"

Two maids were eager to try, but they saw the Sixth Sister standing on the steps sneer.

"Who dares!"

The maids lowered their heads. The women took back their feet and looked at each other.

Xue Sui glanced at everyone and said, "Beat her until she understands the rules and admits her mistakes."

Isn't this just repeating what the eldest lady said?

Xiao Zhao agreed with a smile, rolled up his sleeves and started beating him to death.

She is a martial artist and she doesn't care how hard she tries.

On this day in Lixiangyuan, the air became much fresher and happier amidst the wailing of Madam Liu.

In the end, the burly Madam Liu was beaten like a pig by Xiao Zhao and left crying.

Ruyi was stunned. "Oh my god, the Sixth Miss is so powerful. That Madam Liu is much more aggressive than Madam Fang. She usually bullies people in the mansion. Even the eldest master has to give her some face. How could she be sent away by the Sixth Miss just like that?"

Xiao Zhao felt refreshed and laughed continuously.

"You haven't seen the girl's true power yet."

This is just the beginning. There is a lot to see in the future.

Ruyi approached quietly and whispered, "Miss, if you hit Aunt Liu's face, isn't that hitting the Madam's face? That old hag will go back and complain, and the Madam will definitely come to trouble you..."

Xiao Zhao replied with a smile, "Our girl is least afraid of trouble."

Ruyi still felt nervous.

"The eldest lady will not give up, and the eldest master and the old lady will not protect the sixth lady..."

Xiao Zhao: "Isn't that perfect? ​​My knife has been unused for a long time and is almost rusty..."

She made a "slashing" gesture fiercely.

Xue Sui turned around and said, "This is not the old mausoleum marsh. Don't always think about fighting and killing. We must win people over with virtue."

Xiao Zhao and Ruyi looked at each other and stuck out their tongues.

Xue Sui acted as if he did not see their reactions. He called over the maids and servants brought by Nanny Liu and interrogated them carefully. He left two maids to take care of Xue Ji and three servants to do rough work in the outer courtyard, and sent the rest away.

Do everything well and then you can smile with relief.

"It's a nice day today."

Xiao Zhao had been with her for many years and knew her preferences. He took out the four treasures of the study, made some tea, and placed it by the window for her.

"Would the girl like to write or paint?"

She asked a little excitedly.

When the girl writes and paints, it is like selecting soldiers and generals. Whoever she selects will be unlucky.

Xue Sui shook his head, "I'm copying scriptures."

Xiao Zhao: “Ah?”

Do you copy the scriptures? Do you not kill?
Ruyi had no idea what Xiao Zhao was thinking. She blinked her big eyes, which were clearly black and white, and asked in a low voice, "What sutra do you want to copy, young lady? I will prepare it for you."

Xue Sui: "Xiao Zhao, bring me my box."

Only then did Ruyi realize that the sutra the girl wanted to copy was the "Money Sutra".

After coming out of the Old Mausoleum Swamp, Xue Sui and his servant did not have much luggage or money.

Even though she had been an imperial envoy for many years, she had kept enough money for her living expenses and used the rest of the money on her master's charity work.

There are so many people who need to eat, and there is an endless stream of poor people who need help. No matter how much money is invested, it will be a drop in the bucket.

So she didn't lose much money.

Xiao Zhao brought the box and counted the money.

Ruyi bent over nervously and fiddled with the charcoal in the stove.

The master and his two servants were all silent, planning for the days ahead.

About a quarter of an hour later, a woman in a hurry appeared outside the window.

Ruyi leaned over and looked, "Hey, isn't that Aunt Jinshu from the old lady's room? Why is she here in Lixiang Courtyard?"

Xue Sui did not move. He waited for Jinshu to come in and pay his respects, then sent Ruyi and Xiaozhao out to keep watch.

"No one is allowed to come in without my order."

The two little girls went out and closed the door.

Jin Shu bowed, took out a piece of plain paper from his sleeve and handed it to Xue Sui.

"Girl, burn it after reading."

(End of this chapter)