The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

The Princess Consort? Should I quickly beg the Princess Consort? Zhou Rui's wife suddenly had a plan.

Chapter 79 Master and Servant Quarrel, Daiyu Watches the Fire

Zhou Rui's wife was completely presumptuous. When she heard Grandmother Jia say that the Princess Consort had handled the situation appropriately, she thought that Daiyu's side had detained her son-in-law. Then she realized that she must have offended the Princess Consort in the past.

But think about it, back then I was just a servant, what could I really do? In the end, weren't all those things done under Madam Wang's orders?

So she knelt down and quickly moved a few steps toward Daiyu, kowtowing several times as she did so: "Your Highness, please understand. The grievances Your Highness suffered in the mansion before were not my idea. Whether it was letting Your Highness pass through the West Corner Gate or sending Your Highness the palace flowers at the end, it was Second Madam's idea. How could I, a mere servant, dare to bully my mistress?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang naturally objected. Although she disliked Daiyu, she often did not directly instruct the servants to do anything. To put it bluntly, it was all those dog servants who thought they were being considerate of their mistress, guessed her thoughts, and acted on their own initiative.

"Nonsense! When did I arrange for the flowers to be delivered through the West Corner Gate? Delivering the palace flowers was your own decision. I was with the concubine at the time, and she told you to deliver them to Feng'er last. To curry favor, you eagerly sent them to Feng'er first. Do you think I didn't know?" Madam Wang immediately scolded, pointing at Zhou Rui's wife, "You old hag! I've valued you highly since you were a young lady in the Wang family, but here, your husband only takes care of collecting rent, and you even run a shop for your son-in-law, and you still think it's not enough!"

Zhou Rui's wife immediately seized on the loophole in Madam Wang's words and cried out in grievance: "Hasn't Madam already admitted it? This shop was originally opened for Madam. From beginning to end, all the money earned went to Madam. My family and I were just busy working and getting some wages."

This was certainly not true. Although the shop was opened in Leng Zixing's name, with Madam Wang providing the capital, it was agreed from the beginning that 50% of the profits would go to Madam Wang. However, Madam Wang, being a woman confined to the inner quarters, was not familiar with the outside world, making it easy to deceive her.

Moreover, Madam Wang had always trusted Zhou Rui's family, and as long as the money was handed over to her on time, she didn't bother to investigate further.

When Grandmother Jia heard this, she figured that since the argument had already started, she might as well take the opportunity to find out more about the shop and Lady Wang's behavior over the years. So she asked Zhou Rui's wife, "If that's the case, then how come the shop sold some of your household's things?"

Madam Wang tried to deny it before Zhou Rui's wife could, but Zhou Rui's wife naturally wouldn't admit it. The example of Yuanyang, who was once trusted by the old lady, was right there. She was secretly executed, which showed how kind the old lady was. If you really offended the old lady, you might lose your life. Besides, she had no favors with the old lady at all.

So Zhou Rui's wife quickly spoke up to defend herself: "Those things were all given to me by Madam, who told me to take them out and have my son-in-law put them in the shop to sell. Madam said that Her Highness spends a lot of money in the palace now, and from time to time, palace eunuchs come to the mansion to beg for money. They can't get away with not giving three or four hundred taels each time."

Lady Wang wanted to rush up and scold Zhou Rui's wife to stop her from speaking, but Grandmother Jia saw through her intention and immediately said, "If you are not guilty, let her finish speaking first. If you do not admit it after she finishes speaking, then you can speak up to refute her. The fact that you stopped her from speaking now proves that you are guilty."

Lady Wang had no choice but to lower her head and remain silent for the time being, thinking about how to defend herself later. "Your Majesty, that's right, Your Majesty in the palace. The old lady will have to forgive me for Your Majesty's sake. Besides, my brother now holds the highest official position, and the Jia family has to be mindful of the Wang family's feelings." Just as Lady Wang was lost in thought, Zhou Rui's wife had already said a lot.

"Old Madam, I've been in this household for quite some time now, and I know the rules. How could I dare disobey Madam's orders? Besides, my whole family's indentures are in Madam's hands. Madam gives me the items, and I take them out to my son-in-law to sell in the shop. Once they're sold, all the money goes to Madam." Zhou Rui's wife quickly shifted all the blame to Madam Wang.

"Has all the silver been handed over?" Grandmother Jia naturally didn't completely trust Zhou Rui's wife, so she deliberately asked, "Then tell me, how much silver did you give to Madam for selling this bronze inlaid with gold and silver cloud and thunder pattern three-legged incense burner?"

Zhou Rui's wife knew immediately that Grandmother Jia was suspicious. She wasn't stupid, so she immediately said that she didn't know much: "Several items were sold at the time, totaling ten thousand taels of silver, which were given to Madam together. I don't know the exact price of each item. But there are account books to check."

Grandmother Jia looked at Daiyu, who glanced at Zhou Rui's wife indifferently: "This one cost four thousand taels of silver."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang immediately reacted and pointed at Zhou Rui's wife, cursing, "So you're greedy for my money! You said you'd give me everything, but all those things only cost ten thousand taels, and this one item sold for four thousand! You vicious woman!"

Before Grandmother Jia could react, Lady Wang rushed forward and kicked Zhou Rui's wife. The kick was so powerful that Zhou Rui's wife fell to the ground on the spot and couldn't get up for a while.

The matter is now quite clear: Madam Wang, along with her entire household of servants, stole things from the mansion and sold them. Madam Wang, the head of the household, was caught stealing from her own home.

Zhou Rui's wife was even more frightened by the kick from Madam Wang. After recovering, she knelt down and begged for forgiveness from Grandmother Jia: "Grandmother, Madam also said that all these years, for the sake of the Princess Consort, you wish you could give all of your secret stash of money to the Princess Consort. Who knows what will happen in the future? It would be better to take the goods and sell them yourself first, and keep the money for yourself, so that it won't be divided up by others in the future."

Grandmother Jia was fed up with the argument between the mistress and servant. They had disgraced the Rongguo Mansion for generations. She raised her voice and ordered, "Tie up Zhou Rui's wife and lock her in the woodshed. Don't skimp on her food. I'll deal with her after I've investigated."

Soon, Amber brought four old women to tie up Zhou Rui's wife and send her away, while Zhou Rui's wife kept crying out that she was wronged.

Having received the news earlier, Baochai hesitated for a long time before deciding to come and see. Madam Xing, who had also received the news, rushed over from the main house.

The two met at the entrance of Grandmother Jia's courtyard, but Amber stopped them both: "Grandmother said that no one is allowed to enter. First Madam, Second Madam Bao, please go back."

Madam Xing pursed her lips. She had never been popular here and didn't know who to ask for details, so she turned away.

Baochai pondered for a moment, then left a message: "Sister Amber, please let us know immediately if the old lady has any instructions."

After Baochai came out, she quickly went to find Madam Wang's head maid, Yuchuan'er: "When Madam returns later, please send someone to inform her immediately."

However, Madam Wang won't be able to get out anytime soon.

Grandmother Jia looked at Lady Wang, who had already collapsed to the ground, her eyes filled with disgust and hatred—the girl from the Wang family was truly a scourge. How could she have been so blind to have chosen such a daughter-in-law?

"Now it's your turn to speak. Tell me your grievances slowly."

Chapter 80 The Foolish Queen Confined

Lady Wang knew that no matter how much she denied it, Grandmother Jia would not believe her anymore, so her only option was to beg for mercy.

Then Madam Wang changed her tune, becoming pitiful with tears in her eyes: "Old Madam, your daughter-in-law is guilty, but I didn't do it for myself. As you know, all these years, when Her Majesty was in the palace, the family had to subsidize her private expenses every year. Otherwise, Her Majesty would have had an even harder time living in the palace."

Grandmother Jia immediately interrupted her: "Yes, but the Empress's expenses are all paid through the household accounts. The household gives the Empress 10,000 taels of silver every year, which is enough for the Empress to manage in the harem. Few concubines in the harem can afford such a large sum of money from their families."

“Ten thousand taels is not enough. Every time my daughter-in-law goes to the palace, she gives the Empress some silver notes. Especially when the Empress lost her child, my daughter-in-law gave her a lot. Otherwise, how could the Empress bribe the imperial physicians?” Madam Wang was telling the truth. “Besides the ten thousand taels given to the Empress by the household, my daughter-in-law has to give the Empress ten thousand taels every year. Otherwise, the Empress cannot live in the palace.”

Twenty thousand taels a year? Daiyu was shocked when she heard this. According to the rules of the dynasty, the monthly salary of the imperial concubines was one hundred taels for the empress, seventy taels for the imperial concubine, and fifty taels for the four concubines. Yuanchun, as one of the four concubines, received fifty taels of silver per month.

Besides silver, the concubines also received meat, rice, noodles, tea, silk, and other necessities according to their rank. Living on just these things was indeed difficult. The eunuchs and maids in the palace were all servants, but they also had superiors, creating a layered system of master and servant. Everything in the palace required expenses. Therefore, any concubines from influential families would try to send them some silver.

According to what Daiyu heard, other concubines received a stipend of three to five thousand taels from their families, which was already a very generous sum.

"Where did Consort Xiande spend the 20,000 taels she received a year?" Daiyu wondered.

Not only was Daiyu startled, but Grandmother Jia was also stunned: "Twenty thousand taels?" She subconsciously raised her voice, clearly not believing the amount.

"If you don't believe me, Madam, you can go to the palace and ask Her Majesty yourself." Madam Wang then pleaded for Yuan Chun's safety. "That child was sent to the palace at a young age and finally made it through. Naturally, I want to help her as much as possible. But I only have so much savings of my own, which is not enough at all. So I really had no choice but to do this. Please, Madam, forgive me this time for Her Majesty's sake. I will never do it again."

Grandmother Jia felt an overwhelming sadness: It was bad enough that Lady Wang was so foolish, but how could the Empress be so foolish? Twenty thousand taels a year, and an Empress of the highest rank couldn't even protect her child? I'm afraid no one would believe it if word got out.

Suppressing her grief and worry, Grandmother Jia had to deal with the immediate matters at hand.

"For the sake of the Empress, can you do whatever you want? Why don't you think about it? If you sell the imperial gift and get caught, it's a capital offense. Not only you, but the entire Jia family will be implicated. Will the Empress be able to protect herself then?" Grandmother Jia knew very well that Madam Wang brought up the Empress because she felt that she couldn't really touch her out of respect for the Empress.

This time, however, Grandmother Jia was determined to punish her severely, otherwise the consequences would be dire.

When Madam Wang first took the goods out to sell, she had many concerns, but people are always greedy. As she saw more and more money coming in, Madam Wang's appetite grew.

Moreover, ever since Wang Xifeng ran away, the household management was thrown back to her. Although Baochai had entered the household, she was much more shrewd than Wang Xifeng. Whenever money was involved, Baochai would not pay a single penny. Everything was done through the household's accounts. Even when a eunuch came to ask for money, Baochai would report to Madam Wang under the pretext of learning how to manage the household from her mother.

In the end, it was Lady Wang who had to use her private savings.

"But I had no choice," Madam Wang said through gritted teeth, looking at Daiyu sitting upright to the side. "If it weren't for the Princess Consort getting married and me bringing out so many of my private treasures, I wouldn't have needed to sell things from the house!"

It seems that Second Aunt is really harboring a lot of resentment. Daiyu glanced at Madam Wang calmly and said, "Is that so? Putting aside the dowry my parents left me, Second Aunt, how many years has Leng Zixing's shop been open? What do you think? Could it be that you had to sell your family's things for my sake before?"

"For the sake of the old lady, I won't say anything, but my second aunt doesn't really think that I don't know how much dowry my parents left me, does she?"

"The Empress's villa for her visit home is over there. How much money did the Lin family spend on it? Should I discuss this with my second aunt in front of the old lady?"

Daiyu's face darkened, and her imposing manner even frightened Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia then quickly apologized to Daiyu: "Princess, please don't take her seriously. She's an ignorant and foolish woman. Your second uncle and I both know how much you've suffered for the sake of this household."

Daiyu wasn't planning on completely severing ties with the Rongguo Mansion yet. After all, the Third Prince needed to conceal his abilities, and if things escalated, it wouldn't just be a trivial matter within the inner quarters, or a reflection of the grievances she had suffered there over the years. While Yuanchun wasn't a threat, the Emperor hadn't yet taken any action against the Rongguo Mansion, so they shouldn't provoke him. Therefore, Daiyu simply nodded after hearing Grandmother Jia's words and remained silent.

"Grandma, even if it wasn't her, it was still..." Madam Wang was still unconvinced, but Grandmother Jia interrupted her directly.

Now things are quite clear—since she dared to take things from the manor to sell, Grandmother Jia will no longer show her any mercy.

"You don't need to say anything more! You keep saying it's for the Empress, but I think you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin." Grandmother Jia already had a plan in mind. "Since it's for the Empress, then from now on you should stay in the Buddhist hall and pray for the Empress."

Madam Wang was stunned for a moment. Was she just going to let it go like that? No, it took her a while to realize: "Old lady, are you going to lock me up?"

"No, it's not that I want to lock you up. It's that you voluntarily moved into the small Buddhist hall to pray for the Empress." Grandmother Jia spoke slowly, keeping a close eye on Madam Wang as she spoke. Seeing that she still didn't understand, she simply said more directly, "If you were unwilling, then I'm afraid this matter wouldn't have been resolved as simply as praying for the Empress."

"No, I still have to go to the palace every month to pay my respects to Her Majesty, and there are also household chores to manage..." Lady Wang was still preoccupied with these things; she had absolutely no desire to live in that cold, dark little Buddhist hall. Besides, once she went in, she didn't know when she would be able to get out. Moreover, Grandmother Jia made her kneel and recite scriptures, collect Buddhist beans—that would take several hours a day. She had never actually knelt for that long before; her knees would probably be ruined. The thought of being imprisoned terrified Lady Wang.

Even at this point, they still haven't given up. Grandmother Jia said coldly, "You don't need to worry about paying your respects to the Empress."

It seems I'll have to go see the Empress again sometime soon. Grandmother Jia couldn't help but think.

"As for the steward, it's not like there's no one else in the house these days. The more you manage things over the years, the worse it gets." Grandmother Jia was too lazy to say anything more. "For the sake of the Empress and Baoyu, you should obediently go to the Buddhist hall. Otherwise, if you write a letter to your master, I'm afraid it won't be as simple as it seems."

Lady Wang knew Jia Zheng's character very well. If Jia Zheng knew that she had stolen things from the house to sell, and that these items were imperial gifts, he might even divorce her.

Lady Wang's face turned ashen, and she uttered no more words.

Grandmother Jia then pleaded with Daiyu: "Please, Your Highness, for the sake of our family, execute Leng Zixing. As for Zhou Rui's family, we will certainly punish them properly as well."

“Why bother with formalities, Grandmother? The Prince and I could have handled this directly, but we felt it was ultimately Grandmother’s family matter and it wasn’t appropriate for us to interfere.” Daiyu stood up and comforted Grandmother Jia. She was tired at the moment and had no appetite for a meal at the main house.

Madam Xing had no interest in entertaining Daiyu; she was currently discussing with Wang Shanbao's wife how to get some information from this side.

Upon learning that Lady Wang had made a grave mistake, Lady Xing immediately rushed to find Jia She—for so many years, Lady Xing had longed for the power to manage the household, and now that Lady Wang had been punished, wasn't her opportunity finally here?

Chapter 81: Each Man Shows His Own Ambition Regarding the Butler's Power

Madam Xing quickly informed Jia She, her purpose being to gain control of the household. However, Jia She's thinking was not so simple—if the second branch of the family had taken so much from the house, wouldn't the eldest branch of the family receive even less when the family was divided in the future?

That won't do; the second wife's family has to give it back. Even if the second wife's family can't give it back, the old lady's private treasury should still be left for the first wife's family.

So Jia She hurriedly ran to Grandmother Jia's main room.

Grandmother Jia felt annoyed whenever she saw Jia She. Her son was like a debt collector sent by heaven, never doing anything of importance.

Upon hearing Jia She's words, which were all about money, Grandmother Jia impatiently interrupted him: "Don't think that the eldest son's family is clean. Do you know who Yuanyang stole my private treasury from and gave it to?"

Jia She was stunned. He knew about the incident where Yuanyang stole from Grandmother Jia's private treasury to sell, and the Princess discovered that what she was selling was the dowry that the Lin family had given to their daughter, which caused an accident.

But he always thought that Yuanyang stole things because he was greedy and that he took all the money from the sales back to her home.

"Anyway, it wasn't given to me, and it couldn't have been given to the eldest son's family. That girl always protects Baoyu, so it must have been given to him..." Jia She himself wasn't very confident in saying this.

"Why don't you think about it? Your son ran away so quickly, was it really to become an official?" Grandmother Jia looked at Jia She impatiently. "If you don't believe me, just go and believe me and see what your son has to say."

It was Lian'er? Had the couple planned everything all along? Thinking of this, Jia She felt even more indignant.

“I advise you to restrain yourself. The family is still able to hold on thanks to the Empress in the palace and your second brother’s official position. The family is living a respectable life.” Grandmother Jia simply laid it all out. “If things really get out of hand, we’ll all be Jias. Yu’er is someone I raised, and you see, she’s still on my side.”

Jia She muttered to himself for a while, then slunk away like a defeated rooster. Mainly, he felt that since his second brother was now the educational commissioner, he wouldn't gain anything by making a scene.

Jia She never intended to help Madam Xing gain control of the household, so when he returned to the courtyard and saw Madam Xing's eager eyes, Jia She said bluntly, "You'd better not think about managing the household. Do you think it's easy to run this household? I don't think you understand the situation in our courtyard."

After saying that, he ignored Madam Xing and went back to his room.

Madam Xing never dared to contradict Jia She, but she was still unwilling to give up, so she sent someone to inquire.

Baochai was also concerned about the management of the household. Now that Baoyu had a pregnant concubine named Qiuwen in his room, and Baoyu had always ignored her, Baochai felt more and more that it was important for her to hold onto the management of the household.

Baochai was more composed than Madam Xing. She waited silently, believing that with Madam Xing now confined to the Buddhist shrine and Wang Xifeng gone, she was the only one the family could rely on.

Therefore, Baochai thought that Grandmother Jia would take the initiative to find her.

But after waiting for three days and seeing that Grandmother Jia hadn't made a move, Baochai started to panic. She thought for a moment, then realized, "Oh, Consort Wu's birthday is coming up soon; I need to send her a gift."

Baochai, under the pretext of preparing a gift list for Grandmother Jia to review, steered the conversation toward household management: "Now that Madam is not here, I, as her granddaughter-in-law, do not know who to consult, so I have no choice but to trouble you, Grandmother."

She really knows how to talk. After looking through the gift list, Grandmother Jia had to admit that it was quite good, but she just nodded and called to Amber: "Go and invite the eldest mistress and Tan'er over. Tell them I have something to say."

Baochai's heart skipped a beat when she heard this—that year, when Tanchun and Li Wan were in charge of the household, she, as a relative, had taken the opportunity to join them because of her aunt's request.

The fact that Grandmother Jia summoned Li Wan and Tan Chun at this time clearly indicates that she intends for them to manage the household together.