Chapter 36: The Empress Dowager's Power is Curtailed

  "Zhang Yiniang, just because this little maid spoke nonsense, the big maid by your side actually believed that Fourth Miss had an affair with someone and even reported it to you as a serious matter. Don't you think it's ridiculous? I didn't know that the Pei Manor had become like the Imperial Censorate, where they can report things just by hearing rumors, and the maids don't even need to investigate before slandering the young ladies' reputations?" Madam Wen said coldly, directly attacking Ji Xiang.

  Zhang Yun glared at Xi Yan with some annoyance, having followed her for so many years, yet she was so careless and didn't even check what was buried underground before coming to report, causing such a commotion. In a cold voice, he rebuked: "Xi Yan, do you know your mistake?"

  Xi Yan's face turned pale with fright, and she hastily kowtowed, saying: "I deserve to die, I deserve to die!"

  "As the saying goes, a servant follows the master. If Madam Zhang values Fourth Miss so much, how dare the maids by your side be so careless and sloppy? Even if there really is a man's clothing, who knows it wasn't because of the maids' misbehavior? Madam Zhang is good at this, always mentioning that Fourth Miss's courtyard has hidden men's clothes, not a word about the many maids in the courtyard. It's all about following the example set by those above, and you can't blame your maids entirely." Madame Wen's mouth curved slightly, her tone cold and mocking.

  "Servant girl... Servant girl just misspoke for a moment."

  These oversights, Zhang Yun was not without thinking, but according to the original plan, to frame Pei Yuange for the crime of private communication with others. Pei Zhucheng would definitely be furious and disappointed with this daughter. Later, she pretended to care about Pei Yuange to cover up and plead for her, letting Pei Zhucheng see her "loving" heart towards Pei Yuange, naturally wouldn't suspect. But now, in this situation, this mishandled crime, no matter what, she can't escape.

  "I've long heard that the housekeeper of the Pei estate, Zhang Niangniang, is clever and capable, handling household matters with ease. But today I saw her for the first time, and she made two mistakes in a row? And both times it was about Fourth Miss! This is really quite coincidental!" Madame Wen's mouth curved slightly as she spoke, then sighed and continued, "But it's not surprising, after all Zhang Niangniang has her own daughter, and Fourth Miss isn't even your biological child. As long as things look good on the surface, that's enough. This is just human nature."

  Pei Yuansong couldn't help but secretly admire her, this Madame Wen was truly extraordinary!

  At this moment, if Madam Wen implies that this matter was designed by Zhang Yun to harm the eldest daughter, the crime is too great and completely different from Zhang Yun's image in Pei Zhucheng's heart. Pei Zhucheng will definitely not believe it. It's possible that under the reverse psychology, he would even think that Zhang Yun is being wronged. But now, Madam Wen first points out where Zhang Yun was at fault, then uses Pei Yuanrong as a reference, and finally interprets from the perspective of human nature, which is exactly within the range that Pei Zhucheng can accept, and can also arouse his dissatisfaction with Zhang Yun. This speech is indeed perfect and brilliant!

  It seems that Mrs. Wen has some understanding of Father's character, but I don't know why she wants to help me like this?

  As expected, Pei Zhucheng's face turned increasingly gloomy, his gaze at Zhang Yun filled with disappointment and annoyance, extremely dissatisfied with her response tonight. All these years, he had entrusted Ge'er to Zhang Yun, originally thinking she was fine, no matter how Ge'er treated her, she always did her best. But when it came to critical matters, she inadvertently revealed her negligence and slowness, if tonight's excavation wasn't a charm but a man's clothes, Ge'er's reputation would have been ruined.

  As Madam Wen said, if they are not her own children, how can she devote herself wholeheartedly?

  For the first time in ten years, Zhang Yun saw Pei Zhuo Cheng showing such emotions towards her, but it was for Ming Jin's daughter. The pain and resentment in her heart were hard to express. Biting her lip, without pretending, tears also flashed in her eyes, she said in a low voice: "I... I misspoke, please forgive me, master!"

  If it were usual, seeing Zhang Yun like this, Pei Zhucheng would have comforted her, but this time, he coldly said: "Glad words below offend above, slander Miss's reputation, twenty sticks, drive out of the house." He looked at her and didn't speak again. Although he didn't punish Zhang Yun, being so heavily responsible for her personal maid was already a serious warning.

  Compared to losing her trusted arm, Pei Zhucheng's ruthless treatment of her loyal maid was even more heart-wrenching for Zhang Yun.

  "From now on, you don't need to interfere with the affairs of Qingxuan Hall. Let Song'er handle it herself!" Pei Zhucheng said in a low voice. Although his words were simple, they reduced Zhang Yun's power and authority, and more importantly, they contained distrust towards Zhang Yun. For ten years, he had been extremely trusting of Zhang Yun, this was the first time he had publicly humiliated her like this. "Song'er, none of these maids can stay. Tonight, I'll trouble you to make do with it, tomorrow let Yapo bring some clean and honest people over, your father and you will select them together, this time we must choose reliable people for you."

  The poor boy's mother died early, and there was no maternal family left, only his father. If he didn't take good care of him, who else would truly think for the sake of the child?

  If it were usual, the maids in Miss's courtyard would be supplemented from the house if there was a shortage. This time, Pei Zhucheng skipped the people in the house and bought people directly from outside. Apparently, he was afraid that the family-born children in the house would have intricate relationships, and the slaves would deceive their masters, which would make Pei Yuange suffer again.

  Zhang Yun couldn't hear the deeper meaning behind these words and grew even more resentful in her heart.

  Buying a maidservant from outside, thinking that's all it takes to be perfect? The old woman who often visits the Pei residence is very familiar with her, she just needs to make some arrangements, send two clever and outstanding maids in, let Pei Yuange choose, and it will be as easy as turning over one's hand! Later on, she will make Pei Yuange's downfall even more severe!

  Pei Yuange was both shocked and delighted, this time she could be said to have achieved three things at once; Firstly, she had eliminated all the eyes in the Jingyu Pavilion without leaving any evidence; Secondly, she had covered up her unusual behavior before and after, and would not arouse her father's suspicion again; Thirdly, she had shaken the weight of Zhang Yun's importance in her father's heart, at least from now on, when it came to Zhang Yun's affairs, her father would no longer trust him unconditionally, with this seed planted, one day she would be able to thoroughly overthrow Zhang Yun.

  The unexpected joy was that she could become the real mistress of Jingxiu Zhai, and no longer be subject to Zhang Yun's control.

  If it weren't for Mrs. Wen's timely intervention, things wouldn't have turned out so perfectly. Pei Yuange looked at Mrs. Wen with gratitude, only to find her nodding kindly in her direction, which left her momentarily stunned.

  It was night, in the Reed Leaf Pavilion.

  "I thought you were going to spend the rest of your life in obscurity, without a care in the world. I didn't think you still remembered that I'm your friend! Here's what you wanted!" Madame Wen tossed the list of tutors onto the table, looking at Shu Xueyu with some fatigue as she said, "I spoke to Pei Zhucheng and at first he was very resolute, but later when I mentioned Yuan Ge... Ming Jin's early passing, and that you don't have any children, plus what happened tonight, it moved him. I vouched for you, saying you would treat Yuan Ge like your own flesh and blood, and in the end, he relented."

  Thanks to Zhang Yun for tonight's good show, otherwise, she might not have been able to persuade Pei Zhucheng.

  Xue Yu's expression remained unchanged, and she replied calmly: "However, there is a condition to unseal the Jing Ji courtyard, isn't there?"

  Digression

  Um, speaking of the Ninth Prince, when he first appeared, almost no one expressed their opinions about him, and Butterfly thought this kid wasn't likable. As a result, he kept a low profile, but then everyone started mentioning him, is this kid's popularity the type that's hidden from view? Okay, then Butterfly will come to investigate the Ninth Prince's popularity~

  Hello, fans of 9th Prince, come and leave a message~ O (∩_∩) O ~