Originally a fine moonlit night, now the swaying lanterns cast a startling glow. The red tassels on the corridor's landscape painting lanterns are blown by the wind, spinning and falling.

  "Tomorrow, right, I'll go to your wife's place. Although it's said that men don't need to bother with such things, it's rare for you two brothers to see me enforce the family law and teach a lesson to that ungrateful and arrogant slave who takes advantage of our kindness. Zhang Shi decided to take down Qiu San Niang's arrogance today. In her heart, she even thought that if she could kill Mo Zi, from then on Qiu San Niang would be under her control, and no one would dare oppose her again."

  Jiu Wuyi saw that the maid being scolded by his mother was a new face, not one of those spoiled girls from their own courtyard, so he walked over to Wu Nainai with a mischievous grin. Taking advantage of her distraction, he hid his hand behind his back and pinched the hand of Wu Nainai's personal maid.

  This blatant behavior is happening right under everyone's nose.

  Qiu Si, however, did not stand with Fourth Granny, but instead stood to the right of Zhang Shi and opened his mouth to advise, "Mother, it's cool on spring nights, you've just recovered from a cold, don't hurt your body again because of an unimportant slave girl and relapse into your old coughing illness."

  His voice was neither high nor low, but everyone in the yard could hear it clearly. Others didn't react much, but Fourth Granny immediately cast him a surprised glance.

  Just as Qi Si was Zhang's most beloved and trusted son, Fourth Madam was also Zhang's most favored daughter-in-law. This was not only because her natal family was a prominent silk producer in Yunzhou, but also because she was born as the legitimate daughter, virtuous and gentle, with an exceptionally good temperament. When Zhang placed Ai Lian and Ai Liu in Qi Si's household, Fourth Madam fully accepted them, even personally arranging the ceremony for Ai Lian to take over the household.

  "My son, if I don't get rid of this lowly thing tonight, I'll be so angry that I'll fall ill. Zhang's mind was made up, 'Just thinking about her almost seducing Lord Wei makes my chest feel suffocated.'"

  He was about to speak out, but said it was all nonsense. Qiu Si's mouth opened, but still closed. In his opinion, since his mother insisted on punishing Mozi, he couldn't persuade her anyway, and could only wait for a better opportunity to talk again.

  "Come on, don't you dare drag these two worthless girls away from me!" Zhang's wife shouted angrily.

  No one dared to disobey Zhang at this moment. Ai Xing and Ai Tao each brought a young maid to pull open the White Lotus and Green Chrysanthemum.

  "Give me a good beating." Bai He Lü Ju's bitter pleading only made Zhang even more furious.

  Anpo bent down and said to Mozi, "Hurry up and kowtow yourself." She had never disliked Mozi before, but unexpectedly the mistress wanted to take this maid as a scapegoat, feeling a bit pitiful for Mozi.

  Mozi was still sitting upright, her hands covering her face had been put down, in the lamplight, her complexion was bright red, her eyes were shining brightly, and she was emitting a captivating beauty. Her hair was scattered but not messy, her clothes were dusty but fluttering, as if she was an immortal who had descended from heaven.

  Qiu Si looked at the ink-purple color, and his eyes became even more gloomy.

  Two female servants of the Zhao family held up their rods, hesitating to strike.

  "Wait a minute." The voice was neither fast nor slow, and the tone was neither high nor low. Qiu Sanniang broke the silence.

  In this household, although Zhang's words are final on the surface, Qiu San Niang's status as the eldest daughter is still respected. The maidservants heard this and stopped their rods in mid-air, staring at Zhang, waiting for her instructions.

  "Third daughter, this family law is what your grandmother left for the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qiu family, specifically used to discipline the lower-ranking people in the household. Your father has only one child, your mother passed away early, and although I am a concubine, I am also the legitimate wife who can be recorded in the family tree. As a junior, you should understand the rules." Zhang asked for the house law, precisely to prevent Qiu San Niang from saving someone.

  "The daughter is just understanding the rules, so she asks her mother to stop." In contrast to Mozi's brightness, Qiu San Niang's face was cold and distant, high above, unapproachable.

  "What kind of rule is this?" Zhang's gaze fell on Qiu San Niang's proud and cold demeanor, his heart involuntarily shrinking back, and he grew even more resentful.

  "Mother is now the one who has the final say in the household, of course she has the power to use family law. On this point, Third Daughter-in-law cannot object. However, if Third Daughter-in-law remembers correctly, the family law rod passed down by Grandmother can only be used to discipline servants under one condition."

  "How could I not know? The only ones who can be beaten are the servants who have sold their lives. But in this household, all the maids above the second rank have signed a death contract, unless I tear it up and release them..." Zhang suddenly couldn't continue speaking.

  Mei Zi lowered her head, pursed her lips, and then slowly curled them up.

  "Could there be a contract of sale with purple ink on Mother's hand?" The glint in Qiu San Niang's eyes flashed, and she pressed on fiercely, "If so, that would be strange. It was clearly I who bought it back from outside."

  How could Zhang have such a sale contract? And now that I think about it, not to mention Mozi's, but also Baihe, Lüju, and Xiaoyi's, there isn't even one. Because she always treated those four maids as the mansion's servants. Since they were the mansion's, she could beat or scold them. The family law was strict, thinking that their lives were in her hands, Qiu San Niang could only watch.

  Zhang was so pleased, but she had forgotten herself. If it weren't for Qiu San Niang bringing it up, she would have almost forgotten that there were such restrictions. She was used to scolding and beating her servants, thinking of herself as the mistress of all the maidservants.

  "Although the deed is in your hands, as long as you are still a member of the Qiu family, I am your mother, can't I discipline this slave on your behalf?" Zhang Shi used her status to pressure Qiu San Niang.

  "You're a senior, speak on my behalf to those girls, I'm eternally grateful. However, no matter how you put it, I'm the direct master served by Mozi, and having you beat me to death wouldn't be suitable, would it? A dead contract is one where the seller's life belongs to the buyer. If a family member were to go to the authorities and report this to my mother, that would be troublesome."

  Zhang was completely at a disadvantage, his eyes wide with fear, unable to utter a single word.

  "Mozi doesn't understand the rules, and Mother has already slapped her. Normally, even if I hadn't given permission, it wouldn't be allowed. But I know Mother is doing it for my own good. So, let's just say I tacitly agreed. However, the family law is a bit too harsh. Please calm down, Mother, I'll go back and teach her properly." Ji San Niang really knows how to rub salt in the wound.

  Mei Zi Dian Zhang's eyes turned black and she almost fainted.

  "Mozi, what are you still standing there for? I told you you're stupid and you really don't get it. Madam won't hit you anymore, hurry up and thank her." Qiu Sanniang gave Mozi a meaningful glance.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Xie," said Mozi, standing up from his seat.

  "It's all settled, Mother should rest early and not exhaust herself for a little maid." Ji San Niang said with a smile, "Daughter will take her leave now."

  The white lotus and green chrysanthemum stand foolishly, wondering how this matter ended?

  "Baihe sister, aren't you going to give the young lady a lantern?" Mozi's voice was like pearls falling onto a jade plate, crisp and clear.

  The two of them responded and hastily picked up the crystal lamp. Qiu San Niang was led by the two, followed by Mozi and Xiaoyi, walking towards the gate of the courtyard.

  The maids and servant girls who were blocking the doorway watching the commotion all stepped aside.

  As soon as the five of them left the yard, they heard a commotion inside. Someone was shouting for their mother, someone else was calling out to their grandmother, and another person was yelling for their wife. There were also people saying that they should call a doctor.

  It turned out that Zhang was actually knocked unconscious.

  It must be that he doesn't exercise enough, has a bad heart, and can't take much stimulation, resulting in poor breathing and hypoxia. Mu Zi thought this, but didn't have any sympathetic intentions.

  －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

  Rush to the new book list, widely seeking recommendations.

  Thank you!