163 Cunning
Liu’er shook her head, but said, “But Godmother is much more dignified than them.”
These words made Old Madam Ma laugh. “I’ve flattered everyone, just as Old Madam wanted. That’s why Old Madam still remembers me. Even Eldest Miss remembers my kindness, so she got someone to give me a box of Jade Beauty Cream.”
After saying that, she even took out the Jade Beauty Cream for Liu’er to see.
Liu’er’s eyes widened. “Eldest Miss is really generous. I heard that this box of Jade Beauty Cream costs twenty to thirty taels of silver.”
“Of course.” Old Madam Ma couldn’t stop grinning. “Our Eldest Miss is just like Old Madam. She’s a magnanimous and kind person. She’s also very awesome when it comes to doing things for others.”
Liu’er agreed and asked suspiciously, “Godmother just said that she had flattered the right person. What does that mean?”
Old Madam Ma looked at her with disdain. “Why did I only accept a blockhead like you as a goddaughter? You saw it today. Eldest Madam Yang hasn’t even taken back control of the key properly, and she’s already causing trouble. Although she didn’t openly criticize Eldest Miss, after two to three days, if she continued to hold the household manager’s key tightly, that might not be the case.”
Liu’er agreed deeply. “Only by picking on Eldest Miss’s butler’s mistakes can she show how capable she is. At that time, why would Eldest Master be dissatisfied with Eldest Madam?”
Old Madam Ma nodded. “Old Madam is a shrewd person. How could she not have guessed this? She would definitely take the opportunity to teach Eldest Madam Yang a lesson and make her stop. I’m the one who stood up and instigated the servants in the house to cause trouble. I’m the one who handed the knife to Old Madam. What do you think?”
Liu’er was dumbfounded. “No wonder Old Madam came so quickly. Godmother, you’re amazing. How did you guess all this?”
Old Madam Ma looked at her goddaughter. Thinking about how she had risked being punished by Eldest Madam Yang today to plead for her, she felt a little more sincere. “You have to remember that there are three things we can’t do as servants. We can’t betray our masters, we can’t be too greedy and we can’t be disloyal. My grandfather’s generation kept telling me that none of the servants who betrayed their masters had a good ending. Look at Mother Yang and the others. Their lives were saved, but they were sent to the farm to work. How can they be more dignified than being in charge of the residence? They just made a mistake of being greedy and betraying their masters.”
Liu-Er nodded.
“After Eldest Madam Yang regained control of the family, someone in the residence might see the situation and change their mind. They might even eagerly express their goodwill to Eldest Madam Yang. However, if you think about it carefully, you’ll know what happened to Mother Yang and Zhou Yongchang. What good would it do to follow her?”
Liu’er was working in the main courtyard, so how could she not know the inside story?
Old Madam Ma continued, “You still have to know how to read the situation. Old Madam dotes on Eldest Miss. Now that Eldest Madam Yang is sick, Old Madam has asked Eldest Miss, who is still young, to manage the household. Isn’t this clearly paving the way for Eldest Miss? If Eldest Madam Yang doesn’t cause trouble, it’s fine. However, as long as she stirs up trouble, it’s definitely not wrong for us to side with Eldest Miss. Old Madam is still the one in charge in this residence.”
Liu’er finally understood. “Godmother, you know so much.”
It was no wonder that Old Madam treated her godmother differently even though there were so many servants in the residence.
One had to know that the main gate guarded the dignity of the residence, while the back gate guarded the secrets of the residence.
Old Madam Ma glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “Although you’re an honest person, you’ve also had some good fortune. Now that Eldest Miss has the honor of being the eldest daughter of the first wife and has gained power in the residence, the main courtyard isn’t a good place either. Your kneeling today has also offended First Madam. Eldest Madam Yang is too narrow-minded to tolerate you. In a few days, she’ll find an excuse to send you to the outer courtyard.”
Liu’er had been feeling terrified previously, but now that she heard her godmother’s words, she couldn’t help but feel relieved. “Did I benefit from a disaster?”
Old Madam Ma nodded. “When the time comes, I’ll find a housekeeper I’m familiar with in the Jade Courtyard and get you into the Jade Courtyard. Perhaps you’ll be able to match up to Eldest Miss’s second-in-charge. If you’re on good terms with Xia Tao, she’ll gain face in front of Eldest Miss. Although she won’t be a first-class maidservant, she’ll be no different from Chun Xiao and Dong Mei. With such a relationship, you’ll be able to stand tall in the Jade Courtyard.”
Eldest Miss and her two maidservants were very close.
When it came to the second-rate maidservants, Xia Tao and Qiu Xing were enough. However, Eldest Miss had the honor of being the eldest daughter of the first wife, so she was no longer the same as before. She should command more respect.
When Eldest Miss’s tenth birthday arrived and it was time for her to go out into society, she would definitely have to bring two second-class maidservants to serve her.
She had some reputation in the residence, and Liu’er had some relationship with the Jade Courtyard. In addition, Liu’er was honest and efficient. Even in the past, she had no mistakes in the main courtyard.
She was old and couldn’t serve for many more years. Naturally, she wasn’t afraid of offending Eldest Madam Yang.
However, Liu’er would have a long time to live in the future. After entering the Jade Courtyard and getting along well with Eldest Miss, she would follow Eldest Miss when she got married in the future. It would be reasonable for her to be married off, and she would not have to continue living under Madam Yang.
In the afternoon, Yu Zongzheng returned to the government office and went to the large study. He “accidentally” heard from Old Madam Ye in the courtyard about what had happened in the residence in the morning.
Yang Shuwan was afraid that the servants would gossip, so she specially reminded them.
However, no matter how hard she tried, she could not guard against the large study. Everyone in the large study was personally arranged by Old Madam.
Yu Zongzheng did not care much about the affairs of the residence, but when he heard that something had happened in the residence, it was inevitable that he would be angry, so he asked Zhao Da to ask around.
After Zhao Da returned, he told him everything in detail, angering Yu Zongzheng. “This family has only taken a pause for a few days, but they’re already causing trouble again. Madam Yang is an adult household manager, but she’s not as good as a half-grown child like Yao Yao.”
Back then, when Madam Xie had failed to get pregnant after three years, his mother had originally planned to find a concubine for him. Who would have known that now that Madam Xie was pregnant, the matter of taking a concubine would be left unsettled?
He did not have a good relationship with Madam Xie either. Even the bedroom arrangements at home were arranged by Madam Xie, so it was difficult at night.
Hence, after having a feast in the Yang Residence, he was momentarily in a daze. After drinking a few cups of millet wine, he couldn’t control his lower body and mistook Madam Yang for a maidservant.
He had always felt guilty towards Madam Yang. After that, he coveted Madam Yang’s tender body and was determined to marry Madam Yang as his second wife.
However, her mother did not agree. She said, “Yang Shuwan was raised by my mother, so it’s fine for her to be a step-wife to an ordinary family. However, the Yu Residence is a scholarly family after all. The rules are a little stricter than ordinary families, so it’s a little inappropriate.”
At that time, his mind was filled with guilt towards Yang Shuwan, and his heart was filled with Yang Shuwan’s fair and tender body. Even when Madam Xie had died, he didn’t care much and hung out with Yang Shuwan. How could he have listened to her?
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