Chapter 12 As you wish
For the servants, if they are lost, they can be found again.
Mrs. Zheng didn't care about the old friendship and ordered the people around her coldly: "Take them away quickly."
"Yes, old lady." The guards responded loudly and carried out the order.
Mother Zhang stared at Old Lady Zheng with astonishment, a hint of help flashed in her eyes. She was about to open her mouth to beg for mercy, but was quickly surrounded by the guards who rushed over. Without giving her any chance to explain, she was taken away in an instant.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was solemn.
Under the cover of night, apart from the glaring pool of blood, there were only Su Wanyu's indifferent figure, Old Lady Zheng with a stern expression, Mrs. Guo with a complicated face, and the eldest young lady Wang who hurried over after hearing the news.
Wang looked around and seemed to have found a way to vent her dissatisfaction. She immediately accused Su Wanyu: "It's just a small theft, but my second brother's wife made such a big fuss. How can she be as calm as a mistress of the house."
Facing the accusation, Su Wanyu put away her usual sharpness and nodded meekly, "Sister-in-law is right. I was indeed too impatient and handled it improperly."
Seeing that she had lowered her head, Old Madam Zheng took the opportunity to reprimand her: "Wanyu, since you have entered our Zheng family, you should become a member of the Zheng family. You should consult with the family first before encountering any problems. It is disgraceful to act on your own and abuse private punishment!"
Su Wanyu heard this, slowly raised her hands, and bowed deeply to everyone present: "Wanyu knows that I have failed in my duties in managing household affairs, so I specially resigned from the old lady tonight and will no longer interfere in the affairs of the mansion."
As soon as these words were spoken, Mrs. Zheng's eyes widened suddenly and her body leaned forward involuntarily.
Mrs. Guo was quick to act and supported her. Her expression became serious and her usual kind look disappeared in an instant.
Without waiting for others to react, Su Wanyu pulled out the key that symbolized the housekeeper's power from her bosom, turned around, and gently handed it to Wang: "Since sister-in-law is here, why not hand over this important task to her."
Wang has coveted the position of housekeeper for a long time, and her desire is almost crazy. She often confronts Su Wanyu on various occasions.
Now, she finally got what she wanted.
Old Mrs. Zheng and Mrs. Guo looked increasingly flustered.
Having lost Su Wanyu, the cash cow, it would be nothing but a pipe dream to want to get a share of her generous dowry in the future.
Guo hurriedly tried to ease the atmosphere: "Wanyu, neither we nor the old lady are blaming you. We are just worried that those old women will harm you."
As soon as the voice fell, Wang took the key without hesitation, with a proud look on her face: "Thank you, second brother and sister-in-law."
Old Madam Zheng tightly grasped Guo's hand and sternly rebuked her, "Xiangling!"
Wang came from a family of officials. Her father was a third-rank official in the court. Even as a widow, she had a status in the family that could not be underestimated.
Facing Mrs. Zheng's criticism, she didn't care at all and said confidently: "Don't worry, old lady, I will manage this family better than my second brother and his wife."
Mrs. Guo still gently defended Su Wanyu: "Xiangling, the mansion has been well organized under Wanyu's management over the years. Although she was a little impulsive tonight, it was not a big mistake to punish the maid who stole."
Wang looked unhappy, playing with the key in her hand, with a sneer on her lips: "Mother, you always favor my second brother's wife. The maid stole and should have been severely punished, but she punished her privately, making the whole family restless. If she continues to manage it, can the Zheng Mansion still be peaceful?"
After saying that, she glanced at Su Wanyu provocatively.
Su Wanyu remained calm and continued along with Wang's words, "Sister-in-law, you are right. Recently, we have taken in several new concubines. I was busy settling them in and neglected the management of the house. I should be punished. Sister-in-law has been virtuous and kind for many years. She is more suitable to be the head of the family than me. It is the best policy to hand over the management to sister-in-law."
Wang was so delighted by the compliment that her cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head and chuckled, "I just learned some basic housekeeping skills from my grandmother when I was a child."
This was exactly the reaction Su Wanyu expected.
Mrs. Zheng was about to speak up to interrupt Wang's pride, but Wang got the better of her: "Madam, the number of servants we dealt with tonight is not small, and the master will definitely ask about it tomorrow. The second brother's wife took the initiative to resign, which can be regarded as a self-punishment. The master should not say much."
Old Madam Zheng and Guo knew very well that if the chess pieces they had placed here with Su Wanyu were discovered by Mr. Zheng, no one would be spared.
Now, Su Wanyu took the initiative to resign, which was both a punishment and a penalty, thus avoiding the personal intervention of Master Zheng.
Old Mrs. Zheng frowned and twirled her Buddhist beads unconsciously, feeling conflicted.
Guo's eyes also revealed obvious worry.
How could Wang miss such an opportunity? She said loudly, "It's settled. From tomorrow on, I will be fully responsible for all affairs of the Zheng Mansion."
"Xiang——" Guo was about to speak, but was interrupted arrogantly by Wang.
Wang raised her head proudly, and left with two maids, leaving Guo standing there with an unhappy look on her face.
Su Wanyu looked at Wang's receding back, a barely perceptible smile flashing across her eyes.
Although this sister-in-law was simple and rough in her dealings, and was ignorant of the intricate relationships in the mansion, she relied on the power of her natal family, and no one in the Zheng mansion dared to provoke her easily for the time being.
It's a pity that she has to stay alone in her empty room at such a young age and spend the rest of her life under the title of the eldest lady of the Changping Marquis's Mansion.
With the unwilling departure of Mrs. Zheng and Mrs. Guo, this carefully planned farce of catching a thief came to a quiet end.
The moonlight penetrates the dark clouds, shining gently and brightly on the pear blossom courtyard.
Su Wanyu stood alone under the eaves, her figure half hidden in the moonlight, her hair and dress glowing faintly in the night, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, light and free, enjoying an unprecedented sense of relief and the pleasure of revenge.
She had been the housekeeper for many years and devoted herself to the Zheng family, but ended up with her family broken up.
Now, freed from that heavy burden, she could only wait and watch the decline of the Zheng family.
Mother Ping approached quietly, put a soft rabbit fur cape on her shoulders, and said softly, "Miss, the night is cold, let's go back."
Su Wanyu's eyelids drooped slightly, and her long eyelashes covered her eyes that were full of complex emotions.
She slowly stretched out her slender hand, and with trembling fingertips she placed the back of Ping's mother's hand, which was full of traces of time.
"Nanny, this time when we return to the capital, I will never let you leave my side again. Let us stay together until the end of our lives."
She had her back to Ping's mother, and the slight rise and fall of her shoulders revealed the turbulent waves in her heart.
As he spoke, his voice was choked with barely perceptible sobs.
The tears in the eyes seemed to be about to burst out at any time, but in the end they were suppressed by the strong will, leaving only a trace of moisture in the corner of the eye.
The tears of her previous life seemed to have dried up in the wind of reincarnation, and in this life, she learned to wrap herself in strength and no longer let fragility flow easily.