Chapter 115 Killing the chicken to scare the monkey
"The disaster in the Chen Mansion may lead to some bad things. I plan to use this opportunity to take a good look at the hearts of people in the mansion over the years. Come back to the South Courtyard with me!"
Half an incense stick of time later, the old lady brought Liu Yu back to the South Courtyard.
There were many more people in the South Courtyard at this time. Nanny Feng was standing in the middle of the courtyard. Behind her were four women who were kneeling on the ground and being escorted by servants.
Maids and old women from various courtyards stood around, with the Fourth and Fifth Madams sitting in the front, and the concubines from each room sitting behind them. It could be said that everyone from the Chen family's backyard was present.
The servant brought a stool for the old lady, and Liu Yu stood beside her.
The old lady sat down on the stool and looked at the four figures kneeling on the ground. She asked calmly:
"You want to leave the Chen Mansion?"
The four concubines lowered their heads even more and replied tremblingly:
"Yes."
The old lady nodded in understanding and sighed softly: "I won't keep you if you want to leave, but you shouldn't touch the second lady's things." She raised her eyelids and scanned the people present one by one. Her eyes suddenly became sharp: "
"Although my Chen family has fallen on hard times, not just anyone can trample on us. It's not just that the Third Master is missing, it's that the Chen family has fallen on hard times. Anyone who stabs my Chen family in the back will have to pay the price."
It seemed that these words were spoken to the four escaped concubines, but everyone present knew that they were directed at everyone, and they immediately fell silent.
Seeing everyone's reaction, the old lady nodded with satisfaction and shouted:
"Madam Feng, since they want to leave, there is no reason for me to force them to stay. Take off the things from the Chen Mansion on them and sell them to the brothels."
Two of the four concubines were redeemed from brothels by Mr. Chen Erye, and the other two also sold themselves to the Chen family.
"Madam, we know we were wrong and we won't do it again. Please forgive us..."
Hearing this, she was so frightened that her face turned pale. Immediately, the sound of crying and begging for mercy spread throughout the Chen Mansion, making everyone tremble in their hearts.
The first wife, Mrs. Wu, and the fifth wife, Mrs. Chang, could not bear to see this scene:
"Mother, my second brother's wife's things have been recovered. Isn't this punishment too severe? If a woman goes to a place like that, her life will be ruined."
The old lady glanced at them calmly.
Wu immediately shut up.
They watched helplessly as the servants, at the signal of Madam Feng, covered their mouths, strangled their necks, and dragged them out.
The old lady was very calm throughout the whole process.
"Swish!" Everyone knelt down in fear.
Especially those who are thinking about something, dare not even breathe at this time.
The old lady personally dragged up Liu Yu, who was kneeling down with her, and asked someone to bring a stool.
"Everyone, get up." The old lady glanced at everyone and said slowly: "I can't guarantee you when the Chen Mansion will be able to get out of this situation."
"But I am not a heartless person. I know that the Chen family is now imprisoned. It is unfair to tie you to this boat. I will give you a chance today. If you want to leave, go to the account office to get thirty taels of silver and take the indenture with you and you can leave."
Hearing this, Madam Wu looked up at the old lady, wanting to say something.
The old lady raised her hand to stop him and called the accountant out. It was obvious that she was not just talking.
The air was silent, and everyone looked at each other. Immediately, someone took the first step, kowtowed to the old lady, and walked towards the accounting office.
Soon after, they came out one after another, from every room and courtyard. After a while, more than half of them had left, including some first-class maids, even from Shou'an Hall.
Although they are all servants, if given a choice, not all of them are willing to follow the Chen family to destruction.
The Chen family had never released people on such a large scale before. Wu and Yao were a little panicked. They guessed a possibility that could make their mother do this:
"Mother, is it my third brother who..."
The old lady did not answer them, but said to them: "If you want to leave, I will not stop you."
If they can't even endure this little hardship, after she leaves, the Chen family will really fall apart.
The first lady Wu, the fourth lady, and the fifth lady all knelt down again without any hesitation, showing their determination not to leave.
The old lady looked at Master Chen and Mrs. Chang. Although Mrs. Chang hated Master Chen, her daughters were all in the Chen Mansion and she would not leave, not to mention Master Chen.
In the end, less than half of the people were left in the Chen Mansion.
On the way back to Shou'an Hall, the old lady asked Liu Yu:
"They don't understand why I do this, Yu'er, do you know?"
"The old lady wants to send a signal to the outside world, making people think that the Third Master has probably met with an accident and we have started to make the final arrangements, so as to lower their vigilance?"
"Anything else? Do you think I was too harsh?"
Liu Yu didn't understand why the old lady asked her these questions.
But when the old lady asked, she thought about it seriously for a moment and expressed her opinion: "Old lady, to be honest, I don't sympathize with them. In this special period, these people with ulterior motives may be scared and flee today, but they may be coerced and exploited by others tomorrow."
"We can't help the Third Master, but we definitely can't hold him back." After saying this, she looked at the old lady, trying to see from her face whether she was satisfied with her answer.
She was doomed to be disappointed.
The old lady just looked at her with a faint smile, and did not continue the topic. Instead, she asked about how Mr. Chen San was eating, whether he lived well, and other similar questions.
At this moment, the doorman came in and reported: "Madam, the master of Pingnan Marquis Mansion sent someone to ask Aunt Liu to go back."
"I understand." The old lady waved away the doorman and turned to ask Liu Yu: "Do you want to go back? The Chen Mansion may not be able to help recently. Your grandmother..."
Seeing the old lady's worry, Liu Yu smiled:
"As long as my father and aunt are in Pingnan Marquis Mansion, I will never be able to completely draw a line between myself and Pingnan Marquis Mansion. Old Madam, you don't have to worry too much. They suffered such a big loss last time. As long as the Chen family didn't really get into trouble, they will think twice."
"Okay! Then if you have any problem, just let me know."
"I know. Madam, don't worry about me." Liu Yu stood up, bowed, and left Shou'an Hall. He returned to Qinyuanju, packed up simply, took Guyu, left Chen Mansion, and got on the carriage back to Pingnan Marquis Mansion.
When Liu Yu arrived at the Mansion of Marquis Pingnan, the gate was still closed like the previous two times, but there was a corner door left open.
After entering the mansion, there was no one in Pingnan Marquis' Mansion, as if they didn't know Liu Yu had returned, which made her unaware that danger was approaching her.
As usual, she took Guyu to the north courtyard.
They didn't notice that at this moment, a dozen servants from the Pingnan Marquis Mansion were approaching quickly from behind them.
When the two men reacted, they felt a pain on the back of their neck, their vision went dark, and they passed out.