in spring

Chapter 219 Punishment
Chunying watched the servants outside the door move a few benches to the center of the yard, and several women stood beside them with boards. The boards were all four inches wide, four feet long, and one finger thick. The kneeling girls were all terrified.She couldn't help being terrified in her heart, and asked Shi'er in a low voice: "What's the matter? Those... who are you trying to hit?"

Shi'er also turned pale with fear: "We haven't done anything wrong, so it's not like they want to hit us?!"

Chunying carefully recalled what she said just now, as well as the words of his wife, Anshi, Shaoyao and others, and said through gritted teeth: "If she really wants to beat us, Manru must have something to do with it! What the hell is she going to do?! We Where did you offend her?!"

Shi'er gasped and said, "If you count the time when she was in Huanhuaxuan, there are many people who offended her, we naturally have a share, but since she came back, because of you persuading me, even if she hurt me Seventh sister-in-law, I didn't argue with her too much! At most, I met her outside by chance and gave her a few eyes! You stayed at home and didn't deal with her at all. Even if we want to offend, we don't have time to offend her ah!"

Chunying thought about it, the last time she had face-to-face contact with Manru was on the night of the second young master's wedding, could it be because of the fire?She asked: "If it is said that she is afraid that we will spread the story of her neglect of duty and causing the fire in the tea room, is that unreasonable? It has been such a long time, and no one has mentioned it again. She suddenly attacked us. What?! I don’t know what excuse she is using? We have to find a way to justify, or we will be beaten later!” She came here by herself, but she has never suffered such a serious crime!At most, it's just a few rulers.

Shi'er gritted his teeth: "What Mrs. Cai asked just now, and Sister Shaoyao's words, are all weird. Could it be that it has something to do with Miss Biao's family?"

Chunying knew that his wife had plans for the Huo family's property, but suddenly remembered Huo Yi's handling of his fleet and the traces that had been vaguely seen in recent years, and began to wonder: Could it be that his wife married someone else because of her cousin? The dowry didn't fall into her hands, so why are you angry?

No way?This is too ridiculous!If she was plotting for that dowry, why did she oppose her son's marriage to Huo Yi in the first place?

Chunying was thinking hard with Shi'er there, hoping to find a way to escape the punishment. Suddenly, she heard a noise outside the door, and when she looked back, it was Mei Xiang who came in with Xiao Chen's support. Wearing white cloth strips, his face is slightly pale.

Mei Xiang looked at Chunying and Shi'er unexpectedly: "What's the matter? Ma'am? Why are you kneeling here? Madam suddenly sent us a message, why?"

Chunying briefly explained what happened, and said, "I don't know what the wife wants to ask. Steward Chen, is your injury serious?"

Steward Xiao Chen frowned, shook his head, and pulled his wife to kneel down in front of the hall, staring at the ground and blinking non-stop.

Not long after, the maids shouted "Madam is back", followed by the sound of footsteps, clattering of hairpin rings, and whispering voices of the maids and mothers-in-law.Chunying heard a female voice talking for a long time, but she couldn't hear what she said. She only knew that the wife and his party stayed outside for a long time before entering the room.

An's face was stern, and his complexion was ugly. When he saw Chunying and the others, his eyes became even more angry. Chunying looked at Shi'er in horror, her heart beat faster, and she secretly raised her eyes to look around. , found Shaoyao standing aside with a heavy face, not looking at herself, but Manru was nowhere to be seen.Just as she was wondering, she suddenly heard footsteps gently entering the door, going towards the curtain leading to the inner room, and her heart moved: Could it be Manru?
But she didn't dare to look back, the wife had already sat in the upper seat and said: "Ping An, what did you do about the Huo family back then?! Why did Brother Jing occupy the Huo family's property?! Hurry up!" I made it clear!"

Manager Xiao Chen had already sorted out the matter in his mind just now, and he hurriedly said: "Going back to Madam, when I went to the south, Master Huo Gu was still there. Later, Master Huo disappeared, but the eldest young master took everything away and only asked the young one to help. He was the young master, and he came here at the order of Lord Hou, so the young one had to follow. Only later did the young one get free When I went to visit our family's fleet, I heard that the young master had gone to the Huo family's pier several times, and I didn't know what he had said to those people. The younger one went to inquire, but the Huo family refused to tell Small, so..."

"Why didn't you report this kind of thing earlier?!"

"Young one... I once reported to Master Hou..." Manager Chen hesitated, "Master Hou told me that there is no need to report to the second gate..."

"You do what Master Hou says?! Whose slave are you?!" An slammed the table angrily, and slammed the tea bowl loudly.

Steward Xiao Chen fell silent, Mei Xiang knelt aside, her head was almost lowered to the ground, her fingers were tightly wrapped around the handkerchief, and she secretly gritted her teeth.

Anshi was still angry there, Shaoyao glanced at the door, Haitang, who was guarding there, looked outside with a wink, and stared back at the maids who were poking around.

Shao Yao came closer again, and persuaded softly: "Madam, don't be angry, and when you do errands safely, you always go to the Marquis first to report to the Marquis. Since the Marquis expressly forbids it to be passed to the second door, even if he wants to tell his wife, he can't do it." Don't dare! There has always been a rule in the mansion that the family members are not allowed to interfere with the affairs of the fleet. Even if the wife knows, what can I do? Besides, the Huo family's fleet returned to the royal family in less than a year. How many benefits? I'm afraid there will be more posted! As for the fleet in the mansion, he doesn't even want to take advantage of it! Now that he has separated his family, from now on, whether rich or poor, good or bad, it will be his own What does the wife care about him?"

After hearing this, An Shi still felt angry, and suddenly another daughter-in-law came to report: "Mrs. Hui..." Before she could finish speaking, An Shi shouted impatiently: "What's wrong!"

The daughter-in-law was taken aback, and replied tremblingly: "Chen Guanshi just sent a message in... saying yes... the ex-son of Wang Qi's family has been sold, and I don't know where he sold it, so I can't ask you..."

Chunying was taken aback, and quickly turned her head to look at Shi'er, but Shi'er glanced at her calmly, and then she calmed down, knowing that the Wang family must have found a way to deal with it.

After hearing what the daughter-in-law said, An's heart was filled with distress: "Why sell it so quickly?! Ping'an is stupid, and his father is useless!"

The daughter-in-law didn't dare to answer, and she slandered in her heart: "Obviously you ordered to sell it as soon as possible..." Then I heard An asked: "Where are the others?! Could it be that there is no one else except Wang Qi's family? !" The daughter-in-law hurriedly said: "The people in the waiter and the second door were all convicted and kicked out. Some of them are looking for other livelihoods outside. Manager Chen is sending someone to look for them."

"It's been procrastinating, and I haven't found it for a few days!" An Shi scolded, "If you can't find those few, just look for the ones you can find! Someone will see the Liang family's boy come in to light the fire, right? There really is no one." See, don’t you even know how to say it?! Old Chen is getting more and more out of control! What Hou Ye wants is a witness who saw Liang’s family enter the tea room!”

Shao Yao took the opportunity to say: "I remember someone mentioned that there were people in the waiter besides Wang Qi's family at that time, so I must have seen it..."

An waved her hand to express that she didn't want to hear it, she drove the wife out, and then glared at Manager Chen, "What are you doing here?! You've been raising these days, and you still want to be lazy?! It looks fine on weekdays. You'll be wilted when things happen, how can you be so delicate?! Get out of here quickly!"

Steward Xiao Chen kowtowed heavily, Mei Xiang quickly helped him up and backed out.The couple's eyes were red.

An Shi turned to Chunying and Shi'er again, and sneered: "You are really good girls! In front of Brother You, you flattered me so hard! I don't know what's going on in my heart! I've been blinded by lard. Little showy hooves, let’s make your spring and autumn dreams!"

Chunying's eyes widened, feeling inexplicable: "Ma'am, these words are unfair..."

"What wronged you?! What wronged you with my words?!" An Shi gritted her teeth and said, "I was almost tricked by you! It was obviously our family who gave birth to a child, and the Huo family gave him a little favor, so he bought it over? Helping outsiders to deceive the master, look at me and don't know?!" After saying that, he called Haitang: "Bring people in!"

Chunying and Shi'er were surprised to see Haitang leading Xinghong in. The latter flinched and gave them a guilty look before throwing himself at his wife's feet and kowtowing.

An's asked unhurriedly: "Quickly explain clearly, have these two girls benefited from Miss Huo's Biao?!"

Xinghong glanced at Chunying and Shi'er again, and then said: "Yes, ma'am. The servants can see clearly, Miss Biao treats them very kindly, not only often rewarding them with jewelry and property, but also personally arranging their escape. Other girls don't get this kind of treatment!" After saying that, there was a bit of resentment in his eyes.

Chunying gave her a stern look: "Speak with conscience! Which girl in the courtyard has not received the reward from Miss Cousin?! You have received a lot too! Everyone's escape route Miss Cousin personally asks, only those who are too greedy Yes, she didn't agree. When did we get so close to her?!"

Ten'er sneered and said: "It's clear that you are restless and wanted to ask Miss Biao to recommend you to be a roommate with the third young master, but Miss Biao categorically refused, you have the face to mention it?!"

An's face turned dark immediately, Xing Hong kowtowed in fear, and she scolded severely: "You bastard little hoof!" Then Hai Tang took the two wives and escorted her out.

Shi'er hurriedly said to An Shi: "My wife is very careful, it's clear that the girl Xinghong is resentful and intentionally framed the servant and maid. Madam must not believe her!"

An's sneered and said: "Don't rush to clarify, although she is an asshole, what she said may not be false. The two of you must be very close to Huo girl, otherwise there are so many girls sent together, how can Huo girl live on a daily basis?" She is only willing to let the girl brought by her family do it, why did you two come to her?! Nan Qi has long harbored evil intentions. You, the daughter of the Wang family, are probably innocent! You are just squeezing What is the idea of ​​going to Brother You?!" Turning to Chunying again: "I have already found out that your old lady served the aunt and wife in the past, but the Huo family tried to beg your family several times. Now you are planning to leave Mansion, must want to switch to the Huo family! You ungrateful bastard, a lowly little whore! The Hou Mansion has raised you so big, why don't you think about honoring and repaying the master, and want to turn your arm away? !"

Chunying only felt that the anger was burning up, but she just tried her best to bear it: "Madam, if the servant wants to change to the Huo family, when Miss Biao leaves the house, she will go home with her! Why bother Wait for the redemption to go out, and then sell it to the Huo family?! Aunt Qing has indeed asked the father of the slave to go over several times, but the father of the slave has always refused. He is loyal to the Hou family, how can the wife because of After listening to other people's slander, you will be suspicious?!"

Shi'er also cried at the side: "This servant has never had any wishful thinking about the third young master. It's just that he has been working in the third young master's courtyard since he was a child. He is very familiar with people, so he wants to go back and continue to serve. The servant is not a fool. How can we divide the three young masters?" I don't know who is the serious master? Miss Biao is just a relative, not to mention that over the past few years, she has been indifferent to slaves and maidservants, and rarely gets close to them. I dare not forget..."

An Shi was impatient when she heard this: "Don't lie to people with nice words! I've seen girls like you a lot! Just because of your looks, I wanted to go to Gao Zhi'er. I'm really fooled by lard! I haven't committed any crimes yet. Confused! If you were really loyal, you wouldn't hide anything about my Huo family! Now that you've kept it a secret, it can be seen that you are unfaithful, and you should be beaten to death!"

Chunying gritted her teeth and asked: "Excuse me, Ma'am, what did the servants hide? Please forgive me for being stupid. I don't know what my wife wants to know about the Huo family. Why has she never asked the servants?!" ?If you dare to speak out, I will obey you!Otherwise, you don't want to accuse me of crimes!
Anshi was tongue-tied, and felt that the girl was clearly mocking herself, so she was furious and slapped the table: "Drag them out for me!"

When even a few wives came in and dragged Chunying and Shi'er out, Chunying struggled and shouted: "My wife wants to punish us, at least give us a crime! What did the servants do wrong and what did they hide from you? Please understand my wife!" Shi'er also asked beside him.

Anshi just yelled blindly: "Pull it out, pull it out!"

Suddenly someone stuffed a handkerchief into the mouths of Chunying and Shi'er, trying to block their mouths, An Shi frowned: "What are you blocking?! I want to hear them cry!" The daughter-in-law apologized and said with a smile: " Ma'am, they're talking nonsense, they're sure to pollute your ears." After saying that, she wanted to stuff the veil into Chunying's mouth again.

Chunying struggled harder, accidentally glanced at Manru winking at the daughter-in-law from behind the curtain, and suddenly realized, she knocked the daughter-in-law away and cursed: "Cui Manru! I knew you were playing tricks! You speak ill of us in front of your wife, you want to shut my mouth, and don't let others know what good things you have done?! How dare you say that the fire on the night of the second young master's wedding has nothing to do with you?!"

Manru glanced at An Shi in panic: "You...what are you talking about?!"

"You said that you were driven out by Mrs. Wang Qisao that night, but I clearly saw Mrs. Wang Qisao telling you to go back to the tea room to look at the stove outside the hall. She said that if you don't go back, the teapot will be boiled dry. You didn't return at all! Other girls, go to flatter your wife by yourself! If the waiter catches fire, you will be the first person to be responsible!"

Shi'er also violently spat out the handkerchief from his mouth, and shouted: "My Seventh Sister-in-Law was clearly just taking charge of the inspection that night, when did you take charge of the stove in the teahouse?! It was your own negligent fault, but you blamed it on others! "

Manru's face turned pale: "Nonsense...nonsense!" An Shi stared at her, trembling with anger, flicking her sleeves: "Press me out together! Beat me hard!"

Manru burst into tears, knelt down and kowtowed to her, begging for mercy.Chunying was still dragged out, she didn't care about that much anymore, she shouted: "Madam knows it's Manru gossip, why do you have to punish the slave?! The slave is an old lady who wants to let her out in order to accumulate virtue for the mansion. Aren't you afraid that the old lady will blame you for punishing us indiscriminately?!"

An Shi slapped the table: "It's against you..." Before she finished cursing, a gust of wind blew up beside her, Shao Yao rushed forward and slapped Chunying vigorously, and scolded sharply: "Bold! How dare you do this to your wife?" Disrespectful! Have you eaten the guts of a leopard?!"

Chunying was stunned by the blow, and when she woke up, she realized that the slap just now was heavy and made people dizzy, but it didn't really hurt. She looked at Shaoyao in a daze, saw the other side winking at her, and then Continue to scold: "If I don't teach you a lesson, you don't know what rules are!"

Another woman dragged Manru out, and pressed her on the bench like Chunying and Shi'er.Shao Yao winked a few times at the woman holding the board, the women hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.Seeing this, she smiled and told Chunying Shi'er in a low voice: "Scream louder and worse, don't let your wife see it!" Then she announced loudly: "Hit!"

Chunying was still thinking that it wouldn't hurt too much to be beaten today, and the board came down, and she yelled immediately in pain, and couldn't help wondering, didn't Shaoyao wink at her mother-in-law?Why is it still so painful?

Both Shi'er and Manru were screaming, the latter screaming louder and more violently, Chunying herself was screaming too, and tears came as soon as she said it.Fortunately, when the board was hit, it only hurt for a moment. After the board was hit, it didn't hurt too much, but after three or four boards, the pain in my leg was unbearable.She just felt wronged in her heart, and secretly cursed the ancient elite for being cruel, if it wasn't for Shaoyao's help, she would have suffered a lot.

"What are you doing?!" There was a loud shout from outside the courtyard door, and everyone stopped their hands. Looking around, I saw Hou Ye standing in front of the door, looking at the situation in the courtyard, his face was blue with anger: "Stop!"

(Big broadcast... It's a celebration of July [-]st...)
(End of this chapter)