Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - chapter 51

Chapter 51

Seeing Yichun crying so miserably, Xiao Fuguang couldn’t find any words to comfort her and could only sit to the side and drink tea.

Yichun, Shuxia, Hui Qiu, and Cang Dong-these four Maids were all bought by their mother and brought to the Chancellor’s Mansion when they were young.

He had heard from Matron Du that it was when their mother was pregnant with his elder sister that a tooth-woman brought a group of little girls to the Chancellor’s Mansion to sell.

At that time, the steward hadn’t planned to buy any Maids, but their mother happened to pass by, found these four little girls pleasing to the eye, and, thinking she was about to give birth and her future child would need Maids to serve her, bought all four of them.

Later, when his sister was born, Yichun and Shuxia, being a bit younger, were assigned to serve her, while Hui Qiu and Cang Dong remained by their mother’s side.

It could be said that for as many years as his sister had lived, Yichun and Shuxia had served her for just as long.

They truly had served by her side since childhood-there was not a word of exaggeration.

“Miss… Miss, you can beat us, scold us, even deduct all our monthly wages, just please don’t abandon us!”

By the end, Yichun was crying so hard her voice was hoarse, barely making a sound.

Xiao Wangshu listened to her cry the entire time, drinking tea and watching as she and Shuxia knelt on the ground, wiping their tears.

Only when Yichun was sobbing and could cry no more did she finally speak: “Do you truly know your mistake?”

Yichun hurriedly nodded, “I know, I know!”

Shuxia also nodded, her voice hoarse, “This Maid knows her mistake.”

“Get up. When we return to the mansion, go to the punishment room-ten strokes each, and three months’ wages deducted.”

The fact that Xiao Wangshu was willing to personally pronounce their punishment, rather than simply handing them over to the steward for discipline according to the rules, was already the best outcome for Yichun and Shuxia.

Her willingness to personally mete out punishment showed she was still willing to be their mistress.

“Thank you, Miss, for your mercy!” Shuxia and Yichun kowtowed in gratitude one after another, then rose and stood to the side.

Xiao Fuguang once again played the good cop, saying, “Clearly, Sister still cares about the bond of more than ten years between mistress and Maids. Though Maids need not practice martial arts to protect their mistress, you two should still have a sense of caution.

“Sister is the legitimate young lady of the Chancellor’s Mansion. With such a status, she is destined to face all kinds of people with ill intentions.

“You serve by her side-don’t think everything is so simple, and don’t assume everyone is so good.”

Yichun and Shuxia lowered their heads and meekly replied, “Yes.”

Chen Chu sat to the side, drinking tea by himself.

While listening to the siblings play their good cop, bad cop routine, he had already finished three pots of tea.

Perhaps sensing that Chen Chu was getting a bit bored sitting there, Xiao Wangshu turned her gaze to Ruan Fuxin.

“Have the accounts been settled?” Xiao Wangshu asked.

Ruan Fuxin snapped out of his daze from the shock of Li Ta and the others being dismissed, his attitude even more respectful. He held the account book in both hands and presented it, saying, “This subordinate has already settled the accounts. Please have a look, Miss.”

Xiao Wangshu took the account book and quickly flipped through it page by page, her reading speed astonishing-ten lines at a glance was no exaggeration.

After reading the figures in the book, Xiao Wangshu habitually calculated with her fingers and said, “Adding the decoration expenses and the wages for the embroiderers, the total for the first three months is three hundred and seventy-six taels of silver.

“The budget is sufficient, but the shop isn’t large-just two floors, upstairs and down. Don’t hire too many shop assistants, or it’ll get crowded. Fifteen people on rotation, with ten in the shop each day, will suffice.

“The number doesn’t need to be large, but you must hire those with good attitudes and patience. Only those who work carefully and diligently can stay; replace those who aren’t suitable as soon as possible.

“As for wages, you can set them a bit higher than other shops in the Capital. Set up some kind of reward each quarter-those who work more get more. Motivate them and let them supervise each other. You can handle these details as you see fit.”
Ruan Fuxin listened attentively, and when he finished, he nodded and said, “I understand, Miss.”

After giving these instructions, Xiao Wangshu slowly rose to her feet and told Yichun and Shuxia to tidy up the box containing the pastries. She said, “We’ve finished everything we needed to do today. Let’s return to the mansion.”

Xiao Fuguang and Chen Chu stood up with her, and the three of them left the Brocade Gate together, leading their soldiers back to the Chancellor’s Mansion.

On the way back, seeing how the common folk on the street didn’t even dare to stop and watch, but instead retreated on the spot, Xiao Wangshu finally felt the difference that a single word could make between “Guard” and “Armored Guard”-it was truly worlds apart.

The sense of security brought by Chen Chu’s well-trained soldiers was indeed extraordinary.

—

After returning to the mansion, Chen Chu escorted Xiao Wangshu and Xiao Fuguang to the gate, then saluted and took his leave, heading to Xiao Hong’s study.

Xiao Wangshu looked at Chen Chu’s billowing cloak as he left, her expression slightly forlorn.

The Armored Guard experience card was over.

“It’s good that Miss and Young Master are safe. This old servant has been waiting for so long. Madam is waiting for you both in the courtyard!” Matron Du led two Maids forward to greet them.

She had come as soon as Xiao Wangshu and her brother entered the gate, showing just how long she had been waiting.

“Why is Mother in such a hurry?” Xiao Fuguang asked as he walked.

Matron Du exclaimed, “How could she not be, Young Master! When General Lu returned to report to the Prime Minister, Madam happened to be in the study too, and she accidentally dropped and broke the Prime Minister’s favorite Zhuangmo Inkstone!”

In an instant, both her children had nearly fallen into the hands of enemy spies-who wouldn’t be anxious?

“Father’s Zhuangmo Inkstone was broken?!” Xiao Fuguang exclaimed in surprise.

Father cherished that inkstone dearly, and usually wouldn’t even let Third Brother touch it, since Third Brother was rough from leading troops, and Father feared he’d break it with a careless slip.

Matron Du waved her hand and replied, “Exactly! Madam’s hand slipped and it broke. Only after hearing from General Lu that you were both safe did Madam recover her composure. Afterwards, the Prime Minister’s face was full of heartache, but in the end, he didn’t say anything to Madam.”

Though the Zhuangmo Inkstone was precious and rare, in Xiao Hong’s heart, Fang Qin’er and his two children were far more important.

Xiao Fuguang chuckled and quickened his pace with Matron Du, joking, “Matron, you’re still so spry-look at you go, my sister and I can’t keep up!”

“Young Master, don’t tease this old servant now. Let’s hurry up. You and Miss should see Madam first, so she doesn’t have to worry in the courtyard.” Matron Du had no time to respond to Xiao Fuguang’s banter.

The three of them walked quickly and reached Fang Qin’er’s courtyard in less than fifteen minutes.

—

Meanwhile, in the study of the Chancellor’s Mansion.

After hearing Chen Chu’s report, Xiao Hong waved his hand and said, “I understand the situation. You may return to your camp. Strictly investigate and interrogate the spies.”

Chen Chu cupped his fists and bowed, about to take his leave, but hesitated for a moment.

Xiao Hong looked up at him and asked, “What is it?”

Chen Chu thought for a moment and said, “I feel that the Guards around Miss are a bit lax in their training.”

Xiao Hong had just heard Lu Xuyang mention this as well, and now, hearing Chen Chu bring it up again, he rubbed his brow in slight frustration and said, “Those four have already been prepared for sale out of the mansion. As for Wangshu, let Madam take her to choose a few cleverer Guards.”

Hearing this, Chen Chu swallowed the words he had intended to say.

On reflection, the suggestion he wanted to make was a bit overstepping-how the Guards around the Fourth Miss were trained was not his place to interfere.

“Anything else?” Xiao Hong asked.

Chen Chu shook his head, cupped his fists, and bowed. “I take my leave!”