Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - chapter 53

Chapter 53

“Let’s wait and see about Concubine Luo entering the palace. Who knows when things will settle down? We should wait until everything is stable before she goes in,” Fang Qin’er continued.

Xiao Wangshu snapped back to attention, as if remembering something, and asked, “Mother, can I enter the palace with you then?”

If Brocade Gate wanted to quickly make a name for itself, it still needed a signature product.

“You?” Fang Qin’er looked a bit puzzled and asked, “Wangshu, didn’t you used to dislike seeing Concubine Luo?”

Because Concubine Luo was stingy in her ways, Wangshu had never liked her since childhood.

“Mother, my entering the palace has nothing to do with Concubine Luo. Last time, Liu Imperial Physician’s Herbal Honey Paste worked so well that I don’t even have a scar left, so I thought I’d go to the palace to thank him,” Xiao Wangshu explained.

“Is that all?” Fang Qin’er sounded a bit skeptical.

Xiao Wangshu thought for a moment and added, “Besides expressing my thanks, I also want to discuss a lucrative business with Liu Imperial Physician.”

Fang Qin’er gave her a look that said, ‘I knew you were up to something,’ and said helplessly, “You girl! Lately, you’ve really got money on the brain!”

Xiao Fuguang chimed in from the side, “Mother, it’s a good thing for Sister to have a hobby. If she can make money, all the better. Even if she can’t, at least it gives her something to do, doesn’t it?”

Fang Qin’er shot him a sideways glance and said, “You two siblings have really started teaming up lately, haven’t you?”

Xiao Fuguang immediately shook his head and clamped his mouth shut.

Xiao Wangshu pleaded, “Mother, just take me with you. Otherwise, if you go into the palace with Concubine Luo, you won’t even be able to have a proper conversation face-to-face. Wouldn’t that be suffocating?

“Besides, Concubine Luo doesn’t know how to talk either. Every word she says is more sarcastic than the last-so unpleasant. If you bring me along, at least you’ll have someone to chat with on the way to the palace, right?”

Fang Qin’er thought it over and realized it made sense.

Seeing Xiao Wangshu still shaking her arm, Fang Qin’er quickly said, “Alright, alright, stop shaking me. You’re making me dizzy. I’ll take you with me.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Xiao Wangshu thanked her promptly.

At this moment, Fang Qin’er turned her gaze to Yichun and Shuxia, who were following with their heads lowered, and asked, “And what about these two? How do you plan to deal with them?”

Before Xiao Wangshu could answer, Fang Qin’er continued, “Maids and guards are supposed to protect their masters, not the other way around. If you don’t punish them strictly for this, won’t they get out of hand? How will you manage your subordinates in the future?”

In fact, Fang Qin’er knew very well that Xiao Wangshu had already shown her stance by letting Li Ta and Li Jun return to the steward for punishment while keeping Yichun and Shuxia by her side.

But when it comes to managing subordinates, it’s all about balancing kindness and authority.

Xiao Wangshu had already shown great kindness, so someone had to enforce the authority.

Sure enough, as soon as Fang Qin’er finished speaking, Yichun and Shuxia were so frightened that they immediately knelt down.

“We maids know our mistake. Please, Madam, have mercy. We will serve Miss well from now on and will never make the same mistake again!”

Their heads knocked against the ground again and again, turning red and swollen, but they dared not stop.

Xiao Wangshu sighed and pleaded with Fang Qin’er, “Mother, they’ve served me for so many years. Let me handle it this time. If they make another mistake, I’ll let the household deal with them according to the rules.”

Fang Qin’er sighed along with her and said, “You, you’re still too soft-hearted!”

After saying that, she looked at Yichun and Shuxia and said quietly, “Fine, since your Miss wants to handle your punishment herself, you’ll listen to her this time. But if this happens again…”

Shuxia immediately added, “Please rest assured, Madam, it will never happen again! If it does, we will atone with our lives!”

Hearing this, Fang Qin’er was finally a bit satisfied.

“Alright, get up then.”
—

Meanwhile, at the military camp on the outskirts of the Capital.

Chen Chu had just returned when he ran into two Lieutenant Generals from Lu Xuyang’s side.

The two brought several soldiers with them, leading them forward to salute Chen Chu with cupped fists. “Greetings, General Chen!”

Chen Chu nodded and looked at the several somewhat familiar soldiers behind them.

“What did they do?”

Among these six, the two young officers at the front he had seen a few times in recent days-if he remembered correctly, their names were Qin Tai and Yuchi Yan. In any case, both were quite competent in their duties.

Upon hearing Chen Chu’s question, the two Lieutenant Generals looked a bit troubled. After glancing around to make sure no outsiders were present, they approached Chen Chu and spoke in a low voice, “They offended General Hengwei. Our general spoke at length to save their lives; now they’re to be sent to Di Zhou.”

General Hengwei, Xiao Yu, was known for his fiery temper and lofty airs.

From the surname alone, it was clear he was a member of the Xiao clan.

Xiao Yu was one of Xiao Hong’s cousins. In his early years, he had followed Xiao Hong onto the battlefield, shedding blood and earning great military merit.

Now, he held a third-rank official position and was titled General Hengwei.

Even though Xiao Yu was hot-tempered and often injured others, with Xiao Hong as his elder cousin, ordinary officers dared not provoke him and would rather avoid him altogether.

As for soldiers who offended him, it was common for them to be beaten to death with the military rod.

Xiao Hong had actually spoken to him privately about this matter several times, but Xiao Yu’s nature was hard to change, leaving Xiao Hong quite troubled.

Today, these six were rather lucky; Lu Xuyang happened to be in the camp and could plead on their behalf.

Lu Xuyang was the most trusted veteran by Xiao Hong’s side, having followed him even longer than Xiao Yu. His standing in Xiao Hong’s eyes was no less than Xiao Yu’s.

With his intercession, Xiao Yu reluctantly spared the lives of these six.

After hearing the Lieutenant Generals’ explanation, Chen Chu glanced at the defiant look on the leading young officer’s face, as if recalling something, and asked them-

“There’s a task much easier than being sent to Di Zhou, and you can stay in the Capital. Would you be willing to go?”

The six all looked up at him, half skeptical.

Finally, the sharp-eyed youth at the front spoke first, “Is General serious?”

“Qin Tai, right?” Chen Chu asked.

The young man seemed surprised that Chen Chu, the Military Guard General of fourth rank, could remember him, a sixth-rank miscellaneous Guard Commander.

After a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “Yes.”

Chen Chu continued, “The Prime Minister’s young lady is short a few Guards. If you’re willing to set aside your pride and serve by her side, I can speak to the Prime Minister for you.”

To go from a camp officer to an inner mansion Guard was no small change.

“The young lady at the Chancellor’s Mansion?” Qin Tai thought for a moment. Wasn’t the only unmarried one now the Fourth Legitimate Daughter, Xiao Wangshu?

“General wants us to serve as Guards for the Fourth Miss. Would General Hengwei agree to that?” Qin Tai pressed on.

After all, once sent to Di Zhou, they’d lose their ranks and suffer punishment.

A mere Guard Commander’s pride was nothing to hold onto.

As long as they weren’t exiled, and could keep their brothers alive, pride and dignity could be set aside-they’d even wash the Fourth Miss’s feet if needed!

“As long as you’re willing, I’ll handle the rest,” Chen Chu said.

Qin Tai exchanged a glance with the other young officer beside him, then nodded, “We’re willing to serve the Fourth Miss. Thank you, General Chen, for mediating.”

Chen Chu nodded and instructed the two Lieutenant Generals from Lu Xuyang’s side, “Take these six away for now, and don’t let anyone see them.”

The two Lieutenant Generals thought for a moment, then saluted, “Yes!”

……