kvmb Chapter 26: Civil War in the Marquisate
Chapter 26: Civil War in the Marquisate
Yunxi was hunched over in her little courtyard, carefully sorting through her medical books, when a sudden uproar erupted from outside.
Yunxi frowned, threw the book in her hand aside, stood up and walked out.
As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw Zhao Fu, the chief steward of the Marquis' Mansion, running towards him panting.
Zhao Fu's face turned red from running, and beads of sweat kept dripping down his forehead like beads that had broken off the string.
"Miss Yun, this is terrible. The mansion is in chaos!" Zhao Fu shouted at the top of his voice while panting heavily.
Yunxi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, "Butler Zhao, please tell me, what's going on?"
Zhao Fu lifted his sleeves and wiped the sweat from his face. "Oh, it's because the master just received a batch of rewards, and the mistress and the concubines are quarreling over how to divide these things!"
Without saying anything, Yunxi followed Zhao Fu to the main hall. They were still quite a distance away when they heard the ear-piercing voice of the Marquis' wife.
Yunxi hurried to the main hall door and saw the Marquis' wife wearing a gorgeous dress embroidered with peonies, her face powdered like the wall, but her ferocious expression completely ruined her wealth.
Her eyes were as big as copper bells as she stared at the concubines in front of her, yelling at the top of her voice: "This piece of fine silk belongs to me, the wife of the first house. Don't you dare try to covet it!"
As she spoke, she put her hands on her waist, looking like a shrew scolding on the street.
The other concubines, unwilling to be outdone, twisted their waists, pointed at the Marquis's nose, and retorted. One of the concubines, dressed in aqua, pouted and said, "Madam, please don't be so overbearing. Why should all this reward belong to you?"
Another aunt in pink also chimed in: "That's right, we have a share too!"
When the Marquis's wife heard this, she flew into a rage and jumped up and down, shouting, "You are such a rebel! How dare you argue with me?"
"This piece of fine silk should belong to me, the wife of the first house. Don't even think about it!" The marquis's wife raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips. Even the luxurious clothes could not hide her fierceness at this moment.
The Third Aunt was not to be outdone. She twisted her waist and stepped forward and said, "Madam, you can't be so overbearing. We have also worked hard for the Marquis' Mansion. Why should all the good things belong to you?"
Her face was thickly powdered, and her eyes were filled with greed. Her colorful dress swung around her, making her look like a flamboyant peacock.
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand with the gold bracelet and gestured randomly in the air, "I'm busy running around in this mansion every day. Even if I don't have any credit, I've worked hard. You have to give me a share anyway!"
The Fourth Aunt started to cry beside her: "I am usually the most obedient, why don't you even give me a little reward?"
Her frail body trembled slightly as she wept bitterly. Fourth Auntie was already petite, and this cry made her look even more pitiful.
She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and continued to cry, sobbing, "In this mansion, I have always been submissive and never dared to say a word.
Now that I have received this reward, please have pity on me, Madam, and leave me some at least." As she spoke, tears began to fall from her eyes, and her expression was truly heartbreaking.
Lin Jiao, the daughter of the Marquis, also spoke up for the Marquis' wife: "How dare you, you ungrateful people, argue with your mother?"
She crossed her arms, her face full of arrogance. Lin Jiao was wearing a gorgeous silk dress, and the pearls and jade on her hair were dazzling.
She held her head high, her nose pointed upwards, and squinted at the concubines, shouting, "Mother is the headmistress of the Marquis's mansion, so naturally, it's Mother who has the final say on this reward. You all are restless and unruly. How disgraceful!"
Several other concubines' daughters were also whispering to each other, all wanting to gain some benefits for their mother.
Some of them bit their lips, looking anxious; some tugged at their mothers' clothes, their eyes full of anticipation; and some gathered together, whispering and discussing countermeasures.
Yunxi walked into the main hall and everyone's eyes were on her.
The Marquis's wife glared at her and said, "Why are you here to join in the fun?" The Marquis's eyes were like a knife, as if she wanted to scrape Yunxi apart.
Her makeup was delicate, but it looked a little distorted because of anger, and the gold hairpins on her head began to shake.
Yunxi said calmly, "Madam, all the concubines, we are all from the Marquis' Mansion. It's no use to continue arguing like this. We should discuss it properly."
Yunxi looked calm, her gaze fixed on the crowd. She stood tall and straight, and although she was dressed simply, she possessed a certain dignity.
Lin Jiao snorted coldly: "You are an unfavored concubine's daughter, what qualifications do you have to speak?" Lin Jiao curled her lips, her face full of disdain.
She walked up, pointed her finger at Yunxi's nose and said, "Who do you think you are? How dare you point fingers here?"
Yunxi glanced at her and ignored her, continuing, "These rewards were originally from the master's heart. If this damages the harmony among us, the master will definitely be unhappy if he finds out."
The third concubine said sarcastically, "Oh, that's nice of you to say, but you also want to have a piece of the pie?" The third concubine twisted her snake-like waist, the powder on her face was so thick that it was about to fall off, and she glanced at Yunxi with a pair of triangular eyes, her eyes full of suspicion and disdain.
Yunxi smiled slightly: "Auntie, you misunderstood. I just hope that there can be harmony in the Marquis' Mansion." Yunxi looked calm, with clear and firm eyes. She just looked at the Third Aunt quietly, not angered by her words at all.
At this time, the Second Aunt, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up: "Yunxi has a point. It's not a good idea for us to quarrel like this."
The second concubine was wearing plain clothes, with a flattering smile on her face and curved eyebrows, but there was a hint of caution hidden in that smile.
The Marquis's wife glared at the Second Aunt fiercely: "You are the only one who can be a good person!" The Marquis's wife was so angry that her chest heaved up and down, and the pearls and jade on her head trembled. Her well-maintained face was now full of anger.
The main hall was still noisy and no one was willing to give in.
The Third Aunt put her hands on her hips and raised her voice, "Why do you, Madam, get the lion's share while we can only drink a little soup?
I don’t accept it! "
The Fourth Concubine also cried, "I have worked diligently in this mansion. Even if I have not made any contributions, I have worked hard. It is impossible for me to get nothing!"
She cried so miserably, her face was covered with tears and snot, and she had completely lost her usual dignity.
Lin Jiao, the daughter of the Marquis's family, stamped her feet and yelled coquettishly, "Stop arguing, it's giving me a headache! Mother should take the lion's share of this reward. You're lucky enough to get a little bit of it!"
Several other concubines' daughters were also chattering nearby, some with red faces, and some stamping their feet in anxiety.
Yunxi shook her head helplessly. At this moment, she saw several maids and servants secretly watching the fun from the side.
A little maid whispered to the person beside her, "What can we do? It's so noisy every day that we can't work."
The little maidservant looked no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, with two pigtails and a sad look on her face.
Another servant boy answered, "Who said it wasn't true? There's almost no peace in this marquis's mansion." The servant boy, dressed in coarse cloth, shrank his head, fearing that he would be discovered by the people in the main hall.
Yunxi stepped forward and said, "All of you go and do your own things, don't make trouble here."
The little maid and the servant quickly lowered their heads and walked away. The little maid even looked back as she walked away.
Yunxi looked at the chaotic scene and sighed inwardly. At this moment, she found the account book of the Marquis Mansion thrown on the ground, so she bent down and picked it up.
"How can this account book be thrown away?" Yunxi said.
The Marquis's wife said impatiently, "Don't worry about the account books, just divide the rewards first!"
Yunxi flipped open the account book and took a look, then said, "Madam, ladies in law, let's first look at the income and expenditure of the Marquis' Mansion, and then decide how to distribute the rewards."
Everyone fell silent after hearing this. Yunxi pursed her lips slightly, her eyes scanning the account book intently, then raised her head with a serious expression.
Yunxi cleared her throat and began to read the figures from the account book. "This month's rice expenses are 120 taels, silk and fabric 80 taels, and the servants' monthly wages 50 taels..." Her voice was clear and loud, echoing in the quiet hall.
After reading it, the Marquis's wife's face became a little ugly. She frowned and twisted the handkerchief in her hand again and again.
The Third Aunt no longer said anything. Her face, which was heavily powdered, turned pale and red, and her eyes were evasive.
Yunxi took the opportunity to say, "The expenses of the Marquis' Mansion are not small. Everyone should still consider the long-term future of the Marquis' Mansion."
Second Aunt nodded hurriedly, a flattering smile on her face, and she leaned forward and said, "Yunxi is right. We can't just focus on the immediate benefits."
The Fourth Aunt stopped crying, wiped her face with her sleeve, and said with sobs, "Then how shall we divide the reward?"
Yunxi thought for a moment, frowned slightly, and swept her eyes over everyone's faces before slowly saying, "How about Madam and the concubines each take a step back and distribute the money according to their respective merits and needs?"
The Marquis's wife hesitated for a moment, looked up at everyone, and then said, "Then I'll listen to you."
Everyone started to discuss the distribution plan. The third concubine's eyes rolled around and she said in a shrill voice: "I have served the master for so many years. Even if I have no merit, I have worked hard. I should get more!"
Second Aunt quickly agreed: "Yes, yes, Third Sister has worked hard, but I also take care of the affairs of the mansion on weekdays."
When the Fourth Aunt heard this, she burst into tears again: "I'm nothing! I'm like a slave in this mansion!"
Several concubines' daughters were also chattering nearby, vying for this and that.
Yunxi watched from the side and felt a little relieved.
However, at this moment, Lin Jiao suddenly said, "No, I don't think it's fair. I want the pair of jade earrings!"
The atmosphere, which had just relaxed, became tense again, and Yunxi couldn't help but frown.