Chapter 12: Punishment of the Maidens

tical! Insincere!"Gu Jingxi said, "Since your mother has said so, this time I won't pursue your mistake. Go back and copy the family rules ten times as a punishment." He then changed the subject, "You...Two maidservants shook their heads like rattles: "We don't want to, we'll never arrange things for the mistress again. Mistress, please calm down."

Meng Jin yao's expression turned cold, and she said in a deep voice: "No matter how I married into the Marquis's family, now I am the master, and you are servants. Arranging your mistress like this, with no respect for hierarchy, such maidservants are not allowed in Weiruixuan."

She turned her eyes to Qingqiu and Ningdong as she spoke, "Qingqiu, Ningdong, each of you slap your own mouths twenty times, then hand them over to the steward and send them to the manor."

Qing Qiu and Ning Dong responded, "Yes, Madam."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the other three maids who hadn't gossiped were stunned. These two were the second-class maids in the courtyard. Was the madam saying that if she sent them away, she would send them away Suddenly, she was incredibly grateful that she didn't like gossip, otherwise, they would have been in trouble too.

Those two maidservants were even paler than paper, their bodies trembling like chaff as they kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Madam, we know we were wrong. It was our fault for talking too much. It's our mouths that are useless. Please spare us this time, Madam. We have been serving in the Marquis's mansion since we were young, doing our best to attend to our masters. We may not have done any great deeds, but we have certainly worked hard."

Meng Jiny Yao ignored him completely, showing no mercy whatsoever. She said calmly, "Qing Qiu, Ning Dong, what are you two standing there for Just do it."

Qing Qiu and Ning Dong's hands moved swiftly, slapping the two maidservants without mercy. Their blows were precise, causing the maids to cry out in pain.

"Oh... Madam, spare my life..."

As soon as Gu Jingxi returned, he heard a woman's cries of agony and fury echoing from within the house. His brow furrowed involuntarily. This morning, she had consulted him, and this afternoon, she was already putting his advice into action. The maidservants were begging for mercy, their pleas drowned out by her ferocious wails. The delicate-looking young girl seemed utterly merciless. He hoped she wouldn't go too far and cause a fatality.

He strode into the room, and at once he saw his newlywed wife leisurely sipping tea, while two maidservants beside her were slapping two other maids kneeling on the ground. Three more maids stood pale with fright.

Upon seeing this, Gu Jingxi's face darkened slightly. He disapproved of her punishing the maid. Even if the maid had done something wrong, there were other ways to discipline her. It wouldn't do for him to embarrass the two maids in front of everyone, so he asked, "Madam, what happened"

Two maidservants who had made mistakes heard Gu Jingxi's voice, looked up, and as if they saw a savior, both scrambled towards Gu Jingxi for help: "Lord Hou, Lord Hou save us! Madam is so cruel, she actually wants to send us away. Please, Lord Hou, consider that we have served in Wei Rui Xuan for several years and always served with all our heart. Save us!"

Gu Jingxi ignored them and asked Meng Jin Yao again, "Madam, I wonder what they have done wrong"

Meng Jinyao answered truthfully: "They conspired against me behind my back, saying, 'She really thinks she's a legitimate madam just because she married into the household. She doesn't even remember how she married the Marquis! The day after she entered the mansion, she dared to move into the Marquis's courtyard!' They also said I 'lacked the foundation but had an air of arrogance.'"

"That being said, she saw Gu Jingxi's brows furrow. She continued, "Husband, I thought that when I married you, I became your legitimate wife. Unexpectedly, it seems I am not. I wonder, in your heart, who is truly your legitimate wife If you are not satisfied with me, you can divorce me. I will step down and allow someone else to take my place."

Gu Jingxi, hearing this, frowned even tighter. He never expected the usually well-behaved maid to dare arrange her master like this. He said: "Madam, don't listen to their nonsense. Since you married me, you are my wife, and I only have one wife."

He paused, his cold eyes falling on the two maidservants. Then he turned and asked, "How does Madam intend to deal with these two servants who have dared to disobey"

Meng Jinyao replied, “They purposely arranged the mistress in such a way, disregarding hierarchy and etiquette. They slapped her twenty times and sent her to the estate. If your husband can’t bear to part with her, she can stay, but she absolutely cannot appear before me.”

Gu Jingxi asked again, "How many times have we fought now"

Ning Dong answered, "To the Lord Hou, ten strikes have been dealt."

Gu Jingxi and Meng Jin yao agreed, and hammered out a decision: "Finish the remaining ten strikes. As for what happens next, follow your wishes, send them to the steward to be assigned to the estate. They are not allowed back to work in the mansion." why things had turned out this way between them. Just yesterday, they were fine. Yesterday, before Xiu Ming went out, he held her in his arms and whispered sweet nothings to her for a long time, sayi...