The monthly wages for the Xie family’s rough-working servants weren’t high—just over five hundred wen.

A monthly increase of fifty wen meant nearly one tael of silver more per year. How could that not make people happy?

“It’s still the madam who is considerate of us servants.”

“Our madam is the legitimate daughter of the General’s manor. How would she care about this little bit of money?”

“I truly don’t understand why the madam has Miss managing the household. If Miss continues like this, the manor will fall into chaos.”

“Miss will marry out sooner or later anyway. The madam is the one managing this manor—what’s there to fear?”

“I hope Miss marries soon.”

“…”

Standing not far away, He Shi was so angry smoke was practically coming from the top of her head.

Ping’ge had saved three hundred wen per month on each servant, yet the madam gave these servants an increase of fifty wen. Wasn’t this using Ping’ge’s achievements to curry favor?

The madam was truly calculating and scheming, actually stepping on Ping’ge to establish her prestige in the manor.

If word spread that Ping’ge couldn’t manage a household, which noble family would marry Ping’ge to be their mistress?

Wei’ge was still injured and lying in bed, and now Ping’ge’s reputation was about to be ruined too. What exactly was the madam trying to do?

She couldn’t wait until things reached an irreversible point before taking action—that would be too late.

He Shi’s eyes darkened as she turned and left.

Before long, a servant from the outer courtyard came to Sheng Residence to report: “Madam, just now Nanny He personally left the manor to go to the medicine hall…”

A smile appeared on Yun Chu’s face: “Bring the chicken soup that was stewed at noon. We’re going to Anshou Hall.”

It was just after the evening meal, and dusk was beginning to fall. The lamps hadn’t been lit in the courtyard yet, and the servants coming and going would all stop to respectfully call out “Madam.”

They soon arrived at Anshou Hall. Two old servants guarded the entrance, two maids were sweeping the courtyard, and two maids stood at the entrance to the main building. Lifting the curtain, one could see two more maids and servants attending inside.

Just in Anshou Hall alone, there were more than ten people serving the old lady.

Without that kind of family wealth, yet insisting on such extravagance.

Yun Chu pulled at the corners of her lips and stepped inside.

The old lady sat in the seat of honor, with Tai-tai Yuan Shi sitting beside her. The two were chatting idly.

“So Mother is here too.” Yun Chu said with a smile. “I only brought one bowl of chicken soup. Aren’t you making things difficult for me?”

The old lady said: “When your mother came, she brought me a bowl of rock sugar bird’s nest, but I can’t drink any more, so I had your mother drink it.”

Tingshuang brought the chicken soup before Yuan Shi.

Yuan Shi drank a few mouthfuls and praised how the chicken soup was stewed fragrant, soft, and tender, then said: “Chu’er, how has Ping’ge been managing the household these past few days? I’ve heard some gossip…”

“Has Mother forgotten that when I first took over the household affairs, I also went through these experiences?” Yun Chu said. “In the future when Ping’ge becomes mistress of a household, she’ll have to face the servants’ deliberate difficulties sooner or later. In our Xie family, she has me supporting her and teaching her by hand. What does Mother still have to worry about?”

Yuan Shi’s face was full of relief: “Jingyu’s greatest accomplishment wasn’t passing the imperial examination as top scholar, but marrying a virtuous helpmate like you.”

Yun Chu raised her eyes to look at the old lady: “Before long, it will be the old lady’s birthday. This year, I plan to have Ping’ge organize the celebration. What does the old lady think?”

The old lady frowned slightly: “Can Ping’ge handle it?”

“Isn’t Chu’er here?” Yuan Shi said with great confidence. “If Ping’ge does anything poorly, Chu’er can give her a little guidance. Surely nothing will go wrong.”

After thinking for a moment, the old lady said: “That’s fine.”

Ping’ge’s marriage was extremely important. If she married well, it would be a great help to the Xie family. She absolutely had to learn household management well.

Yun Chu took a sip of tea and raised her eyes: “Old Lady, I heard from the servants that you sent some things to Wei’ge’s courtyard this morning?”

The old lady was somewhat at a loss for words.

Previously, she had sworn firmly that she wouldn’t interfere with Yun Chu’s discipline of the children. Yet as soon as she turned around, she had slapped her own face.

“Wei’ge has been spoiled. This temperament must be properly suppressed.” Yun Chu said. “The things the old lady sent, I’ll keep them for now. When Wei’ge has reformed, I’ll send them to him on your behalf.”

Those things were also what she had once filially presented to the old lady. It was perfectly justified for her to take them back.

The old lady’s expression was very unpleasant.

The things sent to Wei’ge were all extremely rare and precious items, yet they were just taken away by her granddaughter-in-law like that.

As the three were talking, suddenly a servant rushed in from outside: “Old Lady, this is bad.”

The old lady, already upset from Yun Chu’s words, immediately vented on the servant, angrily shouting: “I’m sitting here perfectly fine. How is it bad? You have no manners at all!”

The servant slapped herself on the mouth once, then said: “Something happened to Concubine Tao. She’s bleeding heavily. This old servant already took it upon herself to send for a physician!”

The old lady stood up abruptly: “The child is only six or seven months along. How could there be bleeding? Come, let’s go see!”

Yun Chu and Yuan Shi hurriedly got up as well and walked together toward Concubine Tao’s courtyard.

As soon as the manor’s managers arrived, Concubine Tao’s maid hurried to pay respects: “Old Lady, Tai-tai, Madam, Concubine Tao started feeling unwell last night, but it was only some diarrhea and vomiting. Just now she suddenly said her stomach hurt and started bleeding below…”

It wasn’t yet time for childbirth. All the women present understood what bleeding meant, and their expressions were all very grave.

As they spoke, the physician arrived belatedly. The maid hurried to lead the physician inside to take her pulse.

Before long, the physician came out: “The concubine in your manor probably ate something wrong that triggered fetal movement. Fortunately, she didn’t eat much and vomited it all out. With some fetal-stabilizing medicine and good care, the child should be saved.”

The old lady breathed a sigh of relief.

When people grew old, they liked having children and grandchildren around them. The more descendants, the more prosperous the family. After her death, she would have face to meet her ancestors.

Therefore, she wouldn’t allow anything to happen to any child.

The old lady said: “Bring everything Concubine Tao ate today for the physician to examine and see exactly what she ate wrong.”

The maid hurried to fetch things. What had been partially eaten was brought out; what had been completely consumed was written down for the physician to review.

“This chicken soup…” The physician’s gaze fell on the chicken soup that was more than half remaining. His finger dipped into a bit of the soup to taste, and his expression immediately changed. “Did the abdominal pain begin after drinking this soup?”

The maid nodded: “After the concubine drank a few mouthfuls of the soup, she felt even more uncomfortable and put it down. As soon as she lay on the bed, the abdominal pain and bleeding began…”

“This soup contains safflower.” The physician’s expression was grave. “Old Lady, you should investigate this properly. If it happens again, this child absolutely cannot be saved.”

After leaving the prescription, the physician picked up his medicine chest and left.

The old lady had someone slip silver to the physician. The meaning was obvious—she hoped the physician wouldn’t spread these sordid Xie family matters outside.

Yuan Shi stepped forward, somewhat unable to believe it: “Isn’t this the same as the chicken soup Chu’er just sent?”

The old lady’s gaze fell on Yun Chu, carrying doubt and scrutiny.

Yun Chu didn’t avoid it at all: “This soup was indeed sent by me. One bowl was sent to Anshou Hall, and another bowl was sent to Concubine Tao.”

The old lady said with a stern face: “The physician said the soup you sent contains safflower. How do you explain this?”

These past few days, Yun Chu had consecutively punished several children. She had thought it was for the children’s good, so she had turned a blind eye to it.

She never would have imagined that Yun Chu would actually make a move against an unborn fetus…