The next day, only two of the three concubines came, and Zhou's maid came to ask for leave on her behalf, as Zhou was sick.
It was a very cold day, and she was standing in the wind wearing such thin clothes. She didn't know how long she was blown by the wind before she finally met Prince Jin. It would be strange if she didn't get sick.
Jiang Changning didn't sympathize with her at all, and said calmly: "Ask a doctor to take a good look at her."
Cure her cold and also cure her brain at the same time.
"Please ask the doctor to find the lady of the royal family to get the sign." said the maid.
Jiang Changning smiled, "Are you still afraid that Concubine Dao won't give you a license to ask a doctor to see you?"
He took the cup and sipped the tea, "Xiu Lan, let Liu Ye go with her to Concubine Dao and ask Concubine Dao to give the name card."
"Yes, Princess." Xiulan took the maid out.
Jiang Changning drank half a bowl of porridge, ate a small pancake, rinsed his mouth, and went to the Durian Courtyard.
When paying respects to the Concubine Dowager, Jiang Changning said, "Mother, yesterday you asked this girl to follow me, expecting her to serve me well, but she was not happy about it. She looked very sullen and ignored my questions. Those who knew knew that I was the master, but those who didn't thought she was the ancestor."
Qiao looked at Jiang Changning in astonishment. She had never seen anyone complain so directly.
"My Lady, I didn't. I was just distracted."
Jiang Changning sneered, "Sister-in-law, you are too lenient. Even if the slave is not a slave, she can still be distracted when serving the master. How can such a girl stay in Liuxuan Courtyard to serve my mother? What if my mother is thirsty and wants to drink tea that day, and she is distracted again, what should I do?"
Seeing the dowager's gloomy face, Mrs. Qiao stood up and said, "Mother, this girl has always been honest, hardworking, and considerate in serving you. This time she was distracted, so I think something must have happened."
"It's a blessing for the people in this mansion to have such a generous master like sister-in-law." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
Before Mrs. Qiao could say anything else, a maid came in to report that breakfast was ready.
"Let's have breakfast." The concubine extended her hand to Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning pursed his lips and smiled, then stepped forward to support her.
Mrs. Qiao had an unpleasant expression on her face. Although the concubine did not punish the maid on the spot, it was obvious that Jiang Changning's trick was successful.
After breakfast, the concubine immediately chased everyone away, "Go and do your work."
"My daughter-in-law takes her leave." Jiang Changning bowed.
Mrs. Qiao glared at her, and as they left the courtyard, she said, "I heard that Mrs. Zhou is ill."
"My sister-in-law knows everything about this mansion." Jiang Changning smiled, "My sister-in-law is really dedicated to the housekeeping. She even asked about my brother-in-law's concubine when she was sick."
Mrs. Qiao's face changed slightly. Jiang Changning took a step forward, approached her, and said solemnly, "Sister-in-law, you are not ashamed to ask. I am not ashamed to answer."
Jiang Changning sneered and walked past her.
Qiao glanced at Jiang Changning as he walked away, with hatred in her eyes so intense that it almost became physical.
Princess Kangren said, "Mother, please hand over the housekeeping power."
"Shut up." Qiao shouted.
Prince Jin's kindness to Jiang Changning was beyond Qiao's expectations, making her even more reluctant to hand over the housekeeper's power. Princess Kang Ren had touched her sore spot.
Princess Kangren was so frightened that she shivered, her eyes widened in fear, "Mother."
"You should go to the study for class." Qiao waved his hand and left.
Qiao went to the Dushi Hall to deal with two small matters in the mansion, and then Liu Ye and Zhou's maid came.
Mrs. Qiao could have just given the name tag, but she was in no hurry to do so. Instead, she smiled and said, "Mrs. Zhou has always been in good health, so why is she sick? Maybe she was tired from serving in the wind and rain this morning."
This is no longer an allusion; it is simply saying that Jiang Changning abused his concubine.
"My lady, it is the rule for the madam and the concubine to pay their respects to the mistress. The princess has more than a dozen maids around her and does not need the madam and the concubine to serve her. The madam and the concubine will not be tired." Liu Ye stated in a flat tone.
"What a sharp-tongued girl." Qiao grabbed the teacup and threw it at Liu Ye. "How dare you talk to your master like that, you rude thing."
"I was not rude." Liu Ye said neither arrogantly nor humbly.
Normally, when the master gets angry, the servant should kneel down and admit her mistake no matter what the reason is. But she is not Qiao's maid, her master is Jiang Changning, she cannot damage her master's face, so she has to argue.
"Okay, okay, the Princess of Chun'an really teaches her servant well." Qiao said, and she took a step forward to Liu Ye, raised her hand, and was about to slap Liu Ye.
Liu Ye quickly took two steps back to avoid the slap she was about to throw at him.
Mrs. Qiao was stunned. She didn't expect Liu Ye to avoid her. "A slave follows his master's form. You are such an unruly thing. Someone, hold her down and give her twenty lashes."
Two servants came in from outside and started to grab the willow leaves.
Liu Ye said calmly, "My Lord, you should consider the owner's face before beating the dog. Although I am a lowly servant, I am also someone close to the princess. Are you sure you want to step in and take over?"
"How dare you question me." Qiao gritted her teeth, "I will take you to see your good master. I want to see what your good master says."
Qiao took Liu Ye in a threatening manner and led a group of servants to Rujingyuan.
In the warm room on the second floor of Rujing Courtyard, Jiang Changning was leaning on the big kang by the window, reading a storybook. There was tea and cakes on the kang table.
There was a noise outside, so Xiulan quickly put down the shoes in her hand and walked out. She saw Qiao with a gloomy face, leading a group of people rushing in.
"Greetings to the Mistress, Concubine Dao. I pay my respects to the Mistress, Concubine Dao." Xiulan stopped the Qiao family and their group by bowing. "Please wait a moment, Concubine Dao. I will let you report first."
Qiao ignored her, walked past her and went straight into the warm room.
The curtain of the warm room was lifted, and Jiang Changning walked out. "Sister-in-law, what are you doing barging into Rujing Courtyard so angrily?"
"The county princess is so arrogant, and the servants around her are so domineering." Qiao said coldly.
"Not as good as my sister-in-law." Jiang Changning said with a faint smile.
"You compare me to a slave!" Qiao's voice was sharp and piercing.
Jiang Changning said calmly, "Sister-in-law is really self-aware. She sat in the right seat and was very stable."
"It is true that the slave resembles his master. The master is unruly and the slave is arrogant and domineering." Qiao said angrily.
"My sister-in-law felt that she was not well behaved, so she went back to the courtyard, changed into court clothes, and went to the palace to talk to the Queen Mother, asking her why she pointed an unruly maid to me?"
Knowing that Liu Ye was a palace maid, Qiao came to her senses, "Jiang, you set a trap for me!"
"How dare I say that, sister-in-law? Liu Ye works for me, and I should order her to do things. Isn't it my right?" Jiang Changning asked.
Qiao stared at her viciously and took a step forward.
Xiulan and Fangju stood in front of Jiang Changning, worried that Qiao would do something to hurt Jiang Changning.
(End of this chapter)