Chapter 18: The Maids and Servants Have Been Dealt With

  “I don’t know if it’s true or not,” Wei Yuanwei said casually, “but those low-ranking servant girls sounded pretty convincing. If it weren’t true, how would such nobodies even know the inside secrets of the main and second households? They wouldn’t even know what to gossip about, let alone have something specific to say!”

  As she finished speaking, a slight smile curled her lips, and her cold, clear gaze swept across Shen-shi, Song-shi, and the various young dies’ faces.

  She was just waiting to watch the show unfold!

  The dirtier the secrets, the more people knew about them. And who knew the most? The lowest-ranking servants—those rough-hand maids and old nannies. Despite their humble status, they were always the most well-informed.

  Good thing they often gossiped in front of her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known so much juicy material!

  Shen-shi and Song-shi would never have imagined that the rumors spreading around were all from their own people.

  They had thought everything was hidden perfectly, yet their closest servants had already bbbed to others behind their backs.

  The hands they had resting on the polished redwood dining table trembled slightly.

  A few of the older maids wanted to step forward and defend themselves—but the Princess had said she merely heard it from other servants. The truth of it wasn’t confirmed. If they tried to argue now, wouldn’t they be admitting guilt?

  “In that case, Mama Zhang, take them to the ancestral hall and conduct a proper investigation,” Shen-shi said coldly. When she noticed her daughter looking at her pleadingly, her expression immediately sharpened.

  Judging by Wei Yuanwei’s tone, the gossip was likely true. Those maids were always close at hand, and even a few casual words from their mistresses could be overheard—and ter spread around by loose tongues.

  The rough-hand maids had likely heard the rumors indirectly.

  That breakfast ended on a very sour note. One could say that Wei Yuanwei used that meal to effectively sentence all the servants who had once bullied her to death.

  Even those arrogant servants who thought they were untouchable due to their proximity to their mistresses—those who used to bully Wei Yuanwei without fear—were all punished.

  She figured that by the time she woke up the next day, the entire staff from both the main and second households would be repced.

  Whether they lived or died, or were sold off by the brokers, was no longer her concern. After all, they had cursed her and mistreated her in the past.

  Now it was time to focus on the true targets—the madams themselves.

  At that moment, the main and second households were in chaos. The mistresses were absolutely furious.

  Rooms were filled with kneeling servants, all crying and begging Shen-shi and Song-shi for mercy.

  Even some of the young dies couldn’t help but plead for their maids—but all were coldly refused.

  Especially Shen-shi, who, upon investigating, found out that Third Young Master did have a fondness for men and frequently hung around his study companion in suspicious ways. She immediately repced all of his male companions with maids—and secretly had the boys executed to ensure silence.

  If this kind of scandal ever got out, how could the main household hold its head high again? How could she remain the chief wife?

  Song-shi, meanwhile, discovered that the maid closest to Fifth Young Master had indeed been involved with him. Without hesitation, she was given a cup of poisoned wine and her body dragged away and buried.

  A woman serving both father and son—if that kind of thing leaked, how much disgrace would fall upon the second household? How would Fifth Young Master ever marry?

  By noon, Shen-shi and Song-shi had mostly finished purging their courtyards. The more someone knew, the quicker they died.

  Especially those closest to them.

  They silenced all the implicated servants to prevent any further leaks.

  They knew full well that all of this was orchestrated by Wei Yuanwei to incite infighting. But what truly made their blood boil was the betrayal by the people closest to them.

  They had fallen for Wei Yuanwei’s trap—and they knew it.

  After this mass purge, both the main and second households bore deep hatred for Wei Yuanwei.

  They wished they could tear her to pieces—bone by bone, flesh by flesh, and drink her blood.

  “Mama Lin, is everything prepared?” Song-shi said through gritted teeth. She’d been through countless battles with concubines in her life—why should she fear a little tramp like Wei Yuanwei?

  As long as the Evil King stopped protecting her, Wei Yuanwei would be nothing but meat on the chopping block!

  “Yes, Second Madam,” Mama Lin answered fiercely, burning with the same thirst for revenge.

  At that same time, when the Prime Minister returned home from court, each household received shocking news—

  The Evil King had decred he would be living in the Prime Minister’s residence until his return to Mo City.

  And the Emperor had approved it!

  The entire household fell into panic, especially the main and second branches.

  Why stay here when Mo Manor was just two streets away? A married daughter was like water thrown out—why was she clinging so hard to her maiden home?

  And let’s not forget the terrifying Evil King.

  The servants were all shaken. To them, Wei Yuanwei was like a little devil—far more terrifying than the Evil King himself.

  By lunch, everyone had gathered once again in Zhongxin Hall.

  The Prime Minister, the Left Censor-in-Chief (Wei Yuanwei’s uncle), and the Cabinet Schor (another uncle) had no idea about the morning’s drama.

  Shen-shi and Song-shi were trying their best to act like nothing had happened. Their faces were warm and pleasant, as if the morning had been peaceful and uneventful.

  In truth, they were trembling inside, afraid that Wei Yuanwei might let something else slip.

  But at the table, Wei Yuanwei only inquired about Wei Linglong’s marriage and said nothing else.

  She had originally thought the Prime Minister would kick out the Seventh Concubine, but surprisingly, she had merely been demoted and sent to live in the woodshed.

  That life was much worse than what Wei Yuanwei herself had endured!

  When Song-shi saw Wei Yuanwei stand up to leave, she gave a subtle signal to Mama Lin.

  Mama Lin understood instantly. As she pretended to pour soup for Song-shi, she deliberately brushed past Wei Yuanwei’s sleeve—and then fshed a satisfied smile.

  Wei Yuanwei walked out of the hall, holding her lower back. She wasn’t sure if it was her first time on her period, but her waist ached terribly.

  She wanted to rest, but she had one more important task to finish.

  Her usually calm eyes darkened with ruthless intent.

  Seventh Concubine, the injuries you inflicted on me—I’m going to pay them all back.

  —

  In the Woodshed

  The Seventh Concubine, stripped of her status and now living in squalor, had no attendants. At first, she still hoped the Prime Minister would change his mind, but as days went by, her hope turned into despair.

  “That damned little bastard…” she spat bitterly, sitting on a pile of straw.

  From outside the woodshed, Wei Yuanwei heard every word clearly.

  “Seventh Concubine, were you calling for me?” Wei Yuanwei gently pushed open the broken door, sending a cloud of dust flying into the air.