Chapter 951: Beat Them for Me

Xia Ruyi was momentarily taken aback by the words, and gradually her face darkened.

"What? What are you saying? Can’t do it?!"

She slowly rose to her feet.

Walking over to the embroideresses, she bent down and circled around them several times.

Suddenly, she sneered coldly.

"Fine! You can’t do it, is that right?"

"Pan Zhu, call the broker over. This miss doesn’t keep idlers!"

The well-rounded maid hastily stepped forward to respond.

"Yes, miss!"

After speaking, she swayed her plump hips as she walked away, her face wearing the smug smile of a petty person.

The few embroideresses began to feel panicked.

The broker.

To all servants, she is an absolutely terrifying presence.

No matter how dignified you were in the master’s house before, once you’re sold to the broker, your life is as good as ruined.

Once out, who would want them?

Which prominent family would accept servants sold by a previous owner?

All their efforts in the first half of their life would be wasted, and they’d lose hope for the second half entirely.

At their age, they couldn’t possibly go to a brothel to make a living.

That would be less dignified than dying outright.

Thinking this way.

Their faces turned pale one by one.

However...

Things always have a way of turning around.

A mere young girl can’t cause a stir in the domain of the Hou Mansion.

This mansion, after all, is not one she can rule over.

Pan Zhu hadn’t been gone long before she returned crestfallen.

Followed by an Old Sister.

This person was sent here by Ni Manxue, surname Bai, commonly known as Sister Bai.

Because many servants from the Hou Mansion were transferred to this auxiliary estate.

Lady Ni was contemplating:

Having no steward wouldn’t do, so she brought Sister Bai over to manage all the servants in the estate.

Of course, she said it’s for: making sure they follow rules and serve the master well.

But actually... it was to ensure they held onto the power tightly.

After all, the powers of this auxiliary estate must not fall into the hands of outsiders.

Sister Bai, upon entering, saw the embroideresses kneeling on the ground.

Without pausing to think, she immediately put on a smile and rushed forward.

"Oh dear, who has angered our third miss? Speak up, and I’ll punish them for you!"

Xia Ruyi looked at Sister Bai’s smiling face and unceremoniously sneered.

"Oh, isn’t this Sister Bai? What kind of wind has blown you here?"

Sister Bai maintained a smile.

"This servant wouldn’t dare, I greet the third miss!"

Though she called herself a servant, her manners were neither obsequious nor arrogant, showing not a hint of servitude.

This left Xia Ruyi quite dissatisfied.

Hm, this old thing pretending, acting all high and mighty? Why not just become the master if she’s so capable? Why act like a servant?

Xia Ruyi quickly sidestepped as she saw Sister Bai attempt a courtesy, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Sister Bai, please rise, I can’t bear such courtesies from you!"

"After all, I’m not the legitimate master here. It’s only right that I lack authority!"

Sister Bai, being an experienced Old Sister.

Hearing this, her expression didn’t change as she went forward with a smile.

"Third miss, what are you talking about?"

"These people were sent by Lady Hou, all out of her good intentions!"

"If you don’t like them, send them back, and Lady will send you replacements!"

But Xia Ruyi sneered coldly.

"Replacements?"

"Sister Bai, you’re of age, you should know the rules!"

"In the Capital City... what’s the punishment for offending the master? Surely you know!"

"These folks claim to be embroideresses but refuse to make clothes for me, asking me to find someone else, well, how bold and principled they are!"

"If they were so principled, why come in the first place? They should have refused outright!"

Growing more frustrated, Xia Ruyi finally threw something at them.

"Sister Bai, I, at least, am the legitimate lady of the Xia Family!"

"If I disgrace myself, that’s one thing, but if I disgrace the Xia Family, who among you could bear it?"

These words spoke with righteousness, causing all the embroideresses below to bow their heads silently.

Sister Bai also laughed and said.

"Third miss, it’s their ignorance, I’ll discipline them well later!"

"Please, calm yourself!"

"It’s not worth it to get upset over a few servants!"

Xia Ruyi sneered again.

"Discipline later? Why not now?!"

Sister Bai finally couldn’t hold it in anymore, her face slightly cooled, she asked.

"Then... how would the third miss like to discipline them now?"

Xia Ruyi’s expression finally softened, carrying a smug smile.

"No need to trouble Sister Bai with this!"

"They serve me, they are my servants!"

"I’ll discipline them as I see fit!"

"You...!"

Sister Bai was rendered speechless, her face unable to maintain composure.

She immediately sneered.

"Fine!"

"Since the third miss insists, do as you wish!"

"However, there’s something I must tell you!"

"Their indentures aren’t with you, dismissing them is not yours to decide!"

After speaking.

Without waiting for Xia Ruyi to react, she strode away, her face not looking pleasant.

Actually...

According to the lady’s intentions, there shouldn’t be so much effort wasted on the third miss.

Originally just lodging here, even begging wouldn’t send her away.

Why bother squandering so much eloquence?

She was willing to show some favor, that was already much face given, wasn’t it?

Fine! They weren’t interested.

Why should she humiliate herself, sticking her old face into their cold backside?!

So be it, let’s see what she’ll do!

After Sister Bai left.

Xia Ruyi watched the embroideresses with a triumphant look.

"Look at you all!"

"Weren’t you all quite proud before? Asking me to find someone else, huh?!"

"What now! Keep being proud!"

Xia Ruyi took a deep breath and continued.

"Rest assured! I can’t sell you, but I have plenty of means to torment you!"

"As long as you stay here one day, I’ll torment you that day!"

"If I’m not well, none of you will be either!"

"Of course, if you reconsider now, and decide to serve me properly, I might consider letting you off the hook!"

"How about it?!"

These words caused the embroideresses to tremble with fear.

Originally thinking she was just a young girl of about ten.

The madam said not to pay her heed, so they genuinely ignored her.

Unexpectedly, people from a small place are not easy to push over.

This time, it seems they’ve learned their lesson!

But, making them submit to her and serve her was still impossible.

So after glancing at each other, they continued their silence.

Xia Ruyi was furious.

"Fine!"

"You’ve got guts!"

"Pan Zhu! Go and call someone to bring things over, give each of them twenty lashes! I refuse to believe this!"

Pan Zhu regained her smugness.

"Yes, miss!"

After saying this, she truly went to gather some people to bring over benches and sticks.

Seeing the sticks, the embroideresses were not afraid.

It was just a beating.

Even if they were beaten to death, they wouldn’t serve such a woman!