Qi Jinxuan's face darkened, at a loss. This morning, she had whipped Lvkou on a pretext until the girl was covered in wounds and had fallen into a coma. How could she let Lvkou come out to meet people now? After hesitating for a moment, Qi Jinxuan masked the fleeting venom in her eyes and gritted her teeth, saying coldly, "Lvkou made a mistake today and is kneeling in the ancestral hall to reflect. She's not in a position to come out and pay respects to the princess. Please forgive her, Princess Wu."
Lvkou is kneeling in the ancestral hall?
Wei Dongling glanced at Qi Jinxuan and noticed the uneasiness on her face. It was obvious that she was lying!
After knowing each other for so many years, Wei Dongling did know her to some extent.
Wei Dongling waved her hand calmly. "It's okay. I've just discussed this with General Qi. On my way back to the palace, I need a maid who has been with me for years and is familiar with my daily life. After much thought, I remembered that Lvkou once saved me when she was poisoned. So I've taken the liberty to ask General Qi for Lvkou. I hope Sister Jinxuan won't be too reluctant to part with her!"
Qi Jinxuan's face turned deathly pale. Lvkou had just accidentally eaten the bowl of poisoned bird's nest that was meant for Wei Dongling. Where was there any saving grace? But Wei Dongling had actually shamelessly asked her father for Lvkou! Judging from her tone, it seemed that her father had agreed.
Moreover, Wei Dongling was actually calling her Sister Jinxuan? When they were on good terms before, she had never even called her sister once. Now, she had learned to be sweet - tongued but actually malicious. Hmph! It seemed she had really underestimated her before!
Qi Jinxuan was seething with anger just thinking about Lvkou colluding with Wei Dongling. Such a disloyal servant was of no use by her side. Originally, she had kept Lvkou just to disgust Wei Dongling and vent her anger.
Just as Qi Jinxuan was lost in her thoughts, Hongxiu, standing beside her, replied, "This won't do! Lvkou has bad behavior and is not trustworthy. If she follows Princess Wu into the palace, she might cause trouble there in the future. It will not only disgrace Princess Wu but also damage the reputation of our General's Mansion."
As soon as Hongxiu said this, General Qi hesitated. Qi Jinxuan's face immediately relaxed as if relieved.
Wei Dongling lowered her head and took a sip of tea, then calmly asked, "Who are you?"
This single question made the faces of Qi Jinxuan and Hongxiu look worse than if they had eaten something disgusting.
Seeing that Hongxiu didn't answer for a long time, the maid beside Wei Dongling reminded her, "Bold maid! Princess Wu is asking you a question!"
Hongxiu then blushed and stammered, "Reporting to Princess Wu, this lowly one is Hongxiu, a first - class maid in the inner courtyard of the General's Mansion."
Wei Dongling glanced at Jingzhe, who was waiting by her side, and ordered, "Slap her!"
"Yes!" Without hesitation, Jingzhe flashed forward and slapped Hongxiu several times. She only stepped back when Wei Dongling told her to stop.
This action shocked everyone so much that their jaws almost dropped.
Qi Jinxuan was so angry that her face turned ashen. General Qi was also greatly shocked but didn't say anything to stop it.
Wei Dongling snorted, "How can a lowly servant like you maliciously slander and gossip about Lvkou's character in front of the master of the house? Sister Jinxuan is kind - hearted and doesn't want to be rough with a servant. Today, I'll take the liberty to discipline you on behalf of your mistress. I hope you'll watch your words in the future and don't talk nonsense! Don't let those who don't know the truth easily believe you and look down on Lvkou from now on."
Jingzhe had deep internal energy. After a few slaps, Hongxiu's once - pretty face instantly swelled up like a pig's head. She glanced at her mistress, wanting to cry but not daring to. She staggered and collapsed on the ground, sobbing softly, "Yes! This servant won't dare again."
Seeing her personal maid being humiliated, Qi Jinxuan's face flushed red and she gritted her silver teeth. She wished she could rush forward and strangle Wei Dongling. It was bad enough that she came to demand Lvkou, but now she even humiliated people like this! And she still sounded so nice! Disciplining on her behalf? Did the servants of their Qi family need Wei Dongling to make decisions and overstep her bounds?
How could Wei Dongling not know what Qi Jinxuan was thinking? She smiled calmly, "Sister Jinxuan, don't blame me. You know I have a fiery temper and can't tolerate even a bit of sand in my eyes. A maid like Hongxiu who likes to stir up trouble will only do you harm if she stays by your side. You'd better sell her off and drive her out of the mansion as soon as possible! After I return to the palace, I'll choose some good maids for you to serve you. This can also be considered my way of repaying you for your willingness to part with Lvkou."
Hearing that Wei Dongling was suggesting selling her off and driving her out of the mansion, Hongxiu was so frightened that she trembled all over and kept shaking her head at her mistress.
Cold sweat slid down Qi Jinxuan's forehead. She knew that Wei Dongling was putting her in a difficult position. It seemed that she was determined to get Lvkou today. But what should she do now? If she carried the unconscious Lvkou out now, even her father might be furious.
Seeing that his daughter was hesitating and not speaking for some unknown reason, General Qi quickly waved his hand and smiled at Wei Dongling, "It's just a maid. There's no need for the princess to worry. I'll have someone go to the ancestral hall and bring Lvkou here."
Wei Dongling quickly bowed and said, "Thank you!"
Seeing General Qi giving instructions to his servants, Qi Jinxuan cried out anxiously, "Father!"
General Qi turned around and asked in confusion, "What?"
Qi Jinxuan hesitated for a long time, then said with a dark face, "Lvkou broke the concentric jade inkstone that the emperor bestowed in your study yesterday. Daughter punished her this morning..."
General Qi was stunned. That concentric jade inkstone bestowed by the emperor was his favorite. He had always been reluctant to use it! How could it be broken?
Moreover, he never allowed servants to enter his study easily. What was Lvkou, a maid in the inner courtyard, doing in his study?
Qi Jinxuan said nervously, "Daughter was so angry with Lvkou for not following the rules that I punished her severely. After twenty lashes, Lvkou couldn't hold on and fainted." Qi Jinxuan's voice became softer and softer. The last sentence was almost inaudible.
General Qi looked embarrassed. No wonder his daughter had been so hesitant. It turned out that she had beaten the maid that Princess Wu wanted. She was probably afraid that the princess would blame her!
Duke Cao sat quietly on one side, drinking tea, seemingly not caring about this matter at all.
Wei Dongling heard every word Qi Jinxuan said. Her eyes were filled with anger as she stared at her and coldly asked, "Where is Lvkou now?"
It was the first time in her life that Qi Jinxuan had seen Wei Dongling being so stern with her, and she was now Princess Wu! Qi Jinxuan felt both aggrieved and panicked. She answered awkwardly, "In the dark room."
The dark room? Wei Dongling was shocked. That was the place in the General's Mansion used to punish servants. Usually, servants who made extremely serious mistakes would be thrown in there for a beating and punishment. She never thought that Qi Jinxuan would be so cruel as to throw Lvkou into the dark room.
Wei Dongling stood up and said to General Qi, "I'd like to go and see Lvkou. Please allow me, General!"