"How could you slander this old servant, Eldest Miss!" Nanny Wang let out a shrill scream, looking as if she was about to throw a tantrum. "Madam is as kind as a Bodhisattva. When has she ever treated you, Eldest Miss, badly!"
Jiang Zhao raised the corners of her eyes, spread her hands, and looked around. "Take a look at this environment. Is this the standard that the legitimate daughter of the marquis's mansion should have?"
"If it's the rule of the marquis's mansion for the legitimate daughter to live in a desolate courtyard and be scolded by the servants, then I'll go and ask Father and Grandmother right now."
"Since when has such a rule existed in our capital city?" After saying that, Jiang Zhao pretended to walk outside.
The two nannies' legs went weak with fright. They had been ordered by Madam He to torment Jiang Zhao, but they didn't dare to bear the blame for ruining the reputation of the marquis's mansion.
Moreover, the marquis valued his reputation the most. If he found out, Madam He would surely shift all the blame onto them.
And their best outcome would be to be beaten to death. Madam He would never stand up to protect them!
"You're trying to force this old servant to death, Eldest Miss!" The two nannies looked resentful, but they had no choice but to bow their heads and submit. "Eldest Miss, please calm down!"
"This old servant was just following orders. We never meant to torment you on purpose."
Jiang Zhao remained calm. "You keep saying that Mother ordered you to teach me the rules. Is this how you teach me about insubordination, slandering the mistress, and ruining the reputation of the marquis's mansion?"
"If so, I must go and ask for clarification. Otherwise, I won't be able to stay in this marquis's mansion any longer."
Seeing that Jiang Zhao seemed determined, the two nannies were really scared this time.
They knelt down in front of Jiang Zhao with a thud, blocking her way. "Spare this old servant's life, Eldest Miss!"
"This old servant was blinded by greed and spoke nonsense. Please forgive this old servant!"
"Please spare this old servant just this once!"
The two were both shocked and scared. No one had told them before that the eldest miss was so articulate and difficult to deal with.
"Do you recognize your status now?"
The two nannies kowtowed repeatedly to admit their mistakes. "We recognize it. Of course we do!"
"Then what are you still standing there for? Since you've made a mistake, it can't be just glossed over with a few words." Jiang Zhao's meaning was obvious.
Nanny Wang rolled her eyes and suddenly turned around, raising her hand and slapping Nanny Li hard.
Nanny Li:?
Before Nanny Li could react, Nanny Wang's second slap landed.
Nanny Li wasn't one to be trifled with either. She raised her hand and hit Nanny Wang back.
Jiang Zhao hooked her lips and leisurely sat back on the chair.
She took out a handful of sunflower seeds from somewhere and watched the two nannies act like monkeys while munching on the seeds.
"Are the two nannies not having enough to eat? The strength of your hands is really too small. I can hardly hear a sound." Jiang Zhao spat out the sunflower seed shells. "If I'm in a good mood, maybe I won't go and complain to Father and Grandmother."
Hearing this, the two nannies immediately became more forceful.
Nanny Wang grabbed Nanny Li's hair tightly, and Nanny Li wasn't willing to be outdone. She bit Nanny Wang's arm.
"Ouch! You old hag, you dare to bite me!"
"Pfft! You're one to talk. Who told you to be the first to be so mean!"
"I was just teaching you a lesson for the eldest miss, you old fool who doesn't know her place!"
"Bullshit! I think you just want to get yourself out of this mess!"
Soon, their acting turned into a real fight. They were both getting more and more aggressive.
They rolled on the ground, scratching and kicking each other, and their mouths were full of dirty words cursing each other's ancestors.
"Cough cough cough... Um..." An untimely cough sounded from outside the courtyard wall.
Jiang Zhao's ears twitched. She changed her position and continued to sit with her legs crossed, pretending not to hear.
"Be quieter, Young Master! Didn't you say we can't let the eldest miss find out that you're here to see her?"
Jiang Qinian pulled away the hand of his personal servant, Nan Feng, which was covering his mouth. His pale face turned red from the violent coughing.
"Humph, who said I'm here to see her." Jiang Qinian pursed his lips. "She's so eccentric and sharp-tongued. She doesn't look like a proper young lady at all. It's so improper."
Although Jiang Qinian was saying these words of disdain on his lips, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly when he saw the two nannies fighting each other.
He had heard that his long-lost younger sister had returned and was arranged to live in the East Courtyard.
He thought that since his mother never liked this younger sister and the servants in the mansion were all tricky people.
She was just an innocent young girl and surely couldn't handle them. So he came to watch the fun.
Nan Feng was speechless when he saw his master holding his breath until he was almost out of breath but still not willing to let the eldest miss off with his words.
His master said that the eldest miss was unlucky and that he hated her, but in the end, when he heard that the eldest miss had returned, he still came running to take a look. He was faster than anyone else.
Inside the courtyard, Jiang Zhao had finished eating the sunflower seeds. She stood up and clapped her hands. "Since you're tired from fighting, get up and start working."
"You can eat only after you've cleaned this courtyard up." Jiang Zhao looked around. "Especially the weeds. Get them all cleared."
The two nannies got up from the ground out of breath. They were stunned when they heard this. "Eldest Miss, this... isn't it a bit too..."
Jiang Zhao lowered her eyes and said expressionlessly, "What? Do you have any objections?"
The two nannies waved their hands repeatedly. "We wouldn't dare! We wouldn't dare!" Ignoring the pain on their bodies, they scrambled to find brooms and dustpans.
Jiang Zhao hooked her lips. "People only know how to be obedient after they've suffered."
Jiang Qinian watched the two nannies, who usually threw their weight around, now being so submissive. He felt a strange sense of satisfaction in his heart.
Then he saw Jiang Zhao's calm look and felt a bit annoyed.
"Give the order. After these two nannies finish cleaning, dismiss them. Do it cleanly." Jiang Qinian added at the end, "If anyone asks, just say I'm annoyed by the sight of them."
Nan Feng replied, "Got it."
He understood. The young master was worried that the two nannies would act in bad faith later and cause trouble for the eldest miss.
Nan Feng clicked his tongue twice. Everyone in this marquis's mansion was a talent.
The eldest young master loved to play with swords and guns, but he was like a barrel of gunpowder and would explode at the slightest provocation.
As for the second young master, he was as gentle as jade and was a model of a noble family's young master. In fact, he was the most despicable person. He never opened his heart to anyone.
Although the third young master was a twin with the second young master, he was moody. If he didn't like you, you were doomed. He was the most ruthless.
The fourth young master was a disobedient playboy, and the fifth young master was a fool.
Now there was also an eldest miss who didn't play by the rules. The marquis's mansion would surely be lively in the future.
"And that old locust tree. It looks unpleasant. Get rid of it." After saying that, Jiang Qinian turned around and left.
Nan Feng glanced at the old locust tree. It looked eerie. Everyone in the mansion knew that someone had hanged themselves there.
Nan Feng shivered and didn't dare to look anymore. He quickly followed Jiang Qinian's footsteps.
Jiang Zhao glanced at the courtyard wall from the corner of her eye but didn't say anything. She stepped into the house.
The furnishings in the house were as simple as could be. There was only a table and two chairs.
There wasn't even a bed for resting in the inner room.
Jiang Zhao frowned impatiently. Was Madam He planning to let her sleep sitting up?
She was just about to go and find the steward of the mansion when she heard footsteps outside.
She turned around and saw that it was her second elder brother, Jiang Lanzhi.
There was also a submissive little maid following behind Jiang Lanzhi. At least she looked more pleasing to the eye than the haughty Yicui.
Jiang Lanzhi glanced at the nannies who were cleaning the courtyard in the rain with a bitter look on their faces and walked straight into the house.
Jiang Lanzhi looked at the furnishings in the house and sighed in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. "Mother is busy with many things, so it's inevitable that there are some oversights. Don't take it to heart, younger sister."
"These two maids are new to the mansion. Their backgrounds are clean. Their names are Peilan and Xiaoman."
"They'll serve you from now on. If you're lacking anything or the servants are not doing their jobs well, just ask them to tell me."
Jiang Lanzhi's voice was as gentle as he was. With just a few words, he had arranged most of the affairs in Jiang Zhao's courtyard.
Since their mother and elder brother weren't doing their jobs properly, as the second elder brother, he naturally had to take on more responsibilities.
He couldn't say that he was close to Jiang Zhao, but after all, she was his younger sister, so he wasn't distant from her either.
At least he was fulfilling his duty as an elder brother.
Peilan and Xiaoman were also sensible. They bowed respectfully to Jiang Zhao.