"Miu,"
Miu came forward and listened to the low instruction from Ruan Di and left the courtyard.
"Lyo, take the bow and arrow Grandpa Ning gifted me."
Lyo went back after taking the full body curved ashwood bow. It was gifted to Ruan Di on her 13th birthday. She had an acne a day before her birthday, and the cousin of the same age - Ning Zi made fun of her, so she retaliated by asking the bow and arrow because she knew Ning Zi set his eyes on it. She didn't make much use of it, and it hung as decoration on her room.
Finally it came into use today.
The maids were somewhat nervous now. They didn't think the eldest lady would shoot them, but again everything today had been very weird with the eldest lady.
The fussy or crying girl suddenly turned solemn, she didn't protest their careless serving, but each time she always gave them an impassive look. It didn't make them feel much before, but now.. it was very scary.
The chilly wind got to them and a few of them shivered.
Kuma was older and even if the eldest lady wanted to clean her up, she wouldn't act without the approval of the wife.
Kuma took a step forward..
SWISHH!
A gust of wind passed them and they looked behind them, it was AN ARROW! Stuck to the tree behind them. Another inch to the left and it would've stuck on Kuma.
Kuma realized the same, and she limped to the ground. The new found confidence was shattered.
"Kneel."
This time, no one dared to neglect it. They kneel on the hard cold ground while cursing whoever swept the yard for doing a terrible job as their knees were pinched by dirt and stones.
"A Di, what's going on?" Madam Ruan came with her trusted nanny and maids, confused by the kneeling maids and the girl in a hooded hat holding the bow.
"Don't come over!" Ruan Di held the excitement to hug her mother so as not to transmit the disease to her pregnant self, "I'm sorry for calling you late at night, Mother."
Madam Ruan understood she was stopping her to keep a safe distance, but she was confused when the Butler arrived with a few guards. It was after dark and it's her unmarried daughter's courtyard! It was very inappropriate.
"Madam," Butler Hu saluted, then to Ruan Di. "Eldest Lady."
"Good, now that everyone here I'll explain everything." She handed the bow to Lyo and Miu that just came back then helped her to walk.
"Mother, the maids in my An-Han courtyard have been unfaithful, they are neglectful to their work, cooperate with outsiders to harm me, and steal my things among other crimes. I want them out this house tonight and make sure you put the Black Ink on their Employment Dismissal,"
Butler Hu accepted bribe to insert these girls into the house, he couldn't let them have Black Ink on their Employment Dismissal, but when he's about to open his mouth, Ruan Di continued.
"Before you talk, Butler Hu, do think of your own self first. Your daughter's dowry from my mother? I'll snatch it. Your son's position in a government office? I'll ask my father to remove it. Your wife and mother occupying the family's farmland like it is yours? I'll kick each and every one of you out of the Ruan house."
Butler Hu's face was getting paler as each sentence said.
"Now pack your bag and put my things in your room. If you pawn it, just leave the receipt there," Her eyes swept to the maids, "I have the money, I have the power, and I have the grudge. If any of you didn't return what you stole or speak about what happened tonight to anyone, it won't be as light as dismissal from work."
"Ruan Di," finally Madam Ruan found the time to chimed in, "Darling, you don't have to be so harsh, if you want to dismiss them just dismiss them, why do you put Black Ink on their Employment Dismissal?"
"Mother, some of them smuggled a chickenpox patient's belongings to my room, that's why I got the disease. They tried to ruin my future, then I did the same. They should be grateful I don't ask for their lives!"
Madam Ruan on the stool almost fell, but her nanny caught her: "What did you just say? What.. How.."
"Don't be too excited, Mother. I will explain everything later." Ruan Di's apologetic smile was hidden by the hooded hat, then she turned to Butler Hu and the guards: "If anyone pleads for their relative or lover, you guys can pack your bag too. If you choose to be with them, I respect you and won't put Black Ink on your Employment Dismissal, but if I know you still secretly meet or contact them, I'll send you to be a eunuch in the palace."
They were big men, strong and young, it was inevitable they had some romantic feelings for these maidens, but it wasn't enough for them to sacrifice this high paying job.
That was what everyone thought, but a guard stepped forward and bowed to Ruan Di with a hand across the chest: "Thank you, Eldest Lady for your blessing."
"No, Brother Hyun!" A maid from Ruan Di's courtyard shook her head with tears streaming down her face.
"It's Ke'li, right? I have always been good to you, but you take the bribe and replace my handkerchief with the patient's. Tsk, tsk, tsk, now you implicate your man with your betrayal," Ruan Di looked at her condescendingly, making the girl lower her head and bite her lip.
Ruan Di rolled her eyes and faced the guard, "As I say, I will respect your decision. You will get your pension money, after all building a family needs a lot of money."
"Thank you for your grace, My Lady."
"Grace?" Ruan Di scoffed, "If I don't hear about your marriage in 3 days, don't blame me for being impolite."
"Yes, My Lady."
"Get moving now, I have to talk to my mother."
Miu and Lyo led the maids and the Butler's entourage to the servant pavilion.
Madam Ruan was dizzy by what just happened, everything happened so fast and so suddenly she could barely digest what actually happened.
"Just, just now.. Butler Hu.. The guard, the maids.. How can you know that?"
"It's inconvenient for me to tell you everything right now, Mother, but once I'm out of chickenpox, I will explain everything thoroughly, alright?"
"You asked me to come just for this?"
"Of course not, I need you to help explain to father, Mother." Ruan Di immediately added, "Also, I need to ask Nanny Shang a few questions."
"What questions?"
"I heard Nanny Shang knows a secret recipe to heal chickenpox's scar, I just want Nanny Shang to verify this recipe."
Miu handed the letter and Nanny Shang almost lost her eyes when she read it.
Madam Ruan caught the weirdness, "What is it? Is the recipe wrong?"
"No, no, Madam. It is correct, the Eldest Lady is very insightful."
Ruan Di: "Then the instruction should be followed, correct?"
Nanny Shang handed the paper back to Miu, "Yes, My Lady, it must be followed through until the very end."
"I'm glad we understand each other, Nanny Shang."
Nanny Shang smiled shallowly, while her master talked to the eldest lady.
Shang Ji was a person from Ning house, everything and anything she did was for the betterment of Ning Wei's life, she swore she would never speak of her suspicion about pregnancy because she might be wrong, the couple had been trying for years after all, getting pregnant at this age was also dangerous. She needed to be sure before telling the madam, but the eldest lady wrote so bluntly about the condition.
" Mother is pregnant, bring her to meet grandfather and grandmother Ning, at least for 3 months. The mastermind of my incident might target the baby too. Don't tell anyone about it. Just guard the pregnancy and let grandma Ning's doctor check. I'll clean up the house. "
The mother and daughter conversation cut short as Miu and Lyo came back with the maids.
"Handle this well, Butler Hu,"
"Yes, My Lady,"
"And don't forget to come to me with the account book from the last 10 years."
Butler Hu, already chilled back, was even more tense now, he bowed down: "Yes, My Lady."
The people remaining in the house had the same thought:
Provoke the master, provoke the gods, but never provoke the eldest lady.
.
.
.
Rich people problem was interesting for the masses, the latest news from one of them was how the eldest lady of the Ruan family contracted chickenpox and under house observation.
Many maids from her courtyard also got the disease and they were dismissed from work. It wasn't weird.
Of course they dismissed the servant, why would they kick out their own daughter, right?
Even the mastermind of the incident, Ruan Shu just thought she shot herself in the foot because her informant was all gone now and she must find another maid to bribe.
But she should wait for another day, she was going to meet An Jing today.
Everything was going smoothly to her plan, Ruan Di won't have her debutante and she could catch the matriarch An's eyes and become An Jing's fiancee.
This was perfect!
***
In the past two days, Ruan Di has been studying and practicing calligraphy at home. Occasionally, she also looked at her embroidery work in her previous life. Her life was quite leisurely, and there were no more new rashes or blisters on her face and body. They all began to scab, so she asked the maid to help cut her nails short, and she also wore cotton gloves when sleeping to avoid scratching the scabs in her sleep and leaving scars.
Miu became more concerned this time, and took the initiative to bring two maids to take turns keeping watch at night, specifically watching Ruan Di and preventing her from scratching her itch in her sleep.
It was also a nice day, and she looked at the willow trees outside the wall that had grown new leaves, and wondered if the ornamental peach trees in the garden were blooming, so she thought of going for a walk.
In her previous life, she didn't like to take maids out, probably because she was too soft-tempered, and she always felt like she owed them a favor by having the maids take care of her.
What a weird train of thought, they were paid by them anyway!