"Alright, alright, then Third Sister, you rest. Your elder sister is leaving now. I won't disturb you. You sleep for a while."
Mu Qingxiang breathed a sigh of relief, a smile gracing her face. Nodding repeatedly, she walked out. Xiao Lian saw her off. At the door, Mu Qingxiang's voice drifted back, "Xiao Lian, thank you."
"It's nothing, Second Miss."
After seeing the Second Miss off, Xiao Lian walked back into the room. She saw her mistress's face shrouded in a thin frost, glaring at her unpleasantly. A chill permeated the air, and the room's pressure plummeted, scaring her into kneeling with a thud. Trembling, she spoke.
"Miss, this servant deserves to die. I shouldn't have spoken out just now. I beg you to spare this servant this once."
As Xiao Lian was begging for mercy, Lü Er lifted the curtain and walked in from outside. She went around the screen and saw Xiao Lian kneeling on the ground with a pale face, continuously begging for forgiveness. Not knowing what had happened, she also knelt with a thud.
"Miss, what mistake did Xiao Lian commit? I beg you to spare her."
Mu Qingyao looked at the two maids kneeling below. She had a kind heart and a simple nature, but sometimes her simplicity was excessive, always forgetting who her master was.
"Get up, Xiao Lian. Don't be out of line."
"Thank you, Miss, thank you, Miss."
Xiao Lian stood up, and Lü Er also followed suit, her face full of confusion. In such a short time, she didn't know what wrong Xiao Lian had done to displease the Miss. However, she dared not ask. She would ask Xiao Lian privately later.
Seeing Lü Er, Mu Qingyao remembered the matter she had entrusted to her. "How is it? Have the bank notes been cashed?"
"Yes, they have been cashed. I was supposed to come back earlier, but Uncle Zhong didn't dare to make the decision himself and consulted the First Madam. That's why it took a little longer. Later, after the First Madam approved, Uncle Zhong cashed five hundred taels for me."
"This First Madam Mu is truly a dictator. In this vast Mu Mansion, everything must be approved by her before money can be disbursed."
Mu Qingyao's face darkened as she snorted coldly, extremely displeased.
She really didn't know how much money that mother and daughter pair spent daily. Yet, others could only disburse five hundred taels at most and were then forbidden to receive money for half a year. It was truly hateful.
It seemed her position as the head of the household was at its limit. Before entering the palace, she must give her a good lesson. Whatever people fear, that's what will happen to them. She must be in great pain.
A chilling smile flickered across Mu Qingyao's lips, her face as cold as ice. The two maids dared not move. Their Miss's expression was terrifying.
"When Mei Xin returns, give her the five hundred taels."
"Yes, Miss," Lü Er replied respectfully.
It was not until evening that Mei Xin returned. She had pawned all the jewelry and clothes, exchanging them for a stack of bank notes. The two of them lay on the table and counted. There were only one thousand nine hundred taels. Fifty taels were still missing...
"Mei Xin, we're still fifty taels short?"
Mei Xin frowned and stared at her Miss. Her Miss was too particular. Buying a servant for two thousand taels was already a joke, and now, with only fifty taels missing, she was still dwelling on it. Xiao Dai certainly wouldn't mind.
"Miss, it's fine if it's short. It's not a big deal to be short by fifty taels."
After Mei Xin finished speaking, she felt a chilling airflow pass over her head. She cautiously looked up and met her Miss's icy gaze. Immediately, she dared not utter another word.
Mu Qingyao spoke sternly, "Mei Xin, this is Xiao Dai's deed of sale, and I said two thousand taels, so I must keep my word. Without integrity, how can one stand in the world, how can one gain the trust of others, and how can one have others follow wholeheartedly?"
"Miss, I was wrong. Please don't be angry."
This time, Mei Xin learned to be obedient. As long as she was a little more sensible, her Miss wouldn't be so angry. Indeed, Mu Qingyao's expression softened a little, but she remained very serious.
"Mei Xin, I have warned you several times. Because you have been serving me, I have given you chances. This is the last time. If such a thing happens again, you don't have to follow me anymore. Remember, the Miss's words are always right."
"I understand, Miss. What about the missing fifty taels?"
Mei Xin changed the subject. Mu Qingyao looked at her. This maid had become shrewd by following her. This was not bad. As long as she was clever in the palace in the future, she finally relaxed a bit.
"Today, the eldest Miss sent me a hairpin. You can give that to Xiao Dai along with it. Fifty taels are worth it."
In the sky, the moon was white like jade, scattering silver brilliance everywhere.
In the central courtyard, the flowers and trees were lush and green, with branches and shadows gracefully swaying. A gentle breeze blew, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.
In the open space outside the white jade corridor, several men in black were kneeling, their heads bowed, waiting silently for punishment.
"Your subordinates are incompetent and failed to handle the matter effectively."
"You scoundrels! If you can't even handle this small matter, what great things can you accomplish?"
A deep voice echoed, followed by a lightning-fast figure gliding by. The leading man in black was sent flying by a punch, crashing into the railing of a flower bed in the distance. He was then sent back and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Manager Ning, please spare us this once," a panicked voice pleaded.
This was the North Jin Royal Residence, and the person who acted was Manager Ning of the North Jin Royal Residence.
He was currently looking at the kneeling men in black with intense anger, his eyes fierce and menacing. His square-shaped face, illuminated by the moonlight, had a somewhat ferocious and terrifying appearance.
"What use are you if you can't do this!"
Manager Ning clenched his fist, about to kill his subordinates.
Just then, a cold voice came from one end of the corridor, "What's going on?"
Upon hearing this voice, the kneeling men in black seemed to see hope and shouted, "Your Highness, spare your subordinates this time!"
Prince Mu Rong Liu Mo of North Jin emerged from the darkness.
He wore a light yellow brocade robe, with lotus branches embroidered on the cuffs and collar. His dark hair was tied up with a bright yellow silk ribbon. The entire person was bathed in the moonlight, with a gentle smile on his face, like the stars in the sky.
As he approached and saw what was happening, his lips tightened, and he cast a displeased glance at Manager Ning.
"What is this?"
"This?" Manager Ning hadn't expected the Prince to still be awake so late. He raised his dark pupils to look at the Prince. Mu Rong Liu Mo waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Release them."
"Yes, Your Highness," Manager Ning dared not say anything more. He waved his hand and ordered, "You can all go."
The men in black breathed a sigh of relief and quickly moved to the side, helping the injured man and preparing to leave. Mu Rong Liu Mo called out to stop them, "Find a doctor to treat him."
"Yes, Your Highness," the men said, relieved, and quickly departed. Their lives had been spared...
Under the moonlight, Mu Rong Liu Mo's expression was grim, his eyes cold and piercing. He said in a deep voice, "Come in."