Chapter 281
"Young miss." The Zhou family guards' attitudes were respectful, their gazes glancing with surprise at Madam Zhang, who was on the ground being helped up by a maid, her cheeks swollen and red. The Longyou region indeed had a fierce populace; they resorted to violence at the slightest disagreement.
Zhou Shuyao spoke haughtily, "Seize this lowly girl!"
What if she brought a martial maid? To catch the leader, one must first catch the king. If they captured this lowly girl, they wouldn't fear that lowly maid not surrendering!
"Lowly girl," Zhan Xiaoyu rolled her eyes innocently. It seemed she really needed to bring Ah Sheng out with her from now on, otherwise, any Tom, Dick, or Harry would dare to bully her.
He Nuan was also helpless. Her young lady was young and looked as delicate as jade, but she inexplicably attracted these young masters from noble families.
However, upon further thought, He Nuan understood. If Zhou Shuyao were truly a merchant's daughter, she would have offered the tea with both hands from the start and fawned over them, certainly not causing a conflict.
In the main hall, the guards moved with great speed. Their Eagle Claw Hand attacked towards Zhan Feiyu, but He Nuan's movements were faster, and the two were instantly locked in combat.
Raising her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, Madam Zhang's vicious and sharp gaze fixed on Zhan Feiyu. The young miss, relying on her status, would not personally attack this lowly girl, but Madam Zhang could not swallow this insult.
With a sinister glance at He Nuan, who was entangled with the guards, Madam Zhang suddenly lunged towards Zhan Feiyu. Her rough, dry hands, like chicken claws, reached for Zhan Feiyu's face.
Coupled with her slightly long fingernails, a few scratches on the face would be the least of it. What was crucial was Madam Zhang's malicious expression, her slightly bent index and middle fingers aimed directly at Zhan Feiyu's eyes.
Seeing Madam Zhang's actions, Zhou Shuyao's brow furrowed. Madam Zhang was becoming increasingly unruly and presumptuous with age over the past two years! She was her mother's wet nurse and now her steward. For her to personally strike someone, if word got out, what face would she, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhou family, have in Linzhou Prefecture?
Truly, an old man who lives long becomes a thief! Zhan Feiyu looked at Madam Zhang, who was lunging at her with a contorted face. She raised her teacup and splashed the freshly boiled tea directly onto Madam Zhang's face.
"Ow..." Even with rough skin, the scalding hot water caused Madam Zhang to cry out in pain. She clutched her face, wailing.
"Useless! More trouble than you're worth!" Zhou Shuyao, already displeased, looked even more displeased. Madam Zhang had lost her composure by striking someone, and now she was so disheveled. Zhou Shuyao planned to send Madam Zhang to the estate to retire once they returned to Linzhou Prefecture.
"You lowly slut!" The most painful moment had passed, and Madam Zhang roared furiously, like an enraged tigress. She lunged at Zhan Feiyu again, her eyes filled with twisted killing intent. What was wrong with killing a lowly girl? She was the madam's wet nurse, and the madam would protect her for the sake of face!
He Nuan had only used three parts of her strength against the guards. At this moment, her pretty face darkened, and her movements suddenly became sharp. The guard was momentarily stunned and was kicked flying.
He Nuan turned and delivered another kick. Madam Zhang, who was still shouting, felt a powerful force from her back. She was kicked flying and crashed into the doorway with a bang, startling two guests who had just entered the tea house. The old wet nurse falling from the sky was too terrifying.
In the private room on the second floor, watching the scene unfold in the main hall through the window, Zhang Minhua's eyes turned cold. Zhang Minxian showed no anger, merely reminding, "Madam Zhang is old and her actions are becoming increasingly muddled."
As Zhang Minhua's wet nurse, acting like a common shrew and resorting to violence, both the Zhou and Zhang families lost face.
"Eldest Brother, I'll go down and handle it." Zhang Minhua stood up. Even though Zhou Shuyao had tried to seize the tea first, Zhang Minhua did not believe her daughter was wrong. If that little girl had been sensible and polite, she should have offered the tea willingly, not provoked Shuyao.
Of course, Zhang Minhua was quite pleased that Zhou Shuyao had not directly resorted to violence. A young lady from an official family should adhere to rules and conduct herself with propriety. If she gained a reputation for being crude and overbearing, it would be a significant problem for her future marriage prospects.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Zhou Shuyao quickly turned to greet her, "Mother."
Zhang Minhua, with a stern face, did not speak. She stopped three feet from the table and scrutinized Zhan Feiyu with a condescending gaze. The young girl was not old, but her composed demeanor was reminiscent of a noble family.
"Although my daughter's actions were somewhat impulsive, there were reasons for it. However, you, girl, have gone too far." Zhang Minhua's voice was icy. The composure of an official's wife allowed her to exude an unassailable authority from the moment she spoke.
Zhan Feiyu slowly stood up. These words were interesting. Zhou Shuyao's initial provocation was for filial piety, so it was understandable, and it would not tarnish her reputation; instead, it would earn her a reputation for filial piety.
As for herself? By having Ah Nuan injure the Zhou family's old wet nurse and the guards, she was deemed violent and cruel. For families that valued rules and reputation, they would never associate with someone like her in the future.
"Madam, that is not quite right," Zhan Feiyu said with a smile, her attitude flippant and casual. "If others do not offend me, I do not offend them; if they offend me, I will show them courtesy; if they still offend me, I will cut the roots and eliminate the weeds!"
The last word was filled with killing intent. Zhan Feiyu looked at Zhang Minhua and Zhou Shuyao, mother and daughter. "Your esteemed daughter tried to seize my tea first, and I did not snatch it back. Subsequently, your esteemed daughter allowed that old wet nurse to strike first, and then the guards to act. He who provokes first is the ignoble one. Madam, your lecturing now is merely because your esteemed daughter was outmatched."
If it had been Madam Zhang or the guards who won, Zhou Shuyao would have swaggered back to the private room upstairs with the seized tea. How would Zhang Minhua, a noble madam, condescend to come to the main hall to argue with her?
"A sharp-tongued little girl!" Zhang Minhua sneered. She had already given her enough face by speaking to a young girl. She hadn't expected this little girl to dare to push her luck and argue with her.
"Mother, she's like a blind man who won't believe until he sees the coffin. She thinks that by bringing a martial maid, she can do whatever she wants!" Zhou Shuyao was too lazy to waste any more words. Her expression was arrogant as she declared her family's status, "My paternal grandfather and maternal grandfather are both officials of the fourth rank. My father, uncles, maternal uncles, and brother-in-law are all officials in the court. Little girl, if you apologize, then so be it. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"Shuyao, speak with caution!" Zhang Minhua said lightly, seemingly to stop her daughter from using their family background to bully others. But if she truly wanted to stop her, she should have spoken up when Zhou Shuyao declared her family's status. In reality, she was relying on her power to bully others.
Zhan Feiyu blinked her dark eyes. Her round eyes were filled with innocence and surprise. "So what? A prince who breaks the law is punished the same as a commoner. Even if it goes to court, you tried to seize my tea first."
Zhan Feiyu was not afraid of anyone in an argument. Her clear, small voice suddenly became loud. "Do you mean that daughters of officials do not have to abide by the laws of Daqing? Or do your grandfather and maternal grandfather, your father, uncles, and maternal uncles, who are all officials, transcend the law? Do they treat the laws of Daqing and the court as nothing!"
Not only was Zhou Shuyao stunned, but Zhang Minhua probably also did not expect Zhan Feiyu to escalate the matter so much. It was a small conflict to begin with, and it was the servants who were injured. But after Zhan Feiyu's babbling, the officials of the Zhou and Zhang families were about to be uprooted.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Zhou Shuyao, having recovered, became anxious. Her voice suddenly sharpened as she yelled at Zhan Feiyu, "Clearly, you were the one who injured my people and slandered court officials! What crime do you deserve!"
The children of officials had some political awareness. Fortunately, this was in the remote county of Xiangwu. If this had happened in Linzhou Prefecture and the words spread, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Zhan Feiyu smiled and calmly replied, "You tried to seize my tea first. If you apologize, this matter will be over. If you rely on your family being court officials to rob and plunder, I will file a lawsuit with the county yamen!"
Who's afraid of whom? If you don't agree, fight!
Zhou Shuyao's face turned red. She was only arrogant and overbearing; she wouldn't do anything like murder to silence someone. Therefore, if Zhan Feiyu truly went to the yamen to file a complaint, the matter would escalate.
In contrast, although Zhang Minhua's expression was unpleasant, there was no sign of urgency or panic. Zhan Feiyu's words were merely to scare ordinary people. As the lady of the Zhou residence, if Zhang Minhua could not even handle the threat of a little girl, she would not be able to hold her position as the wife of the Tongzhi.
"Mother?" Zhou Shuyao was, after all, a girl who had not yet come of age, so she could only look to her mother for help.
Indeed, she had experienced too little. Zhang Minhua looked at her flustered daughter. If she couldn't even handle such a small matter, how would she face her mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and even the willful and stubborn sisters-in-law after marriage? Shuyao would only be defeated.
Zhang Minhua looked seriously at the smiling Zhan Feiyu. The little girl was not old, but she was composed and eloquent. Looking at her like this, she seemed to come from a noble family. Her sharp gaze swept over He Nuan beside her. The martial arts of a maid were actually stronger than the Zhou family's guards, which further suggested that she was trained by a prominent family for their young lady.
With a thousand thoughts racing through her mind, Zhang Minhua spoke again, "Indeed, Shuyao was impolite first. Shuyao apologizes!"
"Mother?" Zhou Shuyao was stunned. Even though she was flustered just now, it did not mean she was willing to apologize to a young girl. Why should she!
But upon meeting her mother's suddenly sharp gaze, Zhou Shuyao's face turned pale. She knew this was Zhang Minhua's command. However, thinking of having to bow to Zhan Feiyu, Zhou Shuyao stubbornly turned her head away, refusing to apologize.