After the three rooms were tidied up, Zhan Feiyu and the others bathed, ate, and retired to their respective rooms. Steward Bao then arrived at the main courtyard where Qi Heng resided.
"Young Master, Ah Jiang is still kneeling at the gate. He is frail and cannot endure much longer," Steward Bao said, his face etched with worry. Seeing Qi Heng frown, he quickly added, "Young Master, you are a scholar. If you gain a reputation for cruelty, it will harm your reputation. If the Master investigates, I will be unable to atone for my sins even with death."
Qi Heng knew that Zhan Feiyu had given him a chance to vent earlier. After all, he had been doused with water, right at the entrance of his own courtyard, and had lost face and dignity.
However, it had been more than half an hour. Qi Heng had never been punished by kneeling, but he had heard from his fellow students that after kneeling for a long time, it felt like thousands of needles were piercing the knees. Both knees would turn black and blue, and it would take seven to eight days to recover.
A flash of annoyance crossed Steward Bao's lean face, but his expression became more worried. "Miss Zhan has a temper, but she doesn't need to study for the imperial examinations, so it doesn't affect her."
"Young Master, this is Nanhu Alley, frequented by high officials and dignitaries. Ah Jiang kneeling outside the main gate not only harms your reputation but could also implicate the Master. If the main family questions this, they cannot possibly do anything to a guest like Miss Zhan. They will inevitably shift their anger to you."
Qi Heng, who ranked sixth in the prefectural examination, felt a pang of pain but also understood. Since Zhan Feiyu had ordered him to kneel, and at the main entrance, she must have had her reasons. After all, she was the top scholar of the prefectural examination and cared even more about her reputation than he did.
"You don't need to say more. Since Xiao Yu has spoken, he must kneel for two full hours. What kind of impression would it make to change orders? You may go." Qi Heng waved Steward Bao away, but he couldn't help but feel a bit reluctant. "When the time is up, find a doctor to examine him."
Steward Bao, no matter how angry, could only suppress it. His eyes were chillingly cold, but thinking of something, he could only turn and leave.
Ming San, as Qi Heng's junior grand-uncle and an elder, occupied the main room of the main courtyard. He stood by the window, watching Steward Bao walk away, and called out, "Little fatty."
Hearing the voice, Qi Heng hurried over and looked at Ming San, who was leaning on a chaise lounge, fanning himself. "Junior Grand-uncle."
Ming San propped his chin with his elbow. His dark hair, tied with a silk ribbon, fell loosely, making him look handsome and unrestrained. "Do you feel that Xiao Yu is taking over as the host?"
Knowing that Ming San had overheard Steward Bao's words, Qi Heng quickly shook his head. "Xiao Yu is not the type to bully others with her status. She must have her reasons for doing this."
If it were just to vent his anger, a small punishment would suffice. Ah Jiang being forced to kneel at the main gate seemed like making a fuss over nothing, but Qi Heng couldn't understand Zhan Feiyu's intentions.
Ming San couldn't help but smile and sat up. "A subordinate oppressing the master, that's the reason. Moreover, that doorkeeper is definitely not an ordinary servant. Didn't you see that the water he threw at you contained un-melted ice cubes?"
Uh... Ming San's reminder made Qi Heng recall that the water was indeed icy cold. However, he had been too angry at the time to notice.
Whether it was Qi Heng's family or the Qi family in Fengzhou, they were not short of money. After the summer began, they naturally could afford ice, but this was only for the masters. Could a doorkeeper use an ice basin?
"Staring won't make your eyes bigger than Xiao Yu's. You don't have to study these few days in Fengzhou. Your task is to investigate this matter clearly," Ming San said, tapping Qi Heng's forehead with his fan. "Cultivating oneself, managing the family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world requires not only self-cultivation but also the ability to discern people."
Qi Heng nodded in understanding. He thought of Great Scholar Wei. Although called a Great Scholar, it was precisely because he couldn't discern people that his family was destroyed. The Wei family, though hateful and malicious, was also a result of Great Scholar Wei's lack of ability, which led to his entire family being harmed by villains.
Back in his room, Qi Heng was still thinking about how to investigate, as he hadn't even brought a servant with him to Fengzhou this time. Meanwhile, Zhan Feiyu, who had taken over the three rooms connecting to the back garden, had already started reading.
In the east-facing room, a girl of seventeen or eighteen stood there. Her plump body was constricted by her dress, revealing several marks. Her doughy face, smeared with rouge, was full of anger. "Father, that's your son-in-law! He was actually punished to kneel by a dead girl, and kneeling at the main gate! If you're not ashamed, I am! What if Ah Jiang thinks I deliberately didn't save him?"
Steward Bao sat by the table with a dark expression, his eyes chillingly fierce. "Lower your voice, don't let the Young Master hear."
"Bah! He's just a bastard from a collateral branch, what kind of Young Master is he!" Bao Baozhu's short, thick neck stiffened, and she curled her lips in disdain. "I don't care. Father, if you don't save Ah Jiang, I'll go myself!"
Seeing Bao Baozhu about to leave, Steward Bao quickly stopped her. "Alright, what nonsense are you talking about? That groom is a trained fighter!"
Ah Jiang was kneeling outside the main gate. He wanted to remember, but He Sheng was watching. He wanted to act tough, but He Sheng had one hand on his shoulder.
Ah Jiang felt a force of ten thousand pounds pressing down. Not only did his knees hurt, but his shoulder blades felt like they were about to break. He could only beg for mercy repeatedly and continue kneeling.
"This won't do, that won't do either. Are we just going to be bullied like this?" Bao Baozhu shouted angrily, waving her strong arms. "If not, I'll bring people and fight them! Am I afraid of them?"
"Shut up!" Steward Bao roared, his cold gaze like a knife fixed on the tantrum-throwing Bao Baozhu. "If you ruin the Master's affairs, I won't be able to protect you either."
Perhaps intimidated, Bao Baozhu, though still pouting and unhappy, dared not act rashly. She could only sit on the chair and sulk.
...
Garden.
"Now, I say this, do you think it is similar to that? Is it dissimilar? If similar and dissimilar are both considered similar, then there is no difference with that." The recitation stopped, and Zhan Feiyu looked up at the five people rushing towards her: two maids and two sturdy working women.
"Bah, you think you can pretend to be a young lady just by holding a book?" Bao Baozhu rushed over, her face full of anger. However, before she could reach Zhan Feiyu, she was blocked by He Nuan.
"Bitch, you dare to stop me?" Bao Baozhu yelled, raising her hand to slap He Nuan's face.
He Nuan seized Bao Baozhu's wrist and used a clever move, immediately causing a pig-like scream.
With He Nuan's push, Bao Baozhu stumbled back several steps. She lost her balance and fell onto the ground with a thud. It was estimated that her tailbone was hit, and she let out another cry of pain.
Zhan Feiyu sat on the stone stool without moving, observing Bao Baozhu in her peach-pink ruqun. Her wrists were adorned with bright gold bracelets, and her hair was decorated with a full set of gilded hair ornaments.
"You two useless people, hurry up and help me up!" Bao Baozhu cursed, spitting. The two women finally reacted and quickly pulled her up from the ground.
"You are not a servant of the Qi family," Zhan Feiyu said, stating the obvious. Not to mention the outfit, which was worth at least a dozen taels, Bao Baozhu's physique was definitely a result of eating too much meat and vegetables, leading to unhealthy plumpness.
Rudely rubbing her sore buttocks, Bao Baozhu pointed her short, thick fingers at Zhan Feiyu and said fiercely, "You immediately tell Ah Jiang to get up, otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Her father had told her not to offend Qi Heng for now, but this dead girl had only come with Qi Heng. The main family would not do anything to her, a disreputable guest. Her father had some face with the main family.
Looking at Bao Baozhu, who wore her hair in a "falling horse" style, Zhan Feiyu said casually, "He is your husband, but he is also a servant of the Qi family, bound by a contract of sale. He Nuan, throw her out. If she makes any more trouble, tell the doorkeeper outside to make him kneel for another two hours."
Bao Baozhu was almost driven mad. She was treated like a young lady in the Qi family, and all the maids and servants usually called her Miss Baozhu. Now, she was being bullied at her doorstep.
"I'll beat you to death, you dead girl!" Bao Baozhu cried out in exasperation and rushed towards Zhan Feiyu again. This time, her two maids and two women rushed forward to help.
Offending Young Master Qi Heng would at most result in punishment or a deduction of monthly wages. However, if she offended Miss Baozhu and Steward Bao, her future days would be unbearable.
Without even looking at the frantic Bao Baozhu, Zhan Feiyu continued reciting from the Zhuangzi in her hand.
He Nuan's movements were decisive and sharp. After a few kicks, Bao Baozhu and her four companions were kicked out. This time, they were truly hurt. Bao Baozhu's nose hit a pebble, and blood gushed out. She then started crying and wailing.
The second courtyard was not very large. Although Zhan Feiyu was in the garden, Ming San and Qi Heng in the main courtyard heard the commotion.
After a while, a group of people surrounded the garden entrance.
Compared to Bao Baozhu, whose face was covered in blood and who was crying as if her parents had died, He Nuan, guarding the garden entrance, appeared as formidable as a lone warrior.
And through He Nuan, who was blocking the door, one could see into the garden. Zhan Feiyu sat with her back to the crowd, her body straight, her face calm, making people unconsciously quiet down, not daring to disturb Zhan Feiyu's reading.
"Who is this now?" Qi Heng asked, pointing at Bao Baozhu, who was sitting on the ground and crying. Her clothes and jewelry indicated that she was not a servant of the courtyard.
The surrounding maids and servants looked at each other, lowering their heads and not daring to speak.
Ming San leaned lazily against a tree. The little girl had already used the doorkeeper as a warning to kill the chickens. These people still dared to cause trouble, truly a case of subordinates oppressing their masters.
Seeing no one answering, Qi Heng was furious and was about to lose his temper when he saw Bao Baozhu, whose face was covered in snot and tears, shout, "Father, why are you only coming now? I'm about to be beaten to death! Father, you must stand up for me!"
Bao Baozhu's hands were still stained with bright red nosebleed. At first glance, she looked pitiful, but also very dirty.
Steward Bao suppressed his anger and apologized to Qi Heng. "Young Master, this is my daughter, Baozhu. Her mother died early, and she is my only child. Baozhu's temper is a bit spoiled, all because I doted on her too much."
"Father?" Bao Baozhu looked at Steward Bao in surprise. She had been beaten and bleeding, yet her father wasn't standing up for her?
"Xiao Yu needs to read. No one is allowed to disturb the garden these days, or they will be sold off!" Qi Heng had to follow Zhan Feiyu's previous method of directly selling off disobedient servants.
"I am not a servant of the Qi family!" Bao Baozhu declared angrily. She was a free citizen. "That dead girl dared to hit me, I want to report her to the authorities and have my godfather arrest her!"
"Baozhu, do not be rude to the Young Master!" Steward Bao reprimanded her lightly. If he truly intended to stop her, he wouldn't have spoken only after Bao Baozhu finished her threat.
Just then, a servant rushed over. "Steward, bad news! Liu Baihu is at the gate and is about to break in."
When Qi Heng was still in his mother's womb, Qi's father had settled in Nanxuan Prefecture. Although he returned to the main family every year for New Year's greetings, Qi Heng knew nothing about the situation in Fengzhou.
Steward Bao's face was full of worry. "How did we provoke this gentleman? What should we do?"
Steward Bao glanced at the confused Qi Heng, suppressed the contempt in his eyes, and then explained, "Young Master, Liu Baihu has a bad temper and cannot stand bullying the weak. He must have seen Ah Jiang kneeling at the gate."
"Everyone is responsible for their own actions. If this righteous Liu Baihu wants to punish someone, I will bear it all," Zhan Feiyu's clear voice rang out, her expression calm and composed, showing no fear.
Watching Zhan Feiyu walk past him towards the outside, Steward Bao lowered his head, a flicker of mockery flashing in his eyes. "She won't shed tears until she sees the coffin!" Well, it was time for Liu Baihu to teach this arrogant girl a lesson!
Outside the Qi family's main gate, quite a few people had already gathered. However, judging by their attire, they were clearly servants and maids from various residences in Nanhu Alley. While they might be there to watch the excitement, they were perhaps also there to see what had happened so they could report back to their masters.
Zhan Feiyu stepped over the threshold and stood on the steps, looking at Liu Baihu on horseback. He was a man in his thirties, holding a horsewhip, his face sallow, and his eyes with dark circles.
Even from a distance, the smell of alcohol wafted over with the wind. While he was a military officer, Liu Baihu looked more like a dissolute dandy.
"Miss, spare my life. I will never dare again," Ah Jiang suppressed his hatred and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy. "I will never dare to doze off while guarding the gate again. Miss, spare my lowly life..."
Hearing Ah Jiang's weak plea, the onlookers nearby looked at Zhan Feiyu in surprise. They probably didn't expect such a delicate and cute young girl to be so heartless.
"Even if the gate was opened late, one shouldn't be made to kneel for so long. These legs are about to be broken from kneeling."
"Yes, and there are guards watching. This young girl is quite ruthless."
"Is this the Qi family's daughter? I remember the youngest daughter of the Qi family is already of age. Could she be from a collateral branch?"
The Qi family was a prominent clan in Fengzhou. Old Master Qi had two sons. As for Qi Heng's branch, Qi Heng's grandfather and Old Master Qi were cousins. In the past, the two brothers supported each other, and although they were cousins, they were like brothers.
After Qi Heng's grandfather passed away, Qi's father was still young. Although he had no talent in studying, he intended to take the imperial examinations. The family business was managed by Old Master Qi.
After Old Master Qi firmly took control of the business of Qi's father's branch, Qi's father was framed and imprisoned. Although he returned home safely in the end, he missed the prefectural examination, and because of this case, he could no longer take the imperial examinations.