Xiao Man's gaze swept over the people in the courtyard, and she asked slowly, "Why are three people missing?"
"Replying to Madam, last night, Granny Zhou from the Old Madam's courtyard came and took Sister Hong Yu away. The second-class maid Cui Ping went home to visit her family, with your permission. The cook Granny Xu went out to purchase supplies. That is why three people are missing," the head maid Qiu Tong said, handing Xiao Man the brewed tea and explaining.
Xiao Man took it, took a sip, and asked calmly, "Who were the ones serving in my room last night?"
"Replying to Madam, the one serving in your room last night was Sister Hong Yu."
Xiao Man frowned slightly. Hong Yu had already been dealt with by the Old Madam privately. A dead person could not speak, but she still needed to clear out her own courtyard, especially the maids who could enter her room and handle her food and drink.
"Who prepared yesterday's dinner?"
"Replying to Madam, yesterday's dinner was prepared by Chan Yi and Xin Yi," Qiu Tong said, pointing to the other two maids kneeling.
"And who was responsible for the tea in the house?"
"Replying to Madam, the tea in the house was handled by Xiao Dai."
"Was there incense lit in the room yesterday?"
Qiu Tong frowned. She wasn't sure if incense was lit last night because she felt unwell yesterday and went to bed early, sleeping soundly. Moreover, Hong Yu was the one serving by Madam's side last night, so she didn't know.
"This servant does not know," Qiu Tong replied truthfully.
"Incense was lit last night," Yin Zhu said, looking up. "Not only was incense lit, but Sister Hong Yu also instructed the kitchen to warm a pot of wine for Madam and prepare two small dishes to accompany it."
Xiao Man looked at Yin Zhu. Seeing this, Qiu Tong quickly said, "This is Yin Zhu, a third-class maid, who recently joined our courtyard."
Xiao Man nodded. "Those who served in my room last night, handled food, drink, and tea, and everyone in the kitchen, have been paid their wages and are to leave Shui Yue Xiao Zhu."
"Madam!" Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed. Xiao Man was actually letting go of most of the people in her courtyard at once?!
It was known that Xiao Man was a noble legitimate daughter in the General's Mansion. Her monthly allowance was several times that of other young ladies, and she was greatly favored by the General. Even Madam Yan had to avoid her sharpness.
Therefore, being able to secure a position serving in Shui Yue Xiao Zhu was an excellent opportunity!
"Madam, please don't send us away," a group of maids immediately panicked and pleaded loudly, falling to their knees.
Xiao Man looked at them coldly. "Do you want to collect your wages and leave, or do you want to wait for Grandmother to deal with you herself?"
Hearing this, everyone looked at Xiao Man in confusion, not understanding the meaning of her words.
"This morning, Grandmother dealt with Hong Yu and warned me that if I did not properly manage the people in my courtyard, she would personally help to clean it up. For the sake of your lives, I had to resort to this plan. If you take the money and leave now, you will at least have a way to survive. If you wait for Grandmother to decide, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you either," Xiao Man explained the reason.
Upon hearing that the Old Madam might take their lives, everyone was so frightened that they lost their composure and, one after another, took their money and left.
Although Xiao Man was often overbearing and occasionally scolded her servants, overall, serving in Shui Yue Xiao Zhu was a relatively easy job. Moreover, Xiao Man was generous with her rewards.
But no amount of money was worth more than life.
Xiao Man leisurely drank her tea. When most people had left, she noticed a few still kneeling in the courtyard, including her head maid Qiu Tong, who had not left.
"Aren't you leaving?" Xiao Man asked leisurely.
"This servant is a maid bought into the manor by Madam and signed a death contract. I have nowhere to go but to follow Madam. Madam, have the other young ladies gone to instigate the Old Madam again? Is the Old Madam going to use you as an example?" Qiu Tong was anxious. Last night, the steward had brought people to search the courtyard, which had woken her up.
She realized Madam was not there and was about to find an excuse to conceal it, but Hong Yu had let it slip. In the end, Hong Yu was taken away by the Old Madam's people, and they were confined to the courtyard until Xiao Man returned.
Only then did Xiao Man look properly at the maid beside her. "Why do you say that?"
"Yesterday, I was not feeling well, so Sister Hong Yu took my place to guard Madam's room. I am guilty for sleeping so soundly last night. I was only woken when the steward brought people to search the courtyard and discovered Madam was missing. I wanted to keep it a secret, but Hong Yu let it out, and the Old Madam sent people to take Hong Yu away and locked up Shui Yue Xiao Zhu. Madam, since the General is not in the manor, please be more accommodating to the Old Madam." Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Man's eyes flickered. Fortunately, there was still a maid in this courtyard who protected her. "Get up, don't kneel."
"Madam, has the Old Madam punished you again?"
"She has punished me more than once or twice. You should be used to it. It's just copying the 'Female Precepts' and 'Virtues'," Xiao Man said, looking at the other kneeling people.
Among these people, there was one second-class maid, two third-class maids, and a few cleaning women. Because they were responsible for cleaning the courtyard and not involved in her diet or daily life, they were not affected.
"Only one cleaning woman is needed to remain."
"Yes, Madam."
Xiao Man then looked at the other three kneeling individuals. One of them was the maid who had spoken earlier, saying incense was lit in her room, wine was warmed, and dishes were served. If she remembered correctly, her name was Yin Zhu.
"Yin Zhu, why aren't you leaving?"
Yin Zhu raised her head. She had a round, pleasing face and rather clear eyes. "This servant did not serve Madam's meals or daily life. This servant is only responsible for the study, so I am not within the scope of dismissal."
The study…
Xiao Man looked in the direction of the study.
Her father truly doted on her, even preparing a study for her. No wonder the young ladies and concubines in this manor disliked her. With her being so prominent, how could she not attract jealousy?
"Since you are responsible for the study, why do you know what happened in my room?" Xiao Man asked gently.
"As Madam's maid, anything related to Madam is important, and this servant must keep it in mind," Yin Zhu said resolutely.
A smile flashed in Xiao Man's eyes. "Then what did you see last night?"
"Madam, in this courtyard, perhaps only Hong Yu knows what happened last night. Last night, after I finished dinner, I felt dizzy and then fell asleep. I only woke up when the steward came to search the courtyard."
Xiao Man understood. Since they wanted to frame her, they naturally wouldn't give her a chance to escape. They had simply incapacitated the people in her courtyard. By the time the deed was done, she would be caught in the act, and then Hong Yu would come forward to testify that she had an affair with the intruder, leaving her no room to defend herself.
If she hadn't been reborn, this Xiao Man would have been ruined, if not dead.