The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion-Chapter 399: The Mansion Was in a State of Restlessness
Chapter 399: The Mansion Was in a State of Restlessness
Returning from the Rongguo Mansion with Yu Qian, Sun Shaozong called for his two nephews to share lunch in the front hall. Then, at the table, he focused on discussing Sun Chengtao's whereabouts and staying issue, which was unexpected. As expected, he was not able to pass the Imperial Examination.
Another thing, as expected, was that he really wanted to seek exile and also planned to go to the old, young, border, and poor areas to change his fate.
Of course, this idea was unanimously suppressed by everyone at the table.
Considering his nature of detachment, Sun Shaozong finally decided to find him a County position near Jiangnan, which would be convenient for the Jinling family to take care of him at any time.
When Sun Shaozong was full of wine and food, he returned to the backyard and just wanted to strip off his robe, pants, and boots. He laid on a cold mat and drank a bowl of chilled sour plum soup to relieve the annoying summer heat.
Ruan Rong quickly stopped him and pointed to the western chamber, saying, "Xiangling is taking a shower in the room. It's almost time for her to finish washing. You might as well go and help her with those two servant girls who are weak in strength. They’re not very reliable.”
“Didn't you send her two strong women?”
Sun Shaozong asked in confusion, but he had already walked out.
Ruan Rong then raised her voice and said, "Those two women broke the rules this morning, and when I got angry, I kicked them all out. I'll ask Chamberlain Zhao to find two more honest and steady people tomorrow.”
All kicked out?
Sun Shaozong was a bit puzzled. Those who could choose to serve pregnant women were usually relatively stable elderly people in the mansion. Besides, Xiangling's temperament was not picky, so why did the two women suddenly broke the rules?
But since Ruan Rong didn't mean it explicitly, he didn't ask in detail.
Outside, he first instructed the little maid who was feeding the parrot under the corridor to lock the courtyard door, and Sun Shaozong then arrived in the western chamber.
Listening to the constant splashing of water inside, it was obvious that Xiangling was still taking a shower. He then bent his fingers and knocked on the door a few times, loudly commanding, "It's me; open the door quickly.”
As soon as the two maids inside heard the voice of the Second Master, they didn't ask Xiangling, and they quickly came forward and bolted down the door.
Sun Shaozong pushed the door in and saw Xiangling holding her shoulders in the bathtub with a shy and timid expression. He waved his hand and said, "I’m here, it's fine. You two can go out.”
The two little maids obediently withdrew and kindly closed the door.
Xiangling then timidly asked, "Why did you come? I'm afraid my bones are... I'm afraid it's inconvenient…”
“What are you thinking?”
Sun Shaozong rolled his eyes and took out handkerchiefs, fragrant pancakes, and other items. He explained, "Your Sister Rong is afraid that those two little maids won't hold you steady, so she asked me to come over and serve you well. Where else they haven’t cleaned up? Let me show you my skills.”
How did Xiangling dare deserve the word ”serve?”
Sun Shaozong saw that she was still unwilling to speak, so he walked forward and rubbed her from head to toe, then wrapped her in a bath towel and put on a loose robe.
Xiangling's heart was warm and boundless, but she was picked up by him at the waist and inexplicably left the wing room, heading straight towards the main room.
“Second Master, this...”
“Don't worry, the courtyard door has been locked.”
Sun Shaozong couldn't help but take her into the hall and carefully placed her on Ruan Rong's bed. Then he turned around and greeted Ruan Rong, saying, "Since no nannies are looking after, let her rest in your room today, so as not to make any mistakes at this point.”
Pooh, pooh, pooh~
Ruan Rong spat several times and couldn't help but say, "Why can't the Master say some auspicious words?”
As she spoke, she stepped forward and pressed down Xiangling, who was about to get up. She smiled and said, "Alright, what else are you being polite to? Just lie in my bed.”
On the side, Sun Shaozong also stripped himself of his clothes and laid down with Xiangling on the couch, massaging her swollen legs while embellishing what he had seen and heard in Rongguo Mansion this morning.
It was originally a matter of talking and laughing.
Unexpectedly, Sun Shaozong had just finished talking about the messy and trivial matters in Rongguo Mansion, and Shiliu beside him suddenly interrupted angrily, "Second Master only knows the bad things in others' homes, but you don't know about our family…”
“Shiliu, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Ruan Rong immediately stopped her and pointed outside, ordering, "Go and get two watermelon ice cubes in the well, and then bring them out when it's cool at night.”
Shiliu pouted and reluctantly walked out.
“Come back.”
Sun Shaozong spoke up and called back Shiliu, then stopped Ruan Rong's words with his eyes and summoned Shiliu for questioning.
It turned out that in the morning, after Sun Shaozong and Yu Qian left, there was a considerable dispute in the kitchen.
The two sides involved in the conflict were the two sturdy women in Xiangling's room and the big maid in Jia Yingchun's room, Siqi. 𝖋𝖗𝖊𝖊𝖜𝔢𝔟𝖓𝖔𝔳𝔢𝔩.𝔠𝖔𝔪
The cause was just a bowl of chilled, sour plum soup.
At first, Siqi ordered a pot of sour plum soup in the back kitchen. Coincidentally, when she went outside for convenience, the two women also went to the back kitchen to ask for sour plum soup for Xiangling.
Because the cook couldn't find Siqi for a while and knew that Xiangling was now pregnant and treated exceptionally in the mansion, the cook took the initiative and gave the sour plum soup to the two women.
Unexpectedly, the two women were about to leave with sour plum soup when Siqi hurried back. Upon hearing that the sour plum soup she had ordered had been given to someone else, she couldn't help but make a fuss and, relying on Jia Yingchun's reputation, said that they had messed up her dignity and integrity.
At first, the two women wanted to calm things down, so they couldn't help but speak up, as they could see that she had no mercy.
So the matter became more and more chaotic, and in the end, it came to Ruan Rong's attention.
Because Siqi had bitten down the words ”dignity and propriety” and refused to let go, Ruan Rong was only a Concubine, and it was difficult to argue with her. In the end, she had to follow her advice and demote the two women.
“Second master, you haven't seen it.”
Speaking of this, Shiliu angrily said, "When that little hoof left, her eyes were so high in the sky, let alone our Concubine. I'm afraid she didn't even pay attention to you.”
If Siqi didn’t dare to take him seriously, Sun Shaozong was determined not to believe it.
But this little brat was really a master who could stir up trouble!
Jia Yingchun's temperament couldn't control her, and she was now considered a Half-Concubine. She also knew some tricks that couldn't be passed on, so she acted more ”rightfully.”
“Master.”
Seeing Sun Shaozong frowning and not speaking, Ruan Rong quickly comforted him and said, "It's not a big deal. She took control, so let's just let it go. There's no need for us to be separated from the Elder Lady over these small matters.”
Making them both feel separated?
The last person in the world to be separated from Jia Yingchun was probably Sun Shaozong.
But naturally, he couldn't express his words clearly, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, "She probably just arrived at our house, and she's still a bit uncomfortable with this. When Big Brother comes back from the military camp tomorrow, I'll ask him to write a letter and bring Siqi's parents to our house, so that she can reunite with her family. She should also calm down.”
This statement clearly meant good to Siqi, but secretly it meant to use her family members as a lever to restrain her.
In addition, this way, it could also avoid the carefree and reckless act of betraying the privacy of the Sun Brothers when Siqi was punished in the future.
Ruan Rong has been managing the mansion for two years, and her emotional intelligence has long been developed. So she immediately knew the truth. She was waiting to praise Sun Shaozong for his clever plan.
Unexpectedly, Shiliu took the lead and said happily, "That's right! Get her family over here and send some despicable tasks randomly. See what she will look like in the future.”
“How dare you!”
Upon hearing this, Sun Shaozong immediately lowered his face and sternly scolded, "Is this something you can discuss?! Go find Zhao Zhongji and get your punishment according to our family rules yourself.”
Of course, the aura of Siqi needed to be suppressed, but Shiliu has also jumped up too happily recently, so she naturally needed to be suppressed as well.
Shiliu was still waiting for a few words, but Ruan Rong had already drunk it out.
When Shiliu left, Ruan Rong said again, "Don't worry, Master. When Siqi's parents arrive, I will arrange some noble tasks for them, and I will never let her pick a fault.”
This was the proper principle for governing a family.
Only those who held onto their hands but didn’t speak could be called a shortcoming. If they only knew revenge, how could there be a cessation in the future?