Chapter 7: The Punishment of Flogging

  Liu was shocked and looked up, staring at Su Qingyun in disbelief.

  "Old Master!"

  This is a slap in her face! The dignified lady was punished by the master in front of the servants, what face will she have to manage the household affairs again? Who will still obey her?

  Watching Liu's aunt rushing quickly to the front yard, Mrs. Liu lowered her head and clenched her teeth tightly, her beautiful eyes full of gloom. She hung her head and glanced at the maid behind her, making a gesture to her personal maid, Autumn Moon.

  Qiu Yue was taken aback, and quickly glanced at the people in the courtyard. Taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused on Liu Shi, she slowly retreated backwards with a slight movement, her eyebrows lowered and her eyes cast down.

  Seeing Autumn Moon's smooth exit, Liu slowly let out a breath and straightened her back even more.

  At this time, Qin Se and Sheng Xiao were both in the courtyard carefully observing everyone, looking for anyone who was unaware of Liu's plan. Liu was well-versed in winning over Old Lady Li's favor, and as long as she went to fetch help, this punishment would not be carried out.

  But if we don't let the maids in the mansion know that Master punished Liu for the sake of Big Miss, won't Big Miss's days be just as difficult in the future?!

  Sheng Xiao and Qin Se gazed at each other for a moment, then quickly followed Autumn Moon to the gate of the courtyard. The two women stood on either side of Autumn Moon, holding her firmly by the arms. Sheng Xiao smiled softly, "Autumn Moon sister, what are you doing? Didn't you hear Master say that all the maids in the mansion should come and watch the execution? Where are you going?"

  Qin Se also smiled, "I see that Autumn Moon's complexion doesn't look too good, sister should be tired from serving the mistress, go to my room and rest for a bit, my room is quite spacious."

  Qiu Yue used all her strength but couldn't shake off the two men's grip, and she couldn't help but blush with anger, stomping her feet in frustration.

  "Let me go!"

  "This is something that can't be helped by sister."

  Qing and Qin dragged Autumn Moon into their room, forcing her to sit in a chair and tying her up with ropes.

  Qiu Yue, as Liu's top henchman, had always been arrogant and domineering in the mansion, never having been treated this way before. Enraged, her eyes turned red, she struggled and cursed loudly.

  "You little rascals, you dare to treat me like this today? Just wait and see, I'll skin you alive another day!"

  "Sister, it's better to be more frugal." Xiang Xiao gazed at her with a deep and solemn expression, tying the rope into a tight knot and wiping away the thin layer of sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief. He said calmly, "If Master had known about all the hardships you've faced over the years, do you think he would still allow people to bully those around you?" Seeing Qiu Yue's eyes filled with resentment, Xiang Xiao felt a great sense of satisfaction in his heart. Over the years, they had followed Miss and been bullied by Liu Shi's people countless times. If they made even the slightest mistake, they would be punished with kneeling or slapping. They were just slaves, but these despicable people dared to disrespect Master and even mocked them behind their backs.

  They used to tolerate it because the eldest daughter had no one to rely on, but this time the eldest daughter finally came around and made amends with her father. Then they, as servants, would not lose face for the eldest daughter and would naturally become tough when necessary.

  Listening to Autumn Moon's filthy language, Qin Se frowned.

  "Cover her mouth with a handkerchief!"

  "You two little rascals..."

  The zither's joyful sound lifted the corners of her lips, feeling utterly delightful and refreshing.

  "Let Autumn Moon stay here and rest, while we two slaves go take a look at how the great lady is being trained."

  At this time, the entrance of Jin Garden was not only surrounded by the servants of the mansion, but also by the second lady of the second house, the third lady of the third house, and even Luo Shi, the only aunt of Su Qingyun, including the legitimate second daughter Su Yunjin and the illegitimate third daughter Su Yunjin.

  At this point, a hint of smile flashed in Su Mu's eyes.

  She smiled and glanced at Mrs. Liu.

  Liu's wife was also a shrewd person and deliberately did not disturb the people on Old Lady Liu's side.

  The crowd gathered in a fan-shaped formation around the arched gate of Jin Garden, with over 100 servants from the Taifu Mansion. At this time, familiar people were whispering to each other in small groups about what might happen next.

  "It can't be that Big Sister has done something wrong and Master wants to severely punish Big Sister, I heard that the steward has brought out all the family rules from the ancestral hall."

  "It can't be, if it's really Big Sister who made a mistake, why would it be Old Lady Liu who comes to look for us?"

  "What's going on, then?"

  "Who knows? Let's take a look first."

  At this time, Su Da-zongguan stood in the middle and raised his hand, shouting loudly, "Silence!"

  The crowd suddenly fell silent, staring at Yun with wide eyes.

  "Today, the old master summoned everyone to come to Jin Garden because Mrs. Liu of the main house was being stingy with the eldest daughter. The old master has already ordered that she be punished with twenty strokes of the cane as a warning. The eldest daughter is the legitimate firstborn daughter of the mansion and the most respected mistress in the household. In the future, if anyone else shows disrespect to the eldest daughter, they will be executed on the spot!"

  Everyone's face changed color in unison. The madam was furious and wanted to whip the eldest young lady, if it were these slave girls, wouldn't they not even have a way to survive?

  Earlier, I thought the big girl was an outcast, but now she's holding her breath and concentrating, not even daring to breathe.

  However, before the first wife passed away, the old master's most beloved was indeed the eldest daughter. After the first wife left, although the old master and the eldest daughter became estranged, they were still blood relatives after all, so how could he really abandon her?

  Those who had bullied Jin Garden all breathed a sigh of relief, and many former slaves who had bullied Su Mojin secretly broke out in cold sweats. They glanced at the big girl who was calmly standing outside the crowd, and were secretly shocked, thinking that they must not offend the big girl again in the future.

  Yun Zongguan looked at the solemn crowd and nodded secretly. He turned his head to look at Su Qingyun, waiting for him to give orders.

  "Please come in!"

  "Yes!"

  The madam had been pushed into the center of the crowd by two rough servant girls, and after a struggle, Liu's hair was slightly disheveled and her expression was somewhat flustered.

  Her long fingernails dug deep into her palm, gazing at the slaves with an unusual gaze, Liu's eyes couldn't hide the darkness, biting her lips tightly, her venomous eyes shot straight at Su Mojin outside.

  But then Su Mu Jin gave her a faint smile, and even though she was dressed improperly, she still looked elegant and composed, which made her even more resentful compared to her current disheveled state.

  Su Mu Jin glanced at Liu Shi with narrowed eyes and then didn't look at her again. Today's situation has already become irreversible, now no one can save her, if anyone pleads for mercy at this time, it would be contemptuous of Father's authority!

  Her misty eyes fell on Su Yunjin in the crowd, and her eyes gradually became unfathomable.

  Su Qingyun had already raised her whip at this moment, and was about to strike Liu's palm when she suddenly heard a loud shout of anger from outside the crowd.

  "Stop!"

  Su Mo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile with profound meaning!