Chapter 121 Respect

Words : 1366 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 121: Chapter 121 RespectMrs. Zhao stepped forward. Although reluctant, as a servant, she still had to show her respect to Su Jin, the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, with a bow. But Su Jin did not find a trace of respect on her face. With no respect from her, Su Jin paid her no mind. Mrs. Zhao straightened up and said, "The Commandery Princess has sent me to retrieve the deed of sale." Su Jin raised an eyebrow, "So I can no longer sell off the maid’s entire family?" Mrs. Zhao stated sternly, "The maid has not offended the Eldest Young Madam, and her family is even more innocent. If everyone acted like the Eldest Young Madam, selling people whenever things go amiss, wouldn’t the Duke Mansion be in chaos?" Su Jin propped her chin with her hand and looked at Mrs. Zhao, saying, "Do you know what it means to prevent problems before they arise?" Mrs. Zhao frowned. She didn’t understand why Su Jin suddenly brought this up. Su Jin continued, "That maid’s family is quite large, whereas I only have Xingxing by my side as a maid. I just wanted to interrogate the maid, and she went and committed suicide by hitting the wall. Didn’t the Eldest Miss say it was because the maid feared I’d torture her into a confession, fearing the pain?" "I forced their daughter to death so cruelly. Wouldn’t they hold a grudge against me, the Eldest Young Madam, and secretly plot to kill me?" "...." Mrs. Zhao was unable to refute. Their daughter died; how could they not hold a grudge? "This matter lingers in my mind, making me lose my peace," Su Jin said. "...." Mrs. Zhao looked at the half-eaten pastry in her hand. She had never seen someone lie so blatantly! Caught red-handed, yet still speaking so righteously! Mrs. Zhao stared at Su Jin’s pastry, and Su Jin decided to stuff it in her mouth, chewing as she said, "Is keeping that family more important than the health of the Eldest Young Madam?" Mrs. Zhao felt a weight in her heart. She hadn’t expected the Eldest Young Madam to be so articulate. Even if it was not just her but the Commandery Princess herself who came, they wouldn’t be able to save that family. She dared to bet that even if they took away the deed of sale, the Eldest Young Madam would still be "uneasy," and eventually, she would compel Princess Nanzhang to sell those people. But if she gave up the deed so easily, where would the Commandery Princess’s authority be? Mrs. Zhao said, "Does the Eldest Young Madam think she can just remove or sell anyone who she feels threatened by?" "Isn’t that obvious? They’ve threatened my lady. If we don’t remove or sell them, should we keep them to harm my lady?" Xingxing said. "...." "But what if they don’t have such intentions?" Mrs. Zhao argued rationally. "What if?" Xingxing said angrily. "Isn’t there a saying that goes, ’Better safe than sorry’?" Xingxing said. "...." "You may be able to gamble, but my lady can’t. The Marquis doesn’t allow gambling among the people from Qingyun Mountain. There are so many people serving in the Duke Mansion; what’s wrong with selling a few? If not enough, we can buy more into the mansion. One mustn’t be narrow-minded but adaptable," Xingxing said. "...." Hearing Xingxing lecturing Mrs. Zhao. Su Jin almost laughed herself to internal injury. She didn’t know where Xingxing heard that from, but it fit the situation quite well. Mrs. Zhao’s face was ashen. She was a confidant of the Commandery Princess Nanzhang, even speaking without reservation to Manager Li, yet here was a bandit of a maid lecturing her. Especially with maids outside eavesdropping, where could she put her face? The deed of sale, she absolutely had to take it today! Mrs. Zhao said, "The Commandery Princess ordered it, and I’m just following commands. If there is anything to say, the Eldest Young Madam should speak directly with the Commandery Princess." Su Jin smiled faintly and said, "If you’re determined to keep that family, I won’t oppose it, but let me say first that I will bring a hundred people from the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion to serve me, to ensure my safety. You can convey my words to Princess Nanzhang. As soon as she agrees, I will hand over those deeds with both hands." Xingxing looked at Su Jin and said, "Miss wants to bring people into the mansion. There’s no need for the Princess Nanzhang to agree." Mrs. Zhao’s face turned cold. "This way, it shows that I still somewhat respect her," Su Jin said. "...." Mrs. Zhao was so angry her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys hurt. Respect?! Did her words have anything to do with that?! From start to finish, it was nothing but threats! Do you think that’s infuriating enough? Then you’re wrong. There’s no most infuriating, only more infuriating. "Once Princess Nanzhang agrees to bring people into the mansion, the Duke Mansion has to pay a monthly salary. Saving a sum is saving a sum," Su Jin laughed. "Miss is indeed clever," Xingxing admired. "...." The two chatted without regard to others. Mrs. Zhao was so angry she couldn’t even stand steadily. Xingxing looked at her, with disdain written on her delicate face, and said, "Aren’t you leaving yet?" Mrs. Zhao clenched her fists and turned to leave. The maids and old women in the courtyard whispered to each other. Mrs. Zhao overheard a bit, all of which was about fear of the Eldest Young Madam’s ruthlessness. How could they not be afraid? The maid kicked away the Purple Jade Bracelet bestowed by the Empress Dowager to the Eldest Miss, yet didn’t receive even a single punishment. The Eldest Young Madam still wanted to sell the whole family of the maid who committed suicide. Even Princess Nanzhang couldn’t do anything about the Eldest Young Madam, so from then on, anyone from the Duke Zhen Mansion could be provoked, but not the Eldest Young Madam. Hearing these words, Mrs. Zhao almost exploded, but knowing it was in the Agarwood Pavilion, Su Jin’s territory, she held back until she reached the Peony Garden. Returning empty-handed made Princess Nanzhang already unhappy. Then Mrs. Zhao relayed Su Jin’s threats and the fear the servants had for Su Jin. The face of Princess Nanzhang turned as purple as an eggplant touched by frost. ... Su Jin and Xingxing finished off an entire plate of pastries and then headed to the backyard. Xie Jingchen had already finished his medicinal bath, and the Hidden Guard was scooping out the medicine from the bath barrel and pouring it away. The water Xie Jingchen bathed in could not be disposed of carelessly, so Su Jin had the Hidden Guard dig a pit to pour it into. In just a few days, the grass around the pit had withered, showing how potent the poison was. Su Jin stepped into the bamboo house, where Xie Jingchen was reading. Su Jin rolled her eyes. Did he have to love reading so much? Seeing her enter, Xie Jingchen’s gaze was somewhat complicated. Su Jin blinked and said, "If you have something to say, just say it." "I was hesitating about whether to remind you and your maid to be careful in the future," Xie Jingchen said. "Is that something to hesitate over?" Su Jin frowned. "Because I think it’s more appropriate to remind Princess Nanzhang and her people," Xie Jingchen said. "...." Su Jin’s face turned dark. She reached out to touch Xie Jingchen’s arm and said, "Your elbow turns outward too much; is it installed backwards?" Xie Jingchen, "...." With nothing to say, he rubbed his forehead. He already knew about the Purple Jade Bracelet incident. Given what he knew about Princess Nanzhang and Xie Jinyu, they would never let this matter rest. But his understanding of Su Jin and the maid was minimal. Even the Purple Jade Bracelet couldn’t tempt her maid to the point of kicking it away. What else could Xie Jingchen say? Mess with her household and the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, and you never know what you might lose.

Chapter 121 Respect

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