Chapter 278: Tear
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Benefiting oneself at the expense of others… Mingzhu thought hard, pondering for a long time before calling for Zheng Momo. “Get someone to place a few more large orders, and the delivery dates should be as tight as possible, saying that they are urgent.”
Zheng Momo said, “If it’s urgent, the other party will definitely increase the price.”
Mingzhu smiled, “Let them increase it, but make sure it’s clearly stated in the contract that the penalty for breach of contract will also increase.”
Zheng Momo didn’t know what she was planning but followed her orders.
The results for Ping Nushi and Zhou Nushi also came. Zhou Nushi remained stubborn, refusing to admit knowing about Liansheng’s movements, only admitting to being lax in her supervision. Without evidence, everyone understood what was going on, but it was difficult to punish them severely.
After thinking for a while, Mingzhu felt that Yuwen Chu’s approach was indeed good. Regardless of anything else, just throw them into the water to wake them up. After pulling them out, they would lose all their dignity. Even if they didn’t lose their status, being a Nushi was still better than being an ordinary person. This was called striking first to be strong. She remembered that.
Since the actual control of northern garden had fallen into her hands, Mingzhu had a broad mind. “Since that’s the case, punish them for their joint crimes and dereliction of duty, reduce their grade by two levels, ten strokes of the paddle, and half a year of house arrest.”
Li Quanxin silently took note and then asked about Ping Nushi.
As for Ping Nushi, at most, it was just knowing but not reporting, taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble. Mingzhu waved her fat hand and gave her a punishment similar to Zhou Nushi’s: “It’s the same for both.” Ping Nushi might feel it was unfair and the punishment was too harsh, but what did it matter? Since she didn’t plan to take their lives, let them continue to tear each other apart.
Li Quanxin continued, “According to the rules of the mansion, when administering corporal punishment…”
The people below administer corporal punishment by pulling down the trousers. If they wanted to deal with Zhou Nushi and Ping Nushi severely, this method would be the best. As long as Mingzhu pretended to be unaware, the people below would take care of it.
“No, they have all served His Highness. Let’s leave them some dignity. There’s no need to punish them publicly. Just administer the punishment in their rooms to teach them a lesson.” Mingzhu decisively shook her head. Yuwen Chu had already thrown them into cold water for a bath, so there was no dignity left. Stripping these two people would disgrace her and Yuwen Chu, not anyone else. Unless she really wanted them dead, she couldn’t be too harsh. Leaving no room for maneuver would be equivalent to leaving no room for herself. It would be better to let them suffer for a while, and after six months, they could come out. By then, she would truly establish herself in this mansion.
Li Quanxin felt that the new Wangfei was truly kind. Of course, this kindness was relative; it didn’t mean she was a saint, but she was righteous and worthy of his loyalty. He knelt down and paid his respects to Mingzhu. “There’s one more thing I need to report.”
Although he usually flattered her a lot, Mingzhu had never seen him so deferential before. She smiled, “Steward Li, there’s no need to be so polite. Just speak.”
Li Quanxin said, “Please also punish me, Wangfei. Although Zhou Nushi and Ping Nushi were the ringleaders in this matter, I, as the steward, also bear responsibility for oversight. If you don’t punish me, it won’t appease the hearts of the common people. This is called treating everyone equally.”
Mingzhu’s eyes lit up. She had seen people voluntarily ask for punishment before, even when she was at home, family members had stood up to ask for punishment to protect the interests of their family. She didn’t expect someone to consider her like this today, voluntarily stepping forward to ask for punishment. She readily accepted, “In that case, I’ll fulfill Steward Li’s loyalty. Li Quanxin, for negligence, will be fined one year’s salary, put on probation, and receive ten strokes.”
The money could be made up secretly, and the severity of the punishment varied. It was just lying in bed for a few days. He wouldn’t suffer. Li Quanxin kowtowed, “Thank you for your grace,” then withdrew grandly to receive his punishment, and then had someone carry him to announce the punishment decision for Zhou Nushi and Ping Nushi.
Zhou Nushi and Ping Nushi were jointly detained in a small room in the south. Both of them had been stripped of their hairpins and gorgeous clothes, wearing only plain clothes. They hadn’t slept all night, weighed down by heavy hearts, looking haggard.
Ping Nushi blamed Zhou Nushi, “If it weren’t for you resenting Wangfei, indulging Liansheng, and wanting to see Wangfei embarrassed, we wouldn’t have ended up like this. Who do you think His Highness is? Would he tolerate your mischief and manipulation?”
Zhou Nushi completely ignored her, sitting by the window lost in thought.
Unable to get a response, Ping Nushi, feeling dry-mouthed, didn’t want to say anything more. But she still couldn’t accept it, “Take a look at yourself before comparing yourself to others. Even I can’t compare, how dare you compare yourself to Wangfei… His Highness must be blind to like you.”
This greatly provoked Zhou Nushi. She suddenly stood up, took a few steps toward Ping Nushi, who was frightened by the fierce light in her eyes, retreated a few steps, and then forced herself to stand firm. She sneered, “What, you want to fight? Haven’t had enough cold water? Let me tell you, I’m not afraid of anything anymore. I’m already in dire straits and just want to fight you to vent.”
Zhou Nushi stopped, walked to the other side with her head down, and looked at the wall. “I am not wrong. If Wangfei cannot tolerate me, I will die as an apology.”
Ping Nushi was stunned for a moment, then sneered, “Do you think you can escape by refusing to admit your mistakes? Do you want to force the Imperial Consort to speak for you? I hate people like you who are so scheming. If it weren’t for you framing me back then, how could His Highness leave me alone for so many years!”
Suddenly, footsteps came from outside. Ping Nushi quickly stopped crying and cautiously stood up. The door opened, and Li Quanxin was helped in, groaning and grumbling as he came to pay his respects to them, “I’ve offended you both. I’ve neglected my duties and just received punishment. I didn’t pay my respects properly, so I’m here to apologize to you both.”
Hearing this, Ping Nushi thought that if Li Quanxin had been punished, she and Zhou Nushi would not get anything good. She immediately burst into tears and knelt down, begging bitterly, “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die. Please, asking Gonggong to plead for me…”
Li Quanxin looked at Zhou Nushi. Although she hadn’t spoken up for mercy, she looked pale and hopeless. Feeling that it was almost enough, he said slowly, “Alright, Wangfei is not a malicious person and has a broad mind. After receiving punishment, you two are still Nushis. Just live your lives peacefully.”
They still needed to maintain the facade for the Ying Wang Mansion. How could they let you die so easily? Otherwise, people inside and outside the palace would say that Wangfei was harsh and couldn’t tolerate others. They couldn’t just bring up yesterday’s ugly incident every time they saw someone.
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