Chapter 537: An Innocent Mistake (Part Three)
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Seeing Zhou Nushi and Ping Nushi arrive, Mingzhu lazily waved her hand. “I’m exhausted. Please escort her out for me. I don’t want to hear her voice anymore.”
“It turns out to be Miss Fu. I thought it was some enemy intentionally causing trouble for our Wangfei.” Ping Nushi grinned and pulled Fu Zifei over, giving Zhou Nushi a signal. The two of them warmly and attentively “accompanied” Fu Zifei out.
Fu Zifei angrily asked, “Who are you? I’m talking to my aunt.”
Ping Nushi chuckled, “You’re not treated like a niece here, more like an enemy.” Then she continued, “I don’t understand all these fancy rules. Sister Zhou, since the Wangfei has spoken, why don’t you educate this Miss Fu on her behalf?”
Zhou Nushi said lightly, “Miss Fu, did you learn manners from your elders at home?”
Fu Zifei looked down on these two Nushis who had been suppressed by Mingzhu for a long time and dared not speak up, burying their heads and acting like oxen and horses. She immediately withdrew her hand from theirs with a sneer and said with a stern face, “Of course! The Fu family of Jiangnan is renowned for its poetry, literature, and etiquette.”
Miss Zhou glanced at her and said, “I know about that. Our Wangfei hails from the Fu family of Jiangnan, and from her, I can tell that the Fu family values etiquette and manners greatly. What I’m asking is whether the young lady has received any education in this regard at home.”
The meaning couldn’t be clearer, right? It means that while the Fu family values etiquette and manners, Miss Fu Zifei hasn’t learned them. Fu Zifei’s face flushed red, and she angrily retorted, “What do you mean? What have I done wrong?”
“When there’s a happy event in the master’s family, it’s always important to observe certain customs. The young master of our mansion was just born, which is a huge joyous occasion. At such times, even if a servant commits a grave mistake, the master’s family should forgive them. But you keep insisting on punishing your maid here as if it were a matter of life and death. What’s your intention? Our Wangfei has just given birth and needs rest during her postpartum recovery. Yet, you come here causing trouble, crying and making a fuss. This isn’t just a lack of manners; it’s being unreasonable. Moreover, when you return to the palace, how do you plan to explain yourself to the Great Empress Dowager? Are you going to imply that our Wangfei is dissatisfied, and therefore you killed your maid and got yourself scolded and kicked out?”
Zhou Nushi lowered her voice and said softly, “Miss Fu, put away this act of yours. We’ve had enough of it long ago. Do you know what the consequences will be? They won’t be good. Our Wangfei doesn’t have the energy or mood to deal with you right now. It’s better for you to leave early.”
Fu Zifei couldn’t control her tears. “Auntie, it’s a misunderstanding. I absolutely didn’t mean to upset you or make you sad.”
Yingluo came forward to support her, but Fu Zifei slapped her hand away and said bitterly, “I’ve been good to you normally, and this is how you treat me? You’ve ruined me!” She cried again, “Auntie doesn’t trust me anymore, Auntie is angry with me. What am I supposed to do?”
Yingluo knelt down and banged her head hard, “It’s not intentional, it’s not intentional. I’ll go apologize to the Wangfei.”
Ping Nushi was annoyed, “How can there be such shameless and tactless people?” Then she scolded the maidservants around, “Are you all eating for free? Don’t know how to do things properly? Hurry up and get out! Disturbing the Wangfei and the young master, waiting for His Highness to come and punish you?”
Everyone rushed forward and drove Fu Zifei and her maid out. Zhou Nushi apologized and handed out silver to the other palace attendants who had followed, “I’m sorry for today’s incident. We didn’t come here with any ill intentions. Our Wangfei is very grateful for the Great Empress Dowager’s concern and gifts, but, sigh… Miss Fu and her maid are too ignorant. They first frightened our young master into crying, then spoke recklessly. Now they even dare to cause trouble in our mansion, making our Wangfei faint from anger. We can’t afford to entertain such guests.”
Although some of the palace attendants might be biased towards Fu Zifei, there were others who were responsible for telling the truth to the Great Empress Dowager, and there might even be people from the Fu Mansion and Ying Wang Mansion. Therefore, today’s events must be explained to them so that everyone knows the truth, instead of thinking that it’s entirely because Mingzhu couldn’t tolerate her own niece and deliberately humiliated her.
The palace attendants accepted the silver with their own thoughts and persuaded Fu Zifei, escorting her away. Fu Zifei got on the carriage but still couldn’t stop crying. She laid in the carriage and sobbed loudly, “How did it come to this? I really didn’t mean any harm. Why does Aunt think so badly of me?”
Yingluo knelt silently nearby, not saying a word.
Fu Zifei cried all the way until they reached the Fu mansion. With red eyes, she got off the carriage and wiped her tears with a handkerchief, crying to Lady Qian, who came to greet her, “How could this happen? In the Emperor’s palace, with such a grand world, these villains are too audacious! The Great Empress Dowager would be so sad to hear this. She originally wanted to come and visit Great-Aunt in person, but with her health not being well and other matters, she had to let me come instead. I’ll have to inform her properly when I return.”
Lady Qian wiped her tears and said, “The grace of the Great Empress Dowager is vast. Thank you for her concern.”
Entering the house, Fu Zifei immediately rushed into Lady Qian’s arms, crying breathlessly, “Auntie, I’ve caused a big trouble.”
Lady Qian was surprised, “What big trouble have you caused?”
Fu Zifei cried, “I’ve caused a disaster. The Great Empress Dowager asked me to visit Great-Aunt and Fourth Brother-in-law, as well as Aunt and Little Cousin. Originally, I should have visited Great-Aunt and Fourth Brother-in-law first, but I thought Aunt was in confinement and probably didn’t know about this. I was afraid of revealing anything by coming here first, so I decided to go there first.”
Lady Qian nodded repeatedly, “You did the right thing.”
Fu Zifei choked with tears, “Everything was fine at first, but that dead Yingluo actually let slip and urged me that it was time to visit Great-Aunt and Fourth Brother-in-law. Aunt has sharp ears and heard it immediately, questioning me about it. I was scared and hurriedly drove Yingluo away, raised my voice a little, and scared Little Cousin… Aunt got angry because of this and kept asking what happened. I didn’t dare to say, which made her even angrier, and she drove me away… I’m so wronged! I’m so sad! What should I do? Even the Great Empress Dowager won’t forgive me when I go back. Please help me…”
Fu Zifei cried and knelt down, tightly grabbing Lady Qian’s sleeve, “Please help me, please help me. I really didn’t mean it. I’m not a heartless person. Aunt was so good to me before.”
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