Chapter 9: Protecting One's Inferiors

  "Daughter asks you something!" Smiling and staring at Mu Mu for a moment, she took a step forward.

  This girl is indeed arrogant...

  Jinzi smiled and asked directly: "You said Xiaoxiao ruined your wife's ruqun, do you have any evidence?"

  "Evidence?" Mu Mu furrowed her brow, raising her eyes to meet Jin Zi's gaze. She had never taken this inauspicious person seriously, and just as she was about to speak loudly, she was intimidated by the piercing stare that seemed to bore into her soul.

  Those eyes... so sharp, so scary!

  Mei seemed unable to bear such a gaze, defeated, and pointed to the several little maids by her side, muttering: "They can all testify, when I opened my skirt for XiaoXiao to see, it was still fine, but as soon as she took it, it ripped. If it wasn't her who broke it, then who was it? They all saw it, don't believe me, ask them!"

  Joke, snake and mouse in one nest, have you all made up your statements?

  "Bring over that cheongsam and let me take a look!" Jinzi said calmly.

  The mother responded with a "hmm", and handed over the cheongsam dress.

  Jinzi opened her skirt, smiled and pointed to the torn position: "It's here. Wife, I swear, I really didn't tear the skirt with my hands. At that time, Mu said this fabric was brought by merchants from Louyue country, it feels so soft, let me touch it, but as soon as I touched it, something went wrong."

  Kaneko concentrated his mind and took a look at the cracked position, with the corners of his mouth slightly hooked up.

  It's really surprising that Jin Si Nang can come up with such an unskilled and clumsy trick.

  This torn opening was originally supposed to have a seam, with a fold at the waist and an invisible line sewn inside. The style of this cheongsam is novel, and the way it's pleated is probably also imitating Western clothing, which is quite distinctive. However, Jinzi is from modern times, has been abroad, and is still working as a forensic doctor, with meticulousness being her greatest characteristic. How could such an obvious flaw escape her sharp eyes?

  If it wasn't for Jinzi's expectation, this skirt was probably torn from the inside beforehand because of the pressed creases. After cutting open the seam, the skirt could still maintain its original crease characteristics, and if you shook it out, you wouldn't be able to tell unless you looked closely. After all, the fabric of this skirt is extremely good, and Jin Si Niang couldn't bear to really tear it apart, tearing other places would be difficult to repair.

  Kaneko didn't want things to get too awkward either, and besides, re-sewing it would just be a few stitches.

  "Since it's torn, let's just leave it here for now and have Xiaoxiao mend it. Then I'll personally deliver it to your wife later!" Jinzi said, looking up.

  Jin San Niang, who had just been sharp-eyed and seemed to want to eat people, actually acknowledged defeat so easily. Ha! She's really a soft persimmon!

  "Leave it, that's not possible. My wife is going out in this ruqun today, and if I go back empty-handed now, I'm afraid I'll have to suffer a scolding...” Mu Mu had just seen Jinzi's attitude, but now she was even more confident, her voice rising several decibels.

  Got a good deal and still showing off, huh?

  Jinzi's mouth twitched, and he smiled: "So the fourth daughter is such a ruthless and unfeeling person? Tsk... it seems that Momo, you've suffered quite a bit under her, with all the scolding and beating... it's really hard on you..."

  Mu Mu's face suddenly turned pale, and she hastily explained: "I didn't mean it that way, mistress, please don't misunderstand..."

  "Oh? Is that so? Hehe, your wife has arrived, you can explain it to her yourself. You've completely turned her into a shrewish and unreasonable mistress!" Jinzi said with a faint smile.

  Jin Yanzhu quickened her pace, and as soon as she heard this, her face changed, her dark eyes scanning Mu Mu with a sharpness that was like cutting through people.

  "Miss, no, I never said that!" Mu Mu explained anxiously.

  Jin Yan Zhu turned a deaf ear to her, turned around and looked at Jin Zi, coldly snorted: "I heard that the cheap servant Xiaoxiao actually ruined my Ru skirt. Now, San Niang, if you don't deal with her properly, give me an explanation, are you trying to shield her?"

  "Protecting her? You're absolutely right!" Jinzi took a step forward and continued, "Without any evidence to prove that Ruyu was the one who ruined Xiaoxiao's dress, as the host, if I don't stand up for her, wouldn't it be unfair to push her out without distinguishing right from wrong?"

  "Hmph, is it true that this servant girl messed up? With so many eyes watching, she can't deny it. Since Third Madam you won't handle it fairly, then let me take care of it." Jin Yanzhu spat out a sentence, then turned her head to instruct the several maids behind her: "Get that servant girl Xiaoxiao and drag her out, give her twenty heavy slaps as a warning!"

  Behind her, several maids were about to take action when Jinzi covered his mouth and burst out laughing: "Haha...... Fourth Sister, you really think you're a scallion? Twenty big slaps, to warn others? You've learned your father's tone, it sounds just like him." After that, Jinzi wiped away his smile and coldly said: "When beating a dog, one must consider its master. My maid, when did you become qualified to point fingers and give orders? I already said earlier, the skirt was only torn along one seam, a few stitches can mend it, do we need to make such a big fuss?"

  "If we don't punish this lowly maid who has no sense of boundaries, next time every servant will intentionally damage the master's belongings, thinking they can just make up for it later? The rules of the household, if you're not aware, go read them carefully... Oh, and I wonder if someone who's been ill for over a decade like you can even understand written words. If you can't, no worries, tomorrow I'll have one of the young maids from my quarters come and read it to you. They've all learned to recognize characters and understand texts after following me around for so long!"

  Tread ruthlessly on others while not forgetting to elevate yourself!

  Who would have thought that a 14 or 15-year-old girl would be so cunning, speaking with such a twisted tongue... Alas, this evil, cannibalistic old society... The infighting in these grand mansions has poisoned countless young people!

  Before the golden son finished speaking, he couldn't help but laugh at his own wife being spoken to in such a presumptuous manner. "Fourth daughter, don't worry too much. My wife is now clear-headed and intelligent. Not only can she recognize characters, but she can also appreciate poetry and literature. There's no need for you to be concerned..."

  "Shh!" Jinzi called out to Xiaoxiao, signaling her not to come out.

  After hearing this, Jin Yan Zhu became even more aggressive and scolded Jin Zi's nose, coldly ridiculing that a master like him would have a servant like her. Throughout the whole ordeal, Jin Zi listened with a smile to her lengthy lecture, which eventually led back to the topic of Ru Qun's dress.

  "In short, this is all the fault of that cheap servant girl! If it's not resolved, don't blame me for being impolite!"

  "Nothing to be polite about?" Jinzi walked closer to Jinyan, whispering something in her ear. The crowd didn't know what San Niang had said to Si Niang, but they saw Si Niang's face turn pale and red by turns, until it was finally left with a deep flush.

  "What's wrong? Are you going to be rude to me again? Do you want me to follow you to find the remaining thread?" Jinzi said with a smile.

  "Y...y..." Kim Yeon-joo looked at Kim Ja in terror, her pupils shrinking, her feet trembling slightly: "Who are you? This can't be... a mentally challenged child..."

  "Who says my wife is a fool? Hmph, my wife is a heavenly maiden!" He smiled proudly.

  "Ha ha, what nonsense are you spouting?" Mother Zhuang immediately scolded, not forgetting to give Xiaoxiao a white eye.

  Can Tian Nu's words be nonsense?

  It's hard not to think it's a strange and supernatural thing. Originally, the young lady's recovery to clarity and ability to speak had already caused discussion among the people in the mansion, if they were allowed to grasp at something and not let go, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?

  Xiao Xiao also knew she had talked too much and couldn't help but stick out her tongue.

  "Hey everyone, the clicks and recommendations for the past few days have been really disappointing, and the collection growth has been slow. Qianyu has always believed that as long as you write sincerely and make it look good, readers will definitely support and vote for you. It's been nine days since the book was opened, and you've already given me a lot of touching moments, thank you! Please don't forget to give Qianyu a vote if you're passing by, every click and every vote is a huge support for Qianyu, thank you!"