The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 142 - Reorganization

Song Yan was startled by the reprimand, instinctively pulling on Song Chuyi as he wanted to step back. He knew that his sister and the four maids beside her were very close, and he had never seen her speak to them so harshly, making him feel a bit scared.

Hongyu, with sharp eyes, spotted him and cried out in a hoarse voice, "Miss! I've served you for so many years, and I didn't know you were this kind of person! There's a saying that children shouldn't be punished for their parents' sins... Li Shi has already been harmed by you. The Eighth Miss has been around for even fewer months than the Fourth Young Master. Why can't you just let her go? Just think of it as accumulating virtue for the Fourth Young Master; otherwise, he will have..."

Luyi, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, stood frozen in disbelief. She couldn't believe this was the same Hongyu who had grown up with them. They had vowed back then to remain loyal to the young lady and never do anything to betray her...

Yet now, Hongyu was willing to curse Song Yan for the sake of Song Chuning...

Song Chuyi tightened her grip on Song Yan's hand; she couldn't bear to hear such words. In her previous life, her child had died, and Song Chuning had stood before her, indifferent, saying it was her retribution for being tyrannical and unkind... The face of her son from the last life overlapped with that of Song Yan in this life, nearly causing Song Chuyi to grind her teeth in anger.

"Hongyu, have I not treated you well enough?" She retracted her initial plan and stood firmly in front of Hongyu with Song Yan, staring directly into her eyes. "Or is there something I owe you?"

Nanny Xu snorted with a serious expression, "You're living better than the daughters of small families. You have eight sets of clothes for all four seasons, and your usual rewards are plentiful. What do you mean by 'not treating you well'? For a servant who betrays her master, even our family, which treats its servants well, has no reason to indulge her. Miss, you are too kind-hearted, allowing her to act recklessly!"

Qingtao nodded vigorously beside her. Hongyu had truly been a headache these days, causing harm without paying the price. Now she was even using Song Yan to curse. 

Upon meeting Song Chuyi's unwavering gaze, Hongyu unconsciously turned her head away. After a moment of silence, she struggled to shake her head. "No... but Sixth Miss, your treatment of her..."

"Who?" Song Chuyi sneered. "You mean Song Chuning? Do you know what kind of person she is? Do you know that it was her who orchestrated the delivery of clothes by Cuiqiao to Nanny Yu? Lushan who is now detained in the manor also says it was she who instructed Nanny Yu to set the fire. You are abandoning the friendship we've had for years just for someone who nearly harmed me and the Fourth Young Master!"

"You let Nanny Yu get herself killed, and I didn't blame you. I didn't even scold you harshly." Song Chuyi stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "You went to plead for Song Chuning, and I only planned to send you to the estate with Nanny Xu out of past affection... Even now, after you've let a tiger loose to roam freely, causing endless trouble, I was only going to send you back to the Cui family. What did I ever do to you for you to feel so wronged that you turned to Song Chuning?"

Hongyu stepped back, her mind in turmoil, unable to form a coherent response. Her lips trembled, "I... I..."

"By saying what you just did, you've completely severed any bond we had. I was too lenient with you," Song Chuyi turned away, unable to look at her, and instructed Nanny Xu, "Nanny, please. Explain everything to my aunt."

Nanny Xu, eager to act, quickly signaled the rough maids to restrain Hongyu and lead her away, firmly agreeing with Song Chuyi. In Cui Shi's household, there was no tolerance for traitors. There would be harsh consequences waiting for Hongyu.

Suddenly, the inner courtyard fell silent. Ziyun, Qingtao, and Luyi stood quietly, heads lowered, not daring to make a sound. The seven young maids under them were even more apprehensive.

"I didn't see it before, but now I realize I've been too lax with my subordinates," Song Chuyi said with a bitter smile, looking at the three head maids. "I knew Luyi and Hongyu were too close but trusted them blindly. If Qingtao and Ziyun had been closer to her, they might have noticed her unusual behavior earlier, and this wouldn't have happened..."

Luyi, full of remorse, wiped her tears and finally knelt, sobbing, "Miss, it's my fault... I was close to Hongyu but didn't notice her actions... I always protected her, even when Qingtao and Ziyun spoke against her. It's my fault..."

Ziyun and Qingtao exchanged glances and knelt down too. "We've also made mistakes... If we hadn't been afraid of offending Luyi and Hongyu, we wouldn't have been so divided..."

"It's also my fault for tolerating this for so long." Song Chuyi understood the importance of Song Chengru's advice to discipline her staff and reflected on her own errors. "You've all seen why Hongyu was punished... and to be honest, my aunt won't let her off lightly."

Everyone nodded seriously.

"From now on, here's the plan. Qingtao and Luyi, you'll share a room." Song Chuyi thought for a moment and sighed. "No need for extra words; you're both smart and know what to do. As for you, Ziyun..." She paused, then continued, "If I'm right, my aunt will soon send another maid. You'll share with her. The four of you will be responsible for my jewelry, clothing, finances, sewing, and the younger maids. Details will be sorted once Nanny Xu returns."

The three maids respectfully acknowledged the plan.

Song Chuyi then addressed the young maids kneeling behind them, picking out two. "Qingyu, Qingfeng. You've been with Qingtao for a while now. From now on, you'll serve Young Master."

Qingfeng and Qingyu, raised under Song Chuyi's watchful eye, were upright and trustworthy. Their parents worked within the household, with their indenture contracts in her possession. Initially stunned, they quickly kowtowed in gratitude, knowing how well Song Chuyi treated Song Yan. With senior maids like Ziyun around, there was little room for them to rise here. But in Song Yan's service, they would immediately become senior maids...