16 Envy and Hate
"Da XiaoJie, this is Zou mama. Someone from yamen [1] is here to arrest Housekeeper Wang."
Before Housekeeper Wang could finish his plea, Zou mama's voice rang outside the outer room of the courtyard.
Housekeeper Wang froze.
'It's... over.'
His body that was bending over to kowtow stopped midway, making him look like a deformed dumpling.
When the door opened, Zou mama who was standing outside saw Housekeeper Wang kneeling in an awkward position inside the outer room of XuanRong's courtyard.
She only stared at Housekeeper Wang for a few seconds before she resumed walking inside. She then curtsied and moved to the left side to give way and let the person behind her enter the outer room.
Behind Zou mama was a person wearing a uniform from yamen. He was a man in his thirties with full of belly fat and had an oily face that looked like a mantou [2]. When he walked inside, the floor made a small squeaky sound due to the extra weight he carried.
The man who just entered the outer room was none other than Fei Bai Zhu, the favourite nephew of Magistrate Fei. His mother was killed by a lowly maid who climbed on his father's bed and in the end, his father was stabbed in the chest by the very same person.
Fei Bai Zhu grew up under Magistrate Fei's care and because of that, he had a very special status in yamen. Even though he was only a runner, he was equivalent to a private secretary of a Magistrate. All the delicate tasks in yamen were all handled by him personally since Magistrate Fei was getting old. Because of his Uncle's status, nobody was willing to oppose him and could only lower their head into submission.
Although the people in yamen are all small officials, they could not bring to be arrogant in front of Fei Bai Zhu, fearing that Magistrate Fei would cut them into pieces. Thus, Fei Bai Zhu often use his uncle's name for his personal gains such as acquiring beautiful maidens to be his concubines.
Since Fei Bai Zhu appeared in Xuan Family's manor, it would mean that Magistrate Fei already received XuanRong's 'plea'.
Because of what happened to Bai Zhu's parents, Magistrate Zhu hated those lowly servants who dared to step above their master's head. When he heard that a daughter of a First Rank official from the capital was bullied after staying in the suburbs for a week, he immediately agreed to send his nephew to arrest the abominable servant.
"Greetings, Young Miss. This lowly one is Fei Bai Zhu."
After cupping his fist to show curtsey, Fei Bai Zhu stared at the young child in front of him. Although the girl's countenance was very beautiful, she was a little bit young. Despite being a promiscuous man who loved being buried inside a woman's embrace, he was not a pedophile who liked to pick unripened fruits.
His line of sight moved to the two women beside XuanRong. Because of what happened during his childhood, Fei Bai Zhu developed a very weird fetish. He liked whipping beautiful maid servants as he fuck them hard beneath him.
XuanRong's eyes flickered darkly when she noticed Fei Bai Zhu eyeing YuYing and YuLi. This fat bastard was salivating towards her personal maid servants. As much as she wants to gorge his eyes out right now, she can only wait for the right time and solve her problem first.
'This walking pig's eyes are very dirty.'
XuanRong hated scums like Fei Bai Zhu but no matter how she hated the likes of him, she could not show it since he and the Magistrate was still useful in her plan.
"This humble girl greets Fei Daren [3]. Forgive this humble girl for showing you the nasty side of our family."
XuanRong returned the greetings. Although she was the daughter of a First Rank official, this was not the capital. No matter what, she must be careful when she's inside other people's territory. She was not the same 'XuanRong' who conceitedly viewed other people as dirt like a proud peacock brimming with arrogance. She knew when to stop being arrogant before she crosses the boundary line.
Fei Bai Zhu did not expect that the child in front of him knew how to assess the situation. Although she was the daughter of a First Rank official, she was currently in a disadvantage position. Without any help coming from the local authorities, it would be hard for her to retrieve everything. She could just beat the servant to death but the things he stole wouldn't be returned to her easily. She was very clever to realize that giving a little bit face to him was not a bad thing.
Fei Bai Zhu smiled. Being a shrewd person, he could tell that the child in front of him was not simple. He then looked at the old servant who was kneeling without any noise. When he saw that the servant was bleeding, tainting his clothes red, his eyes went cold. For him, servants like the old man who was kneeling on the floor, should die a thousand times for trying to covet something that was not theirs.
"Young Miss, do not worry. This lowly one will definitely give justice to your sufferings."
After saying those words, he called someone from outside. Few seconds later, a man wearing a soldier's outfit went inside the outer room. After dragging the petrified Housekeeper Wang out of the room, he immediately went outside without stopping his footsteps. Since XuanRong was a noble maiden, her reputation was very sensitive.
The soldiers from Yamen were not allowed to enter the courtyard and could only wait outside. Even letting Fei Bai Zhu enter the outer room of her courtyard could damage her reputation but since it was an official visit from yamen with the authority of the Magistrate, it was still acceptable.
Before leaving, Bai Fei Zhu once again glanced at YuYing and YuLi. The two women meekly lowered their heads and inwardly shivered due of his lustful gaze.
XuanRong did not want to use her energy and time to settle accounts with Housekeeper Wang at the Magistrate's office. She only ordered Zou mama to follow Fei Bai Zhu and handle everything with care.
XuanRong sighed.
'One obstacle down.'
Bit by bit, XuanRong started reshaping her destiny. Since the gods decided to give her another chance, this time, she will not let other people use her for their personal gains. Instead, it will be her who would use other people, especially those malicious people unworthy of her sympathy.
--------
A week passed and everything went smoothly. Housekeeper Wang was now imprisoned together with his son. With the help of Magistrate Fei and Fei Bai Zhu, XuanRong was able to take back everything. Although the golds were already used to buy things, the good thing was, Housekeeper Wang bought many properties and valuable things that could be sold in a high price.
Since Housekeeper Wang's son was living like a local tyrant, he had a few small business properties. Although it was very insignificant to mention, it was better than having nothing. The maidens he forcefully took and made his concubines were given a few coins to help them start over.
Zou mama was the one who handled the rest as per to XuanRong's instruction.
"Da XiaoJie, everything is ready. The carriage is already here."
Today is the day that XuanRong will visit the temple to pray for her birth mother's soul. To avoid the upcoming dirty scheme her beloved Er Niang prepared for her, she decided to visit the temple early.
YuLi went inside XuanRong's inner room and saw her standing barefooted in front of the window. Her hair was slowly dancing together with the wind, creating a fantasy-like effect, and highlighting her beauty. Coupled with the pureness of her inner clothes that was as white as the snow, she looked surreal and celestial.
YuLi's eyes flashed with envy and hate.
[PLEASE ADOPT ME \(T^T)/ and DONATE @ paypal.me/sayurihyuuga]
--------
[1]. The administrative office or residence of a local bureaucrat.
[2]. steamed bun
[3]. Title of respect towards seniors.
--------
Edited and Proofread by: Prikkrang and Supremetobs
