After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 95: Lin Xiaoxiang fights Xue Hengwu, Ai Yuchuan complains about family love
On the second day, there was trouble again in the Ning and Rong mansions.

Although Qin Keqing was favored by the emperor in the palace, what Xue Baochai conveyed was an imperial edict. In addition, Jia Zhen had just been sentenced to death, and everyone was afraid. Therefore, the maids in Ningguo Mansion did not dare to neglect it. Led by Youshi, they came to Rongguo Mansion early in the morning and waited for the girls and ladies in the mansion to discuss it.

Hengwu Garden.

When Xue Baochai got up in the morning, Yuanyang from Lady Jia's room and Yuchuan from Lady Wang's room came and asked where they were going to gather everyone this morning. As soon as they left, Ping'er also arrived.

Baochai smiled and said, "I have already told Yuanyang and Yuchuan that we are all gathering in the three flower halls south of the garden gate. I will go and discuss this with Sister Lin later. I will also ask Sister Er and Sister Yun to come along. Once we have discussed everything, I will report to the old lady and the mistress."

Ping'er understood. Together with Baoqin who lived in Hengwuyuan, the three people in charge and the two people who entered the palace were the ones who decided the life and death of everyone in the two mansions. Reporting to the old lady was just a notification. Since it was an imperial decree, no one dared to disobey.

She reported the matter to Wang Xifeng.

Sister Feng lay on the couch, stroking a cat in her arms. After thinking for a long time, she said:

"The Emperor has entrusted two such large Duke's mansions to unmarried young ladies. Could it be that Leng Zixing's words, saying they are all smart and capable, are the reason he designated them?"

Although Daiyu was in poor health and did not want to take charge of things, Fengjie knew that she was smart and clever and could tell what was going on at a glance.

Ping'er laughed and said, "If it really is Leng Zixing, that's strange. He hasn't been to the mansion many times and hasn't seen the girls. Mrs. Zhou Rui also swore to heaven that he only mentioned the girls' names and nothing else."

"Oh." Wang Xifeng sneered, "Now she's getting cocky, thinking it was all thanks to her words that the Emperor showed mercy to the mansion. In my opinion, Miss Bao is going to punish her!"

As she spoke, she stood up and said, "Come with me to Miss Lin's place. We can't let others take all the benefits!"

They are all stewards appointed by the emperor himself, but now it seems as if Miss Bao is the only one in charge of the mansion.

Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Before Wang Xifeng and Ping'er entered the house, they smelled the fragrance of medicine. After entering, they saw that Zijuan was making medicine for Miss Lin.

"Is Miss Lin feeling better?" Wang Xifeng looked at her carefully and saw that Daiyu looked listless. It was almost May and she was still wearing a coat. She was thin and sick, and a gust of spring wind could blow her away.

Therefore, the tone of voice when speaking to her softened.

Daiyu forced a smile at her. "I'm feeling better now. Thank you, Sister Feng, for your concern. I'm fine, it's just the cold snap I've had these past few days."

Wang Xifeng smiled and chatted with her for a while, but did not mention the housekeeper's affairs at all.

Ping'er, Yuanyang, Xiren, Zhou Rui's wife, Lin Zhixiao's wife and others came to visit her one after another, and the Xiaoxiang Pavilion became lively again.

Daiyu asked with a smile, "Has Sister Bao arrived?"

Everyone laughed, and a maid replied, "Miss Bao has gone out. Go and call Miss Er and Miss Yun to come together. They will be here soon."

After a while, several girls came together. In addition to Baochai, Baoqin, Xiangyun, and Yingchun, Tanchun and several girls from the Shi and Wang families also came. Wang Junyi, Wang Xuanzhu, Shi Yanqiu, etc., were all girls who often played with everyone.

"Everyone is here." Tanchun said with a smile.

"The fourth lady and the eldest lady Xing are not here."

"Miss Xing said she won't join in the fun."

"In that case, Bao girl, you, the stewards appointed by the emperor himself, and the girls who have entered the palace, should start discussing matters together. We are all waiting!" Wang Xifeng said with a smile.

Everyone looked over, and Xue Baochai repeated what she had said yesterday and asked Lin Daiyu what she thought.

"If this continues like this, there will probably be more trouble later."

Daiyu expressed her own opinion: "The Emperor has shown mercy to the two families, but he has also repeatedly imposed punishments. Everyone in the family doesn't dare to disobey the Emperor's orders, but they complain bitterly in their hearts. If we continue to force them, the family will only become more chaotic, and we don't know how to end it."

"Miss Lin, do you have any good ideas?"

"Either send all the maids and servants out and replace them with new ones to serve. Or, raise the meal portions for everyone in the mansion, set standards based on closeness of relationship and urgency of tasks, and clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments. Those who serve should eat better, while those who don't work should eat worse. Only then will everyone be satisfied."

After Daiyu finished speaking, she looked at everyone.

Baochai laughed and said, "Miss Lin said exactly the same thing as His Majesty."

Daiyu's eyes moved slightly. She didn't want to be in the same place as the emperor!

Baochai said, "The Emperor has also instructed that officials should clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments. I originally wanted to wait until the work was done before giving rewards, but now that you have said so, let us discuss how to provide everyone with a set meal and how much monthly salary should be given."

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but feel happy and quickly came up with suggestions.

There was a fight between dragons and tigers in Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Yuchuan was listening at the doorstep, and the more she listened, the more upset she felt. After all the discussion, it turned out to be the same thing in a new bottle, just a reduction in the amount of food and monthly salary. The lady was still the lady, the grandmother was still the grandmother, and the maids still had to serve them.

How can this be considered as not distinguishing between high and low?
Daiyu smiled and said, "Just make it up like this. Thank you all for agreeing with what I proposed. I have been ill recently, and this is also a good thing for everyone."

Everyone thanked her with a smile.

Yuchuan couldn't bear to listen any longer and said to them, "Girls!"

Everyone looked at her. Yuchuan blushed and said, "Young lady just said that those who serve the steward can get more monthly wages, but the imperial edict clearly states that everyone in the mansion, except the young ladies and the two who entered the palace, will be treated equally. How can you ask the maids to continue serving their original masters?"

All the young girls in the room were stumped by her question, and Baochai was also thinking about the meaning of her words.

Daiyu glanced at her and said, "Then why not change it so that those who are willing to serve receive more monthly wages? Those who don't want to serve can do as they wish; no one can force them."

Yuchuan bit her lip, she thought of her sister Jinchuan who had died by jumping into a well.

The maids laughed and said, "Everyone in the mansion was enslaved, but the girls were able to enter the palace and see the emperor. They are also relatives of the madam. In terms of closeness, how can a maid compare to the madam?"

"That's right...I was negligent."

Yuchuan retreated. Her sister's death seemed like a confusing account that could not be settled, but she was just unwilling to accept it.

After her sister died, her mistress gave her an extra 1 or 2 taels of silver per month, and Baoyu came to comfort her again, but she still couldn't let it go.

Shi Xiangyun suddenly looked at Lin Daiyu, "Great! We were almost fooled by Sister Lin!"

Daiyu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, her eyes smiling as she said, "What did I lie to Yun girl about? Please don't accuse a good person."

Baochai lowered her head and thought for a while before she finally understood the whole story.

She was almost deceived by Lin Daiyu.

But how to change it now?
Lin Daiyu took the blame. If the emperor blamed her, Lin Daiyu, who took the credit, would be the first to be blamed. However, she was not afraid and seemed to be willing to let the emperor punish her in any way. She even did not report that she had taken the clothes from Yihong Courtyard to Baoyu.

But after all, the three of them were in charge of the household together, and if the emperor blamed her, she could not escape responsibility.

Yingchun is a wooden person, and it is impossible to expect her to speak.

I can only borrow one thing.

Baochai looked at Yuchuan and said, "Yuchuan, you don't want to serve Madam. Is it because your sister jumped into the well and died two years ago?"

Only then did Daiyu remember this matter. She vaguely knew that Jin Chuan's death was related to Baoyu, and that he was beaten by his father because of this, but she didn't know the inside story.

Only now do we know that Jin Chuan’s death was also related to her second aunt.

Everyone in the room looked at Yuchuan and guessed why she said that.

After Baochai revealed her secret, Yuchuan lowered her head and said after a while, "Miss, I will leave the palace and get married when the imperial decree comes down someday."

Rather than tearing my face off today and offending Madam Wang, and making things difficult for me later, it would be better to just leave! "Why are we talking about this?"

Baochai looked at Yingchun and Xiangyun, then at Daiyu and Baoqin, hesitated, and said:

"According to His Majesty's wishes, all the women in the palace will be sent to the Ye Ting Palace. No more wives, grandmothers, or concubines. Even the young ladies will be slaves to the government and will be dealt with by His Majesty later... Since that's the case, we should change it as well."

Daiyu wanted to speak, but she coughed again. Zijuan hurried over and patted her on the back. Everyone also advised her to take good care of her health.

Daiyu reluctantly asked Baochai, "How do you want to change it?"

Baochai then spoke out, and everyone saw that she did not even give Aunt Xue any preferential treatment, so they didn't know what to say.

Seeing this, Daiyu had no choice but to give up.

Since Wang Xifeng was not a girl in charge and had never entered the palace, it was difficult for her to speak up at the moment. In addition, Bao Yatou gave her a benefit, so she acquiesced.

Everyone then dispersed and told Daiyu to take good care of herself.

Alright.

The daughters-in-law and maids who were in charge of various affairs in the Ning and Rong mansions all gathered in the conference room, surrounding the three flower halls so tightly that no one could get through.

Baochai and Xiangyun sat in the main seats, Baoqin and Yingchun sat beside them, and Wang Xifeng and Li Wan also sat below to support them.

"By the grace of Heaven, we have been blessed by the Majesty to temporarily manage the two governments... Today, I have received the Emperor's order to make some arrangements with you."

Baochai looked around at everyone and said slowly, "From today onwards, everyone in the two mansions, regardless of their status, will be abolished. To avoid confusion, everyone will remain in their original place for the time being.

I, Miss Lin, Miss Qin, the Second Miss, and Miss Yun are fortunate enough to have the status of ladies, thanks to the grace of Heaven. For those who serve these ladies, their monthly wages, regular meals, cosmetics, etc., will still be calculated according to the original calculations."

Everyone was in an uproar, looking at them with envy, but they also knew that Yingchun and Xiangyun, after entering the palace, had received rewards from the emperor, and were naturally different from others.

"Your Majesty shows sympathy for the elderly and the weak. For those aged sixty and over and under seven, monthly wages and food are provided according to the rate of first-class maids. Two maids or wet nurses are allowed to serve them, and each is treated with special privileges.

Grandma Zhu, Grandma Lian, and Grandma Zhen assist in the management of the two mansions... They are assigned to manage various departments and receive a monthly salary of half a tael.

After the search and registration of all properties is completed, each person in the two governments will receive a one hundred yuan increase in monthly wages, and their food allowances will also be slightly increased."

After Baochai finished speaking, all the managers were delighted. Their monthly allowance was reduced to half a tael, and the food was much better than before.

The maids who were listening outside also supported the increase in monthly wages and the improvement in food.

"What are you arguing about? The girls haven't finished talking yet." Wang Xifeng stopped them.

Second Madam Lian still had her power, and since she was now one of the only two stewards in Rongguo Mansion, everyone quieted down.

Baochai continued to talk about the confiscation of property, the arranged marriages, and other matters, and then said with a smile, "Is there anything you don't understand?"

Lin Zhixiao asked first: "How are you going to search the house of our former manager?"

Zhou Rui's family, Wu Xindeng's family and others hurried over to look.

Baochai said, "The officials will search the Lai and Wu households. As for the people in the government office, please ask Madam Zhu and Madam Lian to send a few people to follow you home. They will search your family's property and account books, and take half of the family's wealth to pay the government. Then the matter will be over."

The housekeepers finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although they had suffered heavy losses, at least they had saved their lives and some of their property.

The Lai family was raided, and it was impossible for him to come back and be the housekeeper. Anyone with the surname Lai had to be driven out.

"Girl, what about us?!"

Fang Guan and Wen Guan squeezed out from the pile of maids. The maids were squeezed out and became angry. They cursed: "You opera singers also want to be girls? Or do you want to enter the palace?! Don't you see what you are doing?"

Fang Guan's face was filled with anger as she replied, "Mei Xiang is sworn brother, and we are all slaves. Even if we don't enter the palace, we have already seen Prince Qian!"

Everyone was surprised and remembered that they had performed opera outside the city before.

The official held her back and said to Baochai, "Miss Bao, the Jia family was confiscated first, and we went to perform the opera later. During the performance, we won the Qianwang... the emperor, and the reward money from the soldiers outside the city. This money should be ours."

Baochai smiled at Wang Xifeng and said, "Sister Feng, come and listen too. Nowadays, opera singers make more money than we do." Then she turned to the civil servant, "Of course, the money is yours. How do you want to spend it?"

"Buy vegetables and meat!" Fang Guan said happily. She had only eaten pickles and stale rice these days and she was almost going crazy with hunger!

"As you wish."

Baochai smiled, thought for a moment, and then curiously asked, "Did you really see His Majesty while you were performing in the military camp?"

Fang Guan held her head high and chest puffed out. Although she was not big, she held her head high and chin up: "Not only did we see it, but we also sang for the emperor all night, and he even ordered people to reward Ling Guan and me with silver!"

When everyone heard this, the way they looked at them changed.

These little actors actually received rewards from the emperor?

The civil official said with a smile, "The virtuous concubine and the princess also gave us rewards."

No one doubted her words, and when the imperial concubine came home to visit her parents, she also gave rewards to the actors.

Baochai said, "In that case, I will give you an additional portion of your regular meals and monthly salary. Just focus on practicing your acting."

After she entered the palace, she knew that Chu Yan would come to visit the Grand View Garden in the future, and that these actors would be required to perform there.

"Thank you, Miss Bao~"

Fang Guan smiled and pulled the civil official to thank him, then pushed through the crowd and ran away.

After the story was told, it was Wang Xifeng's turn to arrange things. She ordered people to take the account books to everyone's home and record all the property in the accounts.

As the maids returned, everyone in the Ning and Rong mansions knew one thing:

Originally, Miss Lin wanted to give everyone more monthly allowance and get back to the original situation, but Yuchuan's words ruined everything.

The reason why Yuchuan said those words was because her sister Jinchuan jumped into a well and died two years ago.

Jin Chuan's death was probably related to Lady Wang.

Now that the imperial edict has come down, Yuchuan is unwilling to serve her anymore, and even doesn't want to see her putting on airs as a lady, so she brings up the emperor's edict of "no distinction between high and low", forcing Bao Girl to agree.

Everyone was spreading this story, and those who knew about it at the time gave more details.

Everyone then learned that Jin Chuan had kissed Jia Baoyu in front of Lady Wang... It was because Mr. Bao ate her rouge that Lady Wang was furious and drove her out of the house. Jin Chuan jumped into the well because she was so upset.

"Why can't you let it go... Jin Chuan was so good, she died just like that."

"Second Master has eaten a lot of the maids' rouge, and Madam Madam hasn't said much, yet..."

"No wonder Yuchuan's monthly allowance is two taels of silver."

"Oh, no wonder Yuchuan still remembers it after all these years."

There were many such voices in the two governments.

Yuchuan stayed there for less than half a day before going to find Lin Daiyu. After getting her consent, she moved out of Mrs. Wang's house and lived in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

(End of this chapter)