My elder sister is so noble, this time it's my turn to strike back

Qiuyao's maid Xianghe, seeing this, stood up with a righteous look and accused Qiuning, "Second Miss, how could you steal my young lady's things?"

Seeing this, Qiu Ning didn't say anything and directly rewarded Xiang He with two big bags.

Xianghe is Qiuyao's personal maid, loyal and devoted, and their relationship is as close as sisters.

In the previous life, it was this Xianghe who, after Qiuyao came to power, took advantage of the situation and threw the tattered cotton jackets infected with cholera to her mother and aunt, causing them to fall ill and die as soon as they left the capital.

Qiuyao is selfish and cold-hearted, and Xianghe is not a good person either.

"I told you to stop talking nonsense. If I don't leave these things to my mother and aunt, then do I leave them to a slave like you?"

"The chief historian in charge of clearing out the property will be here soon. If you dare to speak nonsense, I will tear your mouth apart!"

Seeing Qiu Ning suddenly become so violent, the women in the yard all took a few steps back and looked at her with fear.

Zhang, who was about to speak out to stop them, couldn't help but retract her outstretched foot when she heard Qiu Ning's words.

Qiu Ning continued to instruct Yueya, "Be quick and hide all these things."

Finally, she glanced at Zhang and the two concubines behind her and said, "And you, if you have any valuables or important items, quickly take them away and keep them safe."

"Don't blame me for not reminding you. Last time, when the Minister's Mansion was confiscated and his property was ransacked, I heard that even the egg yolks in the mansion were shaken loose and ant nests were poured over with boiling water. That's the true way of eliminating all the grass and eradicating it completely!"

When everyone heard this, they all shuddered.

Yes, it is said that places like the Zuifangsi are cruel places where people are eaten without leaving any bones. Previously, all the female relatives of the Minister's Mansion died or fell ill within three days after entering there, and not a single one came out alive.

The mistress Zhang was originally the daughter of a wealthy businessman. She was raised in pampered condition since childhood. After giving birth to Qiuyao and Qiuning, she never suffered any hardship and had no idea how treacherous human nature could be.

Hearing Qiu Ning's words, she was terrified and said, "Aning, you must keep these things carefully. Whether we can wait in the Crime Bureau until your father's innocence is cleared depends on these."

After saying that, Zhang instructed her confidante, Luo Mama, to go to the storehouse and pick out some valuable gold and silver jewelry.

Whatever they couldn't take away was given to the two concubines and the concubine's daughter to ensure that everyone had enough money.

Except Qiuyao and Xianghe.

The master and servant were leaning against each other, looking as if they had suffered great injustice.

Soon, the palace's female historian arrived with the palace servants and turned the entire mansion upside down, counting and taking away all the valuable gold, silver, antiques, calligraphy and paintings. The once magnificent and magnificent Xiangguo Mansion, with its carved railings and jade bricks, was transformed into a hellish scene overnight.

There were damaged flowers and plants everywhere, and boxes and other items scattered all over the ground.

Arriving at the Criminal Bureau, Qiu Ning tactfully slipped a bag of silver into the female official's hand and said, "Aunt, please be lenient. My mother and my concubines are not in good health. Please see if you can find them some lighter work. I would be very grateful."

The female historian padded the purse in her hand and said with a smile, "You are quite sensible. However, my power is limited. I can only arrange two people for you. For the rest, you have to figure it out on your own."

Qiuyao realized that the other party wanted to add more money.

She glanced at everyone in the Qiu family. Her mother looked nervous, and her two aunts and sister were all huddled together, terrified.

Qiu Yao, on the other hand, stood calmly to the side. When Qiu Ning looked over, she couldn't help but say, "Second sister, you're really becoming more and more depraved. You're actually fawning over the servants in the palace. You're bringing disgrace to the Prime Minister's Mansion."

Qiu Ning sneered when she heard this, "Sister, you are a noble person. If you have the ability, then you can figure it out yourself."

Turning around, Qiu Ning pulled out another finely crafted hairpin from her bosom, and with a smile, handed it to the chief historian, saying, "Thank you, aunt. For now, I'll give the places to mother and the two concubines."

The head historian nodded in satisfaction, told a few people to wait a while, and then turned and left the Crime Bureau.

Qiu Yao: "..."

"No, Second Miss, there are three places in total. Why don't you leave one for the eldest lady?" The maid Xianghe couldn't help but jump out again and accused Qiu Ning.

"The eldest lady is the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion and the hope for the future of all of us."

Qiuyao was the eldest daughter, and she always held a high position in the mansion, with her word being final. Furthermore, her talent and reputation were well-known, so no matter if they were the master or the servants, they had to be respectful when they saw this eldest daughter.

This time, one spot will be given to Zhang. If Qiuyao wants to compete for the remaining two, she can only choose one from among the two concubines.

People are often afraid when facing the unknown.

As Xiang He finished speaking, the two concubines, who had just breathed a sigh of relief a second ago, couldn't help but feel their hearts tighten again.

Qiu Ning glanced at Qiu Yao, who was straightening her back, as if waiting for Qiu Ning to take the initiative and give her the spot.

Qiu Ning sneered and said sarcastically, "Eldest sister, you don't think that after entering this criminal department, you can still think of yourself as the eldest daughter of the prime minister, right?"

Before Qiuyao could say anything, Qiuning added, "We're all family. We all came here to do hard labor. My sister is young and beautiful, and she'll have many opportunities in the future. But it's different for mother and the two concubines. If they're assigned to the coolest and most tiring work, they might never see father and brother again."

"My eldest sister always taught me and my two younger sisters to value filial piety, so I'm sure she wouldn't bother with this position."

Qiu Yao: "..."

Xiang He: “…”

In the previous life, Qiu Ning and her two sisters spent the whole day doing endless rough work, cleaning endless toilets, and washing endless clothes.

Qiuyao was clumsy and left all the work she couldn't finish to her two younger sisters, and said seriously:

"We are all family. I just helped with the laundry. Why is your sister so fussy? Instead of complaining here, you should be more efficient and finish the work quickly so that you can rest earlier."

The two younger sisters were used to being bullied by Qiuyao and didn't dare to complain at all.

Once, her mother, Zhang, gave Qiuyao some advice, saying that her sisters also had a lot of work to do, and asked her to finish it as early as possible next time. However, Qiuyao retorted:

"Mother, what you said is not true. I have been studying the Four Books and Five Classics since I was a child, and I have never done such rough work. But my sisters are different. The Prime Minister's Mansion has fallen on hard times. If nothing unexpected happens, my sisters will marry and obey their husbands, and they will have to do housework with their own hands. Now I am just training them in advance. I am doing this for their own good."

Zhang was originally a weak and kind person. After being confronted by Qiuyao once, she never dared to say a word again.

It was not until Qiuyao became close to Prince Yong that the officials of the Crime Bureau took advantage of the situation and reduced the workload for Qiuning and her two sisters.

But it was only reduced slightly. The stewards always turned a blind eye to the bullying and oppression of some other sinners.

Soon, the head aunt came back with three more pairs of cards in her hand and said to Qiu Ning:

"Take this sign and go find Li Zhangshi, who is in charge of the embroidery. She will make arrangements for your mother and the two concubines."

Qiu Ning happily took it and kept thanking the aunt in charge.

"Thank you very much, Auntie, for your great kindness. Qiu Ning will definitely repay you when the chance comes."

The manager waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, it's getting late, please take them there quickly."

After settling Zhang and the two concubines, it was now Qiu Ning and Qiu Yao's turn to make arrangements.