Moreover, the ones administering the beating with the paddle were the servant boys of the residence.
Just like the maids, they had already received instructions from the Madam.
Even if they were to hit, the force was limited.
With this, everyone was even less afraid.
Xia Ruyi noticed they still hadn’t made any moves.
Her face changed with anger.
"Hit! Hit them hard for me!"
The servant boys then tied the embroideresses onto the benches, leisurely picked up the paddles, and slowly began to hit!
Seeing this, Xia Ruyi was furious again.
"You... you are all in this together!"
As soon as she finished speaking.
A voice suddenly came from not far away!
"They are indeed on the same side, all serving by the Marquis and my side, Third Sister, is there a problem with that?"
Xia Ruyi was taken aback, and she looked towards the direction of the voice.
"It’s you??"
It turned out to be Lady Ni approaching with a group.
She was being supported by Sister Bai’s hand, walking slowly towards them, her expression carrying a subtle smile with a hint of coldness in her eyes.
"If I remember correctly...you should call me sister-in-law!"
"Unless... you live in our house and don’t recognize this family relation?"
Xia Ruyi quickly adjusted her demeanor and reluctantly called out.
"Sister-in-law!"
"Hmm!"
Ni Manxue acknowledged with a nod and a smile.
She slowly sat down on the chair, covered herself with a blanket, and accepted a cup of hot tea handed over by Dong’er.
Since she was pregnant again, she couldn’t drink other teas, so her cup was filled with red dates.
She took a delicate sip, the sweetness of the red dates lingering on her lips.
Her face displayed a serene and elegant smile.
After setting down the teacup, she looked around at the chaotic scene.
She was a bit puzzled.
"What happened to Third Sister here?"
"Is it that my people haven’t served you well enough?"
The phrase ’my people’ already expressed her attitude clearly.
But unfortunately... Xia Ruyi was too naive to pick up on it.
She actually went on to accuse the servants.
In the end, she angrily demanded an explanation from Ni Manxue.
"Sister-in-law, please be fair..."
Ni Manxue hid a trace of derision in her eyes and immediately laughed.
"Third Sister, it’s my fault!"
"These embroideresses are quite tricky, sometimes even I can’t control them!"
Finishing her words, she shouted sternly.
"Third Sister has come from afar, and you embroideresses really are blind!"
"Someone come!"
"Twenty paddles each, beat them hard for this Madam!"
The embroideresses begged for mercy accordingly.
Yet, Ni Manxue seemed ’determined,’ showing not an ounce of mercy.
Twenty paddles, not a single one less!
Of course, they were all her own people.
Though their cries were pitiful, the force was limited, and the injuries not severe.
It just looked more miserable than it was.
After the beating, the embroideresses were all "half-dead."
Ni Manxue smiled and looked at Xia Ruyi.
"Third Sister, are you satisfied now?!"
Xia Ruyi was left speechless, only managing a forced smile.
"Satisfied, satisfied!"
Ni Manxue then stood up and said coolly.
"Glad you’re satisfied!"
"Now that the frustration has been vented, Third Sister, do take care of yourself!"
"I don’t care how long you stay here!"
"Just one thing... if you can avoid trouble, then avoid it!"
Xia Ruyi felt a jolt in her heart, not daring to respond.
Ni Manxue couldn’t be bothered to say more, simply rising to leave.
Sister Bai and Dong’er quickly followed to serve by her side.
The only ones left at the scene were the injured embroideresses and Xia Ruyi.
The embroideresses were in pain, their faces pale.
Yet Xia Ruyi was so angry her whole body trembled.
"This is... a way to drive me out? But I refuse to leave, let’s see what you can do to me, hmph!"
That night.
The embroideresses were taken away.
They said they were too injured to serve and would find others later.
But after several days, not even a bad one came, let alone a good one.
Just like that, they were simply not given anyone.
Xia Ruyi was anxious, going door to door to ask for people.
But Ni Manxue either said she was too busy or feeling unwell and refused to see her.
After coming back and forth several times.
Xia Ruyi finally realized.
"What does it mean to advance by retreating, what does it mean to use soft tactics before hard ones! This is simply..."
She had truly witnessed it!
Indeed, being experienced in the Capital City, these methods were quite sophisticated!
The day of the spring outing was getting closer.
This spring outing included several prestigious ladies from reputable families.
It was truly an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter the social circle of the Capital’s nobility.
But...
Looking at the pile of exquisite fabrics purchased, her heart was anxious and burning.
"What to do? What to do?"
"No matter how fine the material, I can’t just wrap myself in a few pieces of cloth to go out!"
"What should I do now?!"
"Pan Zhu, think of something!"
Pan Zhu was a chubby maid, nicknamed, Fat Pig!
Because of this, several servant boys in the residence had laughed at her.
But she didn’t mind at all, let them laugh, she would eat anyway!