Dou Zhao summoned Miao Ansu to discuss: “Qixia and the others in the Second Master’s quarters were originally gifted to him by the Duke before you arrived. Since you’ll be moving out to establish your household in a few days, why don’t we take this opportunity to match them with husbands? You can buy new maids to train yourselves. What do you think?”
Miao Ansu was very surprised.
She had thought Dou Zhao decided to release a batch of maids before the new year for Ganlu and others’ marriages. She didn’t expect Dou Zhao to target Qixia and the others.
Why would Dou Zhao do this?
Her mind raced.
Was it to humiliate Song Han on Song Mo’s behalf? Or to have Song Han leave with nothing?
Whether it was the former or the latter, having Song Han’s personal maids’ marriages arranged by Dou Zhao instead of himself was like Song Mo publicly slapping Song Han in the face.
Should she agree or not?
Agreeing would certainly offend Song Han.
Not agreeing – Dou Zhao was staring at her intently, clearly not letting her brush it off.
She couldn’t help but smile bitterly and said, “Sister-in-law, you may not know, but aside from greeting me on my first day here, Qixia and the others were assigned by the Second Master to work in the study. I can’t normally give them orders. How can I make this decision?”
Dou Zhao lightly brushed the tea leaves in her cup with the lid, saying calmly, “It depends on how you look at it. If you agree, I’ll make the arrangements for you. If you don’t agree, pretend I never mentioned it, and let Qixia and the others leave with you. After all, their indenture papers will be handed over to you then. Whether they stay or go will be up to you.”
Miao Ansu was delighted to hear this.
If Qixia and the others’ indenture papers were given to her, she could do whatever she wanted with them. Why offend Song Han now by insisting Qixia get married?
But just as this joy flashed through her mind, she saw the faint mockery at the corners of Dou Zhao’s mouth.
Like a bucket of ice water poured over her head, it immediately sobered her up.
The indenture papers of other families’ maids and servants were naturally kept by the mistress managing the household, but given Song Han’s nature, would he hand over Qixia and the others’ papers to her? If she didn’t have their papers, even if she elevated Qixia to concubine status, how could she control Qixia? Keeping Qixia and the others by her side, wouldn’t she be nurturing a tiger?
Understanding these intricacies, fine beads of sweat appeared on Miao Ansu’s forehead.
“In this matter, I’ll defer to you, sister-in-law,” she said hurriedly, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her brow.
Watching this, Dou Zhao inwardly snorted coldly.
Miao Ansu was clever enough!
She knew that even if Qixia stayed, Song Han wouldn’t possibly hand Qixia and the others over to her to manage.
Song Han was too suspicious; he wouldn’t share his power with anyone.
According to Ruozhu, Song Han still hadn’t given Miao Ansu control over his household’s monthly allowance.
“In that case, I’ll keep Qixia and the others here,” Dou Zhao said, picking up her tea.
Miao Ansu rose to take her leave.
After leaving Yizhi Hall, Ji Hong eagerly called out “Second Madam” and said, “If the Second Master blames you…”
Miao Ansu bit her lip and said, “It’s still better than having the household full of the Second Master’s people later, and not even being able to offer good wine when my family visits!”
Ji Hong thought about it and said no more.
When Song Han learned of this news, he was furious.
He pointed at Miao Ansu’s nose and scolded, “Are you a pig? Don’t you use your brain? Qixia is our person. You’ve just handed her over to sister-in-law like this. If we can’t even protect our people, who will dare to be loyal to us in the future? Do you want to be alone? Aren’t you afraid of being eaten by ghosts!”
Miao Ansu kept her head down, letting Song Han scold her, but inwardly thought, “Qixia is your person, not mine. If we can’t protect her, it’s your loss of face, not mine. What do I have to worry about? Besides, once we set up our household, I’ll buy some new maids to train personally. Let’s see who dares to give me attitude then. They’ll be my people, and I’ll naturally protect them, but that has nothing to do with you.”
She secretly rejoiced that she had listened to Dou Zhao.
Seeing her silent and unmoving like a clay statue, Song Han became even angrier. He shouted, “Someone crawling out of a gutter will always be from the gutter, unfit for polite society,” then slammed the door as he left.
Miao Ansu was so angry tears welled up in her eyes.
So this was how he saw her!
Her heart ached with anger as she lay down on the bed.
Qixia, however, was overwhelmed with gratitude towards Dou Zhao.
If the Madam hadn’t called the Second Madam to discuss her fate, the Second Master would surely have thought she wanted to leave and might have beaten her to death before she even left.
Now the Second Master blamed the Second Madam, thinking that if the Second Madam had firmly refused, even the Madam couldn’t have touched his people despite her great power.
Unable to do anything about the Second Madam, the Second Master had no choice but to persuade her to stay voluntarily.
She patiently waited for Song Han to finish speaking before saying softly, “Second Master, since being promoted to senior maid, I’ve always served in your quarters. I wholeheartedly wanted to learn from those managing matrons and be a respectable person in your household. But husband and wife are one, and since the Second Madam has agreed with the Madam, even if I don’t leave, my position in your quarters would be awkward. Please let me go!” She knelt before Song Han and continued, “I’ll always remember the kindness you’ve shown me over the years! Even after I’m married, I’ll still be your servant. If you need anything, just say the word, and I’ll serve you as diligently as before.”
Song Han couldn’t hide his disappointment.
But more than that, he felt hatred towards Miao Ansu.
It was all because he had been too careless.
He hadn’t expected Miao Ansu to be so petty.
Just because he hadn’t made Qixia and the others show respect to her, she couldn’t tolerate their presence.
Qixia wasn’t his concubine, why should she have to show respect to Miao Ansu?
The thought flashed through his mind, and Song Han’s eyes brightened.
He grabbed Qixia’s hand and said, “Qixia, why don’t you stay and serve me instead of getting married?”