The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Xu Wan clenched her fingers and raised her eyebrows with a smile. "As expected, they've come."

"Cui Liu, take some people to put out the fire in the kitchen first."

There were priorities to handle, and right now the most urgent matter was to protect the mansion. The disputes among maids were trivial in comparison.

"Yes." Cui Liu led a group of people to the kitchen.

Behind them, Cui Zhi secretly marveled at the new mistress's reaction. To remain so calm in the face of multiple crises - such composure and steadiness was rare in such a young bride.

The new mistress was reportedly only eighteen years old.

It was unexpected that the Minister of Justice's second wife had raised such an excellent daughter. The old madam truly had good judgment.

The other two maids who had come to report news quickly said, "Madam, our matters are urgent too. Why did you send everyone to deal with the fire?"

Xu Wan smiled, "Should we wait until the entire Marquis Manor burns down? Cui Zhi, detain these two and await punishment."

"Yes."

The two maids were completely stunned, never expecting that just one comment would get them arrested like thieves.

But they quickly recovered and cried out, "Why are you detaining us, Madam? We came to report news, what wrong have we done?"

"Don't touch me! I used to serve in the young master's quarters. If you dare lay hands on me, the old madam won't let you off when she returns!"

Of the two maids, one took a soft approach while the other took a hard one. The softer one appeared foolish, but the aggressive one was more concerning. At her words, even Cui Zhi took a step back.

Cui Liu's brows also furrowed.

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The young master was the manor's only taboo subject.

His belongings and servants were treated like treasures, as the old madam often used them to remember him.

Now that madam wanted to arrest a maid from the young master's quarters, this would be difficult to handle...

Seeing this, Xu Wan turned to ask Cui Zhi, "I recall mother saying my husband had no concubines or personal maids. What was this maid's rank?"

Cui Zhi lowered her head and replied, "The young master had two maids serving him, both third-rank, lower than footmen and attendants. Hong Shao was only promoted to second-rank after the young master's disappearance, and was then assigned to work in the second household."

Hong Shao's face grew even more smug hearing this.

The young master had promised that as long as she served his interests well, he would transfer her from the second household and make her a first-rank maid in his own quarters.

What did it matter if the new mistress had household authority? The young master was the future heir, and she had served in his quarters - the new mistress wouldn't dare touch her!

"The old madam misses the young master every day. If this servant is mistreated, the old madam will surely be heartbroken..." Hong Shao deliberately left her sentence unfinished, clearly implying that the old madam would strip the new mistress of her authority over the household.

Cui Zhi frowned but was also intimidated, appearing completely different from her previously capable and efficient self, knowing how much the old madam valued anyone connected to the young master.

Xu Wan observed both Hong Shao's arrogance and Cui Zhi's hesitation, naturally understanding the underlying dynamics.

So, as everyone watched expectantly for drama, Xu Wan casually said, "Then send her to the villa so she can be close to the old madam and let her 'remember through objects' up close."

Cui Zhi, who had been looking down, suddenly raised her head, feeling at this moment that madam's face seemed to be glowing.

Could... could they really handle it this way?

Hong Shao, who had been feeling smug, immediately changed expression.

She stared at Xu Wan in shock, never expecting the new mistress would come up with this solution to deal with her!

While the old madam wasn't in the manor, she could throw her weight around based on seniority, but if she went to the old madam's side, wouldn't she lose all standing?

Realizing something was wrong, Hong Shao finally understood she had underestimated Xu Wan.

She quickly knelt down and knocked her head three times, begging, "Please retract your order, Madam! The old madam and old marquis are away relaxing - this servant wouldn't dare disturb them!"

If she was sent to the villa over this matter, the old madam would surely learn she had been causing trouble for the new mistress, and might not spare her even for the young master's sake.

Xu Wan smiled faintly and retorted, "Go on then, after all, the old madam misses the young master daily and surely can't do without you. Isn't that right, Cui Zhi?"

Cui Zhi burst out laughing - the new mistress was truly clever and witty, using Hong Shao's own words to checkmate her.

She kept laughing as she replied, "Madam speaks truly."

"Someone come and escort Hong Shao to the villa."

Xu Wan remembered something else: "Oh right, there was another maid in my husband's quarters, what was her name?"

"Lu Ru."

"Ah yes, send her along too." This would prevent that little brat from inciting another servant to cause trouble for her.

Better to resolve it completely and cut off this avenue entirely.

Cui Zhi exchanged glances with the other maids, all giving Xu Wan thumbs up in approval.

As Hong Shao was dragged away crying and wailing, Lu Ru, who had suddenly been implicated, began cursing Hong Shao. The two hurled abuse at each other as they were taken away, each more vulgar than the last.

Xu Wan frowned at the sound.

How did Zong Zhao end up with such maids?

Cui Zhi called out instructions: "Such shouting and cursing is unseemly. Gag them and put them in the carriage - don't shame the Yangyuan Marquis Manor."

"Yes."

Xu Wan watched as the two maids were taken away. Just as she was about to turn back to the manor, Zong Jincheng came running in angrily, calling out to her: "Hey!"

Hey yourself, you little brat.

Xu Wan ignored him and continued walking inside.

Zong Jincheng chased after her in frustration, calling out again: "Hey! Can't you hear me calling you? It's very rude to ignore people - stop walking!"

The little troublemaker blocked her path, preventing her from leaving.

The boy before her was still dressed in fine silks, his round eyes filled with anger, beads of sweat on his forehead as if he'd run a long way.

Clearly he'd heard about the two maids being sent away and was upset.

Xu Wan looked at him and said seriously, "By status, you should call me mother. Even if you dislike me, you should at least address me as madam, not shout 'hey.' Moreover, I am your elder - between us, you are clearly the more discourteous one."

"More discourteous" was typically praise, but the main clause was criticism.

The little demon lord didn't have much education to begin with. After being both praised and scolded in one breath, it took him several seconds to realize she was scolding rather than complimenting him, immediately making his face flush red with anger.

"You... you've gone too far! Those were my father's favorite maids, and you sent them to the villa!"

Zong Jincheng tried to pull rank again, never mentioning his own status directly while constantly reminding everyone that he was the legitimate grandson of this marquis family.

Unfortunately, Xu Wan saw right through it.

She seized on his choice of words and counterattacked in his own style: "My husband only had those two maids - if they were really so favored, wouldn't they have been promoted to second rank long ago? Why wait for my mother-in-law to do it?"

You little brat, don't take advantage of them all being your relatives to talk nonsense.

She was now part of this family too - Zong Zhao's wife, the old madam's daughter-in-law, Zong Jincheng's mother.

None of their statuses were that much higher than the others!

Zong Jincheng was left speechless by her retort. After a while, he finally managed to respond: "My father was used to their service. What if father suddenly returns and isn't comfortable with different maids serving him?"