Qiao Hezhi waved the talisman in his hand: "Can I hang this peace talisman up?"
Fang Yu smiled at him: "If you like it, then hang it up."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Hezhi lowered his eyes and actually went over and tied the peace talisman to Fang Yu's belt, next to his scholar identity token.
Fang Yu was helpless but let him do it: "You should go back to your room and get ready later. I'll escort Mother to the Changshou Hall, and when I return, we'll go to Hufengjing."
"Alright."
After Qiao Hezhi returned to his room, Fang Yu dismissed the servants, went forward to support Madam Chen, and said with a smile: "Mother, are you satisfied with today's ritual?"
Madam Chen's face was a spectacle of conflicting colors. She tried to pull her wrist back from his grasp, feeling the person before her was strangely frightening.
"What was the point of going to all this trouble?" Fang Yu said gently: "It only makes people think you, an old lady, can't rest peacefully. You are advanced in years. If you continue to make a fuss, I'm afraid outsiders will think you have developed a mad disease. In the end, they will choose to listen to the clear-headed words of the young."
Madam Chen felt a chill down her spine and looked at Fang Yu with fear: "What do you mean by this?"
"What could I mean? It's just the literal meaning. You had the ritual performed, so you should be satisfied. There are no monsters in the house, so you can rest assured and spend your remaining years in peace at the Changshou Hall. There are servants to wait on you properly. Don't concern yourself with the household's troubles anymore, your son and daughter-in-law will manage them. And don't think about sending someone to steal the storeroom keys to control them. Those things are of no use to you, Mother."
"Your son is not a cruel or malicious person. You will naturally have enough food and clothing. But if you insist on acting recklessly again as you did today, throwing the house into chaos and opposing your son, then I won't be so easy to deal with."
Fang Yu watched Madam Chen, who remained stubbornly silent and looked as miserable as a rain-soaked crow. He pressed her further: "Well, Mother? What is your answer?"
Madam Chen shook her head frantically, her movements growing increasingly agitated: "I don't believe it! Today's ritual revealed nothing, so you are my son! You've forgotten your mother after taking a wife! You are mistreating your old mother to protect Qiao Hezhi!"
"Mistreating? Have I shorted you on food or clothing, or perhaps beaten or scolded you? You should still watch your words."
After escorting her into her room, Fang Yu added: "Early this morning, Qian pozi took Mother out of the house. It was truly improper. Her instigations have exhausted Mother. This kind of cunning servant, your son truly doesn't feel at ease leaving her by your side."
"It seems it wasn't in vain that I asked for a day off from the academy. This morning, your son already went to buy out a few capable servants to come back. They are all honest and dutiful. From now on, they will serve you, Mother."
Fang Yu clapped his hands, and four maidservants entered the room. The leader was a mute pozi. Because she was older and couldn't speak, she wasn't easy to sell at the agency and was sold at a low price.
However, Fang Yu wasn't just looking for a bargain. He valued her inability to speak. Due to this innate defect, she actually had better character, was efficient in her work, and endured hardship without complaint. Most importantly, she wouldn't divulge the master's affairs. Such a servant was most suitable to assign to Madam Chen.
Additionally, he had chosen a few younger ones, only twelve or thirteen years old, all from poor families. After assigning them, he had carefully instructed them, and they understood in their hearts whom they should listen to.
Madam Chen's eyes widened. "What are you doing?!" she demanded, her voice rising. "Are you placing these people here to monitor me?"
"Why would I monitor you? You should eat and drink as you please. If you don't do wicked things, why would you care what the servants attending you are like?"
Fang Yu said: "Come and pay your respects to the Old Madam. Serve her well from now on. If there is any laziness or improper conduct, I will not leniently spare you."
"Mother, you should rest well. Your son has matters to attend to and won't keep you company further."
With that, Fang Yu left the room. Then he had Xuezhu summon the several servants led by Qian pozi from the Changshou Hall. Since they hadn't committed any clear major offenses, he couldn't sell them. Fang Yu was also kind-hearted and gave them silver to dismiss them.
The younger ones accepted the arrangements, but Qian pozi stood her ground, unafraid of trouble: "Master, why are you driving us away? If we have failed in our duties, then punish us for our specific faults. But to cast us out without a proper explanation? We may be servants, but we are still human beings! Where are we supposed to go?"
Fang Yu had hoped for an amicable parting, respecting the former master-servant relationship. But it was clear that Qian Pozi had no intention of accepting this kindness.
"The Master's decisions are none of your business. If you don't want the severance silver, that just saves us the expense." Xuezhu scolded: "It's only because the Old Madam treated you all too kindly before that you have been spoiled and forgotten your place."
"I want to see the Old Madam! If I must go, it should be the Old Madam who dismisses me!"
Fang Yu, with his hands behind his back, said: "Qian pozi, you can't even protect yourself, yet you still remember the Old Madam. Such deep loyalty between master and servant! If you really can't bear to leave, then go sweep the outer courtyard. Perhaps one day you might catch a glimpse of the Old Madam."
Qian pozi was somewhat afraid of Fang Yu and said viciously: "You really have had your heart snatched away by a monster."
"You seem like a sensible person," Fang Yu said: "But you speak as if you've lost your mind. Xuezhu, Qian pozi doesn't want the severance silver. Furthermore, she spews malicious words and slanders her master. Throw her out and say she has developed a mad disease."
"Yes! What are you all still standing around for? Throw her out!"
"You!" Before Qian pozi could finish speaking, she was dragged out by the servants: "Let go of me! Let go of me!"
"If she dares to come back and make trouble, directly seize her and take her to see the authorities."
The others, seeing this situation, didn't dare to make a move and hurriedly collected their silver, packed their things, and left.
After this purge, Madam Chen was settled, the cunning servants were dealt with, and the house was finally clean.
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