Chapter 686: Justice Tempered with Mercy

When those servants heard her verdict, they felt as if the sky was about to collapse.

They had gotten used to enjoying the good days, eating well and living well during these two years in the Qiao Estate.

At this time, the Qiao Estate had gloriously risen to the rank of a marquis’s estate and was becoming more prosperous with each passing day. Compared to other destitute families’ children, they each lived as comfortably as young masters and misses.

Yet Eldest Miss wanted to drive them out now?

This time, everyone was in a panic and could only resent themselves for offending Eldest Miss, this ancestor.

This ancestor was not as open to persuasion as the other people in the Qiao Family. She meant what she said, whether it was poisoning someone into a mute or killing someone. Her swift and decisive disposition was totally unlike the mild and tepid temperaments of the remaining people in the Qiao Estate.

The servants each bawled to the high heavens as they repeatedly begged for forgiveness.

But would Qiao Mu care about them?

She had already given them a chance. It was a pity that only half the people grabbed on to it.

Since that was the case, she didn’t need to hold back with them anymore.

“Such a ruckus, annoying! Kick them all out.” Qiao Mu threw the register onto the table and beckoned towards Chunying.

Chunying quickly jogged over, bowing respectfully before taking up the register.

“Cross out the names of the people that got kicked out today. Additionally, see if there are enough people to maintain the estate. If there aren’t enough, pick two to three well-behaved and dutiful people from the middleman. It doesn’t matter whether they’re male or female; they just have to be willing to properly do their job.”

“Yes, Miss.” Chunying was literate; furthermore, during these two years, she had always accompanied Madam and helped her manage the household duties, so she naturally had some ability to serve as a steward.

Qiao Mu nodded, satisfied. “It’ll be the new year in 10 days. Tomorrow, call over several dressmakers to sew two sets of winter clothing for each person for the new year. Calculate how much cloth will be needed and inform me later. It’s fine if there’s extra, but don’t cut back on anyone’s share.”

Chunying gaped her mouth slightly, and even the servants next to her were all gazing, dumbstruck, at their little master.

Their master, who was in a thunderous rage just earlier, was right now speaking softly, saying that she wanted to increase their monthly stipends and give them new clothes so that they could celebrate the new year gaily.

“Yes, Miss.” Chunying was all smiles as she bent her knees in a curtsy.

On the side, Shaoyao was smiling with compressed lips.

In fact, her miss was the easiest to get along with. As long as everyone dutifully did their job properly and didn’t cause any inconveniences nor stir up trouble, her miss wouldn’t care about what you did in the meantime.

Standing to the side, Chang Zai, whose thighs were still trembling, suddenly knelt to the ground with a flump and weakly called out, “Eldest Miss.”

By this time, Qiao Mu’s anger had already subsided by half, and when she turned to look at Chang Zai, her complexion had also improved a bit. “You weren’t strict in managing the household, which caused incidents to occur time and again. Do you know your mistake?”

“Eldest Miss, this old servant is to blame. This old servant earnestly requests Eldest Miss to not drive this old servant out.” Chang Zai said quaveringly.

The gardener Old Bai, who was close friends with Chang Zai, also knelt to the ground with a flump, kowtowing as he stuttered, “E-Eldest Miss, it’s o-okay if I-I d-don’t get that doubled monthly stipend. I-I b-beg Miss, don’t drive out, Big Brother Chang.”

They were both normal people, and Chang Zai was already more than 50 years old. If he were to be driven out, he would definitely be unable to find work. At that time, he truly wouldn’t be able to survive.

Mother Xu and the two of them were the earliest to enter the estate, so their friendship was naturally unlike others’. Mother Xu also hastily knelt down and pled for leniency together.

Qiao Mu looked at them expressionlessly, up until the point that the three people were on tenterhooks, with butterflies in their stomachs.