The servant, however, smiled indifferently, "To think the slow-witted turtle could have a day of anger, how peculiar."
The man stared directly at the servant, "You can say whatever you want about me, but you cannot insult the Third Miss!"
"If the Third Miss truly finds someone like you acceptable, it only proves her poor taste. She deserved to be kicked out by the Zhao family back then. Speaking of which, you two are quite a match, both being unwanted goods." The servant was entirely unfazed by the man's threats, and in his anger, he even hurled the candlestick on the table through the window.
The candlestick struck the man's forehead and then fell heavily to the ground.
The other servants, witnessing this, burst into laughter.
The man bent down and picked up the candlestick from the ground, his grip turning his fingers white.
Yet, this scene was nothing but a joke to the other servants.
All of them came from humble backgrounds. They had been in the Ji family for years, struggling even to gain the attention of their masters. Yet, this man had been with the Ji family for only a few days before he had hooked up with the Third Miss. Such unfairness naturally bred jealousy.
Furthermore, this man was not one to speak much. In the past, when people in the courtyard mocked him or made snide remarks, he never argued back. Over time, the servants in the courtyard became even more reckless. They not only put sand in his tea but also spat in his food.
Seeing the man angry now, the servants felt no fear whatsoever.
The servant who had been shouting the loudest stood up and walked towards the door, "Brothers, follow me. I lost some money today and I'm in a foul mood. It's perfect that someone is willing to let me vent!"
The other servants, far from stopping him, swaggered out with him.
Soon, the courtyard was filled with people.
The man stood his ground, merely staring at the shouting servant, "Take back what you just said."
The shouting servant sneered, "The Third Miss is used goods. I'm just stating facts. Only used goods would find trash like you acceptable."
"Who is trash?" a frigid voice suddenly cut through the air from the doorway.
The crowd in the courtyard, hearing the voice, was momentarily stunned. When they turned to see where it came from, and then saw Ji Zizhao walking against the light, their faces immediately turned pale.
Why was the Eldest Miss here?
The servant who had been shouting earlier felt as though lightning had struck him as the Eldest Miss slowly approached. His legs buckled, and he immediately knelt on the ground.
"Eldest Miss..."
"Eldest, Eldest Miss..."
Everyone in the courtyard bowed their heads, wishing they could disappear on the spot.
The man silently glanced at Ji Zizhao as she approached, then silently withdrew his gaze.
Ji Zizhao stopped and looked down at the shouting servant, her voice chilling to the bone, "I never knew our estate had someone as audacious and skilled as you. What, you even dare to pry into my Third Sister's private affairs?"
If it were the Eldest Miss of the past, people in the estate would not have been so afraid.
But ever since the Eldest Miss took the authority seal, she had been unstoppable, like a cheat code. She crushed anyone who stood in her way. Even the old madam, who had been arrogant in the Ji family for her entire life, had to tread carefully around the Eldest Miss.
Now, looking at the Eldest Miss's face, everyone felt like they could barely breathe.
The shouting servant, in particular, knelt on the ground like a cowering dog, not daring to even raise his head, and kept kowtowing, "Eldest Miss, spare me, Eldest Miss, I know I was wrong..."
"I have entrusted the important affairs of this estate to my Third Sister for quite some time. It seems you have all forgotten what it was like to live under my rule. If that's the case, it wouldn't hurt to revisit it." Ji Zizhao looked coldly at the servant, her dark eyes so deep they instilled fear.
The steward, hearing the commotion, rushed out without even fully dressing. Hearing the Eldest Miss's words, his legs nearly gave out, and he almost collapsed onto the ground.
"According to Ji family law, those who defy their superiors shall be whipped fifteen times! Those who presume to comment on their masters shall be whipped twenty times! It has been a long time since I have heard the sound of Ji family whips, and I miss it dearly. Someone! Bring me a chair, and whip them right in front of me!"
The steward was on the verge of tears. He didn't care about anything else and personally brought over a chair, "Eldest Miss..."
Ji Zizhao didn't even glance at the steward. She sat silently in the chair, like a colossal Buddha pressing down on everyone's hearts.
Seeing this, the steward dared not delay any further. He personally retrieved the snakeskin whip from the punishment room and ordered the most despicable servant to be held down and lashed.
"Crack crack crack... Crack crack crack..."
The crisp sound of the whip echoed.
The servant wailed in pain. After only a few lashes, he fainted.
Ji Zizhao, however, declared, "Continue whipping! No one leaves until twenty-five lashes are completed today!"
The servants in the courtyard watched this scene, holding their breaths. The continuous cracking of the whip seemed to strike everyone's heart.
The steward watched, sweating nervously.
When the Eldest Miss managed the Ji family, the entire estate was as quiet as a chicken. Now, after a few days of comfort under the Third Miss's management, not only had these scoundrels lost their minds, but even he...
"Steward Li."
Ji Zizhao's voice was like a curse, startling the steward so much he almost jumped. "Eldest, Eldest Miss..."
"Steward Li is an old hand in the estate, and it's understandable that he has a good relationship with the servants. However, since the Ji family has its own laws, the rules cannot be broken. Considering Steward Li's age, you shall only be beaten five times."
Steward Li, "..."
He wondered if it was too late to faint now.
Ji Zizhao looked coldly at Steward Li's ashen face, her dark eyes utterly calm.
Without Steward Li's indulgence, how could these servants dare to be so rampant? Since she had taken action today, she would make them all feel the pain, deep in their bones. Only when everyone felt the pain would they learn to control their mouths better.
"Crack crack crack..."
The sound of the whip ceased, and then the sound of the planks began.
At this point, the people in the courtyard were truly terrified.
Indeed, the Eldest Miss was the Eldest Miss. When she acted, it was always a critical blow!
Ji Zizhao truly sat there in her chair, watching Steward Li endure five planks before slowly standing up. Without a word, she turned and walked away. Su Dan Novel Network
All the servants felt their legs go weak, as if they had just been given a second life.
The man seemed surprised that the Eldest Miss had left so readily. He looked at Ji Zizhao's receding back in astonishment, then suddenly stepped forward to chase after her.