Chapter 247: Epilogue (7)

The Zhou family had a quiet New Year.

No one went out to have fun. Cheng Zhao and the Second Madam did not return to their parents’ homes either. Every day was spent eating and drinking, playing cuju, practicing with spears, playing chess, and bickering.

“...Zhaozhao, when are you going to dismiss the household servants?” the Second Madam asked.

After the two funerals, Cheng Zhao had used the excuse that she needed more help and transferred all the servants who had come with her into the residence.

It was perfectly reasonable.

During those turbulent times, they had come into contact with the stewards and servants of the Duke of Chen’s residence, and the two groups had gotten to know one another.

During the New Year, the stewards took turns taking leave, while the servants also had time to spare.

Cheng Zhao said that she wanted to dismiss half the household’s stewards and servants. She would give each of them a generous sum of money and return their contracts of servitude to them.

The Second Madam asked when she intended to do this.

“I plan to wait until after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month,” Cheng Zhao said. “The government offices won’t reopen until then either.”

Then she asked, “Mother, do you want to recruit more people or dismiss them?”

“...This concerns Longevity Peace Court,” the Second Madam said. “Everyone there is the Dowager Madame’s trusted confidant. What do you plan to do?”

She continued, “Never mind the others. Nanny Sun is still there, and the Head Steward and his wife are also loyal to the Dowager Madame.”

“For those who are advanced in years, I’ll give them a generous retirement payment. They can return to their hometowns, build houses, buy a few acres of land, and enjoy their later years,” Cheng Zhao said.

“Are you dismissing Nanny Sun and the Head Steward and his wife as well?”

“If they don’t want to leave, I’ll arrange for them to serve at Clear Breeze Court and have them look after the residence,” Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam said, “But you absolutely cannot keep them here! Especially Nanny Sun. She’s sinister, like a poisonous snake. If she stays in the household, she’ll cause trouble for you.”

Cheng Zhao nodded. “I’ll be careful. I’ll discuss it with the Head Steward and his wife first and ask them to persuade Nanny Sun as well.”

She added, “I intend to give the Head Steward and Nanny Sun three thousand taels each as retirement pay.”

“That isn’t all that much. Their annual wages are more than two hundred taels. If the Dowager Madame hadn’t died, they would have had to work for at least another twenty years before retiring. Three thousand taels sounds like a lot, but they may feel that they’re losing out,” the Second Madam said.

She continued, “Still, with the Dowager Madame gone, they’ll have to leave sooner or later. If they leave this year, they’ll get three thousand taels. If they wait a few more years, they may get nothing at all. They’ll have to decide for themselves.”

Cheng Zhao nodded.

“Take care of it soon,” the Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao knew that the Second Madam could never keep anything to herself for long. Smiling, she said, “All right. I’ll tell the Head Steward later. I’ll give them some time to consider it. This is a major matter.”

The Second Madam nodded.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Cheng Zhao summoned the Head Steward to Hall of Lasting Brightness.

The Head Steward happened to be on duty that day. He had taken six days off around the New Year.

Cheng Zhao explained her plan to him.

The Head Steward visibly relaxed.

Three thousand taels in retirement pay had probably exceeded his expectations, and he was very satisfied.

In the capital, three thousand taels was enough to buy a decent two-courtyard residence, leaving him with a home of his own. Or he could return to his hometown, buy some land, and build a house. Either way, he would be able to live quite comfortably.

Besides, he must have accumulated some savings over the years.

With an excellent way out available to him, most of the unease in his heart disappeared.

“The Duchess is kind-hearted and pities this old and feeble man. I’m willing to leave the residence of my own accord,” the Head Steward said.

He did not say that he would consider it. Instead, he agreed readily.

Cheng Zhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief as well.

“Nanny Sun has served the Dowager Madame, and her usual monthly wages are even higher than yours. Since she is leaving, I can only give her the same retirement payment as you. I can’t give her more than you receive.

“Please go and ask whether she is willing to leave. The Dowager Madame has passed away, and Nanny Sun is heartbroken. I’m afraid she may be upset and misunderstand my intentions. If I speak to her myself, she may think I’m discarding her after she has served her purpose, which would only make things more difficult,” Cheng Zhao said.

The Head Steward quickly agreed. “I’ll go speak with her.”

Nanny Sun was still at Longevity Peace Court.

She was deeply devoted to her mourning duties and knelt in the mourning hall every day to keep vigil for the Dowager Madame.

The atmosphere inside Longevity Peace Court was gloomy and eerie.

The maids and senior servants all cowered in their rooms like quails, trembling.

The underfloor heating was no longer lit. It was bitterly cold both inside and out. Perhaps because of the cold, everyone’s face had taken on a bluish cast, making them look as though they were possessed.

The Head Steward was startled.

He immediately regretted coming alone. He should have brought several strong young servants to give him courage.

He steeled himself and walked inside.

Nanny Sun was kneeling before the Buddha. Her appearance was even more haggard and disheveled than before.

The Head Steward stood beside her, but she did not get up. She continued chanting prayers.

“...The Duchess sent me to ask you about this. If there’s anything you disagree with, just tell me, and I’ll report it back to Her Grace,” the Head Steward said.

Nanny Sun did not answer.

The Head Steward thought she might not speak at all. Just as he was wondering what to do, she finally said, “Tell the Duchess to come and speak to me herself.”

The Head Steward was speechless.

Who did she think she was?

Even he, who now managed everyone in the residence, had to personally go to Hall of Lasting Brightness to receive the Duchess’s instructions.

She was a noblewoman of the highest rank, while Nanny Sun was merely a servant. Never mind that she had served the Dowager Madame—even if she had served the Empress Dowager, she still had no right to put on such airs.

The Head Steward fell silent, unsure how to respond.

As if she had seen through his thoughts, Nanny Sun said coolly, “Go tell her. Whether she comes or not is her affair, and has nothing to do with you.”

“Nanny Sun...”

“If you have nothing else to ask, then leave. This is the Dowager Madame’s residence. Be careful, or you may suffer retribution,” Nanny Sun said.

The Head Steward left the residence.

His good days were almost within reach, and he had no desire to get entangled in this matter.

In any case, he was not the one who had incited Nanny Sun. If he simply reported her words, the Duchess should be able to understand.

He repeated Nanny Sun’s exact words to Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao was not surprised in the slightest.

“The Dowager Madame’s people deserve to be treated with dignity. I’ll go see her,” she said.

Taking Nanny Li, Suyue, and Qiubai with her, Cheng Zhao went to Longevity Peace Court.

Nanny Li was highly wary. “Perhaps we should call a few more people.”

“Mother, if she wants to harm me, she’ll attack my mind, not my body,” Cheng Zhao said. “I’ll hear what she has to say.”

Then she flashed a sly smile. “I think she wants to talk about jade-skin pastries. Shall we make a wager?”

Nanny Li was speechless. “...And you can still joke at a time like this? You’re far too calm!”

Cheng Zhao stepped into the residence.

Unlike the Head Steward, she was not afraid of ghosts. Nor was she surprised by the current state of Longevity Peace Court.

She went to the small Buddhist hall.

Nanny Sun was still kneeling.

Before her stood a divine statue, solemn and magnificent, radiating majesty.

Cheng Zhao knelt on the prayer mat beside her and bowed three times to the statue.

“...Nanny Sun, the Head Steward said you wanted to see me?” Cheng Zhao spoke first.

If she did not speak, Nanny Sun would remain silent as well.

“Cheng Shi, you’re the one asking me for something now, not the other way around. If I were to die here in the Duke of Chen’s residence...”

“I would simply say that you had been praying at Clear Breeze Court. You are a bondservant whose contract is in my possession. Even if I beat you to death, do you really think the government offices would arrest me?” Cheng Zhao said coolly.

Nanny Sun’s haggard cheek twitched violently.

“I’m willing to treat you well only to set an example for the other servants, so they won’t feel abandoned when their old master is gone. If you make trouble, I’ll be delighted.

“From then on, no matter how I treat you, the stewards and servants will all say you deserved it, while I, the new mistress, did everything I could for you. I’m only afraid you won’t make trouble,” Cheng Zhao continued.

Nanny Sun’s lips began to tremble as well.

“If you make a scene, I’ll save the three thousand taels in support money. Let me make this clear: since you don’t want it, I’ll distribute it among the others. From now on, no one will speak a word on your behalf,” Cheng Zhao added.

Nanny Sun was furious to the point of trembling all over. She lay prostrate on the prayer mat.