When Zhou Shigong learned from his wife Zhou Ma that the new housekeeper, whom he had always trusted, was actually the spy installed by his stepmother, Mrs. Ma, the relaxed and happy mood that had arisen from successfully pushing the hot potato out instantly disappeared and was replaced by With rage rising from the depths of his body.
His whole head was flushed, as if it was on fire. His hands were tightly holding the armrests on both sides of the armchair, making people worried that he would break the armrests in the next second.
Zhou Ma looked at her husband in fear, feeling scared and distressed: "Master, please calm down... Maybe I made a mistake. You can go to the housekeeper and ask the truth. You can also call the servant girl to ask. clear……"
Zhou Shigong took three deep breaths and tried to calm down. Even though the redness on his head and face had not faded much, he could at least speak normally to the brothers Hai Jiao and Hai Tang: "It's fortunate that you brothers and sisters are here today. Sister Tang can help Your aunt and grandma are very busy, Brother Jiao accompanied me to escort the prisoner, and it was hard work. I was in front of the Duke just now, thanks to Brother Jiao, otherwise I would be in shock and anger, and I couldn't explain many things clearly. What if? It was my crime to mislead the Duke and the others and delay the interrogation of the prisoner."
"You are serious. These are what juniors and sisters should do." Hai Jiao dealt with Zhou Shigong's words carefully. He could certainly see that the third room of the Zhou family was in urgent need of housework, and it was inconvenient for them to continue to stay here. " It's getting late, if you and my aunt have nothing else to say, I and my sister will take their leave now."
"Don't rush away yet, just wait a moment." Zhou Shigong didn't want to let him go yet. He pointed at Ma Changnian's wife, "Tell me again what you saw in the front yard in detail. Don't miss anything. A detail.”
Ma Changnian's wife glanced at Haitang and when she nodded, she repeated what she had said before. This time, she added some details and spoke more carefully and realistically.
Zhou Shigong compared what she said with his own memory and had to admit that what the servant woman said was indeed the truth. He was in the middle of it at the time, and all he could think about was taking people back to the main courtyard to deal with Zhang Pinggui as soon as possible, so that he could be sent to the Zhenguo Palace without incident, and he didn't notice anything wrong with the housekeeper at all.
He didn't expect that the housekeeper parked the car in the front yard, not because he was waiting for him, but because he had just met the maid who had delivered the message. If he had come out earlier with the nursing staff, he would have seen the housekeeper talking privately with the servant girl. He would definitely become suspicious immediately and have the servant girl intercepted. How could he give her the opportunity to go to the stepmother's courtyard to report the news? Not to mention that I have been deceived by the housekeeper to this day!
How can this not make sense...
Zhou Shigong has always trusted the housekeeper, a confidant who has been serving him since he was a boy. There has been a master-servant relationship for decades. Whether he is proud or depressed, he never hides it from the other party. He will also talk to the other party about any troubles in his heart. The two of them are not so much masters and servants as close friends, as close as brothers. How could he have imagined that the other party would be the spy installed by his stepmother? And she is still passing on secrets to her stepmother!
Then did the housekeeper spread all of his private complaints about his stepmother over the past decades to her ears? He has never been able to get rid of his stepmother's control. Every time he was dissatisfied and wanted to plot his way back, his stepmother always found a way to control him and make him be honest and obedient. Could it be that the housekeeper's whistleblowing was also responsible for this? !
The more Zhou Shigong thought about it, the angrier he became, and his head and face turned red again, making Zhou Mashi frightened.
Zhou Yijun persuaded him softly: "Grandpa, calm down your anger. The butler has been your confidant for many years and has great prestige among the servants. If there is no clear evidence, accuse him of betraying the master. I am afraid that he will not be able to convince the public, but will make people say Grandfather's gossip will hurt his prestige. Just in case, it's better to summon the other people involved and find out what happened.
"The housekeeper made a hasty decision to talk to the maid on the sweeper in the front yard. The maid didn't know his identity at all, and was panicked for a while at first. It showed that the housekeeper really had no choice, so he had to find the maid. He If there is not complete preparation in advance, it is more likely that someone will see it. In addition to Ma Changnian's wife, there may be others who saw what happened at that time. It is unknown. As long as there are enough witnesses, the housekeeper's guilt will be irrefutable. "
Zhou Shigong sneered: "I raised him to the position he is today, but he betrayed me. If I want to deal with him, it will take a lot of effort, otherwise I will be criticized. Is there any justice in this world?!" However, Although he was still angry, he still listened to his granddaughter's words.
Of course he wanted to make this matter a solid case, so that neither Mrs. Ma nor the housekeeper could argue, and also let the pseudo-loyal servants in the family who were still secretly following Mrs. Ma's orders to see clearly, who is the third bedroom of the Zhou family today? He is the one who is truly in charge! If the example of the housekeeper exists and they are still stubborn, don't blame him for being ruthless and replacing all the male and female servants!
After Zhou Shigong asked about Ma Changnian's wife, there was no need to keep the Hai brothers and sisters. Next, it is time for the third room of the Zhou family to deal with internal affairs, and there is no need for the Hai family to get involved. Haijiao Haitang politely bowed and said goodbye. Zhou Ma and his granddaughter Zhou Yijun personally sent them to the second gate, and also stayed away from the angry Zhou Shigong to avoid being swept away by the tail of the typhoon.
When Zhou Ma recalled what he had experienced today, he felt that his heart was beating a little too fast and his chest was so tight that he could hardly breathe. However, she was still a little excited. The appointment of the new housekeeper meant that she had the opportunity to push someone she liked to the position, and her voice in the family would also increase. With Zhou Shigong here, she didn't dare to think that she could be in charge of the power alone, but as the mistress of the third room of the Zhou family, in this family, she couldn't even let the servants dare to look at her and treat her words as deaf ears!
She also told Haijiao and Haitang brother and sister: "Come over and talk to me when you have time, and it will also be convenient for you to help me come up with ideas. There will definitely be some bad guys in the west courtyard. There are no two reliable people like me. Helper, but he can't fight that old fox! Besides, Yijun has just returned to Chang'an and has nothing to say to the two girls in the eldest house. She is bored at home all day long. Tangtang comes to play with her, and you two little sisters also I can be a companion.”
Haitang thought that she still had a lot to do. If her grandmother, Ma, wasn't concerned about her eldest sister's situation at her husband's house and wanted to collect more information, why would she make this trip? Zhou Yijun is sensible and smart, and she is a little girl worth getting to know, but if she wants to come over often to play with Zhou Yijun to relieve her boredom, then there is no need for her. Therefore, after hearing Zhou Ma's words, Haitang just smiled and said nothing, pretending to pay careful attention to the steps under her feet and did not continue.
Zhou Yijun was more considerate than her grandmother, Zhou Ma, and said angrily: "Grandma, my granddaughter has made an appointment with sister Wenjun to play together, how could she be bored?" Then she said to Haitang, "I have heard from sister Wenjun. As I said, she and Cousin Hai have also become good friends. The three of us will have free time someday. How about I be the host and invite the two sisters to play at home together? "
This time Haitang was more generous: "Okay, once the time is set, you can just send someone to post the message for me." Of course, if the time is not coincidental, even if she receives the message, she will decline it politely.
When they arrived at the second door, the conversation between the two parties came to an end. Haitang and Haijiao said goodbye to Zhou Ma's ancestors and grandchildren again, and then turned around and got on the horse and the car brought by Ma Changnian and his wife respectively. The four masters and servants left the third room of the Zhou family and officially embarked on their return home.
(End of chapter)
