Chapter 31: A Combination of Grace and Severity

The servants in the courtyard all shrank their necks, not daring to let out a breath.

Lin Wanqing sat back in her chair. Banxia poured her a fresh cup of tea, and she lifted it to sip slowly. Every movement she made exuded an indescribable elegance and beauty. Yet, to the servants, every gesture felt as sharp as a blade, constantly slicing at their hearts.

Finally, someone could bear the pressure no longer and began to kowtow on their own. "Mistress, please have mercy! Mistress, show kindness! This humble servant knows they were wrong and will never dare do it again."

Lin Wanqing set down her teacup and looked at the person kowtowing. "Which courtyard do you serve in? What are your duties? And what wrong have you committed?"

The person kowtowing was a maid, only sixteen or seventeen years old. With a face pale as death, she replied, "Replying to Mistress, this slave is a menial maid responsible for sweeping the front courtyard. This slave..." She was too terrified to continue.

Lin Wanqing said leisurely, "I like people who admit their faults voluntarily. Someone who can step forward to admit a mistake, no matter how great the transgression, at least still has a baseline of conscience and deserves a chance to reform."

The maid looked up cautiously at Lin Wanqing. Seeing that her expression was not overly harsh, she gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and blurted out, "Because my family had an urgent need for money and I was truly at my wit's end, I... I dug up two orchid plants from the courtyard..."

"This slave knows she was wrong. I beg Mistress to show mercy and give me a chance to reform. I am willing to accept any punishment, as long as Mistress does not send me to the magistrate." After speaking, the maid collapsed on the ground, trembling.

Lin Wanqing had not expected such an absurd thing. A lowly sweeping maid actually had the audacity to do something like this; the General's Mansion truly was rotten to the core. But as things stood, what else could be done?

She asked indifferently, "How much money did you get for the two orchids?"

The maid replied in a trembling voice, "Five... five taels. Mistress, my family really had an emergency, and I only took the two that were in the worst condition. Please, Mistress, have mercy."

Lin Wanqing asked, "It was only five taels of silver; why did you not go to the Old Mistress?"

Generally, when servants in a household faced life-altering emergencies, as long as it did not harm the family's reputation or interests, the masters would usually help. This not only earned the servants' loyalty but also garnered a good reputation for the household.

The maid cried, "I tried, but the people in the Old Mistress's courtyard said she would not bother with such matters and told me to go to the Eldest Miss. The Eldest Miss said it was not the place of a master to concern themselves with such trivialities and told me to find my own way. I was truly desperate, which is why I resorted to this."

Lin Wanqing was utterly speechless. This Lu Jinrong could not seem to do a single thing properly. Such a perfect opportunity to show kindness, yet in her hands, it was twisted into forcing someone to steal just to save a life.

Lin Wanqing said to the maid, "I believe you were truly desperate, but a wrong is a wrong."

Hearing this, the maid’s body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground. Nearby, some people looked at her as if she were a fool, while others looked relieved.

Lin Wanqing saw their reactions clearly and sneered inwardly, then shifted her tone. "In view of the fact that your actions were excusable and you admitted them voluntarily, I will penalize you by deducting your monthly wages to compensate for those two orchids."

The maid widened her eyes in disbelief. "Mis... Mistress, is... is it really just that?"

Lin Wanqing nodded. "I said that as long as one admits their fault, I will give them a chance to reform. Although you made a mistake, there was a cause, and the General's Mansion failed to care for you properly. So, consider those two orchids a loan from the mansion. You will pay them off with your monthly wages."

The maid scrambled up from the ground in excitement and knocked her head against the floor three times. "Thank you, Mistress! Thank you, Mistress!"

Lin Wanqing gave Banxia a look. Banxia immediately stepped forward to help the maid up and used a handkerchief to wipe the girl's forehead. "Look at you, you were so sincere you almost broke your skin. Remember to rub it with an egg later."

The maid, who had thought she would be sent to the magistrate, was moved to tears. Not only had the Mistress not punished her, she had even reframed her theft as a loan, and now her personal maid was helping her and showing such care. "Mistress, this slave... is ashamed..."

Lin Wanqing smiled at her. "To err and then reform is the greatest virtue. Serve well in the future; I believe you are a good girl. By the way, has your family matter been resolved? If not, tell Banxia later. Since you serve in the General's Mansion, you are one of our own, and the mansion should protect you."

The maid fell to her knees again. "Thank you, Mistress! For your great kindness, this slave will serve you like a beast of burden for the rest of her life!" At that moment, the maid decided in her heart that she would serve the Mistress with her life. If the Mistress asked for it, she would give it without hesitation.

Lin Wanqing laughed. "Then come and serve in my courtyard."

The maid stared, stunned. Lin Wanqing raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you unwilling? Didn't you say you wanted to repay me?"

The maid said in a frenzy of joy, "No, this slave is willing! I just couldn't believe it was real." She pinched her own face hard, yelping in pain, but as she let go, she smiled foolishly. "It's real, it hurts, it's real!"

She kowtowed three more times. "This slave, Qingzhu, greets Mistress."

Lin Wanqing was amused by her sincerity and helped her up. "Serve diligently in the future. If you encounter any difficulties, speak to Banxia and Zisu. If they cannot resolve them, they will report to me."

Qingzhu nodded continuously, her eyes red. Banxia pulled her aside, and Zisu took out a medicine jar, applying some powder to her forehead. "This is for the swelling and pain; it will be better soon." Qingzhu was moved to tears again.

The other servants in the courtyard, seeing Qingzhu’s sudden stroke of luck, were filled with astonishment and envy.

"Mistress, this slave also made a mistake, and I would like a chance to reform." Others began to step forward. "Mistress, this old servant was also wrong." "Mistress, this slave..."

Lin Wanqing kept her word. She told Banxia, "Write down all their wrongdoings and bring them to me later." Banxia bowed and turned to the servants. "Come with me to register."

Lin Wanqing turned her gaze toward those still kneeling in the courtyard—these were the managers of the various estates.