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Chapter 49

Mrs. Lu examined Li Xia, truly not expecting this maid to dare to act so boldly. She then glanced at Hua Steward, whom she had personally promoted to steward, not expecting him to be won over by the second young lady.

"Explain why you posted the reward and punishment list?"

"In response to Mother, it was to let the people in the Embroidery Room know that good work is rewarded, and poor work means less pay. To motivate the Embroidery Room staff to work diligently. So I had Hua Steward post the best and worst performers, listing the reasons to show them that only good work earns rewards," Li Xia said, not mentioning that it was Hua Steward\'s idea and taking full responsibility herself.

"You think you did the right thing," Mrs. Lu said, seeing Li Xia\'s expression of having done well and not needing rewards. She found this maid\'s boldness amusing - how did she not know Li Xia was so daring? Some things can be spoken openly, others cannot.

Wang Butler had served two generations of the Li family masters. Zhao Embroidery Lady was placed by Mrs. Lu in the Embroidery Room. Wang Butler\'s grandchild\'s wife and Zhao Embroidery Lady were essentially elderly women arranged by the two Li family elders to spend their later years in the Embroidery Room. Li Xia\'s actions had directly slapped Mrs. Lu and Li Ming in the face. Thus, the two women Li Xia did not recognize in the room looked at her with smug expressions.

Mrs. Lu glanced at the two women and suppressed her displeasure. "This matter ends here. You may go." The two did not expect Mrs. Lu to let it go so lightly, their faces filled with bewilderment, then dissatisfaction at why Li Xia and Hua Steward were not punished. Hua Steward, however, happily paid respects to Mrs. Lu before leaving.

After they left, Li Xin came to her mother, not understanding why she had acted this way.

Mrs. Lu looked at the puzzled Li Xin and sighed. She had carefully taught Li Xin but had also confined her to the role of a lady, causing Li Xin to act with circumspection but also lack some sharpness and adaptability.

"Think about why I did this," Mrs. Lu asked Li Xin to ponder.

Li Xin thought for a moment and said uncertainly, "Mother, is Xia Xia challenging authority?" Seeing Mrs. Lu\'s satisfied expression, she continued relieved, "Xia Xia\'s original intention was not as I first thought - reckless and careless. She had Hua Steward do this to let you and Father know there are problems with the Embroidery Room staff. So you would investigate and understand, then handle it using your authority."

Mrs. Lu nodded. "Those two are well-connected. They were sent to the Embroidery Room by your father and I to spend their later years in peace. So even if Hua Steward knew they were lazy, he would not make much of it. But what they should not have done was to be greedy." Mrs. Lu then handed Li Xin a book.

Li Xin took the book, and the more she read, the more upset she became, her face eventually showing anger. At the last banquet, Li Xin had sent a box of Southern pearls to the Embroidery Room, and many were missing when it was returned, supposedly damaged. These Southern pearls were a birthday gift from Mrs. Lu\'s mother-in-law to Li Xin, rarely used. When Zhao Embroidery Lady said many were damaged, Li Xin was heartbroken. Now it turned out they had been stolen due to greed.

"Mother, will you just let them off so easily?" Li Xin asked.

Mrs. Lu did not reply, but later Li Xin heard that Wang Butler had voluntarily asked Li Ming to retire due to his advanced age and recommended Li Chuan as the new butler. Li Xin understood this was the true punishment.

When Li Xia returned to the Orchid Courtyard, she saw the servants and Auntie Mei looking at her with concern.

"Mother did not blame me. This matter is over," Li Xia said, allowing Auntie Mei to breathe a sigh of relief.

"The lady is kindhearted to pardon your impulsive misbehavior. You must not act so recklessly again," Auntie Mei said.

Li Xia nodded but did not promise not to do it again. Seeing Li Xia\'s good attitude, Auntie Mei thought she had learned her lesson. She then left to make shoes for Mrs. Lu.

After seeing off Auntie Mei, Li Xia shook her head at Qiu Shui and the other maids who had been relieved - a group of inexperienced little maids with nothing to worry about.

"Miss, the young master has sent two books," Qiu Shui handed Li Xia two books.

Li Xia saw they were about carving and was surprised that Li Hui had been so thoughtful as to buy her books specifically. Setting down the books, Li Xia went to the curio shelf and carefully selected a bamboo pen holder and an eagle statuette sculpture. She wrapped them up and called for Qiu Shui, "Qiu Shui, take these two items as gifts to the Songtao Courtyard."

Qiu Shui carefully took the package and went to the Songtao Courtyard. At the entrance, the gatekeeper Shan Zhu saw Qiu Shui and smiled, "Sister Qiu Shui, why didn\'t the second miss come herself?"

"The miss asked me to deliver these two items to the Songtao Courtyard," Qiu Shui said, gesturing to the package in her hands.

Shan Zhu took the package from Qiu Shui, who then left. Shan Zhu carried the items past the kneeling Ban Zhu without a word and entered the room. "Master, the second miss has sent gifts."

Li Hui was puzzled as to why Li Xia would send him gifts. Opening the package, he saw a sculpture of a spreading eagle, its sharp eyes portraying boldness and enterprising spirit. Next to it was a bamboo pen holder rising node by node, evoking the desire to strive upwards. Li Hui placed the statuette and pen holder on the table, feeling delighted. The annoyance he had felt because of Ban Zhu was gone.

"Master, Ban Zhu is kneeling outside," Shan Zhu said, unable to ignore his long friendship with Ban Zhu.

Li Hui glanced at the people in the courtyard. "Let him kneel and reflect." If his own people could not properly discipline their families, thus tarnishing his reputation as he rose through the ranks, that would not do.

"Yes," Shan Zhu replied and went to tell Ban Zhu Li Hui\'s words. Ban Zhu was instead relieved, taking it as a sign that Li Hui did not intend to dismiss him.

Earlier, Zhao Embroidery Lady had angrily come to find Ban Zhu and accused the second miss. Only then did Ban Zhu learn of the situation. After interrogating her, he found out that his sister had taken advantage of their mother\'s favor with the master to act arrogantly in the Embroidery Room, taking things as she pleased, even items used by the master himself, and selling them.

Truly audacious. Ban Zhu was not brainless - he immediately apologized to Li Hui, returned what could be returned, and forced his family to compensate for what could not be returned, all in the hopes that the master would forgive him and not dismiss him.

With this success, Li Xia gained renown, ensuring that no one in the manor would underestimate her again. The servants who had previously disrespected Auntie Mei changed their attitudes.

In the eyes of the Li manor servants, the most unimportant of the aunties was Auntie Mei. With only a single daughter and no favor, it was obvious she would grow old in a corner of the rear courtyard, not worth any respect.

Li Xia did not care how others treated her, but her aunties had to be respected. With her enhanced abilities, there were no secrets in the Li manor to her eyes, and she noticed details she had previously overlooked. She had witnessed the slights and disdainful looks Auntie Mei received when out and about.