Chapter 321: Ransack His House

Ruyu trembled all over. She cast a pleading glance at Nanny Xu, then looked to the Princess Consort.

A cold sneer touched the corner of Nanny Xu’s lips. The Princess Consort didn’t even spare Ruyu a sideways glance.

Left with no choice, Ruyu stepped forward, trembling, and knelt at Xiao Yu’s feet.

Xiao Yu sneered. "What audacity. You’re just a servant girl, yet instead of focusing on serving my mother properly, you dare to collude with the Chief Steward of the outer court and stir up trouble right in front of her!"

"Men! Drag her out and give her forty strikes with the plank! Then throw her out!"

Upon hearing "forty strikes," Ruyu only had time to let out an "AH—" before she crumpled to the floor and fainted.

Two serving women dragged Ruyu out and began the beating right there in the courtyard.

When Housekeeper Wu arrived in the courtyard, he saw Ruyu lying prone on the ground, her lower body stained with blood. Two serving women were swinging planks over a foot wide, taking turns striking her in a steady rhythm.

Housekeeper Wu’s legs went weak. He’d had a bad feeling ever since Stone came to fetch him, and now, seeing Ruyu being beaten, there was nothing left to misunderstand.

For a moment, it was as if his own rear was aching in sympathy. He wished he could sprout eight legs and flee the scene immediately.

Stone shot him a glance and, with a cold smirk, dragged him into the room.

The moment Housekeeper Wu entered, he dropped to his knees. He practically prostrated himself flat on the floor, not even caring which direction he faced, and began kowtowing frantically. "Mercy, Princess Consort! Mercy, Young Master Heir!"

Xiao Yu looked down coldly at the heap that was Housekeeper Wu and scoffed. "Mercy? I’d love to spare you. But if I do, who knows how you’ll try to harm me in the future!"

Housekeeper Wu sputtered, "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare."

"Heh, what wouldn’t you dare!"

"Last time, you trashed Miss Gu’s shop, and I didn’t do much to you. I only gave you a minor punishment, but I didn’t expect it would only make you bolder."

"You secretly collude with officials and incite the servant girls attending the Princess Consort. You’ve got quite the nerve!"

"And last time you told me that two thousand silver was your entire fortune. Heh, did you really think I believed you? I just couldn’t be bothered to argue with you."

Xiao Yu took a breath and shouted toward the door, "Stone! Go and gather one hundred trusted aides and ransack Housekeeper Wu’s residence for me!"

"Today, I am going to see just how much of a fortune you, the Chief Steward of this Prince Mansion, have amassed!"

Stone replied with a powerful voice, "Yes! I’ll go at once."

Cold sweat poured down Housekeeper Wu’s forehead as he collapsed to the floor. A patch of the Persian rug beneath him was instantly soaked through.

Having given his orders, Xiao Yu said no more. He simply closed his eyes and waited.

Just then, a serving woman came in from outside to report, "Your Highness the Princess Consort, Young Master Heir, the forty strikes are done. Miss Ruyu... she... she’s no longer breathing—"

Nanny Xu took a step forward. "She got what she deserved. Have someone drag her out and throw her on the chaotic burial mound outside the city."

The serving woman acknowledged the order and withdrew.

The people in the room held their breath, daring not to make a sound. The Princess Consort, seated on her chaise lounge, shifted uncomfortably.

It was already dinnertime, but the servant girls in the room remained frozen, holding their breath, not daring to go out and call for the meal.

After a long moment, the Princess Consort spoke cautiously, "Yu’er, you just returned. You probably haven’t had dinner yet. I’ll have someone bring food now. Why don’t you eat here, will that be alright?"

Xiao Yu snorted coldly. "Mother, you can eat by yourself. I won’t be eating. I’m already full of anger."

The Princess Consort shot Nanny Xu a pleading look. Nanny Xu said softly, "Young Master Heir, Housekeeper Wu deserved his punishment, and he has been dealt with. But your health is what’s most important. You absolutely must not harm your own well-being for the sake of a mere servant."