After Rebirth, She Becomes the Revenge Queen-Chapter 13 - 012: The Slave Bullies the Master

"If you think that way, of course, there's no problem. Rules must be taught if not followed. On the way here, the maid from your quarters was disrespectful to my mother, and I have already disciplined her for you. Now, if you continue to disregard the rules, I don't mind teaching you too! That way, you won't raise disrespectful servants!"

Fu Zhen cast a sidelong glare and then picked up a cup of tea that Fu Yun hadn't had a chance to drink, sipping it to moisten her throat.

Mrs. Liu's anger turned her vision dark, and she collapsed against the back of her chair, crying!

Fu Rou hurriedly called "Mother," soothing her chest and rubbing her temples!

The mother and daughter, one being beaten and the other scolded, ended up crying together!

Fu Yun could no longer sit still, jumped up and pointed at Fu Zhen, while grabbing the stick from the maid's hand: "You ungrateful wretch with no respect for your elders! Do you really think I won't deal with you?! They may not be able to hit you, but I sure can!"

"Dare you!"

At this time, Mrs. Fu, who had tolerated Fu Zhen's scolding for quite a while, rushed forward to separate him from Fu Zhen: "If you dare lay a finger on her today, I'll make sure you gain nothing!"

Even though Fu Yun had raised the stick above Fu Zhen's head, he ultimately didn't bring it down.

He pushed Mrs. Fu aside, but Fu Zhen firmly supported Mrs. Fu from behind, sneering: "Father! Hurting one's lawful wife in my presence—this is the second time. There won't be a third. If it happens again, I won't hesitate to go to the Imperial Censorate and strike the drum of injustice.

"If you're not afraid of losing face, then neither am I!"

"Enough!" Mrs. Fu looked at her, "Zhen Er, return to your room."

Pushed to the brink, even a dog will jump over a wall. No matter how much one sorts out the Fu family and Mrs. Liu, he is still her father after all, and if he truly disregards everything to assert fatherly authority, how can Zhen Er's delicate body withstand it!

Moreover, as a secluded young lady who doesn't step beyond the main door, how could she ever reach the gates of the Imperial Censorate?

Mrs. Fu thought, though Fu Zhen has courage, she was merely acting on impulse.

Fu Zhen naturally wasn't afraid.

How could she not know the workings within the court offices? The reason she dared to repeatedly talk tough was because there was logic behind it.

Fu Yun and Mrs. Liu's actions were truly excessive. If she didn't give them a strong warning, it would be hard to carry out any matters in the future.

However, she also understood Mrs. Fu's concerns. The Fu family's chaos was a chronic illness; solving just the matter at hand wouldn't lead to a cure.

Thus, she obediently took a half step back, so as not to make matters difficult for Mrs. Fu, choosing to make peace.

"Who allowed her to leave? Who dares to let her leave? She has provoked me so often today without giving an explanation!"

Even though Fu Zhen was willing to step down, Fu Yun had no intention of letting it go. Seeing that Fu Zhen was about to leave, he roared from behind.

Upon hearing this, Fu Zhen smirked slightly and turned back around.

"I heard that father went up the mountain today to seek future prospects. I heard that Lord Tu's wife is a cousin to the Cheng family of the General of National Stabilization, and that their families are very close.

"Coincidentally, last month while mother and I were on the street getting medicine, we happened to meet the General's wife at the clinic of Doctor Hu's nephew. Would father care to guess what she said to Dr. Xiao Hu?"

Fu Yun, who was still quite furious, paused suddenly upon hearing this, with a glint in his eyes.

"What did she say?!"

The Hu family had been imperial physicians for generations. Though Dr. Xiao Hu was only the nephew, he opened a well-known clinic in the capital, often visited by dignitaries seeking medical advice personally.

Even for someone like Tu Jun, access was difficult, let alone a prestigious family like that of the General of National Stabilization, which was far beyond Fu Yun's reach.

More than twenty years ago, when the present emperor unified the land, he ennobled the loyal civil and military officials who had followed him through countless battles.

Among civil servants, the Gu family held the most influence as the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, granted the first rank official title and held power over the Cabinet.

As for the military generals, the five families of Pei, Liang, Cheng, Du, and He were most distinguished, each granted hereditary titles of National Protector, Protector of the Nation, Stabilizer of the Nation, and Guardian of the Nation, to be held for three generations.

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Above these six was only the Emperor, even the only blood relative from the emperor's side, Prince Rong, did not match their immense power and influence despite his official role as the only Imperial Uncle.

Even after more than twenty years, although most of these elders had passed away, with their family endeavors inherited by their descendants, these five mansions remained awe-inspiring when mentioned in court.

The Pei family, crowned with glory due to their decisive victory and triumphant return last winter after leading the charge from the northwest under the Great Zhou banner, was beyond question.

Having lost two battle-distinguished forefathers, the Liang family, which seemed on the decline, saw a turnaround in fortune due to Liang Chen, the second Protector of the Nation General's heroic lead in the campaign and recovered several lost towns for the Great Zhou.

Albeit injured, unable to claim the top merit, the Liang family regained about seventy or eighty percent of its past glory through promotions and titles.

Other than that, the elder generals of the remaining three families either passed away or were aging.

Yet, albeit fallen, even dead tigers command respect, standing several rungs above the Fu family!

General Cheng, the previous head of the General of National Stabilization Mansion, had been sacrificed in the northwest four years ago, with Cheng Wei, his son, now running the family. He had served at the frontier and now commanded the thirteen camps in the Capital, with other family members also serving as generals.

Mrs. Tu, the wife of Assistant Minister Tu Jun, was a cousin to Mrs. Cheng, and having inquired much, Fu Yun seeking advancement naturally wished to use the Cheng family as a link. If secured through the Cheng family, his promotion prospects were nearly assured!

Yet he couldn't fathom what medicine Fu Zhen was selling in her gourd!

Fu Zhen laughed coldly, casting an indifferent glance where Mrs. Liu sat: "For years, mother has managed household affairs tirelessly, yet today she stood for so long before a mere concubine! Father, should there truly be no explanation for this?!"

Fu Yun's facial muscles twitched.

He glanced at Mrs. Fu, then at Mrs. Liu, who was still whimpering, and then said: "Qingniang, move aside."

Just a shift in seating, it cost him nothing.

"What?!"

Just moments before seemingly half-dead, Mrs. Liu scrambled upright.

Fu Yun, slightly impatient: "Move if you are told!"

Mrs. Liu looked at him in disbelief.

Fu Zhen glanced over indifferently: "If you do not respect the house mistress, do you also not respect the head of the house?

"Then it is not favoring a concubine over a wife, but a servant dominating the master!

"Servants who disregard their masters are at least sent away, at most, punished with death! Mrs. Liu, how many lives do you have?"

Mrs. Liu staggered again, collapsing down!

Since joining Fu Yun, she'd never been humiliated like this!

Thinking back to when she entered the house with her children, even the original wife, Mrs. Fu was suppressed by the matriarch and dared not say anything to her, and now Fu Zhen dared treat her so?!

And Fu Yun actually listened to her and asked her to give up her seat to Ning!

"Master! I have borne the Fu family three children, am I even denied a chair? The lady boasts of magnanimity, yet competes with me for even this?!"

Mrs. Liu, trembling, sat back and cried across the table.

Mrs. Fu could bear it no longer and was about to step forward, but Fu Zhen held her back: "Mother, you are the noble house mistress. Why lower yourself to argue with a concubine over such matters?"

Then she turned back to Fu Yun: "Father, Mrs. Cheng is General Cheng's cousin and childhood companion. General Cheng dearly cares for her, yet why did Mrs. Cheng seek medicine outside her home and go to Dr. Xiao Hu's clinic in person, aren't you curious why?"

Fu Yun clenched his fists, and with a deep voice, looked towards Fu Rou: "Help your aunt get up!"