Chapter 138 Punishment

Madam Song kicked Furong hard, sending her crashing to the floor. Ever since her wedding day, she had never suffered such humiliation in front of her husband, and it was all thanks to this vile wench.

"Madam, Madam, please spare my life!" Furong wailed, quickly wrapping her arms around Madam Song’s legs and weeping bitterly.

Madam Song grew even more furious and barked angrily, "Are you all dead? Why haven't you dragged this wretched creature away yet?"

Peony and Platycodon hurried forward, grabbing Furong by either arm.

Nanny Fang came rushing in upon hearing the commotion. She had only stepped away for a moment, yet it was enough for this wretched girl to force her way in.

"Shameless wretch!" Nanny Fang did not hesitate to slap Furong twice across the face, then turned to soothe Madam Song, who was panting heavily. "Madam, it is not worth your while to get angry over such a base creature. Haitang, quickly fetch a calming pill for Madam."

Madam Song gripped Nanny Fang's hand tightly, her eyes blazing with rage as she glared at Furong. "I offered you a way out, but you insisted on debasing yourself, daring to throw yourself at the Prime Minister! You brazen wretch, you must have the courage of a bear and the heart of a leopard!"

Furong sobbed uncontrollably, crying, "Madam, this maid did not dare! This maid truly did not want to leave you."

"You didn't want to leave? As if I don't know what you were thinking—you wanted to offer yourself to the Prime Minister's bed! You vile creature, how dare you? Who do you think you are? Do you think the Prime Minister would even deign to look at you?" Madam Song was genuinely enraged. True, Furong was one of her four chief maids, and though she had once considered having her serve Song Zhezhi, that did not mean she condoned a maid making active advances without her permission.

Considering the years Furong had served her, allowing her to leave the estate quietly was meant to preserve a shred of dignity between mistress and servant. To think she had been playing the fool—this despicable wench had actually dared to play tricks behind her back!

Madam Song had never been so furious, especially not in front of her husband; that single glance he had cast had mortified her to the core.

"Madam, please let me stay and continue to serve you, Madam! Didn't you also fond of Furong and want Furong to serve the Prime Minister..." Furong wept bitterly.

"Shut your mouth!" Madam Song shouted furiously. "What your master bestows upon you, you may accept; but if you dare to make a move without your master's consent, you are betraying your master! This mistress has no use for a treacherous wench like you, lest you stain my eyes."

"Madam, this maid—"

"If you say another word, letting your parents take you back to marry a peasant was already showing you mercy, but since you refuse, perhaps you'd prefer a matchmaker to lead you away and sell you to some filthy brothel before you feel at ease?" Madam Song sneered.

Hearing this, Furong's face turned ashen, drained of all color.

Nanny Fang commanded, "What are you still standing there for? Drag her out! Stuff a handkerchief in her mouth so she doesn't disturb the masters."

Several married women and old maids stepped forward and dragged the struggling Furong away, a cotton handkerchief firmly stuffed in her mouth.

Nanny Fang had already fetched a cup of water, taking the calming pill from Haitang to administer it to Madam Song. She rubbed Madam Song's back continuously and coaxed, "Madam, calm your anger. It is not worth exhausting yourself over such a wretched girl. If your anger is still not appeased, we can simply have her beaten to death later."

For a maid daring to attempt bed-clumping and betraying her master, killing her on the spot required no justification. It was only because Madam Song remembered their past ties that she had intended to let her return home, but alas, the ungrateful wretch did not know how to count her blessings.

"I am angry at her utter lack of self-awareness, and even angrier that she made a fool of me in front of the Prime Minister, and on such a wonderful day of all days!" Madam Song said indignantly. "And as for this courtyard, to think they couldn't even guard against this worthless wretch and let her burst in—dock everyone's wages for a month!"

"Yes."

Still unsatisfied with her vengeance, Madam Song said coldly, "Have the matchmaker sell her entire family—sell them as far away as possible."

Since she refused a gracious exit, none of them deserved to stay.