Selling Servants and Charlotte Chu the Hot Commodity

Hahaha... Serena let out a cold laugh, laughing until tears streamed down her cheeks.

"So you all think I've been abandoned, that I'm just some cast-off woman? Is that why you feel free to run wild, even daring to gossip about your own mistress?"

"We wouldn't dare, Miss." The servants dropped to their knees, begging for mercy. Only Mira Tang, Jada Tang, the steward, Simon Sun, and Zed remained standing.

"Wouldn't dare? What is it that you wouldn't dare?" Looking at the crowd kneeling on the floor, Serena felt a chill run through her heart. Even her own household spoke like this—she truly had failed as a mistress.

She knew the servants had suffered sneers because of the rumors, and she did feel guilty. But that didn't give them the right to gossip about their mistress behind her back.

The hierarchy between master and servant was clear. Serena didn't expect blind loyalty, but when she was under attack, her staff should at least stand with her—not chatter about her behind closed doors.

How dare they use her situation with Ninth Royal Uncle as idle talk—these people were simply too bored. Did they think her kindness meant she'd never punish them?

Serena looked coldly at everyone present. Except for Simon Sun, every single person felt the danger in the air—even Zed was no exception.

Only now did Zed realize that, deep down, Serena was just as ruthless as Ninth Royal Uncle—she just usually hid it behind calm rationality.

Serena truly was merciless. When the steward asked how to deal with the gossiping staff, Serena said, "Steward, except for Mira Tang, Jada Tang, and the injured servants recovering at Nolan's Suburban Villa, sell all the remaining household staff."

Selling servants. Most families would never stoop to this—first, they're afraid the sold servants will hold a grudge and spread slander; second, selling servants is seen as either cruel or a sign of decline.

When noble houses face such trouble, they usually send the offending staff to the mines for hard labor. The newly powerful just kill them outright. By comparison, Serena's method of selling them off seems almost gentle.

"Miss, isn't this a bit much? Why not just send them to one of the estate farms instead?" The steward stepped forward to advise Serena, wanting to explain the downsides of selling staff. After all, Feng Manor didn't lack for silver.

Serena waved him off. "No need. Just do as I said."

"Thank you, Miss, thank you! Thank you for your mercy!" The servants secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately kowtowed in gratitude.

Just being sold—wherever you serve, you're still a servant. Switching households isn't so bad, they thought. But they rejoiced too soon. Serena caught every expression, her lips curling slightly as she added, slow and clear: "Steward, sell them all to the Northlyn Kingdom."

It wasn't that Serena was cruel; it was that these people were simply too ungrateful, too ignorant of their place. As servants of Feng Manor, their lives and honor depended on her. But what had they done?

She'd left Ninth Prince Manor, spent three days in the palace with no news, and these people immediately grew restless, gossiping about her in her own house. She'd always treated her staff well, but even her kindness had limits. If she didn't purge this batch now, how could she ever control Feng Manor again, or keep household secrets from leaking?

Serena had no desire to be the subject of idle gossip day after day. Not getting angry at rumors didn't mean she was willing to let them torment her.

"Yes, Miss." The steward's eyes lit up, secretly admiring Serena's decisiveness. The other servants, hearing 'Northlyn,' immediately went from relief to despair, kowtowing and sobbing, "Please spare us, Miss! We'll never dare again! Miss, have mercy, just this once!"

Serena snorted, ignoring their pleas. She stood up, walked coldly through the kneeling servants, and headed toward the inner courtyard.

Seeing that begging Serena was useless, the servants turned to Simon Sun: "Young Master Sun, you're kind and merciful, please, please, plead with Miss for us! Don't let her sell us to Northlyn—we know we were wrong!"

Only now did everyone in Feng Manor truly understand: no matter how much Serena was insulted or looked down on outside, she was still the one who held their lives in her hands.

"You... Master has already spared your lives—that's mercy enough." Simon Sun was kind, but that didn't mean he could be manipulated. Imitating Serena, he turned and walked away, leaving the rest for the steward to handle.

Once the matter was settled, Feng Manor fell silent. No more groups of maids and servants gossiping together.

Zed seemed to sense the killing intent radiating from Serena and became much more subdued. And somehow, after Serena had Simon Sun treat Zed's injuries, Zed grew especially attached to Simon Sun. Serena could only sigh again—her disciple really was a treasure.

After handling the servants with ruthless decisiveness, Serena returned to her own courtyard, exhausted. Mira Tang and Jada Tang followed nervously, and as soon as they entered, they knelt before her to plead guilty.

The past three days had been pure torment for everyone in Feng Manor. Serena was summoned to the palace, but no one knew why. They tried to ask for news at Ninth Prince Manor, but couldn't get in. Serena herself heard nothing, and no one knew if something had happened. Except for the steward, not a single person in Feng Manor could take charge—panic was inevitable.

"It's not your fault. You may go." Serena sighed softly, not venting her anger on them. She understood why the staff panicked without a leader, but understanding didn't mean she would go soft on necessary actions.

Serena was the only master in Feng Manor. She couldn't be there all the time to keep everyone steady. The staff would have to get used to having a mistress who was often absent.

After sending Mira Tang and Jada Tang away, Serena finally calmed down. She sighed, hesitated, but decided to apologize to Ninth Royal Uncle. After all, her sudden return to Feng Manor that day was a bit much, and with him not visiting for three days, he was probably angry.

(This chapter isn't over yet~ Please click 'next page' to keep reading!)

"Forget it, someone has to bow their head first. Since I was the one out of line, I'll do it. Men need coaxing too." Serena thought for a moment, then picked up her brush and wrote: "Let the lord be like steadfast rock, the lady like pliant rush; the rush tough as silk thread, the rock never to turn." (From 'Peacock Flying Southeast.' It means their bond is firm and won't be shaken by outside troubles.)

"I hope Ninth Royal Uncle understands. Anyone would be angry in that situation—I'm only human." At that moment, Serena couldn't stand another minute in Ninth Prince Manor; the fact that she left without a scene was restraint enough.

Serena didn't blame the rumors, since she was the one who first got involved with Ninth Royal Uncle. But she did resent that he hid things from her. If he hadn't, she could have stopped the gossip before it got so nasty—even dragging her late parents into it.

With Charlotte Chu around, quashing rumors wouldn't be hard. Ninth Royal Uncle and Simon Sun might not care about her, but in the Nine Provinces Realm, Charlotte Chu is a hot commodity. Her admirers could line up from the palace to the city gates. All Serena had to do was stir things up a bit, get Charlotte's suitors into the Capital, and let a few scandals break. Then no one would be focused on Serena's own troubles.

Just as Serena was preparing to set things in motion, three luxurious carriages rolled through the city gates toward the imperial capital...

One act ends, another begins. This summer, the imperial city of Eastlyn is going to be lively.

Author's note: Again, this isn't a tragedy! When I said the best time for an explanation was missed, I meant Ninth Royal Uncle doesn't need to explain anymore. Serena isn't stubborn; her impulsive return home was just shock at the news, plus the huge manor felt empty—no confidant but Ninth Royal Uncle, so she left in anger.

Dear readers, it's not that Serena refused to ask Ninth Royal Uncle for help, it's just her personality. Besides, their status gap is real. Serena likes Ninth Royal Uncle for himself, not his rank or power. She has to be independent, otherwise he'd think she was just another woman clinging to power. If she relied on him for everything, what would make her any different from those social climbers?