The six individuals all shook their heads in unison.
Dazhuang said, "Madam, we have all volunteered, and no one has forced us. Please grant our wish, Madam!"
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at Su Ya, who then walked to the dressing table, took out a brocade box, and placed it in her madam's hand.
She said, "Inside this box are your deeds of sale. Today, I am returning them to you, considering them a wedding gift from my husband and myself!"
Opening the brocade box, several papers lay quietly inside. Though inconspicuous, these papers held the key to their destinies.
"We, your servants, thank Madam and Master for their great kindness!"
Some cried tears of gratitude, while others held back their tears. They took the deeds of sale, feeling a sense of unburdened freedom, as if a weight had been lifted from their spirits.
"Rise. You are now free. If you wish to continue working in the manor, you may stay. If not, upon your departure, you will each receive one thousand taels of silver from Mr. Li at the accounting office. Live well after you leave!"
Chun Fen, hearing this, was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her face. She shook her head like a rattle drum, "This servant will not leave. This servant will remain in the Prince's manor to serve Madam!"
"We, your servants, will not leave. We wish to stay and serve Master and Madam!"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled, her gaze sweeping over each person. After a long moment, she spoke, "My words today will hold true in the future!"
"Su Ya, have the steward arrange three new bridal chambers in the manor. Choose an auspicious day, and I myself will preside over their weddings!"
"Yes, Madam!"
Su Ya, with a smile, led the three pairs of soon-to-be newlyweds out of Madam's sleeping quarters. Zhao Jiaqi was left alone in the room.
She reminisced about her wedding night, when the original owner had been frightened to death by Fan Zehao's bushy beard. That was when she had transmigrated!
In this era, armed with her memories from her past life, she would build a fortune and have children!
Thirteen years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Alas...
In the afternoon, the steward arrived to report that the new bridal chambers were to be decorated by the brides themselves. He would provide whatever was needed, and an auspicious date had been chosen.
Steward Wang said, "Madam, the soonest auspicious date is the seventeenth of November, which is suitable for weddings. The next good dates will be at the end of next month!"
November seventeenth?
There were still three days left. That was enough time!
Zhao Jiaqi instructed, "Then, on the seventeenth, let them get married. We will have a small celebration within the manor. Have the kitchen prepare some exquisite dishes. Close the manor gates, and in the evening, let the young servants, maids, and guards relax. This is to celebrate the marriage of these three couples, and also to let them rest. However, the patrols and guards must not participate. The safety of the manor still requires their diligence!"
Steward Wang's old face was alight with a smile, his mustache twitching, "Understood. This old servant will make the arrangements. As for the evening of the seventeenth, for the patrols and guards, this servant will prepare extra good food for them, and distribute some fine wine to them after their shifts!"
"You are always so thoughtful, Steward. Go and make the arrangements."
Within the manor, from the masters to the lowest servants and maids, everyone was beaming with smiles. They were all looking forward to the evening after tomorrow. After seeing the brides, they would also get to participate in a bonfire party, which was said to be more lively than the New Year.
The manor began to buzz with excitement, but Huangfu Pingtíng arrived in a furious rage, rushing as if she were riding a pair of wind-and-fire wheels straight towards Peony Garden.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, I've come to back you up!"
Her voice preceded her arrival, a typical display of Huangfu Pingtíng's personality.
With two swift movements, she lifted the cotton curtain and, without the assistance of the maid beside her, entered the room in a huff.
She saw Zhao Jiaqi sitting by a stove, roasting sweet potatoes, the room warm and cozy, almost to the point of suffocation.
Xiao Jiu hurriedly removed the princess's cloak. Seeing her sit next to the Princess Consort, Xiao Jiu retreated to the side.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, I heard that Eldest Brother argued with you, right? It's alright, don't be afraid of him. I'm here to support you. If he dares to bully you, and if he doesn't want you to apologize, I won't let him off!"
She boasted grandly, as if it were a real possibility.
If this were spoken by someone else, Zhao Jiaqi might have believed it. But coming from this princess, Zhao Jiaqi dared not even consider it.
She hadn't forgotten that this princess, who feared nothing, was terrified of Fan Zehao's eyes.
"How do you plan to back me up? Beat him up? Do you dare?" Zhao Jiaqi said with a laugh, simultaneously handing her a roasted sweet potato, "It's very sweet. Try it!"
Pingtíng's eyes widened, and she angrily snatched the sweet potato, her voice rising as she shouted, "Beating him up would be too good for him. At least two beatings!"
Zhao Jiaqi chuckled. Her gaze flickered towards a figure that flashed past the window. She lowered her eyelids and said, suppressing a smile, "Do you truly dare to beat Fan Zehao? Aren't you afraid he'll throw you out of the manor?"
"I'm not afraid. Even if he throws me out, I'll still stand up for you. If I can't beat him, then I'll take you to my fiefdom. We'll become kings and overlords there, so we won't have to see him!"
Coincidentally, her words, intended to lure Zhao Jiaqi away, were overheard by Fan Zehao, who had just returned.
With a whoosh, his face became longer than a donkey's, as dark as coal, and he walked towards Huangfu Pingtíng menacingly.
A chill ran down someone's spine, sensing danger. She turned and looked. Horrors!
She was so scared that she immediately stood up from the stool, forcing an awkward laugh, "Heh heh... heh heh, Eldest Brother, when did you get back? You walk without making a sound, it's quite startling!"
Fan Zehao asked her coldly, "Who do you want to beat, and who are you planning to take away, hmm~" he said through gritted teeth, his molars grinding, his hands clenched so tightly that veins bulged.
He was restraining his anger. If not for the fact that she was his younger brother's wife, for anyone else, he would have already delivered a finishing blow.
"Heh heh... heh heh, Eldest Brother, you misheard. Who would dare to take Eldest Sister-in-law away? The one you cherish most! I was talking about someone else, someone else... heh heh..."
Pingtíng wished she could slap herself for the words she had spoken. Why did her courage dwindle so much whenever she saw his face?
She glanced back and saw that Eldest Sister-in-law was smiling, her eyes crinkling. It was clear her mood was excellent. At this, Pingtíng realized she had been tricked by Eldest Sister-in-law.
Pingtíng grumbled, "Eldest Sister-in-law!"
Zhao Jiaqi shrugged, feigning innocence, and retorted, "Weren't you just saying you were going to back me up? And that you would beat him twice? What happened? He's here, and you've gone soft?"
This made Pingtíng even more embarrassed. Facing someone like a king of hell, how could she possibly dare to beat him? Let alone beat him, she didn't even want to encounter him!
She had only been trying to encourage her. She said softly, "I was just trying to give you courage. You took it seriously. You know better than anyone how everyone fears your King of Hell!"
Zhao Jiaqi thought to herself, "I'm not afraid!"
But seeing her timidness, yet still worrying about her, made her feel very good.
She glanced at the overbearing Fan Zehao. Their eyes met in mid-air, and they stared at each other for two minutes without blinking, each waiting for the other to apologize first.
Unfortunately, their personalities were very similar, and neither was willing to be the first to back down.
Zhao Jiaqi calmly withdrew her gaze, took Pingtíng's hand, and said, "Come, let's go eat meat and drink wine!"