The Rebirth of an Orphan

Zhao Xihua nodded, and then said to Pingshui: "Pingshui, go find the family rules and look through them to see what kind of punishment should be given to the servants of our Gu family who do not use respectful titles when meeting the master and even speak wildly?"

"Yes," Pingshui has been following Zhao Xihua for so long that she has naturally developed a calm demeanor. She found this rule from the family rules and read it out in a clear voice.

"A servant who does not address his master with a respectful name will be slapped thirty times."

"Slap—" Zhao Xihua's voice was not loud but it was clearly heard by everyone.

"You," He Ma immediately stiffened her neck and started to scold Zhao Xihua, "God is watching what we do. Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning for humiliating me like this, Madam? What did I do wrong?"

"Start the execution, Pingshui, you go." Zhao Xihua said. He Ma had slapped Pingshui before, so she couldn't miss this opportunity.

"You little bitch, just try to touch me if you dare." When Mother He saw Pingshui coming over, she became anxious and looked as if she wanted to fight Pingshui to the death.

"Someone come here—" Zhao Xihua looked at the guards beside him.

These people were the ones who came to help her by Gu Lun this morning. They were all people close to Old Man Gu. They had seen all kinds of things around the old man, so how could they be afraid of an arrogant and domineering old woman?

Soon, He Ma's arms were pinned down by the guards, so Pingshui raised her hand and slapped He Ma in the face. However, the girl's hands were not strong enough, so even after being slapped thirty times, He Ma was still able to curse.

"Zhao Xihua, you bitch! Madam will never let you go, you vicious woman." Mother He was also very angry. She had never been humiliated like this before. She could not swallow this insult. She became outspoken and her mouth was full of scolding for Zhao Xihua.

"Pingshui, continue to look through the family rules. What is the crime for a servant of our Gu family to insult his master?"

Pingshui took a look, not knowing whether the young lady was going to continue the drama, "Reply Madam... yes..."

"Speak," Zhao Xihua put down the teacup and looked at He Ma lying on the ground with a smile on her face, but it made people feel a little uneasy.

"Twenty strokes of the cane." Pingshui said.

Everyone was shocked. Mother He was old, how could she withstand twenty strokes of the cane?

"Madam, Madam He is already old, please forgive her this time!"

"Young Mistress..."

"Execute!" Zhao Xihua's voice was loud and clear, suppressing all the voices begging for mercy.

At this time, He Ma was truly panicked. She wanted to say something, but she had already been tied to a long wooden bench. After a few beatings, she finally lost her pride and begged loudly: "Madam, Madam, it's my fault, it's all my fault, Madam, please forgive me."

Zhao Xihua glanced at her calmly but raised her voice: "Pingshui, if I remember correctly, if the steward insults the master, he must be punished with thirty strokes of the cane. Mother He was the steward before, right? So..."

Zhao Xihua said word by word: "Add ten more sticks."

Mother He's face turned pale instantly. Before she could even say a word of begging for mercy, she fainted after being hit by a few sticks by the guards next to her.

The courtyard was filled with people, but now it was as silent as death. Everyone was terrified. Even if he didn't die on the spot, he probably wouldn't recover for a while.

"Someone, throw some water! Everyone here needs to know their status and what to say in different situations. Since Mother He hasn't learned it well, I will teach her today."

A bucket of ice water was poured over He Ma. When He Ma woke up, she still cursed: "Zhao Xihua, you bitch, I will not let you go even if I die. You are a life without anyone to support you, you will be punished."

Another stick came down and Mother He screamed.

For a moment, the sound of flesh being torn apart, He Ma's shrill howls, and the sound of the wooden stick inlaid with iron sheets hitting... echoed in the silent yard for a long time. No one dared to speak, and everyone was so scared that their faces turned pale.

They all underestimated this girl from the country. She was not someone to be provoked.

Finally, the sound of caning gradually subsided, and the personal guard who was carrying out the punishment bowed and said to Zhao Xihua, "Young Madam, the thirty canings have been passed. Please give your orders, Young Madam."

Zhao Xihua stood up and walked to Wang Ma in the Second Young Miss's room and looked at her. Wang Ma was so scared that she knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "Young Madam, please spare me. I shouldn't have offended you. If you have any instructions in the future, just tell me. I will never say no."

Zhao Xihua smiled faintly: "Auntie Wang, you are too kind. But you know what you said to me just now. I hope you know what you should say and what you shouldn't say."

"I deserve to die, I deserve to die. I was just blinded by greed. I will never dare to do it again. If you don't believe me, I will slap myself in the face." Aunt Wang said as she slapped herself hard.

The atmosphere became increasingly stagnant, and the sound of slapping did not stop for a long time. After a long time, Zhao Xihua's cold voice finally rang out.

"I invited you all here today because I have something to tell you. Now I am in charge of all the household affairs, and I have a great responsibility. Our Gu family compound spends a lot of money every day. I know you all have your own private accounts, and you all know how much you have lost and how much you have taken."

Zhao Xihua's sharp eyes swept over the managers standing in front of him and said, "It's almost the end of the year, and I'm too lazy to check the past accounts. You just have to redo this year's accounts for me. I'll give you half a month, and hand it over to me here. You know what to do about it. Don't make excuses in front of me when the time comes, otherwise don't blame me for being rude. Do you understand?"

Everyone shuddered and quickly agreed.

Zhao Xihua then smiled and said, "Forget it, you all go, and remember to walk around the corridor."

The managers gritted their teeth and followed Zhao Xihua's instructions, bypassing the blood-covered He Ma and leaving the East Garden from the other side of the corridor, then ran to their rooms as if they were escaping for their lives.

In the entire East Garden, only He Ma was left, covered in blood. Zhao Xihua didn't want to look at her, so she said to the guards beside her, "Send her back to the Third Miss's room."

"Yes," several guards lifted up Mother He and dragged her out of the East Garden.

Zhao Xihua was so tired that she sat down on the chair. Chunfeng beside her whispered, "Miss, do you want to prepare for dinner?"

Zhao Xihua shook her head. "I need to go to the warehouse in person now, Pingshui!"

"Sister—" Pingshui quickly stood in front of Zhao Xi's screen.

"Go to the front and find Mr. Dong. Ask him to take his people to the main warehouse. I need to count the cash and the items sent by the farm shops. Mr. Dong is an accountant that Grandpa uses. Now I need him to go with me."