Chapter 154: Maids' Internal Fight
"I don't know whether this plan is profitable or not?"

Gao Yao, who had retreated, was thinking secretly in his heart.

Although the number of people and power under his command increased dramatically, the entire Internal Affairs Department was buried with a thorn.

This made Gao Yao feel uneasy.

Although Gao Yao had never thought of betraying Zhu Chengwu, he also disliked the feeling of being a thorn in the side of his subordinates.

Although Gao knew that this was inevitable as his power grew, a lump was a lump and if he didn't like it, he didn't like it.

“Forget it, let’s think about candidates for other key positions now!

The Marquis has already planted two nails. For the other positions, the Marquis will most likely choose the candidates I recommend!
You need to consider these candidates carefully!

We need to be both loyal and capable!"

Gao Yao finally suppressed his dissatisfaction and started thinking about the candidates for several other key positions.

If Gao Yao was not Zhao Xinghan, the "smart" Gao Yao would never question Zhu Chengwu's decision or go against Zhu Chengwu's arrangements.

Gao Yao understood that all his power and status depended on Zhu Chengwu.

In addition to these interests, Zhu Chengwu has been Gao Yao's good friend for decades, which makes Gao Yao not want to question his decision to betray Zhu Chengwu from the bottom of his heart.

Ambition and loyalty are sometimes not contradictory!
Just when Gao Yao was thinking about whether he would make a profit or a loss, the four close attendants were called to Zhu Chengwu.

"My Lord, you asked us to check and balance Chief Steward Gao! We are afraid..."

After hearing Zhu Chengwu's arrangement, Xia Yu and Dong Xue looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes.

This is not an easy life!
As Zhu Chengwu's close attendants, they understood better than anyone the close relationship between Zhu Chengwu and Gao Yao.

Although there is a temporary disagreement now, Zhu Chengwu asked them to check and balance Gao Yao.

But who knows, maybe Zhu Chengwu and Gao Yao will reconcile someday!
Then their situation will be embarrassing!
It is best to be the Marquis's attendant.

Not only are you respected and receive all kinds of benefits, but you also have to worry less.

You can also get Zhu Chengwu's martial arts training guidance at close range.

“This is not a negotiation, this is an order!

I am just telling you in advance so that you can be prepared in advance.

Moreover, you have all achieved first-rate accomplishments now, and would be well-known masters in the martial arts world. Why do you keep doing the work of serving others?
You should also learn to stand on your own feet!"

Seeing that Xia Yu and Dong Xue seemed to have some objections, Zhu Chengwu directly turned on the pressure mode.

Forced appointment.

That's one of the benefits of being the boss.

You can "force pressure" on your subordinates at any time, and they cannot refute.

"But, my Lord, I'm afraid I can't do it well and I'll fail to live up to your expectations!"

Between Xia Yu and Dong Xue, Xia Yu is more cheerful and dares to complain and bargain in front of Zhu Chengwu.

"It's okay! I don't have high expectations of you!

Just do your job well!
You should still focus your main energy on martial arts!
Once you become a master, you will be able to do any difficult task well!

In other words, someone will help you do the difficult work!
Moreover, such work experience may become the resources for you to become a master!

It is almost impossible to become a Grandmaster through hard practice alone!
Grandmaster, what matters most is perception!

It is time for you to experience the world, comprehend life, and find your own way!"

Zhu Chengwu does not have high expectations for Xia Yu and Dong Xue's work.

It's called checks and balances!

But as long as Xia Yu and Dong Xue can stick to their original intentions and bottom line, and do everything according to Zhu Chengwu's requirements and the rules of Fu'an Marquis Mansion, they will play the check and balance role that Zhu Chengwu requires.

However, Zhu Chengwu does not have high expectations for Xia Yu and Dong Xue's work, but he still has expectations for Xia Yu and Dong Xue's martial arts prospects.

They have excellent bones!

When one achieves first-class achievements, he is less than 25 years old and has the hope of becoming a master!
Once they become masters, their value and the help they can bring to Zhu Chengwu will truly live up to Zhu Chengwu's expectations.

"Okay! I'll try!"

Xia Yu and Dong Xue looked at each other, and finally it was Xia Yu who stepped forward first to respond to Zhu Chengwu's expectations.

After all, Zhu Chengwu has said this.

As the Marquis of Fu'an and their lord, Zhu Chengwu's words to this extent were already showing enough respect for them, and they should not be ungrateful.

"I will do my best and do my best, my lord!"

Seeing Zhu Chengwu's gaze turning towards her, Dongxue responded.

However, Xia Yu and Dong Xue did not notice that they were unwilling, but Chun Hua and Qiu Yue, who were standing beside them, were full of envy.

They were all discovered by Zhu Chengwu at about the same time and entered the Fu'an Marquis Mansion.

If you think carefully, Chunhua was the first one discovered by Zhu Chengwu.

But now Xia Yu and Dong Xue have both achieved first-class results and are playing a role in more important positions, relieving Zhu Chengwu of his worries.

However, they are still stuck at the peak of their career and can only continue their work as attendants.

This…

Of course, it’s not to say that the job of a close attendant is bad, but the world outside is obviously broader, and working in a more important position can help Zhu Chengwu better, allowing him to better display his talents and realize his own value.

"Is it really as they said, that my delusions and selfishness towards the Marquis prevented me from getting closer to the Marquis?" Chunhua frowned.

"Qiu family, Qiu family, Qiu family~~ I obviously have the best family background and the most resources, so why am I still one step behind Xia Yu and Dong Xue..." Qiu Yue's eyes were empty.

“Chunhua, Qiuyue, don’t be upset. As long as you achieve first-class results, I will arrange a position for you.

Let you return home in glory, and at the same time realize your own Dao, and prepare for becoming a Grandmaster in the future!"

Zhu Chengwu sensed Chunhua and Qiuyue's low mood and spoke to comfort them.

Summer rain and winter snow are important, but spring flowers and autumn moon are far from being abandoned.

Although they are lagging behind for a while, it does not mean that they will always lag behind.

They are still young and have a chance to catch up.

Of course, if they are always stuck at the bottleneck of moving from the peak of the stream to the first-rate realm, and have not achieved the first-rate level until the age of 28, then Zhu Chengwu will have to give up on them.

Even with Zhu Chengwu's guidance and the resources of Fu'an Marquis' Mansion, if they haven't achieved first-class performance by the age of 28, then they really have no hope of becoming a master.

You have to know that it is recognized by the martial arts world that if you don't achieve first-class skills before the age of 25, you will almost lose the possibility of becoming a master.

Zhu Chengwu was able to postpone this time by three years, which was already a great achievement from the "Immortal Records".

The practice of martial arts is a test of one's talent and physique, and it relies on one's youth.

"Thank you, sir. We will try our best!"

Chunhua and Qiuyue looked at each other. At this moment, it seemed that they could do nothing else except express their opinions.

The low pressure of spring flowers and autumn moon has been discovered, and the summer rain and winter snow have also begun to remain silent.

They have been together for more than ten years. Although there are quarrels, disputes, and even times when they can't stand each other, there is still affection between the four major attendants Chunhua, Xiayu, Qiuyue and Dongxue.

"By the way, Xia Yu and Dong Xue, before you leave, take Xia Zhu and Dong Tiao with you first...

After you leave, they will take over your shift.

Chunhua, Qiuyue, you must also play the role of predecessors!"

Zhu Chengwu arranged for the successors to Xia Yu and Dong Xue after they left.

Zhu Chengwu attached great importance to the discovery and cultivation of spiritual talents.

Not long after the closure, more than ten potential talents were discovered, including Chunhua, Xiayu, Qiuyue and Dongxue.

In the following years, Zhu Chengwu was naturally not idle.

Every year, they plunder the nearby provincial governments on a large scale.

Although after the first wave of harvest, the number of new potential talents born and growing up is not as many as in the first year.

But there are always some.

Plus some undiscovered gems.

Although the Fu'an Marquisate was competing with the major local forces for food, it was backed by the royal Zhu family and the Ming Dynasty court, so it still received some every year. After more than ten years of accumulation, the number of superior geniuses accumulated by the Fu'an Marquisate was close to half a hundred.

Therefore, summer rain and winter snow were released.

Naturally there will be summer bamboo and winter sweet potato on the top.

"Yes, Lord Marquis!"

Hearing Zhu Chengwu's words, Xia Yu and Dong Xue were stunned, and then their expressions changed, but they finally bowed calmly in response.

At this time, Xia Yu and Dong Xue finally felt that they were about to leave their attendant positions.

After all, Zhu Chengwu had even considered his successor, proving that Zhu Chengwu was determined and they had no room for rebuttal.

As the first batch of potential talents discovered by Zhu Chengwu after the establishment of Fu'an Marquisate, Xia Yu and Dong Xue served Zhu Chengwu as his close attendants for more than ten years.

Now that they are leaving, Xia Yu and Dong Xue are really reluctant and not used to it.

"Okay, you guys go out first!"

Seeing that everyone stopped talking, Zhu Chengwu signaled them to leave.

Chunhua, Xiayu, Qiuyue and Dongxue bowed and retreated.

On the way out, Xia Yu and Dong Xue carefully looked at everything familiar in the Fu'an Marquis Mansion, and touched the carved railings and jade steps outside Zhu Chengwu's courtyard that they had walked past countless times...looking sad.

Seeing Xia Yu and Dong Xue in this state, Qiu Yue didn't know whether she should be glad that she didn't achieve first-class results and was not sent out by Zhu Chengwu.

"Okay! You are not leaving the Marquis of Fu'an's Mansion. You have just changed from a maid to the commander of the imperial guards and the deputy chief of the inner guards! Who are you pretending to be for?"

Chunhua's words interrupted the sadness of summer rain and winter snow.

"I like it this way. What, do you have any objection? Chunhua!
Don't forget, I will soon be your immediate superior, you'd better be respectful to me, Chunhua!"

With one word from the spring flowers, the summer rain is immediately ignited.

Spring flowers and summer rain don't get along.

This incompatibility has become more serious since Xia Yu accidentally discovered that Chunhua seemed to want to climb into Zhu Chengwu's bed more than three years ago.

Xia Yu thinks Chunhua is a slut, but Chunhua thinks Xia Yu is a bootlicker who only knows how to flatter Zhu Chengwu.

"Shangguan? Huh~~

Xia Yu, don't forget that even Chief Butler Gao can't control us four attendants.

Just you, the deputy chief of the internal security department?"

Chunhua spoke with disdain.

But behind Chunhua's disdainful tone was her unnoticed envy.

Chunhua, whose name is "Spring", the first of the four seasons, has always acknowledged herself as the leader of the four attendants.

However, he did not expect that in martial arts practice, he was surpassed by his old rival Xia Yu.

In the end, even Dongxue achieved first-rate status, but she was still stuck at the peak of the mainstream.

This makes Chunhua uncomfortable!

Now Zhu Chengwu promoted Xia Yu and Dong Xue, who were both top-notch in martial arts, which made Chun Hua a little bit unacceptable.

But there was no way to accept it, so Chunhua had to force herself to accept it.

Because Zhu Chengwu didn't target her, it was all her fault for not living up to her expectations and not achieving first-rate martial arts!

Don’t you see that Qiuyue, who was also stuck at the peak of the stream, was not promoted this time?
The only ones who were promoted were Xia Yu and Dong Xue, who had achieved first-class martial arts.

It was precisely because of this unacceptable and unventable evil that after leaving Zhu Chengwu's courtyard, when Chunhua saw her old rival Xia Yu still pretending to be sad, she couldn't help but mock him directly.

Because of this evil spirit, Chunhua even attacked Dongxue, who had never had any conflicts with her.

“Can’t control it?

It's obvious that Manager Gao is busy and doesn't want to get involved!

Now the Marquis has discovered that some people are taking advantage of Chief Manager Gao's busy schedule to cheat, so he has increased the authority of the Internal Affairs Department and expanded its staff.

He even appointed me as the deputy chief of the internal guards in charge of the female servants!

Since the Marquis trusts me, I will naturally put an end to the sneaky and slippery practices among some of the maids in the Marquis of Fu'an's mansion."

Chunhua has evil spirits and wants to vent them.

But Xia Yu won't spoil her.

Since they disliked each other to begin with, Xia Yu would not be polite to Chunhua in his words.

When talking about "being sneaky", Xia Yu's big round eyes were staring straight at Chunhua.

Don't be too directive.

"What did you say?

Who are you saying is sneaky and cunning?"

Chunhua would not admit Xia Yu's groundless accusations.

As for other accusations, Chunhua might need to think for a while before refuting them.

But to say that Chunhua was cheating in her job of serving Zhu Chengwu is pure slander.

Chunhua, who was furious, immediately pointed at Xia Yu and started making trouble.

"Whoever answers and takes the responsibility is the one who is cheating!"

Seeing Chunhua’s defense break, Xia Yu calmed down instead.

After all, since ancient times, the loser in an argument is always the first to break down.

Since he "won", Xia Yu naturally looked calm and composed.

"Xia Yu, I'm telling you, don't bully others!

Believe it or not, I will go to the Marquis and sue you, and ask him to remove you from your position as deputy chief of the internal guards!

Not only will you not be able to become the Deputy Chief of the Internal Guard, you will even lose your position as a personal attendant!"

Chunhua, who was at a disadvantage, was so angry that she had to resort to Zhu Chengwu, her powerful backer.

This is Chunhua's dementia.

Such remarks are not what a qualified attendant should make.

It's a bit like it's hard to tell the master from the servant!
"Chunhua, what are you saying!
People who don’t know would think you are the master?

If you want to report this to the Marquis, don't wait until later!
Why don’t we go now!
Let's see whether the Marquis trusts me, the deputy chief of the internal guards whom he just appointed, or you, a slut who is dreaming of climbing into the Marquis' bed?

In other words, Madam is magnanimous!
Otherwise, you, a slut, would have had your legs broken and kicked out of the mansion long ago!"

Chunhua actually wanted to threaten Xia Yu by complaining to Zhu Chengwu, but she was threatening the wrong person.

Everyone in Marquis Fu'an's mansion knew that Xia Yu was the most favored by Zhu Chengwu and the one who knew how to please Zhu Chengwu the most. He was the one who received the most rewards and guidance from Marquis Fu'an among the four close attendants.

Otherwise, how could Xia Yu, who had nothing, achieve first-class results earlier than Chun Hua, who had the best talent, Qiu Yue, who had the support of her tribe, and Dong Xue, who practiced the most diligently.

"Xia Yu, you...you...I'm going to fight you!"

This was the first time that Xia Yu called Chunhua a "slut" in public, and it was also the first time that Chunhua was called a "slut" in public.

Being scolded is not important.

Being scolded is what really breaks your defense.

And more importantly, Xia Yu not only scolded Chunhua correctly, but also rubbed salt into Chunhua's wounds.

Zhu Chengwu's only response to Chunhua's feelings was to reject her.

Cui Shuyun doesn't care about the hostility that Chunhua sometimes shows...

Chunhua doesn't understand the way Cui Shuyun and Zhu Chengwu get along and the tacit understanding between them.

From Chunhua's perspective, Cui Shuyun looked down on her and did not regard her as an opponent or a threat at all.

Now with Xia Yu's public "insults", all of Chunhua's grievances and resentment came out at once.

No wonder Chunhua wanted to fight Xia Yu to the death regardless of the consequences.

(End of this chapter)