Chapter 23

As soon as Shen Yiru finished speaking, two sturdy serving women entered the room to drag Nanny Cao away for punishment. When Shen Yiru first married into the General's Manor, she had brought with her fifty or sixty personal maids and laborers. Since she did not need that many people in her own residence, and considering that Old Madame Li, the Madam, and Li Yue did not have enough help in their respective courtyards, she had arranged for some of her own servants to assist them. Of course, the staff she sent were only assigned menial labor in the outer courtyards and were not permitted to serve closely. The women who had entered to drag Nanny Cao away were indeed Shen Yiru’s own people; their contracts of indenture were held by her. "Old Madame, save me! I am an old woman; I cannot withstand ten strokes of the paddle!" Nanny Cao cried out loudly.