Chapter 52: Young Madam Xie II
The entire second floor fell into an unusual silence.
Even the surrounding guests who had been quietly watching the commotion subconsciously turned their attention toward the table by the window.
No one had expected such an answer.
The maid stared at Wang Gege for several moments, almost wondering whether she had misheard.
"You..." Her lips twitched slightly. "What did you just say?"
Qing’er immediately stepped forward, shielding Wang Gege behind her.
"Mind your words toward our Young Madam."
The maid let out a disdainful scoff. "Your Young Madam?"
Her gaze slowly swept over Wang Gege before a mocking smile appeared on her lips.
"Who does she think she is?" She lifted her chin proudly, "Our Young Lady is the eldest daughter of the Gu Residence. In my Lady’s eyes... Your so-called Young Madam isn’t even qualified to carry her shoes."
Qing’er’s expression instantly darkened.
"How dare you!" She took a step forward, her gaze meeting the maid’s without the slightest hint of retreat. "Our Young Madam has shown nothing but courtesy from the very beginning. You, on the other hand, barged over without so much as a greeting and demanded that we surrender our table."
She paused briefly before continuing. "May I ask... Is this how the Gu Residence teaches its servants to conduct themselves in public?"
The maid’s face immediately turned cold. "What did you say?"
"I merely spoke the truth." Qing’er replied immediately.
"You insolent servant!" The maid raised a finger and pointed directly at Qing’er. "A mere maid dares lecture me?"
Qing’er remained unmoved. "This servant would never dare lecture anyone. However..." She glanced calmly at the embroidered pouch of silver that had been thrown onto the table.
"My Young Madam came here to dine. Not to sell her seat."
The surrounding guests quietly exchanged glances. Several people nodded inwardly. Although no one dared speak aloud, many had already begun feeling that the maid had gone too far.
The Young Lady Gu herself had remained silent throughout the exchange, merely watching from the side. Her eyes slowly settled upon Wang Gege.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege let out a small, helpless sigh. She could already tell Qing’er was becoming increasingly agitated.
Just as she was about to reach out and gently pull the young maid back, a loud smack rang in her ears. The crisp sound echoed throughout the entire second floor.
Everything seemed to fall silent.
Qing’er’s head was thrown to one side from the force of the slap. She staggered back half a step before instinctively raising a hand to cover her burning cheek.
A clear red handprint quickly appeared upon her fair skin.
For a brief moment, even Qing’er herself seemed unable to react.
Wang Gege froze. Her eyes slowly widened as she stared at the scene before her, her mind going completely blank.
She had not expected and not even for a second, that the maid would actually strike someone in broad daylight.
Then, almost instinctively, she pushed herself to her feet.
"How dare you?!" Her voice rang out far louder than she had intended.
The entire restaurant instantly fell deathly silent.
Even the maid who had delivered the slap appeared momentarily startled by Wang Gege’s sudden outburst.
The maid recovered from her brief surprise before letting out a cold snort. "So what if I dared?"
She slowly withdrew her hand before casually brushing the sleeve of her robe, as though slapping Qing’er had been nothing more than brushing away a speck of dust.
"A lowly servant should remember her place. If she does not... My Lady’s people do not mind teaching her."
Qing’er lowered her head, one hand still covering her reddened cheek.
"Young Madam..." Her voice trembled slightly, "This servant is fine."
Before she could finish her sentence, Wang Gege gently pulled her hand away from her face.
Qing’er’s reddened cheek came into view.
Wang Gege stared at the distinct handprint in silence. She slowly turned her head and her gaze settled upon the maid.
The maid merely lifted her chin, showing not the slightest trace of remorse.
"So what if I hit her? She—"
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed throughout the second floor.
The maid’s words came to an abrupt halt. Her head jerked sharply to one side.
The entire restaurant fell deathly silent. Even the young lady standing nearby widened her eyes in surprise.
The maid slowly raised a trembling hand to her burning cheek.
"You..." She stared at Wang Gege in disbelief. "You dared slap me?"
Only then did Wang Gege calmly withdraw her hand. Her expression remained unexpectedly composed.
She looked at the maid with genuine confusion, "You just said... Qing’er is merely my servant."
She tilted her head slightly. "And you... what makes you different?"
The maid clutched her burning cheek, her face flushing with both pain and humiliation.
"You—" She instinctively raised her hand, intending to strike Wang Gege back but Qing’er instantly moved, shielding Wang Gege from the slap.
But her hand merely struck when Wang Gege managed to hold onto her wrist and glaring at the maid, "Enough."
Wang Gege’s gaze slowly shifted past her. It landed directly upon the young lady who had remained silent from the very beginning.
Their eyes met and the smile completely disappeared from Wang Gege’s face.
"If Young Lady Gu does not know how to discipline the people by her side..." She paused briefly, her voice remaining calm yet carrying an unmistakable chill, "then I do not mind doing it on your behalf."
The entire restaurant instantly fell silent.
No one had expected those words to come from the gentle young woman who, only moments earlier, had been happily deciding what dishes to order.
Even Young Lady Gu’s composed expression showed the faintest trace of surprise. She took a few moments of silence before her gaze slowly swept over the bright red handprint on her maid’s cheek before finally landing upon Wang Gege.
A faint smile appeared on her lips. "So... You dared strike my servant."
Wang Gege met her gaze without retreating. "I merely returned what she did to mine."
Young Lady Gu let out a soft chuckle. "Returned?"
She repeated the word as though she had just heard something amusing. "My servant may discipline whomever she pleases." She slowly took another step forward. "But yours..."
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, "Does not have the qualification to touch mine."
The surrounding guests quietly drew in cold breaths. Those words were no longer a quarrel between servants. They were directed entirely at Wang Gege.
Wang Gege’s brows slowly knitted together. "Why?"
Young Lady Gu looked at her as though the answers were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Because she belongs to me." She spoke without the slightest trace of hesitation, "And everything that belongs to me..." Her chin lifted proudly, "is above yours."