Glory

"Do not allow them to return to pack their belongings. Confiscate all gold, silver, and jade ornaments worn on their heads or hands," he added.

"Yes, sir!" the guards responded resolutely. After escorting these people out, they conducted individual inspections.

In the end, a considerable amount of gold, silver, and jade ornaments were confiscated.

Only a handful of people remained in the courtyard now. They knelt on the ground, not daring to lift their heads.

"You few have always been dutiful and honest. For now, you may remain in the household. However, if I discover anyone disrespecting the mistress, spreading rumors, or slacking off, they will be immediately sent to the manor to become manor serfs."

"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you, Mistress!" Overwhelmed with gratitude, they kowtowed fervently.

Lu Guanyi turned to Ye Yaming, his stern expression softening instantly. "I will take those people out of the household. The remaining arrangements in the household will be left to you. If there are insufficient servants, just let me know how many you need, and I will replenish them."

Ye Yaming nodded and smiled at him. "Alright."

Today's events had been discussed between the two beforehand. As a bride who had only been married into the Xuanwu Marquis Household for four days and came from a humble background, it would have been detrimental to her reputation if she had been the one to deal with the original servants. Lu Guanyi had proposed that he take on the role of the enforcer.

Before their marriage, Lu Guanyi had not dealt with the servants. Now that they were married, his actions were not only due to Lu Guanyu's departure from the capital but also to ensure his wife could live more comfortably in the marquis household.

With his protective stance toward his wife now clear, who in the capital would dare look down on Ye Yaming? To belittle or insult her would be to belittle or insult the Xuanwu Marquis Household and Lu Guanyi himself—this was the attitude he had publicly displayed.

From her past life to this one, Ye Yaming had always been the one to face troubles head-on. Never had she imagined there would come a day when someone would shield her and handle all her difficulties.

Her heart warmed, and her voice softened as she addressed the servants still kowtowing below. "Alright, everyone, please rise."

Once they had stood up, she swept her gaze over them.

Just because these people had not committed any wrongs or humiliated Lu Guanyi did not mean they were without ulterior motives. Among them were genuinely sincere individuals who had kowtowed so hard their foreheads were swollen, while others had only pretended, leaving their foreheads with slight bruises.

Although Ye Yaming knew their names, she could not match them to their faces.

"State your names, one by one," she instructed.

She planned to find an opportunity later to dismiss those who had only pretended. For now, to avoid rumors such as, "All the original servants of the marquis household were dismissed, and only her dowry attendants are being used—she cannot tolerate a single old servant," she decided to keep them temporarily.

The servants reported their names one after another.

Ye Yaming picked up a brush, made notes on the list regarding their situations, and then assigned tasks to everyone.

Those in non-critical positions remained in their original roles, while those in crucial positions, such as the kitchen, procurement, and inner courtyard cleaning, were reassigned. Ye Yaming could not entrust her safety and that of her trusted attendants to these people.

After announcing the adjustments, she scanned the crowd and asked, "Does anyone disagree with these arrangements? If so, step forward."

The vast majority remained still.

One person with reservations secretly lifted her head to glance around, checking if anyone else would step forward. Seeing no one else move, she quickly lowered her head again, not daring to act.Just kidding. Although she had been transferred from the kitchen to the outer courtyard for menial work, and her monthly allowance had been reduced, it was still better than being sent to the manor as a Manor serf, wasn't it? When the kitchen was short-handed again, if she performed well during this period, she might even be transferred back.

She had no idea that her little actions had long been noticed by Ye Yaming, who made another note in her little book.

Seeing that no one dared to speak up, Ye Yaming said, "Since there are no objections, it's settled. Everyone, go back to work. Those who have been reassigned will have their accommodations adjusted accordingly. After dinner tonight, someone will arrange the unified reassignment for you."

The crowd felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly withdrew.

Ye Yaming then had Xu Zan summon all the attendants she had brought with her. She announced the positions of Xu Zan, Tang Song, Ma Yun, Bai Rui, and Lve E, and assigned the rest as Housekeepers to various places.

These servants she had brought were all outstanding graduates trained by Sun An, not brought to the Marquis's estate to do odd jobs. She owned numerous private assets, including many shops and manors, as well as tea plantations in various locations, all of which required management.

Larger establishments were assigned two Housekeepers, while smaller ones got one. After this distribution, almost no one was left unassigned.

Jia Lin and Jia Yun noticed that everyone had been assigned except them, and their faces turned pale.

A woman named Jia Xiu glanced at them and curled her lips in a mocking smile. Others looked at the two with concern.

Sitting on the veranda like a teacher at a classroom podium, Ye Yaming observed every subtle movement and expression below.

Without showing any reaction, she continued, "You are the most outstanding batch trained by Housekeeper Sun, which is why I brought you to the Marquis's estate to become the first group of Housekeepers under my command. Now that you know your assigned locations, tomorrow you can follow the Manor Guards back to Lin'an and select four assistants from Housekeeper Sun. Take them to the shops, manors, or tea plantations to work. Guards will escort you to your destinations."

Those who had been worried about Jia Lin and Jia Yun were immediately pulled back to attention by these words.

Though delighted to hear they would become Housekeepers, they had been uneasy.

Unfamiliar with the places and knowing no one, they feared they would be lucky not to be bullied by the old-timers, let alone quickly establish themselves and manage effectively. If they failed to gain a foothold, the young lady might recall them.

Now that the young lady was providing assistants—and allowing them to choose themselves—they were overjoyed and felt much more at ease.

"Additionally, Hongye is promoted to Housekeeper of the small kitchen, with Jia Chun and Jia Qiu as cooks. My second-tier maids, Ziyuan and Qingzhi, are promoted to senior maids. Jia Lin and Jia Yun are renamed Lan Ling and Cheng Man, reassigned to me as second-tier maids."

Jia Lin and Jia Yun, who had looked despairing, lifted their heads in surprise and gazed at Ye Yaming. Others cast envious glances their way. The girl who had mocked them earlier was filled with jealousy and resentment.

On the day of the young lady's wedding, she had laughed at them, saying they were show-offs and bootlickers. Who would have thought they'd have such luck and catch the young lady's eye?

Even if they were appointed as Housekeepers, being a Housekeeper in an outside shop or manor was nowhere near as promising as staying by the young lady's side.The young lady's prowess was first explained to them by Housekeeper Sun during their initial lesson after they were purchased; later, Bai Rui and Lve E from the young lady's side also came to teach them. Their skills earned their deep admiration. According to them, all their abilities were learned from the young lady.

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