After leaving Ren Yaoqi's room, Nanny Zhu saw the maids Qingmei and Xueli standing under the corridor not far away, seemingly engaged in a hushed argument.
Frowning, Nanny Zhu walked over and scolded them in a low voice, "What are you two doing? Utterly useless, all you know is making trouble! Tomorrow I'll report to the mistress and have you both sold off!"
Qingmei shot a sidelong glance at Xueli and sneered, "I'm just afraid someone, after hearing a few kind words from their new master, no longer cares about their old one! Seems like they've already found a higher branch to cling to."
Hearing this, Nanny Zhu gave Xueli a suspicious look.
Xueli was on the verge of tears, "Nanny, don't listen to her nonsense, I haven't..."
"Haven't? Then why has the young lady been taking you everywhere lately while keeping me away? Everyone says you, Xueli, have become the young lady's confidante, just like Xier from the madam's room! Earlier, when Xier left, she even pulled you aside to whisper something, and when I asked you, you refused to say! You've been in cahoots all along!" Qingmei gritted her teeth, raising her voice slightly.
Xueli hurriedly defended herself, "Xier was just praising the embroidery on the pouch I gave her earlier, she wanted..."
"Hah, so you've finally slipped up! Why would you give her a pouch out of the blue? I'm with you all day, how come I didn't know? You've been secretly currying favor with them behind my back, haven't you? And here I was, thinking you were honest, only to be played like this," Qingmei scoffed loudly.
"Shouting like a ghost in the middle of the night!" Nanny Zhu pinched Qingmei's arm. Qingmei winced in pain and wanted to cry out, but under Nanny Zhu's fierce glare, she swallowed her whimper.
Seeing Qingmei quiet down, Nanny Zhu frowned and turned to Xueli. Xueli bit her lower lip, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.
Nanny Zhu had intended to question further, but remembering she had urgent matters to attend to, she held back for now. She glared at the two maids and said, "I'll settle this with you tomorrow! Now get inside and attend to the young lady!"
Both maids lowered their heads and murmured their assent.
Just as Nanny Zhu turned to leave, she turned back and asked, "Earlier when you went to the backyard to fetch water, did you see Nanny Liu?"
Xueli replied softly, "Earlier, Nanny Wei invited the other nannies for drinks. Nanny Liu had a few too many and was helped back to her room by a young maid to rest."
Only then did Nanny Zhu remember: Nanny Wei, believing herself more senior than Wife Niu and having an accomplished eldest son serving as the second steward at the coal depot, thought her appointment as the external affairs nanny was practically assured. So, in the afternoon, she had informed everyone in the courtyard that she would be treating them to drinks in the evening.
Nanny Zhu had declined the invitation because she had some errands to run outside, though she did accept a three-fen silver ingot from Nanny Wei as tea money.
Nanny Zhu couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Nanny Wei was likely in for a disappointment.
Though she thought so, this matter had little to do with Nanny Zhu. After all, she had already accepted the tea money, and since Nanny Wei had given it willingly, there was no reason to return it.
Without hesitation, Nanny Zhu headed toward Nanny Liu's quarters in the backyard.
As she passed by a side room in the backyard where the older women and maids rested during their shifts, faint light and laughter seeped through the gaps under the cotton curtain. It was likely Nanny Wei and the others chatting after their drinks.Purple Magnolia Courtyard did not strictly forbid maids and matrons from holding private banquets, as everyone had occasions worth celebrating. However, neglecting duties because of such gatherings was not allowed. Drinking was permitted only with fruit wine, which was less likely to cause intoxication, and even that was limited in quantity. Nanny Liu likely had a very low tolerance for alcohol, as even a few cups of fruit wine made her tipsy.
Nanny Zhu stood by the curtain outside the side room, listening intently for a moment. Then, after glancing around, she made her way toward Nanny Liu’s quarters.
Nanny Liu was leaning against the headboard of her bed, being served tea by a young maid. Hearing the sound of someone pushing the door open, she looked up, momentarily surprised before quickly smiling and saying, “Oh, it’s Nanny Zhu! What brings you here?”
Nanny Zhu was usually close with Nanny Liu’s rival, Nanny Guan, so Nanny Liu’s relationship with her was merely cordial. Seeing her arrive uninvited tonight, Nanny Liu was genuinely puzzled.
Nanny Zhu wore a warm, friendly smile and glanced at the young maid attending to Nanny Liu. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, so I came over on my own. I hope you don’t mind my uninvited visit.”
“Not at all,” Nanny Liu replied politely, smiling at the young maid. “Go keep an eye on the stove in the small kitchen. Third Master is staying in the main room tonight, so we might need hot water later.”
The young maid acknowledged the order and left.
Nanny Zhu watched as the maid gently closed the door behind her before stepping forward with a cheerful expression. “I came today with some good news.”
“Good news?” Nanny Liu asked, confused.
Nanny Zhu nodded and leaned in closer. “I heard you were also interested in the position of an external affairs matron?”
Nanny Liu gave a half-smile. “Nanny Zhu is quite well-informed.”
Nanny Zhu shook her head with a smile. “Don’t give me that tone. I’m here to ask you one thing: do you still want this position or not?”
Nanny Liu looked suspicious. “What do you mean by that? I heard it was already decided between Nanny Wei or Wife Niu, with Nanny Wei having the upper hand.”
Nanny Zhu curled her lip. “Let me be honest with you. Madam plans to appoint two external affairs matrons first and then choose one formally after the New Year. Wife Niu is one of them, and the other… the other hasn’t been decided yet.”
Nanny Liu was startled and sat up a little straighter. “Is that true? What about Nanny Wei…”
“Hey, why worry about her? Just tell me if you want the position or not.” Nanny Zhu waved her hand dismissively, smiling with an air of mystery, as if securing the position was merely a matter of her say-so.
Nanny Liu pondered for a moment, still skeptical. “Do you have connections?”
Nanny Zhu smiled again but said nothing, her silence implying confirmation.
Nanny Liu took even longer to consider this time. Truthfully, which of the second-tier matrons in the courtyard wasn’t coveting this newly vacant position? But now that Third Madam had returned, the final decision rested with her. Unfortunately, none of them had any connections with Third Madam’s people, leaving no way to pull strings.
However…
“Why didn’t you say this to Nanny Guan? I remember the two of you have always been close.” Nanny Liu was no fool; after careful thought, she sensed something amiss.Nanny Zhu seemed to have anticipated this question long ago. Unhurried, she smiled and said, "Even if I have some connections, I must consider the master's interests. Nanny Guan does have some personal ties with me, but unfortunately, her nephew is truly hopeless—like mud that won't stick to a wall. As you likely know, the position of an external affairs nanny is quite lucrative, but our Third Master is particularly meticulous. If anything goes wrong with the duties, I, as the recommender, would be held accountable. I wouldn't dare recommend just anyone. Looking around the courtyard, aside from Nanny Wei's eldest son, only your second son, Nanny Liu, shows promise."
These words pleased Nanny Liu immensely, and her guard against Nanny Zhu lessened considerably. "What about Nanny Wei...?"
Nanny Zhu merely smiled without answering.
Nanny Liu recalled that Nanny Wei had invited everyone for drinks today, but Nanny Zhu hadn't attended. She wondered if there was some discord between them or if Nanny Zhu's mistress, Concubine Fang, was dissatisfied with Nanny Wei.
Nanny Zhu had been closely observing Nanny Liu's expression. Seeing her wavering yet still harboring doubts, she rolled her eyes and suddenly slapped her own thigh. "Ah! Fine, I'll let you in on a little secret. You've been in our Purple Magnolia Courtyard for some time now, so you should know that our Fifth Young Miss is the most favored by Third Master! Although the mistress manages the inner courtyard affairs, everyone knows that as long as Third Master says a word, the mistress never utters a single objection."
Nanny Liu pondered Nanny Zhu's words, seeming to grasp something. "You mean to have Fifth Young Miss speak to Third Master..."
"Shh—" Nanny Zhu pretended to glance around cautiously. "Just keep it in mind. No need to say it aloud."
Nanny Liu fell silent for a moment. "I know the courtyard's rules. I suppose you, Nanny, will need to make some arrangements. How much would that require...?" Nanny Liu made a gesture.
Nanny Zhu was delighted by Nanny Liu's understanding. Feigning hesitation, she said, "In principle, I shouldn't bring this up, but as you guessed... I'll need to make some arrangements for this matter. How about this amount?" Nanny Zhu gestured the number twenty, meaning twenty taels of silver.
Nanny Liu remained silent for a long while. Twenty taels was no small sum, but it wasn't beyond her means. Besides, if she could secure this position, a few tasks for Third Master would easily earn the money back, and it would also give her younger son a chance to shine.
However, if this plan failed... what about the silver...?
Nanny Zhu seemed to read Nanny Liu's mind and immediately laughed. "How about this? You give me five taels as a deposit first, and once I settle the matter tomorrow, you can pay the remainder? I'll even write you a receipt for the five taels." Nanny Zhu was confident, as she was essentially bluffing with nothing to lose.
Nanny Liu was taken aback. If that were the case, there was naturally nothing to worry about. If the plan ultimately failed, she would have the receipt and could even reclaim the five taels.
If she didn't seize such an opportunity, she would have lived all these years in vain. So, Nanny Liu promptly smiled and said, "Nanny Zhu is sincere, and I am straightforward as well. Then it's settled."
Nanny Zhu covered her mouth with a light laugh, inwardly swelling with pride.Nanny Liu got out of bed and dug out five taels of silver from the bottom of her wardrobe. Nanny Zhu called a maid to fetch paper, a brush, and an inkpad. She couldn’t write, but among the women servants and maids in the inner quarters, there was a set of secret terms and symbols used for private money transactions. As long as the amounts matched, they could simply press their fingerprints at the end to finalize the agreement.
When the two parted ways, both were thoroughly pleased.
Thank you to dear okeeffe for the fan.
Thanks to Ainaihe and maojinbeibei1986 for the rewards. ^^~
[bookid=2288861,bookname=《The Scheming Daughter of a Noble House》]
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