Lately, Xiaotao felt her popularity had suddenly skyrocketed several levels.
Those maids and wives she’d never met before would “bump into” her and strike up a conversation on the first day, then act like they’d “regretted not meeting sooner” and wished they could become sworn sisters. By the second day, they’d pour out their “long-buried grievances” or “loyal, honest, and reliable sentiments,” and by the third day, they’d hint or outright express their wish to remain in the Marquis’s estate, preferably to serve in Clear Garden.
With the division of the household imminent, anyone with eyes could see that staying in the Marquis’s estate meant a better life. From maids and servants to matrons and stewards, everyone was busy seeking connections to plead their case. Those like Liao Yong’s wife—a trusted stewardess under Minglan—and a few leading stewards from the outer court, who were both easy to approach and convenient to speak with, became the top choices.
“If there are truly good ones, it wouldn’t hurt to keep them.”
Minglan smiled gently, while Danju felt a slight surprise beside her. She knew Minglan had never been fond of these old retainers who traded on their seniority. They weren’t necessarily useful when put to work, but they were experts at slacking off and bullying others outside.
“However, the mistress has a rule here: everyone makes mistakes, and minor faults can be overlooked. But if we keep any wicked servants with cunning natures, the person who recommended them will be held accountable as well. Everyone should think carefully.” Cuiwei, her hair neatly styled in a simple bun, explained this to everyone in a measured tone, looking every bit the part of a stewardess.
This made the stewards who came to plead their cases hesitate inwardly, afraid of implicating themselves. Minglan’s way of handling things wasn’t as soft and harmless as she appeared. Besides, they weren’t brought from Minglan’s maiden family; they were still in the stage of eagerly seeking the mistress’s trust. How could they dare take responsibility for those they didn’t know well?
As for Minglan’s dowry attendants, only a few could speak up, and most of them were shrewd enough to avoid getting involved. Only Xiaotao was the easiest to talk to—unfortunately, her way of doing things was—
“An Yong’s wife? Do you know her family?” Minglan asked.
“Nope.”
“What skills does she have?”
“Dunno.”
“What about her character?”
“Just met her three days ago.”
“You know nothing about any of this, you silly girl—what are you recommending her for?” Minglan sighed in resignation.
“She came to ask me for a favor,” the round-faced little maid said, all amiability. “I only accepted three baskets of honey peaches and a crate of crabs—nothing else!” Her face even held a hint of “I’m very upright and honest.”
“You fool!” Lüzhi lowered her head resentfully and muttered under her breath.
“You ate just as much as she did,” Danju murmured, subtly shifting her gaze elsewhere.
Left in the room were the mistress with a face full of exasperation and one clueless peach of a maid. Danju and Lüzhi went together to check the Veranda at the back. Entering the central water room, they found only Cuixiu and Little Chunya inside.
Lüzhi spoke bluntly, “Those little tramps, who knows where they’ve run off to again!”
Danju thought for a moment, frowning, “Wasn’t it Bisi and Caihuan on duty now? Where have they gone?”
Cuixiu stood up, smiling as she replied, “Just now, Wang Gui Xifu came to ask about borrowing carriages and horses from the Marquis’s estate, so Sister Huan went over to check first. Sister Bisi has a stomachache and said she’d go back to her room for a bit, so she asked us to keep an eye on things here.”Lüzhi let out a light snort of disdain, while Danju smiled noncommittally: "Never mind, the wind has been picking up lately, so catching a chill is unavoidable. She probably went back to her room to add more layers. Wang Gui Xifu’s place might be too much for Caihuan to handle alone—why don’t you go check on her?"
Pouting, Lüzhi shuffled away.
The servants’ quarters were situated in a row of rooms behind the main hall of Jiaxi Residence. Though designated for servants, Minglan treated her staff generously, and Clear Garden had ample resources, so the rooms were constructed and furnished like proper side chambers, complete with brick walls, heated brick beds, and well-laid floors. The rooms of the senior maids, in particular, were elegantly and spotlessly arranged, even surpassing the boudoirs of ordinary young ladies. Every day, young attendants and sturdy matrons came to clean and do the laundry.
"You’re not completely foolish, at least knowing to consult me before acting," Ruomei remarked, reclining diagonally on the bed with a bright satin pillow embroidered with yellow spring plum blossoms and magpies tucked under her arm. Her cheeks were flushed, as if she had just woken from a nap.
"I’m still hesitating," Bisī said, her brow furrowed with worry. "Caihuan said it’s fine, and today Xiaotao also went to plead with Madam. If she can go, why can’t I?"
Ruomei’s tone was sarcastic: "Oh, you certainly know how to flatter yourself. How can any of us compare to the affection Madam holds for Danju and Xiaotao? Even Lüzhi has only just begun to earn a bit of her favor."
Bisī’s face reddened, and she muttered, "I know I’m not as good as Xiaotao. But Caihuan said that those who came seeking favors are all longtime servants of the marquis’ household, some with generations of service behind them. They have influence and manpower. If I do them a favor today, there’ll be plenty of benefits. If I don’t give them face, in the future…"
She spoke enthusiastically, but Ruomei responded with a series of cold sneers and eye-rolls.
Seeing Ruomei’s expression, Bisī quickly added, "Caihuan also said that in terms of character and ability, is Xiaotao better than any of us? Her needlework is poor, she acts recklessly, and she’s always pretending to be clueless. It’s only because Madam values loyalty that she’s given any respect. Though I’m not as good as her, I’ve served Madam for many years. Even if I fail, Madam probably won’t…"
Ruomei could no longer bear to listen. She abruptly sat up in bed, her face stern: "First it’s ‘Caihuan said this,’ then it’s ‘Caihuan said that’—is she your ancestral grandmother? If you love listening to her so much, why come to me? Just do as she says!"
Bisī had always lacked a firm will. She’d often been scolded by Danju and Lüzhi, while Qinsang and others never got to the heart of the matter. Only Ruomei, with her sharp tongue and self-respect, disdained gossip and meddling. Over time, Bisī found her easier to get along with. Seeing Ruomei angry, she hurriedly pleaded, "Good sister, good sister!"
"You dare listen to that wench?" Ruomei’s expression was icy. "Look at her—flirtatious and always hovering around the master. Does she think her dirty little secrets are hidden from Madam, or that we’re all blind? If not for Danju’s kindness in often restraining her, Cui Mama would have found an excuse to throw her out ages ago. Now that our Madam holds a first-rank Imperial Mandate, do you think the lady of her maiden household would trouble Madam over a mere maid? Just you wait—though Cui Mama doesn’t handle much these days, there’s still He Youchang’s wife. She was raised by Mama Fang—do you think she’ll go easy on anyone?"Having been disciplined by Cuiwei since childhood, the girls still carried a lingering awe of her authority. Bisi couldn't help shrinking her neck slightly. Ruomei glared and lectured: "I've told you before—stop listening to that wench's nonsense! If you insist on following her advice, don't come crying to me when things go wrong!" Bisi offered an embarrassed smile and repeatedly apologized.
Only when Ruomei felt sufficiently appeased did she continue: "Let me ask you—even if you can't compare with Danju and Xiaotao's seniority, what about Lüzhi? You're even older than her! Now she's allowed in the mistress's inner chamber while you're still waiting in the second corridor. Even Qinsang and Xiahe get more assignments from the mistress than you do. You always think so highly of your capabilities—how did you end up in this state?"
Bisi's face flushed with alternating shades of pale and crimson under the criticism. She lowered her head and said, "I beg for elder sister's guidance."
Seeing her humble submission, Ruomei felt sufficiently flattered to offer advice: "Who are we? We're the personal maids of the Marquess of Ningyuan's wife! Unless the mistress herself gives orders, which stewardess in this entire mansion would dare discipline us? What is there for you to fear?" In other words, as long as they served the mistress well, nothing else mattered.
A sudden clarity dawned upon Bisi. She sat on the bedside and clung to Ruomei's arm, ingratiatingly saying: "Elder sister speaks truth! It's all that wench Caihuan's wild ramblings—I mistakenly thought we were still back in Twilight Cang Study, constantly watching others' moods."
Ruomei smiled proudly, straightening her spine further: "Let me tell you, don't look down on Xiaotao. Hers is the wisdom that appears foolish! Whatever she hears or sees, whether good or bad, fragrant or foul—she reports everything to the mistress without reservation. She acts without restraint before the mistress for one reason alone: she harbors no personal schemes in her heart. To put it plainly, this is ultimate loyalty."
Bisi protested discontentedly: "She's terribly simple-minded, incapable of making any decisions herself. Away from the mistress, she knows nothing about anything. She lacks tact too—what responsibilities could she possibly handle? No wonder she's unfit for managerial duties!"
"What does it matter if she can't manage affairs? The mistress likes her and trusts her!" Ruomei poked Bisi's forehead emphatically. "When the time comes to find her a competent husband—whether he serves within the mansion or gets assigned to manage estates or shops—what prestige and prosperity await her! Sometimes foolish people enjoy foolish blessings." Slowly, she reminisced, "When I was young, I heard my father say how those chief stewards from prestigious princely mansions and noble households carried such grandeur outside. Even minor officials with rank would scramble to curry their favor..."
Bisi listened with rapt fascination. She had heard similar stories back in Sheng Manor, but never presented with such blunt clarity.
As if recalling something important, Ruomei suddenly adopted a grave tone: "You've always tended to harbor petty schemes—that's your greatest flaw! Don't forget Yancao's lesson!" Bisi, who had still been hesitating, felt a sudden chill upon hearing that name."Isn't Yancao's conduct and temperament better than yours? Yet she also harbored selfish intentions. Back when the young lady hadn't even been betrothed, she was already anxiously planning her escape route, sending word to her parents to arrange for her to remain in the Sheng family." Ruomei despised such people the most and spoke without restraint. "The young lady knew everything but only said, 'Everyone has their own ambitions, let her be.' Though she never showed it openly, whatever affection remained was completely severed. Later, when Yancao cried and made a scene, the young lady couldn't be bothered to pay her any mind. You mustn't repeat her mistakes. Our mistress may be kind and benevolent, but she is not one to be easily deceived."
"...The mistress is truly ruthless, cutting off all ties over just this one incident." Bi Si's heart raced wildly.
Every time Minglan returned to her maiden home, Yancao would try to find an opportunity to beg for an audience, hoping to rekindle old affections. No one knew what Minglan was thinking—though she did bestow some silver and fine silks, she firmly refused to see Yancao, not even once. What did this mean? Everyone understood perfectly well.
"Ruthless? How is she ruthless! If a maidservant starts entertaining other ideas, how can her master still treat her as one of their own?" Ruomei snorted coldly. "Our mistress here—if you say she's difficult to serve, she is absolutely difficult to serve. She is sharp-eyed and clear-minded, making it nearly impossible for those beneath her to hide anything. But if you say she's easy to serve, she is also easy to serve. As long as you treat her with genuine sincerity, she will never treat you unfairly. For those like Danju and Xiaotao, who are utterly loyal and devoted, the mistress naturally makes proper arrangements for them. As for you and Yancao, with your constant scheming and selfish calculations—well, Miss Bi Si, since you're so clever and adept at planning, the mistress will let you plan your own future."
Bi Si murmured vague acknowledgments, half-dazed and half-stupefied, unsure if she had taken any of it to heart.
After all the quarrels and commotions, the fifth branch was the first to move out of the Ningyuan Marquis Household. Three or four days later, the fourth branch also moved out. Before leaving, Fourth Old Master sneered twice at the stone lions guarding the entrance of the Ningyuan Marquis Household.
Naturally, the Ministry of Justice soon quieted down as well. If anyone tried to use the Gu family as a talking point, the Ministry could now confidently retort: The Gu family has promising sons who have rendered meritorious service to the state and are trusted by the court. Offsetting their faults with their contributions—what's strange about giving them a lighter sentence?
However, because of Fourth Old Master's two sneers, Gu Tingye seriously considered whether he should send Gu Tingbing even farther away.
"Don't go overboard. He is, after all, your own brother." Minglan didn't believe Gu Tingye actually wanted Gu Tingbing dead.
To her surprise, Gu Tingye replied, "The wicked live a thousand years. He's not going to die anytime soon." He had gone to the Ministry of Justice the day before to check on things and found Gu Tingbing in high spirits, loudly complaining to his elder brother about the living conditions. When Gu Tingye turned to leave, he could still hear Gu Tingbing clamoring for two maids and one old servant to accompany him on his exile journey.
Gu Tingye's temples throbbed violently, old and new grievances surging in his heart—did he think this was a spring outing?
Seeing the marquis' household suddenly half-empty, Minglan immediately thought of fulfilling her earlier verbal promise. She promptly set about finding a suitable masonry team to start the construction, intending to quit while she was ahead and maintain a favorable public opinion.
"You haven't collected Fourth Uncle's debt, and the Gu family ancestral property hasn't been handed over to you. Are you just going to let it go?" Gu Tingye looked at her with a half-smile. "You really are an honest person.""Even thieves have their code - one must keep their word."
"Should we speak of honor to those without it?" Gu Tingye chuckled.
Minglan flushed, explaining sheepishly: "If you keep your word every time, then breaking it just once becomes exceptionally effective."
Gu Tingye laughed heartily, leaning back as he praised: "Marvelous saying! It captures the essence of military deception perfectly."
The praised one lifted her chin high, like a smug plump frog, affecting nonchalance as she said lightly: "Anything in this world that can be solved with silver isn't really a problem at all."
The man raised his dashing eyebrows, his tone teasing: "If Minister Chen from the Ministry of Revenue heard this brilliant view, he'd surely applaud in admiration. Pity the national treasury doesn't share this perspective."
Minglan felt awkward - Hong Kong drama lines really weren't suitable for ancient times.
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