Chapter 15

Chapter 15 After seeing off Mama Liu, the rough-work maidservant and the young maid were summoned before Xie Run. The rough-work maidservant was broad-shouldered and stout, with a face that radiated simple honesty and warmth. She introduced herself right away. "This servant's surname is Ma—everyone calls me Granny Ma. I entered the Prince's estate ten years ago. My hometown was hit by disaster that year, and I fled to the Prince's estate as a refugee, where the steward took a liking to me and bought me. Young mistresses, if there's ever any dirty or heavy work, just leave it all to this servant." Xie Run gave a slight nod and turned her gaze to the thin young maid beside her. This maid seemed to be of a quiet disposition—she hadn't spoken a word after all this time. Xie Run asked gently, "And you?" "What's your name? How old are you this year, and when did you enter the estate? Do you have any particular skills?" Yueya'er timidly lifted her head. "This servant's humble name is Yueya'er. I'm eight years old this year, and I entered the estate a month ago. My family couldn't make ends meet anymore, so they sold my younger sister and me. This servant... is good at farming?" When she said the word "farming," Yueya'er cautiously glanced up at Xie Run, afraid of being looked down upon. "Farming is good—my little flower garden just had a good number of flowers planted in it. You can help me tend to them from now on." Xie Run said with a smile. "You're both members of Linxuan Pavilion now, so we should all get along well. I have an easygoing nature—small mistakes don't matter much. There's only one rule: no divided loyalties." "If anyone betrays that trust, I'll personally go and ask the Prince to send you away." Granny Ma immediately knelt down and raised her hand in oath. "This servant has entered Linxuan Pavilion, so I belong to the mistress now. If I ever do anything to betray my master, may I be struck dead by lightning and never be reborn!" Yueya'er followed suit and knelt down in a daze. She couldn't say so many flowery words, only murmuring softly, "This servant will obey the mistress in everything. Whatever the mistress says, goes." "Enough..." Xie Run waved her hand. "No need to scare yourselves like that. Since this is your first day, rest for a day first. Each of you will receive some reward money and have two sets of clothes made, then start your duties tomorrow." Xie Run glanced at Yuli. "Go arrange their lodgings." Yuli said, "Follow me, then." The reward money and fabric for the clothes naturally had to come from Xie Run's own private coffers. When new people arrived, the boss had to show some generosity—it was the only way to make them serve you willingly. Although the maids' monthly wages came from the estate's public funds, Xie Run still had to pay out of pocket for occasional treats and tips. She'd been indulging her sweet tooth for the past two months, spending half of her five-tael monthly allowance on food, leaving only a little saved up. Now with two new people arriving, her funds were getting a bit tight. Xie Run wondered—should she find a way to build up her private savings? After the others had left, Dantao poured Xie Run a cup of tea. "Mistress, yesterday Xiaoci injured her foot, and today the estate sends two new people. Could it be that the Prince personally mentioned it to the Princess Consort?" Xie Run said, "Probably so." It wasn't that Xie Run was being conceited—the timing was just too coincidental. Dantao said with a smile, "The Prince dotes on you, mistress, and we servants get to share in the good fortune." "Don't say such things carelessly." Xie Run's teeth tingled just hearing that kind of talk. "What 'doting'? The Prince is used to a fine life—he probably can't stand how shabby my courtyard looks." Last night Xie Run hadn't understood, but after thinking it over today, it clicked. Before, she'd had no one to wait on her. Now she had four people attending to her food, clothing, lodging, and travel—of course she was satisfied. But Prince Jing was different. He was a noble born to privilege who'd had people surrounding him wherever he went since childhood. Seeing his woman attended by only four servants—wouldn't he find it shabby? Still, Xie Run had to admit Prince Jing had handled this beautifully. If he'd sent just two maids to her alone, whether by the Prince's or the Princess Consort's order, Xie Run would have become a target in the rear courtyard. But this way, every courtyard was getting additional staff, arranged by the estate's principal mistress—reasonable, proper, and a show of grace to the household. The concubines in the rear courtyard would only be grateful for the extra attendants, and it wouldn't single Xie Run out as special. Handled this way, everyone came out happy. Xie Run was thoroughly satisfied. But as for talk of the Prince keeping her in his heart—better not to listen to such things. Dantao said helplessly, "Why must you speak of yourself so harshly, mistress?" "It's not that I'm speaking harshly of myself—it's that none of you should have such thoughts from now on." Xie Run's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "I'm just a concubine. Don't say things like 'the Prince holds you in his heart'—people would laugh to hear it." With so many women in the rear courtyard, the Prince favored one today and another tomorrow—even a durian heart couldn't hold that many people! Dantao was clever and immediately understood Xie Run's meaning. "This servant understands." Xie Run gave a slight nod. It was only because these two had been sent by the old madam of the Xie household that she dared speak so frankly. Back then, when the original mistress had eloped and jumped into the lake, Xie Run's father had been furious at the young maidservant for passing messages and leading his daughter astray. In his rage, he'd sold the girl off. Dantao and Yuli had both been transferred from Old Madam Xie's side before entering the Prince's estate. These two hadn't grown up with the original mistress and didn't know her temperament well—which actually saved Xie Run from a crisis, as she didn't have to worry every moment about being exposed. Xie Run added, "I can see that Yueya'er looks pitifully thin. She's said to be eight years old, but she doesn't look as strong as the six or seven-year-old maids in the mansion. Don't be too harsh on her from now on—let her eat her fill and build up her health first." Xie Run didn't dare say anything about giving her good food, since a rough servant girl being treated too well would easily invite jealousy. Dantao replied, "I understand, miss. But Xiaoshu and Xiaoci still don't know about this, and the mansion has sent two more people over. If these two were placed here by someone else..." Xie Run lowered her eyes. "You have a point. We can't afford to be completely off guard." She beckoned Dantao closer and said in a low voice, "Have Yueya'er share a room with Granny Ma, and have the two of them keep an eye on each other privately. If anyone else has been planted here, they'll eventually show their true colors." "Yes, miss." Xie Run observed Xiaoshu and Xiaoci for a while and could tell that both maids were good at heart. However, Xiaoshu was the more clever one, thorough in her work, while Xiaoci was somewhat timid and duller. Lately, Xie Run preferred using Xiaoshu. Still, she had no intention of entrusting them with her full confidence. After all, both were household-born servants whose parents worked in the prince's mansion, so expecting them to devote themselves entirely to her was unrealistic. For now, she could use them with peace of mind, and when they reached marriageable age, she would release them and give them a sum of dowry money. After finishing lunch, Xie Run took her attendants to the courtyard to walk off the meal. People said that walking after a meal would let you live to ninety-nine. Xie Run took this saying very seriously and followed it strictly every day. Most women of this era were confined to the back courtyard, and their bodies were truly frail—just a few extra steps and their feet could barely take it. When Xie Run had first transmigrated here, the hardest thing to bear wasn't the cold she caught, but her blistered, chafed feet. Since entering the prince's mansion, Xie Run would stand whenever she could instead of sitting, and every day she would stroll around Linxuan Pavilion and practice the Five Animals Frolics, all for the sake of building up her strength. After some time, she could feel that her body had indeed improved considerably.