Chapter 12: Stuffing Maids into the Courtyard
Chapter 12: Stuffing Maids into the Courtyard
After seeing Murong Qian off, Yun Juan finally got some rest. Because it was late at night, she didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky the next day.
Now that she has reached an agreement with the Regent, it's time for her to get back to her own business.
With about a year left until graduation, she felt that time was enough. Since she had come to Tianyuan Kingdom, she might as well make the best of it.
Today, Yun Juan planned to go out and buy herself a few maids. Since she came to the Yun family, she didn't even have her own personal maids. How could they do things for her?
When Yun Juan got up and opened the window, she saw a row of maids standing in the courtyard. It was as if she could get whatever she wanted.
That should save some money, right? I just wonder how much the eldest daughter of the Yun family earns per month?
"Greetings, Miss!" Upon seeing Yun Juan get up and come out, all the maids greeted her in unison, as if they had been trained beforehand.
"Young Miss, I am the steward of the manor. This is a maid sent by Concubine Hua in accordance with the regulations for legitimate daughters of the manor. Please take a look..."
The steward presented a book with both hands, which appeared to be the indentures of these maids.
Since Yun Juan was sent away, Wei Wan, as the Prime Minister's wife, has been sidelined, and the household affairs have been handed over to Aunt Hua.
Yun Juan knew that an imperial decree had been issued. No matter what, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion, and the proper rules and regulations still had to be followed, otherwise she would be criticized.
When the news reaches the emperor's ears, it will be a different story.
The emperor was already criticized for giving the unfavored eldest daughter of the prime minister's family to the regent as his wife, and people were worried that he would find out that the prime minister's family was mistreating her.
The emperor would lose face, and her father, the prime minister, understood this after so many years in officialdom.
"Miss, these are two maids that Madam sent for you! They are to serve you personally!" Wei Wan's aunt also sent over two maids and called out to Yun Juan at the courtyard gate.
"Aunt Lan, why did you come all this way in person!" Yun Juan had met Aunt Lan yesterday. She was her mother's dowry maid and had remained unmarried for many years, accompanying Wei Wan in the Prime Minister's residence.
"It's Madam. She was worried and said that you just came back and there's no one to serve you, so she sent me to deliver two of them! These two are ones that Madam picked up from the street before, so you can use them without worry!" Aunt Lan tapped Yun Juan's hand twice with her finger.
Yun Juan understood that the people Aunt Hua sent over were unreliable, so she certainly wouldn't use them. But she couldn't just leave them behind, so she decided to let them stay in the courtyard to do some sweeping and cleaning work.
"This servant Qinghe and this servant Qingmiao greet Miss!"
"Are you two sisters?" Yun Juan took their indentures from Aunt Lan.
“Miss guessed correctly, I am the elder sister and Qingmiao is the younger sister! Madam said that from now on we will only have you as our mistress! Please bestow a name upon us!”
The two sisters immediately knelt down, indicating their acceptance of Yun Juan as their new master.
"Both of them know some martial arts, which should be useful to Miss! I have to go back to report to Madam, so this old servant will take her leave now!" Aunt Lan said and left, leaving Yun Juan alone to face everyone in the mansion.
"You two get up. Qinghe and Qingmiao are nice names, no need to change them! As for the rest of you, stay here! Qinghe and Qingmiao, you two will serve her personally! The rest of you will be in charge of the courtyard!" After giving her instructions, Yun Juan took Qinghe and Qingmiao back to their room.
Yun Juan sat at the table, looking at the two of them: "What are you both good at?"
“Miss, I am good at accounting!” This time, Qingmiao spoke first!
"I only know a little bit of martial arts, and it seems like I don't know anything else!" Qinghe said sullenly, lowering her head.
Yun Quan could also tell that Qing He was more steady and reliable, while Qing Miao was more lively and outgoing.
The two people represent two extremes.
“I don’t care who you followed before, once you’ve entered my household, you’re mine! I want you to have only me as your master, and there are some things that even my mother can’t know! Understand?”
Yun Juan thought it was better to make things clear now, otherwise there would be more and more trouble in the future, and some of the things she did would be incomprehensible. She hoped that they could accept it as soon as possible.
The two sisters exchanged a glance and immediately knelt down: "Miss, when Madam sent us here, she said that we would be yours from now on! You are our only mistress! So, Miss, you can rest assured."
Although the two of them had said this to Aunt Lan once before, she still didn't trust her. Saying it again now was to let them make a choice.
If her secrets get out in the future, she will send them away.
"Alright! I understand, you two can go now! I need some peace and quiet!" Yun Juan waved her hand, dismissing the two of them.
He pulled out a bucket of instant noodles from his storage space, tore open the packaging, added hot water, and ate it with relish.
"Hmm~ I still need modern food! The food at the Prime Minister's residence is terrible! It's as tasteless as chewing wax!"
Yun Juan felt alive again after taking a bite of noodles, but she still felt something was missing.
I've got it! I remember I haven't watched that palace drama I downloaded yet!
He took out his tablet from his storage space, poured himself a glass of "happy fairy water," added two large ice balls, and only then did he feel better!
Some were happy while others were sad; the sound of breaking cups being thrown could be heard continuously from Aunt Hua's courtyard.
"Hmph! Even in that state, Wei is still not behaving herself! A prime minister's wife who has no power over the imperial treasury dares to step on my head!"
"Isn't she just afraid I'll plant my own spies in that little slut's courtyard? She actually sent someone over herself!" Aunt Hua was angry that Wei Wan had sent someone over, so she sent a maid instead, and her own spies couldn't get in.
“Madam, who in the Prime Minister’s mansion doesn’t know that you are the one who holds the real power? What is Wei Shi compared to you! Master still favors you the most!” The nanny beside Concubine Hua advised.
Aunt Hua gently stroked her face: "What he craves is just this physical appearance. If he lost this appearance, he would probably be rejected anyway! Look at the women in the manor... they all have children to rely on, but what about me? What do I have?"
"Madam, you are still young! You will have it!" The nanny continued to persuade her, after all, it was a matter of shared glory and shared loss; if the master benefited, the servants would also benefit.
Because Consort Hua was favored and in charge of the household affairs, every maid and servant in the mansion treated her with utmost respect.
"Yes! It will come, that child from back then... will still kick me in my belly! It was him! He killed my child! But what can I do?" Aunt Hua gently stroked her abdomen, closing her eyes as if she wanted to feel his presence again.
But it's long gone, and I can't feel it anymore.
A single tear slid down her cheek and fell to the ground.
20demayo