Chapter 15

Chapter 15

After seeing off Nanny Liu, the rough laborers and maids were summoned before Xie Run.

The rough laborer was broad-shouldered and stout, with a very honest and warm face. She introduced herself as soon as she came up.

"This servant's surname is Ma, and everyone calls me Old Lady Ma. I entered the Prince's manor ten years ago when my hometown was hit by a disaster, and I fled here. The steward took a liking to me and bought me. Mistress, young ladies, if there are any dirty or heavy tasks in the future, just let me handle them."

Xie Run nodded slightly and looked at the thin little maid beside her.

This maid seemed to be of a taciturn disposition, not saying a word for a long time.

Xie Run asked gently, "And you?"

"What's your name? How old are you this year? When did you enter the manor? Do you have any special skills?"

Yueya'er timidly looked up. "This servant's humble name is Yueya'er. I am eight years old. I entered the manor a month ago. My family couldn't make ends meet, so they sold my sister and me. I... I'm good at farming?"

When she said the words "farming," Yueya'er secretly glanced at Xie Run, afraid of being disliked.

"Farming is good. My small garden has just been planted with many flowers. In the future, you can help me take care of them." Xie Run said with a smile. "From now on, you are all members of Linxuan Pavilion. We must get along well. I have a good temper, and it doesn't matter if small things aren't done perfectly. The only rule is: no disloyalty."

"If anyone violates this, I will personally go and ask the Prince to send you away."

Old Lady Ma immediately knelt down and raised her hand to swear. "Since this servant has entered Linxuan Pavilion, I belong to the mistress. If I ever betray my master, may I be struck by lightning and never be reborn!"

Yueya'er followed suit and knelt down in confusion. She didn't know how to say fancy words, so she just whispered, "This servant will obey the mistress in everything. Whatever you say, I will do."

"Alright..." Xie Run waved her hand. "There's no need to be so frightened. Since this is your first day, take a rest for today. Each of you will receive some reward money, have two sets of clothes made, and start your duties tomorrow."

Xie Run glanced at Yuli. "Go and arrange their accommodations."

Yuli said, "Follow me."

The reward money and the fabric for the clothes naturally had to come from Xie Run's own private funds.

When new people arrived, as their employer, she had to show some goodwill to make them willing to work for her wholeheartedly.

Although the maids' monthly wages were paid from the public funds, occasional meals, tips, and rewards still had to come from Xie Run's own pocket.

In the first two months, she had been greedy for food, spending half of her five-tael monthly allowance on snacks, saving only a little.

Now with two new people, her funds were a bit tight.

Xie Run wondered if she should think of a way to build up her private savings.

After the people left, Dan Tao poured a cup of tea for Xie Run. "Mistress, yesterday Xiao Ci hurt her foot, and today the manor sent two people. Could it be that the Prince specially mentioned it to the Princess?"

Xie Run said, "Probably."

It wasn't that Xie Run was being narcissistic, but the timing was too coincidental.

Dan Tao smiled. "The Prince cherishes the mistress, and we servants also benefit from it."

"Don't say such things." Xie Run's teeth tingled at such talk. "What cherishing? The Prince is used to a life of luxury. He probably thought my courtyard was too shabby."

Last night, Xie Run hadn't understood, but thinking about it today, she figured it out.

She had been used to having no one to serve her before, so having four people to attend to her daily needs felt quite satisfactory.

But Prince Jing was different.

He was a noble born and raised, always surrounded by a circle of attendants.

Seeing his woman only having four servants, he would naturally find it shabby.

However, Xie Run did think that Prince Jing handled this matter beautifully.

If he had sent two maids only to her, whether on his order or the Princess's, Xie Run would have become a target in the harem.

But this time, adding people to every courtyard was arranged by the manor's mistress herself—reasonable, fair, and a favor to the subordinates.

The concubines in the harem would only be grateful for the extra help, and Xie Run wouldn't stand out as special.

Handling it this way was good for everyone.

Xie Run was very satisfied.

But it was better not to listen too much to talk about the Prince having her in his heart.

Dan Tao said helplessly, "Why does the mistress have to belittle herself like this?"

"It's not that I'm belittling myself. It's that you shouldn't have such thoughts in the future."

Xie Run's smile faded slightly, and she put on a more serious expression. "I am just a concubine. Don't say things like 'the Prince has me in his heart.' It would make people laugh."

With so many women in the harem, the Prince favored one today and another tomorrow. Even a clinging heart couldn't hold that many people.

Dan Tao was clever and immediately understood Xie Run's meaning. "This servant understands."

Xie Run nodded slightly.

It was only because these two had been sent later by the old lady of the Xie family that she dared to speak directly.

Originally, when the original owner eloped and jumped into the lake, her father was furious at the little maid for passing messages and corrupting his daughter. In a rage, he sold the maid.

Dan Tao and Yuli had both been assigned from Grandmother Xie before entering the Prince's manor.

The two hadn't grown up with the original owner and weren't familiar with her temperament, which fortunately saved Xie Run from constantly worrying about being exposed.

Xie Run added, "I noticed Yueya'er is pitifully thin. She says she's eight years old, but she looks weaker than the six or seven-year-old maids in the manor. In the future, don't be too harsh on her. Let her eat enough to build up her health."

Xie Run didn't dare to say "eat well," as a rough laborer enjoying too many perks would easily attract envy.

Dan Tao said, "This servant understands. But Xiao Shu and Xiao Ci still don't know the full situation, and now the manor has sent two more people. If these two are planted by others..."

Xie Run lowered her eyes. "You're right. We can't be completely defenseless."

She waved Dan Tao over and said softly, "Let Yueya'er and Old Lady Ma share a room. Privately, have them keep an eye on each other. If anyone else has planted spies, they will eventually reveal themselves."

"Yes."

Xie Run had observed Xiao Shu and Xiao Ci for a while and saw that both maids were good.

However, Xiao Shu was more clever and thorough in her work, while Xiao Ci was a bit timid and slow-witted. Lately, Xie Run preferred to use Xiao Shu.

But she wasn't prepared to trust them completely either.

After all, they were both homeborn servants, with their parents in the manor. Expecting them to be completely loyal to her was unrealistic.

Just tell them to use it without worry for now; when they reach the appropriate age and are released, we will give them a dowry gift.

After finishing lunch, Xie Run took her attendants to the courtyard to walk off lunch.

It's said that a walk after meals helps you live to be ninety-nine.

Xie Run took this saying to heart and stuck to it every single day.

Women of this era are mostly confined to the back courtyard, and they're really frail—their feet get sore after just a few steps.

When Xie Run first transmigrated, the worst part wasn't the cold—it was her feet, all rubbed raw and blistered.

After entering the prince's manor, Xie Run would stand instead of sit whenever she could, and every day she walked around Linxuan Pavilion and did the Five Animals Play—all to stay in shape.

After a while, she could tell her body had gotten a lot stronger.