Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Qin Pan smiled softly, like a gentle little lamb.

"To be honest, I don't really care about Sister Shun's marriage. I do hope she finds a good husband."

Although she and Qin Shun weren't particularly close due to the relationship between the two branches of the family and their differing temperaments, Qin Pan still wished her well—after all, they were sisters, not enemies.

Pei Yun nodded with a smile and poured her another cup of tea, changing the subject. "In a little while, I'm going out to check on our family's shops and some of my dowry estates. Would you like to come along?"

Though Qin Pan had already come of age and was being considered for marriage, with Tang Shi having taught her much about household management, she had never actually visited the family's shops. She nodded eagerly, looking somewhat excited.

Seeing her like this, Pei Yun smiled—truly a young lady raised deep in the inner quarters, curious about everything outside.

"Then have another cup of tea. Yue will be inviting Ying over for lunch soon. We'll eat, rest a while, and then head out," Pei Yun said.

Qin Pan gave a soft sound of assent and continued sipping her tea while chatting with Pei Yun about recent amusing matters.

Meanwhile, the matrons who had just received their assignments from Pei Yun were leaving Jinxiu Court. Nanny Feng naturally walked with her head held high, swaggering with pride, while the other matrons crowded around her, flattering her.

"Nanny Feng is truly different from the rest of us—both the Grand Madam and the Commandery Princess hold you in high regard!"

"Of course! Nanny Feng has served in this household for so many years. Everything she touches is in perfect order—how could any master not value her?"

"Sister, shouldn't we get together privately to hash this out?"

Listening to the flattery around her, Nanny Feng couldn't keep the smile off her lips. She raised an eyebrow lazily and said, "There's no rush. The Commandery Princess trusts me so much—I've got to make sure everything's done right."

"But don't worry. We've all worked together for years. I know what each of you brings to the table."

Her words were loaded with meaning, and the others understood perfectly well. However, a few matrons secretly pursed their lips and muttered among themselves, "Well, there goes more silver to buy our way into jobs."

"Isn't that how it's always been in this household? Before it was Nanny Jin, and now it's her daughter-in-law," another matron snorted. "Either way, all the gravy ends up in their family."

"Sigh, I just wonder how much silver it'll cost this time. If there's still something in it for us, then fine."

Everyone was eager to secure lucrative assignments from Nanny Feng, flocking around her like moths to a flame. Only Nanny Shi remained silent, edging away from the crowd to return and pack her things for Mozhai Studio.

Nanny Feng noticed her leaving and, with a turn of her eye, called out to stop her.

"Nanny Shi, don't be in such a hurry to leave."

Nanny Shi paused in her steps, her face betraying no emotion. She raised her eyes and asked what the matter was.

What Nanny Feng hated most was exactly this demeanor—she was no longer the head housekeeper, so who was she trying to impress?

"Nanny Shi has been promoted now, but you can't just palm off all your unfinished work on me, can you?"

Nanny Shi's expression remained unchanged as she replied flatly, "I'll send someone over with all the records for the front courtyard gardens shortly—what's done, what's not, and all the income and expenses, all written up clear as day. With your skills, Nanny Feng, it'll be a piece of cake."

"Handing off half-done work—who knows what tricks are buried in there." Nanny Feng had a sharp tongue, clearly still hoping Nanny Shi would keep doing the work on the sly. "For the Commandery Princess's sake, how about we split this task?"

Nanny Shi gave a wry smile. "Together" in name only—she'd still be doing all the grunt work herself. She'd been handling this task for two months—tough and tedious—but she'd have seen it through to the end anyway. But Nanny Feng's bossy attitude made her lose all desire to finish it.

"Take that up with the Commandery Princess yourself." Nanny Shi turned to leave. "The Commandery Princess ordered me to look after the Eighth Miss. I'm afraid I won't have time for that."

Nanny Feng, who had been puffed up from Pei Yun's favor, got even angrier at Nanny Shi's attitude and immediately snapped, "You old witch! I show you a little respect and you think you're hot stuff?"

"You're the one who fudged the accounts, and now you expect me to pick up the pieces? I'll tell you—not a chance!"

Nanny Feng's mouth went a mile a minute, spinning accusations out of thin air. Several matrons hoping to get assignments from her stepped in to grab at Nanny Shi, and all hell broke loose in front of Jinxiu Court.

It wasn't until Nanny Xu came out and saw the pandemonium that her face went cold.

"Let go right now! How dare you lay hands on each other in broad daylight?!"

Startled, everyone let go and shut up. One matron in front stepped up with a sycophantic smile and said, "Nanny, we weren't fighting. We just wanted a word with Nanny Shi, but she's been throwing her weight around because the Commandery Princess favors her, so we had to stop her."

"Yeah, yeah—just holding her back, no fighting at all."

Nanny Xu shot a cold look around at all of them and said sternly, "This is Jinxiu Court—the residence of the Commandery Princess and the Marquis. You are all respected housekeepers of this household. Brawling and making a scene here—do you want folks to think the Duke Su estate is some lawless backwater with no rules?!"

Nanny Feng's face also fell with embarrassment. Snapping back to her senses, she cursed herself inwardly—even if she wanted to tussle with Nanny Shi, it should have been done in private. It was Pei Yun's excessive kindness earlier that had made her so full of herself.

After Nanny Xu finished and saw everyone with their heads down, silent, she turned to Nanny Shi, who was straightening her clothes, and softened her tone.

"Nanny Shi, what exactly happened here? Tell me truthfully. In this household—especially under the Commandery Princess—there's no room for troublemakers and bullies. I'll report this personally to the Commandery Princess shortly."

Nanny Feng immediately grew flustered and looked anxiously at Nanny Shi. Nanny Shi, however, remained composed and simply recounted what Nanny Feng had said when she called her over. As for the chaos just now, no one had actually thrown a punch, and since it was the Commandery Princess's first day managing the household, making a big fuss would only embarrass her. So Nanny Shi didn't mention it further.

Nanny Xu nodded after hearing this and reassured her, "I understand. Go on back now—do as the Commandery Princess instructed."

"Yes." Nanny Shi gave a slight nod and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Nanny Feng quickly stepped forward with a smile and said, "Nanny, I wasn't trying to make things difficult for Nanny Shi. It's just that with the garden repairs—you know how many intricacies there are. Taking over mid-way leaves things unclear. If anything goes wrong, I'd be the one bearing the blame. That's why I wanted Nanny Shi to clarify things properly."

These matrons were all old hands in the household, skilled at spinning words—two truths and three lies, always making things sound pretty. Nanny Xu naturally saw through her little scheme but didn't call it out.

"If that's your concern, take a few days to go through the current accounts. If you find anything amiss, report it, and the Commandery Princess will certainly not turn a blind eye." Nanny Xu said with a slight smile. "But let me offer you a word of advice, Nanny Feng—the most important thing when working under the Commandery Princess is obedience. Don't have too many ideas of your own."

Nanny Feng's face had already fallen. She pursed her lips, and seeing that Nanny Xu had no intention of blowing things up, felt somewhat relieved. Just as she was about to take her leave, a familiar voice came from behind.

"Quite a crowd here—what's going on?"

She turned to look and saw the Second Miss and Eighth Miss approaching hand in hand, looking at the scene curiously. Beside the Second Miss was Nanny Liu, the head housekeeper serving Madam Sun.

It was Nanny Liu who had just spoken.

Though Nanny Feng wasn't particularly close to Nanny Liu, they saw each other often enough. Nanny Liu was actually closer to Nanny Feng's mother-in-law, Nanny Jin—after all, she was the head housekeeper of the West Manor, so face had to be given.

So Nanny Feng smiled and spoke first: "What wind blows you here today, Nanny Liu?"

"The Eighth Miss invited our Second Miss over for lunch, so the Madam sent me to accompany her."

Nanny Liu replied with a smile, then looked at Nanny Xu ahead and greeted her respectfully: "Nanny."

Nanny Xu nodded and said to Nanny Feng, "Go on back now. If anything like this happens again, there will be severe consequences."

Nanny Feng didn't dare linger any longer and hurried away with the matrons in tow.

Only then did Nanny Xu reveal a hint of a smile as she led Qin Yue and Qin Ying into the courtyard, speaking quietly to Nanny Liu: "Forgive the display—the servants don't know their place."

Nanny Liu smiled and said, "The Commandery Princess is young, so it's inevitable that some old-timers try to take advantage. Fortunately, you're here, Nanny, to keep them in line."

Nanny Xu smiled but said nothing. As they entered the main hall, Pei Yun was still talking with Qin Pan. Qin Yue immediately pounced forward with a laugh.

"Mother!"

Pei Yun caught her in her arms and playfully pinched her chubby cheeks. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ying beside her performing a proper salute, so she picked her up and said, "Look how well-mannered your Second Sister is. You should learn from her."

Qin Yue beamed and nodded, hopping down from Pei Yun's arms, running over to stand beside her sister Qin Ying, then greeting Pei Yun and Qin Pan with proper decorum.

"Mother, Aunt, I wish you good health."

Qin Pan picked up her handkerchief to cover a smile: "Yue Jie'er is such a clever little thing."

Pei Yun shook her head with a helpless smile, had two small stools brought over, and invited Qin Yue and Qin Ying to sit down and have some fruit.

"Nanny Liu, you've come too." Pei Yun looked up and noticed Nanny Liu nearby.

Nanny Liu lowered her head slightly and quickly said, "The Madam sent me to bring the Second Miss here. Now that she's safely at the Princess's place, I'll take my leave."

"No rush. Since you're already here, stay for a cup of tea before you go." Pei Yun said with a slight smile.

But Nanny Liu kept declining, saying Madam Sun still had errands for her, and hurriedly took her leave.

Pei Yun didn't push it and just politely said she was welcome to come by again sometime.

Nanny Liu rushed back to the West Manor and found Ming Shi still chatting in Madam Sun's courtyard. In the West Manor, the daughters-in-law were also expected to pay their respects to Madam Sun every day, but since Qin Du's wife, Du Shi, was pregnant, Madam Sun had let her skip the morning greetings, leaving only the eldest daughter-in-law, Ming Shi, there.

"Why are you back? Weren't you supposed to stay with Ying Jie?" Madam Sun frowned upon seeing Nanny Liu return.

Nanny Liu replied, "There's something important I need to report to you, Madam."

Madam Sun figured Nanny Liu must have found something at Jinxiu Garden and urged her to spill it.

Since Ming Shi was one of them, Nanny Liu spoke plainly.

"What?"

Madam Sun frowned deeply: "The East Manor is really going to renovate the courtyard for Third Brother?"

"Yes, this morning the Princess called in the housekeeper and gave the job to Nanny Feng." Nanny Liu said carefully: "I had someone look into it, and it seems the Princess thinks highly of Nanny Feng, even letting her hand out assignments to the staff."

Madam Sun couldn't care less whether Nanny Feng or Nanny Li ran the household, but the expansion of Qingyun Pavilion had her worried.

"What more needs to be changed about that three-courtyard residence for the couple to live comfortably?" Madam Sun said irritably: "At the end of the day, they're just coveting the public funds. Didn't Mother refuse before? Why has she softened now?"

Ming Shi listened quietly and nodded: "That must be it. After all, the Princess has married in, and with Fourth Brother there, they have to show the eldest branch some respect."

"This money all comes from the public coffers. When Jinxiu Garden was being renovated, silver flowed like water. Now it's Third Brother's turn, and they're desperately trying to grab as much as they can." Madam Sun pressed her lips tightly, extremely displeased.

Although the East and West Manors each managed their own affairs, the silver was all controlled by Old Madam Ming from the public funds. Whatever the eldest branch spent meant a loss for their second branch.

So Madam Sun was deeply dissatisfied.

"No, this courtyard cannot be renovated." Madam Sun firmly opposed: "If we set this precedent, all the silver will be scooped up by them."

Ming Shi naturally didn't want this either. Although the silver for Jinxiu Garden's renovation was bestowed by the Emperor, the eldest branch had gained considerable glory and income from it. Now that Qin Sheng and his wife wanted to join in on the fun, they certainly couldn't swallow this loss silently.

"Madam, while I was there, I also encountered servants from the eldest branch causing a commotion at the gates of Jinxiu Garden, completely unruly and disgraceful." Nanny Liu quickly continued: "Now that the Princess has taken over the household management, how could Madam Tang and Madam Zhou be pleased? They're sure to cause trouble for the Princess behind her back. And the Princess is young, unable to control those under her."

"I think this is our opportunity to plant people inside." Nanny Liu offered her counsel: "Nanny Feng is the most greedy, and she's the daughter-in-law of Nanny Jin, who serves Madam Tang. If we can find some leverage against her, not only will the Qingyun Pavilion matter fall through, but Madam Tang will also have to bleed quite a bit."

Author's note:

None.