Glossary
嬷嬷 mama – an older female servant
奴婢 nubi – slave servant girl; often used by servants speaking to their masters
丫头 yatou/ 丫鬟 yahuan – servant girl
妹妹 ii – younger sister;
姐姐 jiejie – elder sister; can be added to nas to show respect or a close relationship;
夫人 furen – legitimate wife, missus;
小姐 xiaojie – young miss; usually from a good family, but can be used to refer to any young girl
姨娘 yiniang – concubine, not the legitimate wife; added to the end of the maternal na to show their (lower) status compared to the wife
Yun Qian ng did not hurry to let that mama rise. She turned her gazetoward Yun Yan and lightly asked, “Don’t know what ii ans?”
When she saw that Yun Qian ng didn’t imdiately accept the person she had brought over, she couldn’t help but be shocked by her cautiousness. Without changing her smile, she explained, “jiejie, this Mi mama is one of the old servants from the xiangfu when furen was still alive! But after furen had passed away due to illness, Su yiniang dismissed a large part of the fu‘s servants! When yiniang passed the register to ii, she urged that if jiejie has anything you don’t understand, you can ask Mi mama!”
Yun Qian ng carefully listened to Yun Yan’s explanation knew that this was one of their plans to get into her good books, took another look at Mi mama. Her hairstyle and clothing were different from those alloted by the xiangfu. Surely, Liu Han Yu must have spent quite a lot of effort to look for her!
When she recalled how Liu Han Yu brought up Qu furen‘s death and dowry matters, Yun Qian ng was suddenly enlightened!
Perhaps this Mi mama knew about the happenings that year, otherwise Su Qing wouldn’t dismiss so many workers just to pull the wool over people’s eyes!
It seems that this ti, she could not refuse to accept Yun Yan and her mother’s feelings!
Thinking so, a faint smile floated on Yun Qian ng lips as she gently said, “Mi mama, please rise! I only have three yatou by my side, and usually prefer to stay indoors rather than go outside; not familiar with the human affairs of the fu. Since mama was an elderly in the fu, help pick a few trustworthy people!
Although Yun Qian ng accepted their kind intentions, she expressed her own opinion clearly in the words she just said!
Yun Qian ng did not completely trust Yun Yan and her mother!
Even if Mi mama was an elderly from xiangfu, Yun Qian ng who was unfamiliar with the past events didn’t clearly know which faction she belonged to in the past!
Maybe this Mi mama had already been bribed by Yun Yan and her mother. If she rashly kept this person by her side, then they would have her daily activities at the tip of their fingers!
Thus, Yun Qian ng only permitted Mi mama to help her select a few servants but did not promise anything else yet!
Mi mama was also very clever and figured out the hidden aning in Yun Qian ng‘ words. She kowtowed once in thanks then stood up and imdiately, following protocol, returned to her original spot and didn’t speak!
Yun Yan showed a happy face and imdiately allowed her personal yatou, Lü Rui, to bring the servants in. She retrieved two registers from her sleeves, one new, one old, and handed them over to Yun Qian ng, smiling, “jiejie, these servants’ background and character are all listed in this register. Please take a look! If you’re not satisfied, you can look through the other one, and choose again!”
Yun Qian ng nodded as she received the registers. First opening the newer one, she carefully went through the servants’ nas and characters!
Yun Yan then signaled Lü Rui with her eyes, for her to imdiately move to the front and announce each of the servants nas in order.
When the servants heard their nas, they each wore smiles and stepped forward, respectfully bowing to Yun Qian ng!
All of them understood that the current young miss had so authority, so being assigned to work in Qi Luo Yuan was probably a good thing. All of them thought to give Yun Qian ng a good impression!
Yet Yun Qian ng‘s attention was focused on the register she held. She only faintly swept a glance towards the actual people before her. On the other hand, Mi mama had her head slightly raised as her seemingly expressionless eyes were shrewdly sizing up the servants. After Lü Rui finished presenting them, she lowered her head again!
“jiejie, what do you think? Have you taken a liking to any of these yatou?” When Lü Rui returned to her side, Yun Yan put down her teacup. Smiling at Yun Qian ng, she carefully probed!
Yun Qian ng closed the register. Sowhat tiredly, she lifted her own cup and took a sip, then said, “I actually don’t have much of an opinion. Let’s hear Mi mama‘s suggestions then!”
Finishing, Yun Qian ng‘s smiling eyes shot directly towards Mi mama……
Although Mi mama had her head lowered, she still felt her gaze. Heart tightening, she cautiously said, “Answering da xiaojie, nubi thinks, Qian mama, Fang mama, Liu mama, Bai mama, these four are useful! From the yatou, Zhi Tao, Wen Lan, Le Ling, Yi Xiang, Bai i, An’er, these six are useful!”
Finishing, Mi mama retreated to the side, and didn’t speak further. It could be seen that she was a person that stays within her bounds.
Yun Qian ng listened to Mi mama and looked over the servants she had suggested, lightly nodding her head.
It seed that Mi mama had the ability to make discerning judgnts. With rely a glance, she picked a few good ones. There was hardly any difference from Yun Qian ng‘s own choices!
Inwardly understanding that Yun Qian ng still had so doubts about her, when Mi mama finished answering, she didn’t try to make further persuasions, showing that was an able and efficient person!
Yet Yun Yan, who had been observing her expression from the start was shocked when Yun Qian ng was able to accurately discern the servants when their nas were spoken!
Just now Yun Qian ng had only swept a glance at these people, but had already rembered their na and appearance. It could be seen that she took this matter seriously, but her expression had been relatively indifferent. This was enough to make Yun Yan realize that she shouldn’t be fooled by another’s outer appearance!
“Does jiejie find these people alright?” After her analysis, Yun Yan’s smile had dimd a bit, as she held even deeper respect towards Yun Qian ng!
Yun Qian ng noticed how careful she was and slightly eased up her heart. She nodded to say, “Mi mama‘s insight is not bad! Since that’s the case, these four will stay behind to assign Qi Luo Yuan‘s heavy labor! Zhi Tao, Le Ling, Yi Xiang, An’er, will be third-ranked yahuan, Wen Lan and Bai i will be second-ranked yahuan! As for Mi mama, she will temporarily assu the position of Qi Luo Yuan‘s steward mama and properly arrange their daily tasks!
“Yes!” Receiving the appointnt, Mi mama imdiately stepped forward to bow, then turned to lead the servants to leave the yard!
“Since jiejie has already settled everything, ii will return to report to yiniang!” Seeing that her task was complete, Yun Yan quickly stood and smiled to announce her withdrawal!
Yun Qian ng didn’t detain her and allowed Mu Chun to send off Yun Yan. She then picked up the older register and carefully looked through it again……
Only, the further she read, the more shocked she felt……
This register, seemingly written over a decade ago, recorded all of the servants that had served in the fu when Qu furen was still alive!
But now, there were no longer any traces of these people in the xiangfu. Only either “dismissal” or “death” was written next to their nas; the only exception was one Xia mama who had the words “ntally disabled” next to hers!
“xiaojie, it’s getting late, let nubi light a candle before you continue looking through this register!” Mu Chun after sending off Yun Yan and returning to the room, saw that was Yun Qian ng still looking at the register in he hands. Only after she saw that the sky outside had gradually darkened, did she give a soft reminder!
Yun Qian ng slightly raised her head. She only saw that the setting sun had long since been hidden by the hills and the faint moon had unknowingly ascended to midair. Closing the register, she calmly asked, “Any peculiarities at the courtyard entrance?”
“Reporting to xiaojie, nubi just sent off san xiaojie, then saw a yatou suspiciously looking around at the entrance to our courtyard. When nubi approached, that yatou unexpectedly ran far away! nubi looked carefully, she looked like Su yiniang‘s Hong Xiang!” Carefully covering the faint yellow fla on the red candle, Mu Chun carried over a candlestick and placed it on the table, took a look at the vacant outside, then boldly asked, “xiaojie, you accepted so many people today, and all of them were sent over by Liu yiniang, won’t it be inappropriate? nubi sees that Mi mama is not just a normal exceptional person!”
Seeing Mu Chun so tense, Yun Qian ng laughed brightly, but her eyes still calmly looked outside, “Don’t worry! They’re just looking for a pillar of support, so they won’t co over to to dig their own graves! As for keeping Mi mama, I naturally have a use for her!
She had already felt out Yun Yan today. After examining her changing expressions, Yun Qian ng knew that Liu Han Yu didn’t plan on pulling tricks with these yatou. Her act of picking so many servants with great fanfare was just her plan to pull wool over people’s eyes. If Su Qing knew her real aim, it was likely that she would destroy the evidence!
“After finishing the evening al, let Mi mama co over!” Putting away the register in her sleeves, Yun Qian ng commanded……
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