Yu Mu’an sat upright in her chair, her expression calm “Before anything else, I’ll give you a chance.
If anyone doesn’t wish to stay in Qingchen Courtyard, you may still leave with Nanny Zhang now.
You all know how dangerous it is to serve here. I understand your fear, so if anyone wants to go, you can speak up now. I won’t be angry.”
A young male servant timidly raised his hand. “Y-Young Madam, this servant is frail and probably can’t ”
“Approved.”
Yu Mu’an agreed before he could even finish.
Immediately, an older maid raised her hand as well. “Young Madam, this old servant, I ”
“Approved.”
The two of them hurriedly ran off.
Yu Mu’an remained composed. “Anyone else?”
The remaining people looked at one another. In the end, the older maid who stayed kowtowed “This old servant is willing to serve the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam with all her heart!”
“We servants are willing to serve the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam with all our hearts!”
Yu Mu’an didn’t show much joy, only tilting her head slightly. “Reward them.”
Anxin came down into the courtyard with a money pouch and gave each of them two taels of silver:
“Since you’ve chosen to stay in Qingchen Courtyard of your own will, you must be loyal to your masters and do your work well.
If the Eldest Young Madam discovers anyone betraying their master, don’t blame her for being ruthless you’ll all be dragged out and beaten to death!”
Everyone responded, “Thank you for the reminder, Miss Anxin.”
Anxin turned back to look at Yu Mu’an, wearing a small expression that clearly sought praise.
Yu Mu’an couldn’t help but laugh.
Among those who stayed, there were two maids she recognized from her previous life.
One of them was named Green Ivy, someone who had once served at Yu Lin’s side.
She was pretty and proper, diligent and efficient. When they encountered bandits, Yu Mu’an’s own two dowry maids had fled, leaving her behind but only Green Ivy had stayed by her side.
Until Xie Jinghong rescued them, Green Ivy remained loyal to Yu Lin, proving her sincerity through hardship and later becoming Yu Lin’s most trusted confidante.
But later, when Xie Jinghong got drunk and slept with Green Ivy, he casually arranged for her to become a concubine after sobering up.
Yu Lin became consumed with jealousy.
To maintain her innocent façade, she couldn’t openly oppose Xie Jinghong, so she secretly bribed rough servants to violate Green Ivy.
Rumors spread throughout the household that Green Ivy was “tainted,” and Xie Jinghong, disgusted, abandoned the idea of taking her as a concubine.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Green Ivy threw herself into a well and died.
In this life, driven again by fate, Green Ivy had once more been assigned to Qingchen Courtyard.
Only this time, its mistress was no longer Yu Lin.
Green Ivy felt uncomfortable under Yu Mu’an’s gaze and cautiously lowered herself, not daring to speak.
Yu Mu’an came back to her senses and waved her hand. “All of you, rise.”
“Thank you, Eldest Young Madam.”
“Green Ivy will stay in my room. Nanny Yu, go find Ju Hong. From now on, the small kitchen will be under your joint management. As for the others’ duties in the courtyard, all assignments will be arranged by Anxin.”
“Yes.”
The group dispersed.
Anxin helped Yu Mu’an back to her room, muttering in a low voice “Eldest Young Madam, how can you casually bring someone to your side? We don’t even know her background…”
Yu Mu’an pinched her still slightly chubby cheek, gestured for Green Ivy to follow, and smiled lightly “Anyone I choose is someone I can trust.”
Anxin glanced back at Green Ivy, who was following obediently with her head lowered, and snorted deliberately, raising her voice “Anyway, I’ll be watching her. If she ever betrays her master, she’ll be beaten to death on the spot!”
Green Ivy shrank her neck slightly and said nothing.
Yu Mu’an said, “Don’t bully her. Get along well.”
Anxin pouted. “Sorry, Green Ivy, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Green Ivy carefully glanced at Yu Mu’an, then at Anxin, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “I-it’s alright…”
Seeing she was still a bit afraid, Yu Mu’an said, “Green Ivy, go check if breakfast in the small kitchen is ready.”
“Yes.”
Only after her footsteps faded did Anxin lean in and whisper “Eldest Young Madam, did you assign Ju Hong to the kitchen because you’re afraid of someone poisoning the food?”
The smile on Yu Mu’an’s face faded, her voice turning slightly cold “Yesterday, Mother and Nanny Zhang thought I had fainted, so they spoke quietly.
They said I must not be allowed to conceive the eldest grandson first they need some kind of safeguard.”
Anxin looked shocked.
“But… but you haven’t even consummated the marriage with the Eldest Young Master yet…
Besides, he’s a fool can he even get someone pregnant?”
Yu Mu’an had told no one that Xie Jingyan was pretending to be a fool, and she had no intention of telling anyone.
Tricking him was only meant to warn him not to truly ruin him. Otherwise, she would lose a potential ally.
She shook her head. “Mother doesn’t know the truth.
So I can only let Ju Hong handle my meals. Only then can I feel at ease.”
Anxin looked worried. “But you’ll still have to dine at Wei Rui Xuan sometimes…”
Yu Mu’an lowered her eyes in thought.
She had deliberately set Xie Jingyan up given his personality, he would never just swallow the loss quietly.
No matter how he chose to retaliate next, she could go along with it, pretend to be injured or ill, and avoid going to Wei Rui Xuan.
She also needed to push things along on Yu Lin’s side hopefully she would step up and get pregnant soon, drawing Hu Rui’s attention away.
At Yunfei Pavilion.
Young Master Hong and the Fifth Young Madam were in another cold war.
Yu Lin had stolen the spotlight at the Hundred Flowers Banquet. The noble ladies treated it as entertainment and went home to share the gossip with their husbands.
But how would those men think of it?
A proper noble lady dancing alongside a group of entertainers what kind of propriety was that?
Some who were on bad terms with the General deliberately wrote letters to congratulate him in a mocking way.
“The Great General is truly blessed. Your young daughter-in-law can sing and dance. I hear her performance was stunning have you had the pleasure of watching it privately at home?”
The General was furious, practically fuming. Even though he was about to return home, he still sent a carrier pigeon to scold Xie Jinghong harshly.
Xie Jinghong, already troubled, dragged Yu Lin into their room the moment he returned and slammed the door shut.
Then he left and Yu Lin cried.
For three days straight, Xie Jinghong slept in the study.
When Hu Rui heard about it, her expression changed drastically. Her fists clenched, her chest heaving.
Nanny Zhang hurried to comfort her. “Madam, calm down. Young Master Hong and the Fifth Young Madam are still young being hot-tempered is normal…”
“They argue every day and sleep separately what about my grandson?!”
Hu Rui slammed the table, clearly still furious.
After panting for a while, she suddenly calmed down.
Her eyes narrowed as she spoke slowly, “She’s just a concubine-born daughter anyway… nothing presentable…”
Nanny Zhang, having served Hu Rui her whole life, immediately understood her intention, though she hesitated slightly.
“You mean… but that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? They’ve only just married…”
Hu Rui sneered. “That’s because she’s useless.”
On the first and fifteenth of each month, dinner was always served at Wei Rui Xuan, where the entire family gathered.
Several of the cooks had to return to the main kitchen to help. With Ju Hong overseeing things, Yu Mu’an felt at ease responding to the summons and heading to Wei Rui Xuan.
More importantly, Ju Hong had gathered some information.
Yu Mu’an suspected that tonight at Wei Rui Xuan… there would be quite a show to watch.