After Xiaolan was chosen by the First Madam, Granny Gao began introducing other people to Chu Muqing.
She pointed to a tall, sturdy maid and said to Chu Muqing, “This maid is called Er Ya. She’s very strong. If you like her, Miss, you can take her back to be a maid.”
Chu Muqing nodded. She had chosen this girl in her previous life. Although a bit slow-witted, she was loyal and capable.
Seeing that Chu Muqing was satisfied, Granny Gao moved on to introduce the next person. In this way, Chu Muqing selected six or seven more people, just enough to fill a courtyard.
When the First Madam saw the people Chu Muqing had chosen, she looked disdainful. People from the countryside are always like that. A few days ago, she had thought the Chu Muqing might be clever, judging by her smug expression, but today she saw that Chu Muqing was shallow, choosing only low-class people.
Little did she know, the people Chu Muqing had chosen were all honest and dutiful. They weren’t particularly clever, but they were loyal. What use would cleverness be if they were all traitors?
As for her personal maid, Bai Zhi was now by her side. In her previous life, when her maternal grandmother came to the capital, she had prepared a maid for Chu Muqing, but fearing the Marquis’s mansion’s reputation and worrying the old lady would be displeased, she had taken the maid away. This time, she would not make the same mistake.
After Chu Muqing finished choosing, the First Madam had a maid send Granny Gao away. Then she gave Nanny Wang a wink, and Nanny Wang understood, bringing over two maids.
Chu Muqing immediately understood that the First Madam was sending these maids to her courtyard.
The First Madam looked at her kindly. “You’ve just returned, so I won’t say much. These two maids are from my courtyard. They’re clever and capable. You can take them back with you, they’ll be useful.”
She pointed to the taller maid and said, “This maid is called Danyan.” Then she pointed to the other and said, “This is Xueping. Both are very capable.”
Hearing this, the two maids bowed to Chu Muqing and said, “This servant greets Miss.”
Chu Muqing replied, “Thank you for your trouble, Mother.” Then she turned to the two maids, “You two, please come back with me.”
Back at Tangtao Courtyard, Chu Muqing sat in a chair and looked at the maids below. “Now that you’ve come to my Tangtao Courtyard, you are all members of Tangtao Courtyard. As long as you perform your duties, I will treat you fairly.”
She looked at the tall, strong maid. “Now that you’re in the Marquis’s residence, you should stop using the name Er Ya. From now on, you’ll be called Xia Zhu. There are no second-class maids here, so you’ll temporarily be a second-class maid.”
Er Ya, now Xia Zhu, knelt and kowtowed to Chu Muqing. “Thank you, Miss. I will work hard.”
Previously, Granny Gao had brought her to other noble households, but none of the ladies took a liking to her. Granny Gao didn’t keep idle people, if no one bought her, she would have been sold to a low-class brothel. So Xia Zhu was extremely grateful to Chu Muqing, thinking this beautiful young lady was a kind-hearted bodhisattva.
Chu Muqing smiled. Her courtyard needed a strong maid like Xia Zhu, after all, the inner quarters had all sorts of secret methods. A maid like her would be useful, and if possible, she hoped for a maid skilled in martial arts as well.
After assigning the remaining maids, Chu Muqing dismissed them. Only Danyan and Xueping remained unassigned.
Chu Muqing said to them, “You two are second-class maids in Mother’s courtyard, so you’re naturally first-class maids here. First-class maids share a room with one other person. Since Bai Zhi and Lian Xia share a room, you two can share one as well. Is that acceptable?”
The two maids dared not dissent. They immediately knelt and said, “We will follow Miss’s arrangements.”
Chu Muqing smiled and waved them off.
As soon as they left, Bai Zhi said indignantly, “Miss, Xueping seems honest enough. But Danyan, look at her. So seductive and alluring, she could pass for a concubine. What was Madam thinking, sending someone like her here?”
“Then her intentions certainly weren’t good,” Chu Muqing replied.
In her previous life, the First Madam had not sent Danyan here, but in this life, for some reason, she did.
Chu Muqing did remember this maid. Bai Zhi had been right about one thing, this girl would later become Chu Changsong’s concubine, and the First Madam had been quite angry about it.
Looking at the maid’s features, she did bear some resemblance to that mistress. No wonder Chu Changsong took her in. Now that the First Madam had sent her here, things were getting interesting.
“She’s not a threat, but we need to keep a close eye on Xueping. Don’t let her into the inner quarters unless absolutely necessary, and she must not touch my personal belongings.”
Xueping might seem honest and simple, but she was actually very meticulous. In her previous life, it was likely she had passed along a lot of information about Chu Muqing to the First Madam.
“Yes, this servant will keep an eye on them,” Bai Zhi said confidently.
For the next few days, apart from paying her respects, Chu Muqing spent her time leisurely sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun. Occasionally, Chu Ningchu would come to see her, but she responded indifferently.
Now that Xiao Lan had entered the First Madam’s courtyard, it wouldn’t be long before some interesting developments unfolded.
Xiao Lan is Bai Lan. In her previous life, when choosing maids, Chu Muqing had selected Xiao Lan and brought her back, only to raise an ungrateful child.
Realizing that Granny Gao was still around in this life, she sent Bai Zhi out of the mansion to find her. Granny Gao, greedy for money, was given a sum and instructed to make sure she took Xiao Lan along when sending the maid to the Yongding Marquis’s mansion the next day. Not only that, but she was to praise Xiao Lan as much as possible until the First Madam was moved.
Thus, the First Madam was already somewhat tempted by Granny Gao’s words. When Chu Muqing showed even a hint of desire, the First Madam, unable to bear seeing her succeed, naturally picked Xiao Lan ahead of time, since she could never get ahead of her stepdaughter.
Xiao Lan would never be content with just being a maid. This girl has ambitions that reach the heavens, and she would surely create some entertainment for Chu Muqing.
This was a gift Chu Muqing had given to the First Madam.
“Miss, you’ve been looking at this sheet music for a few days now. Do you want to play it? We brought your zither from Hezhou. Shall I fetch it for you?” Bai Zhi asked, seeing Chu Muqing studying the sheet music again in the courtyard.
“No need. I’ll just take a look,” Chu Muqing replied.
The sheet music had been obtained by the second master by chance and later given to her. She often played it while in Hezhou, but there was one piece that always felt incomplete to her.
“Miss Wen Dong has arrived,” said the elderly woman guarding the door with a smile.
Chu Muqing looked over and saw Wen Dong, a second-class maid from the old lady’s courtyard. She gave Lian Xia a wink, and Lian Xia nodded, walking over to Wen Dong.
When Wen Dong saw Lian Xia, she smiled and called out, “Sister Lian Xia.”
They entered the mansion together, and then the old lady’s courtyard. Later, Lian Xia became a first-class maid, and Wen Dong became a second-class maid. Lian Xia had always taken good care of her. Now, Lian Xia had been assigned to the eldest young lady’s courtyard.
Originally, Lian Qiu was supposed to come today, but Chu Muqing had asked her to switch places and sent her to the Second Miss’s courtyard instead.
Lian Xia was happy to see Wen Dong and smiled. “Why are you here? Did the old madam want to see Miss?”
“Yes, sister,” Wen Dong replied.
“Then come with me. The young lady is in the courtyard.”
She led Wen Dong into the courtyard.
When Wen Dong saw Chu Muqing, she bowed and said, “This servant greets Miss.”
Chu Muqing put down the sheet music and smiled. “What brings you here? Did Grandmother need to see me?”
Wen Dong nodded. “Yes, Miss. Madam Luo from Nichang Pavilion has arrived. The old lady asked you to pick out some clothes.”