“This humble servant greets the eldest young miss.”
Pei Yunshu looked at the person who had suddenly rushed out and knelt before her, finding her appearance unfamiliar. “Which courtyard do you belong to? How can you be so undisciplined?”
The person kneeling on the ground gritted her teeth in secret. She and her family had carefully planned everything, leaving no stone unturned, and she had even endured some hardships for this.
Originally, she had thought that a third-rank official would be quite good, but she never expected to enter the Guogong Mansion—truly an unexpected delight. Moreover, the one who saved her was the eldest young miss of the Guogong Mansion.
She had thought that if she could stay by this eldest young miss’s side, even if she had to serve others, she might still find an opportunity. Even becoming a concubine for one of the young masters in the Guogong Mansion would be an excellent outcome for her.
“Miss, this is the young lady you rescued from the street a few days ago,” Yuehua whispered into Pei Yunshu’s ear.
“Oh, it’s her. How have you been in the Guogong Mansion? Has anyone bullied you?”
“No one has bullied this humble servant. Everyone in the mansion is kind. It’s just that upon seeing the eldest young miss, I was reminded of your rescue and came specifically to kneel and thank you.”
Pei Yunshu looked at her. The girl kneeling before her was weeping with gratitude. She had seen many such people, but most of them, despite their tearful gratitude now, would not hesitate to stab her in the back when their own interests were at stake.
“Is that so? Has the steward said which master you will be assigned to?”
“Not yet. However, if given the opportunity, this humble servant would still like to serve the young miss, to repay the kindness you showed me that day.”
“Is that so? Although I don’t lack people around me, it’s just one more person in the courtyard. I’ll speak to the steward later, and you can come serve by my side.”
The girl indeed looked both surprised and overjoyed, kowtowing repeatedly to her. “Thank you, eldest young miss. This humble servant will surely work tirelessly for you to repay your kindness.”
Pei Yunshu did not show whether she believed such declarations of loyalty or not, merely smiling at the person before her.
“Do you have a name?”
“This humble servant is a peasant girl, only called by whatever names my parents casually gave me, nothing presentable.”
“In that case, I’ll give you a name.”
Pei Yunshu looked at the woman before her. “From now on, you shall be called Yue Mei.”
“Thank you, young miss, for bestowing this name.”
After exchanging a few more casual words, Pei Yunshu finally let Yue Mei leave.
“Miss, do you really intend to let Yue Mei come to our courtyard?”
“What? Do you think there’s something wrong with her?”
Pei Yunshu looked at Yuehua, who remained silent and expressionless, speaking with her head slightly lowered. “The place where the young miss is taking a stroll is usually off-limits to servants. The steward should be aware of this.”
“Then, how did she get here?”
“This humble servant does not know.”
“You don’t know, and I don’t know. Only heaven knows.”
When Pei Yunshu spoke to her mother about this matter, she also recounted how the girl had pleaded with her.
“Yuehua told me that although the girl is a peasant, she is indeed clever. Moreover, since I helped her, it’s not wrong for her to want to serve by my side. Perhaps she will even be more diligent than others.”
Madam Jiang listened, watching her daughter’s innocent appearance as she spoke, thinking herself clever.
“Yue Mei.”
“Yes. Although I already have Yuehua and Yue Yun by my side, she pleaded with me directly. I thought, having one more person in the courtyard wouldn’t hurt. What do you think, Mother?”
“You said it yourself, the courtyard isn’t short of people now.” Madam Jiang gave Pei Yunshu a reproachful look.
“Niannian, all the servants attending you were carefully chosen by your mother and father. It’s fine if you have one more person serving you now, but what do you intend for her to do?”
“What to do? Naturally, the usual tasks a maid performs.”
“Alright, then tell me, which maid in the house isn’t competent? I’ll have this girl replace her.”
“They’re all very good, and none have made mistakes.” Pei Yunshu refused.
Madam Jiang looked at her with a smile. She knew that her daughter’s reputation outside wasn’t very good, but in reality, every servant in Pei Yunshu’s courtyard was loyal and devoted. If the mistress were unkind, how could those serving her be so loyal?
“You aren’t short of people around you, but since you promised that girl, you can’t go back on your word, can you?”
“That’s right.” Pei Yunshu spoke somewhat troubled.
“Then, how about sending her to your cousin’s side?”
“Cousin’s side?”
“Yes, you don’t know, but the maid who serves your cousin closely, your mother finds her rather incompetent. I was thinking of replacing her with another maid. Since Niannian says that Yue Mei is clever, why don’t you, our Niannian, generously give her to your cousin?”
“Alright then. After all, being by my cousin’s side isn’t much different from being by mine.”
“It’s best that you think this way. What, you’re already dressed in your birthday clothes today—are you going out?”
“Yes, I made plans with someone. I heard Qiongyu Pavilion has new pastries, and I want to try them.” Pei Yunshu picked up her teacup and drank half of it in one go.
“Then go ahead. Didn’t you make plans with someone? A bunch of little girls, fooling around outside all day, not a bit ladylike.”
“Mother, someone is waiting for me. I’m leaving.” Hearing her mother about to nag, Pei Yunshu lifted her skirt and slipped away.
“Ah, slow down, be careful not to fall.”
Madam Jiang called after her from behind.
“I know.”
Seeing Pei Yunshu slip away, Madam Jiang couldn’t help but sigh, “So grown up, yet still so childish.”
“Yuehua, since Mother has given Yue Mei to Cousin, you should go and tell her as well. After all, Cousin needs someone, and I can’t insist on keeping her.”
Pei Yunshu got into the carriage and instructed Yuehua.
“This servant understands. I just don’t know if the Eldest Young Lady truly wants Yue Mei.”
“What do you think?”
“Yuehua doesn’t understand.”
“You do understand. Handle it according to your thoughts. Since childhood, I’ve trusted you the most.”
Yue Mei is a fence-sitter, and an actively ingratiating one at that. Who knows, even after sending her right to her side this time, whether Jiang Liuyan can still make Yue Mei serve her purposes.