Chapter One

  Jin Yuanwailang is going to be promoted, and while others may not know about it, Xian Yi was the first to receive the news. She and Chen Yiniang thought alike - even if Jin Yuanwailang's promotion from deputy to chief was just a formality, it meant that their superiors were willing to promote him. Perhaps it was because of the influence of his father-in-law, the Minister of Revenue, or perhaps it was because Jin Yuanwailang had good relationships with people in general. In any case, when their masters' status rose, the status of those who served them closely would naturally rise as well. Xian Yi wouldn't think too far ahead - all she hoped for was that her mother would gain more favor from Madame, and that she herself could gain more face, so that they would have a better future.

  "You must remember, if you want to avoid being fooled by those beneath you, you need to know a little about everything, even if you're not as proficient as they are." Chen's mother had someone buy grain and bring it back, Xian Yi accompanied her mother, watching the grain enter the warehouse, carefully listening to her mother's teachings.

  As for Chen Ayi, even if Xian Yi had lived a lifetime, she would still feel that this woman was unmatched. In her past life, she had read so many palace struggle novels, and for Chen Shi, who was called Ayi, it was simply a freak. She was literate, reasonable, more stable than ordinary women, with broad vision and strong character. She had been the "military advisor" to the main wife for many years, although some of her methods were not upright. Xian Yi knew that Chen Ayi didn't have an evil heart and wouldn't harm others like Zeng Ayi did in order to gain favor. Even though the concubines and the main wife had opposing relationships, Xian Yi hadn't seen her mother mistreat them all these years, let alone secretly harming their children. Of course, this was also related to the national situation of Pei Guo, where children born out of wedlock were not a threat as long as they weren't recognized by the main wife. Concubines who harmed their wives would be punished, and if discovered, ordinary men could be sentenced, while officials would lose their jobs and even their close relatives would be implicated.

  Xianyi and her mother returned home, and she saw her mother take out the silver from her arms again. She knew it was the profit from this grain sale. This was also one of Chen's interesting aspects - she wasn't too proud or overly honest. As long as it didn't touch on fundamental matters, she would take advantage of benefits and help with things that could be done. The madam probably knew this point too, but turned a blind eye. After all, Chen only had Xianyi as her daughter, and when the daughter got married, Chen would need to save for old age.

  "Mother, I heard the woman at the back door say that the southern dike has burst?"

  The entire Pei country is located in the southeast, with a small area similar to the ancient Jiangnan region. The land is fertile, but there are many rivers and lakes. Whenever floods occur, the losses are also terrible.

  "These women have no decorum in their speech at all." Chen's mother took a sip of water, her movements were not rough, it was clear that she had been strictly educated in the Chen household since childhood, and Xian Yi's temperament naturally followed her mother's.

  "Everyone has relatives in the south, aren't you worried?" Xian Yi sat by the table, involuntarily turning her head to look out the window, although the rain had let up a bit these past few days, it still hadn't stopped.

  Chen's nurse also followed with a faintly worried expression: "This disaster is heaven-sent and man-made, we can't do anything about it."

  "Will there be refugees coming to the capital?" Xian Yi supported her chin, recalling what she had seen in her past life, and asked curiously.

  "There are so many refugees who can come to the capital, after all, it's under the emperor's feet, and the court won't let things get out of hand." Chen's mother-in-law glared at her daughter and turned to put away the account books.

  Xian Yi didn't respond, just gazing out the window at the gloomy sky, subconsciously hugging her arms tightly.

  With a surplus of food in hand, the mind is also at ease. This matter has even received the full support of the old lady from the mansion, who rarely doesn't quarrel with the first madam. The first madam has also ordered people to keep a close eye on the estate, and grain sales are no longer possible. As for vegetables and other things, except for previous customers, no new orders will be accepted, and everything will be sent directly to the mansion to avoid not being able to buy anything in the future. Additionally, winter clothes, cotton, and other necessities have been prepared by Chen's wife early on, and several charcoal shops have already been contacted before winter arrives, fearing that even good charcoal for heating won't be available when winter comes.

  The things that were bought, of course, had to be put away, and in addition to the seasonal clothes that had been prepared for the people in the house by the needlework shop outside a while ago, whether it was the maids in the main room or the slaves in other courtyards, they all started bustling about. With this commotion, it's inevitable that there would be some collisions, and with the weather being gloomy all the time, people's moods were also bad, so it was unavoidable that some conflicts would arise in the house. Even Xiu Zhu's temper had become much worse than usual, and every time she saw Dong Jing, she would say something sharp and sour, to the point where even Qiu Jing couldn't bear to listen, and it was rare for her to say a few words to Xiu Zhu.

  "You only care for her and are so strict with me, is everyone's heart really biased like this!" Seeing Qiu Jing also speaking on behalf of Dong Jing, Xiuzhu's eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn't help but turn away.

  Actually, Xiu Zhu was also somewhat wronged today. She had been following Chun Jing in managing the clothing and accessories for a long time, not just one or two days. If you really think about it, Dong Jing is the one who should be considered as having joined halfway. So many things Dong Jing didn't understand as well as Xiu Zhu did. Take this autumn's clothing for example. Originally, the madam didn't like incense, but recently the weather has been gloomy, and using some fragrances on clothes not only prevents moisture but also refreshes the mind. This matter should have been more understood by Dong Jing, but she didn't instruct Xiu Zhu, either because she was busy and forgot or her heart wasn't in it. As a result, after the madam got up, she found that the clothes hadn't been scented, and her mood wasn't very good. Adding to this, Xiu Zhu also didn't gain her favor, so she coldly said two sentences to Xiu Zhu. Xiu Zhu naturally felt wronged and wanted to explain, but was chased out of the main room, which led to the quarrel this morning. But Dong Jing didn't explain or apologize either, just looked at Xiu Zhu with a cold face, as if Xiu Zhu was being unreasonable.

  Xian Yi stood aside, pulled over Xiu Zhu and used a handkerchief to wipe her face. Although she had some complaints about Dong Jing in her heart, she smiled on her face: "It's all a misunderstanding. I think Sister Dong Jing has been busy lately and forgot to instruct about the clothes. Sister Xiu Zhu is also wronged and can't help but speak hastily."

  It wasn't until autumn that she realized her own rashness, only because Xiuzhu was usually narrow-minded and had misunderstood others first.

  Dong Jing raised her eyes and glanced at Xian Yi, still with the same expression, but said lightly: "Different paths don't make for good company, don't resent me, if I wanted to, I wouldn't want to be this eldest young lady either."

  Having said that, he simply walked away by himself.

  "What nonsense!" Qiu Jing frowned and hastily said.

  Xian Yi looked thoughtfully at Dong Jing's back, Dong Jing was originally called Cui Zhu, previously the granddaughter of the gatekeeper, also a born-in child. After the gatekeeper died, Guan Shi saw that she was clever and sent her to the main house to be a third-class maid. Over the years, she was promoted to second-class. She was usually a loner, rarely able to get along with people, although she did things with precision every day, but didn't fit in with the group. Even Xian Yi, who was good at socializing, wasn't familiar with her. However, from what she said, it seemed like she had other plans.

  "What Winter just said, don't spread it around, or else if something happens, you'll be held responsible too." Autumn's rare stern tone was fortunate to be in the corridor where only a few of them were present, so they didn't have to worry about others gossiping.

  Xiuzhu pouted and choked back a sob, but ultimately didn't say anything else.

  The small storm had passed not long ago, and the weather finally cleared up. The heavens finally relented and stopped tormenting these poor creatures. Everyone in the Jin family's household was smiling from ear to ear. The madam even ordered each courtyard to take out their bedding and clothes to wash and dry them, to get rid of the dampness. Xian Yi also joined in with everyone else, moving things around and taking out all the stuff that had been stored away in the main house for a long time to air it out. She was thinking that today, thanks to the madam's kindness, she would be able to go home first and dry her things, but before she even reached the back door, she saw two little maidservants pushing and shoving each other near the kitchen, their mouths shouting insults at each other. Xian Yi didn't want to get involved in other people's business, but she was also afraid that if something went wrong again with all these people coming and going, it would be a loss of face for her mother, who was in charge of this household after all.

  "What are you doing?" Xian Yi walked over with a calm and composed demeanor, only to find that the two little maids were merely eleven or twelve years old. One of them had an air of elegance about her, while the other, although having high cheekbones, looked delicate as well, except for her restless eyes, which seemed to be up to no good.

  "Who are you again? Mind your own business!" The slender girl took two steps back, eyeing the immortal's clothes with disdain.

  Xian Yi only then remembered that today was the day to air out things, so she deliberately wore old clothes over, and didn't even wear a hairpin on her head. She looked no different from an ordinary maid, but after all, the fabric of her clothes was extraordinary, and it could be seen that this maid was unsophisticated.

  "Where are you from, little girl, what are you making a racket about in the big kitchen!" Xian Yi didn't bother with idle chatter, since there were people above her, she naturally spoke with an air of authority.

  "As for what this sister said, I was the attendant of Madame Han, originally Madame Han was ill, I came to the main kitchen to respond and also wanted some clear congee. Who knew she insisted that stove had to be used by Madame Cao to cook soup? With so many stoves available, not during meal time, isn't this purely bullying people?" Pei Tao started speaking calmly but gradually became more agitated, her eyes even reddening.

  "That stove was originally for our aunt to stew soup, which day at this time is not stewed. Moreover, Aunt Cao is the heart of our master, what's wrong with letting your aunt?" The pretty maid twisted her face and smiled complacently.

  Xian Yi only then realized that these two were probably the young girls sent over this time, sent to the side of each aunt, but the one by Cao's aunt's side looked like she wouldn't be easy to deal with.

  "Shut up! Is Auntie also one of your tricks? Don't you even want to keep your tongues?" Xian Yi scolded, her face stern.

  The two little girls were still young after all, and although one of them had a face that looked dissatisfied, she lowered her voice and said: "Where did you come from, shouting and yelling here?"

  "You said Mrs. Han is ill? Has a doctor been called?"

  Xian Yi thought of that gloomy courtyard, and an old woman. In such bad weather, it's no wonder she got sick. To be honest, Han Niang also overdid it with caution. Although the big madam didn't get along with Han Niang and had her moved to that small courtyard, her food, clothing, and expenses were all managed by Chen Nian Nian, who didn't skimp on them. Previously, they hadn't even sent a young maid over, but Han Niang was always suspicious and paranoid, and the young maid she had brought with her had been taken away. With her temper, even the servants under her couldn't stand up to her. At first, Chen Nian Nian still managed her, but as time went on, this woman couldn't even take care of herself, and Chen Nian Nian was at a loss for what to do with her.