Chapter 5: Sneaking into the High Manor

  This is a pale green dress with a simple and elegant feel to it, not too fancy but also not bad, the kind of understated style that Ye Yun likes.

  As Mo Rongyu had just said, Ye Yun made her preparations and then went to the third door on the left and knocked.

  "Come in."

  Ye Yun pushed open the door and entered, Mu Rongying and the man in white were both inside the room.

  Murong Yu saw Ye Yun and suddenly his eyes lit up.

  "Wow, indeed clothes make a man and gold makes a Buddha. Changing into this outfit has completely transformed him."

  Ye Yun gave him a slanted glance, why did his words sound so awkward?

  Murong Ying was glared at by Ye Yun and immediately shut up obediently.

  How can there still be girls who don't like listening to good words? (That depends on whether what you're saying is actually good, though?)

  The man in white clothes looked at Ye Yun faintly and didn't say a word.

  A face as delicate as carved jade, beautiful to the point of dazzling.

  Ye Yun finally withdrew her gaze and said: "Speak. You brought me here just to talk about infiltrating the Gao Manor, didn't you?"

  Murong Ying smiled slightly, "Just now, I was discussing this matter with Ling Feng. Ah, right, before that, let me introduce myself first. My name is Murong Ying, and I'm the boss of this store. He's called Ling Feng, as for his identity, I can't tell you for now."

  Ye Yun glanced at Ling Feng, his calm and detached expression seemed as if everything had nothing to do with him.

  "It doesn't matter." Ye Yun shrugged her shoulders, "So what? Have you guys come up with a conclusion?"

  "Good," Murong Yu nodded, "the Gao family recently had a maid die, I don't know if the death of that maid has any connection to the death of the concubine, but they are short-handed and recruiting new staff. You can just go to the Gao residence and apply as a maid."

  Ye Yun's eyes rolled around and she said, "But for a big household like this to hire a maid, there should be many people competing for the position. If we go now, they might have already hired someone."

  "You can rest assured now. Locals who know the situation wouldn't dare to be a maid at the Gao's house. You just need to pretend you're from out of town and it'll be fine." Murong Ying said with confidence.

  "Alright," said Ye Yun with a wave of her hand, "but you have to pay a deposit first."

  Murong Yu's mouth twitched at the corner, "Don't worry, miss, I won't treat you unfairly."

  "A man's words are unreliable, but silver is a real thing that won't deceive people." Yeyun's attitude was very firm.

  "Are men's words untrustworthy?" Murong Ying lost his smile, "Where did you get this theory from? Alright, I'll give you half of the deposit first, and the rest will be given to you after everything is settled."

  After finishing speaking, Murong Yu took out a silver ticket from his sleeve pocket and handed it to Ye Yun, "Here is 50,000 taels."

  Ye Yun took the silver ticket and looked at it, asking: "Where can I exchange this?"

  "All major banks can exchange."

  "Good!" Ye Yun carefully folded the silver ticket and put it away, then took out a piece of paper from her bosom and handed it to Murong Yu, "This is the receipt for the deposit I received."

  Murong Ying took it and looked at it. The words on it were clear and understandable, and she couldn't help but praise: "Miss is really meticulous. Even this was prepared in advance."

  "Doing business requires credit. I've taken your money, so of course I'll provide a written receipt. It's easier to settle accounts afterwards."

  Ling Feng looked deeply at Ye Yun, and for a moment, his eyes seemed to flash with a hint of light.

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  In front of the Gao Mansion, a woman was talking to Wu Ma, the housekeeper of the Gao family.

  The woman's clothes were tattered and worn out, but a discerning eye could tell at a glance that the fabric was originally of good quality.

  "Our humble home was not wealthy, but we had enough to eat and wear. Who would have thought that one day bandits would raid our house, burning, killing, looting, and destroying everything? My father was beaten by the bandits and suffered a shock, from which he never recovered. Our whole family relied on my mother's care, but she was weak and soon fell ill from overwork. My younger brother was still young and didn't understand what was happening, crying out in hunger every day, breaking our hearts. It seemed like heaven had abandoned us. To avoid burdening my mother further, my father jumped into the river one day when she wasn't looking. My mother's grief worsened her illness, but for the sake of my poor younger brother, she struggled to survive. If your esteemed household would be willing to provide some money for me to sell myself as a slave, it would allow my mother to receive medical treatment and my younger brother to have warm soup to drink. That would be enough for our humble family."

  The woman's voice was filled with tears, and her sorrowful cries were heart-wrenching, making it unbearable for others to watch.

  Madam Wu had already been moved by the girl, and she grasped her hand and patted it lightly. "You're really a pitiful child. For your mother and younger brother, you've suffered so much. Come in quickly, come in quickly, selling yourself is too sad. The monthly salary at the Gao residence isn't bad, why don't you come work here? When you have time, you can still go back to see your mother and little brother. It's just right, our household is short of a maid, and you're also lucky."

  The woman's eyes, brimming with tears, flashed a hint of cunning as she murmured in response: "Thank you, kind lady!"

  The back door of the Equal Height Mansion closed, and two figures emerged from the darkness.

  Murong Ying fanned herself with a fan and said, "This girl is really interesting, her miserable life story sounds so real. If I hadn't known her before, she would have almost deceived me."

  Ling Feng just glanced at him lightly and turned around to leave.

  Wu's mother firmly believed in Ye Yun's story and was deeply moved by the tragic circumstances of this poor child. Not only did she provide delicious food and drink, but also sent fine silk clothes, gold and silver jewelry, and even paid half a year's wages in advance for her to return home to treat her mother's illness and buy good food for her brother.

  This is not like going to be a maid, it's simply being treated as a young lady.

  Ye Yun held a heavy bag of silver, thinking that her monthly salary was quite substantial, and half a year's wages were surprisingly heavy.

  She washed her face, washing away all the mud and dust that had been added to her face for effect, and changed into a new set of clothes. Ye Yun couldn't help but sigh as she looked at the spacious room. Even maids could have their own independent rooms, and the treatment in this household was really, really good!

  I remember watching TV shows where maids all slept on a common bed.

  "Xiao Yun, are you all set?" Wu Ma urged from outside the door, "I'll take you to get familiar with the layout of the mansion."

  "Ah, okay, I'm coming." Ye Yun packed up her things and opened the door. "Aunt Wu, sorry to keep you waiting for so long."

  "...No..." The moment she saw Ye Yun, Wu Ma's smile froze on her face, "You..."

  "What's wrong? Haven't I washed my face clean?" Ye Yun stretched out her hand to touch, she had just looked in the mirror and had indeed washed it clean.

  Wu's mother looked at Ye Yun with a shocked and frightened expression, her face changed color.

  Good heavens! Just now her face was covered with so much dust, she didn't see clearly. This girl originally looked so pretty?! No way, no way!

  "Come with me!" Wu Ma pulled Ye Yun over and hurried forward.

  Ouch! Ye Yun almost cried out in pain, but seeing Wu Ma's hurried figure, as if something big had happened, she endured it and thought to follow her to see the situation first.

  Madam Wu pulled Ye Yun into a room and rummaged through the dresser. She found a porcelain bottle and held it in front of Ye Yun, saying with a heavy heart: "Girl, this is all for your own good. For the sake of your seriously ill mother and young brother, you must listen to Madam Wu."