That evening, Ren Yaoqi came out from the main house. Li Shi instructed her maid Xi’er to personally hold a lantern for Ren Yaoqi and escort her back.

Xi’er had been frequently visiting Ren Yaoqi’s west wing recently, and had thoroughly disciplined all the maids in the room, causing them all to fear her greatly.

On this day, she once again ordered all the maids in the room about, personally supporting Ren Yaoqi back to the inner chamber and serving her as she changed into indoor casual clothes.

When the maids Qingmei and Xueli came in carrying copper basins, Xi’er was leaning close to Ren Yaoqi’s ear, whispering something softly. Seeing the two maids enter, Xi’er straightened up nonchalantly and frowned as she scolded: “Don’t you know to announce yourselves before entering? What if you startle the young miss with such reckless behavior?”

Xueli lowered her head and obediently responded with a “yes.” Qingmei’s face originally showed some defiance, but in the end, she forced herself to hold back and said nothing.

At this moment, Ren Yaoqi had already withdrawn her somewhat surprised expression and lightly coughed: “I’m tired. Help me with my evening ablutions.”

Xi’er beckoned the two maids forward and personally served Ren Yaoqi through her washing routine before curtsying and withdrawing.

Shortly after the two maids, Qingmei and Xueli, had also withdrawn, Nanny Zhu entered.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi leaning against the head of the bed, reading a book by the candlelight on the bedside table, Nanny Zhu’s face bloomed with a loving smile as she walked forward and curtsied: “Young Miss, it’s already deep into the night. Why are you still reading? You must be careful of your eyes.”

Ren Yaoqi looked up at Nanny Zhu, covered her mouth with her right hand, and gave a small yawn, but didn’t put down the book in her hand. Her tone was lazy: “Father tested me on an allusion today, and I couldn’t answer it for a moment. I vaguely remember it seemed to be from this book called ‘Qionglin Chronicles.'”

“Oh my—Young Miss, are you planning to become the top scholar?”

After Nanny Zhu finished speaking, she covered her mouth and laughed first. Seeing that Ren Yaoqi looked listless and didn’t respond to her, she moved closer and said: “Speaking of why among the three young masters and misses in our courtyard, only Young Miss can win Third Master’s favor, others might not know, but this old servant who has served you all these days understands it perfectly. This late-night studying, Young Miss, you’ve done it quite often! Even Sixth Young Master can’t compare to you in this regard.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi paused. She had expected Nanny Zhu to come, so she had casually picked up a book to wait for her. She had almost forgotten that when she was young, she indeed had many instances of staying up late to read and write, working hard to study.

To gain her father’s affection and compete with her older sister, she had worked very hard to excel when she was young. Ren Yaoqi shook her head with a bitter smile.

“Young Miss, did this old servant say something wrong?” Nanny Zhu thought Ren Yaoqi disagreed with her words and tried to read her expression.

Ren Yaoqi looked up at her and smiled slightly: “Mm, Nanny is right. It’s getting late and I should rest, otherwise I’ll wake up late tomorrow and be the last one again to pay respects to Grandfather and Grandmother.”

Nanny Zhu took the book she had handed over and smiled apologetically: “Shall this old servant help you retire for the night?”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi nod, Nanny Zhu quickly set the book in her hands aside first, then personally stepped forward to help Ren Yaoqi undress.

“Was it Xi’er from Madam’s room who escorted Young Miss back earlier?” Nanny Zhu asked with a smile.

“Mm.” Ren Yaoqi nodded casually.

“One can see that Madam also dotes on Young Miss. Xi’er has almost become Young Miss’s maid.” Nanny Zhu helped Ren Yaoqi loosen her clothes and gently assisted her in lying down, while smiling as she spoke.

“Would Young Miss like this old servant to stay and chat with you?” Nanny Zhu helped tuck in the corners of her blanket and stood bowing at the head of the bed.

Ren Yaoqi nodded with her eyes closed: “That would be nice. Nanny, sit down and talk with me. As we talk, I’ll fall asleep.” Children liked having someone accompany them when going to sleep, and Ren Yaoqi had this habit when she was young, too. “Yes!” Nanny Zhu readily agreed and sat down beside Ren Yaoqi’s bed.

“Does Young Miss have a good relationship with Miss Xi’er?” Nanny Zhu continued.

“It’s alright. Sister Xi’er is a very nice person.” Ren Yaoqi turned over, facing the outer side of the bed, and replied with her eyes closed.

“Has she ever told you anything?” Nanny Zhu leaned in closer to ask.

Ren Yaoqi lazily lifted her eyes to glance at Nanny Zhu, then closed them again.

Nanny Zhu smiled apologetically and said carefully, “Young Miss, this old servant is just asking casually. After all, the maids who serve in the main house know much more than we do. This old servant is just curious.”

Ren Yaoqi yawned again and mumbled: “What’s there to be curious about? It’s nothing more than a matter of the external affairs nanny. How boring.”

Nanny Zhu’s heart stirred, and the smile on her face became even more kind, not caring whether Ren Yaoqi, with her closed eyes, could see it: “That indeed is boring. Hasn’t the candidate already been decided? It’s either Nanny Wei or Sister-in-Law Niu!”

Ren Yaoqi pursed her lips: “That’s not necessarily so.”

Nanny Zhu leaned in closer: “Young Miss, do you mean that Madam has changed her choice?”

Ren Yaoqi frowned and simply opened her eyes: “So what if she has? It’s none of our business anyway.”

Nanny Zhu quickly said, “How could it not be our business? In the future, we’ll inevitably have to deal with the external affairs nanny. Knowing earlier gives us some preparation.”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “Xi’er said she heard it from Mother, and though she told me, she told me not to spread it around.”

“This old servant won’t tell anyone!” Nanny Zhu quickly promised.

Ren Yaoqi seemed to be annoyed by her pestering: “I heard that because of the New Year rush, our courtyard will temporarily arrange two nannies, and after the New Year festivities, whoever seems more suitable will formally take over. Mother and Father discussed it and decided on Sister-in-Law Niu and Nanny Liu who manages hot water in the back courtyard’s small kitchen.”

Nanny Zhu was stunned: “Not Nanny Wei? How did it change to Nanny Liu?”

Ren Yaoqi said impatiently: “How would I know? Presumably, they think Nanny Liu is more suitable.”

Nanny Zhu pondered for a long while, then carefully asked: “Young Miss, is this information reliable?”

Ren Yaoqi glared at Nanny Zhu: “This is what Xi’er heard from my mother! The announcement will probably be made tomorrow morning. If you don’t believe it, then why are you asking me?”

Nanny Zhu now believed it, apologizing with a smile while pondering how to gain some benefit for herself.

Ren Yaoqi turned over again, facing the inner side: “This Nanny Liu is really lucky. Nanny Wei had already been decided upon, but she managed to emerge halfway through. People will probably think she pulled some strings.”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhu’s heart stirred, and she leaned her head toward the inner side of the bed: “So Nanny Liu didn’t pull any strings?”

Ren Yaoqi said impatiently, “What strings could she pull? When Mother was discussing with Father, Father just randomly mentioned her name. No one outside even knows. Does she have the ability to pull strings with my father?”

Nanny Zhu suddenly understood. Third Master did this sort of thing quite often – his decisions came with all sorts of inexplicable reasons, such as a nice-sounding name, nice-looking fingernails, and so on.

Moreover, Ren Yaoqi’s words also reminded her that she might be able to take advantage of this opportunity to make some profit.

“Young Miss, this old servant won’t disturb your rest anymore. Let me call Qingmei in to keep watch.” Nanny Zhu stood up eagerly – she needed to get things done before tomorrow.

Ren Yaoqi seemed to be getting sleepy and waved her hand dismissively: “Go ahead. Just have Qingmei wait in the outer room. She doesn’t need to come in.”

Nanny Zhu quickly agreed and withdrew.

Ren Yaoqi listened as her footsteps disappeared from the room. Though her eyes remained closed, the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

If you want others to follow the path you’ve set, you must first know what that person is thinking and what they want.

She had carefully observed Nanny Zhu during these days and knew that she loved money like her life and wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to make a profit.

If someone always wanted to gain benefits from her, they should also pay some price in return.