“Thank you.” Jirong smiled and pulled the still unwilling Chunxiu to stand in front of her. After the matter was settled, Meixue remembered she hadn’t yet expressed her gratitude and quickly curtsied toward the woman, saying, “Thank you for your help, elder sister.”

Meixue waited for a long time, but the woman didn’t respond. Somewhat puzzled, she raised her head only to see the woman staring at her in a daze, her eyes filled with shock. She touched her face and asked tentatively, “Elder sister, is there something dirty on my face?”

The woman snapped back to reality and quickly shook her head, “Nothing, I was just thinking about something. I heard them say your name is Meixue, is that right?”

Meixue nodded with a smile, “Yes, when father picked me up, it happened to be snowing, and the mountains were covered with plum blossoms, so he named me Meixue and gave me his surname Wu. It’s been sixteen years now.” She then added, “By the way, I still don’t know what elder sister is called. Which village are you from? I’ve never seen you before.”

The woman tugged at the corner of her mouth, “My surname is Shen, and my name is Yunyi. I’m the same age as you, and I live in Little Yang Village. Just call me Yunyi.”

As Meixue smiled and agreed, Yunyi unconsciously touched her own plain face. She had originally been standing behind Meixue and had been so focused on arguing with Chunxiu that only now did she clearly see Meixue’s appearance.

How could this be… how could they look so alike? What on earth was going on?

Meixue… actually looked exactly like her face hidden beneath the disguise. At first glance, she almost thought she was looking in a mirror.

That’s right, Meixue said she was picked up – could she be her twin sister? The thought appeared but was immediately dismissed. Ever since she could remember, she had never heard of having a twin sister. Although she had an older sister, she was much older and had married years ago. Could it really be that people just resembled each other?

The handsome young man standing beside Yunyi was also stunned. Only when Meixue repeatedly called to him did he startle awake and say, “My name is Shen Moping.” He then pointed to Yunyi, “She’s my sister. We came to the Governor’s mansion together to seek employment.”

“I see.” Meixue nodded and then said, “You two came together to seek employment – what about your parents?”

Shen Moping’s expression grew somber, “Our parents passed away long ago. For many years, only we two have depended on each other. We came to seek employment this time hoping our lives could be better in the future. We hope to be selected.”

Hearing this, Meixue comforted them, “You have such kind hearts, you’ll definitely be selected. Don’t worry.”

After returning to their original positions, Shen Moping quietly said to Yunyi who was standing in front, “Master, this Wu Meixue – how can she look exactly like you? This servant has followed you for so many years, yet even I can’t tell the difference.”

Yunyi frowned as she stared at Meixue’s back and shook her head, “I don’t know either. Perhaps it’s coincidence. Don’t worry about this – completing our purpose for this trip is what matters most.”

“This servant understands.” Shen Moping responded and said no more.

After anxious waiting, the vermillion gates of the Governor’s mansion finally opened slowly. The long queue immediately stirred with commotion, and all eyes focused on the figures walking out through the vermillion gates.

Walking in the center was a woman of about thirty, her hair arranged in a high chignon, wearing a hibiscus-colored wide-sleeved upper garment with a pomegranate-red long skirt below. Long silk scarves wound around her arms, and her bearing revealed a noble and graceful temperament.

Behind her followed several servants, one of whom approached and said, “Second Madam, these are the people who wish to serve in our mansion this time.”

The woman called Second Madam swept her gaze over the winding queue and said, “There are quite a few people. I just don’t know how many will meet the requirements and be kept.” After a pause, she continued, “Steward Lin, you’ll be responsible for this initial screening. Select twenty men and twenty women, then give me their lists so I can make the final selection. Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to choose a group of women with good looks and talents to serve as dancers. Pay special attention to this and bring suitable ones for me to examine. However, remember that the most important requirement for entering our Li mansion is a clean background. No matter how outstanding their qualifications, if their origins are unclear, reject them all.”

“This humble servant understands. Please be assured, Second Madam.” As Steward Lin responded, the woman turned and entered the mansion. Looking at that figure that exuded refinement and nobility in every detail, Chunxiu said enviously, “Sister Jirong, who is this Second Madam? She seems so extraordinary.”

Jirong said, “I know something about this Second Madam. Her surname is Wan, and she was the earliest concubine the Governor took. Her position is second only to the First Madam. After the First Madam passed away, she has been managing all the big and small affairs of the mansion.”

Chunxiu said enviously, “How wonderful. If we could be like her, we wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of our lives.”

A trace of envy flashed through Jirong’s eyes as she said softly, “Who wouldn’t want to be like Second Madam? But how many people can be like her? For us, the most important thing right now is to pass the screening and stay in the Governor’s mansion.” Speaking of this, she laughed with a “puchi” sound, “You little girl, has your heart been stirred?”

Chunxiu’s face reddened at her words, and she said reproachfully, “Nothing like that happened! I was just speaking casually. Besides, the Governor is even older than my father – what thoughts could I have?”

Jirong chuckled and added, “The Governor is indeed somewhat older, but I’ve heard that the Governor has several sons, each one handsome and distinguished in appearance. It just depends on whether you have the means to catch the eye of one of those young masters.”

Chunxiu was somewhat moved by her words, but she said, “Sister Jirong, don’t joke like that. How could the Governor’s sons ever notice people like us?”

While they were talking, Steward Lin had already stepped forward and coughed heavily. After everyone quieted down, he said, “Today is the day our Governor’s mansion selects servants. Those who can stay will receive five hundred wen per month. If performance is good, in addition to the five hundred wen, there will be an extra reward of one hundred wen. Furthermore, those who don’t take days off on the first and fifteenth of each month can receive a supplement of twenty wen per day. Of course, these are just the most ordinary wages. If you have ability and can become trusted by the various madams and young masters, the monthly wages will naturally be higher.”

These words made everyone below feel excited. They knew that ordinary servants typically earned about two hundred wen per month at most, but this Governor’s mansion not only gave five hundred wen but also various additional money. Adding it all up, it came to about six or seven hundred wen per month – you couldn’t find more generous wages anywhere else in all of Honghua Prefecture.

One man couldn’t help but say, “Sir, as long as you let me work in the Governor’s mansion, I’m willing to work like an ox or horse!”