The beds in the Chief Minister’s residence were far softer than the wooden plank beds on Mount Qingcheng.

Though Jiang Yuanbai was a scholarly official of integrity, he was also the current Chief Minister. Some people became officials for the sake of the common people; others became officials for ambition and aspiration. Jiang Yuanbai had realized his aspirations, and likewise enjoyed life.

When Tong’er came early in the morning to attend to Jiang Li, her smile was much brighter than usual. She chattered on about how soft and comfortable the bed had been last night, and how spacious and bright the room was.

Yunshuang and Xiangqiao stood to the side. Yunshuang fundamentally did not wish to attend to Jiang Li at all, while Xiangqiao pretended to wipe tables and chat with Jiang Li, but did not touch any rough or heavy work.

In all of Fangfei Garden, besides Tong’er, there were only the two maids Yunshuang and Xiangqiao. Since Yunshuang and Xiangqiao would not do heavy work, all matters inside and outside were handled by Tong’er alone. Ji Shuran had intentionally or unintentionally failed to assign rough-work maids to Jiang Li, which was simply bullying Jiang Li for not knowing the current rules. Even if Jiang Li knew, making her somewhat uncomfortable and then afterward dropping some poisonous words into Jiang Yuanbai’s ear, saying Jiang Li had a bad temper or such, would be a very natural thing.

However, Jiang Li did not care at all. When Yunshuang went outside, she tugged at Xiangqiao’s sleeve and said, “There is something I wish to trouble Elder Sister Xiangqiao with.”

Xiangqiao was startled, then smiled. “Whatever Second Miss wishes to instruct, just tell this servant.”

“The manpower in my courtyard is probably not quite sufficient right now. Mother did not arrange rough-work maids for my side. You and Elder Sister Yunshuang attend to my personal needs, and Tong’er alone cannot manage everything. Elder Sister Xiangqiao has stayed in the residence for many years and should be quite familiar with the women who sell maids. I trouble Elder Sister Xiangqiao to help me arrange things so I can go select some people to do cleaning and sweeping.”

After hearing this, Xiangqiao furrowed her brow. “Second Miss, the number of maids in the courtyard must all be approved by Madam.”

“Mother loves me dearly, yet has inadvertently forgotten to arrange personnel for my side. It can only be that her household affairs keep her busy, causing her to forget about my needs. How could I trouble her again? They are just a few maids. I wish to select them personally. Elder Sister Xiangqiao, please make the arrangements.” She casually picked up a gold bracelet from a box beside her, slipped it onto the other’s hand, and smiled. “Is that acceptable?”

Acceptable?

The gleaming gold bracelet was now on Xiangqiao’s hand. Unlike the heavy pure gold bracelet on her own wrist, this one was slender and delicate. Though it did not look as substantial as the one on her wrist, Xiangqiao knew that this kind of craftsmanship and pattern was actually more valuable than the one she wore.

“Of course it’s acceptable!” Xiangqiao nodded vigorously, her gaze glued to the bracelet, unable to pull away. She had followed Ji Shuran for many years, but Ji Shuran’s generosity could not compare to this Second Miss who came from the wilderness. Xiangqiao could not help but wonder—could this Second Miss not know how much silver these jewels were worth, to so easily give them to her?

Before she could think further, Jiang Li smiled and said, “Then I trouble Elder Sister Xiangqiao now.”

Having obtained the gold bracelet, Xiangqiao felt both nervous and excited. She immediately said, “This servant will certainly handle this matter properly for Second Miss. Second Miss, just wait.” As she spoke, she withdrew from the room.

After Xiangqiao left, Tong’er stood to the side. Seeing her hesitant appearance, Jiang Li said, “If you have something to say, speak.”

“Miss, this servant does not understand,” Tong’er said. “Why are you so good to Xiangqiao, clearly knowing she was sent by Madam Ji to… Perhaps you wish to use this silver to buy her loyalty?”

“Buy her loyalty?” Jiang Li shook her head. “This person has improper intentions, is two-faced and treacherous, accustomed to trimming her sails to the wind, and is greedy for wealth and profit. Even if I bought such a person’s loyalty, she would inevitably betray me. I dare not try to buy her.”

“Then since that is so, why do you give her these jewels? You must know that even if she says now she will help you select maids, she will likely tell Madam Ji privately. When the time comes, those people sent will also have been selected by Madam Ji.”

“I am giving her tasks to do, and giving her tasks is also to give her things.”

“This servant does not understand,” Tong’er said, perplexed. “Miss, we do not yet have so much silver that we cannot spend it all.”

Jiang Li was nearly amused by her own maid. She said, “Look—what I give her is jewelry, not silver. Do you know why?”

“Why?” Tong’er’s eyes widened.

“Naturally, it is for others to see.” Jiang Li smiled. “The supreme military strategy is to attack plans; divide and transform. Tong’er, sometimes when others give you beautiful gemstones and precious jewelry, if you do not need to pay an equal price, you must be on guard—it may require you to pay an even greater price.”

Tong’er stared at Jiang Li in a daze. She still did not understand what Jiang Li meant, yet vaguely sensed something. After thinking for a while, she shook her head. Jiang Li was much cleverer than she—what she could see clearly, Jiang Li could certainly see clearly too. If Jiang Li treated Xiangqiao this way, she must have her own reasoning. She need only follow along.

“Let us go out for a walk,” Jiang Li said. “Since we have returned home, we should familiarize ourselves with our own residence.”

“Wonderful!” Tong’er was overjoyed. “This servant will accompany you.”

Jiang Li changed her clothes. The newly made garments had not yet been delivered, but as a stepmother, Ji Shuran could not be too obvious in her actions, so she had people send over some ready-made clothes approximately Jiang Li’s size. These ready-made clothes looked expensive, but compared to Jiang Youyao’s garments, the workmanship was much cruder, and they were completely at odds with Jiang Li’s own temperament.

Though Tong’er liked fine materials, she also felt these red and green garments looked worse on Jiang Li than plain colors. After pondering for a long time, she selected a spring green short skirt for Jiang Li to wear.

At first glance, this outfit actually resembled a style for maids. Spring green could easily appear vulgar if one was not careful, but Jiang Li’s skin was fair and her frame delicate, so when worn, it actually looked quite good. It made her entire person appear fresh and tender with a unique charm.

Tong’er and Jiang Li had stayed at the temple for a long time. For daily hairstyles, they only managed the simplest ones convenient for work. Returning to the Jiang residence, she discovered that she knew how to style only those few types. Yet in the Jiang residence, if she styled those maid hairstyles again, she feared being mocked by others.

Before Tong’er could figure out how to style the hair, she saw Jiang Li facing the bronze mirror, reaching up herself to gather her long black hair. Her hands moved nimbly several times, and she had already styled a black gauze bun.

Tong’er stared with wide eyes in shock, saying, “Miss, how do you know…”

“I learned it before.” Jiang Li answered simply. When she was Xue Fangfei, just married to Shen Yurong, she had learned hairstyling to please her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Thinking that young ladies loved beauty, if she personally styled their hair, it would bring them closer. Later, her ties with the Shen family were completely severed, but the hairstyling skill remained.

“Miss knows everything—you are truly amazing.” Tong’er thought and thought, then grew puzzled again. “But why would Miss specifically go learn hairstyling? This is work that only maids do…”

Unfortunately, before she could get an answer, Jiang Li had already risen and gone out the door, so Tong’er cast the question to the back of her mind.

The Jiang residence was very large. Tong’er had originally been a sweeping maid in the main courtyard. Later, after Jiang Li caused Ji Shuran’s miscarriage, all the servants in Jiang Li’s courtyard were either beaten to death or sold away. Before sending Jiang Li to Mount Qingcheng, Old Madam Jiang had casually pointed to a small maid in the courtyard to go along. This maid was Tong’er.

Because she had left when she was so young, Tong’er was also extremely unfamiliar with the current situation in the Jiang residence.

Having just left Fangfei Garden, after walking only a few steps, she heard voices ahead. Jiang Li stopped walking and looked up to see several people standing in a small pavilion not far away, chatting idly.

Those people also saw Jiang Li. Their conversation stopped. The person in the center wore a peach-red gold silk soft gauze skirt, had a flower-like face and moon-like beauty, appearing exceptionally charming.

It was precisely the Jiang residence’s Third Miss, Jiang Youyao.