After Nanny Zhu came out from Ren Yaoqi’s room, she saw the two maids Qingmei and Xueli standing under the corridor not far away. The two seemed to be arguing in low voices.

Nanny Zhu frowned and walked over, lowering her voice to scold: “What are you doing! Not the least bit useful, only causing trouble! Tomorrow I’ll report to the concubine and have you sold off!”

Qingmei glanced sideways at Xueli and sneered: “I’m just afraid that some people, having received a few kind words from their new master, no longer hold their old master in regard! Some people have long since latched onto higher branches.”

Hearing this, Nanny Zhu looked at Xueli suspiciously.

Xueli was so anxious that tears were about to fall: “Nanny, don’t listen to her nonsense. This servant hasn’t—”

“Haven’t? If you haven’t, then why has Young Miss taken you along wherever she goes these days, while specifically sending me away? Everyone says that you, Xueli, like Xi’er from Madam’s room, have both become Young Miss’s confidants! When Xi’er left just now, she specifically pulled you aside to whisper secrets, and when I asked you about it, you refused to say! You’ve all been in cahoots for a long time!” Qingmei gritted her teeth and raised her voice slightly.

Xueli hastily defended herself: “Xi’er only praised the embroidery work on the pouch I gave her before, wanting to—”

“Ha, finally showing your true colors! Why would you give her a pouch for no reason? I’m with you all day long, how come I didn’t know about it? Aren’t you just secretly currying favor with that side behind my back? And I’m such an honest person, being played by you like this—” Qingmei curled her lips and complained.

“Late at night, why are you shrieking like a ghost?” Nanny Zhu reached out and pinched Qingmei’s arm. Qingmei wanted to cry out in pain, but meeting Nanny Zhu’s glaring eyes, she endured the pain and swallowed her groan.

Seeing that Qingmei had calmed down, Nanny Zhu frowned and looked at Xueli. Xueli bit her lower lip, wanting to say something but unable to speak.

Nanny Zhu originally wanted to ask more, but thinking she had urgent matters to attend to, she temporarily held back and only glared at the two maids: “I’ll settle accounts with you tomorrow! Now, hurry in and serve Young Miss!”

Both maids lowered their heads and responded with a “yes.”

Just as Nanny Zhu had turned around, she turned back to ask: “When you went to the back courtyard for water earlier, did you see Nanny Liu?”

Xueli said in a low voice, “Earlier, Nanny Wei invited all the nannies for drinks. Nanny Liu had a few too many cups and was helped back to her room to rest by a little maid.”

Only then did Nanny Zhu remember that Nanny Wei, considering herself more senior than Sister-in-Law Niu and having a capable eldest son working as second manager at the coal depot, thought her appointment as external affairs nanny was a sure thing. Therefore, in the afternoon, she had informed everyone in the courtyard that she would treat everyone to drinks in the evening.

Today, she had to go out to handle some matters, so she declined to attend, only accepting a three-fen silver nugget from Nanny Wei as tea money. Nanny Zhu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: This Nanny Wei is probably going to rejoice in vain.

Though she thought this way, this matter didn’t concern Nanny Zhu much. After all, she had received the tea money, and it was Nanny Wei who voluntarily gave it to her—there was no reason to spit it back out.

So without the slightest hesitation, Nanny Zhu headed toward Nanny Liu’s quarters in the back courtyard.

Passing by an ear room in the back courtyard where the servant women and maids rested during their shifts, some light and laughter leaked out from under the cotton curtain through the gaps. This should be Nanny Wei and the others talking together after drinking.

Ziwei Courtyard didn’t strictly forbid servant women and maids from holding private banquets—after all, everyone would have joyous occasions. They just weren’t allowed to neglect their duties because of it. Drinking was only permitted with fruit wine that wasn’t very intoxicating, and even that was limited. Nanny Liu probably had a very low alcohol tolerance to get tipsy from just a few cups of fruit wine.

Nanny Zhu only stood by the curtain outside the ear room and listened for a while, then looked around before stepping toward Nanny Liu’s quarters.

At this moment, Nanny Liu was leaning against the head of her bed, being served tea by a little maid. Hearing someone push the door open, she looked up, was startled at first, then quickly smiled: “Oh, it’s Nanny Zhu! What wind brought you here?”

Normally, Nanny Zhu was close with Nanny Guan, who was Nanny Liu’s sworn enemy, so their relationship was just ordinary. Seeing her arrive uninvited tonight, she was quite puzzled.

Nanny Zhu wore a warm smile on her face and glanced at the little maid serving nearby: “I have some matters I want to discuss with you, so I came over myself. Don’t blame me for coming uninvited.”

“How could I?” Nanny Liu smiled politely and said to the little maid, “Go watch the stove in the small kitchen. Third Master is staying overnight in the main house today, and we might need hot water later.”

The little maid acknowledged and left.

Nanny Zhu watched as the maid gently closed the door, then approached with a smile: “I came today because of a good opportunity.”

“A good opportunity?” Nanny Liu asked in confusion.

Nanny Zhu nodded and moved even closer: “I heard you were interested in the external affairs nanny position before?”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Liu smiled ambiguously: “Nanny Zhu’s information is quite well-informed.”

Nanny Zhu shook her head with a smile: “Don’t be sarcastic with me. I’ll only ask you one thing today: do you still want this position or not?”

Nanny Liu asked suspiciously: “What do you mean by this, Nanny Zhu? Wasn’t it said that either Nanny Wei or Sister-in-Law Niu had already been decided? Nanny Wei should have a better chance.”

Nanny Zhu pursed her lips: “Let me tell you the truth—Madam plans to appoint two external affairs nannies first, then choose one to formally take over after the New Year. Sister-in-Law Niu is one, and the other… the other hasn’t been decided yet.”

Nanny Liu was shocked and sat up straighter: “Is this true? Then Nanny Wei—”

“Hey, why do you care so much about her? Just tell me whether you want this position or not.” Nanny Liu waved her hand and smiled slightly, looking profound and mysterious, as if whoever got this position was just a matter of her saying a word.

Nanny Liu pondered for a while and asked somewhat doubtfully: “You have connections?”

Nanny Zhu smiled again without speaking, but had an expression of tacit agreement.

This time, Nanny Liu considered for much longer. Honestly speaking, which of the second-rank nannies in the courtyard wasn’t envious of this newly vacant position? But now that Third Madam had returned, this matter would ultimately be decided by Third Madam, and unfortunately, none of them had any relationship with Third Madam’s people. Even if they wanted to pull strings, they had no way to do so.

But still…

“Why don’t you tell this to Nanny Guan instead? I remember you two have always had a good relationship.” Nanny Liu wasn’t stupid either. After thinking carefully, she felt something was off.

Nanny Zhu seemed to have anticipated this question and smiled calmly: “Even if I have some connections, I need to consider my master’s interests. Nanny Guan does have some personal friendship with me, but unfortunately, her nephew is worthless mud that can’t stick to the wall. You probably know that although this external affairs nanny position has considerable benefits, our Third Master is very demanding. If something goes wrong with the work later, I, as the recommender, would have to take responsibility. I wouldn’t dare recommend just anyone. Looking around the entire courtyard, aside from Nanny Wei’s eldest son, only your second son, Nanny Liu, is promising.”

These words made Nanny Liu feel very comfortable, and her guard against Nanny Zhu wasn’t as strong: “Then Nanny Wei—”

Nanny Zhu just smiled without speaking.

Nanny Liu remembered that today, when Nanny Wei invited everyone for drinks, Nanny Zhu didn’t go. She wondered if there was some conflict between the two, or if Nanny Zhu’s master, Concubine Fang, was not very satisfied with Nanny Wei.

Nanny Zhu had been watching Nanny Liu’s expression. Seeing that she was somewhat swayed but still seemed to have some doubts, she rolled her eyes and suddenly slapped her thigh: “Ah! Fine, let me reveal some inside information to you. You’ve been in our Ziwei Courtyard for some time and should know that our Fifth Miss is the most favored by Third Master! Although the back courtyard affairs are decided by Madam, everyone knows that as long as Third Master says one word, Madam never says no.”

Nanny Liu pondered Nanny Zhu’s words and seemed to understand: “You mean to have Fifth Miss speak to Third Master—”

“Shh—” Nanny Zhu looked around theatrically, “Just understand it in your heart, no need to say it out loud.”

Nanny Liu pondered for a moment: “I know the courtyard’s rules. I suppose you, Nanny, also need to grease some palms. I wonder how much—” Nanny Liu made a gesture.

Nanny Zhu was very pleased with Nanny Liu’s understanding and pretended to hesitate: “Normally I shouldn’t mention this, but as you guessed… I still need to grease some palms for this matter. How about this amount?” Nanny Zhu gestured twenty, meaning twenty taels of silver.

Nanny Liu was silent for a long time. Twenty taels wasn’t a small sum, but she could afford it. Moreover, if she could get this position, the money would come back after handling a few matters for Third Master, and she could also give her youngest son some exposure.

However, if this matter failed… this silver…

Nanny Zhu seemed to be a mind reader and immediately smiled: “How about this—you give five taels as a deposit first, and after I handle this matter tomorrow, you can pay the rest? I’ll also write you a receipt for these five taels.” Nanny Zhu was getting something for nothing, so she was very confident.

Nanny Liu was startled, feeling that if it were like this, there would naturally be nothing to worry about. If the matter didn’t work out in the end, she had the receipt and could even get back the five taels.

If she didn’t take advantage of such a bargain, she would have lived all these years in vain. So Nanny Liu immediately smiled: “Nanny Zhu is sincere, and I’m naturally straightforward too. Let’s settle it like this.”

Nanny Zhu covered her mouth and smiled, but felt very pleased inside.

Nanny Liu got out of bed and rummaged through the bottom layer of her wardrobe for five taels of silver. Nanny Zhu called for a maid to bring paper, a brush, and an ink pad. She couldn’t write, but these inner household servant women and maids had their terminology and symbols for secret monetary transactions. As long as the numbers matched up and they pressed their fingerprints at the end, it was done.

When the two finally parted, both were very happy.