The next morning, Nanny Zhou announced the selections for the external affairs nanny in front of everyone in Ziwei Courtyard.

Indeed, it was Sister-in-Law Niu and Nanny Liu.

Nanny Wei’s originally smiling face froze with her smile, and everyone looked at her with some surprise. Of course, some were dissatisfied with her arrogant attitude yesterday and were now gloating over her misfortune.

Someone who enjoyed stirring up trouble specifically went forward to ask Nanny Zhou: “Wasn’t it said yesterday that Nanny Wei had been decided upon? How did it suddenly change to Nanny Liu?”

Nanny Zhou tucked her sleeves together and glanced at that person expressionlessly: “Who has been spreading rumors outside, presumptuously speculating about the masters’ thoughts? I don’t recall any master ever promising anyone a position.” After saying this, she turned and left, leaving behind the crowd whispering among themselves.

Nanny Wei’s face alternated between red and white. After watching Nanny Liu and Sister-in-Law Niu being surrounded by everyone for a while, she snorted coldly and left with a flick of her sleeves.

After everyone’s enthusiasm had died down, Nanny Zhu gave Nanny Liu a meaningful look and went straight back to her room. Seeing this, Nanny Liu exchanged a few more pleasantries with everyone, and only after everyone had dispersed did she quietly follow.

Upon reaching Nanny Zhu’s room, Nanny Liu was beside herself with joy and stepped forward to curtsy to her: “Nanny Zhu is truly capable. This time it’s all thanks to you looking out for your younger sister.”

Nanny Zhu smiled slightly and waved her hand: “Although I put in effort, you also had to be worthy of the position. You should know that our master above is not easy to fool.” As she spoke, Nanny Zhu glanced at Nanny Liu again, “Since it’s already settled, I wonder about that receipt you have…” This reminded Nanny Liu to pay the twenty taels of silver.

Nanny Liu slapped her forehead: “Look at me, only thinking about being happy.” As she spoke, she took out a pouch from her sleeve, pulled out the receipt Nanny Zhu had written yesterday, and handed it over. Nanny Zhu just smiled without speaking and continued watching Nanny Liu’s actions.

When Nanny Liu was taking out the money, she hesitated for a moment, then smiled and pulled out two ingots of about five taels each, respectfully offering them up.

Nanny Zhu looked but didn’t take them, gazing at Nanny Liu with a half-smile without speaking.

Nanny Liu smiled apologetically: “I don’t have much ready silver on me…”

Nanny Zhu gave Nanny Liu’s pouch a cold smile and pushed Nanny Liu’s hand back: “Yesterday, I said I was helping you entirely because I saw you as a straightforward person, but now looking at this… Fine, I won’t take this silver, but… don’t forget that the final selection won’t be decided until after the New Year. Even if you want to cross the river and burn the bridge, isn’t it still a bit early?”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Liu’s heart skipped a beat, then she seemed to remember something and clapped her hands together: “Look at this memory of mine.” As she spoke, she felt around her waist, and somehow managed to produce several one-tael silver nuggets, which she then presented together with the previously produced ten taels of silver with both hands to Nanny Zhu.

“This is emergency silver I had hidden in my waistband before. I forgot about it—it happens to be exactly five taels.”

Nanny Zhu smiled slightly and only then accepted it: “I indeed didn’t misjudge you…”

At this moment, there was suddenly some noise by the door. Nanny Zhu frowned, while tucking the silver into her sleeve and taking several steps forward, pulling open the door to look outside, but saw nothing.

“What’s wrong? Is someone outside?” Nanny Liu also walked over.

Nanny Zhu thought for a moment and shook her head: “It must have been the wind. Nothing wrong. You should go back first.”

Nanny Liu responded with acknowledgment. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to smile and say: “If there are places where I need to rely on your elder sister’s support in the future, please don’t forget about your younger sister.”

Nanny Zhu smiled modestly and saw Nanny Liu out.

After the person left, she took out the silver she had just obtained and examined it carefully. The smile at the corner of her mouth held both disdain and satisfaction: “Still trying to play those tricks with me, hmph—”

Over there, Ren Yaoqi was sitting in the west secondary room of the main house, leisurely drinking tea. Seeing Nanny Zhou enter, she lifted her eyes to glance at her: “How did it go?”

Nanny Zhou stepped forward and bowed her head: “Everything has been arranged according to Young Miss’s instructions.” After finishing, she looked at Ren Yaoqi somewhat hesitantly: “Young Miss, will doing this be useful?”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Nanny Zhou and smiled, rarely showing some playfulness as she blinked: “Nanny might as well wait and see.”

“But Concubine Fang has placed quite a few people…”

“Having many people has its advantages.” After Ren Yaoqi said this, she picked up her teacup to drink tea. Although Nanny Zhou still had doubts in her heart, she didn’t ask any more questions.

By afternoon, somehow the news that Nanny Liu had privately bribed Nanny Zhu, and that the two had conspired using some method to squeeze out Nanny Wei, spread like wildfire.

Although no one knew if the news was true or false, Nanny Wei was quite angry. In the evening, taking advantage of when all the masters had gone to Ronghua Garden to pay their evening respects, she stood with her hands on her hips in the back courtyard and began cursing loudly.

Nanny Liu felt somewhat guilty after all. Though she was angry at being scolded, she didn’t dare go out to defend herself and just stayed behind closed doors.

Nanny Zhu, perhaps having a thick skin, or perhaps understanding that this matter was actually the master’s intention and she had just conveniently made some profit, didn’t take it much to heart since no investigation would ultimately trace back to her anyway.

Fortunately, Nanny Wei also knew some boundaries. When she heard that the masters were returning to the courtyard, she closed her mouth, spat on Nanny Liu’s door, and left.

But that evening, a troublemaker who feared the world wasn’t chaotic enough secretly told Nanny Liu, who had leaked the information.

It turned out to be her sworn enemy, Nanny Guan, who had somehow found out about this matter and then embellished it when telling the servant women in the back courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Nanny Liu’s anger toward Nanny Guan intensified. The next morning, seeing Nanny Guan’s gloating smile, Nanny Liu gritted her teeth and grabbed the boiling water from the stove, splashing it toward Nanny Guan.

Nanny Guan howled like a stuck pig and jumped away. Fortunately, the weather was cold, and Nanny Liu’s aim was off, only splashing some water onto Nanny Guan’s boots.

After Nanny Guan came to her senses, she flew into a rage, shrieking as she lunged forward. The two began fighting in the small kitchen where hot water was heated. Finally, the commotion became too great and alerted Li Shi, who sent Nanny Zhu over to see what had happened.

Nanny Zhu scolded both Nanny Liu and Nanny Guan with a cold face, then separately disciplined Nanny Liu for a long time before docking both women half a month’s wages.

The feud between Nanny Guan and Nanny Liu had grown even deeper.

As the twelfth lunar month approached, every household became increasingly busy. Each branch of the Ren family also began busily changing the decorations in their courtyards and inner chambers. Items like vases and ornaments in the inner chambers that the masters had grown tired of looking at for a year would be put away into storage, while fresh-looking items would be brought out from storage to replace them. The pomegranate bonsai in Ziwei Courtyard was also required by the Third Master to be changed to clivia and narcissus.