“Stewardess Liang.”

“This old servant is here, First Madam.”

Seeing worry in her eyes, Song Wan said, “I heard your elderly mother at home was ill some days ago and hasn’t recovered well. Is this true?”

“In reply to First Madam, this old servant’s mother is in good health. This old servant hasn’t returned home recently and has not neglected her duties…”

“You misunderstand my meaning.”

Song Wan took a square of red velvet cloth that Heng Zhi handed her and casually opened it: “I have half a ginseng root over fifty years old in my room. It was originally given by Old Madam. If you don’t mind, you can take it back to supplement your mother’s qi and blood.”

Nanny Liang’s legs buckled and she knelt directly on the floor.

“Thank you, First Madam. This old servant thanks First Madam for her grace on behalf of my elderly mother.”

Heng Zhi stepped forward to help her up: “Don’t be like this. Who has worked hard in the past—our Madam knows in her heart. What’s yours will never be lacking.”

Hearing this, Steward Jiang Fu’s wife’s expression turned ugly.

She was the chief stewardess of the rear quarters. Although Song Wan hadn’t said a single bad word about her today, everything she had done before was slapping her face. Yet she was convinced and couldn’t generate even half a bit of resentment.

“Nanny Zhou.”

“This old servant is here.”

Seeing her respectfully perform the proper courtesy, Song Wan said warmly, “I heard your grandson could recognize over a hundred characters at age five?”

Nanny Zhou nodded. Song Wan said, “This child has some spiritual talent. I was thinking we shouldn’t waste such natural gifts. Why not send him to our clan school to study enlightenment together with the young masters of the residence? Perhaps he might even produce a little top scholar in the future.”

Her grandson was the apple of Nanny Zhou’s eye. If the child were merely naughty, that would be one thing, but now Heaven had shown mercy and given him some remarkable talent. She naturally had some extravagant hopes.

If her grandson could truly become a top scholar in the future, even if she died immediately, she would be willing.

Nanny Zhou knelt before Song Wan and without another word kowtowed three times loudly.

“First Madam shows great mercy. This old servant will certainly follow your lead from now on and serve with utmost devotion.”

Song Wan helped her up, saying with a smile that it was a small matter not worth such treatment.

“All you nannies know the situation at Lanting Courtyard. In the past, the courtyard was quiet and naturally had fewer maids. Now that the First Young Master has returned and new people have been added to the courtyard, we’re somewhat short-handed. I’m not yet familiar with the residence’s personnel, so I’ll inevitably need several of you to select some obedient and clever maids to come over.”

“If you have capable ones, or if your own daughters or granddaughters are suitable, you can also send them for Heng Zhi to examine.”

The women looked at each other, their hearts blooming with joy.

The masters’ courtyards were not easy to enter, especially Lanting Courtyard.

And entering Lanting Courtyard meant having the opportunity to serve the First Young Master personally. If clever enough, perhaps one day they could serve right into the First Young Master’s chambers.

They were all hereditary servants, serving as slaves and maids in the Marquis residence for generations. Who among them didn’t have daughters or granddaughters?

If even one could latch onto the First Young Master, the entire family would ascend to heaven along with her.

Several women were eager to try, already calculating candidates in their hearts.

Seeing this, Song Wan’s smile deepened: “The rough labor women and maids in the residence work the hardest but receive the least monthly silver. I was thinking of adding fifty wen per month for these maids. In winter—the eleventh, twelfth, and first months—add one set of padded clothes each. In summer—the sixth, seventh, and eighth months—add one thin skirt. Additionally, in both winter and summer seasons, distribute an extra two strings of cash so they can buy some melons, fruits, charcoal, and the like.”

“First Madam is so benevolent and kind…”

A group of women competed to flatter Song Wan. She only smiled faintly and paid no attention.

“Steward Jiang Fu’s wife.”

“Yes, yes, this old servant is here. What instructions does First Madam have?”

Song Wan showed no dissatisfaction but rather looked apologetic: “During these years when the First Young Master was away, you’ve had a hard time.”

“Madam, what are you saying? It’s all what this old servant should do.”

“How can there be any ‘should’?”

Heng Zhi handed over a wooden box. Song Wan transferred it to her: “You and Steward Jiang Fu have labored for the Marquis residence your entire lives. In the end, the Marquis residence owes you.”

Steward Jiang Fu’s wife opened it blankly, only to see inside was a letter of recommendation.

“Your youngest son, Jiang Youcai, grew up together with the First Young Master. Logically, now that the First Young Master has returned, he should be kept by his side to serve. But both Old Madam and I felt that would be wasting his talents, so we asked someone to write a letter of recommendation, recommending him to become a deputy commissioner at the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau.”

“The position is rather low, but it is at least an official status.”

Steward Jiang Fu’s wife gripped the letter of recommendation, her eyes turning bloodshot red.

“First Madam… this old servant…”

Song Wan smiled gently and patted her hand.

There was nothing else of importance after that. Song Wan gave simple instructions and dismissed the women. Once the room quieted down, she noticed Jiang Xingjian standing in the corner. She didn’t know how long he had been there.

Song Wan was slightly distracted: “Husband, is something the matter?”

Jiang Xingjian shook his head and sat down beside her.

Actually, he had come today because he was worried.

He had thought that if Song Wan was being bullied by cunning servants, he could step forward to support her. But who knew that in less than half a day, she had managed those women so thoroughly they were completely submissive without a word of objection.

First, she wielded a rod of authority to establish her dignity, then dismantled the collusion among the residence’s servants and rebalanced the power distribution. After dealing with those in the inner courtyard who had been lining their own pockets, she then drew them into Lanting Courtyard.

If they wanted their own daughters to gain the master’s favor, they would naturally have to obediently listen and be used by her, willingly allowing themselves to be won over and directed.

As for giving favors to the lowest-ranked maids and women in the residence…

Jiang Xingjian smiled faintly. He figured that in less than half a day, all nearly a thousand servants in the Marquis residence would know that the First Madam of the residence was gentle and benevolent.

Jiang Xingjian rubbed his fingertips, thinking privately that if he were to manage this household, he couldn’t do better than Song Wan.

This Song Wan who killed and made decisive judgments while talking and laughing—he had never seen her like this before. Seeing her now for the first time inevitably overturned his previous impression of her.

“You…”

“First Young Master, First Madam.”

Xieyi came in from outside. After performing courtesies to both of them, she said, “First Young Master, Concubine Lin of Xiuyan Pavilion is ill and wishes to ask the First Young Master to go see her.”

Jiang Xingjian pressed his lips together, suddenly remembering he hadn’t seen Lin Jiayue for several days.

He looked at Song Wan beside him, only to see her half-closing her eyes with a drowsy expression, as if wanting to sleep but unable to.

“Madam, rest first. I’ll come back later.”

Song Wan opened her eyes and smiled distantly, then returned to the bedchamber with Heng Zhi and Heng Wu.

After the two served her to rest, they tiptoed out of the room.

The rose-scented pillow beneath her neck emitted a clear fragrance. The scent was pure and not turbid, fragrant and soothing. In the past, Song Wan had loved this scent most, but today smelling it made her somewhat irritable. For a long time, she couldn’t calm her breathing.

Before even lying down for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, she sat up.

It had rained last night, so Heng Zhi had brought the zodiac wood carvings from the window back inside. Now eight wood carvings were placed along the edge of the embroidered couch, arranged neatly in order.

Song Wan touched them one by one with reddened eyes, her expression growing increasingly bewildered.