Qin Yining had no idea that someone had come earlier. She waited until well into the afternoon, and by then she had grown cold through and through before Nanny Jin finally brought the people.

“My apologies for keeping the young miss waiting so long. The madam just assigned some tasks, which delayed us for some time.” Nanny Jin only offered a brief explanation and didn’t give Qin Yining time to speak before introducing the four servant girls behind her.

“This is Yu Xiang and Rui Lan, both second-rank maids from the great madam’s side. They have the gentlest and most obedient temperaments, specially assigned to serve you. These are Liu Ya and Qiu Lu, third-rank maids.”

Qin Yining looked over the four people in turn.

All four appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old. Yu Xiang was tall and thin with striking features, but her eyes were too shrewd. Rui Lan was somewhat plump with an honest and sincere smile. Liu Ya had very thin lips, looking like someone who could talk persuasively, while Qiu Lu kept her head lowered, appearing to have no presence at all—she must be someone accustomed to silence.

Yu Xiang, Rui Lan, Liu Ya, and Qiu Lu all stepped forward to bow to Qin Yining.

Qin Yining nodded faintly and had them stand to one side.

Nanny Jin continued: “Additionally, there’s a steward nanny and little maids responsible for cleaning.”

As soon as she finished speaking, an elderly woman entered with three girls around ten years old dressed in red and green.

Nanny Jin introduced them: “This is Nanny Zhu, who will be responsible for managing all the big and small affairs in Snow Pear Courtyard from now on. These few are the little maids who will await your orders, young miss.”

“This servant pays respects to Fourth Miss.” Nanny Zhu was a plump woman with a simple, honest face. Silver threads were already visible at her temples, making her appear to be around fifty years old.

“Please rise, Nanny Zhu.” Qin Yining said unhurriedly.

Nanny Jin then said: “The people have been brought. Young miss, just give orders as needed. If you have any instructions, you can come find this servant at any time.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Nanny Jin.”

Nanny Jin bowed and withdrew.

Qin Yining frowned slightly.

Having just arrived and with no money to give as rewards, if only Nanny Jin had shown her a bit more goodwill, given her position in the household, her casual instructions to these people would be far more effective than Qin Yining’s own words.

But Nanny Jin only dealt with her perfunctorily and refused to say even one more word of instruction to these people. Nanny Jin belonged to the great madam, so her attitude represented the great madam’s attitude.

It seemed her birth mother truly disliked her.

Qin Yining took a breath and looked at the eight people standing before her.

Having suffered hardships since childhood, when had she ever ordered people around? At this moment, she truly didn’t know where to begin.

Seeing her silence, the eight people couldn’t help but exchange glances.

After a moment, Qin Yining looked at the main room and side rooms that were still locked, and said slowly: “My circumstances—I imagine you all understand them clearly. Arranging for you to come here truly inconveniences you. Though my fate is bitter and I had no chance to grow up beside my parents, I am after all my father’s biological daughter. As long as you do your duties well, we can all get through our days together.”

These words contained multiple meanings. It was the most appropriate thing Qin Yining could think to say. She only wanted to live in peace.

“Yes.” Everyone bowed in unison, then couldn’t help but look at Qin Yining a few more times.

They all said this miss’s appearance was remarkably similar to Prime Minister Qin’s. Looking now, wasn’t that exactly right! Though she had grown up in the countryside and even lived as a wild person in the mountains, the imposing presence about her couldn’t be faked—it made people feel they dared not overstep without reason.

Those who had come with contemptuous hearts restrained themselves somewhat, and those who felt unlucky and bitter temporarily suppressed such thoughts.

Qin Yining instructed everyone to clean up all the rooms thoroughly.

The main hall’s three rooms would serve as Qin Yining’s living and reception area. One room in the east wing was arranged for Nanny Zhu to live alone, one room for the two second-rank maids to share, the west wing had one room for the two third-rank maids to share, while the little maids would all live in the reverse-facing rooms, right next to the small kitchen.

They had just finished cleaning when Nanny Jin returned with people, bringing bedding, curtains, vessels, furnishings, writing materials, clothes, shoes, socks, rouge, and face powder. She also handed two taels of silver to Qin Yining.

“Young miss, this is this month’s allowance. According to the household rules, each young miss receives two taels as their portion. Additionally, you must go to the main kitchen to collect food boxes for your three meals, and you must pay morning and evening respects…” Nanny Jin spoke, then seemed to grow impatient and said instead: “Once young miss has lived here longer, you’ll understand everything.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Nanny Jin. I’ll go pay respects to the great madam shortly.” Qin Yining smiled.

Nanny Jin smiled briefly, said nothing more, and left in a hurry.

After organizing for a full hour, the room finally looked completely renewed.

The furniture and furnishings in the room had been there already, but now they were fitted with light green seat cushions and chair covers. The canopy bed was hung with pale green curtains, and an exquisite incense ball was hung up. The bedding was also laid thick and warm. Nanny Zhu was holding a foot warmer, tucking it into the bedding to heat it up.

Yu Xiang and Rui Lan were organizing her cosmetics and wardrobe, properly arranging various bottles and jars, and setting out some beautifully styled hair ornaments. The little maids were carrying wooden basins outside, hurrying to clean the side rooms and reverse-facing quarters.

From now on, this would be her home.

Though it had some dampness and desolation from being uninhabited for a while, it was much better than the cave she had lived in. These people around her—though she didn’t know if they all bore goodwill toward her—having people to talk with was much better than talking to squirrels and rabbits alone on the mountain.

As long as she was willing to endure and work hard, life would surely get better and better.

Qin Yining sat in the round-backed chair with soft cushions in the main hall, a smile blooming on her bright face.

“Young miss.” Qiu Lu approached carrying a tea tray, placing an exquisite white porcelain cup with plum blossom design on the black lacquered square table beside her.

She hadn’t had a drop of water since returning to the household, and had been freezing outside for an hour. She had long grown cold through and through. Now with a cup of steaming hot tea in hand, that warmth spread straight to her heart.

She couldn’t help but smile and say: “Thank you.”

Qiu Lu quickly said: “This servant dare not accept such thanks.”

Hearing the commotion, Yu Xiang, who was organizing the cosmetics, pursed her lips.

Rui Lan glanced at Qiu Lu, then took out a honey-colored brocade cloak that had just been brought from the redwood cabinet, smiling as she said: “Young miss, please put this on first—you mustn’t catch a cold. This servant will immediately instruct someone to fetch the food boxes.”

Qiu Lu then withdrew with the tea tray.

Liu Ya brought in a foot warmer, wrapped it in a cloth, and placed it on Qin Yining’s lap.

Qin Yining smiled at her too, but didn’t thank her again.

She had just noticed Rui Lan’s look.

She needed to quickly adapt to her current status.

Just then, from the corner of her eye, Qin Yining saw Yu Xiang tucking a booklet into her clothes.

“What is that? Bring it here for me to see.” Qin Yining set down her cup.

Yu Xiang, with her back to Qin Yining, rolled her eyes, then turned around with a beaming smile to hand over the booklet: “This is the registry of all items in Snow Pear Courtyard.”

Qin Yining carefully examined it.

Yu Xiang pursed her lips and exchanged a glance with Rui Lan.

She didn’t believe this girl could actually read these characters!

There weren’t many things in the room, but there weren’t few either. Qin Yining turned to the section on cosmetics and jewelry, pointed to a line of text, and said: “I haven’t seen this gold-inlaid pearl hair band.”

Yu Xiang’s expression froze.

Hadn’t she been sitting there the whole time without moving? With so many people moving around the room and so many things being placed, how could she possibly remember every single item?

Rui Lan quickly went to the cosmetics table, looking left and right, then went to the canopy bed and searched with her back to Qin Yining for a while before finally producing the hair band, smiling: “Found it! This servant carelessly let it fall under the cushion.”

Qin Yining smiled lightly, then pointed to the clothing section: “This blood jade gourd skirt weight mentioned here, I haven’t seen it either.” She closed the booklet and handed it back to Yu Xiang with a gentle smile: “You should organize things more carefully. I wouldn’t want to put on shoes someday only to step on an earring.”

This joking remark made Yu Xiang flush red with embarrassment, and Rui Lan’s face also showed some awkwardness.

Qin Yining said nothing more, continuing to hold the foot warmer for warmth.

At the cosmetics table and wardrobe, several small items that hadn’t been visible earlier suddenly appeared.

Qin Yining lowered her eyes, finding it amusing.

She knew that having just arrived, she couldn’t command respect, but she hadn’t expected the maids in her room to steal her belongings right to her face. They probably didn’t know that she had had a photographic memory since childhood, and that years of dealing with hunters and medicine merchants had trained her to estimate the weight of items up to a hundred pounds just by handling them, with accuracy within one or two taels.

She lowered her eyes to warm her scarred and calloused but fair hands on the foot warmer.

It seemed there would be many difficulties on her future path. First, she needed to set the people around her straight.

“Are all the people settled?” After Qin Huining finished her evening meal, she took the tea that Bi Tong handed her to rinse her mouth, then smiled and asked Cai Shi.

“In response to young miss, everything is arranged. Three of the originally planned people were replaced, and Yu Xiang, Rui Lan, and Liu Ya were assigned instead. These three all have excellent temperaments. Nanny Zhu was also assigned as the steward nanny.”

“Nanny Zhu?” Qin Huining was puzzled.

Cai Shi explained: “The Nanny Zhu whose son manages the stables in the outer courtyard and whose daughter-in-law works in the kitchen.”

Hearing this, Qin Huining laughed: “Nanny Zhu has a gentle temperament and will get along harmoniously with Yu Xiang, Rui Lan, and Liu Ya.” She took Cai Shi’s hands in both of hers, smiling: “Wet nurse, thank you for helping with this matter.”

Cai Shi looked at Qin Huining with eyes full of loving kindness, smiling: “What are you saying, young miss? Having nursed you, if I may speak presumptuously, I think of you as my own child. How could I bear to see you wronged? Don’t worry—there are many days ahead, and the waters in the Prime Minister’s residence run deep.”

These words struck right to Qin Huining’s heart.

She gratefully hugged Cai Shi, then smiled: “Come, let’s go to Xingning Garden to pay respects to mother.”

Cai Shi smiled: “That newcomer probably doesn’t even understand the rules of morning and evening respects.”

Qin Huining put on the bright red kesi silk cloak that a maid handed her, smiling: “She’ll understand eventually.” But by the time she understood, it would be too late. Her vulgar reputation would already be widespread.

Qin Huining took Cai Shi and Bi Tong to Xingning Garden.

Originally thinking that Qin Yining didn’t understand the rules and wouldn’t know about morning and evening respects, she unexpectedly saw Qin Yining coming directly toward them, wearing a honey-colored brocade cloak and accompanied by Rui Lan and Qiu Lu.