Without A’Ru nearby, naturally no one introduced this maid to Qi Yue. She could only distinguish from the clothing that this was a second-class maid.

The Marquis Dingxi’s concubines could only have one second-class maid at most—they weren’t qualified to have head maids.

“Thank you, Concubine,” Qi Yue said with a smile. A’Ru had told her the rules—she didn’t need to be too polite with concubines, just treat them normally, so she didn’t stand up.

Jiu Zhi reached out to receive the sugar cakes. A flash of surprise crossed the maid’s eyes, but she quickly concealed it. She looked around the room as if she had something to say.

“Lan’er, go wrap a box of our sweets here for the concubine to taste,” Qi Yue said.

Lan’er responded and went out. Que Zhi didn’t move.

“If you have something to say, go ahead,” Qi Yue said to the maid with a smile.

Had this Jiu Zhi really become the Young Madam’s confidant? A’Jin was somewhat surprised.

“It’s like this—the Young Madam is short-handed here. The concubine worried the Young Madam might not find someone suitable right away, so she asked this servant to mention that Ximei from the kitchen is quite clever. The Young Madam might try her out first,” she said straightforwardly.

Qi Yue was somewhat surprised. This Concubine Zhou was so direct with her? Could it be that she had an unusual relationship with the original owner? Was she genuinely helping her again? Or had she come so quickly to seek mutual benefit?

She thought this while nodding with a smile.

“Thank the concubine for her concern. I’ve noted it,” she said.

Having delivered the message, A’Jin didn’t stay longer and took her leave.

“Haven’t heard of this Ximei. Young Madam, shall this servant go inquire?” Jiu Zhi said from the side.

Qi Yue generally wouldn’t assign matters of investigating people to Jiu Zhi.

“Checking the storehouse inventory is urgent. Let Lan’er handle this small matter,” Qi Yue said.

Jiu Zhi happily agreed. Checking storehouse inventory would earn the fawning, flattery, and respect of those storehouse matrons—much more prestigious than investigating people.

“Concubine Zhou is the Old Marchioness’s niece, the concubine daughter of the old madam’s half-brother,” A’Ru introduced to Qi Yue. “She was highly regarded by the old madam before and was quite familiar and close with you, Young Madam.”

Qi Yue made an “oh” sound, thinking of the beautiful woman who had helped her at the Mid-Autumn banquet, and nodded. She looked through the personnel register herself and saw this was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, not a house-born servant but the daughter-in-law of a third-class matron who had come to serve halfway through. The next day she asked Lan’er about her investigation.

“Eloquent and persuasive, but there’s one thing—she’s addicted to gambling,” Lan’er answered concisely.

Qi Yue hadn’t planned to add more people anyway. Seeing this girl’s background and age, she wasn’t inclined to use her, and hearing about the gambling addiction made her dismiss the idea entirely. Two days later, she directly ordered that the mansion was short-staffed and couldn’t spare more maids, so the three existing maids around her would work harder, and the vacant second-class maid’s monthly allowance would be added to these three, settling the matter.

When this news came, both Concubine Zhou and A’Jin were greatly shocked.

Concubine Zhou hadn’t expected Qi Yue not to use her recommended person. Moreover, Qi Yue had made the announcement first, then sent someone to inform her—a second-class maid who said thanks, with the rest being the same words announced to everyone.

“Does she really think having the Marquis and Lord backing her means her wings are hard? Not even paying attention to me? Has this girl gone silly with joy?” Concubine Zhou laughed lightly, but her hand unconsciously gripped the teacup tightly.

Qi Yue hadn’t thought so much. She managed the household to make her own life more comfortable, and naturally couldn’t be casual about people placed beside her. This matter was quickly forgotten by her, as she really couldn’t spare attention for it. Just as she had said, since gaining the Lord’s and Marquis’s backing, their days had become less smooth than before.

First, Third Miss’s maid quarreled with kitchen staff over a bowl of porridge. Then the storehouse inventory didn’t match the accounts, and a group of matrons nearly staged a full martial arts performance in the storehouse. Nanny Su shirked responsibility, saying whatever happened should “go ask the Young Madam,” making Qi Yue’s courtyard as busy as New Year.

Although Qi Yue cut through the chaos swiftly to resolve matters, she was still summoned by the Marquis because this incident involved his personal attendants.

“If you don’t understand something, ask your mother more,” Marquis Dingxi said with a smile.

Qi Yue responded affirmatively and looked up at the Great Madam sitting nearby who seemed to be in meditation, Concubine Zhu wiping tears with a handkerchief, and Concubine Zhou pouring tea.

“Young Madam shouldn’t blame there being so many matters,” Concubine Zhu sobbed. “I don’t know what came over me—I suddenly wanted steamed fish. I’m new here and don’t know the mansion’s rules, didn’t know I couldn’t add dishes…”

Marquis Dingxi’s expression became several degrees uglier than before.

“Yueniang, rules are dead, but people are alive. This is our home, not some government office,” he said slowly, taking the tea from Concubine Zhou.

Although facing a beauty, when his personal attendant was wronged, he as a man lost face. Compared to beauty, face was more important.

Concubine Zhou held the tea and stood quietly aside without speaking.

“Yes, it’s daughter-in-law’s fault. Concubine, please don’t say that,” Qi Yue said with a smile. “People with child have different appetites than before. I was careless—I’ll tell them immediately.”

Concubine Zhu smiled with some grievance.

“It’s still my fault for troubling the kitchen staff. I don’t know why I suddenly want this and suddenly want that,” she said, glancing at Marquis Dingxi while stroking her swollen belly.

“Marquis, why not set up a separate kitchen for Concubine Zhu?” the Great Madam, who had been silent, spoke up.

Marquis Dingxi hesitated and looked at Qi Yue.

Qi Yue immediately nodded with a smile.

“Mother thinks most thoroughly,” she said hurriedly.

“This… this isn’t good. Others don’t have one,” Concubine Zhu said like a startled rabbit, timidly looking at Marquis Dingxi. “And I’m new here.”

So what if she was new? Outside she was pampered with fine clothes and food—should she suffer over food after entering the household? Marquis Dingxi immediately decided and nodded.

The Great Madam’s lips curved in a slight smile as she returned to meditation.

“Young Madam, you really shouldn’t have agreed to this,” A’Ru said with some anxiety.

Qi Yue sat on the kang drinking tea to moisten her throat.

“I know. Opening this for Concubine Zhu means the other concubines will inevitably want the same,” she said. “In front of the Marquis, how could I not give him face?”

“Madam did it on purpose. She never opened this precedent for anyone before,” A’Ru sighed with a worried expression. “Now the others will have excuses to make trouble.”

“What’s to fear? The Marquis opened this precedent—if they want it, let them ask the Marquis,” Jiu Zhi said with a snort, covering her face with a handkerchief that had a palm print that hadn’t yet faded—a gift from Third Miss.

“You can’t say that. The Marquis is the head of household, I’m the house manager. I’m here to help him with worries and handle affairs. If everything gets brought to him, what use am I?” Qi Yue said with a smile.

Jiu Zhi nodded.

“Since you put it that way, those matrons are too much, and Nanny Su too. Why don’t they think this way? When there’s trouble, they play dumb and push everything to the Young Madam. Young Madam, they’re useless—dismiss them from their positions,” Jiu Zhi said indignantly.

Qi Yue sighed.

“Dismissing one or two is easy to explain, but dismissing more than ten would be hard to justify,” she said, pressing her forehead.

Both Jiu Zhi and A’Ru looked worried. Having the title of house manager but not the power—truly difficult.

Not only did the Great Madam not help, she deliberately stirred up trouble. If only the Old Marchioness were still here.

“Concubine Zhou has arrived,” a maid announced from outside.

Qi Yue was somewhat surprised, while A’Ru hurried to personally greet her at the door.

Just a concubine—Jiu Zhi didn’t think much of it and stood without moving.

Qi Yue stood up and invited her to sit with a smile.

“At that time, I couldn’t help you speak up. You did well to agree smoothly. The Marquis appears good-tempered but is actually stubborn—you can only go along with him, not against him,” Concubine Zhou said candidly as she sat down, her face full of approval and some affectionate gratitude as she looked at Qi Yue. “You’ve truly become sensible now. If the Old Madam were still here, she’d be very pleased.”

Qi Yue already knew Concubine Zhou’s background—one was the Old Marchioness’s relative, the other was personally brought into the mansion by the Old Marchioness. They were naturally the Old Marchioness’s direct line. Although she had no memory of Qi Yueniang, she could imagine that Qi Yueniang and Concubine Zhou must have been close.

“Thank you for your concern, Concubine,” Qi Yue said with a smile, immediately thinking of the maid incident last time. Perhaps she had been wrong—maybe that maid truly had exceptional qualities, which was why Concubine Zhou had strongly recommended her. Thinking this, she felt somewhat apologetic. “About that maid last time…”

“Using one or two fewer maids is nothing, but these managing matrons are different,” Concubine Zhou interrupted her with a smile, taking out a list from her sleeve.

Qi Yue took it and saw names written on it along with their respective strengths.

“These are all old hands from back then, the Old Madam’s people,” Concubine Zhou said.

Qi Yue immediately understood, looking at her and nodding with a smile.

“Thank you, Concubine. I know what to do,” she said.

Concubine Zhou patted her hand, showing the smile of an elder seeing a younger generation.

At this moment, commotion came from the courtyard.

“The Lord has returned,” Jiu Zhi’s excited voice carried in.

A series of footsteps passed by, then came the bustle from the Lord’s room—Qiu Xiang calling for people to bring water and such.

Concubine Zhou had already stood when she heard Jiu Zhi’s voice, but saw Qi Yue still sitting.

“Why aren’t you going to serve him?” she asked in surprise, then shook her head.

“He doesn’t like me serving him,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

Concubine Zhou shook her head and smiled.

“Men are all contrary in word and heart,” she said to Qi Yue with a smile, reaching out to pull her up for examination. “Such beautiful years shouldn’t be wasted like this.”

As Concubine Zhou held her hand, Qi Yue felt something being pressed into her palm and made a surprised sound.

Concubine Zhou pressed her hand and patted it.

“This is a fragrance all men like. Take it and apply it,” she said with a smile, getting up and walking out.

Qi Yue opened her hand and unwrapped the paper package. Pink powder with a delicate fragrance, though it smelled somewhat fishy. After smelling it, she felt her chest burning with some inexplicable impulse.

Was this the legendary aphrodisiac? This Concubine Zhou really was something. Qi Yue shook her head, wrapped it up, and threw it to A’Ru who was entering.

“Burn it,” she said.

A’Ru asked nothing and immediately tucked it into her sleeve and went out.

Author’s Note: This won’t always be palace intrigue. I just need to write out these characters and their affairs.