Yun Shuyao returned to Lanxin Courtyard, where the morning meal had already been delivered.

Looking at it, there was a bowl of meat porridge, a plate of dumplings, two steamed cakes, and a bowl of steamed egg.

Normally speaking, these would be more than enough for one person—even enough for two people with leftovers. This was Nanny Wang’s special instruction to make the portions sufficient.

But Hong Xiu was witnessing her mistress’s good appetite firsthand for the first time.

She ate everything.

Ate it completely clean.

Not a bit left, and she looked like she could eat more.

Hong Xiu: “(⊙o⊙)”

She saw her mistress smile shyly, “My appetite is rather large.”

Hong Xiu hid her awkwardness beneath a smile, “Is Concubine satisfied?” If so, she would collect the dishes and send them to the main kitchen.

Yun Shuyao had no intention of hiding her appetite by deliberately eating less.

She could hide it for a short while, but hiding it long-term would just make things difficult for herself.

Why should she make things difficult for herself?

“Not yet. Today is fine, but starting tomorrow, can you ask the kitchen staff to add more portions? Mm, add another half to today’s amount, or double the staple foods—that should be about right.”

Hong Xiu: “…(⊙0⊙)”

She was dumbstruck for a moment, then replied with a smile, “Of—of course.” She planned to go ask Nanny Wang about it later.

Although theoretically there were fixed regulations, if she truly couldn’t eat enough and word got out that the Master’s concubine couldn’t get enough to eat in the residence, that would be unacceptable.

Hong Xiu cleared her throat twice, “Concubine, would you like to rest for a bit now, or shall I have everyone come pay their respects?”

Hong Xiu had been designated by the Old Madam from the start as Concubine Yun’s senior maid and had met her before entering. The others, however, had not yet seen their mistress.

Yun Shuyao smiled slightly, “Let’s meet the people in our courtyard. After all, we’ll be spending a long time together from now on.”

“Yes.”

Soon everyone was assembled, standing in a line before Yun Shuyao.

According to the Lin residence’s rules, each proper concubine in the back courtyard was provided with one first-class senior maid, one second-class maid, one unranked junior maid, and one matron—four people in total.

Hong Xiu was the first-class senior maid, sixteen years old, born into the Lin household, with both parents working on Lin household estates. She was skilled at grooming and dressing.

The second-class was Hong Yi, fourteen years old, purchased after Lin Ruhai came to take up this post. She was nimble with needlework.

The junior maid was Hong Tao, only ten years old, purchased into the Lin residence not long ago, responsible for running errands and miscellaneous tasks.

The matron’s married name was Sun, responsible for rough work in Lanxin Courtyard.

Hearing their introductions, Yun Shuyao sighed inwardly.

This was the difference.

The Yun household didn’t purchase servants—at most they hired help when too busy, similar to hourly workers.

But entering the Lin residence, even though she wasn’t a proper mistress, she already had four people serving her.

“We’ll be spending a long time together from now on. I believe time reveals a person’s heart. As long as our hearts all point in the same direction, life in Lanxin Courtyard will absolutely be prosperous. However, if anyone has greater ambitions, tell me early and we’ll part on good terms. Otherwise, if things blow up, it won’t look good.”

Hong Xiu led by kneeling down, all four in unison, “This servant wouldn’t dare.”

Yun Shuyao stepped forward and helped Hong Xiu up, “Everyone rise. No need for this. I naturally trust you all—I’m just saying the unpleasant things upfront.”

She gave each person a red envelope, her face all smiles, “I won’t delay your work. Hong Xiu, you stay and chat with me.”

Newly arrived, naturally she needed to inquire about her colleagues, superiors, and work hours and atmosphere.

The other three left with happy expressions carrying their red envelopes. Hong Xiu hesitated, “What does Concubine wish to know?”

Yun Shuyao asked, “First tell me about the Master’s back courtyard. Are we three the only ones in the residence?”

This referred to when she went to serve tea to Jia Min today—only Concubine Mei had been present.

From what she understood, there were also two personal maids.

This question wasn’t difficult to answer. Hong Xiu breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. She had worried her mistress would be difficult to get along with and have sky-high aspirations. So far, things seemed alright.

“Serving in the Master’s outer study are two young ladies—one named Lv Lan and another named Lv Liu. The Old Madam said that once they bear children, they’ll become concubines of the Lin family. They normally serve the Master in the outer study and rarely go elsewhere.”

She hesitated, then continued, “Previously there were two other young ladies who had served the Master since childhood. They were released before taking up this post.”

Yun Shuyao understood.

Those two were older and hadn’t borne children, so they were released to marry freely. Two more had been promoted from among the maids.

This was also her future goal—be a lazy fish during her tenure, and after some years, find a way to leave.

Yun Shuyao asked, “You’re a Lin household family-born servant?”

Hong Xiu replied, “Yes, this servant previously served in the Old Madam’s courtyard.”

Yun Shuyao was surprised.

She was actually someone who came from the Old Madam’s side.

Presumably she knew quite a lot.

Thinking this, the smile on Yun Shuyao’s face became more sincere, “Do the Master and Madam pay respects to the Old Madam every morning and have breakfast together? Will I do the same from now on like today?”

Hong Xiu shook her head, “The Old Madam prefers quiet. Every day the Master and Madam go to pay respects and have breakfast together. Today was because you just entered, Concubine. Tomorrow you won’t need to go to the Old Madam’s—just pay respects to the Madam.”

Yun Shuyao said, “I see. Then I wonder if the Old Madam and Master are busy on ordinary days?”

“The Old Madam practices Buddhism, chanting sutras and copying scriptures daily. She generally eats vegetarian meals alone for dinner. The Master is busy with official matters—he leaves in the morning and returns around dinner time. The Madam manages household affairs in the morning, and practices calligraphy and painting in the afternoon…”

After hearing this, Yun Shuyao summarized: her fixed daily work content was to pay respects and check in with her direct superior Jia Min. After checking in, she could return to her own courtyard. If Lin Ruhai didn’t come, she was off work. If Lin Ruhai came, it was mostly around dinner time.

This schedule was so free!

If Lin Ruhai didn’t come, this was her dream work schedule.

Yun Shuyao also asked about her wages and salary. By this time, Hong Xiu wasn’t surprised at all. This mistress of hers was somewhat… appearances were deceiving. Speaking of these matters so openly was shockingly frank.

“Concubine’s monthly silver is three taels, collected from the accounting office on the fifth of each month.”

Three taels!

Yun Shuyao wasn’t some unworldly fairy maiden. She knew that the Yun household’s pillar—meaning her father tutoring in people’s homes—only earned three taels per month, thirty-six taels per year. This was enough to support a family of five, and still allow him to continue taking examinations and send two children to private school—proof enough of silver’s purchasing power.

Her mother used the Lin household’s betrothal silver to buy a shop for rent—the monthly rent was only one and a half taels of silver. And the mountain area purchased back home—after her father and uncle discussed it, they bought a middle-aged couple to manage it, spending only four taels of silver in total.

After learning all this, Yun Shuyao lay down for a while. When she woke again, it was lunch time.

Hong Xiu had already gone to speak with Nanny Wang. The dishes brought back for lunch were the same, but the rice portions had increased—enough for her to eat her fill.

Yun Shuyao looked on with satisfaction and nodded, then under Hong Xiu’s numb gaze, ate all three servings of food completely clean.

Hong Xiu: “…”

Her burly second uncle could also eat this much, but Concubine was so slender—where did all that food go?

She couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard she tried.

Putting down her chopsticks, Yun Shuyao said, “Hong Xiu, accompany me for a walk around the courtyard.”

“Yes.”

Because the Lin residence only had these few masters, Lanxin Courtyard was truly quite spacious. Lanxin Courtyard—with this name, obviously orchids were planted here.

And there were quite a few varieties.

Five rooms, with small gardens front and back. The main plantings were orchids, with other flowers and plants interspersed for decoration.

Yun Shuyao estimated this garden was over a hundred square meters. And these five rooms… the Yun household also had exactly five rooms, which included the kitchen and study.

Here, the five rooms—aside from the side room where the maids lived—were all for her use.

This living environment was beyond words.

Around dinner time, Hong Yi had just returned from the main kitchen with food boxes when Hong Tao came running over with a smile to give Yun Shuyao good news, “Concubine, the Master is here!”

Hong Xiu was delighted. When Concubine Mei first entered, the Master hadn’t gone to Meixiang Courtyard on the second day.

Lin Ruhai hadn’t eaten yet. As soon as he arrived, the meal immediately became much more lavish.

Looking at these dishes, the smile on Yun Shuyao’s face instantly became much more sincere.

Who wouldn’t be happy when the boss treats them to a feast?

At least no overtime was required—Yun Shuyao didn’t think he would stay tonight.

This morning she had seen it, and Lin Ruhai must have seen it more clearly. He would go properly comfort the upset Jia Min.

They hadn’t spent much time together this morning, so she couldn’t tell if this couple was true love, but clearly, this couple got along harmoniously. So in the situation where the legitimate wife’s face had been slapped by hiring respectable women from outside, if Lin Ruhai didn’t want turmoil in the back courtyard, appropriate comfort was necessary.

The facts matched what Yun Shuyao thought.

After the meal, as Lin Ruhai drank tea, his personal servant brought in a wooden box.

This morning when Hong Xiu helped her dress, Lin Ruhai had also seen what was inside.

Aside from one set of jewelry for show, the rest wasn’t up to Lin Ruhai’s standards.

This was partly because Lin Ruhai had high standards, but also because he genuinely found it inadequate.

His properly engaged honorable concubine only had this much?

Even the senior maids by his mother’s side had more than this.

Plus yesterday’s impression had been good, so this scene came about.

Opening the box and seeing the two sets of jewelry inside that were neither ostentatious nor plain, Yun Shuyao’s eyes curved in a smile, “Thank you, Master. I love them!”

This was an unexpected bonus—of course she was delighted.

Seeing Yun Shi’s joyful smile, Lin Ruhai was also satisfied inwardly. His sincere gesture hadn’t been wasted.

Yun Shuyao roughly estimated—this couldn’t be less than several hundred taels of silver.

Tsk, wealthy people.

Yun “Working Person” Shuyao expressed: I’m not jealous at all!

Really, don’t believe me?

Look at my sincere eyes.jpg

Previously, every time she received a bonus, it meant her workload had increased. The boss feared she’d leave, which was why he loosened the purse strings. But now, her work content hadn’t increased, no overtime was required—this was pure surprise.

Sure enough, when the time was about right, Lin Ruhai stood up, “It’s getting late. You should rest.”

Yun Shuyao smiled and saw him off. Hey, work’s over—goodbye, boss~

After leaving Lanxin Courtyard, Lin Ruhai headed straight for Bitao Courtyard.

In Bitao Courtyard, ever since learning the Master had returned and gone to Lanxin Courtyard, no one in the entire courtyard dared speak loudly. Everyone was extremely careful, afraid of disturbing the Madam somewhere and catching trouble.

Fortunately, before long, the frozen atmosphere thawed.

A young maid entered with good news, “Madam, the Master is coming to Bitao Courtyard!”

Jia Min had been sitting on the couch holding a poetry collection distractedly, with her wet nurse watching her worriedly. Now hearing the young maid’s report, Jia Min’s body trembled. She immediately put down the book and asked the wet nurse, “Is there anything improper about my appearance?”

The wet nurse smiled broadly, “Madam can rest assured, everything is proper.”

Only then did Jia Min feel at ease. She rose to go greet him at the entrance.

Setting aside the jubilation on the main residence’s side, in Lanxin Courtyard, Yun Shuyao refused Hong Xiu’s companionship, telling them all to go rest. Alone, she took out a “copper coin” from the cabinet.

This copper coin wasn’t large. Both sides had blurred patterns, and in the center was a square hole.

This was why in the modern world she had thought it was a copper coin.

Only after her blood was absorbed by this copper coin did she learn it was a spirit mirror, a spiritual artifact belonging to cultivators.

As for the hole in the middle—that was its destroyed mirror surface.

In the modern world where spiritual energy was sparse and without a master to nurture it, maintaining even a bit of spiritual essence was already quite difficult.

Going to the apocalyptic world, though the spiritual energy there was mixed with demonic energy, it had allowed the spirit mirror to recover some power, which gave it the ability to bring her to this world.

Dream of the Red Chamber was also an “unscientific” world.

Supposedly, the protagonist of this book, Jia Baoyu, was a stone left over from when Nüwa mended the heavens.

If true, what level of supreme treasure would that be?

Yun Shuyao couldn’t imagine it but was somewhat curious.

However, Lin Daiyu hadn’t been born yet, and Jia Baoyu probably hadn’t been born either. No matter how curious she was, she couldn’t see them.

Yun Shuyao hid the mirror away. Inside the curtained bed, she sat cross-legged and began cultivating.

The spirit mirror hadn’t transmitted cultivation methods to her, but she still had the most basic supernatural ability cultivation method.

Supernatural abilities required diligent practice and frequent use to gradually grow.

However, she had plenty of one thing now—time.

Step by step, the path walked would be more solid.

The main courtyard was jubilant due to Lin Ruhai’s arrival. In Lanxin Courtyard, Yun Shuyao focused on cultivation. And in Meixiang Courtyard, hearing the maid’s report, Concubine Mei flew into a rage, violently sweeping the teacup to the floor. She glared at the young maid, her beautiful face blazing with fury, “Are you telling the truth? The Master really sent jewelry to Lanxin Courtyard?”

The young maid immediately knelt, trembling, “This servant saw it with her own eyes. The Master’s personal attendant took it in.”

Concubine Mei: “…”

Since entering the household, the Master had never sent her anything.

Moreover, when she first entered, the Master left early the next morning. She had served tea to the Madam alone.

Why could the one in Lanxin Courtyard receive the Master’s favor?

Gradually, the fury on her face slowly disappeared, turning dark and sinister. Looking toward Lanxin Courtyard’s direction, who knew what she was thinking.

The young maid kneeling on the ground secretly lifted her head to glance at her mistress, inexplicably feeling a chill rise up her back…