HomeSheng Shi Di FeiChapter 11: The Maids and the Embroiderer

Chapter 11: The Maids and the Embroiderer

Concubine Zhao returned in a fury, and sure enough, created another scene. Within half a day, the entire Ye mansion knew that Concubine Zhao had gone to Third Miss’s Qingyi Pavilion trying to curry favor with Third Miss, only to be mocked and driven out by her maid Qingshuang. Even though Concubine Zhao was currently favored, the Minister only lightly reminded Third Miss during morning greetings, suggesting Concubine Zhao wasn’t as favored as rumored. After this incident, the concubines in the back courtyard naturally took the opportunity to make sarcastic remarks, and Concubine Zhao, sharp-tongued as ever, fought back. With Madam Wang confined to her courtyard teaching Ye Ying, these concubines, freed from supervision, made quite a lively scene in the back courtyard.

This time, Madam Wang had suffered greatly at Ye Li’s hands, not only losing tens of thousands of taels but also being confined by the Old Madam. Ye Li had no interest in knowing how many pieces of porcelain Madam Wang had smashed in her courtyard, but she suspected the Old Madam’s so-called confinement wasn’t entirely genuine. After all, the day of Prince Li’s betrothal gifts was approaching, and Madam Wang, as the Ye family matriarch and Ye Ying’s birth mother, couldn’t possibly avoid appearing in public.

When Prince Li’s mansion came to present the betrothal gifts, Ye Li was sitting leisurely in her courtyard selecting servants. The household was astute enough that while busy receiving Prince Li’s people in the front hall, they hadn’t forgotten Third Miss’s instructions. Early on, they had the housekeeper’s wife bring people for Ye Li to choose from. Ye Li sat composed in a chair placed under the eaves, calmly observing the dozen or so maids standing in the courtyard. Seeing Ye Li remain silent for so long, the housekeeper’s wife grew uneasy, thinking Third Miss was dissatisfied with these people. Just as she was considering bringing in another batch, Ye Li said coolly, “Qingshuang, take a look. Keep the suitable ones.”

Qingshuang was touched by her miss’s trust and promptly responded, “This servant obeys.”

Walking among the maids with their varied expressions, Qingshuang felt slightly uncomfortable. Previously, when her miss had been out of favor, she too had been ostracized among the maids. Now these people stood here for her to select. Qingshuang carefully chose several maids with refined features who seemed well-behaved and brought them before Ye Li. Ye Li glanced at them and smiled inwardly – this Qingshuang was perhaps too concerned, putting so much thought even into selecting maids. The housekeeper’s wife smiled and asked Ye Li, “Will Third Miss just select these few? Perhaps choose two more in case they’re needed?”

Ye Li’s clear gaze held a smile as she looked at her, “In that case, let’s select two more.”

This time, Ye Li didn’t even look closely, casually pointing, “Those two.”

Following her gesture, Qingshuang saw two maids in the front row – one plain and unremarkable, the other strikingly beautiful but not docile. Moreover, that beautiful maid looked at her miss with arrogance – truly not knowing life from death!

Waving for the housekeeper’s wife to take away the remaining maids, Ye Li carefully examined the six standing before her, asking softly, “What are your names?”

“This servant is Yun’er, this servant is Xiaocui.”

“This servant is Jing’er, this servant is Tian’er.”

“This servant is Xueyan, this servant is… Hanqing.”

Ye Li nodded – none of the names were inappropriate, and she had no interest in renaming them. She turned her attention to the last two she had selected, “Xueyan, where did you serve before? I don’t seem to have seen you.”

Xueyan, with her plain but composed features, curtsied to Ye Li and said, “Reporting to Third Miss, this servant was a second-rank maid in the Old Madam’s courtyard. Not being presentable enough, Third Miss naturally wouldn’t have seen me.” Ye Li smiled, “You hardly seem unpresentable. Since that’s the case, you shall serve by my side like Qingshuang.”

Being a personal attendant meant being a chief maid at the mistress’s side. Xueyan was briefly startled by Ye Li’s promotion but didn’t lose composure in her joy, “Thank you, Third Miss, for the promotion. This servant will serve Miss wholeheartedly. Please grant this servant a name.” Generally, when a maid became a personal attendant, the mistress would personally bestow a new name, both as a favor and to indicate that with the new name, all previous allegiances were severed, pledging loyalty only to the current mistress. Ye Li raised her eyebrows, pondering for a moment before saying, “You shall be called Qingxia.”

“Qingxia thanks Miss for this grace.” After curtseying, Qingxia properly stood to the side with hands lowered respectfully.

“Hanqing… can you embroider?” Ye Li asked.

A flash of pride crossed Hanqing’s eyes as she replied crisply, “Of course. This servant’s embroidery is among the finest in this mansion.”

Ye Li seemed satisfied with her answer and nodded, “Very good, in that case, you shall serve in needlework.”

“Miss, this servant is not an embroidery maid!” Hanqing’s expression changed as she glared at Ye Li, gritting her teeth.

“How dare you! How can you contradict Miss’s words!” Qingshuang rebuked angrily.

Ye Li wasn’t angry, nodding and smiling, “I know you’re not an embroidery maid. You won’t be given any important embroidery work.” After all, becoming an embroidery maid wasn’t simple – what skilled embroiderer didn’t have at least ten if not several decades of experience? This Hanqing didn’t seem the type to quietly do needlework.

Hanqing’s pretty face flushed red as she glared at Ye Li. Ye Li paid her no mind, standing up and smiling at her, “These days might be busy, if it’s too much, go to the steward. Once we’re at Prince Dingguo’s mansion, there will naturally be more people for needlework. Also… your name needs to change. Let’s call you… Jingwen.”

“Thank you, Third Miss, but this servant is satisfied with her name!” Hanqing said, face flushed.

Qingshuang sneered, “How impudent! What does your satisfaction matter? Our Miss isn’t satisfied.” With such an alluring face and that improper name, did she think Qingyi Pavilion was a brothel? Qingshuang still couldn’t understand why her miss had chosen such a person.

“Change your name, or leave Qingyi Pavilion. Or… perhaps you should go back and ask your former mistress?”

Hanqing’s face changed as she gritted out, “This servant thanks Miss for the bestowed name.”

Ye Li’s gaze swept over her briefly before turning away, “Now that you’ve entered my Qingyi Pavilion, as long as you behave properly, I’m not one to make things difficult. If you have other thoughts, better leave early. Otherwise… those who were caned outside Rongle Hall the other day will serve as your example. Qingshuang, Qingxia get ten taels of silver, the rest five taels each.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Thank you for Miss’s kindness!” Everyone hurriedly thanked her in unison. For minor maids whose monthly wages weren’t even one tael, five taels was a considerable sum. Hanqing, now Jingwen, though showing some disdain in her eyes, knew she couldn’t challenge Ye Li now and joined in the thanks.

Leaving Qingshuang to handle the rest, Ye Li turned to return to her chambers when the housekeeper’s wife’s voice came from outside requesting an audience, “Third Miss, Noble Lady Xianzhao summons you.”

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