During this period, Xiaotao found that her social standing had suddenly risen by several notches.

Maidservants and wives of household servants she had never met before would “run into” her in conversation on the first day, immediately declaring themselves kindred spirits as though they had known each other all their lives. The second day they would pour out their hearts about some “long-suppressed grievance” or their “loyal, honest, and reliable character,” and by the third day they would be dropping hints, both overt and subtle, about hoping to remain in the Marquis Residence — and ideally to enter service at Chengyuan.

With the separation of the households imminent, anyone who wasn’t blind could see that staying in the Marquis Residence meant a better life ahead. From maids and manservants to senior servants and stewards, everyone was busy scrambling to find someone to put in a word for them. Those who were easy to approach and well-positioned to make such recommendations — like Steward Liao’s wife, who was Minglan’s trusted head steward’s wife, and a few of the leading outer-court managers — became the first choice.

“If there are truly good ones, keeping them is not out of the question.”

Minglan said with a pleasant smile, which mildly surprised Danju beside her — for she knew that Minglan had little patience for the kind of long-serving household servants who coasted on their seniority, who could be relied upon to shirk their duties and bully outsiders with the prestige of the household, though quite professional at both.

“However, the Mistress has one rule: everyone makes mistakes, and minor errors are forgivable. But if one were to keep a servant of wicked and cunning character, the person who recommended them would be held accountable as well. Everyone should think carefully before acting.” Cuiwei, her hair neatly done in the original style, delivered this message to all and sundry with the measured authority of a proper head steward’s wife.

After this announcement, the stewards who had come to put in recommendations began to hesitate privately, afraid of implicating themselves. After all, they were not people Minglan had brought from her own family, and most of them were still at the stage of eagerly trying to win the mistress’s trust. Who would dare take responsibility for someone they barely knew?

As for Minglan’s personal retainers and family servants — the handful who could actually speak up — most were shrewd enough to refuse any entanglement whatsoever. The only soft-hearted one was Xiaotao. And yet her approach was…

“An’yong’s household? You know his family?” Minglan asked.

“Not at all,” Xiaotao said.

“Any particular abilities?”

“No idea.”

“Character?”

“I only just met them recently.”

“Not knowing any of the answers, and you still come to recommend someone? You foolish little thing.” Minglan was exasperated.

“But they asked me to.” The round-faced little maid had an air of thorough goodwill toward all: “I accepted a basket of honey peaches and a hamper of crabs — I didn’t take anything else.” Her expression even carried a hint of “I am honest and incorruptible.”

“Fool!” Luzhi lowered her head in barely suppressed anger, quietly scolding under her breath.

“You ate no less than she did.” Danju’s lips moved almost imperceptibly, and she redirected her gaze to the far distance, as if nothing had been said.

The female mistress of the household was left alone with one maid and a certain foolish peach. Danju and Luzhi accompanied each other to the rear verandah to have a look. Stepping into the central water room, they found only Cuiping and little Chun Ya inside.

Luzhi was blunt right away: “Where have those girls run off to?! Where is everyone?!”

Danju calculated in her head and frowned: “Isn’t it Bisi and Caihuan’s shift right now? Where have they gone?”

Cuiping stood up and answered cheerfully: “Just now the wife of Wanggui came asking about borrowing the carriage from the Marquis side, and Sister Huan went over to take a look. Sister Bisi has a stomach ache — she said she would be back in a moment and asked us to watch things meanwhile.”

Luzhi let out a soft snort. Danju gave a noncommittal smile: “Well, it can’t be helped — the wind has picked up today, and getting a chill is to be expected. She’s probably gone back to her room to add a layer of clothing. Wanggui’s wife may be more than Caihuan can manage on her own — why don’t you go take a look?”

Luzhi pouted but shuffled off.

The maids’ quarters were located in a row of rooms behind the main hall of Jiaxijuju. Though called quarters, Minglan treated her household generously, and Chengyuan had the resources — the rooms were all built and appointed as proper side-chamber residences, with proper walls and heated beds, and the floors laid and the furnishings set out neatly and handsomely. The senior maids’ rooms in particular were fitted out with such tasteful refinement that they surpassed the rooms of young ladies in many ordinary households. Every day, junior maids and sturdy servants came to sweep and launder.

“At least you had the sense to come and consult me first.” Ruomei sprawled lazily on the bed, her arm resting on a thick bright-satin pillow embroidered with yellow-ground plum blossoms and calling magpies. Her powdered face was flushed pink, as though she had barely woken from an afternoon nap.

“I am only hesitating.” Bisi’s brows were clouded with worry. “Caihuan said there’s nothing wrong with it, and today even Xiaotao went to the Mistress to put in a word. If she can go, why can’t I?”

Ruomei’s tone dripped with sarcasm: “Oh, you flatter yourself most charmingly. The bond that Danju and Xiaotao share with the Mistress compared to ours — can they really be compared? Even Luzhi is only now just beginning to inch her way into the inner circle.”

Bisi reddened, and muttered: “I know I’m no match for Xiaotao. But Caihuan also said — those who came to make these recommendations are old household servants of the Marquis family for generations. They have plenty of influence and connections. If I do them a favor today, there will be plenty of advantages; and if I refuse to give them face, later on I’ll…”

She was warming to her subject, but Ruomei only continued to snort and roll her eyes.

Seeing Ruomei’s expression, Bisi immediately added: “Caihuan also said — speaking of ability, who among us is any match for Xiaotao? Can’t do needlework, acts recklessly, forever playing at being dumb and innocent. It’s only because the Mistress values loyalty that she gives her so much standing. I may not match her, but I have served the Mistress all these years — even if I’m not much, perhaps the Mistress won’t…”

Ruomei finally lost her patience. She propped herself up and sat on the bed, putting on a stern expression: “Caihuan said this, Caihuan said that — is she your ancestral grandmother?! You love her advice so much, why come looking for me at all? Just do as she says!”

Bisi had always lacked a backbone of her own. She had endured many a scolding from Danju and Luzhi, and even Qinsang and the others couldn’t give her useful guidance. But this Ruomei was different — she spoke sharply and clearly, and, being proud of her own standing, disdained gossiping and stirring up trouble. Over time, Bisi had found her easier to get along with than the others. Seeing Ruomei’s anger, she quickly offered a stream of apologies and pleading.

“How dare you listen to that creature?” Ruomei’s face was as cold as ice. “Look at her — all coy and flirtatious, always hovering around the Master. Does she think her petty little schemes aren’t visible to the Mistress? If not for Danju’s good nature in frequently keeping her in check, Old Mama Cui would long since have had her driven out on some pretext. By now, our Mistress is a lady of the first rank with an imperial title — do you think the Sheng Family would still make trouble over one little maidservant?! Just wait and see — even if Old Mama Cui doesn’t manage things anymore, there’s still He Youchang’s wife, who grew up under Nanny Fang’s care. Her hand won’t exactly be a gentle one.”

They had all been raised under Cuiwei’s discipline since childhood; the force of her authority lingered. Bisi couldn’t help but shrink a little. Ruomei fixed her with a stare and lectured: “I told you long ago — stop listening to that creature. If you insist on listening, then when trouble comes, don’t come crying to me!” Bisi gave an embarrassed smile and offered another string of apologies.

Ruomei’s heart felt a good deal better. She continued: “Let me ask you — even setting aside Danju and Xiaotao’s seniority with the Mistress, what about Luzhi? You are older than her! And she can already enter the Mistress’s inner rooms, while you are still queued in the second rank. Even Qinsang and Xia He are called upon more than you. You always think yourself capable — so how have you ended up in this position?”

Bisi was reduced to a series of shifting expressions of embarrassment, bowing her head to say: “I hope you will instruct me, elder sister.”

Ruomei was satisfied once Bisi had been this deferential, and was now willing to offer guidance: “What are we? We are the personal maids attending the bedchamber of the Lady of Ning Yuan Marquis Residence! As long as the Mistress does not dismiss us, which head steward or senior servant in this entire mansion dares lay a finger on us?! What do you have to be afraid of?” In other words: serve the mistress well, and everything else could be disregarded.

Bisi’s mind lit up. She sat on the edge of the bed and took Ruomei’s arm, appealing to her: “You are so right, elder sister! It was all that creature putting nonsense in my head — I thought I was still back in the days of Mucang Study, where we had to watch everyone else’s face all the time.”

Ruomei smiled with superior pride, her back growing even more upright: “I’ll tell you something — don’t look down on Xiaotao. She is exhibiting profound wisdom beneath an appearance of simplicity. Whatever she hears, whatever she sees — good or bad, fragrant or foul — every single thing she knows gets poured entirely into the Mistress’s ears, not a drop kept back. She is completely uninhibited and unguarded before the Mistress because of this one quality alone — there is not half a whisker of private calculation in her heart. To put it plainly, that is ultimate loyalty.”

Bisi protested: “She is terribly stupid — can’t form a single opinion on her own, doesn’t know anything the moment she is away from the Mistress, not a bit of social grace. No wonder she can’t manage anything!”

“And what of it, that she can’t manage things? The Mistress likes her and trusts her!” Ruomei jabbed Bisi’s forehead: “When the time comes, they’ll find her a capable husband. Whether she stays in the household to serve, or is sent out to manage a farm or a shop — think of the prestige and the comfort she will have! Foolish people have foolish luck.” She began to recall: “When I was small, I heard Father say that the head stewards of the great Wang and Gong and Hou mansions, with their fine reputations — even minor officials of some standing would scramble to ingratiate themselves with them…”

Bisi listened, her heart filled with yearning. She had heard hints of these things back in the Sheng household, but never stated so bluntly as this.

Ruomei seemed to recall something and suddenly grew solemn: “You have always loved to harbor little private calculations — that is your greatest flaw! And don’t ever forget what happened to Yancao!” At the sound of that name, Bisi — who had still been wavering — felt a sudden chill.

“Was Yancao’s conduct and character not more capable than yours? She too loved her little private calculations. Back when the young miss hadn’t even been promised in marriage yet, she was already in a rush to think about her own future, and sent word through a go-between to her old mother, hoping to be kept in the Sheng family.” Ruomei had the least patience for this kind of person, and was even less restrained in speaking of her: “The young miss knew everything, but only said: ‘Each person has their own ambitions — let her go.’ Though she never openly acted against her, that little bond was considered finished. Afterward, however much Yancao wept and made scenes, the young miss paid her no further attention. You must never repeat that mistake. Our Mistress is kind and generous, but she is not one to be easily fooled.”

“…The Mistress is truly hard-hearted — just that one time, and the bond was severed.” Bisi’s heart was thumping hard.

Every time Minglan came back to her maternal home, Yancao would always look for opportunities to come into Minglan’s path, hoping Minglan would remember old affection. However Minglan chose to handle it, she accepted gifts of silver and cloth, but steadfastly refused to see Yancao — not a single meeting. What this meant, everyone understood clearly.

“Hard-hearted? A maid who already has other intentions in her heart — does she still expect to be treated as one’s own person?” Ruomei said with a cold snort. “Our kind of mistress — to call her hard to serve, that’s absolutely true, for her eyes are sharp and her mind is clear, making it nearly impossible for those below her to hide anything. But to call her easy to serve, she is easy to serve: as long as you serve her truly and sincerely, she will not shortchange you. Those like Danju and Xiaotao — utterly devoted, wholehearted in their service — naturally she plans carefully for them. People like you and Yancao, forever scheming for yourselves — well, Miss Bisi, you’re so clever and calculating, then the Mistress will leave you to calculate your own future.”

Bisi could only murmur vague assent, half-dazed, and it was unclear whether any of this had truly sunk in.

The quarreling and the scenes eventually came to their conclusion: Fifth House moved out of Ning Yuan Marquis Residence first, and four days later, Fourth House also departed. Before leaving, Fourth Master directed two cold laughs at the pair of stone lions by the entrance of the Ning Yuan Marquis Residence.

Naturally, the matter at the Board of Punishments also quieted down very quickly after this. If anyone brought up the Gu family again, the Board of Punishments could reply with full justification: the Gu family has capable sons who have rendered meritorious service to the state and are relied upon heavily by the court. A degree of offsetting credit against fault is hardly strange!

However, on account of Fourth Master’s two cold laughs, Gu Tingye gave serious consideration to whether he should arrange for Gu Tingbing’s posting to be somewhat further away.

“Don’t overdo it — after all, they are family.” Minglan did not believe Gu Tingye truly wanted Gu Tingbing to die.

But Gu Tingye replied: “That weed won’t die easily. He’s got plenty of life in him yet.” The day before, he had stopped by the Board of Punishments to have a look, and Gu Tingbing had been in fine spirits — when complaining to his elder brother about his living conditions and accommodations with full vigor, his voice had carried with tremendous resonance. When Gu Tingye turned to leave, he had still heard Gu Tingbing bellowing about needing at least two more maids and a senior servant woman to accompany him into exile.

Gu Tingye’s temple throbbed violently twice, and old and new grievances all surged into his heart together. The man seemed to think he was going on a pleasure outing to view spring blossoms!

Minglan, seeing that the Marquis Residence had suddenly been emptied by half, immediately thought of fulfilling her earlier verbal promise, and began right away making arrangements to find a suitable masonry crew to begin construction — wanting to maintain the good momentum and keep public opinion favorable.

“Fourth Uncle’s debt hasn’t been collected, the Gu family ancestral assets haven’t been accounted for either, and you’re already satisfied?” Gu Tingye looked at her with a half-smile, half-jest. “You really are an honest soul.”

“Even thieves have a code of honor — one’s word must be kept.”

“Even to those who keep no faith?” Gu Tingye smiled.

Minglan reddened slightly, explaining with a touch of embarrassment: “Keeping one’s word every time means the one time you don’t, it actually carries weight.”

Gu Tingye laughed out loud, leaning back slightly, and said with admiration: “That is excellent! A most penetrating grasp of the strategist’s art of calculated deception.”

The praised party raised her chin with great satisfaction, affecting a leisurely and self-important air as she said casually: “In this world, any problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem at all.”

The man raised an eyebrow with a playful air: “If Minister Chen of the Board of Revenue ever heard this philosophy, he would surely beat his knee in admiration. What a pity that the imperial treasury refuses to cooperate.”

Minglan was stumped. Modern television drama lines truly were not suited to ancient times.