mtl008 Chapter 173 Is the young aunt the housekeeper in the prime minister’s residence?
Chapter 173 Is the young aunt the housekeeper in the prime minister’s residence?
Facing Qiu Ning's aggressiveness, Ji Ruyun could no longer remain silent. She forced an unnatural smile and explained:
"Second sister is right. We did meet once before."
It was just a simple sentence, and the rest was not explained in detail.
"Since that's the case, we're all family from now on. Just treat the Prime Minister's Mansion as your own home. Shaoheng is a man, and he's usually quite busy with government affairs. If you have time, you can learn how to manage the household and the accounts with Aning."
Seeing that the main point was finally reached, Ji Ruyun's heart trembled.
"I will follow my mother's teachings." She bowed and looked weak and submissive.
……
After coming out of Zhang's courtyard, Ji Ruyun and Qiu Shaoheng walked back to the courtyard, looking very worried.
Seeing this, Qiu Shaoheng thought she was thinking about Qiu Ning, and couldn't help but comfort her: "I've already told her about the second sister's matter before, you don't have to take it to heart. If she insults you privately again in the future, just tell me. As her brother, I will find a way to stand up for you."
Ji Ruyun nodded absentmindedly and said casually:
"Has my aunt always been the housekeeper of the Xiangfu?"
Qiu Shaoheng shook his head and said, "Not really. When my father and I were exiled, it was my second sister who found a job in the cold palace and won the favor of the imperial concubine. That's how mother and the concubines were spared from torture.
After this incident, my mother was traumatized and had no desire to manage the inner court. It just so happened that my second sister would need to learn how to manage a household after marrying into the General's Mansion, so I handed the Prime Minister's Mansion's assets to her to manage temporarily."
"General's Mansion? Which General's Mansion?" Ji Ruyun was shocked when she heard this.
Qiu Ning has already been engaged, why didn’t Qiu Yao tell her before?
"Marquis Dingyuan and Supervisory Censor Gu Li, General Gu. This matter was decided not long ago by the elders of both families. Since the eldest sister is already married, this marriage fell to the second sister."
Even in seclusion, Ji Ruyun had heard of Gu Li's reputation. He was a well-known figure and a close minister to the emperor. Even her father had to politely call him "Sir Gu" when they met him.
Unexpectedly, Qiu Ning had such a good situation.
Ji Ruyun was still sighing in her heart.
After thinking for a moment, she suddenly said to Qiu Shaoheng, "When I was at your house before, I actually learned how to be a housekeeper. My dear, how about we talk to mother in a few days and let me take charge of all the work in our own yard? I have nothing to do anyway, so I'll just help my second sister share her worries. What do you think?"
Ji Ruyun thought that if she asked for the power to be the head of the Prime Minister's Mansion from the beginning, it would seem that her purpose was too obvious, so for the time being she would just take care of the courtyard of the couple and then slowly make plans.
Qiu Shaoheng thought about it and felt that what she said made some sense. She used to embroider things and sell them every day at Ji Bohou's Mansion. Now that she suddenly had some free time, it might be difficult for her to adapt.
So he said, "I will find a chance to discuss this matter with mother. We have just gotten married, and you don't have anyone to serve you. Why don't I ask my second sister to call the traffickers over, and you can pick out two smart girls."
"The rough work like sweeping and cleaning can be left to the servants. Your personal maid will only be responsible for your daily life in the inner courtyard."
Ji Ruyun was also moved when she heard this.
Before, when she was in the mansion of Marquis Ji, she only had Chuntao to serve her. She was used to doing many things by herself, and Chuntao also had multiple roles to play.
When Qiu Shaoheng said he wanted to add more people to her courtyard, she suddenly remembered that Qiu Yao had also said before that she wanted to place a few of her own people in the prime minister's residence.
So she didn't refuse, but nodded and agreed.
When she turned around, Ji Ruyun asked Chuntao to go to Prince Yong's Mansion and bring the news to Qiuyao.
However, what Qiu didn't expect was that the person she was going to send was none other than Xiang He, her personal maid who had served her before.
Returning to the familiar Prime Minister's Mansion once again, Xiang He felt that only here could she feel extremely comfortable and at ease.
Previously, he was in danger of losing his life in the cold palace and was bullied by the palace servants. Later, when he came to Prince Yong's Mansion, he followed Qiu Yao and served her carefully, not daring to reveal even a little bit of his thoughts.
Because Xianghe knew very well how strong Qiuyao's desire for control was.
Previously, there was a little maid in the courtyard who was a bit pretty. When Prince Yong came to the courtyard for dinner, she wore a silk flower on her hair. This attracted Prince Yong to look at her a few more times and even praised her. Later, Qiuyao found a reason to sell her out.
It is said that she was sold to a low-class brothel and died soon after.
From then on, Xianghe put away all her little thoughts and concentrated on serving Qiuyao, thinking that when she was old enough in a few years, she would ask Qiuyao for mercy, release her indentures, and find a good man to marry.
But things did not always go as planned. He did not expect to encounter such a thing in Duke Cheng's Mansion. Not only did he lose his innocence, but he also lost the opportunity to serve Qiuyao closely.
Xiang He originally thought that as long as she was not allowed to go back to Wu Dacheng, she would just live like this.
But Qiuyao sent her to the prime minister's residence again, saying that she was to serve Ji Ruyun personally and help her manage the household and accounts.
But in fact, Xianghe knew clearly in her heart that Qiuyao wanted to control the entire prime minister's residence, and even bribed Ji Ruyun to use her for her own purposes.
With this purpose in mind, Xianghe quickly came to Ji Ruyun's yard and became her personal maid.
In the evening, Qiu Shaoheng came to the yard to have dinner and was surprised to see Xianghe.
He had heard a little about what happened between Xiang He and Wu Dacheng before, but he didn't expect that she would come to Ji Ruyun's yard.
"Xiang He, you have followed my elder sister for many years. Why did she suddenly ask you to come back to the Prime Minister's Mansion to serve?"
Qiu Shaoheng asked the doubts in his heart.
"My lord, the eldest lady is worried that the young lady will have trouble adapting to the Prime Minister's residence. It just so happens that I have been with the eldest lady before and have learned some skills in managing accounts and teaching people. I can help the young lady integrate into the circle of noble ladies in the capital as soon as possible."
When Qiu Shaoheng heard this, he couldn't help but sigh at Qiu Yao's thoughtfulness.
It turned out that Qiuyao was afraid that Ji Ruyun would be excluded in the circle of noble ladies, so she sent her most capable and trusted maid to her house to teach Ji Ruyun these skills in the harem.
It’s really well-intentioned.
"So that's how it is. Big sister is really thoughtful. In that case, I'll trouble you to take care of me in the future." Qiu Shaoheng thanked Qiu Yao sincerely.
Xiang He smiled gently: "This is all my responsibility, sir, you are too kind."
But who could have thought that Qiuyao's unintentional action would once again arouse Xianghe's ambitions and almost ruin Qiu Shaoheng.