Chapter 531: Chapter 490, Rumors_1
Daohua Pavilion.
“Miss, Zhao Yongwang is here.”
Daohua, playing with an abacus and not lifting her head said, “Let him verify the accounts of the Xingzhou flower shop. I want to know the results this afternoon.”
Wang Manman knew her young lady was testing the new recruit and bowed slightly, “Yes.”
Zhao Yongwang stood in the courtyard, somewhat uneasy, with his head down, not daring to look around.
They had been brought to Taohua Village several days ago, and no one had come to assign them any tasks during this time, which made him and… Brother Cao and the others very anxious.
Yesterday, the head of the estate mentioned that they would go to the Prince Residence to settle accounts and unexpectedly called on him.
He was so excited that he didn’t sleep at all last night, and early this morning, a maid from the young lady’s side came to summon him.
Zhao Yongwang took a deep breath, trying to keep himself from being too nervous.
He knew there was no place for the useless, and if he couldn’t make a good impression on the young lady today, then he feared he might have to stay in the estate forever.
Soon, he saw the girl who had led him in before come out smiling.
Wang Manman sized up Zhao Yongwang, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, tall and thin, nothing extraordinary, but with bright eyes that spoke of his shrewdness.
“Here is the account book the young lady wants checked by this afternoon. Go over it carefully,” Wang Manman said with a smile as she handed the account book to Zhao Yongwang.
Zhao Yongwang quickly reached out to take the account book, “I will definitely check it thoroughly.”
Wang Manman smiled, “This is the rear courtyard. You can’t stay long. Come, I’ll take you to the front courtyard to do the calculations.”
Zhao Yongwang immediately said, “Thank you for the trouble, sister.”
Wang Manman nodded and walked ahead.
They walked one after the other, and Wang Manman sporadically chatted with Zhao Yongwang to probe his background. Along the way, she noticed Zhao Yongwang quickly flipping through the account book, and saw his previously tense expression relax after looking it over.
Seeing this, Wang Manman raised an eyebrow, thinking that this man must truly be capable.
Soon, Wang Manman led Zhao Yongwang to the front courtyard.
“Manman!”
Hearing the voice, Wang Manman quickly turned around and then saw Brother Xiaoliu, with a look of surprise on his face, running towards her and smiled, “Brother Xiaoliu, when did you come back?”
Qin Yong arrived next to Wang Manman, “I came back this morning. I just went home to change clothes and was about to go see the young lady.” He said, then glanced at Zhao Yongwang beside her, “Who is he?”
Wang Manman smiled, “A new recruit personally selected by the young lady.” Then, pointing to an empty room, she said to Zhao Yongwang, “Do the accounting in that room. Remember, the young lady wants the account book by this afternoon. Once you’ve finished calculating, report to the maids at Chuihua Gate, and I will take you to see the young lady.”
Seeing that Qin Yong and Wang Manman seemed to have things to discuss, Zhao Yongwang tactfully said, “Alright, thank you, sister. I’ll get to work then.”
Once he was far away, Wang Manman laughed and looked at Qin Yong, “Come on, let’s hurry to meet the young lady. She has mentioned you several times these past few days.”
Qin Yong smiled and followed Wang Manman, “That man just now isn’t an ordinary servant, is he?”
Wang Manman smiled, “The young lady specifically requested to see him, and she also deliberately chose an account book to test him. How could he be an ordinary servant? If he really has skills, he is sure to be put to important use.”
Qin Yong nodded, with some concern, “Why is the young lady thinking of recruiting new people, am I not doing a good job?”
Wang Manman laughed, “It’s not about you. Nowadays the young lady’s lands and shops are increasing, even extending to Beijing. Naturally, it can’t be just you running around.”
After saying this, she paused and couldn’t resist giving a reminder.
“Brother Xiaoliu, you must perform your duties well in the future. Don’t start slacking once you get a little power in your hands. The young lady cannot stand that.”
Xiaoliu immediately said, “I definitely won’t do that.”
Wang Manman smiled, “I know, but just a friendly reminder. While you were away, Qin Yong sent his wife back to her hometown.”
Xiaoliu’s expression changed, “Why is that?”
Wang Manman sneered, “Isn’t it because she was acting high and mighty just because Qin Yong is the deputy captain of the Protectors? The Madam found out and gave Brother Qin a talking-to. Afterwards, I don’t know what Brother Qin said to Qin Yong, but the next day, his wife left.”
“Originally, the families of the Protectors could take jobs in the house, but because of this incident, the Madam explicitly stated that anyone wanting to work in the house must sign a life servitude contract. Now the families of the Protectors have no jobs, and they all have grievances against Qin Yong.”
“Brother Xiaoliu, aren’t you planning to bring your family over? You’d better be careful. You’re in charge of the lady’s shops and estates, and there are not a few who act according to your mood. You mustn’t fail the lady’s trust.”
Xiaoliu quickly assured, “That won’t happen, I will definitely control my family properly.”
Wang Manman nodded with a smile, “The masters of the Yan Family are all kind-hearted. We, as servants, should also know gratitude. Never be like Qin Yong’s wife, who was smug and forgot herself.”
Xiaoliu, “I understand.”
As they talked, the two arrived at Daohua Pavilion.
Seeing Xiaoliu return, Daohua was very happy, “Did you find out everything I asked you to about the Han Family?”
Xiaoliu bowed to Daohua and then handed over the notebook he was holding, “I did find out some things. Lady, I was afraid I might forget, so I wrote it all down in this notebook.”
Daohua took the notebook and started flipping through it, speaking as she read, “You’ve gathered quite detailed information.”
Xiaoliu laughed, “It’s all thanks to the new butler you acquired for the mountain head. He’s familiar with Beijing, and since the estate owners around the mountain head are all either rich or noble, he knew a lot of information and told me quite a bit about the Han Family.”
Daohua scrutinized the situation of the Han Family. Like other noble families, the Han Family was a large household that had not divided because the Han Family’s Old Madam was still living.
With a big family comes many issues, and Daohua scanned through the trivial family squabbles, showing no interest, and skipped directly to reading about the second young lady of the Han Family.
Han Xinran, sixteen years old, the legitimate second daughter of the main branch, dignified and beautiful, well-read and sensible.
From the records in the notebook, the impression Han Xinran made on Daohua was that of a standard noble lady from ancient times, nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing inappropriate.
After a moment of silence, Daohua passed the notebook to Guyu, “Take this to my mother, let her take a look. Once she’s done, send it to my elder brother.”
The notebook recorded several incidents involving Han Xinran and even included a poem she had written, which could give her mother and brother a better understanding of this Han Xinran.
After Guyu left, Xiaoliu handed over a simple map of the mountain head to Daohua, “Lady, our mountain head is really well located. It’s close to the Imperial Family’s hot spring palace, and all the neighboring estates belong to princes and nobles. On the day the servant arrived, I saw Prince Rui himself leaving his estate.”
Daohua looked at the simple map of the mountain head and couldn’t help but smile, “This drawing is quite good, very meticulous.” It even marked the neighboring estates and the mountain head, offering her a more intuitive understanding.
Xiaoliu was pleased to see Daohua satisfied with his work, but thinking of the rumors he had accidentally heard when leaving Beijing, his smile faded, and after hesitating, he spoke up, “Lady, on the way back, I heard a rumor. I’m not sure if I should mention it?”
Daohua looked up and smiled, “What’s there to hesitate about? Just tell me. I’ll take it as a bit of idle gossip, after all, we have nothing better to do.”
Xiaoliu, “…It’s about the Prince Residence.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua sat up straight, even putting down the map she was holding, “What happened to the Prince Residence?”
Xiaoliu, “It seems the Prince is about to elevate his concubine from the Ma Family to his principal wife.”
Daohua stood up abruptly, “The Ma Family, is it the concubine who bore the eldest illegitimate son?”
Xiaoliu nodded, “Yes, that concubine.”
Daohua frowned, “Who did you hear this from?”
Xiaoliu, “On the day I left, by chance, a caravan was passing by, and I dismounted to yield the way. I heard it from the people in a carriage. I didn’t find out who exactly it was, but the parade of carriages was of a standard only the Imperial Family would have.”