Chapter 6 Placement

Qin Yining didn't know that someone had come earlier. She waited until the afternoon when everyone had already cooled down before Mama Jin brought the people to her.

"Apologies for the long wait, but Madam just gave me some tasks to do, which delayed me for a while," Mama Jin explained briefly. Without giving Qin Yining a chance to speak, she introduced the four maids behind her to Qin Yining.

"This is Yuxiang and Ruilan, both second-tier maids by Madam's side, with gentle and obedient temperaments. They were specially assigned to serve you. And this is Liuya and Qiulu, both third-tier maids."

Qin Yining looked at the four of them in turn.

They all looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. Yuxiang was slender and tall, with a striking appearance, but her eyes were too lively. Ruilan appeared plump, with a kind and honest smile. Liuya had thin lips, giving the impression that she was eloquent, while Qiulu kept her head down, appearing completely unobtrusive, likely someone accustomed to silence.

Yuxiang, Ruilan, Liuya, and Qiulu all stepped forward to bow to Qin Yining.

Qin Yining nodded lightly and asked them to stand aside.

Mama Jin continued, "There is also a stewardess and a little maid responsible for cleaning."

As she finished speaking, an elderly woman entered with three little maids dressed in red and green.

"This is Mama Zhu, who will be in charge of all the affairs in Xueli Courtyard from now on. These little maids will be at your service, as per your orders."

"I've met Fourth Miss." Mama Zhu was a plump and kind-faced woman with silver strands at her temples, looking to be around fifty years old.

"Please rise, Mama Zhu." Qin Yining said calmly.

Mama Jin then said, "The people have been brought here. You can give orders as you please, and if you have any instructions, you can come to me at any time."

"Thank you, Mama Jin."

Mama Jin then bowed and left.

Qin Yining furrowed her brow slightly.

As a newcomer without any money to reward them, if Mama Jin had shown her a little more kindness, her words would have carried more weight than Qin Yining's in the mansion, given her position. But Mama Jin only casually brushed her off and refused to give any instructions to the people. Mama Jin was the Madam's person, and her intentions were the Madam's intentions.

It seemed that her birth mother really didn't like her.

Qin Yining took a deep breath and looked at the eight people standing in front of her.

Having suffered since childhood, she had never ordered anyone around. Now, she was at a loss as to where to start.

Seeing her silent, the eight people couldn't help but exchange glances.

After a moment, Qin Yining looked at the locked main house and side rooms and said slowly, "I'm sure you all understand my situation. It's a hardship for you to be arranged to come here. Although I've had a hard life and haven't had the chance to grow up with my parents, I am still my father's own daughter. As long as you do your duty, we can get through this together."

Her words contained multiple meanings, and it was the most appropriate thing Qin Yining could think of. She just wanted to live in peace.

"Yes, Miss." They all bowed and couldn't help but look at Qin Yining a few more times.

They said this young lady looked just like Prime Minister Qin, and now, seeing her, it was indeed true! Although she had grown up in the countryside and lived in the mountains, her imposing manner was unmistakable and made people not dare to overstep.

With a slight sense of disdain, they all restrained themselves and temporarily suppressed their thoughts of being unlucky and suffering.

Qin Yining instructed everyone to clean the rooms.

Three rooms in the main house were for Qin Yining's living and receiving guests. One room in the east wing was for Mama Zhu to live alone, and another room was for two second-tier maids to share. In the west wing, one room was for two third-tier maids to share, and the little maids lived in the back, next to the small kitchen.

After an hour of cleaning, the house was finally refreshed.

The furnishings in the room were already there, but they had been replaced with light green cushions and chairs, and the canopy on the bed was changed to a light green one, with a delicate incense ball hanging. The bedding was also thick and warm, and Mama Zhu was warming a bedwarmer to put in the bed.

Yuxiang and Ruilan were arranging her dressing table and wardrobe, putting away various bottles and jars and arranging some fancy hair accessories. The little maids were carrying wooden basins out to clean the side rooms and back rooms.

From now on, this would be her home.

Although it was a bit damp and desolate from being uninhabited for a long time, it was much better than the cave she had lived in. Even though she didn't know if these people had good intentions towards her, having someone to talk to was much better than talking to squirrels and rabbits on the mountain.

As long as she was patient and worked hard, things would surely get better.

Qin Yining sat on the soft cushioned chair in the main hall, her bright face breaking into a smile.

"Miss," Qiulu approached with a tea tray and placed a delicate white porcelain cup of plum blossom tea on the black lacquered square table next to her.

Since she returned to the mansion until now, she hadn't even touched a drop of water. She had been standing outside in the cold for an hour, and was already freezing. Now, as she held a cup of steaming tea in her hand, the warmth seeped into her heart.

She couldn't help but smile and say, "Thank you."

Qiu Lu quickly replied, "It's my duty, I dare not do otherwise."

Hearing the commotion, Yu Xiang, who was arranging the dressing table, rolled her eyes.

Rui Lan glanced at Qiu Lu and took out a newly acquired honey-colored satin cloak from the mahogany cabinet, smiling, "Miss, please put this on first, so you won't catch a cold. I'll instruct someone to bring the food box."

Qiu Lu then retreated with the tea tray.

Liu Ya brought in a hot water bottle and placed it on Qin Yining's lap, wrapped in a handkerchief.

Qin Yining smiled at her, but didn't say thank you this time.

Just now, she had seen the look in Rui Lan's eyes.

She needed to adapt to her current identity as soon as possible.

At that moment, Qin Yining caught a glimpse of Yu Xiang tucking a book into her bosom.

"What's that? Show it to me," Qin Yining put down her cup.

Yu Xiang turned away from Qin Yining, rolled her eyes, then turned around with a smile and handed the book over, saying, "This is the register of all the items in Xueli Courtyard."

Qin Yining carefully flipped through it.

Yu Xiang sneered and exchanged a glance with Rui Lan.

She didn't believe that Qin Yining could recognize these characters!

There weren't many things in the room, but there were quite a few. Qin Yining turned to the section on dressing and jewelry, pointing to a line, "I didn't see this gold-inlaid pearl hairpin."

Yu Xiang's face froze.

She had been sitting here all the time without moving, with so many people moving around in the room and so many things placed, how could she possibly remember everything?

Rui Lan hurried to the dressing table, looked around, then went to the side of the bed and, with her back to Qin Yining, searched for a moment before taking out the hairpin, smiling, "Found it. I was careless and left it under the mattress."

Qin Yining smiled lightly and pointed to the section on clothing, "It says here 'blood jade gourd-pressed skirt', but I didn't see it." She then closed the book and handed it to Yu Xiang, saying with a smirk, "You should be more careful, so that one day I won't accidentally step on an earring when putting on my shoes."

A joke that left Yu Xiang blushing, and Rui Lan looking somewhat embarrassed.

Qin Yining didn't say much, she just held the hot water bottle to keep warm.

And there were a few more small things that she hadn't noticed before in the dressing table and wardrobe.

Qin Yining lowered her eyes and found it amusing.

She knew that she couldn't show off her abilities too much at the moment. Unexpectedly, the maids in the room were embezzling her things. They probably didn't know that she had an exceptional memory since childhood, and over the years, dealing with hunters and herbalists had honed her ability to accurately estimate the weight of things, with a margin of error of no more than a few ounces.

She lowered her eyes and covered her hands, which were covered in scars and calluses, with the hot water bottle to keep warm.

It seemed that there were many difficulties ahead for her. First and foremost, she needed to set things right with the people around her.

**

"Have all the arrangements been made?" After finishing her dinner, Qin Yining took the tea offered by Bi Tong, cleared her mouth, and then smiled and asked Cai Shi.

"Miss, everything has been arranged. Three people have been replaced from the original arrangement, and Yu Xiang, Rui Lan, and Liu Ya have been assigned. These three have very good temperaments. The steward has also arranged for Madam Zhu."

"Madam Zhu?" Qin Yining was puzzled.

Cai Shi explained, "That's the one whose son is in charge of the stable in the outer courtyard, and his daughter-in-law is in the kitchen, that Madam Zhu."

Qin Yining smiled at the news, "Madam Zhu has a gentle temperament and can get along well with Yu Xiang, Rui Lan, and Liu Ya." She then held Cai Shi's hands and said with a smile, "Nurse, thank you for your help."

Cai Shi looked at Qin Yining with a loving gaze and said with a smile, "Miss, what are you saying? I nursed you, and to speak out of turn, in my heart, you are like my own child. How could I bear to see you being wronged? Don't worry, the days are still long, and the mansion's waters run deep."

These words struck a chord in Qin Yining's heart.

She hugged Cai Shi gratefully and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's go to Xingning Garden to pay respects to Mother."

Cai Shi smiled and said, "The newcomer might not even know the rules for morning and evening attendance."

Qin Yining put on the crimson silk cloak handed to her by the maid and said with a smile, "She will learn in the future." But by the time she learns, it will be too late. Her vulgar reputation has already spread far and wide.

Qin Yining, accompanied by Cai Shi and Bi Tong, went to Xingning Garden.

She had originally thought that Qin Yining didn't understand the rules and customs, but she was surprised to see Qin Yining wearing a honey-colored satin cloak and accompanied by Rui Lan and Qiu Lu, walking towards them.