Choosing Maids

Lin Huabin rarely spoke harshly to Lin Yunwan. He also wondered if he was being too strict with an unmarried girl, so he smiled and said, "Uncle was just chatting with you casually, don't take it to heart."

Lin Yunwan's expression was calm, and her heart was also at peace.

Ignoring Lin Huabin's almost insulting rebuke, she asked pointedly, "Uncle Lin, it seems you want the Second Miss to marry into the Prince's family? But since the Prince is going to take a wife, is Sister Yun Jiao going to be his concubine?"

Even if she were of young age to be a concubine Yun Jiao, she wouldn't be old enough to become the Prince's concubine.

"From wedding preparations to welcoming Prince Princess Consort into the mansion, it will take at least a year and a half for the prince to get married."

"With a new Princess Consort, the Prince can't possibly take a concubine in the first year; wouldn't that be a blatant slap in the face to the Princess Consort?"

"If you calculate it that way, Sister Yun Jiao will have to wait about two more years."

The smile on Lin Huabin's face faded.

Those words struck a chord with him!

If Prince Huan didn't favor his daughter, he still wanted his Jiao'er to marry into the Prince, unless she became his concubine.

Given the Lin Residence's social standing, it would be quite respectable for their Di Daughter to become a concubine to Prince Huan.

But which father would be willing to let his own daughter become someone's concubine?

He didn't want to be branded as someone who curries favor with the powerful.

"Yun Wan, what brilliant ideas do you have?"

Lin Huabin didn't know what he was thinking, but suddenly wanted to ask Lin Yunwan meant. She could analyze things so clearly; perhaps she had some ideas.

"No."

Lin Yunwan curtsied, no longer wishing to stay.

But Lin Huabin hadn't finished speaking when he said, "Your father wants to see you. When would be a good time to ask Nanny Fan for leave?"

Lin Yunwan thought for a moment and then said, "Three days later."

Lin Huabin said, "Then it will be three days from now."

Thinking of what Zheng Shi had said, and fearing that she was deceiving Zheng Shi, he asked Lin Yunwan, "... I heard from Madam that you often visit Madam and have met your cousin Wenhai several times?"

Lin Yunwan paused for a moment, then immediately understood Lin Huabin's intention... Zhao Jingyi wouldn't want to see her for no reason; could it be because of her Wenhai?

Then she'd be even more Zhao Jingyi.

Otherwise, everything would be decided by Lin Huabin and the Zheng Shi couple.

"Yes."

Lin Yunwan answered very decisively.

Lin Huabin smiled, waved, and said, "Go ahead."

Lin Yunwan returned to the Bixi Hall late at night, with Xiruo leading the way carrying a lantern.

Once in the Courtyard, Xiruo turned off the lamp and went inside. Lin Yunwan instructed her, "Prepare a few small purses and put some silver ingots inside."

"We're choosing maids tomorrow; they'll come in handy."

"Yes."

Xiruo went to find Lin Yunwan's money box. After entering the Lin Residence, they also had places to spend money, so they exchanged some silver and silver ingots and filled a small box.

Weighed them on a scale until they were roughly the same weight, then put them into several purses.

"Girl, it's all packed."

Lin Yunwan eyes closed, and said softly, "Prepare another one for me..."

Xiruo waiting for a while without any response, Xiruo went over and asked, "What kind of thing?"

Lin Yunwan pursed her lips and said, "It's nothing."

If the Prince truly intends to marry, he won't be so quick. Even if a congratulatory gift is to be given, there's no rush at this time.

The next day, Nanny Fan came early in the morning to urge her, "Miss, the maids are all waiting in the Discussion Hall."

Lin Yunwan didn't keep her waiting long. She was already dressed and made up when she went out, and said, "Nanny Fan, please lead the way."

Nanny Fan led her over, and in the Courtyard outside the Discussion Hall stood a large group of maids. The oldest looked to be seventeen, but she was stocky and had rather dull eyes.

Xiruo clenched her fist and glanced at Nanny Fan.

These maids will soon be released from the manor, so why are they being offered to the young lady to choose from?

Nanny Fan pretended not to notice and said with a smile, "Please come inside and sit down, young lady."

When Lin Yunwan went in, several young girls with blond hair stood on tiptoe to look, Xiruo's face immediately darkened.

"Girl, those few are also unusable."

They're only eight or nine years old, can they really be trained?

Nanny Fan stepped forward with a smile, "Miss, these are all the best I've picked out for you to choose from."

Lin Yunwan didn't even look at her, and calmly said, "I can tell."

Nanny Fan was stunned.

What did you see?

She glanced uncertainly at the maid outside, Xiruo said bluntly, "I can see how well you train people, Nanny Fan. No wonder..."

Nanny Fan's heart skipped a beat, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

Lin Yunwan didn't want to argue with her, so she instructed, "Nanny Fan, have the servants stand on the left and the ones who were bought stand on the right."

Nanny Fan, holding her breath, went out to deliver the message.

She thought to herself, "Not much status, but acting all high and mighty, almost like the matriarch of the Madam..."

Let's see what you can pick out today!

"Did you hear what the young lady said? Those born into the family, stand on the left; those not born into the family, go to the right."

The maids quickly split into two groups, with each group making up half of the group.

Generally, wealthy families like the Lin Residence have the most servants, but the Second Branch the Lin Residence is different, so they only have half of their servants.

The maids, born into the household, whispered among themselves, "... Does this mean they don't want us anymore?"

"Of course. Eldest Miss is definitely choosing her dowry maids. Our family members are all related to the Madam, so Eldest Miss will definitely not want them."

The maidservant immediately hung her head in dejection.

"Although Madam doesn't favor the Eldest Miss, she's still a second or third-class maid. The Eldest Miss doesn't have many confidantes either, alas..."

They thought they could finally attain enlightenment and ascend to heaven.

There was one maid who kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, her head bowed the entire time, and she didn't utter a single word.

Nanny Fan turned around and said, "We await the young lady's instructions."

Lin Yunwan continued, "One by one, the students from my family came over and told me their stories."

Nanny Fan was also quite surprised. "You want to choose a home-born child?"

Not only are the servants born into the family long-handed, but the best ones have already been used by the master, Madam, and various Stewardess, so there's no one else to choose from.

Xiruo said, "Just do as Eldest Miss says."

"... yes."

When Nanny Fan summoned the maidservants, before the first maidservant even entered, she asked, "Miss, what would you like the maidservant to say?"

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "Tell me about your family members, your past work experience, and what you are good at."

Nanny Fan nodded, walked to the corridor, and spoke loudly to the maids. Then she asked the first maid who came in, "Did you hear that?"

"I heard you."

The girl was very nervous and went inside with her head down.

Standing at the door, Nanny Fan muttered to herself, "... She really does have the air of Eldest Miss. Was she trained by Nanny Fan?"

She glanced again at the Eldest Miss sitting in the main seat of the Discussion Hall.

"It seems different from when I first entered the manor..."

Why does she seem so much more refined now?

If this were captioned "Cousin Young Master of the Wenhai," it would be too lenient on him!