Choosing People

"It's getting late, miss. Why are you still standing outside? Hurry inside and rest!"

Nanny Yan walked over to Ge Bao'er, blocking her view of Lu Zhengliu.

Ge Bao'er bit her lip and turned to go inside, the veil on her face still fluttering.

Nanny Yan went over to Lu Zhengliu and said with a smile, "Old Madam is going to rest as well, so there's no need for you to go in and pay your respects, Heir Apparent."

Lu Zhengliu nodded and left, a slight frown on his face.

He was the one who had brought Ge Bao'er back to the residence, but... but Lin Yunwan was the mistress of the Wuding Marquis Residence. For every day she remained so, he had to respect her. There was nothing wrong with their saying those things to each other.

Once he had thought it through, he no longer felt he had gone too far.

That night, Old Madam Lu sent Nanny Yan to give Ge Bao'er another scolding.

She still felt it wasn't enough, but she didn't know what else she could do to deal with her. After all, Ge Bao'er was Qing's birth mother, and no matter how ambiguous Lu Zhengliu's attitude was, he still couldn't bear to say he would throw her out.

"What man's affections last long? Just wait a little longer. Sooner or later, Zhengliu will come to me himself and ask me to send her away."

Holding the porcelain cup for rinsing her mouth, Nanny Yan said, "I think so too."

A few days later, something happened that pleased her.

Lin Yunwan came to her of her own accord and said, "The Heir Apparent has been back at the residence for a long time, and we've adopted two children into the family in succession. There are bound to be rumors outside, so I was thinking... why not choose two concubines for the Heir Apparent? Once a son is born to a concubine, the rumors will die down. Bringing new people into the residence would also liven things up."

Old Madam Lu was deeply moved. Taking Lin Yunwan's hand, she asked, "Are you really willing?"

"It's all for the Lu family. Why wouldn't I be?"

Lin Yunwan pulled her hand away.

Old Madam Lu seemed a little guilty. After thinking for a moment, she agreed to Lin Yunwan's suggestion.

"It is time the family had more children."

She also advised her earnestly, "Zhengliu speaks harshly, but he has a soft heart. Don't concern yourself only with the new women; pay some attention to your own affairs too. Let Grandmother speak from the heart: no matter who else bears a child, none can compare to one born to you. Don't you agree?"

Nanny Yan also came forward to advise her. "That's exactly right. If the Heir Apparent won't come to your courtyard, Young Madam, you should find ways to invite him more often. I know you're shy, Young Madam, but between husband and wife, it's no great matter to step outside the rules now and then."

Old Madam Lu nodded in agreement.

Lin Yunwan lowered her head and said, "I understand," as though she had taken their words to heart.

Old Madam Lu was very pleased to see it.

Lin Yunwan took the opportunity to say, "Old Madam, I'd like to go to the estates myself to choose the two concubines, and pick out some young maids while I'm there to add to the household staff."

"Choose them from the estates?"

Lin Yunwan nodded and said she actually already had a suitable candidate in mind.

Although Old Madam Lu was surprised, she agreed.

Lin Yunwan added, "The two young masters haven't yet been to the Marquis's Residence's estates. I'd like to take them along so they can see the Lu family's property. What do you think, Old Madam?"

That was only proper, in fact.

But when Old Madam Lu thought of Qing's character, she feared that the more he knew, the greater his ambitions would grow.

She said, "Take Chang Gong to the estate. Qing needn't go. Mr. Zhang keeps a close eye on him, and it wouldn't do for him to ask for leave every few days."

"Yes."

Lin Yunwan returned to Drooping Silk Hall with a slight smile and told the servants to pack. They would set out the day after tomorrow.

On the day of departure, the servants in the front courtyard and the Stewardesses in the rear courtyard all got busy, making quite a commotion.

When Qing saw that Lu Chang'gong was packing a bundle too, he hurried over and asked eagerly, "Where are you going?"

Lu Chang'gong said coldly, "To the estate."

He had his page carry the bundle and left.

Qing's face was full of envy. When he turned around, Mr. Zhang was already heading for the side study, so he had no choice but to shoulder his little book bag and go to class. Mr. Zhang didn't allow a page to wait on him, so he had to carry his own book bag and do such things himself.

"The Wuding Marquis Residence has two estates. The one we're going to today is just outside the capital. Half a day will be enough to get there."

In the carriage, Lin Yunwan rode with Lu Chang'gong, a Stewardess, and two maids.

Lu Chang'gong glanced outside, and Nanny Yuan quickly reminded him, "Eldest Young Master, Madam's face mustn't be casually exposed to view."

He hurriedly dropped the curtain, already prepared to admit his mistake.

Lin Yunwan smiled and told him, "If you're curious about what's outside, once you're a little older and have learned to ride, you can look around as much as you like."

"Ride a horse?"

Lu Chang'gong could hardly imagine it. "Horses are so tall," he said.

Lin Yunwan stroked his head and said, "You'll grow even taller than a horse one day."

Lu Chang'gong blinked. "Really?"

At last, there was a trace of childishness in his eyes.

Lin Yunwan smiled and said he certainly would.

When they arrived at the Wuding Marquis Residence's estate, the people from the residence settled into the separate courtyard. The steward in charge of the estate came with his people to pay their respects, and arranged for the married women on the estate to help serve in the kitchen.

The two maids, Ping Ye and Tao Ye, were young and couldn't keep the estate steward and the married women on the estate in line.

Nanny Yuan stepped forward to speak with the estate steward. "We don't need your people to serve us. Go and call all the young married women and girls on the estate over. Madam wants to choose a few to take back to the residence as servants. There's also a girl named Zhu Qing who was sent here from the residence a few years ago. Madam wants to see her."

The estate steward remembered her and immediately said, "I'll go at once."

In less than half an hour, a great crowd stood outside the separate courtyard. Though they were all womenfolk from tenant-farming families dressed in plain clothes, they were fairly clean and presentable and looked in good spirits. Only one woman, standing at the very edge, had some beauty but a face ashen as death.

Ping Ye pointed at her and whispered to Lin Yunwan, "Madam, that seems to be Zhu Qing."

Lin Yunwan glanced outside and instructed Ping Ye, "Have her come in."

Ping Ye went out and stood on the steps, looking down as she said, "Miss Zhu Qing, why don't you hurry in and pay your respects to Madam?"

Zhu Qing came to her senses and slowly climbed the steps. She knelt at the doorway, some distance away, not daring to enter the room, and timidly paid her respects. "Greetings, Madam."

Lin Yunwan frowned. "How did you end up like this?"

Zhu Qing raised her head and suddenly broke down in tears. "Madam, I was wrong. I was wrong. Please save me, Madam."

"Get up first."

Ping Ye helped Zhu Qing to her feet, and Tao Ye brought her a stool near Lin Yunwan.

"Wipe her face."

Ping Ye washed a clean handkerchief and wiped Zhu Qing's face.

Zhu Qing murmured her thanks and briefly described her life on the estate these past few years. "After I was... was sent here, I've been working on the estate all along. Life has been hard, so I look... a little bedraggled. Please forgive me, Madam."

She was far more than bedraggled.

She looks as though she's been pulled from a pile of corpses, Ping Ye thought.

Lin Yunwan asked her, "Have you married?"

Zhu Qing hurriedly shook her head. "No, no. I don't want to marry!"

Lin Yunwan nodded. "It's good that you haven't married. Then are you still willing to return to the residence and serve?"

Zhu Qing dropped to her knees and kowtowed. "Madam, I'm willing! I'm willing to be your ox or horse! Please, Madam, save me and get me out of here! I beg you, Madam!"