Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 226 Winning Over the Duke's Mansion

Because it concerned Lingxi Manor, the steward still spoke up: "This morning, I received two pieces of news. Families who had previously purchased properties from the Duke's Mansion are flocking to the Duke's Mansion. In addition, people from the Duke's Mansion sent someone yesterday to inquire about Lingxi Manor..."

"Lingxi Manor was a birthday gift I gave to my second sister. Does the Duke's Mansion intend to forcibly take it back?"

Tang Lin helped his wife Su Wanwan into the flower hall, and upon hearing what the steward said, his expression darkened slightly.

Before Su Wanwan could even bow, Wei Mama stepped forward to greet her. Su Wanwan was now more than four months pregnant, and everyone in the household was taking meticulous care of her.

Su Wanwan, however, was very tactful. Before sitting down, she still bowed respectfully to her parents-in-law, her skirts were not disheveled, and her posture was upright, showing the demeanor of a well-bred lady.

After they sat down, she took Tang Lin's sleeve and said softly, "Husband, don't be anxious. I have heard my grandfather say that the Duke is a man of integrity and would not do such a thing. I'm afraid it is just wishful thinking on the part of others."

Today, Su Wanwan wore a light yellow silk jacket embroidered with flowers and birds, which made her fair skin and beautiful face even more striking. Madam Yun was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law and comforted her, saying:

"Wanwan, don't worry. Lin Ge'er is only a little anxious because Wan'er is involved. We can't interfere with what others do, but even if the Duke's Mansion wants to get its hands on the Tang family's businesses, it will be difficult for them."

After the butler left, a burly man and a middle-aged woman entered the flower hall, led by a head maid.

The visitors were Zheng Shan and his wife.

Knowing that these two were confidants of the Marquis's mansion, Su Wanwan wanted to get up and leave, but Tang Lin said, "It's alright. Mother specifically called us here, so we'll just listen."

Madam Yun smiled and nodded, gesturing to Madam Zheng.

After bowing, Madam Zheng replied, "Reporting to Madam, a month ago, I placed twenty-nine people in the four major brokerage firms in the capital. This morning, Qing Pozi, the steward of the Duke's mansion, went to select people, and three people were chosen, one man and two women."

Eleven others have been sent to the palace gate by carriage. However, as instructed by Miss Huayan, no favors were made to the palace staff of the Shanggong Bureau this time. As for how many of them will be able to enter the palace, that depends on their own fate.

Chun Tao, whom Miss Hua Yan had specifically mentioned, was among them. Lü Liu insisted on going, and this servant, following Madam's instructions, did not dissuade her.

After speaking, Madam Zheng took out two lists from her sleeve, and Mama Wei stepped forward to take them and present them to Madam Yun.

After reviewing the documents, Madam Yun said, "It is already extremely fortunate that three people have entered the Duke's mansion. The families of these three people need to be well taken care of, so they will be settled in the dowry estate under the name of Miss Jin Nan. They will be brought to the capital before the New Year every year so that they can reunite with their relatives."

Madam Zheng said, "I know how to do it. I'm very familiar with it and there has never been a mistake over the years. When the eldest young lady goes to Guangyang Prefecture with her husband, the dowry estate under her name is now being looked after by people from our Marquis's Mansion."

"As for the list that Hua Yan had Green Willow present beforehand, what do you think?"

"Chuntao is quick-witted, Cailian has excellent embroidery skills, and Lvliu has become quite calm and stern over the years. If we're talking about who gets selected, these three have the best chance."

As for the others, Miss Huayan had instructed Green Willow to leave a message: if they were not selected, some would be assigned to Miss Huanyun, and the rest should be properly settled, but preferably not within the Tang family's business empire.

Madam Yun nodded slightly. "Hua Yan is thoughtful and cautious enough. However, Jin Nan Embroidery Shop is not officially a merchant shop. You can make the arrangements as you see fit."

After his wife finished reporting, Zheng Shan said, "I just received news that General Jiang will be arriving in Beijing in five days. The Ministry of War and the Court of State Ceremonial have been making arrangements to welcome him in the past few days."

Tang Xian nodded but did not speak; the matter had already been heard in the court.

"In addition, when Zhou Niangzi was secretly protecting the young lady on her way to the Northwest, she happened to encounter Banu and his group who were alone. Zhou Niangzi... led her team to kill them and intercepted a secret letter from Banu."

(Note: Ba Nu was a person arranged for the Empress by the Jiang family. He was the one who released the poisonous snakes at the Prince of Jin's residence.)

Madam Yun's eye twitched slightly; Madam Zhou was truly formidable...

Tang Xian received the secret letter, which also included a method for decryption: "Jiang Wei ordered the Empress to win over the Duke's Mansion."

A hint of surprise flashed in Tang Lin's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Madam Yun was not surprised: "Wan'er is now assisting in managing the six palaces, which is too eye-catching."

......

Outside the Shenwu Gate, dozens of carriages gathered in one corner, and hundreds of people lined up neatly in six columns. Dozens of palace staff, including those from the Shanggong Bureau's Records and Registers Departments, were busy at work.

Two officials from the Bureau of Ceremonies, both of the sixth rank, walked slowly along one side of the procession, each carrying a bamboo cane. Those whose canes touched were all rejected. This was the first step in the 'centralized re-selection'.

Women who are too tall or too short, have poor facial features, or have improper posture are eliminated, and women with average height, regular facial features, and good temperament are selected.

This recruitment of palace maids was not a talent show. It was simply because after the emperor ascended the throne, he released a batch of palace maids who had reached the required age as a form of compensation to the harem. Subsequently, the court issued an edict to select palace maids from the common people. Anyone from a "good family" could apply. The so-called "good family" refers to the daughters of doctors, witches, merchants, and artisans, and they had to be between the ages of thirteen and twenty.

Successful candidates will undergo training at the Shangyi Bureau for three to six months before being assigned to their positions.

This was also the first thing Consort Chun did after she took charge of the six palaces.

Just as Lady Yun and Hua Yan would take the opportunity to plant their own people, other forces would naturally do the same. Therefore, the situation here was complicated. Not only did Consort Chun find it somewhat troublesome, but even Hua Yan was a little worried. She consulted with Consort Chun in advance and summoned the female officials of the Shangyi Bureau and Shanggong Bureau to Huining Palace to carefully issue the selection rules.

Green Willow and Spring Peach were scattered in different groups. Although they were not far apart, they acted as if they did not know each other and dared not make eye contact.

Seeing the palace servants carrying bamboo canes walk past them, Green Willow and the others breathed a slight sigh of relief.

It was midday, and under the not-so-warm sun, Green Willow gazed at the majestic palace gate in the distance. Apart from a talisman that Ying Chun had obtained from the Medicine King Temple, she wore around her neck, she had nothing else.

However, a dozen or so small silver coins were sewn into the corner of the amulet and the inner garment with fine stitches, to be used to bribe the palace servants after being selected.

Hua Yan was inside the Huining Palace, unaware that Lv Liu was outside the Shenwu Gate and had already passed the first round of screening.

After Hua Yan finished lunch with Consort Chun, the two sat side by side in the study, discussing the arrangements for the next few days.

Consort Chun initially sorted out the vacant positions within the Six Bureaus and Twenty-Four Departments, identifying which positions could be vacated and which positions must be filled by her own people. This was in response to the current changes in the promotion and demotion of palace staff.

There are also palace maids to be added in each palace. For example, Hua Yan is a selected concubine. According to the rank of the selected concubine, two palace maids should be arranged to serve her. They will be assigned after the selected palace maids have been trained.

Hua Yan was writing and drawing on the paper, while Meng Zhu served her with brushes and ink, curiously looking at the table.

However, after looking at it for a long time, I still couldn't understand it. The Xuan paper was full of various patterns and lines, but if you look at it carefully with patience, you can vaguely see that Hua Yan's painting is the layout of the palace in the harem, radiating outward from Renming Hall as the center.