Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 658 - 660: Property (2)

Min nodded as he listened, and Xiqiu added, "Your mother has Chunliu and Nanny Cen by her side, with many others taking care of her. You just need to take care of yourself, understand?"

"Understood." Min glanced at Fourth Master Xiao without speaking further, and obediently climbed onto a chair, waiting for Dongling to serve him food.

Fourth Master Xiao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

The three sat down to eat; the meal consisted of six dishes and one soup. Xiqiu tasted a spoonful of soup and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. The taste was just like the one in Marquis Mansion. She tasted a few more dishes and realized this meal must have been made by the two housekeepers awarded by the Grand Dowager. Otherwise, how would the flavors be just like those in the Marquis Mansion?

Neither Fourth Master Xiao nor Min noticed anything unusual and the three ate in silence. In the afternoon, Min had to return to the Marquis Mansion for classes. Xiqiu allowed the nanny to accompany him for a nap, and in the afternoon, Erquan and Tiancheng escorted him to the Marquis Mansion.

Having just entered the mansion, she was expected to meet the old maids and maids. The outer courtyard still lacked a Chief Steward, and the inner courtyard’s housekeeper position needed to be filled. These were all matters that required attention, yet she felt too lazy to deal with them, laying there in a daze, reluctant to move a finger.

Sure enough, she napped until the sun was setting, waking up suddenly and rubbing her forehead. Indeed, the new environment made her less vigilant. She called for Chunliu and asked, "Where is Fourth Master?"

"Fourth Master is in the study," Chunliu replied.

Xiqiu thought of the small courtyard she noticed on her way here, not too far away. She sat up straight and said to Chunliu, "Redo my hair. We are going to take a look at the back courtyard."

"Mistress," Chunliu said with difficulty, "Let me call for a sedan chair, please wait a moment."

Xiqiu quickly waved her hand, "No need to be so delicate, it’s just a few steps. I want to check Min’s room, no sedan chair needed." Saying this, she stood up, and Chunliu came to help her sit at the dressing table. Xiqiu instructed, "Just do a simple bun, there’s no one else in the mansion."

Chunliu agreed and helped her with a bun, then adorned it with a coral beaded flower.

As Xiqiu stepped out, the maids and housekeepers busy tidying at the door immediately stopped to kneel and salute. Xiqiu noticed most of them were unfamiliar faces and nodded at them before turning towards the back courtyard.

Min’s courtyard was the nearest, just past a winding corridor and a semi-circular moon gate. Two young maids without topknots were cleaning in the courtyard. Upon seeing Xiqiu, they set their things down and knelt on the ground, "Greetings, Mistress!"

Xiqiu nodded, and Chunliu said from the side, "You may rise." The two young maids stood up, and Xiqiu entered Min’s main room.

She looked around in the bedroom, then turned around in the study and sitting room, admiring the room’s furnishings. Finally, Chunliu couldn’t help but sigh, "Mistress, while it doesn’t seem particularly unusual here, how does everything appear so opulently splendid to me?"

Xiqiu laughed and, walking with Chunliu, explained, "This place used to be the Sixth Prince’s residence. The late Emperor favored him greatly during his lifetime. He was so young and already made a prince, and of course, the late Emperor doted on him affectionately. As long as the rules weren’t broken, arrangements had to be extravagantly luxurious."

Chunliu seemed to understand, smiling, "The Emperor truly favors our Fourth Master by bestowing us such a residence!"

Xiqiu, however, said nothing. Sometimes, great favor could become a curse. The Emperor remembered Fourth Master Xiao’s contributions and sacrifices in helping him ascend the throne, but how long would such gratitude last? If we fail to restrain ourselves over time and keep taking credit, the initial favor could become future trouble.

"Let’s go back," Xiqiu said. "Call for Nanny Cen, Bihuai, and Biwu. I have something to discuss with you all."

Chunliu agreed, escorted Xiqiu back to her room, and went to fetch Nanny Cen and the others.

Nanny Cen, Bihuai, Biwu, and Chunliu came in, and Xiqiu indicated the stools before them, saying, "Chunliu and few others came as part of my dowry, while Nanny Cen has served Fourth Master for a long time. You are all people I can trust."

The group sat down, attentively watching Xiqiu. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Xiqiu looked at them and said, "Before we came here, many maids and women were already serving in this mansion. We don’t know their origins or backgrounds, and Fourth Master never handles such matters. Until we clarify these details, you must guard the main room. Apart from you few close ones, no others are allowed inside, not even the maids and women originally in the courtyard."

"Understood." Nanny Cen responded and added, "I, with Chunliu and others, will take turns to guard. No unrelated people will be allowed in the Mistress’s room or courtyard."

Xiqiu nodded, "Tomorrow, at 7:45 AM as usual, have Nanny Rong gather everyone in the side hall to meet each other." After pausing, she turned to Chunliu and said, "Then, ask carefully about each person’s origin, background, age, where they worked before, and how they entered the mansion, ask it all."

Chunliu nodded, and Xiqiu further instructed Bihuai, "You will record what these people say. As there are many people, it may avoid confusion in the future. If questions about anyone arise or if someone spoke falsely, we will have notes to refer to."

Bihuai agreed, and Xiqiu continued, "Nanny Rong previously reported the number of people in the house. If all these people only serve the main room, it would be sufficient, but running such a large estate might still be challenging. For now, I do not plan to add more hands. Those vacant courtyards can be tidied up routinely, no need to manage them closely, but the two small forests at the back require care. Let Jin Dairui and his wife move into the mansion."

Nanny Qiu agreed and asked, "What about Mistress’s servants and the two family households from Shandong and Tongzhou? At the Marquis Mansion, we had no choice but to let them follow their respective heads to the countryside. Now that Fourth Master and Mistress have established their own mansion with not enough staff, should we call them back and settle them?" Pondering, Nanny Qiu continued, "Also, there’s Baizhi, she’s still in the Capital, living with Jin Dairui’s family in the house on Yangpi Lane. She’s reaching the age; if Mistress doesn’t arrange for her here, maybe match her with someone in the outer courtyard."

Xiqiu thought for a moment and nodded, "I’ve already considered these matters. Let’s arrange it as such for now. Baizhi will remain there, and Lyuzhi by your side. Giving her the rank and pay of a third-class maid won’t slight the Zhu family."

With so many tasks and a chaotic start, it’s best to organize things first. Currently lacking spirit, she had no inclination to handle other matters.

Nanny Qiu nodded, agreeing without anything extra to add.

Biwu, growing anxious, asked Xiqiu, "Then what shall I do?"

Xiqiu looked at her and laughed, "You can stay by my side and chat with me." Biwu drooped her head, feeling she wasn’t entrusted with an important role. Chunliu noticed and poked her forehead, laughing, "Where is it bad to be with Mistress? You look displeased. I suppose your work is the lightest."