Eleventh Lady looked at the maid busying around in the room without saying anything, and Amber also said nothing. She placed the vase in place and looked around. When the two maids finished their work and bowed to Eleventh Lady and left, Amber showed her excitement.

"The eldest young master has a maid named Baodie, who is the sister of Baolan, the first-class maid of our eldest aunt. She is not only beautiful, but also very smart. She is the most capable person in the eldest young master's room." Amber whispered, "Tell the mother-in-law that when Baolan got married a few days ago, we gave her ten taels of silver as a gift box according to the old custom of the mansion, but the eldest young master took twenty taels of silver. Baolan's mother was so happy that she kept praising their Baodie for her promising future. It has snowed these days, and Baolan and his brother are not in good health, so they have to eat lotus root powder. They also said that people in the same courtyard saw that the lotus root powder was packed in a paper box, and they could vaguely see the signature of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was sweet and fragrant, as if it was exactly the same as the lotus root powder that the lady ate. Now everyone in the family is saying that the eldest young master is fourteen this year, and Baodie has also reached the age of marriage, so I am afraid that she will be taken in as a concubine."

Eleventh Lady understood after listening to this: "So the Third Madam also heard this rumor, but she had no intention of taking Baodie as her concubine. She wanted to replace all the maids around the eldest young master, but was afraid of gossip, so she simply dragged the second young master into the water. The two brothers were replaced together."

"That's probably what the Madam said." Amber laughed softly, "She also told the old woman that it was the eldest aunt's idea that Baodie could serve the eldest young master. At that time, the third lady thought Baodie was too pretty and was not very happy. But Baodie was very hardworking and sweet-spoken, and served the eldest young master very wholeheartedly. The third lady gradually fell in love with her. She also rewarded Baodie with two gold rings, a hairpin inlaid with rubies, and a South Pearl flower. She was the best among the maids in the eldest young master's room."

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but shake her head: "I just hope I don't end up like Di Jin!"

Amber's eyes darkened and her mood became depressed when she heard this.

Outside, there was a sound of laughter as loud as silver bells approaching.

I don't know why, but the voice that usually sounds so nice to my ears has become sharp at this moment. Amber suddenly lost her temper and said angrily: "This Binju is so careless. This is because she met you. If she met someone else, I'm afraid the mothers would have slapped her a long time ago."

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Everyone is happy, and the atmosphere in this room is good. Anyway, the Marquis is not here, and she knows the importance of things, so it's not a big deal."

Amber couldn't help but regret secretly and wanted to explain, but Binju had already lifted the curtain and walked in, holding a pair of shoes in her hand.

"Madam, look!"

The bright red carved silk upper is decorated with jasper with gold threads, made into a butterfly with spread wings, gorgeous and dazzling.

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

Bin Ju smiled and said, "Sister Dongqing made it for you. It looks good, doesn't it?" Then she sat on a small stool beside her to put it on Shiyi Niang. "Sister Dongqing can't go anywhere now. She does needlework at home every day. We are also benefiting from it. Sister Dongqing made me a pair of apricot-yellow Baoxianghua socks. They are so beautiful. I plan to wear them during the New Year."

As soon as she finished speaking, Dong Qing came in with a blushing face and said a little embarrassedly: "It's not finished yet - there needs to be a smaller butterfly on the heel!"

As she spoke, Bin Ju had already put the shoes on Shiyi Niang: "Do they fit, Madam?"

Eleventh Lady looked at the shoes on her feet, then looked at Binju and Dongqing's expectant eyes, and her voice became colder: "There is also the Madam upstairs, how can I wear such gorgeous shoes."

Dong Qing was stunned: "I, I... thought it was the New Year, so..."

Bin Ju stopped smiling when he saw this and stood up without saying a word.

For a moment, the room was as quiet as water.

A little maidservant reported: "Madam, Mother Tao is here!"

Amber pushed Binju and said, "Put away your shoes!"

When Bin Ju heard this, she hurriedly took off the shoes on Shiyi Niang's feet. She felt it was inappropriate to put them under her arms, and they bulged out when she put them in her arms. She felt that the shoes were too big when she stuffed them into her sleeves.

When Amber saw this, she grabbed one of the shoes and stuffed it into her sleeve.

Seeing them all so terrified, Eleventh Lady felt that she shouldn't show them a bad temper, and that she should just talk things over nicely. She smiled and said, "Okay, everyone should be more careful in the future." She then said to Dong Qing, who was hanging her head, "The rules in the mansion are stricter than when we were in the Luo family, but the Madam is kind to others and doesn't pursue some things. But the more this happens, the more we need to reflect on ourselves, be self-disciplined, and follow the rules. We can't let anyone hold us accountable."

Dong Qing nodded quickly after hearing this and promised: "Madam, I will never do it again!"

She has already admitted her mistake in front of so many maids of the same level, so Eleventh Lady has to give her some respect. After all, she is the first maid she has had since she came into this world!

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Since it's the New Year, I should wear a new pair of shoes. Can you make me a pair of shoes with azure soles and embroidered pink plum blossoms?"

Dong Qing laughed immediately after hearing this: "Don't worry, it will be ready in three to five days!"

Eleventh Lady just felt a headache after listening to this.

After Dongqing arrived at the Xu Mansion, he became more relaxed and was not as sensitive to people and things as before.

It seems like we should arrange things between her and Wan Daxian as soon as possible!

Eleventh Lady nodded: "Everyone, go away!"

The three of them hurriedly responded "yes".

The little maid asked Mother Tao to come in.

The three of them went out one after another and passed by Mother Tao.

Mother Tao looked at her in surprise: "What happened?"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Helping me decorate the house!"

Mother Tao looked up and saw the hibiscus behind Shiyi Niang. She smiled and said, "It's really beautiful. Was it sent from the greenhouse?"

Eleventh Lady nodded, asked the maid to bring a small stool and put it in front of the kang for her to sit on, and also asked the maid to serve her hot tea.

"Look at how happy your mother is. I guess the second young master has found a maid?"

Mother Tao's face was full of smiles. She took out a folded note from her sleeve and handed it to Shiyi Niang: "Take a look!"

Eleventh Lady opened the note, and there were four names written on it: "Wenzhu, Qinxiang, Taoliu, Lianjiao!"

"This Wenzhu is Zhuxiu's younger sister." Mother Tao introduced, "This Qinxiang is Meiqin's cousin, Taoliu is Taorui's cousin, and Lianjiao is Wenlian's younger sister."

Meiqin and Zhuxiu were originally second-class maids in Yuanniang's room, Taorui was a third-class maid, and Wenlian... She thought for a while before she remembered that she was the little maid whom Yuanniang asked to call Tao Mama when she blocked Qiao Lianfang and Xu Lingyi in the courtyard that day. They were all people Yuanniang had employed before.

There is definitely no problem with loyalty, but whether one is loyal to Mother Tao or to himself is still an ambiguous issue!

She smiled and casually placed the note on the table, thinking of the very clever Wenlian, and asked, "Is Wenlian okay? I didn't see her last time when I released the maid!"

Mother Tao looked at Shiyi Niang with a smile that said "you should understand" and said, "That child was unlucky. He caught a cold and died in March last year."

When Eleventh Lady heard this, she felt a chill in her heart and remained silent for a long time.

"...So her mother came to ask me to give her sister a job. It was really hard to refuse." Mother Tao did not notice that Shiyi Niang was strange, and explained, "I have also seen that child. At first glance, she is honest and decent. I think nothing will go wrong if she stays in the second young master's room."

Eleventh Lady nodded and said with a smile: "Then bring the person over to me this afternoon!"

Mother Tao hesitated and said, "There is one more thing!"

Eleventh Lady listened attentively.

"Wei Zi came to me yesterday and wanted to ask for this job for her sister Taohua." Mother Tao said carefully, "But I'm worried that if Taohua goes to the second young master's room, she will get close to Concubine Qin... What do you think about this?"

No wonder the little maid kept looking for Wei Zi that day!

"Bring them here too!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "In the end, the Madam will have the final say!"

Mother Tao smiled and replied "yes", and then talked about another matter: "… Third Madam wants to change the maids for the two young masters this time. To be honest, it all started with the eldest young master."

Amber had already told her about this matter. But on the one hand, she didn't want Tao's mother to know that she had another source of information. On the other hand, she also wanted to hear the difference between Tao's mother's and Amber's, to see if she had overlooked anything.

"What do you mean?" She looked curious.

Mother Tao smiled and said, "Do you still remember Baolan in my great aunt's room?"

Eleventh Lady nodded.

"Her sister Baodie was placed in the eldest young master's room by the eldest aunt. After a few years, her eyebrows and eyes have grown and she is very beautiful. The eldest young master values ​​her very much. Our third wife felt uneasy and wanted to drive her away, but she was afraid that some gossip would reach the ears of the old lady. So she took advantage of the fact that the two older maids in the second young master's room were old and prepared to replace Baodie."

The information is roughly the same as what Amber got, but there are also some differences...

She asked implicitly, "Are Baolan and Baodie sisters very close?"

Mother Tao said pointedly, "Of course. Otherwise, why would the Third Madam be so anxious?"

After hearing this, Eleventh Lady couldn't help but shake her head secretly.

Yuanniang's attitude towards other people's children is exactly the same as that of the eldest wife.

The two chatted for a few more words. Seeing that it was getting late, Eleventh Lady sent Mother Tao to arrange a meeting with Wenzhu and others in the afternoon. Then she called Luyun and Hongxiu in to help her change her clothes, and then she went to see the lady dowager.

Amber hurried in.

"Ma'am, I have something to tell you!"

Eleventh Lady always went to see the Lady Dowager on time.

"Let's talk on the way!"

Amber nodded and followed Eleventh Lady out the door.

Luyun and Hongxiu followed obediently from a distance.

"Mrs. Qiao has been crying since the morning when Master left."

Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

Could it be because Xu Lingyi was eating breakfast in his room early in the morning?

She thought for a moment and asked, "Did Xiu Li ask you to come find me?"

"No." Amber said, "Didn't you ask Qiuyu to come and serve me a few days ago? She is now very close to a little maid from Aunt Qiao's place. That little maid said it."

"In that case, let's just pretend we don't know."

It’s better to leave such a beautiful thing as comforting a beauty to Xu Lingyi!

Eleventh Lady smiled and told Amber that Wei Zi's sister wanted to work for the Second Young Master, and then instructed her: "Go to the Madam's place before me to find Wei Zi and tell her that I already know about her sister. I will bring someone to the Madam's place this afternoon to let her review it. Do this favor to Wei Zi before Mother Tao does it!"

"Madam, don't worry!" Amber said hurriedly, "I don't have to worry." Then she worriedly said, "If Wei Zi's sister really goes to the Second Young Master's room, Wei Zi will be more inclined to Qin concubine..."

I said the same thing as Mother Tao.

Eleventh Lady nodded slightly.

Amber grows very fast.

"Isn't there still a Madam?" Eleventh Lady said suggestively, "Wei Zi seems to be eighteen this year! If it's Mother Du, then we have to make some careful plans."

Amber nodded repeatedly.