After finishing these matters, Yan Qingqing was about to ask Xiao Mochen if there were any old nannies in the palace who were going to be released recently.
Xiao Mochen spoke first, asking, "Auntie, where is Xiao Qi? I haven't seen her on either of my last two visits."
Yan Qingqing laughed upon hearing this, "That girl has been acting strangely lately, saying she wants to learn flower arranging from Jinxiu."
However, there weren't many flowers available this season, so Yan Qingqing had to put in a lot of effort, having people find real flowers for them while also making artificial flowers out of colored paper.
Xiao Mochen smiled upon hearing this: "It's rare that she can sit still, which is a good thing."
Auntie must have had a lot of headaches because of Xiaoqi.
I do have a suitable candidate here, but I don't know if Auntie would be willing to let her raise Xiaoqi.
Yan Qingqing was overjoyed upon hearing this; it was exactly what she had hoped for.
Although Xiao Mochen wasn't doing it for Li Yueniang and the others, he could still include them along the way.
Yan Qingqing looked at Xiao Mochen and smiled, "The person Mochen recommends must be good, but I wonder who it is."
Xiao Mochen replied, "She was an old nanny who served my mother. She had been in the palace for over forty years."
They were trusted by my mother at first, but later she became obsessed with that ungrateful mother and son and wouldn't listen to any advice.
Lin Mama also advised the Empress Dowager many times, but later the Empress Dowager gradually distanced herself from Lin Mama.
However, Granny Lin was very kind to me in private and always spoke well of me to the Empress Dowager, but unfortunately the Empress Dowager wouldn't listen.
Whenever my mother gets something good in the palace, she always sends someone to inform me immediately, afraid that if I arrive too late, it will be gone.
At this point, Xiao Mochen couldn't help but smile. It seemed that Granny Lin really treated Xiao Mochen well.
Upon hearing this, Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Your words make me quite curious about this Granny Lin."
"I just don't know if they'd be willing to come to our house, especially that mischievous Li Xiangyang. We don't know if he'll be obedient; he might just upset Granny Lin badly again."
Xiao Mochen smiled upon hearing Yan Qingqing's words: "Auntie, you don't need to worry about that. I've already spoken with Granny Lin. She feels that staying in the palace isn't very enjoyable and is very willing to leave."
Moreover, Granny Lin really liked children.
Although Xiaoqi is a bit resilient, she is of good character, and Granny Lin will definitely like her.
Hearing this, Yan Qingqing felt even more relieved.
Then he said, "Then Mo Chen, you'll have to put more effort into this matter."
If there are any other palace maids who are willing to leave the palace, please introduce me to one.
Now that Yue Niang has been betrothed to the Han family, I, as her mother, should also take better care of her.
Xiao Mochen immediately said there was no problem.
In fact, the old nannies who had been in the palace for many years, especially those without relatives, did not want to stay in the palace after their original masters passed away.
They all dream of finding a wealthy family to be their caregiver for a few years, so that someone can take care of them in their old age and see them off when they die.
As for experienced nannies like Lin Mama who had served the late Empress, many people naturally wanted to support them.
However, those with mediocre qualifications who served lower-ranking concubines were not so sought after.
So it's relatively easy to find such people, but Yan Qingqing doesn't know much about their character, so she can only ask Xiao Mochen for help.
Xiao Mochen was very efficient; he sent over two nannies the very next day.
One of them was Granny Lin, who was about fifty years old.
There was another one who was slightly younger, but he looked to be in his forties.
Both of them stood up straight, their hair neatly combed.
Upon seeing Yan Qingqing, the two bowed simultaneously and said, "Greetings, Madam Mingzhao."
Yan Qingqing was secretly amazed, because the two women's bowing movements, including the degree of their bending over, were almost identical. No wonder they were the head maids of the palace.
Yan Qingqing quickly gestured for Ruyi to step forward and help the two women up, then said with a smile, "Please, gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities."
Both of you are senior matrons in the palace; it is an honor for my Mingzhao Mansion to have you here.”
Seeing Yan Qingqing's amiable attitude, the two breathed a sigh of relief, but said at the same time that they dared not.
Yan Qingqing had some questions for the two of them, so she said to Xiao Mochen, "Go find Xiao Qi, she's in your sister-in-law's courtyard."
Also, tell her that we've found her a governess to come and greet her.
Xiao Mochen quickly agreed upon hearing this.
He knew Mingzhao Prefecture very well and didn't need anyone to follow him.
After Xiao Mochen left, Yan Qingqing asked the two nannies to sit down and introduced themselves.
Yan Qingqing knew a little about the two old women, knowing that they were loyal servants of the Empress.
She had no relatives left outside the palace, and Xiao Mochen, out of consideration for their past relationship, wanted to find her a good place to live so that she wouldn't have to live out her days alone in the palace.
The other nanny, surnamed Song, served the late Empress Dowager in the palace.
The Empress Dowager had not been gone long, and she often found herself reminiscing about her while in the palace.
He then submitted a petition to his superiors requesting to return to his hometown to retire.
However, her parents had passed away, and she had a nephew from her maternal family, but they hadn't seen each other for many years and weren't particularly close.
When Granny Song heard that Granny Lin was coming to Mingzhao Prefecture, she asked Granny Lin if she could come along.
Just then, Xiao Mochen received Yan Qingqing's request to select a governess for Li Yueniang and the others, so he brought her along.
Of course, Xiao Mochen had thoroughly investigated Song Mama's family background and her connections in the palace before bringing her to Mingzhao Prefecture.
Yan Qingqing felt relieved after seeing that the two had explained everything clearly.
So he smiled and said, "Please don't take offense, ladies. I'm choosing a governess for my own daughter, so naturally I have to be careful and not dare to be careless in the slightest."
Rest assured, if you are wholeheartedly devoted to the girls in the family, I can guarantee that you will have a grand and glorious life from birth to death.
There are many maids and boys in the manor. If you find one you like, you can choose one to be your daughter or son.
The two women were overjoyed upon hearing this, as they had no children in their lives and were unlikely to have anyone to care for them in their old age until their deaths.
Of course, experienced old nannies like them would definitely be sought after by high-ranking officials and noble families after leaving the palace.
However, there are countless examples of people who are discarded like worn-out shoes when they are old and useless.
Now that they've arrived at Mingzhao Mansion, Madam Mingzhao has not only promised to take care of them in their old age and see them off in their final days, but also wants them to choose goddaughters and godsons. What reason do they have not to wholeheartedly educate and raise the girls in the mansion?
The two women stood up and bowed deeply to Yan Qingqing. Lin Mama spoke first, saying, "Madam Mingzhao, rest assured, this old servant will do her best to raise the young ladies well."
With this "this old servant" from Granny Lin, she acknowledged Yan Qingqing as her mistress.
Granny Song followed up with the same words.
Yan Qingqing chatted with them for a few more minutes, and then Xiao Mochen brought Li Xiangyang and Li Jinxiu over.
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