"Auntie, you've had a long day, you should go back and rest!"
"How can that be? You just lost your mother, so of course I have to treat you like my own daughter! Besides, you're living in your eldest sister's Huilan Courtyard now, how can your aunt just sit back and do nothing!"
Madam Jiang smiled sincerely, and her words were irrefutable.
Aunt Lan, who was standing next to Jiang Segu, saw that Jiang Segu had stopped talking, so she took two steps forward and bowed to Madam Jiang.
"Greetings, Madam!"
Who is this?
"Replying to Madam, I am the head maid that Third Madam recently found for Sixth Miss!"
Madam Jiang looked Aunt Lan up and down.
Although this person appears to be simply dressed, the way he bows and the sharpness in his eyes show that he is not a gentle person!
Where did you find this person, Third Sister-in-law?!
Just then, Jiang Segu spoke up, "Aunt, Aunt Lan is here, so I'll go and rest! If you'd like, Aunt, please stay here with Aunt Lan!"
After saying this, she stood up, curtsied to Madam Jiang, and then walked out of the main hall.
Before Madam Jiang could even be surprised that she had actually left, she heard Aunt Lan say, "Someone, prepare a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for Madam Jiang!"
What are we preparing these for?
As if sensing Madam Jiang's doubts, Aunt Lan explained, "This is for Madam Jiang to record the specific information of the servants!"
Then he whispered to Qiaolian, "Summon the unimportant maids first, and leave the gatekeepers for last!"
Qiaolian nodded and went out. A little while later, she brought in a rough old woman who was in charge of sweeping the yard.
Aunt Lan bowed to Madam Jiang again, "This servant is uncultured and illiterate, so I will have to trouble Madam Jiang from now on!"
"It's just recording information," Madam Jiang glanced at the few servants around her, picked up her pen, and said, "Let's begin!"
An hour later, Madam Jiang yawned, and her hand holding the pen was so stiff that she didn't want to write anymore!
She glanced at the servants standing in the hall and interrupted Aunt Lan's questioning, "Aunt Lan, if you keep asking like this, I'm afraid you won't finish until dawn!"
"This servant is foolish, please forgive me, Madam!"
“These people were personally selected by me for Yuan Niang. I know them well, and they are all honest people. It just depends on which one A Zi likes.”
Madam Jiang put down her pen. "It's late, and you've all been busy all day. Go and rest! We can talk about anything else tomorrow!"
He started to leave as soon as he said that!
Aunt Lan would not grant her wish.
"Madam..." She knelt before Madam Jiang and pleaded, "You are in charge of the household's finances and are also the Sixth Miss's aunt. Now the Sixth Miss can only rely on you!"
If you don't let me choose servants, I'm afraid they'll look down on you in the future!
"Sixth Miss is pitiful; she's lost both her father and mother. If even the First Madam doesn't support her, who will respect her in the future?"
Aunt Lan spoke with such sincerity that tears welled up in her eyes. Qiaolian, watching from the side, gasped in amazement and secretly learned this trick!
Madam Jiang was perhaps truly confused from sleep, which is why she felt that Aunt Lan was absolutely right. So she picked up her pen again and said, "Then let's hurry up! Don't ask any more of those trivial questions; it'll save us time!"
Although Aunt Lan agreed, she still did what she wanted during the subsequent interrogation!
Zijin, seeing Madam Jiang nodding as she took notes, interrupted Aunt Lan.
"Aunt Lan, there's no need to concern ourselves with this old woman's family affairs!"
Aunt Lan bowed to Zijin, saying, "My dear sister, as the old saying goes, 'better safe than sorry.' I also hope that those who stay by Sixth Miss's side in the future will all be innocent people!"
“Aunt Lan is right, but this investigation is far too extensive! It’s already past midnight, and we haven’t even finished questioning the eight maids. This kind of slow pace is causing far too much trouble!”
"As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. Besides, it's not like the Sixth Miss is moving in right now. If we investigate more thoroughly, the Miss will feel more at ease using it in the future!"
Zi Jin fell silent, truly unsure how to respond. She could only advise Madam Jiang, who was resting her chin on her hand and half-closing her eyes, "Madam, you have many things to do tomorrow. Why don't you go back to your courtyard and rest first?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang no longer insisted, "Then I'll leave it to Aunt Lan!"
"Madam, please wait! I have something to report!"
"What's up!?"
"When would be a convenient time for me to collect these servants' indentures?"
"A contract of servitude! I'll have Zijin deliver it tomorrow!"
Exhausted and unable to think, Madam Jiang readily agreed to the indenture and then helped Zijin back to Jiyue Courtyard.
She thought she could finally get a good night's sleep, but as soon as she entered the door, she was startled by a loud shout from Master Jiang, which made her lose her mind.
"Where did you go? Why are you only coming back now!"
Madam Jiang trembled violently, staring blankly at Master Jiang, whose face was ashen, completely bewildered as to why he was in such a hurry!
Zijin quickly replied, "Your Highness, Madam has gone to help Sixth Miss choose servants!"
Master Jiang then calmed down and said, "Yes, as the eldest uncle and aunt, we should care for the younger generation like this, so that A-Zi won't feel that there is no family affection in this family after losing her parents!"
Madam Jiang looked at Master Jiang, her already confused mind becoming even more muddled!
Who kicked the young master in the head?
"You must make sure your third brother and sister-in-law's funeral is beautiful and tidy. Don't be stingy with the money! The coffin must be made of Phoebe zhennan wood, the banquet must be from Tianxiangju, and all the other funeral supplies must be the best! And you can't ask Mother for this money. All expenses will be covered by our eldest branch of the family!"
Oh no, the young master really got kicked in the head!
Who dares to be so bold!
"If I don't have enough money, I'll sell my shops and fertile land. If that's still not enough, I'll sell my treasured paintings and antiques..."
Madam Jiang's lips twitched as she listened.
Even Zijin, upon hearing this, could hardly contain his urge to reach out and touch Master Jiang's forehead to see if he was delirious from a fever!
Those treasured paintings and antiques were practically the lifeblood of Master Jiang; he wouldn't even let anyone touch them normally, and now they were going to be sold!
Seeing the two men's expressions of utter disbelief, Master Jiang clapped his hands anxiously.
"Wake up, all of you! What time is it now? You're all still looking like idiots. Are you trying to let someone else get there first?"
"Cheng, you're usually quite clever, how come you're so slow to react this time! Even You-jie knows to curry favor with Lin-ge, how come you still don't understand!"
Madam Jiang was completely confused!
What do you mean by getting there first?
Why did Sister You try to curry favor with Brother Lin?
Shouldn't it be Sister Ying?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
