Chapter 801: Taking Over Pingxitang (Three Chapters in One)
On the night of her return home, although Xiao Yeyang repeatedly assured Daohua that he would not go too far, Daohua still did not get out of bed until noon the next day.
"Where's that liar Xiao Yeyang?"
Daohua took a bath for a while and felt better.
As Wang Man'er was setting the table, she said, "My son-in-law went out this morning. He looked so happy, so he must have something to do."
After hearing this, Daohua didn't ask any more questions. It was almost the end of the year, and it was the busiest time. It was not surprising that Xiao Yeyang was taken away.
After lunch, Daohua walked around Pingxitang again. While taking a walk to digest the food, she also took the opportunity to see how the servants in different places did their work.
Wang Man'er whispered the news she had heard in the past two days: "The princess arranged for many of the old people in the palace to work in Pingxi Hall this time, and many of them are very slippery."
Daohua sneered, "Servants are supposed to serve their masters. Do they think they're any different just because they've stayed in the palace for a few more years? If they can't satisfy their masters, what's the point of keeping them here?"
Wang Man'er added, "Concubine Jiang may have arranged some people as well. When the young lady returned home yesterday, Lixia saw the maid in the courtyard standing with Concubine Jiang and talking for quite a while."
Daohua hummed, said nothing, and continued to stroll around. Every time she arrived at a place, she silently calculated how many servants would be needed to take care of it.
After returning to the house, Daohua looked at Wang Maner and asked, "Have you sorted out all the maids and servants working in Pingxi Hall?"
Wang Man'er looked ashamed: "I am incompetent and haven't been able to ask everyone yet."
Daohua was not surprised. As a seventh-rank official serving the prime minister, many of the servants working in the palace would feel superior. The Yan family was not well-known, and they had the support of Princess Ma and Concubine Jiang behind them, so they naturally looked down on the servants of the Yan family she brought with her.
Just as I was about to say something, I heard Guyu's exclamation coming from outside the house.
"Grandma, why are you here?"
Luo Qiong jokingly asked, "Why, I can't come?"
"That's not what I meant. Please wait a moment. I'll go into the house and inform my young lady." Guyu glanced at the gatekeeper maid who had not been informed in advance, and walked quickly into the house with her eyelids drooped.
As soon as she entered the house, Wang Maner asked, "What's going on? The news was not announced until the grandmother came into the courtyard."
Guyu did not argue, but admitted her mistake directly: "It was my negligence."
Daohua didn't pursue the matter: "Let's not talk about this for now." With that, she tidied her appearance and went to the outer room with a smile. Seeing Luo Qiong sitting in the living room drinking tea, she asked with a smile: "Sister-in-law is here. Pingxi Hall is really brightened up."
Luo Qiong put down her teacup, looked at the bright and pretty rice flowers, and said with a smile, "I thought my sister-in-law didn't welcome me."
Daohua's smile remained unchanged: "What are you talking about, sister-in-law? Is it like if I go to Chenyuan, sister-in-law will not welcome me?"
Luo Qiong's eyes flashed, and he smiled and said, "Of course I will clear the bed to welcome you."
Daohua sat down in the main seat with a polite and distant smile on her face. Without exchanging pleasantries, she asked directly, "Sister-in-law, come over, but do you have any instructions?"
Seeing her being so direct, Luo Qiong's eyes flickered again. After thinking about it, she felt that it was true. Considering the bad relationship between her husband and Xiao Yeyang, there was really no need for them to pretend to be nice to each other anymore.
"It was my mother who asked me to come here."
Daohua's smile faded a little. "Princess? You usually have to take care of the affairs of the palace, so I imagine you're quite busy and tired. But I didn't expect you to still care about the affairs of Pingxi Hall. You really have a lot of energy."
Luo Qiong's mouth twitched. It was true that birds of a feather flock together. Yan Yiyi and Xiao Yeyang were exactly the same. They were so sarcastic when they spoke that he almost accused his mother of meddling in other people's business.
"My mother is the mistress of the palace. It is her right to know everything in the palace."
The word "everything" is particularly emphasized.
Daohua picked up the teacup with a smile, without responding to Luo Qiong's words, and sipped the tea slowly.
Seeing the sneer on Daohua's lips, Luo Qiong frowned unhappily. She found that Yan Yiyi was really good at making people angry. She didn't have the dignity of a girl from an orthodox family who should give others some face when doing things.
Save face?
The rice flowers sneered. They were mortal enemies. To save face for the enemy would only bring trouble to oneself.
Luo Qiong didn't want to just sit there doing nothing, so she took the initiative to find a conversation: "I heard that my sister-in-law slept until noon today. These newlyweds are really in love."
Hearing this, Daohua's eyes flashed with coldness, but she pretended to be shy and said, "Sister-in-law is an experienced person, why are you making fun of me? Wasn't it the same when she married into the palace?"
Luo Qiong was choked. She really didn't expect Daohua to respond so boldly.
Was it like this when she got married?
Of course not.
Not to mention sleeping until noon, she had to get up early the next day to serve Princess Ma.
This comparison made Luo Qiong feel unbalanced. Looking at Daohua's beautiful and happy face, he felt that she was an eyesore and didn't want to talk to her anymore. He said directly, "Fourth sister has returned home three times. Mother said that from today on, you should go to visit her morning and evening."
Daohua looked at Luo Qiong in surprise and blurted out, "The princess has a fever?"
The corners of Luo Qiong's mouth twitched again, and he stood up. "I have already passed on what Mother asked me to say. You can decide how to do it yourself. I will not disturb you any more. I am leaving now."
After Luo Qiong left the room, Daohua put the teacup in her hand down on the table with a thud and looked at Wang Maner. "Within three days, count all the servants working in Pingxi Hall. Don't worry about their personnel relationships."
She decided not to keep any of these servants.
Wang Maner looked at Daohua and knew that she was angry. The grandmother came without informing her in advance, and the news that the girl got up late was also spread.
Even she was very angry about this.
Wang Maner turned around and retreated, quickly going to count the number of servants.
Afterwards, Daohua asked Bishi to call Qin Xiaoliu.
"How's the matter going with the one I asked you to select maids and old women from various manors and teach them etiquette?"
Ever since the emperor issued the decree to grant the marriage, Daohua asked Qin Xiaoliu to start this matter. She also specially invited a nanny from the palace who specialized in helping wealthy families train maids to come to the farm for training.
Qin Xiaoliu: "Miss, I have almost taught them all the rules and etiquette, but these maids have limited knowledge. After so long of training, they can only do rough work."
Daohua: "It doesn't matter, as long as people are sincere." She doesn't want any capable management talents, as long as these people follow the rules she set and do their jobs well.
"Go and prepare. In a couple of days, I might have to send these people into the palace to work."
Qin Xiaoliu looked up at the rice flowers and felt a little worried.
The girl has just married into the palace, and she has already replaced the servants. Is that okay?
Daohua originally didn't want to replace all the people, but today's incident reminded her.
Now that she has married Xiao Yeyang, Pingxitang is her home. She will not allow her home to be peeped by outsiders or for what happens at home to be leaked out at will.
I originally wanted to replace it slowly, but now I think that is too slow.
She didn't have the extra energy to waste on these meaningless fights in the backyard. She had more important things to do.
I have to be busy getting used to Xiao Yeyang, familiarizing myself with his living habits, and deepening my feelings for him.
He had to be busy building good relationships with Prince Heping and Xiao Yeyang's mother, and to try his best to bring them closer to Xiao Yeyang;
You also have to deal with a group of royal relatives. Even if you are not close friends with them, you should be familiar with their likes and dislikes to avoid being cheated or offending others.
All of this is much more important than fighting with the women in the palace's backyard.
In this case, for Pingxitang, which is like a sieve with people from several factions inserted into it, it would be better to cut the Gordian knot and directly replace all the servants to solve the problem once and for all.
Thinking of Princess Ma asking her to visit her morning and evening, Daohua snorted coldly. She had no reason to ask.
That night, Xiao Yeyang came back after dark.
Daohua first asked someone to fetch him water to wash, and then asked him to serve the meal.
"It's so late, you haven't eaten yet?" Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua in surprise who was sitting with him.
Daohua smiled and said, "I have to wait for you to come back and eat with you."
Xiao Yeyang held Daohua's hand and said, "Don't wait for me in the future. I'll be heartbroken if you get hungry."
Daohua: "I'm not hungry, I had some snacks."
Xiao Yeyang looked at the hot food, then looked at Daohua who was beside him, his eyes filled with smiles. Finally, he didn't have to eat alone.
During the meal, Daohua told Xiao Yeyang that she wanted to replace the servants in Pingxi Hall.
Xiao Yeyang said directly: "You are the hostess of Pingxi Hall. Here, you have the final say."
Daohua smiled and talked to Xiao Yeyang in detail about the training of maids and old women.
A home belongs to two people. It requires a wife and a husband to build and manage it together. They should discuss and consult with each other when encountering problems. This not only allows multiple people to think of solutions, but also allows them to enhance their relationship by solving problems together.
She would never be the kind of wife who silently gives without saying a word, and eventually lets her husband get used to it and think that everything she does is natural.
Of course, Daohua did not tell her the specific details and procedures of the replacement. This was a problem she should solve.
Xiao Yeyang has created a world for her outside and has protected her from being bullied. She should create a warm and comfortable home for him.
The next morning, when Xiao Yeyang got up, Daohua also struggled to get up.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang looked puzzled. He hugged her and chuckled softly in her ear, "It seems you weren't tired last night."
Daohua glanced at Xiao Yeyang and said, "Aren't you going to do your work? What are you hesitating about?" As she said that, she slapped the hand off her waist and quickly got out of bed.
"Little liar!"
Looking at Daohua who went behind the screen to change clothes, Xiao Yeyang smiled and muttered something.
After they had breakfast, Xiao Yeyang went out to do his errands, while Daohua went to Pingxitang.
When Daohua arrived at Pingxi Hall, Prince Ping, Princess Ma, Xiao Yechang, Xiao Yuhua and others were still having breakfast, and her daughter-in-law Luo Qiong was standing by to serve them.
Prince Ping was surprised to see the rice flowers.
Princess Ma raised her eyebrows proudly. She was the principal wife of the palace. Even if Xiao Yeyang and his wife were reluctant, they had to follow etiquette and pay their respects to her.
Luo Qiong looked at Daohua in surprise. Based on her understanding of Yan Yiyi, she would not compromise so easily.
Xiao Yechang and the others also looked surprised.
Xiao Yuhua sneered: "Outwardly strong but inwardly weak, I thought she was capable, but now she's bowing her head!"
After Prince Ping and Daohua had greeted each other, they couldn't help but ask, "Why are you here?"
Daohua asked with a smile, "I came here to have dinner with my father, but he doesn't welcome me?"
Prince Ping was stunned and looked at Daohua suspiciously. This girl seemed to be abnormal today. "How could that be?" He said, waving his hand to ask Huai En to add a set of bowls and chopsticks.
Daohua calmly sat down, looked at the food on the table, and praised: "The food here is really good, father."
Prince Ping curled his lips and said, "I don't think the food at your manor is better." The food in the palace was exquisite, but it just didn't taste as good as the one at Four Seasons Villa.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuhua immediately responded, "Second sister-in-law, now that you've married into the palace, could you please have some fruits and vegetables from Four Seasons Villa delivered to the mansion every day? Just consider it a gift to your father."
Daohua smiled and said, "If Father wants to eat the food grown at Four Seasons Villa, he can go there anytime. As for delivering the food to the palace, I have to listen to your second brother. Why don't you go ask your second brother?"
Xiao Yuhua immediately curled her lips and stopped talking. Was she asking for trouble for her second brother?
Princess Ma sneered and said, "Wife Yeyang, if you can't bear to let go, just say so. Why are you pulling Yeyang away?"
Daohua glanced at Princess Ma, then looked at Prince Ping with an aggrieved expression: "Father, do you say I'm a stingy person?" She discovered that her father-in-law would often show weakness to those who habitually protected him.
Prince Ping glared at Princess Ma and said, "Of course you are not stingy. The princess doesn't understand you, so ignore her."
Upon hearing this, Princess Ma was furious.
Daohua smiled again: "Uncle Emperor also said that I am generous."
At first, everyone didn't understand what this meant, but they soon remembered the million stones of grain and medicinal materials donated by the Yan family.
Well, we can donate a million dan of grain just like that. Who dares to say we are stingy?
Prince Ping looked at Daohua, who was sipping her porridge, and asked again, "Is there something wrong with you? It's okay, don't be shy. You are my daughter-in-law now, and I will definitely help you."
Daohua put down the spoon and looked at Prince Ping hesitantly, wanting to say something.
Prince Ping was frightened by the look and asked directly, "Is there really something wrong?"
Daohua looked at Princess Ma and said, "The princess asked my sister-in-law to inform me yesterday that I should come to visit her every morning and evening."
Prince Ping glanced at Princess Ma, who immediately sat up straight and was about to say that this was the rule, but Prince Ping turned his head away.
Prince Ping looked at Daohua in disbelief: "So, you are here to pay your respects to the princess today?"
Daohua nodded, then shook her head. "Father, I really, really, really want to be a good daughter-in-law and get along well with everyone in the palace. Do you think I should pay my respects to the princess every day?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Qiong, Xiao Yechang and the others all thought in their hearts that this was the Yan Yiyi who dared not to offer tea to the princess that day.
Prince Ping was silent for two seconds. Thinking of his eldest son's violent temper, and then thinking of his daughter-in-law who looked well-behaved but was ruthless in her actions, for the sake of the palace's stability, he said decisively, "Well, actually, I don't think it's necessary. The princess is not your mother-in-law, so you don't need to pay your respects to her."
"Your Highness!" Princess Ma cried out, looking at Prince Ping in disbelief. "Your Highness, I am your principal wife."
Prince Ping frowned unhappily. "I didn't say you weren't the principal wife." He pointed at Luo Qiong and said, "Don't you already have your own daughter-in-law? Having her regularly visit you morning and night isn't enough, but you're also bothering Yan? Yan has to manage the affairs of Pingxi Hall and is very busy. How can she have the time to come here every day?"
Princess Ma was filled with anger and glared at Daohua fiercely.
Daohua ignored him and said with a smile, "I will obey you, father." After a pause, she said, "Father, speaking of the affairs of Pingxi Hall, I have something I would like you to make a decision on."
Prince Ping said simply, "You have the final say on matters concerning Pingxi Hall. There's no need to ask me."
Daohua smiled and said, "You are the elder. I just married into the palace and I don't understand many things. I need your guidance."
Prince Ping was flattered and felt very comfortable: "What's the matter?"
Daohua: "I'm not used to the servants in Pingxi Hall."
Upon hearing this, Princess Ma's eyelids twitched, and the way others looked at Daohua also changed completely.
Prince Ping said nonchalantly, "Servants are kept to do work for their masters. If they are not used well, they can be replaced."
Daohua smiled and said, "I'll obey you, Father." Seeing that Princess Ma seemed about to say something, she quickly spoke first, "Father, don't you like eating flower cakes? I'll send them to you when your daughter-in-law makes them."
Prince Ping nodded quickly: "Okay, okay, I want the same one we had last time. I think it tastes great."
Daohua smiled and nodded, thinking to herself, how could it taste bad? It’s made from roses grown in the black soil of space.
Looking at the rice flowers that had diverted Prince Ping's attention, and then at the defeated Princess Ma, Xiao Yechang and Xiao Yuhua all sighed in their hearts at the second sister-in-law's strong fighting ability.
Luo Qiong felt a little complicated. As Xiao Yechen's wife, she and Princess Ma were in the same boat. Rationally, she should help suppress Xiao Yeyang and his wife; but emotionally, she was happy to see her mother-in-law suffer a loss at the hands of Yan Yi.
Half an hour later, Daohua came out of Pingxi Hall looking refreshed. She nodded to Xiao Yechang, Xiao Yuhua and others, then returned to Pingxi Hall with her maid.
Looking at the rice flowers drifting away, Xiao Yuhua looked puzzled: "Why does my father think so highly of my second sister-in-law?"
Xiao Yechang: "The one that Father favors is not Second Sister-in-law, but Second Brother. Haven't you noticed that since Second Brother got engaged to Second Sister-in-law, the relationship between Second Brother and Father has eased a lot."
"My second brother finally managed to move back to the palace. Given the relationship between the princess and my second brother, the princess also asked my second sister-in-law to visit him every morning and evening. Isn't this clearly trying to stir up trouble? For the sake of the palace's stability, my father will not agree to this."
Xiao Yuhua glanced at Xiao Yechang in surprise: "Third brother, why are you talking so much today?"
Xiao Yechang smiled faintly and said, "Just chatting casually. Well, I have something else to do. Ladies, please do as you please." After saying that, he turned and left.
On the other side, after Daohua returned to Pingxitang, she asked Deshou to call those people who had defected to Xiao Yeyang over.
Soon, Deshou came with his men.
There were four people in total, two men and two women, all of them were a bit older, around forty years old.
"Meet Second Madam."
Daohua looked at the five people and said, "You are the elders of the palace. I heard that you were all managers in the past. Please tell me what your responsibilities are so that I can arrange tasks for you."
The first person to come forward and reply was a woman with meticulously combed hair and a serious face: "Second Madam, this old servant is responsible for training the maids and women in the mansion. Everyone calls me Hua Pozi."
After hearing this, Daohua nodded and looked at the remaining three people.
Among the three, two are husband and wife.
The middle-aged man who looked smarter came out first: "My name is Pingji, and the one next to you is my wife. I am usually responsible for delivering messages from the gatehouse."
Pingji's wife continued, "I am responsible for patrolling the backyard at night and locking the doors."
Daohua said nothing and looked at the last person.
"Your servant, Pingqing, is responsible for the management of the carriages and horses."
Pingqing is a bit dark and seems a bit taciturn.
After listening to the four people's introductions, Daohua was silent for a moment. "Here, everyone only has one chance. Anyone who has second thoughts, no matter the reason, will not be tolerated. You came here on your own initiative. Second Master and I believe in your sincerity. I hope you won't let us down."
The four of them immediately expressed their loyalty: "Your servants have absolutely no second thoughts."
Daohua: "Your job remains unchanged. All the servants in Pingxitang will be replaced in a few days. You must manage your subordinates well." As he said this, he glanced at Wang Maner.
Wang Maner immediately took out the management system manual that she had prepared long ago and distributed it to the four people.
Daohua continued, "I don't need you to have any great abilities. Just do your work and manage people according to the rules from above."
After managing the farm and the shop for so many years, Daohua has accumulated a lot of experience in how to manage people and how to make servants work efficiently and actively.
Pingxitang is her home, and she needs it to run efficiently.
Two days later, after Qin Xiaoliu brought the maids and old women that Daohua wanted into the palace, Daohua asked Wang Maner to call all the servants of Pingxitang to the main courtyard.
The whole yard was packed, with new and old people standing on each side.
Daohua said without further ado: "I only need loyal people here. Anyone who has second thoughts should go back to where they came from." Then, she looked at the old friend and said, "You can leave now."
As soon as these words were spoken, the old friend immediately started crying.
Daohua sat still and looked up at Hua Pozi and the other three.
Without saying a word, the four of them selected some strong women and rushed towards the old man.
No one knew what Hua Po-zi said, but not long after, the old man was dejectedly driven out of Pingxi Hall by the new woman.
When Daohua saw this, a faint smile appeared on her face, and she stood up and went back into the house. As for where those old people who had left would go, that was left to Princess Ma to worry about.
Wang Maner, along with Guyu, Lixia and Bishi, began to assign tasks to everyone.
With Hua Pozi and the other three watching over them, although the new maids and old women were still a little unfamiliar with the job, they had no problem maintaining the normal operation of Pingxitang.
The other people in the palace were shocked when they heard that Daohua had replaced all the servants in Pingxitang.
In Chenyuan, Luo Qiong looked at the maids sent by Princess Ma to her courtyard, and her heart became more and more upset. They were both daughters-in-law of the royal family, so why could Yan Yi do whatever she wanted while she had to endure everything?
It's obvious that her family background and origin are much higher than Yan Yiyi's!
That night, when Xiao Yeyang returned home and heard about this, he held Daohua's cheeks and kissed her randomly without any reason.
Daohua pushed him away with great effort and glared at him coquettishly: "What are you doing?"
Xiao Yeyang hugged Daohua tightly and said with a smile, "I'm so happy. How come my wife is so capable? She just replaced the person so easily."
Daohua put her arms around Xiao Yeyang's neck, smiling sweetly and proudly: "I dare to do this because you are protecting me."
Xiao Yeyang's hand on Daohua's waist slowly moved down, his expression ambiguous: "Then how are you going to thank me?"
Daohua's smile faded, and she struggled to get out of Xiao Yeyang's arms: "I made steamed duck with fermented rice wine tonight. You should eat more and nourish yourself well."
Xiao Yeyang rested his head on Daohua's neck and kept rubbing it: "Let's mend it together."
I'm just asking for a monthly ticket, if you have any extra words...
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
