Lin Si Yaoâs train of thought was simple. As long as it benefited Su Shuilian, he would agree to anything.
Liang-momo was right. After her labor, she had to convalesce during her puerperium. She surely needed people to take care of her. At first, he had thought that he would ask Auntie Lao to help. But now, they had trained nannies and maids who were ready to take care of Shuilian in any minute. How could he deny them?
Moreover, it would be better to have people living in the empty house he had built for Si Tuo and the other two than to leave it vacant.
No matter what, it was a big house situating over four acres of land. Since they had planted trees, grass, and bamboo around to the house to decorate, those plants would need a regular maintenance. He had purchased the furniture, and they just needed to clean them to use. Otherwise, he didnât know when Si Tuoâs team could have time to move in. If left untaken care of, they may walk into a dust filled house with dying garden.
And, even when Si Tuo and the others moved in, they would need a cook and a gardener. Or else, with their characteristics, they would come to his house to eat every meal. Lin Si Yao would never admit that he kept Liang-momoâs group just to prevent Si Tuo and the other two from disturbing his happy little family of two with Shuilian. Ah, no, next year, it would actually become a family of four.
Around shen-shi (3pm to 5pm), Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian came and knocked the door. As soon as they walked into the main room, they saw a proper-dressed woman who stood by Su Shuilian dutifully reporting the arrangement of the big, four-acre house.
Then, they cautiously sat far away from them. They shot a look to Su Shuilian, signaling that she didnât need to care about them.
âMaâams, please enjoy your tea!â The maid who stood silently aside saw Auntie Lao and Auntie Tian. She swiftly poured them the top-quality, fragrant tea they had brought from Prince Jingâs mansion.
âErr⊠This⊠Thank you!â
Auntie Lao and Auntie Tian had never been treated like this before. Let alone being well-treated, they had never seen such a polite and respectful scene before.
The two clumsily received their cups of tea. Carefully, they placed it on the small table next to them. Then, they calmed down and sat upright on their chairs.
They exchanged looks and their presumptions. Indeed, this Shuilian girl was actually a young lady from a rich and noble family.
Previously, they didnât believe in various rumors people had spread out around the village. Thus, they came to ask. And now, it seems the rumors were true! They wondered why this girl didnât want to be a lady of the rich family, but come to this rural, mountainous village to become an embroiderer? Was it true that she had run away with A Yao? However, Lin Si Yao didnât look like an ordinary farmer either! Let alone his excellent kungfu, he also got an imposing aura. Tsk tsk! If he werenât married, he would be constantly pursued by many unwed maidens, right? And so, this couple had the two poniang* whom were both mothers and grandmothers so confused; they couldnât figure it out, even if they had to scratch their scalp.
âMiss, Guye said that as heâs here, we didnât need to send the guards to this house. Thus, Iâve arranged them to stay in the three yards in the Bamboo Garden*. There will be a maid and servant stationed in each room. Chun Lan and this servant will stay here to serve you.â
(ç«čć/ Bamboo Garden- if Iâm not wrong, this is the name of the 4 acre house)
Liang-momo reported in detail how she had arranged the people in the four-acre house to Shuilian.
Originally, she wanted to let the bodyguards to be on duty by the gate to protect Young Lady. However, unexpectedly, Guye said they didnât need the bodyguards as long as he was there. She didnât get it at first. The Elder Wangye and Wangfei had chosen the eight imperial bodyguards with the best martial arts of Prince Jingâs mansion. Moreover, the Chief guard was sent here, too. All was because that they were worried for the young ladyâs safety since she lived in a rural area that she would suffer injustice. But, right before they got here, their Guye had deprived the sword in the Chief Guardâs hand right in the Bamboo Garden with one strike. Moreover, after a sway, he disappeared. And now, not only her and the maids who didnât know Kungfu, but also the group of guards, especially the Chief Guard idolize their Guye. He was actually the legendary expert in the world of martial arts! He had made the guards who just knew to use their sword to kill people admire him much. If Guye taught them some moves, their fighting value would increase significantly. Then, when they returned and participated the Gold Imperial Guard Championship (that happens every three years), they would win easily!
â⊠Miss, for the time being, we will stay in Bamboo Garden. Iâm afraid we canât stand by all night to serve you. This serventâŠâ
Liang-momo sounded apologetic. They were sent here to serve their Young Lady, but now they were arranged to stay in a new house far away from her. It didnât look like they came to serve. It looked like they came to take a vacation!
Except for her and Chun Lan, the other maids and servants just needed to clean the houses in the Bamboo Garden. Guye had already denied their request to come and greet him and the Young Lady daily. He said it wasnât necessary.
About night time serving, this house didnât have extra rooms. And Guye didnât allow Chun Lan and her to stay on duty in the main house. Might be⊠Liang-momo could guess his intentions. Her old face slightly blushed.
âLiang-momo, A Yao told me already. Your arrangement is alright. You donât need to feel sorry. And, to the maids, Momo should teach them what to do and what they shouldnât do.â Su Shuilian lightly replied to Liang-momo, asking her not to think much.
After her afternoon nap, A Yao had told her all of these arrangements. And of course, she agreed with him. No matter what, their current house couldnât host so many maids and servants. And at night⊠recalling their intimate images, her ears and neck blushed uncontrollably.
Su Shuilian stopped the junk thoughts in her head. She paused before turning to talk to Liang-momo. âAnyway, that Bamboo Garden was built for A Yaoâs three sworn brothers. We donât know when they will move in. But until that time, the maids and servants need to obey the rules. They canât cross the line.â She didnât want those maids and servants to forget their roles and responsibility as they were so free over there. They must take their roles seriously. Otherwise, they would provoke Si Tuo and coâs flames of anger. No matter what, those three were the real assassins!
âMiss, be assured! Iâve taught them right when weâve moved in the Bamboo Garden. They will absolutely not forget their identity,â Liang-momo answered seriously.
The maids and servants from Prince Jingâs mansion, although they might be not as excellent as the servants from the other high noble families, they were aware of their status and duty. They wouldnât be worse than the others in this aspect.
Moreover, the elder Wangye and Wangfei had worried about this. They were afraid that the maids and servants they sent to serve the young lady would become greedy. Thus, they intended to assign the momo with the highest echelon by the elder Wangfei â Xia-momo to carefully choose the maids with her. The maids and servant they had brought here were honest looking and nimble. Most importantly, they had previously served the elder Wangfei together with Momo Xia. They knew their lot and they were absolutely reliable.
âItâs good then,â Su Shuilian nodded, âMomo, I want to talk to the aunties. Since weâve moved here, theyâve been helping us a lot.â
âThen this servant shall retire first,â Liang-momo gave Su Shuilian a curtsy. Then, she turned to smile at Auntie Lao and Auntie Tian. âThank you, Madams, for taking care of our Young Lady. Weâve prepared you thank-you gifts. When youâre leaving, Chun Lan will see you off with them.â
âIt⊠How could we accept that?! No! No!â Auntie Lao and Auntie Tian waved their hands to deny. In the countryside, you help me and I help you. They had never thought about giving thank-you gifts.
âMadams, donât be polite. Before we left, the Elder Wangfei had asked us to give the thank-you gifts to anyone who have helped Young Lady. And to whoever that hurt our Lady, we will never let them go.â Liang-momo smiled, telling what the Elder wangfei had told her. She also took the chance to remind these two women and hoped that it would make the villagers open their eyes wider. No one was allowed to bully her Young Miss. Humph! How could they let anyone bully their right-and-proper Fourth Young Lady.
âMomo, itâs not as serious as you said. They honestly treat me well. No one has ever hurt me,â Su Shuilian didnât know whether she should laugh or cry.
âMiss, this servant does not expect to see anyone hurting you. Just consider it as a slipped of this serpentâs tongue. Allow this servant to leave. Madams, enjoy your talk with Young Lady. Later, Chun Lan will see you off.â Liang-momo smiled and comforted Su Shuilian. Then, she waved at Chun Lan to ask her to go out and prepare the thank-you gifts.
âPhew, girlâŠâ After Liang-momo and Chun Lan had left the room, Auntie Lao and Auntie Tian finally exhaled in relief. Although Liang-momo was just a mamma, she got a threatening pressure. Sigh, the mammas and maids of the noble families wore better than their daughters and their every movement were very imposing.
âAuntie Lao, Auntie Tian, IâŠâ Su Shuilian smiled with guilt when she saw the womenâs reaction. Although it wasnât her wish, this bodyâs identity made her feel like she had cheated those simple and nice farmers.
âOh my, weâre just curious so we came to see. Itâs nothing, actually. Anyway, girl are you really⊠reallyâŠ.â Auntie Lao stuttled. She wanted to ask about what made them skeptical, but she didnât dare to open her mouth. She though the word âPrinceâs Mansionâ was too far away from them.
âA Young Lady from a Princeâs Mansion?â Auntie Tian frankly continued. Although she couldnât believe it, a question wouldnât cost a bit of meat from her.
âOh, yeah, it is true. But A Yao and I will still live here. Itâs our home.â
Fan Hua Town was the first small town she had ever been after she came to this world. This place had verdant hills and limpid water. It was always calm and peaceful. She would never leave here to move to anywhere else. Even when the kids grew up, she and A Yao would take them to travel everywhere to see the world out there. However, they would never forget this place. It was their home, their origin in Da Hui Empire.
âMhm, of course, we do hope you would stay here. However, girl, weâre just farmers in a rural area. We canât fulfil complicated etiquettes. Please donât blame us.â Auntie Tian talked, laughing. It was her half-joking, half-sincere explanation.
âAuntie Tian, how could you say such a thing? Until now, youâve been treating me as your daughter. I havenât thanked you enough. If you become distant because of my status, I donât want it.â Su Shuilian smiled, pulling Auntie Laoâs and Auntie Tianâs arms, talking like a spoiled child.
âYou silly girl. As long as you donât mind and continue our relationship, how could we bare be distant to you?â Auntie Lao and Auntie Tian felt their worries vanish after listening to Su Shuilian. Right, it doesnât matter that sheâs the Young Lady of a Princeâs mansion. Theyâd known each other for almost a year. How could they not know Su Shuilianâs personality!?
And with that thought, Auntie Lao and Auntie Tian exchanged smiles. They chatted some daily stories and asked Su Shuilian about her bodyâs situation.
Only until the sun set, did they rushed home to cook dinner.
Chun Lan was waiting for them outside. She carried two brocade boxes, following them to their houses.