Chapter 24
Confusion

“Steward Liang.”

“Young Madam, I am here.”

Seeing her worried expression, Song Wan said, “I heard that your elderly mother was ill a few days ago and hasn’t fully recovered. Is that true?”

“Young Madam, my mother is in good health. I haven’t been home recently and haven’t neglected my duties…”

“You misunderstood my intention.”

Song Wan took a piece of red velvet cloth handed by Heng Zhi and opened it casually, “I have half a fifty-year-old ginseng in my room, given by the old madam. If you don’t mind, you can take it home to nourish your mother’s health.”

Steward Liang immediately knelt on the ground.

“Thank you, Young Madam. I thank you on behalf of my parents for your kindness.”

Heng Zhi stepped forward to help the person up, “No need for this. Our lady knows who has worked hard. You will get what you deserve.”

Jiang Fu’s wife looked displeased. She was the head stewardess of the inner courtyard. Although Song Wan hadn’t said anything against her today, her actions had been a slap in the face. Yet, she couldn’t hold any resentment.

“Nanny Zhou.”

“I am here.”

Seeing her respectfully salute, Song Wan said gently, “I heard that your grandson could recognize over a hundred characters at the age of five?”

Nanny Zhou nodded, and Song Wan said, “This child has some talent. I thought it would be a waste not to nurture it. How about sending him to our family school to study with the young masters? He might become a little scholar in the future.”

Her grandson was Nanny Zhou’s pride and joy. If the child were just mischievous, it wouldn’t matter. But now, with such remarkable talent, she naturally had high hopes. If her grandson could become a scholar in the future, she would be willing to die content.

Nanny Zhou knelt before Song Wan and kowtowed three times without a word.

“Thank you, Young Madam. I will follow your lead and serve you with all my heart.”

Song Wan helped her up, smiling and saying it was a small matter.

“The stewardesses know the situation in Lan Ting Courtyard. It used to be quiet, with fewer maids. Now that the first master is back and there are new people in the courtyard, we are short-handed. I am not yet familiar with the staff in the residence, so I need you to select some clever and capable maids for me.”

“If you have any capable ones or daughters and granddaughters at home who are suitable, you can send them to Heng Zhi for a look.”

The stewardesses exchanged glances, their hearts filled with joy. It wasn’t easy to get into the master’s courtyard, especially Lanting Courtyard.

Once in Lan Ting Courtyard, there was a chance to serve the master closely. A clever maid might even become a concubine one day. They were all born and raised in the marquis’s residence. Who didn’t have a daughter or granddaughter?

If one of them could catch the master’s eye, the whole family would rise to prominence.

Several stewardesses were eager, already considering candidates in their minds.

Seeing this, Song Wan’s smile deepened, “The rough maids and stewardesses in the residence have the hardest work but the least pay. I thought of adding fifty wen to their monthly allowance, giving them a set of cotton-padded clothes in winter and a thin skirt in summer and an extra two strings of cash in winter and summer for buying fruits and charcoal.”

“Young Madam is kind…” A group of stewardesses rushed to praise Song Wan, but she only smiled faintly and didn’t take it to heart.

“Jiang Fu’s wife.”

“Yes, Young Madam, what are your instructions?”

Song Wan had no complaints and instead looked apologetic, “It has been hard on you these past few years while the first master was away.”

“Young Madam, it was my duty.”

“How can you say that?”

Heng Zhi handed over a wooden box, which Song Wan passed to her, “You and Jiang Bo have worked hard for the marquis’s residence all your lives. The residence owes you.”

Jiang Fu’s wife opened the box in a daze and found a recommendation letter inside.

“Your youngest son, Jiang Youcai, grew up with the first master. Now that the first master is back, he should be by his side. But both the old madam and I think it would be a waste of his talent, so we had someone write a recommendation letter for him to become a deputy at the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau.”

“The position is low but still an official position.”

Jiang Fu’s wife held the recommendation letter, her eyes red with tears.

“Young Madam… I…”

Song Wan smiled gently and patted her hand.

With no more pressing matters, Song Wan gave a few simple instructions and dismissed the stewardesses. Once the room was quiet, she noticed Jiang Xingjian standing in the corner, unsure how long he had been there.

Song Wan was slightly startled, “Do you need something, husband?”

Jiang Xingjian shook his head and sat down beside her.

He had come today because he was worried. He thought that if Song Wan was troubled by unruly servants, he could step in to support her. But within half a day, she had managed to handle the stewardesses, leaving them with no complaints.

First, she established her authority with a show of strength, then dismantled the collusion among the servants, redistributing power. After dealing with those who had been embezzling in the inner courtyard, she brought them into Lan Ting Courtyard.

If the servants wanted their daughters to be favored by the master, they would naturally obey her, be willing to be used by her, and accept her influence.

As for giving benefits to the lowest-ranking maids and stewardesses…

Jiang Xingjian smiled faintly, thinking that within half a day, the entire marquis’s residence would know that the young madam was kind and benevolent.

Jiang Xingjian rubbed his fingers, thinking that even if he were in charge, he wouldn’t have done better than Song Wan. He had never seen this decisive and assertive side of Song Wan before. This first encounter had completely changed his impression of her.

“You…”

“First Master, Young Madam.”

Xie Yi entered from outside, saluted the two, and said, “First Master, Concubine Lin from Xiu Yan Pavilion is ill and wishes to see you.”

Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, suddenly remembering that he hadn’t seen Lin Jiayue for a few days.

He glanced at Song Wan, who was half-closing her eyes, looking sleepy.

“Wife, you should rest. I’ll come back later.”

Song Wan opened her eyes and smiled distantly, then returned to her bedroom with Heng Zhi and Heng Wu.

After they helped her lie down, they quietly left the room.

The rose-scented pillow under her neck emitted a clear fragrance, which was usually her favorite scent. But today, it made her feel uneasy, and she couldn’t calm down.

She hadn’t been lying down for long before she sat up.

It had rained last night, so Heng Zhi had brought the zodiac wood carvings back inside. Now, the eight wood carvings were neatly arranged on the edge of the embroidered couch.

Song Wan touched each one with red eyes, her expression growing more confused.