A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 45

Chapter 45: A Fawning Smile

Wen Yu returned to her room. Without delay, she directly asked Yan Zhu to call Xiao Ji and her mother.

Xiao Ji must have been waiting for the news, so she came quickly. As soon as she entered the door, Wen Yu almost laughed. Seeing Xiao Ji, she could never imagine her mother like this…

Nearly forty years old, she still had a slim figure, not at all like someone who had given birth to four children. Her eyes were bright and clear, and although her skin was not fair, it was delicate. She wore cloth clothes, and her whole body was clean and tidy.

Standing there, calm and polite, she truly possessed a lingering charm.

And Xiao Ji beside her… probably waiting for the most crucial moment that would determine her fate, her fat trembling nervously…

Truly an eyesore!

Wen Yu waved the deeds of sale in front of the mother and daughter. “I’ve brought your whole family over!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ji thumped to her knees and burst into tears, “Miss! Miss! Please rest assured, Xiao Ji will follow you for a lifetime, with absolute loyalty!”

Xiao Ji’s mother also knelt and bowed, “Thank you, Miss, for your support. Miss, my family and I will definitely serve you loyally and work diligently!”

Wen Yu said, “I hope so. Get up! Remember, only when I am well can you be well! These days, there are many things I still can’t control. I hope we can work together to get out of this predicament!”

“Everything is at your command, Miss.” Xiao Ji’s mother’s voice was also soft. “My husband asked me to tell you: All these years, he has not stopped learning skills, and he has been teaching his sons. Rest assured, Miss, he will definitely do the things you entrust to him well!”

“Yes. Now there are a few things for them to do!”

Xiao Ji’s mother was stunned. They hadn’t even met, and they were already going to work?

Wen Yu took out a few pieces of paper, along with a few silver notes and a bag of silver.

“Although I have requested your whole family, there might be some people who are unhappy or regret it! So, I won’t meet them for now. They will go out to work directly. What they need to do is already written down. This is a thousand taels in silver notes, and some loose silver. It’s for purchasing a carriage and other supplies. The basic requirements are all written down. Tell Steward Li to hurry and keep a record of the expenses.”

“Ah?! This…” Xiao Ji’s mother was quite shocked. After calming herself, she took the things. “Since Miss has said so, I will take them and relay the message to them!”

“Good! Xiao Ji is a first-class maid by my side, and you will be the Mama by my side, mainly responsible for external communication.”

“Yes!”

“When I took over the accounts, it was Fifth Cousin Song who helped. Let Steward Li go to him according to the address. If he is not there, contact the one called Ma Dahong. Let Steward Li take a look at these properties first and have a clear understanding. Hmm… these properties may not all be kept. Those that are troublesome to manage and not profitable will be sold in the future. Of course, that’s a matter for later.”

“Understood, Miss.” Xiao Ji’s mother agreed, but she was secretly surprised: How could Miss be so decisive?

“Well, that’s all for now! Remind them, the whole family should keep their mouths shut.”

“Yes, Miss!” Xiao Ji’s mother responded, then turned to instruct Xiao Ji, “Behave yourself by Miss’s side!”

Xiao Ji nodded repeatedly with a smile all over her face. Xiao Ji’s mother bowed and left.

“Xiao Ji…” Wen Yu called her.

Xiao Ji hurriedly came closer, her face full of a fawning smile. “Your orders, Miss.”

“Go tidy up your quarters and then go to the courtyard to see what people are saying. You can be happy in your heart, but be more reserved outside.”

Xiao Ji’s round face tightened, and she nodded solemnly. “Miss, Xiao Ji understands!”

“Alright, go!”

Not long after, Xiangshu and Qinghe, the newly appointed first-class maids serving Wen Yu, arrived, each carrying two large bundles.

Hong Xing’er entered with a complex expression and announced their arrival. Wen Yu hummed in response, “Let one of them in first.”

The two maids looked at each other. Xiangshu grinned at Qinghe and didn’t move.

Qinghe put down her bundle and entered, bowing to Wen Yu.

Wen Yu smiled, “Rise. Qinghe…”

Qinghe had fair and delicate skin, bright eyes, a slender nose, and thin, red lips. She appeared very quiet, looking more like her mother’s daughter than Xiao Ji!

Wen Yu found it amusing. She had already inquired about Qinghe: she was introverted, didn’t talk much, and wasn’t competitive. She was meticulous and observant, with the potential to be a very good first-class maid.

“When I asked Second Madam for someone, although I wrote your name, I really didn’t expect that she would actually give you to me. She even gave me your deed of sale?!”

Hearing that her deed of sale was in Miss’s hands, Qinghe was a little surprised. Her lips moved, but she didn’t speak.

“Well, I don’t know if you are willing. How about this, you stay with me for now. Later, whether you want to redeem yourself or find another place, I won’t stop you.”

“To be valued by Miss is Qinghe’s honor. Miss, Qinghe will work diligently and obey all your arrangements.”

Tsk, tsk, look at this answer, it’s truly appropriate, her attitude is neither servile nor overbearing.

Not bad!

Sigh… Yan Zhu has never had these skills since she was young.

Turning her head to look at Yan Zhu, she was eating something, her beautiful eyes glancing at Qinghe, who knows what she was thinking!

“Well. Go and tidy up your quarters first. My place is no different from other young ladies’.” She casually rewarded her with about two taels of silver.

✿✿✿

“Thank you, Miss!”

Then, Xiangshu entered. In the prime of her youth, her face was chubby… The red mole at the corner of her eyebrow added a touch of charm. Her eyes were very lively, and upon entering the room, she glanced around, taking in Wen Yu, Yan Zhu, and the furnishings of the room.

“Greetings, Miss…” She bowed.

“Yes, Xiangshu, is it?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what a first-class maid should do?”

Why did Miss have this attitude? Xiangshu felt a little nervous and a bit dissatisfied. She didn’t even want to come to this place!

“Xiangshu knows.”

“Can you read?”

“I can’t read…” Xiangshu’s ears turned red. She was not a first-class maid by Miss’s side, so how could she have the opportunity to learn to read?

“Well, you are someone from Second Madam’s side, so you should be very familiar with the rules. Since you are here, work hard and don’t let me find fault with you, losing face for Second Madam. After you become more familiar, I will assign you tasks. Go and tidy up your quarters first. If you have any questions, just ask Hong Xing’er!”

Wen Yu raised her chin, and Yan Zhu handed over a small package containing two taels of silver.

“…Thank you, Miss.” Xiangshu took it, feeling depressed. She didn’t dare to act up, and bowed as she left.

Yan Zhu curled her lips and muttered, “Qinghe is still better. Of course, Xiao Ji is the best!”

“Is it because Xiao Ji flatters you?”

“Hehehe…” Yan Zhu burst into laughter.

✿✿✿

Not long after, they heard Hong Xing’s slightly fawning voice at the door, “Steward Wang, you are here!”

“Yes. Where is your Miss?!” A woman’s voice sounded arrogant.

“Miss is in her room!”

The sound of two people walking.

At the door, Hong Xing’er said, “Miss, Steward Wang is here!”

Hehe, she came quickly.

Wen Yu hummed, “Let Steward Wang wait in the main hall!”

Steward Wang was the wife of Steward Chen.

Her family had an independent small courtyard next to the Wen family’s residence, and they also employed maids and old women servants. In the past two years, she only held the position of steward, receiving a salary. But in reality, she didn’t do much work. She was a wealthy lady at home, taking care of her grandson.

But the servants of the Wen family, like Hong Xing’er, still respected her because her husband was the head steward!

Yesterday, Nurse Wu was so angry by Wen Yu that she had no choice but to leave the residence and tell Wang Shi the news.

Wang Shi came now, entering the main hall with a displeased expression.

Miss didn’t come out. If she sat down, it would be obviously disrespectful.

But if she didn’t sit down and just stood there waiting… except for Old Madam and Madam, she had never been treated like this!

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Wen Yu came out, accompanied by a dark-skinned maid with a sallow complexion. She didn’t say anything and sat down in the main seat, looking at Steward Wang.

Wang Shi thought quickly. She was more clever than Nurse Song. She smiled, revealing her long teeth and a face full of wrinkles, “Greetings, Eldest Miss!”

This head steward’s wife had been a beauty in her youth. She had good eyebrows, big round eyes, and an oval face. But as she got older, her face sagged. She had big eye bags and no waistline.

Living a wealthy life, she wore silk and satin, and adorned herself with gold jewelry. She also loved to put on an arrogant air of “I’m married well”…

So she looked shallow and vulgar.

“Steward Wang. What brings you here?” Wen Yu asked coldly.