The household staff grew increasingly numerous, and Bai Sheng’s naming skills became increasingly lackluster.
Since these twenty individuals were to work on the estate, the ten young men were straightforwardly named after crops: Lu Dao, Lu Mai, Lu Dou, Lu Mian, Lu Liang, Lu Shu, Lu Ji, Lu Shu, Lu Hua Sheng, and Lu Yu Mi.
The young women were named after colors: Lu Bai, Lu Hong, Lu Lan, Lu Lu, Lu Huang, Lu Cheng, Lu Fen, Lu Qing, Lu Cui, and Lu Zi.
The reason she purchased an equal number of men and women was also to consider the matter of marriage among the household staff.
Bai Sheng was not a truly "wicked" slave owner who forbade her servants from marrying and establishing families. When they reached the age for marriage, if any of them took a liking to each other, she was happy to grant their wishes.
The twenty servants were temporarily housed in the east and west courtyards, separated by gender. Once the estate was purchased, they would all reside there.
Bai Sheng had Qiu and Dong distribute several sets of clothes and shoes to each person. The first major task for the new servants upon entering the residence was to bathe and change.
Their hair and bodies were to be thoroughly cleaned, as it would be inappropriate to spread germs to others.
Afterward, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye laid down some rules and expectations, generally stating that if they worked hard and behaved themselves, they would not be mistreated; however, if they engaged in sneaky behavior and caused trouble, only dire consequences awaited them.
The servants repeatedly responded with "Yes."
At the brokerage, to save costs, they typically only ensured that people did not starve and did not provide them with much food. Consequently, all twenty of them were feeling somewhat dizzy and weak.
Bai Sheng immediately instructed Aunt Ding and to cook a large pot of shredded pork noodles with oil and salt to fill their stomachs.
Shredded pork was added in a quantity almost equal to the noodles. The twenty people ate ravenously, and after finishing, many of them shed tears.
They had never eaten such fine white noodles, let alone so much meat. More importantly, they could eat their fill.
They could no longer recall what it felt like to eat a full meal.
Seeing that their new masters were not only beautiful in appearance but also kind-hearted, each of them felt a sense of comfort.
On the second floor of a restaurant on a street in the Imperial City of the capital.
Two secret guards dispatched by the Empress were dejectedly drinking together.
They had searched for several days, investigating all the predetermined locations, but had not found anyone named Lu Ye.
Had their years of investigative experience become useless?
Where could a mere commoner possibly hide?
At that moment, the clear calls of two children selling their wares came from the street, "Selling small bows and slingshots, cheap and good! Come and see!"
Guard A and Guard B were drawn by the sound. Peering through the window on the second floor, they saw two children with bamboo chests on their backs, shouting loudly. The bamboo chests seemed to contain small items for children.
Guard A suddenly had an idea. "They brought five children with them. If they aren't helping with the business in the capital, they should be attending private schools or academies. These common folk, in order to change their fate, are most keen on letting their sons study for official positions. Why don't we try finding the private schools or academies one by one?"
Guard B quietly sighed, "The mission the Empress gave us requires absolute secrecy; her existence must never be exposed. Otherwise, if we used the Empress's token and casually inquired at any government office, wouldn't that be clear?
Even if this Lu Ye is a commoner, wouldn't he have to buy a house in the capital? After buying a house, wouldn't he have to register at the government office to exchange the white contract for a red one?
The government office must have records. Even without the Empress's token, if we were to barge into a government office, the people there would simply think we were robbers."
Guard A's eyes lit up again. He immediately put down his wine cup and whispered, "Brother, what you said just reminded me. Lu Ye has to register at the government office when he buys a house, and there are records at the brokerage. We can't find the government office, but can't we find the brokerages? A casual inquiry at any brokerage would yield the information we want."
Guard B exclaimed, "Yes, how did I not think of that? However, there are over a dozen brokerages in the capital, and it would take a lot of time to ask them one by one. It would be better to start with the larger ones."
Guard A smiled and said, "Good, let's split up. I'll go and inquire at the private schools or academies, and you, brother, will go and inquire at the brokerages."
Guard B agreed but secretly glanced at Guard A with a cold snort in his heart. This man was truly calculating. Going to the schools to ask the children would be easily resolved with a piece of candy. As for him, investigating at the brokerages meant facing cunning adults, and a tael of silver might not be enough to get the job done.
The Empress would not reimburse these miscellaneous expenses, so he would purely be suffering a loss.
The two of them finished the remaining wine, even licking their cups clean, and then began to act separately.
Quite coincidentally, Guard B's first stop was the Jingye Brokerage, and the person he inquired with was precisely Dou the Broker.
Why did Guard B, among so many people at the brokerage, immediately take a liking to Dou the Broker?
It was mainly because he felt that Dou the Broker had a shifty appearance and looked like a bad person, and thus, he would likely reveal some information for a small profit.
However, when Guard B showed him 20 copper coins, Dou the Broker didn't even look at them. He directly said he didn't know and that their brokerage had never heard of Lu Ye.
Upon hearing this, Guard B immediately pocketed his 20 copper coins and turned to walk towards the nearby Baiye Brokerage.
He no longer wished to deal with this shifty broker.
Seeing him enter the Baiye Brokerage, Dou the Broker immediately borrowed a horse from the shopkeeper and sped towards Yuhua Lane. He wanted to report to Lu Ye and Bai Sheng.
Regardless of who this young man was, anyone who inquired about Master Lu in such a sinister tone was not a good person. Dou the Broker did not want to lose Lu Ye, a valuable client.
Moreover, once that person entered the Baiye Brokerage, he would effortlessly find information about Master Lu's family. According to Master Lu, the house he bought in Yuhua Lane was through the Baiye Brokerage, and he had also poached a lame broker from the Baiye Brokerage.
As it happened, Lu Ye and Bai Sheng were at home.
Dou the Broker, being a thoughtful and considerate person, only said that he had important matters to tell Master Lu, so as not to worry Madam Lu.
After Lu Ye followed him out of the door, Dou the Broker anxiously said, "Master Lu, a man who looked like a thug went to our brokerage to inquire about your family. I didn't tell him anything, but he went to the Baiye Brokerage, and he will likely know your whereabouts before long. You should prepare yourself."
Lu Ye was stunned for a moment, then a slight smile curved his lips. "Thank you, Dou the Broker, for the timely notification. I will handle it."
"Very good, very good, then I shall take my leave," Dou the Broker bowed and quickly left.
Lu Ye leaped up, landing on the roof of the entrance building. He looked around the property, then let out a peculiar whistle. Receiving a similar peculiar whistle in response, he jumped off the roof and turned to enter the house.
Guard B did indeed soon obtain the information he desired.