The new madam entered the mansion. The next morning, all the young ladies and concubines of the mansion were to serve tea to the new madam. Xiao Man, uncharacteristically, did not oversleep. She washed and dressed early and went to the main courtyard.
When Xiao Man arrived, everyone except the Fourth Concubine was already there.
"Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother. Good morning, sisters."
"Good morning, Eldest Sister."
"I thought you'd be sleeping in again today. I didn't expect you to be up," Xiao Zhen teased. "Didn't your quilt try to be handsy with you and grab you so you couldn't get up?"
Xiao Man pursed her lips and smiled. "It knew today was an important day and couldn't cause me trouble, so it actively urged me to get up quickly."
He Qingyi overheard and chuckled softly. "Eldest Miss wakes up late, and the General scolds. Today she wakes up early, and you scold her too. General, do you want Eldest Miss to wake up early or late? Aren't you making things difficult for her?"
"You're protecting her now. Her temperament is already rebellious enough, and you still protect her? She'll end up piercing a hole in the sky!" Xiao Zhen said disapprovingly. "You need to manage her a bit."
"Nonsense, Eldest Miss is very sensible and not someone who causes trouble." He Qingyi glared at Xiao Zhen playfully. Just then, the Fourth Concubine hurried in.
"General, Madam, I apologize for my lateness."
"You're not late, just in time," He Qingyi said with a smile. "Sister, please have a seat."
Seeing that everyone was present, Xiao Man, as the legitimate eldest daughter, naturally was the first to serve tea to her new mother. "Mother, please have some tea."
He Qingyi accepted the teacup, took a sip, and quickly handed a large red envelope to Xiao Man. The other young ladies, in order of seniority, stepped forward to serve tea. He Qingyi had prepared large red envelopes for all of them, showing no favoritism. This earned her considerable respect. Regardless of their private dealings, He Qingyi maintained a flawless outward appearance.
Next, the concubines of the mansion came forward to serve tea. He Qingyi did not make things difficult for anyone and spoke a few pleasantries about sisters supporting each other in the future. The tea ceremony was concluded.
Xiao Zhen left for the military camp for roll call. Xiao Xiang tugged at the Third Concubine's sleeve, signaling her to hand over the management of the household to He Qingyi. The Third Concubine was unwilling. She had finally obtained the power to manage the household and had not yet reaped much benefit from it, and now she had to give it up. She was resentful.
Xiao Xiang was somewhat disappointed in her mother's lack of foresight. "What are you holding onto? He Qingyi will be the first to deal with you then. How foolish!" she thought. "Mother, later I and our concubine will bring the account books and the keys to the storeroom to you. When there was no mistress in the mansion, Eldest Sister had us responsible for the household affairs to teach us management. Now that you are here, management should be your responsibility."
He Qingyi smiled and nodded. The young ladies of the mansion were all shrewd. The Second Miss, Xiao Xiang, appeared arrogant but was actually cunning. The Third Miss, being a legitimate daughter and well-educated, was more composed and calm. Especially after she had voluntarily withdrawn from the engagement with Prince Qi some time ago, she had been thrust into the spotlight, yet she remained steady.
As for the Fourth Miss, He Qingyi's smile deepened. The Fourth Miss was a true gem. She was young, eloquent, and her mother, Madam Lin, had been a famous courtesan, skilled in social graces. The Fourth Miss had inherited much of her mother's talent.
"Learning to manage a household is something every young lady from a prominent family must learn. How about this, I will invite an experienced nanny to teach the young ladies of the mansion the affairs of household management. Fourth Miss will also participate."
"Thank you, Mother."
After everyone had left, only two remained in the room. He Qingyi immediately relaxed. "Although I knew being the General's wife wouldn't be easy, on the very first day, I already feel it's truly challenging. The concubines in this mansion are all difficult women."
Xiao Man smiled. "They merely have some petty schemes."
"Second Miss is quite capable," He Qingyi said sincerely. If it weren't for this Second Miss's guidance, the Third Concubine would have been swallowed whole long ago.
Xiao Man lowered her gaze, hiding the emotions in her eyes. "Second Sister has always been intelligent."
"I'm afraid she might not use her intelligence for the right purposes," He Qingyi interjected. "Speaking of which, Eldest Miss mentioned someone would teach me medicine. Who is it?"
"I knew you'd ask about this, Mother. The person hasn't arrived yet. Please be patient and wait a few more days. You won't be idle during this time." Xiao Man handed He Qingyi a medical book. "I have this medical book here for you to look at first. The master I've found for you is guaranteed to satisfy you."
"I thank Eldest Miss."
"You are my mother now," Xiao Man said, supporting He Qingyi. "No matter when, you must not exhibit such deference. You need to project the aura of the General's wife."
"Eldest Miss, rest assured. In front of outsiders, I will never shame the General's Mansion. It's only when it's just the two of us in private."
"Then Mother, please attend to your affairs. I will take my leave." Xiao Man walked a few steps, then stopped. "Oh, right, I will not participate in the household management studies."
"You were never counted among them. Rest assured."
Xiao Man left the main courtyard and returned to Shuiyue Xiaozhu. "Have you found any trace of that person?"
"Reporting to Miss, we haven't found him," Ying Xue said in a low voice. "My subordinates have discovered that Tianji Pavilion and Prince Qin's Mansion are both investigating his whereabouts. Even Yaoyue Tower has gotten involved."
"Yaoyue Tower?" Xiao Man asked, puzzled. "Have you found out whose influence Yaoyue Tower belongs to?"
"We can't find any useful information. Yaoyue Tower is very mysterious and controls the black market business. They have many information channels, yet they haven't found Wan Du Zi's trace. Unless Wan Du Zi reveals himself, it will be difficult for others to find him."
Xiao Man nodded. Wan Du Zi's ability to conceal his whereabouts was indeed formidable. Back then, Nangong Yu and the others stood right in front of him and couldn't recognize him. It was even harder to find him now that he was in hiding.
"However, I can be sure that he is in Di Jing, and not far from me," Xiao Man said confidently.
"Could he be hiding in the General's Mansion?"
"Impossible," Xiao Man said softly. "Everyone in the General's Mansion is well-known. It would not be easy for him to impersonate someone from the General's Mansion. Moreover, the servants in the General's Mansion are either born into the household or retired from the army. It's not easy to impersonate them."
"Then where is he hiding?"
"A place that is very safe but unexpected," Xiao Man said faintly. But where could such a place be? It seemed special methods would be needed to force Wan Du Zi out.
Xiao Man recalled that in her previous injuries, she had lost a lot of blood but inexplicably recovered. Then she was poisoned and someone had cured her. The medicinal properties of Zi Yi Xian still lingered in her body. She understood that Wan Du Zi had been following her since she left Wu Yue Kingdom, but she couldn't figure out where he was hiding.