After reprimanding the two maids, Lu Lingyun went directly back to her room. As she did, the two maids each wore expressions of their own on their faces. Wan Mama, seeing An Mama’s unrestrained delight, snorted coldly, “Don’t get too cocky. Don’t forget who holds your indenture.” An Mama, emboldened by Lu Lingyun’s favor, rolled her eyes and retorted, “Don’t forget where you are.” She left, leaving Wan Mama alone to fume in her wake.
Lu Lingyun first settled the two maids, then called the four maidservants who had come as her dowry. She elevated their status, making them first-class maidservants of the Houfu. These four girls were originally family servants of the Lu family. Their parents and siblings were under Liu Shi’s control, but this did not faze Lu Lingyun. She would simply find them good husbands, and by marrying Houfu family servants, she would secure their loyalty.
Lu Lingyun tasked the four maidservants with connecting with various courtyards, making friends and getting to know everyone, and reporting back on the daily happenings of the Houfu. If they found anyone they liked, she would be their matchmaker. Her words made the young girls blush, too shy to respond. Lu Lingyun’s heartfelt words made them realize they had no reason to go back to the Lu family. The Houfu was their true home. If they served well, they could become the head maidservants of the Houfu – a position the Lu family would never offer them. Lu Lingyun further promised that if they stayed loyal to her, she would retrieve their indentures and return them once they married. Her sincere words brought tears to the four girls’ eyes, and they swore their loyalty to Lu Lingyun.
Lu Lingyun knew they were still hesitant about her. Many were still thinking about the Lu family. But, she realized, there was no absolute loyalty in this world. Only when their interests aligned, when they were all in the same boat, would there be lasting, genuine loyalty. But time was on her side. The longer they spent in the Houfu, the longer they spent with her, the more genuine their loyalty would become. Lu Lingyun was in no hurry. She just had to steer the ship and make sure everyone followed her lead. Of course, she hadn’t been averse to the idea of recruiting and training her own confidantes. But it was a last resort, the worst-case scenario. Because although these dowry maids were under Liu Shi’s control, they were still part of the Lu family. Their interests were ultimately aligned with hers. But a person recruited from outside, their background and character would need to be thoroughly investigated. It would be difficult to gauge their true intentions, whether they were orphans or had families.
Lu Lingyun had been betrayed by trusting outsiders in her previous life. The reason why powerful families only trusted family servants was because the entire family was under their control, and it was impossible for them to betray their trust. Maidservants and grooms recruited from outside would always hold the lowest position in the household, doing the hardest tasks. Only a select few, chosen from a young age to serve as personal maidservants to young masters and mistresses, would be treated better. This was because they had been raised alongside the young masters and mistresses from a young age.
Managing people required not just discerning character, but also stability. When you have reliable people, never rely on outsiders.
After settling the four dowry maidservants and two maids, Lu Lingyun gave some thought to the two head maids. Chun Xing and Chun He, she didn’t know their character or background yet. She would have to observe them carefully. But Zhi Ran…
“Zhi Ran, from today on, you go find Chang Mama and learn from her. Start managing all my shops and estates outside the Houfu.” Lu Lingyun discreetly called Zhi Ran into her room and gave her the most important task. Zhi Ran was taken aback when she heard Lu Lingyun wanted her to go outside. “Miss, are you disappointed in me… ?” “Stop being so narrow-minded and spineless,” Lu Lingyun poked her forehead playfully.
Lu Lingyun was not only the new mistress of the Houfu, but she also had her own considerable assets and estates, her dowry. Previously, Chang Mama, her nursemaid, had been managing them. Now it was time for Zhi Ran to take over.
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter