maidservant

Chapter 19: Promoted to First-Class Maid

Madam was looking through the women's rings. When she heard this, she raised her head and her eyes fell on Aunt Lin: "What's the matter? Tell me."

Aunt Lin hesitated for a moment and lowered her voice:
"Madam, regarding the eldest daughter's upcoming entry into the palace, Madam, haven't you been worried about Yan Er's wedding..."

"Hmm?" Madam put down the medical book in her hand, frowning slightly. "Go on."

"That's right." Aunt Lin took a step closer, her expression becoming more serious.

"I just received news that Miss Yunong from the Jiaofangsi is very skilled and has a solid foundation in matters of the inner court."

Aunt Lin smiled slightly and took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her sleeve: "Madam, please take a look."

The lady took the paper and unfolded it. It depicted a couple making love on the bed. She raised her brows slightly and said, "This is..."

"Yesterday, I paid a large sum of money to negotiate something with Miss Yunong," Aunt Lin explained.
"Let Yunshan go there in disguise to learn the skills. They don't know we are from the Marquis' Mansion."

The lady closed the paper, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes: "You have thought it through very carefully."

Aunt Lin brought Yunshan into the main hall.

Yunshan's heart skipped a beat when she heard that. She subconsciously lowered her head, her fingers trembling slightly as she replied, "Yes."

"I have already arranged it." Aunt Lin said quickly.

"Yunshan will disguise herself as a merchant's maid and go to the Music Bureau tomorrow. Miss Yunong has some old friends there who can help, so there won't be any obstacles."

Yunshan had returned to her room at this time. She stood in front of the window, staring at the orchids in the courtyard in a daze.

Her fingers unconsciously stroked the corner of her clothes, and complex emotions churned in her heart.

"Go learn those tricks..." Yun Shan muttered to herself, a trace of shame flashed in her eyes.
"The eldest lady's future is important. We must ensure her safety and success in the Eastern Palace no matter what."

The next morning, Yunshan changed into a coarse maid's dress and put on an old-fashioned green gauze hat on her head, covering herself tightly. Her movements were very light and slow, as if she was completing an extremely important task.

She followed the people arranged by the lady and quietly left the mansion, and boarded a carriage in a quiet alley in the south of the city.

"Go to the Jiaofangsi." Yunshan said to the driver, her voice so calm that she could hardly recognize it herself.

The carriage was moving forward in a bumpy manner, but Yunshan's heartbeat was getting faster and faster.

She knew what she was about to face - most of the women selected into the Jiaofangsi were proficient in various means.

And now she has to learn these methods to pave the way for the young lady's support.

"arrive."

The driver stopped the carriage, Yunshan lowered her head and got off the carriage. Looking up, she saw a huge and gorgeously decorated building.

Several guards stood at the door, observing everyone who came in and out with sharp eyes.

Yunshan took a deep breath and walked in with her head held high.

She was taken to a side hall of the Jiaofangsi, where a woman in gorgeous clothes was lying on the bed. It must be Miss Yunong.

"Are you here to learn skills?" Yunong raised her head and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

Yunshan bowed and said, "To answer your question, young lady, I came to..."

"No need to say more." Yunong waved her hand. She stood up, tapping the table lightly with her slender fingers. "But you have to think clearly - what I teach is not something that everyone can learn."

Yunshan's heart skipped a beat, but she still nodded.

Yunong smiled with satisfaction and began to explain to Yunshan the various techniques of controlling a husband, from words to behavior, from scheming to tactics, every detail was described in great detail. Yunshan listened attentively, memorizing these contents in her heart.

"Remember," Yunong said finally, "In the harem, the most important thing is not beauty, but skill. If you want to protect your master, you must know how to play with mandarin ducks better than others."

Yunshan nodded silently, but her heart was filled with bitterness.

By the time they returned to the mansion, it was already dark. Yunshan stood in the courtyard, gazing at the distant sky, her mind racing.

The next morning, the courtyard was bustling with activity. The first crabapple blossoms in bloom were in full bloom, vying for beauty.

The spring sunshine filtered through the carved window lattices, stretching her shadow very long.

Yunshan changed into the gorgeous and elegant attire of a first-class maid in the Marquis's mansion. The deep red embroidered gold-threaded robe accentuated her tall figure and gave her an extraordinary aura. Her hair was tied up in an exquisite bun, adorned with several pearl hairpins and rings, sparkling in the morning light.

Yunshan stood before the bronze mirror, gently stroking the silken fabric, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. Twelve years had passed, and it felt like yesterday. She still remembered the night she lay in the ruined temple, the night Song Ashan nearly starved to death.

Later, she was sold to the Shangshu Mansion as a slave, starting as a night-time incense maid, and gradually endured those difficult days.

In the past twelve years, she has witnessed the deaths of wives and concubines, seen the tragedy of fetuses being persecuted in the harem for the sake of winning favor, and experienced the suffering of the people who were displaced when the regime changed.

These memories are like a sharp knife, always hanging in my heart.

Now, she is "Yunshan", and her status has changed from a humble slave to a first-class maid in the Shangshu Mansion. The little maids will call her "Aunt Yunshan".

"Yunshan," Yunjin's voice came from outside the door, "Congratulations, you have finally been promoted to first-class steward."

Yunshan smiled: "Miss and Sister Yunjin treat me the best."

Soon, they will follow the young lady into the Eastern Palace and become Liangdi's close attendants.

Yunshan looked out the window at the scenery, her mind racing. She knew the road ahead would not be smooth.

The eldest daughter is a simple person, beautiful and lively, but also naive. She has little experience of the sufferings of the world and is too kind, making her easily taken advantage of.

Yunjin is thoughtful and good at taking care of trivial matters. She can be responsible for daily life and servant management in the future.

As for me, I have to think carefully about everything for the young lady, do my best to manage it, and make plans.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What path should she take in the future?
I have to help her win the prince's heart, but it can't be too obvious so as not to arouse the jealousy and vigilance of other concubines.

Secondly, one must avoid the overt and covert attacks in the East Palace, especially those concubines with deep scheming minds.

The most important thing is that if he wants to gain a foothold in the Eastern Palace, he must ensure that the young lady can get pregnant and give birth to a son safely.

At the same time, her fingers unconsciously stroked the small silver box on her waist.

It contained the secret recipe for preserving pregnancy that she had carefully prepared and other secret recipes from the Jiaofang Bureau. She knew that once she entered the Eastern Palace, such things would be difficult to find.

Yunshan opened her eyes, her gaze firm, and she gently touched her chest.
"Miss," Yunshan said silently in her heart, "Don't worry, I will definitely protect you."

As she was thinking, she was about to reach out and brush away the non-existent wrinkles on her collar when she heard Lin Yu's brisk footsteps behind her.

(End of this chapter)