“You’re having quite a lively discussion.”
The Young Madam’s voice rang out, and the group of maids who had been kneeling while having their tea party suddenly realized the three people from the kitchen had already come out.
“Young Madam, this servant…” Su Mei’s face no longer showed grievance but undisguised anger as she began to speak.
“Since you were talking so happily, keep talking for a while longer,” Qi Yue said with a smile, waving her hand and walking straight into the room without stopping.
Su Mei was so angry she nearly fell backward.
“Xian’er,” she called to someone behind her.
The rough servant girl kneeling at the back immediately crawled over.
“What orders does sister have?” she asked.
“Get up and go,” Su Mei said.
The rough servant girl didn’t care about anything – she had been impatient with kneeling anyway. Since someone would take responsibility later, she immediately stood up and ran off.
“Go tell the nannies in the courtyard that if Concubine asks for me, cover for me. Say Su Mei is receiving instruction from the Young Madam and can’t leave,” Su Mei hadn’t expected this girl to run off without a word or courtesy, so she hurriedly called out instructions.
Fortunately, though this girl had no other abilities, she was skilled at finding backing and tattling. She acknowledged and disappeared in a flash.
Su Mei’s voice was neither loud nor soft, and the people in the room heard clearly.
“Young Madam, she’s gone to get reinforcements,” A’Hao called from the doorway. “What nerve, running off without permission.”
Qi Yue was washing flour off her hands in a basin A’Ru had brought and laughed upon hearing this.
“I thought she had gone long ago. Only going now? How honest,” she laughed, then continued speaking to A’Ru about what they had been discussing. “In a while, when the dough has risen, I’ll make you sugar pancakes.”
“How could we dare trouble the Young Madam,” A’Ru said uneasily. “It’s because we don’t serve you properly…”
“Oh, stop saying that,” Qi Yue took the towel to dry her hands. A’Ru went to pour out the water, and A’Hao was still standing in the doorway watching. She walked to the dressing table herself to look for the hand cream A’Ru had given her that day.
Just as she finished applying the cream, she heard A’Hao calling out.
“They’re here, so quickly,” she said, her face showing some anxiety as she looked outside. “Oh my, it’s Nanny Zhou…”
Hearing this, A’Ru couldn’t help but glance at Qi Yue, who was still at the dressing table.
Qi Yue was still looking around and touching things.
“What’s her background?” she asked casually.
“She manages the storerooms for the Great Madam…” A’Hao’s face went pale with fright.
Those who managed storerooms, logistics, and finances were all close confidants of the leadership, naturally holding special status. Qi Yue nodded and put down what she was holding to look outside. She saw a woman stop at the gate with two or three other women following behind.
This woman was in her forties, wearing a brown vest over a dark blue inner garment. Her hair was neatly combed, her face round and pleasant, with kind features.
“What are you little hussies doing here so early in the morning?” she looked directly at Su Mei and the others and asked. “Your Concubine is organizing her courtyard, and a bunch of little maids are running around with no one managing them. You’re really getting above yourself now…”
When Su Mei and the others saw her arrival, their faces showed surprised joy they could hardly believe.
“Nanny, Nanny,” Su Mei crawled over to her on her knees, crying and kowtowing, lifting her head high so the red marks and scratches on her face could be seen clearly. “I have offended the Young Madam…”