Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 516 - 270: Going to Beijing_3

Chapter 516: Chapter 270: Going to Beijing_3

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qian Manjiang led Pan Yue out of the cabin. Pan Yang told them to keep some distance, as Pan Yue was now somewhat afraid of strangers.

Eunuch Li, who had previously served in Cining Palace where little Pan Yue played, bowed deeply from afar to Pan Yue and was so moved that he cried. He said softly, "Princess Zhenyue, whom the Empress Dowager thinks of daily, has finally returned. It’s strange, despite it being fourteen years and having given birth to three children, the princess still looks like a girl in her teens."

Liang Jinzhao took the opportunity when nobody was paying attention to them to talk with Qian Yixiu, "Yixiu, you’ve changed so much. In the blink of an eye, the little girl has grown into a young lady."

Qian Yixiu wasn’t shy like women of ancient times, and she laughed, "General Liang’s changes are big too. In three years, you’ve gone from a soldier to a general. Not even urgent dispatches over eight hundred li are as fast as you."

Liang Jinzhao laughed heartily a few times, feeling refreshed every time he spoke with her.

The group disembarked the ship, boarded carriages, and hurried to reach the Capital City before sunset, then it took over half an hour more to arrive at Lord Xiangen Mansion. The Wan family had to continue on, so they parted ways there.

Liang Jinzhao and the other outsiders escorted them to the doorstep, and since they shouldn’t cause more disturbance, they took their leave.

Old man Qian and his wife, Qian Sangui’s couple, and Pan Yue were all exhausted, with Jingjing and Ming Wa having fallen asleep long ago. After everyone washed up and had a simple meal, they all went to rest.

Qian Yixiu, however, was not so fortunate. She sat in the outer courtyard with Qian Manjiang, preparing to meet with the middle and senior managers of this family.

Qian Yixiu had already studied the blueprints drawn by Qian Manjiang, so she had a certain understanding of the family. It was a grand residence with four entrances, previously owned by a criminal official. Left vacant for a few years, it was nominally bestowed by the Emperor as the Lord Xiangen Mansion. However, in reality, it was the Empress Dowager who had asked the Emperor to grant the house as an additional favor, for the sake of her granddaughter’s comfort.

Once the house was granted, Grandpa Pan had people repair and renovate it, and folks from Prince Ning Mansion would also often come to check on it. Grandpa Pan was both tasteful and extravagant, and wealthy to boot; eager to make up for the years of guilt he felt towards his daughter, he spared no expense in refurbishing the mansion, spending money like water.

Even under the dim starlight, one could see the exquisite splendor of the courtyard.

Once in the exterior hall, which was used for receiving guests, the splendor and richness became even more apparent. The hall was approximately forty square meters, with a large red-gold, nine-dragon, blue-background plaque hanging directly in front which read "Xiangen Hall" in bold characters. On the long carved purple sandalwood table was set an ancient green bronze cauldron, with a large painting of a tiger descending a mountain, on one side a gold libation cup, and on the other a Liuli Sea.

In front of the long table was a carved jade-embedded purple sandalwood Eight Immortals table, flanked by two purple sandalwood official chairs. There were sixteen nanmu round-backed armchairs lined up on both sides, each topped with a red embroidered satin cushion. On each side of the wall hung four long solo paintings of figures from the Three Kingdoms period, such as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. A carpet from the Western Regions covered the floor, and from above hung three Liuli palace lanterns.

Qian Manjiang and Qian Yixiu sat on opposite sides of the Eight Immortals table.

Qian Manjiang had already told Qian Yixiu that because of Cheng Yue’s condition and Lady Wu being a rural woman who didn’t understand many things, she would have to take charge of many affairs in the house’s inner court in the future.

Qian Yixiu didn’t have the patience for the petty matters in the household, and she wasn’t willing to be confined to such a small space for the rest of her life, her heart lay outside the courtyard...

However, considering the special circumstances at home, she indeed needed to take charge temporarily. Once things stabilized, she would slowly teach Lady Wu and find a capable person to assist her. Perhaps, once her mother’s illness was completely cured, her mother taking over the household management wasn’t out of the question.

By now, the residence was fully staffed; some servants were purchased, and over twenty old servants who had been faithful to Pan Yue were also sent over. The new servants were being trained by the old ones, and now everyone could fulfill their duties.

During many times on the ship, Qian Manjiang and Qian Yixiu discussed arrangements concerning the staff.

Staffing, whether in modern times or ancient times, whether for public or private matters, is always of the utmost importance.

The head butler of Qian Mansion was named Wong Shou. He was the husband of Pan Yue’s wet nurse, whose body was left incomplete after being taken by a flood into the mountains and devoured by wild beasts.

Wong Shou, nearing fifty, continued to work at the Earl of Rongen Mansion after the accident that involved his wife and the princess, eventually becoming the second butler there.

Qian Yixiu was quite approving of him. The fact that he could become the second butler of the Earl of Rongen Mansion demonstrated his capabilities. As Pan Yue’s foster father and trusted by Prince Consort Pan and Pan Yang, he ought to be reliable.

PS: Thank you, dear readers, for your rewards and monthly votes. Thank you~~ Wenwen will not involve much in the palace or household struggles later on, there’s only a slight touch on it. While striving to cling onto significant figures, our female protagonist will continue to carve out her own realm...