Ye Yunniang shook her head—she didn’t want anything else. Her only wish was to nurse the young master well and earn more silver to bring home.
“Next time Nanny Ding comes looking for you, ask for more benefits and share a little with me,” Ye Yunniang said jokingly to put Li’er at ease.
Ye Yunniang meant it in jest, but Li’er took it seriously. “Alright.”
Ye Yunniang and Li’er had grown closer, and in private, she called her “elder sister.” Li’er had shared many things about the household with her in confidence.
As June passed and July arrived, Ye Yunniang and Li’er went together to collect their monthly wages.
“The Fifth Young Lady’s marriage has been settled. Old Madam was so pleased that she ordered all servants to receive double wages this month,” Li’er relayed to Ye Yunniang.
“Old Madam is truly kind and generous.”
“Old Madam’s generosity is possible because Second Master Jiang knows how to make money,” Li’er said, her admiration clear. It was Second Master Jiang’s business acumen that kept Jiang Mansion wealthy.
“I heard from Granny Shi that before Second Master took over the family business, the Jiang family wasn’t nearly this prosperous. It was Second Master who started trading at thirteen and gradually turned the Jiangs into the wealthiest family in Jiangcheng.”
“Second Master is truly remarkable,” Ye Yunniang said, impressed by anyone who could earn money.
As they chatted, they arrived at Fanghua Courtyard.
The two fell silent, bowing their heads as they entered through the side gate and made their way to the reception hall.
Shanhu was there, distributing the monthly wages for the servants of Fanghua Courtyard and Zhiyu Pavilion.
“Nanny Ye, here are your wages.” Shanhu counted out three silver ingots and handed them to her. “You’ve taken good care of the young master, so Madam has ordered an extra tael of silver as a reward.”
“Caring for the young master is my duty,” Ye Yunniang said humbly, not daring to take credit.
“Take what Madam has given.” Shanhu was pleased with Ye Yunniang’s attitude.
Li’er also received her wages—as a low-ranking maid, she earned 300 copper coins a month, so two months’ pay amounted to 600 coins.
After leaving the hall, they had only taken a few steps when Li’er suddenly grabbed Ye Yunniang’s hand and pulled her back into the shadows of the wall, lowering her head.
Ye Yunniang didn’t ask questions, simply following Li’er’s lead.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ye Yunniang saw a pair of legs approaching from a distance. Judging by the shoes and attire, it must be one of the masters of the household.
Only when the footsteps faded did Li’er release her grip. “Elder sister, let’s go back.”
Ye Yunniang didn’t ask who the master was. The two slipped out through the side gate and returned to Zhiyu Pavilion.
“Li’er, your eyes are sharp—you spotted them from so far away,” Ye Yunniang said admiringly.
“Anyone who’s been in the household long enough learns to do that,” Li’er replied, then recounted how, when she first arrived, she hadn’t been careful and accidentally bumped into Third Madam. The beating she received had left her skin torn and flesh bloodied. Thankfully, she survived. Since then, she had always been vigilant.
Ye Yunniang thought of what Cai Damei once said: “People can’t teach you lessons—only experience can.”
“Our Li’er is blessed with great fortune.”
“What great fortune?” Ding Fang approached from another direction, curious.
“Nanny Ding, Miss Shanhu is distributing wages in Fanghua Courtyard.”
“Oh! Wages are being handed out?” Ding Fang immediately changed course, hurrying toward Fanghua Courtyard.
Ye Yunniang and Li’er exchanged a knowing smile.
“Elder sister, go rest in your room first. I’ll fetch our meal from the main kitchen.” Li’er glanced at the sun—it was already lunchtime.
Ye Yunniang agreed and returned to her quarters.
She opened the drawer of her dressing table, took out her coin pouch, and placed the three silver ingots inside.
After washing her hands, she resumed embroidering the qilin.
After more than half a month’s work, it was finally finished.
Ye Yunniang carefully wrapped the garment and brought it with her when it was her turn to watch over the young master, handing it to Hong Cai.
“I’ve made a set of clothes for the young master. Could you please pass them to Miss Zi Yuan?”
Zi Yuan oversaw all matters in Jiang Tingjun’s quarters, including his attire, so any clothing had to be reviewed by her first.
“Sister Ye, wait a moment. I’ll fetch Sister Zi Yuan.” Hong Cai didn’t take the bundle, instead turning to find Zi Yuan.
She moved so quickly that Ye Yunniang didn’t have time to respond.
Just as she considered following, Jiang Tingjun let out a series of babbling sounds.
Ye Yunniang returned to his side.
Jiang Tingjun’s gaze was fixed on the bundle in her hands.
Ye Yunniang set the bundle aside and picked him up, teasing, “Does the young master want to go for a walk outside?”
But Jiang Tingjun refused, reaching insistently for the bundle.
Pretending not to understand, Ye Yunniang continued teasing him. “Does the young master want to look out the window?” She carried him toward the window.
Jiang Tingjun turned his head stubbornly, still staring at the bundle.
“Not the window? Then what does the young master want? This nanny doesn’t understand—why don’t you tell me?”
Jiang Tingjun: … (O￣ヘ￣O#) Bullying me because I can’t talk yet!
Jiang Tingjun pouted, on the verge of tears.
“Alright, alright, it’s this nanny’s fault. Let’s look at the bundle.” Ye Yunniang carried him back to the bed.
At that moment, Zi Yuan entered the room.
Holding Jiang Tingjun, Ye Yunniang couldn’t bow properly. “Miss Zi Yuan, I’ve made a set of clothes for the young master. Would you see if they fit?”
“Nanny Ye is very thoughtful.” Zi Yuan unfolded the bundle.
The ivory-colored silk garment was embroidered with pale blue clouds and auspicious patterns. The trousers featured a qilin so lifelike it seemed ready to leap off the fabric—especially with one paw outstretched as if to touch the clouds, a sight that brought joy to anyone who saw it.
“Ah! Ah!” Jiang Tingjun’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the little qilin, squirming eagerly toward it.
“Nanny Ye’s needlework is excellent. The young master loves it.” Zi Yuan smiled, her impression of Ye Yunniang improving slightly.
The fabric had been a reward given to all the wet nurses, but only Ye Yunniang had taken the effort to make clothes for the young master.
“Being able to serve in Jiang Mansion is all thanks to the young master’s blessings. I don’t have many skills, but my embroidery is passable,” Ye Yunniang said. After a month in the mansion, her words had grown slightly more polished.
Zi Yuan took the clothes and led Ye Yunniang to the main chamber to see Fourth Madam Jiang.
After inspecting the garment and seeing her son’s delighted expression, Fourth Madam Jiang smiled.
“She knows gratitude. Zijuan, pick two hair ornaments from my jewelry box to reward her.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Ye Yunniang bowed.
Her bowing posture, learned from Li’er, was still awkward and unpracticed.
Fourth Madam Jiang frowned. “Shanhu, the wet nurses must also be taught proper decorum.”
“This servant was negligent in instructing them,” Shanhu admitted fault.
Ye Yunniang carried the child out of the main chamber and back to the side room. Shortly after, Zi Yuan arrived with the rewards.
“Madam has granted you these.” She placed two ornaments on the table—a gold hairpin adorned with jasmine blossoms and an orchid-patterned hairpin with hollowed-out designs.
“Thank you for Madam’s kindness.” Ye Yunniang bowed again.
Zi Yuan frowned at her clumsy bow—she truly needed more practice.
From then on, Ye Yunniang and the other three wet nurses settled into a routine of nursing the child, learning decorum, and resting.
