Although Song Yixiao was anxious that her mother would stand up for those playing against her husband and her, she had no way out since Wei Mengying had intended to keep a distance from them on purpose. She felt anxious for a while and decided to put this issue out of her mind temporarily.

Two days later, Chief House Steward submitted a list of names to her as to who was going to be transferred to Jinguo Grand Princess"s mansion. A great majority of all the servants across the whole mansion were on the list, including the Second House Steward and a dozen of powerful house stewards whose position was inferior to the Chief House Steward.

Besides that, dozens of servants would also be pulled out from the properties, shops, villas, and so on, which were all under the charge of Duke of Jian"s mansion.

Based on the list, Song Yixiao made a rough estimation that as many as more than 300 servants would be pulled out.

After she finished looking over the list, she frowned immediately and said, “I will set these ones serving in my mansion aside first. After all, there are only two masters now, His Highness and me. Even though we will be short of manpower, we will put up with it. However, if the house stewards outside the mansion and heads of the villas are also pulled out, I have no way to find more servants to make up for the manpower shortage for a moment. Most importantly, it is late in autumn now. There are so many pending issues related to harvesting and payment. If these people are pulled out, we will be in a mess.”

She thought in secret that Jian Xubai had only implied that he got some back-ups for the servants inside the mansion without ever mentioning how he would deal with the manpower shortage in the shops and villas. If she allowed these people to be pulled out casually, Jian Xubai certainly would complain against her if some accident took place in the end.

As the Chief House Steward heard her words, he smiled and said, “Madam, what you don"t know about is that none of these people listed here are the family servants. Instead, they only signed a long term contract with us. As the expiration date of their contracts was drawing near, I asked about their opinion one by one and was informed that none of them planned to renew the contract with us. That was the reason why I listed their names out for you to review.”

“Was it?” Song Yixiao took a sip of tea and didn"t express her opinion as she continued, “Even so, they are all old servants who have been working hard for the Jian Family for many years. I think I should meet them in person and express my grat.i.tude to them even if they plan to leave here now. Then I will save this list first and make a decision after I hold a discussion with His Highness.”

The corners of the Chief House Steward"s eyes twitched. He asked, “Madam, how long will your discussion with His Highness last?” After that, he explained, “What if Her Highness Grand Princess is waiting for the manpower anxiously?”

“As for that, you don"t need to worry about it!” Song Yixiao continued indifferently, “Since it was me who had taken the initiative to help my mother-in-law with the manpower supply, I know it clearly in my mind as for how I should report to her. You don"t need to keep it in your mind all the time!”

“Madam, sorry for my mouthiness.” Knowing Song Yixiao was dissatisfied with him, the Chief House Steward thought for a while and decided to concede to her in the end. He added, “Madam, do you have other orders?”

Song Yixiao waved her hands and said, “Retreat!”

After she sent the Chief House Steward away, she gave the list of names to Qiaoqin and said, “Check on these shopkeepers in these shops to see whether they decide to leave or it was the Chief House Steward who wanted to chase them out.”

These shops Song Yixiao had mentioned were all inside the capital city. Before Song Yixiao got married to Jian Xubai, she had heard of the news saying how prosperous the businesses of these shops were. Although she didn"t know that these shops belonged to the Jian Family at that time, she did know the shopkeepers in these shops were all experienced ones who had been working there for more than 10 or 20 years. If they were all transferred to Jian Yiyou"s mansion, these shops probably would become empty sh.e.l.ls.

Consequently, Song Yixiao surely needed to figure out the details.

Hardly had Qiaoqin retreated when Ms. Zhao came to talk with her about consummating her marriage, making Song Yixiao helpless. Fortunately, a servant in the outer room came in and reported to her, “Madam, someone sent a golden box as well as a letter to the entrance, saying that the item inside the box was a compensation for you.”

“A compensation for me?” Song Yixiao was quite confused. However, in order to stop Ms. Zhao from pestering her, she became solemn right away and said, “Where is the very "someone"? Ask him to come here quickly!”

The servant reporting to her replied awkwardly, “According to the doorman, before he was able to stop the very "someone", he directly left after leaving the items.”

Eying the golden box the servant had submitted to her up and down, Song Yixiao found out the golden box looked familiar to her and said, “Is it a box which the Ye"s Accessory Shop uses to accommodate the hairpin?”

“Yes,” Jinxun also recognized the golden box and said, “It is said that the ancestors of the housekeeper in this shop had ever worked in the Department of Chief Lady. Although it is unknown whether it"s true or not, it is true that the shopkeeper is skillful. Quite a number of accessories inside your makeup casket were purchased from there, Madam.”

As usual, Jinxun was quick-mouthed as well as swift. As she talked, she opened the golden box. As expected, on a brocade with a blue bottom engraved with the interlock branch lotus pattern, there lay a jade hairpin at the shape of malus spectabilis, which was interlocked by red silky lines. The carving skill of the hairpin was superb. The malus spectabilis petals and leaves were both vivid and lively. The body of the hairpin was mellow and round. Moreover, the stamen was made from pretty thin gold wire, whose details were true to life.

“Madam, one of your hairpins was almost the same as this one!” As Jinxun saw the jade hairpin, she blurted out, “However, it was broken in Young Master Su"s house last time. Could it be that…?”

Song Yixiao glared at her, indicating that she should shut up. She raised her hands and uncovered the letter, which had been submitted together with the golden box. As expected, it was Su Shaoge who had sent her this letter. Taking her reputation into account, in the letter, Su Shaoge explained that it was the servant maid in his house who should be responsible for breaking Song Yixiao"s hairpin into pieces and he did so to make up to Song Yixiao on behalf of his servant maid. In addition, he said that only the jade hairpin at the shape of malus spectabilis was available in the Ye"s Accessory Shop now, so he could not find another hairpin looking exactly like the broken one, which he should apologize again and again.

“Mr. Su is so polite!” After Song Yixiao finished reading the letter, she rubbed her forehead anxiously and thought, “It was him who helped me that day. So it is inappropriate for me to argue with him for the sake of a broken hairpin. Moreover, the reason why the hairpin at the shape of malus spectabilis was broken lay in myself. After all, it was me who b.u.mped into him first. I feel shy to ask him to make up for it.”

Originally, it would have been easy for her to solve this issue. All she needed to do was to prepare another gift and send it back to Su Shaoge.

However, it was clear that Jian Xubai was vigilant against Su Shaoge, who had just reminded her that she should not be too close to him. If they exchanged gifts in this way, although they would not become intimate because of this, they certainly could not deny they were somewhat connected.

Upon deliberation, Song Yixiao couldn"t help doubting as she thought, “Could it be that he did so on purpose?” It was not until she was silent for a long time that she said, “Put these items away first. I will discuss with His Highness about this when he is back.”

As she sensed that Ms. Zhao seemed to intend to continue the previous topic, she was disturbed as she said, “Jinxun, please bring the list submitted by the Chief House Steward here for Ms. Zhao to have a check!”

After Ms. Zhao took over the list, she looked it over and said surprisedly, “What is it for?”

“These people probably won"t serve here two days later.” Song Yixiao smiled and continued, “As for the manpower shortage in the back hall, according to His Highness, I should pick some from the people who accompanied me here on my marriage date. If the available manpower we have now is not enough, I can buy the manpower from outside. In that case, since both Qiaoqin and Jinxun are young, the way I see it, if you help me take care of it, I will be relieved.”

“Your Highness, I surely will help you monitor that!” As Ms. Zhao heard her words, she added solemnly, “Never will I allow those frivolous and smooth-tongued ones sneak in, making the atmosphere of the back hall foul!”

“You should get it done as soon as possible!” Song Yixiao nodded consecutively and said, “Otherwise, other than Qiaoqin and Jinxun, n.o.body else at my hands can be trusted, which is a trouble!”

After Song Yixiao took great efforts to send Ms. Zhao away, she was relieved in secret. As she saw Jinxun covering her mouth and chuckling, she patted on the table roughly, “Did you finish the list of birthday gifts for my grandmother?”

Anyway, Song Yixiao didn"t have to attend Elder Lady Pang"s birthday party as long as her birthday gifts were there. To be honest, however hard she tried, she still disliked her grandmother. Consequently, she didn"t bother to pay attention to her birthday party. After she looked over the list and didn"t find anything inappropriate, she nodded and consented.

However, this just happened to remind her of something. She asked, “It seems that after my grandmother"s birthday party, it will be the Empress Dowager"s Holy Birthday Festival soon, right?”

“There are more birthday celebrations after that,” Jinxun reminded her, “It will be His Majesty"s Eternal Birthday Festival seven days later! Half a month later, it will be Her Highness"s birthday.”

Song Yixiao let out a sigh and said, “I know. Ask someone to open the storehouse and have a check tomorrow. I will think about how the relative birthday gifts should be arranged.”

She thought what she had dealt with was trivial. However, after Jian Xubai came back from work that day, as he listened to her about how she should prepare the relative birthday gifts, he chuckled and said, “Do you think there are only 3 birthday celebrations you need to worry about? Don"t forget those peers and juniors. The birthday date of Ping"an falls on October 19th and October 28th will be the Second Sister-in-law"s birthday. Moreover, the birthday date of the Fifth Sister falls on the 15th day of the New Year Holiday!”

Jian Xubai continued, “Qianqiu Festival falls on the fifth day of the New Year Holiday. After that, in February, we need to celebrate Sister"s birthday. In March, it will be the Second Brother who will hold a birthday party. As for the Dowager Consort of Hengshan"s birthday party in April, whether you will show up there or not, you should send some gifts to her since you grow up there. Father"s and Third Uncle"s birthdays fall in May. In June, it will be the Yiyou"s birthday. In July, there comes Aunt Daiguo"s birthday… Strictly speaking, putting other worldly wisdom aside, we will be fully occupied the whole year while attending to the birthday party only!”

As Song Yixiao heard Jian Xubai out, she felt miserable in secret and asked, “Do you have… have enough budget in your storehouse?”

“As for the worldly wisdom, I think I can still afford it. You don"t need to worry about subsidizing your dowry to maintain my dignity.” Jian Xubai glimpsed at her playfully and added, “Moreover, it is not that we will just pay out without any collection. When it comes to the reward during the holiday and festival, as usual, Duke of Yan"s mansion will give more than any mansion else!”

“Speaking of the properties, I am about to tell you that the Chief House Steward submitted a list of names who would be pulled out today, including quite many shopkeepers and the heads of the villas. I didn"t consent to him out of concern, saying that I have to discuss with you before making a decision.” Song Yixiao got the list and handed it over to him as she added, “You have a check and see whether there is any problem.”

After Jian Xubai glimpsed at the list, his face was ugly. He said, “I will ask someone to look into it tomorrow… After all, my mother didn"t indicate the specific date!”

“One more thing, Su Shaoge sent a jade hairpin to me.” Song Yixiao added, “As I borrowed his house last time, due to my panic, a jade hairpin was broken carelessly. Although I thought it was my own fault, he was so polite, saying that it was his servant maid"s mistake. So he sent someone over here to give me another hairpin looking almost the same as the broken one. However, since you asked me to stay away from him, I don"t know how I should deal with this issue now.”

“It"s nothing but a hairpin. Since he intended to give it to you, then you just keep it.” Jian Xubai sneered slightly and added, “Just give it to someone who can get things done as a reward some other time!”

Song Yixiao kept his words in mind and said, “I am asking them to pick manpower out of those accompanying me here on my marriage date. Let"s see who is doing the job the best so that I can give him/her this hairpin as a reward!”

Although it was somewhat unkind of her to do that, of course she needed to act according to Jian Xubai"s order since she was living under his roof.

Jian Xubai, who was quite satisfied with her docility, smiled gently. Upon thinking of something, he told her conveniently, “As for the issue between the Sikong Family and the Wei Family, the result is out!”

“Oh?” Song Yixiao asked in a hurry, “How is it going?”

“Sikong Yihan will take her elder sister"s place and marry Prince of Liang. The grand wedding will take place as scheduled.” Jian Xubai added, “At the same time, the Wei Family will take out a third of Miss Wei"s dowry and give it to Sikong Yihan as a compensation!”

Song Yixiao was stunned and said “Sikong Yihan took the death of her sister too much to her heart. Even if she is asked to get married on behalf of her sister, the grumbling and resentment in her heart probably won"t fade away easily. In that case, will she probably be on bad terms with her future sister-in-law, the Crown Princess?”

“Do you believe that the reason why the Sikong Family members rushed to the Eastern Palace and asked for an explanation was because they felt sorry for their daughter?” Jian Xubai added calmly, “Great Grand Princess Zhenyang is advanced in age. There are few outstanding talents among the two consecutive generations of the Sikong Family. For the sake of their descendants, they exerted great efforts to plead to Her Majesty to be a match-maker and marry their legitimate granddaughter to Prince of Liang. However, the girl, who was ill-fated, pa.s.sed away. If the Sikong Family didn"t have other girls, the issue would come to an end. Since they got another one, even though she was an illegitimate one, they certainly would do everything possible to request to continue the marriage.”

He ridiculed and said, “Upon looking back, Prince of Liang was treated unjustly. His legitimate fiancée, who was originally healthy, pa.s.sed away all of a sudden. After that, he was forced to accept an illegitimate one. Not only was the girl an illegitimate one, but also she was not raised by Madam Zhu… I heard that n.o.ble Consort Cui had been coaxing him in the Palace of Xifu for half a day. It was unknown whether he accepted it or not now.”