Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

As soon as Third Madam Shen Qin Qimei returned to her courtyard, Ziyuan came out to greet her, "Third Madam, where have you been? I've been looking for you for a long time."

When Mrs. Shen San saw Master Ziyuan, she suddenly felt a little annoyed. She originally intended to let Ziyuan help her regulate her body, but now it seems that Ziyuan has been controlling everything from feeding tubes to the number of times she has sex with her husband, and later even Shen Chuning's education.

Shen Qingjiang didn't stay at his place very often. Sometimes when he was in the mood and wanted to sleep with Qin Qimei, Ziyuan would quietly appear and say that it was not appropriate for the Third Madam to sleep with her today, as it might be bad for her offspring. As this happened more and more often, Shen Qingjiang gradually stopped liking to go to the Third Madam Shen's room.

Sometimes when Ziyuan said it was a suitable day for sex, Third Madam Shen would send someone to invite Shen Qingjiang, but he would refuse on the grounds of being busy with official duties. In fact, Shen Qingjiang was a sixth-rank official, so how could he have so much official duties to deal with? He was just avoiding her.

Mrs. Shen San now thinks that Ziyuan is taking care of too many things.

"Master Ziyuan, is there something urgent? If not, I'd like to rest for a while. I'm really tired today."

Ziyuan seemed not to understand the meaning of Mrs. Shen's words. She sat directly in the main seat in the main hall and said, "It's urgent."

Qin Qimei frowned. Has Ziyuan become so casual in the third room?

"Just tell me what's going on." Qin Qimei said unhappily.

Ziyuan took out a handful of chips and began fiddling with them on the table. "I just did a divination. The concubine Miss Nine mentioned is destined to have a brother. Why don't you take her under your name, Madam Third? I believe your wish to have a son will soon be fulfilled."

Qin Qimei raised her hand and rubbed her temple. "Master Ziyuan, I don't understand what you're saying, but I've already agreed to let Third Master take a concubine. From now on, the child will be a concubine of your family. Master Ziyuan, please don't mention it again."

"As for the matter of having a son, I'll just leave it to fate. Master Ziyuan doesn't need to prescribe medicine for me these days, so I want to take a break."

Ziyuan became anxious. "Third Madam, this won't work. If we don't try to have a son while we're still young these two years, what will we do if we can't have children in the future?"

Qin Qimei sighed, "In a few years, I'll be a grandmother, and talking about whether he's a son or not is just making people laugh."

Old Madam Shen already had two grandsons, the fourth master of the Shen family, who had just been born. This was a topic of conversation among many people in the capital at the time, but Qin Qimei didn't want this to happen.

Ziyuan said awkwardly, "Then how about I prescribe some beauty pills for the Third Madam?"

Qin Qimei nodded, "Master Ziyuan, please take care of it."

……

Early the next morning, Madam Shen ordered someone to take Shen Jingwan to Songhe Hall for breakfast.

"Are you used to where you stayed last night?" asked Mrs. Shen.

Shen Jingwan picked up a piece of red date cake for Old Madam Shen and said, "To answer Grandmother, Mother arranged it very well. The courtyard is clean and bright, and it's close to my sister's courtyard. Wan'er likes it very much. Grandmother, please eat this. Red dates are the best for replenishing qi and blood."

At this time, Nanny Gui brought in a row of eight maids in their early ten years old.

Old Madam Shen looked at Shen Jingwan's face, which was about half a point similar to her own, and said lovingly, "Jingwan, these are all our Shen family's children, raised since childhood. Pick out a few that you like. If there are none, have someone select some from the farm and send them over."

"How many maids does my sister have?" Shen Jingwan asked.

Nanny Gui: "In reply to Miss Wan, Miss Nine's room has two first-class maids, Birui and Cuiwei, a head aunt, four second-class maids, eight third-class maids, and four rough servants."

Shen Jingwan rolled her eyes and said, "Wan'er and sister have different statuses, so the number of maids cannot exceed that of sister. Besides, Wan'er's yard is small and cannot accommodate so many maids."

Madam Shen was grateful for Shen Jingwan's understanding and asked, "Which courtyard was arranged for Jingwan?"

"To answer the old lady, it is Huancai Pavilion next to Ningfeng Zhai. Although it is not as large as Ningfeng Zhai, the courtyard is exquisite and unique, and it is most suitable for unmarried young ladies to live in." Nanny Gui replied respectfully.

Madam Shen said unhappily, "How can Jingwan live in a courtyard that can't even accommodate a maid?"

Aunt Gui: "..."

In fact, Huancai Pavilion is not small. It is even bigger than the courtyards of some young masters of the Shen family. It is just slightly inferior to Shen Chuning, who has always been favored in the Shen family.

Old Madam Shen looked at Shen Jingwan's face, and she became more and more satisfied. Then she remembered what Abbot Shikong said about her noble fate, and said directly: "Clean up the Zizhu Courtyard next to Songhe Hall and let Jingwan move in."

Nanny Gui opened her mouth but said nothing in the end. It seemed that things were about to change in the Shen family.

Old Madam Shen liked quietness. Only Shen Chuning lived in Songhe Hall for a few years when she was a child, and moved back to the third room when she grew up.

Although the Purple Bamboo Courtyard is not located in the Songhe Hall, it is only separated from the Songhe Hall by a wall.

Nanny Gui thought that Miss Wan was no less favored by the old lady than Miss Nine, so it seemed that she should be more respectful towards Miss Wan.

Madam Shen continued, "As for the maids, Wan'er is sensible. As her grandmother, I cannot let her suffer any injustice. Since the regulations do not allow Xiaojiu to be promoted, I will reduce her to two second-class maids."

"Two first-class and second-class maids each, eight third-class maids. After a few months, promote two third-class maids who are both to your liking and can establish your prestige. Then, four menial servants will be enough."

"Agui, I remember that the granddaughter of the Shen family is about ten years old this year, right?" asked Old Lady Shen.

Aunt Gui: "In reply to the old lady, Housekeeper Shen's eldest granddaughter is fourteen years old this year."

Madam Shen nodded and said, "Let her go to Wan'er's room and be the head maid. This other head maid..."

Before Madam Shen finished speaking, she was interrupted by Shen Jingwan, "Grandma, Wan'er had a maid before."

Old Madam Shen said disdainfully, "How can the maid you bought with those few taels of silver be as good as a child born at home?"

Shen Jingwan tugged at Madam Shen's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Wan'er doesn't want Grandmother to work so hard for Wan'er. Even a maid has to be carefully selected by Grandmother. Wan'er feels a little guilty. Although Fuzi has been with Wan'er for a short time, she is extremely loyal. Wan'er is at ease with her."

Old Madam Shen smiled and patted the back of Shen Jingwan's hand. "You, just because of our old friendship, want to find a way out for that maid, so Grandmother will fulfill your master-servant relationship. But let's make an agreement. If that little maid named Fuzi makes a mistake, you are not allowed to cover it up. You should punish her if she deserves it, and sell her if she deserves it."

"Okay, it's all up to you, grandma." Shen Jingwan said with a smile.