Secrets of Yuqing Palace

The sunlight shines dappled on the exquisitely carved wooden windows, reflecting the tranquility and elegance of the house.

At this time, Wanyu was sitting on an antique chair, and Nanny Sun next to her was concentrating on instructing her on the correct sitting etiquette.

"Gege, when you sit, keep your back straight, knees together, and place your hands lightly on your knees. Don't sway them."

Nanny Sun's tone was gentle yet dignified, and her sharp eyes did not miss any of Wanyu's subtle movements.

Just as she was trying hard to adjust her posture and strive for perfection, the head maid Xia Lu came over quietly.

She walked closer to Wanyu with a post in her hand.

After the respectful ceremony, the post was placed in front of Wanyu.

Then he said softly, "Princess, this is the visiting card from Prince Wen's Mansion that was sent through the gatehouse."

"Amur Gege invited Gege and Ergege to go out for an autumn outing the day after tomorrow."

Wanyu was so happy that she almost jumped up.

"Didn't we just meet outside the house a few days ago? Why is Sister Amur sending a visiting card again? She didn't come so often before."

A flash of doubt passed through my mind.

Nanny Sun's voice sounded at the right time, like a basin of cold water that extinguished her impulse.

"Princess, don't be arrogant or impatient. Always maintain an elegant demeanor."

"Look, I haven't even mastered this sitting posture yet, and I'm almost losing my composure."

Hearing this, her face turned slightly red.

She quickly adjusted her mindset and, following the nanny's instructions, slowly took the visiting card and placed it on the table beside her with graceful and gentle movements.

Like a spring breeze blowing across the water, creating ripples.

He took a deep breath and responded to Xia Lu in a calm and polite tone.

"Well, you can leave first. I'll deal with it later."

Seeing that she had calmed down, Nanny Sun nodded with satisfaction.

"Princess, no matter where you are, you must behave appropriately and politely."

"Your every move not only represents yourself, but also represents the reputation of the Guarjia Prefecture in the outside world."

Wanyu looked calm and nodded slightly.

Nanny Sun smiled gently: "Gege, you have learned very well today."

"We can stop here for today's practice. We will continue tomorrow."

"Okay, Mammy, go down and relax too."

Only after seeing the person leave did Wanyu open the visiting card in front of her.

It turned out that Amur had asked her and her second sister to go to Xiangshan to see the maple leaves the day after tomorrow.

Early October is the best time to view the red leaves in Xiangshan. The whole mountain is covered with red leaves, and you can enjoy the picturesque autumn scenery.

Wanyu was pleasantly surprised and said, "Xia Lu, can you send someone to ask Second Sister if she's free the day after tomorrow?"

"Just say Amurgege asked us to go to Xiangshan to see the maple leaves the day after tomorrow and invite her to join us."

"Yes, slave, go right away."

After about a quarter of an hour, Xia Lu came in to report.

"Princess, the Second Princess said that October 13th is the Golden Award Ceremony, and she needs to prepare for it."

"So I can't accompany the two princesses to see the scenery in Xiangshan."

"However, as an apology, the Second Princess has specially had mosquito repellent sachets prepared and said someone will send them over tomorrow."

Wanyu nodded, "Okay, I understand."

"By the way, remember to send someone to Prince Wen's Mansion to report back."

"Give Amurgege a message: The carriages will meet at the Xizhimen gate at the beginning of the next day."

"Yes."

After everyone left, Wanyu muttered softly, "There are so many troubles in the palace!"

"On October 3rd, the Empress Dowager celebrated her birthday, and on October 13th, it was the Golden Award Ceremony. There's no time to rest."

"Fortunately, my father's official position is not high now, so he doesn't have to go with my mother. He can go to the palace with my mother and my aunt to participate in the celebration."

"Otherwise, I would have to get up before dawn and pack up to go to the palace, like a puppet, and do everything in an orderly manner."

However, his unhappy mood was soon dispelled by his anticipation of leaving the house.

After calling Xia Lu in, he quickly told her about the arrangements for leaving the house the next day.

"Xia Lu, tell someone to tell Aunt Zhang Jia to leave the house with me the day after tomorrow."

"Xiangshan is in the western suburbs of the capital, some distance from the inner city."

"It takes quite a bit of effort to go back and forth. I feel more at ease knowing that Aunt Zhang Jia is here."

"As for what you need to bring for your trip the day after tomorrow, please ask Aunt Zhang Jia to arrange for someone to prepare it in advance."

"Yes, I will tell Aunt Zhang Jia right away."

Nanny Zhang Jia is Wanyu's wet nurse.

Because she had memories of her past life, she started asking for complementary food when she was about one year old, and rarely drank breast milk afterwards.

Originally, she had two wet nurses, one of whom was too rigid and conservative, and often restricted Wanyu, so Wanyu disliked her very much.

When Fucha found out, she was fired.

Zhang Jia was patient, gentle, and kind-hearted, so Wanyu liked her quite a bit and did not send her away.

Instead, he continued to stay by her side, arranging everything around her, and was mainly responsible for the management of her hospital.

In addition, she had three maids of the Xia generation.

Xia He was responsible for food and daily life, Xia Lian was responsible for makeup and clothing, and Xia Lu was responsible for handling dowry and private property.

Her dowry had been slowly prepared by Fucha since she was born.

When she was twelve years old, Fucha began to hand over some shops to her to manage.

Later I saw that she managed the business well, with profits but no losses, and the returns were not low.

So Fucha simply let go.

The shop prepared for her was left to her to manage herself.

The Baohuaxuan they went to last month was actually Wanyu’s own dowry shop.

She went to Baohuaxuan not only to keep the money within the family, but also to randomly inspect the shopkeepers and clerks there.

However, no one knew about this except Fucha.

Because she ran her own shop well, Fucha gave her a lot of manpower.

There are not only people from the Guwalgiya clan, but also people from the Fucha clan.

Moreover, they are all family-born children, so the possibility of betrayal is very low.

However, since Wanyu is a woman after all, even if she is a Manchu lady, she does not have the same freedom as men to go out of the house.

So Wanyu slowly handed these matters over to Xia Lu, who was by her side, to manage.

Xia Lu is the most steady maidservant around her. Although she has average talent in business, she is very obedient.

As long as Wanyu instructed her to do something, she would obey it completely and do things as she was told, which made Wanyu feel at ease.

Moreover, the shop owners of those shops were carefully selected by herself and Fu Cha, and Xia Lu was there to keep an eye on them for her.

She also checks the accounts herself every month, and so far there have been no problems.

In addition, there are six maids in Wanyu's Qiyun Courtyard who are responsible for sweeping and running errands, as well as four old women who do rough work.

The second princess Shi Wanlin had the same configuration as her, which was the treatment for a legitimate princess in the mansion.

However, because of the importance attached to her by the palace, she was given a special allowance and a nanny.

However, the treatment of concubine's daughters like the eldest princess Shi Wanying was slightly worse.

There was one nanny, two maids, four maids, and two servants.

Even the status of the princesses in the mansion was differentiated between legitimate and illegitimate children.

The monthly silver allowance for a princess born of a legitimate wife was thirty taels, while that for a princess born of a concubine was only twenty taels.

The monthly salary of the princes and young masters in the mansion will be higher.

Not only because they need to make friends outside, but also because they have to maintain their family life after getting married, so they give more monthly salary.

There is not much difference in other aspects of food, clothing, housing and transportation, but the legitimate children always have the advantage.

Like fabric jewelry, unless it is a separate gift from an elder.

Generally, the two legitimate princesses, Wanlin and Wanyu, will select them first before sending them to the eldest princess for selection.

However, the eldest princess has been married for several years, and now there are only two sisters, Wanlin and Wanyu, so there is no difference.