The abandoned concubine who transmigrated woke up shouting "Long live the widow!"

Granny Liu quickly stepped forward, "Miss, we usually don't get to see this princess. Today, thanks to you, I've told you everything I know! It's not a matter of whether I like her or not, is it?"

“But the princess said we don’t need to come to pay our respects every day, so what are we doing in the courtyard?” Feng Cuier asked, somewhat at a loss.

"Oh! Girl, do whatever you want! Do you know how to embroider?"

"I only know how to embroider some simple patterns, and I really want to learn!"

"Then go ahead and learn! Didn't Her Highness say that you can ask the steward for anything you need? Just tell the steward you want to learn embroidery, and he'll arrange it for you!" Granny Liu said with a smile.

Old Tan's wife, who was standing nearby, also chimed in, "Young lady, you could go out for a walk and stroll around the streets!"

Actually, she mainly wanted to go out for a stroll. Usually, they had to ask for leave to leave the mansion, so they didn't have many opportunities to go out. Old Tan was a gardener, and the two of them didn't have any children, so their lives were bland and uneventful.

Now, a girl has finally come along, and it's good that she can accompany the girl out of the mansion. The key is that this girl is very obedient to them.

"I'd like to go to the market, but I don't have much money..."

Feng Cuier hesitated.

"Oh! What's there to be afraid of? We can look at them and then have the steward buy them for you! Isn't that what the Prince and Princess said? Besides, looking at them doesn't cost any money. You're so young, you can't just stay cooped up in the mansion all the time!" Old Tan's wife advised.

"And another thing! Miss, you have to talk to the steward. There are too few people in our courtyard. Liu Ma and I can't do any of the heavy work. If that doesn't work, ask the steward to send a few more people over." Actually, Old Tan's wife, Wang Ma, had already mentioned this to the steward, but for some reason, the steward didn't send anyone over, so she brought it up to Feng Cuier again.

Feng Cuier wasn't stupid; she knew she couldn't push her luck. "Wang Ma, we can't ask for too much. I'll think about how to talk to the housekeeper!"

Granny Liu glanced at Old Tan's wife. She knew that Old Tan's wife wanted to transfer Old Tan to this courtyard as well. However, the Prince's mansion only had two gardeners. Even with their wives, there were still many flowers and plants in the huge mansion. If only the couple was left, they probably wouldn't be able to manage. The steward might not agree.

Old Tan's wife did think so. Serving the master in the courtyard was definitely easier than being a gardener. If this girl became the master in the mansion in the future, then they, the elders, would also rise in rank and become the master's confidants.

After sending Feng Cuier away, Jingxue went to Jingze's room. The wet nurse was tidying up with two boys, while Runyue and Yingying were cutting out patterns with the two maids, Lidong and Lichun.

"How's the packing going?" Jingxue gestured for the group to skip the formalities. There wasn't much to pack, really; Jingze's enrollment procedures weren't even finished yet! He hadn't even picked up his schoolbag or the academy's uniform.

"Elder sister, what do you think of this robe I'm going to wear tomorrow?" Jingze walked over and showed it to Jingxue by pulling her finger.

Those were newly made cotton robes a few days ago, one for Jingze and one for An'an. They were a piece of dark purple brocade with silver thread patterns that Jingxue took out of her dowry chest.

Jingxue felt that the two children looked elegant and dignified in their clothes.

“That’s great! You and An’an are wearing the same clothes, you look just like…” Jingxue suddenly stopped talking. To be honest, the two children really do look alike. People would believe they were brothers. Oh my god! Could it be that her cheapskate father made a mistake outside?

Jingze stared at Jingxue with wide eyes, waiting for her to continue. Jingxue smiled and said, "Just like a painting!"

Yingying ran over, grinning, and asked, "Sister, does Yingying look like she was drawn too?"

Jingxue tapped her little nose. "Yes! Yingying looks just like her, like a little fairy from a painting!"

Yingying laughed even more heartily!

Jingxue stayed with the children until lunchtime, thinking that Xiaoman and Liqiu would have lunch in the palace before returning. However, just as they were about to eat, the two maids returned to the mansion.

"So soon? I thought you wouldn't be back until after you'd eaten!"

Xiaoman replied, "Her Majesty the Empress did indeed ask us to stay for lunch before returning. We dared not eat there, so we knelt down to thank Her Majesty for her kindness and returned!"

"How did it go? Was everything alright? Did anyone give you any trouble?"

Xiaoman glanced at Liqiu and said, "It's alright! Liqiu was probably too nervous. When she was giving Consort Fang a facial, Consort Fang complained that her hands were cold. I happened to be massaging Consort De's shoulders and neck, so I switched with her. However, the Empress also ordered someone to bring hot water so that Liqiu could soak her hands before the facial. After that, no one said anything!"

Liqiu's face was a little red, whether from nervousness or from the wind after getting off the carriage, it was hard to tell. Jingxue said gently, "Liqiu, don't be nervous! If it's really not good, Lichun can go next time!"

"Miss, it's my fault! I've never seen so many distinguished people before, I won't do it again!"

"Okay! Let's wash our hands and eat!"

At lunchtime, Uncle Fu and his men had the things they bought delivered to the mansion one after another. Uncle Lian and Zhang Kang had also bought tools and timber.

In the afternoon, they got to work, clanging and banging. In ancient times, there were no nails, so the mortise and tenon technique of carpenters was very sophisticated.

Jingxue came to the neighboring yard after her afternoon nap. The stone mill had already been set up, and Uncle Fu was leading people to build the stove.

“Young Miss, we knew you were taking a nap, so we didn’t disturb you. Please take a look at these. If you’re not satisfied, we’ll make further changes!” Uncle Lian said.

Jingxue looked at the items and saw that they were all purchased according to the list she had given her. She noticed several brand-new large wooden barrels stacked to the side.

"That's great, everyone worked hard!"

The servants repeatedly said that it was their duty.

"Young Miss, here's the rest of the silver!" Uncle Fu took out a purse from his pocket and handed it to Jingxue.

Jingxue didn't accept it. "Uncle Fu, give this money to Zhang Kang! From now on, this courtyard will be like a small workshop, and Zhang Kang will keep the accounts!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Kang wasn't in this room at the moment, and Jing Xue didn't intend to stay here any longer. She told someone to tell Zhang Kang to come find her later and then returned to Jingning Garden.

Back at Jingning Garden, Jingxue went to the room where the pickled cabbage was stored. She had locked up this room a few days ago and used it as a storeroom.

She usually takes some vegetables and grains out from here, and only she and Xiaoman have the key.

I bought 500 jin of soybeans from my storage space and took them out. I plan to have someone soak some tonight and start making tofu tomorrow.

Then he called over the rich woman to bring a wooden basin, poured out some beans, and sprouted some soybeans.

Zhang Kang arrived quickly. Jingxue gave him some writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and told him to keep good records, including money transactions and how many beans were used to make tofu. As for the servants' wages, he didn't need to worry about that.

Speaking of wages, Jingxue remembered that she hadn't paid Xiaoman and the others this month.

Watching Zhang Kang's departing figure, one could see that even ancient men had long hair, and the people making tofu had to make two sets of work clothes and hats.

"Xiaoman!" Jingxue called out to the outside room.