Chapter 04: Entering the Mansion

Shixiu'er’s mother, Aunt Shi, was quite resourceful. She quickly contacted an old friend from her youth and managed to bribe a steward at the general's residence, arranging for Shixiu'er, Yao Mi, and Fan Qing to be brought in as cooks.

Shi Xiuer speculated that if General Xie were to see Yao Mi, who bore some resemblance to Xie Yun, he would surely take an interest. At that time, the possibility of the three of them joining forces to marry into the general's residence and become the old lady was extremely high

The maid glanced at Gu Meixue's expression and hurriedly said, "I will go and ask."

After a lengthy discussion among the three, they finally went to bed to rest

That night, Yao Mi told Madam Gu that she had fallen out with Gu Dongyu. She planned to team up with Shi Xiuer and Fan Qing to sneak into the General's residence as kitchen maids, in hopes of getting close to Xie Teng and Xie Sheng. Upon hearing this, Madam Gu felt both happy and heartbroken. On one hand, she was pleased that her daughter was talented and beautiful, but unfortunately, she had always had bad luck, which was why she had not been married off. Now, with such ambition and determination, it was commendable. On the other hand, she felt heartbroken because her daughter seemed to be overestimating her abilities; she had not even managed to deal with Gu Dongyu, yet she was foolishly trying to win over Xie Teng.

That night, upon returning to her room, Yao Mi said to Shi Xiu'er and Fan Qing: "With Madam Meng around, it may not be easy for us to get close to General Xie."

On the second day, Yao Mi and the others changed into slightly worn but not old clothes, carried small bundles, and went to the General's residence to seek an audience with Meng Zhong. The doorman, seeing that although they were dressed simply, their features were delicate and charming, did not dare to be negligent and hurried inside to report.

Due to the absence of a mistress in the General's residence, the current overseer of the inner household is Meng Wanqun, the niece of the old General Xie. Meng Wanqun manages the inner household of the General's residence, and aside from the familial ties, she has her own considerations. For instance, the management of the kitchen and procurement is handled by Meng Zhong, a trusted steward she brought from the Meng family.

In just a couple of days, Yao Mi and others learned that the affairs of the inner residence of the General Zhang's mansion were managed by Meng Wanqun, the niece of the old general Xie. Meng Wanqun intended to betroth her daughter Gu Meixue to Xie Teng, but Xie Teng had not given a definite answer, so the matter was put on hold.

The maid had just inquired nearby and, upon seeing that Yao Mi and the others had graceful figures, snow-like skin, and delicate fingers, she was already filled with suspicion. Now, hearing Gu Mei Xue's words, she naturally echoed, "Which young lady's new scheme could this be? In order to get close to the general, haven't they tried various tricks? Yet they do not know their own limitations; can the general be someone they can even think of?"

Gu Meixue naturally mentioned seeing three beautiful kitchen maids at the gate of the residence. Meng Wanqin was taken aback for a moment, then said with a smile: "Well, these young ladies have even managed to work as kitchen maids in the residence! Let them be pleased for a few days; we will surely find a way to drive them out." As she spoke, she comforted Gu Meixue, saying: "Your cousin will not take a liking to them, so you need not worry."

However, General Xie is different. Although he is advanced in age, he is a man of chivalry and compassion. He has two sons and one daughter; his daughter, Xie Yun, was born when he was fifty years old. At that time, Mrs. Xie, due to her advanced age, suffered greatly during childbirth and passed away within two years. General Xie, feeling pity for his daughter who lost her mother, showered her with affection. However, after one battle, both of his sons and his beloved daughter were lost, and that kind of pain cannot be expressed in ordinary words

The so-called Western Mountain Retreat was established by twenty retired palace maids. Currently, many unmarried women in the capital go to the Western Mountain Retreat to learn skills and the ways of being a wife, in preparation for better serving their husbands and educating their children after marriage

Yao Mi and others were conversing when a small sedan chair stopped at the side door. The person inside the chair lifted the curtain, frowned, and said to a maid, "Who are these three women? What do they want, gesturing at the gate?"

Meng Zhong was surprised to hear that Yao Mi and the others did not want wages, but instead would offer him an additional ten taels of silver each month, only seeking to enter the general's residence as kitchen maids. Upon hearing Aunt Shi's close friend, Madam Meng, explain that these young ladies were nearly fifteen years old and feared that the authorities would randomly arrange marriages for them, he understood their choice to enter the general's residence as kitchen maids to avoid such fates, hoping to find a suitable family to marry into later. He soon felt relieved. The authorities had decreed that women aged fifteen must marry, but this did not apply to the maidservants of wealthy families. The fate of maidservants was determined by their masters. By entering the general's residence as kitchen maids, as long as they signed a contract, during the contract period, the authorities could not interfere with them without the permission of the general's household.

However, Shi Xiuer has another piece of inside information and leaned in to say: "I have inquired and found out that General Xie takes a walk in the garden every evening after dinner. Let us lay in wait in the garden tomorrow evening!"

Shi Xiuer excitedly interjected: "By then, regarding the marriage of Xie Teng and the others, we, as elders, will still be able to offer our advice and help them choose a kind and gentle woman to enter the household. Most importantly, they must not marry any princesses or noble ladies; otherwise, we, as elders, would be overshadowed by the younger generation, which would not be ideal."

Meng Wanqun, upon hearing that her daughter Gu Meixue had arrived, hurriedly instructed the maid to welcome her in. Upon seeing her daughter's poor complexion, she inquired, "What is the matter? You seemed fine before."

"Chef? This is what they look like, being a chef?"

The kitchen maids, upon seeing the three of them looking delicate and charming, inquired and learned that they had entered the general's residence as cooks to avoid marriage matters, and were not there to seize their power. They breathed a sigh of relief. Once Yao Mi and the others each slipped them some silver, they were even more delighted, not only refraining from insisting that they work but also sharing some insights about the preferences of the people in the general's residence.

As they waited for the doorman to announce them, Yao Mi took a few steps back, shielding her forehead with her hand, and examined the characters carved on the gate of the General's residence. Shi Xiu'er also smiled and glanced at it, leaning close to Yao Mi's ear and saying, "Truly worthy of the General's residence, it looks imposing and majestic."

After much discussion among the three, they left the pavilion. Yingying knelt down under the moonlight and swore that from that moment on, they would be sworn sisters of different surnames, sharing blessings and facing difficulties together, united in purpose, with one heart and one mind, and would spare no effort to ensure that they would marry General Xie together.

Men like Xie Teng, how could Yao Mi and others not be fond of him, how could they not have fantasized about the possibility of being with him? But the reality is that even Gu Dongyu, who is of no account, looks down on them. At this point, if they continue to indulge in unrealistic fantasies, it would be tantamount to seeking their own demise and willingly falling into degradation

Shi Xiuer and Fan Qing each spoke movingly to persuade their respective mothers. Thus, on the following day, the members of the Gu family heard that Yao Mi, Shi Xiuer, and Fan Qing intended to go together to the Western Mountain villa to learn skills.

Gu Meixue murmured, "How can I feel at ease when one group of women after another wants to get close to my cousin"

Yao Mi had already discussed the script with Shi Xiu'er and others. Upon seeing Madam Gu's expression, she hurriedly said: "Mother, rest assured, I bear some resemblance to Aunt Xie Yun, who is Xie Teng's aunt. I am somewhat confident about this matter. Even if it does not succeed, it can still attract General Xie's attention. Perhaps I could even have General Xie acknowledge me as his goddaughter, allowing him to help find a suitable husband for me! Regardless of the outcome, I am determined to find a way to get married before I turn fifteen, so as not to worry you, Mother"

Seeing that the stewardess is easy to talk to, Yao Mi and the others finally feel relieved

On the third day, with the weather fine and sunny, Yao Mi and the others took a sedan chair to the West Mountain Villa. Upon entering the villa and completing the handover, the group from the Gu family who had accompanied them left first. Yao Mi and the others stayed overnight at the West Mountain Villa, engaging in a lengthy confidential discussion with the stewardess, offering her a substantial sum of money. The stewardess, upon learning that the three of them were not genuinely there to learn a craft but were preparing to enter the general's residence as cooks, assumed they were doing so for Xie Teng. She did not say much, only assuring them, "Rest assured, if anyone from the Gu family comes looking for you, I will certainly help you conceal your whereabouts. If you have any messages to send back to the Gu family, you can also leave that to me."

Gu Meixue nodded and lowered the sedan curtain. After a while, a maid came to report: "Miss, it is said that the cook has been summoned by Meng Zhong."

Fan Qing expressed her concerns, saying: "Today, when I delivered food to Miss Gu's room, she criticized me harshly, as if she wanted to eat me alive! If we don't quickly get close to General Xie, I'm afraid we won't be able to stay in this residence for long"

Meng Wanqun smiled and said, "As long as I am stationed at the General's residence, no other women will be able to lay a hand on your cousin. Unless it is the princesses who come to the door, then there would be nothing to be done."

It is said that Yao Mi and others showed great filial piety towards Meng Zhong. Upon entering the general's residence, the three naturally occupied a large room. Although they were assigned to the kitchen, they did not have to do much work; they only assisted in delivering dishes and passing messages.

Gu Meixue let out a cold laugh and said, "Let's go, first meet my mother and then we can talk."

Madam Gu, filled with mixed emotions, pondered for a moment, then steeled herself and agreed to Yao Mi's request. She then composed herself and said: "Even so, this matter must be kept from your aunt and the others, to avoid any unforeseen complications"

Madam Gu sighed upon hearing Yao Mi's words and said, "It can only be this way." She resolved in her heart that if Yao Mi could not succeed in the General's residence, she would press her mother, Old Madam Fan, to intervene, and she would ensure that Gu Dongyu married Yao Mi. As for whether Yao Mi and Gu Dongyu would become a mismatched couple in the future, that was no longer a concern.

Yao Mi, seeing that Madam Gu had agreed, said: "Mother, you should tell Aunt and Grandmother that I will be sent to the Xishan villa to learn skills, and I will only return after one or two months. This way, they will not be suspicious."

Fan Qing was stirred with excitement by the beautiful prospects painted by Yao Mi and Shi Xiu'er, shaking her small pink fist and saying, "Since you two sisters say so, I will definitely follow you."

However, Fan Qing was thinking of another aspect, and after a moment, she said: "What if General Xie sees Sister Yao resembling Xie Yun and has the thought of taking Sister Yao as his goddaughter?"

Yao Mi shook her head and said: "Being the goddaughter of General Xie does not necessarily mean that one can smoothly resolve marriage matters. In comparison, it would be more appropriate to be the wife of General Xie. If it were some other old man, even if one were to marry him, it would be of no use. General Xie is different; not only has his wife passed away, but he has also lost both sons, their wives, and a daughter, leaving only three grandsons. If we marry him, we would be the mistress of the general's residence, and Xie Teng would have to call us grandmother. Once General Xie takes a step back, we would be the highest elder in the general's residence. At that time, we could tend to flowers, plant grass, stroll around, and occasionally instruct the younger generation. If we feel lonely, we could just invite someone... Moreover, with you all accompanying me and brainstorming, living a carefree life would not be difficult at all. Alright, let's do it this way; let's not compete with young girls for husbands."