Chapter 61: I

Wang Xifeng laughed:

"Third brother, are you satisfied with this maid Aunt sent? I heard Aunt say this maid was bought by Brother Pan from a kidnapper, and there's a story behind it!"

"This maid is a pitiful person; she was taken by a kidnapper since childhood, forced to do laundry and cooking, constantly beaten and scolded. Over the years she has endured countless hardships and suffering!"

Jia Jing nodded; he might know Xiangling's matter better than Feng Jie.

"Second sister-in-law! Just keep Xiangling and Xiaohong, and take the other maids and housemaids back!"

"My side will have personal soldiers coming and going constantly; keeping these girls in the courtyard is inconvenient!" Jia Jing said calmly.

He only selected Xiaohong and Xiangling, the two maids whose character or ability he knew from his previous life to be decent, and let them handle the inner‑courtyard affairs thereafter.

Jia Jing didn't want the rest of the maids; on one hand it is truly inconvenient, and he is not accustomed to having too many people to look after.

On the other hand, he couldn't trust them; these maids still didn't know whose eyes within the Jia Mansion or even outside were watching, so how could he place them in his own courtyard and not feel uneasy?

Only the personal soldiers he brought back from the front line are people he can absolutely trust.

Feng Jie did not expect Jia Jing to reject these maids; they were all carefully selected by her, with good looks and good figures.

Of course, some were added as a favor to others.

Not wanting to be sent back by Jia Jing, she hurriedly said:

"Third brother! They are all maids, only staying in the back courtyard; what's inconvenient about that!"

"Moreover, the front courtyard is so large; those sweeping housemaids and little maids are indispensable! You can't expect you and your personal soldiers to do these chores, can you!"

Jia Jing waved his hand and said in a deep voice:

"Having Xiangling and Xiaohong by my side is enough! I, by myself, don't need so many people to serve me!"

"I'm not Baoyu, who likes to mingle among daughters! Doesn't your courtyard also have only Ping'er and one senior maid?"

"Quickly take them back! It's getting late, I won't escort them!"

After finishing, Jia Jing, without caring about Feng Jie's reaction, headed toward the back courtyard first.

Xiangling and Xiaohong hurriedly followed, while the other maids and housemaids showed envious and unwilling expressions.

Wang Xifeng helplessly thought that her courtyard only had one senior maid, which was to prevent Jia Lian from taking advantage; originally she had brought four senior maids from her natal family when she married.

But later only Ping'er remained, loyal, not because she didn't want more to serve.

Yet seeing Jia Jing's demeanor, there was clearly no room for her to argue further.

She could only console herself: at least Xiangling from Aunt's house and Xiaohong from Steward Lin's household were taken in! Both sides owe her a favor.

The fewer she takes, the greater the benefit each side gains. After all, scarcity makes things valuable!

"Let's go! It's not that I'm not giving you a say; it's that you lack the fate; pack your things and come with me!"

Feng Jie called out to this group of maids and housemaids.

Jia Jing entered the back‑courtyard bedroom, with Xiangling following step by step, her face showing some nervousness,

Xiaohong, however, was noticeably braver, her expression somewhat uplifted.

However, she was a second‑rank maid, not entitled to serve inside the room, so she stopped at the doorway.

Only Jia Jing and Xiangling entered the room.

"By the way! Where did Xiao Jiaoer go?" Jia Jing asked Xiangling.

Since I'm back, Xiao Jiaoer must be a maid in my courtyard.

How come we haven't seen her since dinner finished!

Xiangling replied timidly:

"Xiao Jiaoer was originally waiting for the Lord, but it was really late, she was tired from playing today, and has already fallen asleep in the side room!"

Jia Jing went to the side room of his own house and saw that indeed Xiao Jiaoer was sprawled on the bed, snoring loudly, completely undisturbed by his return.

The side room is a place for the master's maids to rest at night; if the master gets up at night or needs water, the maid can attend immediately.

Jia Jing stepped forward, tugged the corner of Xiao Jiaoer's blanket, and then left with Xiangling.

"Are you a bit afraid of me?" Jia Jing asked the downcast Xiangling.

"Um…" Xiangling weakly nodded.

Jia Jing's own imposing authority, combined with being in an unfamiliar environment serving an unfamiliar master, naturally made Xiangling feel uneasy.

"Then shall I return you to Aunt?" Jia Jing asked.

Jia Jing had only said it offhand, but who knew Xiangling, upon hearing it, suddenly stepped back two steps, knelt before him and kowtowed,

crying, "

"Please, Lord, don't drive me away! I am willing to serve you well…"

Though Xiangling is coquettish, she is not foolish; she could even be said to be very perceptive.

She knows clearly that since the lady sent her to the Lord, she hopes Xiangling can stay by the Lord's side and serve him.

If she were driven back, it would not only betray the lady's expectations, but also likely draw complaints from the Xue Family.

If the Xue Family despises her again, what recourse would she have!

In an instant, thinking of her tragic background, Xiangling burst into tears, becoming a weeping child.

Jia Jing bent down, helped her up, and soothed:

"Lord has no intention of sending you away! Otherwise, if that many were expelled just now, how could he keep you and Xiaohong?"

Seeing Xiangling a bit stunned, Jia Jing continued to instruct:

"From now on, stay here and keep Xiao Jiaoer company! Usually Lord doesn't have many orders for you! Just look after yourself and Xiao Jiaoer!"

"But remember, once you're in Lord's courtyard, you are Lord's person!"

"You must not betray from within, and you must not speak out the confidential matters of Lord's side, understand?"

Xiangling's brows relaxed, and she obediently nodded.

"By the way, you and Xiaohong together take these items to Miss Lin's and Third Miss's courtyards."

Jia Jing took out several boxes of ginseng, deer antler, and top-quality bird's nest from the chest in the room, as well as the Confucius' Dream Condolence Scroll meant for Tan Chun.

"Ginseng and deer antler go to Lin Mei Mei; bird's nest goes to the second sister, third sister, fourth sister, and Yun Mei Mei—each lady receives two boxes. Right, and also the Xue family's younger sister. The scroll goes to the third sister."

Jia Jing sorted the items into categories and instructed Xiangling one by one.

He was also worried that if he got busy he'd forget, so even though it was late, he still had the two of them send it over.

Xiangling greeted Xiaohong outside and had her come in to fetch the things; there were over ten boxes, and the two of them, each using both hands, carried them full-handed—fortunately the items weren't heavy.

After the two left, Jia Jing first went to the front courtyard to talk with the garrison soldiers and check their living conditions.

They also ate a late-night snack together, then arranged for people to take turns standing guard in two shifts.

Although Shenjing was safe, one could not neglect precautions.

Afterwards Jia Jing went to Zhu Que's room; Zhu Que lived in the first side room on the left of the front courtyard.

At that moment he was processing information sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guard; upon seeing Jia Jing enter, he hurriedly rose to greet him.

"My lord! You've arrived!"