The Imperial Capital Rhapsody 11: The Embroiderer Maiden

  Embroiderer Girl

  Zhao Yiniang stormed back, and indeed another scene was made. In less than half a day, the entire Ye Manor knew that Zhao Yiniang had gone to San Niangzi's Qingyixuan to try to curry favor with her, but was ridiculed by San Niangzi's maid Qingfeng and chased out of the courtyard. Even though Zhao Yiniang is currently in favor, Shangshu Daren only lightly reminded San Niangzi of two sentences when paying respects, it seems that Zhao Yiniang doesn't have as much favor as rumored. After this incident, the yiniangs in the back courtyard naturally couldn't help but take advantage of the situation to mock and ridicule, and Zhao Yiniang also fought back with a sharp tongue. Wangshi was confined to her own courtyard teaching Ye Ying, these yiniangs without restraint made the back courtyard quite lively for a while.

  Wang Shi suffered a great loss at the hands of Ye Li this time, not only losing tens of thousands of taels of silver but also being confined by Old Lady Ye. Wang Shi returned to her own courtyard and smashed countless porcelain pieces, but Ye Li was uninterested, thinking that there must be some hidden motives behind Old Lady Ye's so-called confinement. Because in just a few days, it would be the day of the betrothal ceremony between the Ye and Li families, and as the mistress of the Ye family and Ye Ying's biological mother, Wang Shi naturally couldn't not go out to meet people.

  When the people from Li Wang Fu came to select, Ye Li was sitting in her courtyard, picking out servants. The housekeeper was a clever person and while busy receiving the guests from Li Wang Fu in the front hall, she didn't forget about the task that Third Miss had entrusted to her. Early on, she let the housekeeper bring people over for Ye Li to select. Ye Li sat calmly in the chair placed under the eaves of the roof, quietly sizing up the dozen or so maids standing in the courtyard. Seeing that Ye Li didn't speak for a long time, the housekeeper looked at her with some unease, thinking that Third Miss wasn't satisfied with these people. Just as she was considering speaking to change to another group of people, Ye Li said lightly: "Qingfeng, take a look. If they're suitable, keep them." Qingfeng was deeply moved by the trust that her miss had in her and hastily replied loudly: "Slave will obey orders."

  Walking among the maids, Qingfeng felt a little uncomfortable seeing their different expressions. In the past, her own young mistress was not well-received, and she herself was also ostracized by the other maids. Now these people were standing here, allowing her to choose from among them. Qingfeng carefully selected a few with delicate features and brought them before Yueli. Yueli took one glance and smiled inwardly, thinking that Qingfeng was being too meticulous, even when choosing maids she had to think so much. The housekeeper's wife accompanied by a smile asked Yueli, "Miss is only choosing these few? Shouldn't we pick two more just in case there aren't enough later?"

  Ye Li Qing's gaze smiled as she looked at her, "In that case, let's choose two more then."

  The housekeeper's wife met Ye Liling's clear and cold gaze, and for some reason, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart, and quickly avoided her.

  Ye Li this time didn't even glance at them, and casually pointed: "Just those two."

  Qingfeng looked at the two maids standing in the front row, one was plain and unremarkable, while the other was stunningly beautiful. At first glance, she didn't seem like a docile person. Moreover, that maid actually had an arrogant expression on her face as she looked at her own mistress, truly reckless!

  With a wave of her hand, she let the housekeeper take away the remaining people and only then did Ye Li carefully examine the six maids standing in front of her, asking in a soft voice: "What are your names?"

  "Slave Yuanyun, Slave Xiaocui."

  "Slave girl Jing'er, slave girl Tian'er."

  "Slave Snow Swallow, slave... with deep affection."

  Ye Li nodded, the name didn't seem to be anything out of place, and Ye Li wasn't interested in renaming her either. She shifted her gaze to the last two people she had pointed at, "Xue Yan, where were you serving before? I don't think I've seen you around." The maid named Xue Yan had a calm expression, and she curtsied slightly towards Ye Li, "Reporting to Third Miss, this servant was originally a second-class maid in the old woman's quarters. It's natural that Third Miss hasn't seen me since I'm not allowed on the main floor." Ye Li smiled, "You don't look like someone who can't be on the main floor, so you'll serve by my side just like Qing Shuang from now on."

  The one serving beside her was the head maid of the master's side, Xueyan was slightly stunned by Yelü's promotion, but did not show excessive surprise, "Thank you, Third Miss, for promoting me. I will definitely serve Miss with all my heart. Please, Miss, give me a name." Usually, the head maid serving beside the master would be given a name by the master themselves, it was both an honor and a sign that once the name was changed, they had no relation to their past life, only loyal to their current master. Yelü raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment before saying: "Let's call her Qingxia."

  "Thank you for your kindness, Miss." After bowing, Qingxia stood upright with her hands hanging down in respect.

  "Embroidery... can you do it?" Ye Li asked.

  A hint of arrogance flashed in her emotional eyes, and she said crisply: "Of course I can. The embroidery of the slave is one of the best in this mansion."

  Ye Li seemed satisfied with her answer and nodded, "Alright, in that case, you can serve by the needle and thread."

  "Miss, I'm not an embroiderer!" Her expression changed, and she glared at Ye Lian with a mixture of resentment and frustration.

  "How dare you! Is there anything in Miss's words that you can refute?" Qingfeng rebuked angrily.

  Ye Li didn't get angry, nodded and smiled: "I know you're not a seamstress, if there's anything important to be sewn, it won't be left for you to do." Being a seamstress isn't easy either, which excellent seamstress doesn't have at least ten or even several decades of foundation? This one called Hanying, no matter how you look at her, doesn't seem like she can quietly do needlework.

  Her face was flushed with emotion, staring fixedly at Ye Li. Ye Li wouldn't take her seriously, standing up and smiling as he said: "These days might be quite busy, if you can't handle it just go find the manager. Once you've gone to the Dingguo King's estate, there will naturally be more people working on embroidery. And... change your name. Just call yourself Jingwen."

  "Thank you, Third Miss! I'm very satisfied with my own name!" she said, her face flushing with emotion.

  "Presumptuous! What's the use of you being satisfied? Our mistress is not satisfied." This little girl has a flirtatious face and still takes such an improper name, does she think Qingyuxuan is a brothel? Qingfeng still can't understand why the mistress would choose someone like this.

  "Change your name or turn around and leave this Clear Whimsy Pavilion. Or... you should go back and ask your former master?"

  Her expression changed, and she gritted her teeth: "This slave thanks the young lady for bestowing a name."

  Ye Li's gaze swept over her lightly, then turned away, "Since you've entered my Qing Yi Xuan, as long as you behave yourself, I'm not a person who likes to make things difficult for others. If you have any other ideas, it's best to leave early, otherwise... the people who were beaten outside Rong Le Tang the other day are your examples. Qing Feng, Qing Xia, reward ten taels of silver each, and five taels for everyone else."

  "Yes, miss."

  "Thank you, miss!" The crowd hastily thanked her in unison. For these young maids who earned less than one or two taels of silver per month, five taels was a considerable amount. Huan Wen, although slightly disdainful, knew better than to provoke Ye Li now and also followed suit with thanks.

  After leaving Qingfeng, Ye Li turned around and was about to return to the house when the voice of the stewardess came from outside, "Third Miss, Empress Xianzhao has summoned you."