The warm smoke rose from the golden incense burner, and Madame Hou sat calmly on the couch under the corridor, quietly savoring the new tea of this spring. The people in the Choulou Garden looked at each other, only to see that the new madam had finished her tea and tasted half a pastry, with elegant and refined manners.

  Just as everyone was anxious and couldn't guess what the new mistress wanted to do, Qin Miao spoke up.

  "I've just arrived at the Hou Mansion and I'm not familiar with the affairs of the mansion yet. I hope everyone will be able to help each other in the future and put their hearts into it." Qin Miao's words were warm and straightforward, which made the people below her let out a long sigh of relief. They thought the new mistress was going to say something else, but it was just a courtesy. After all, the new mistress is only fifteen years old, and to be honest, she's still a half-grown child. Looking at her petite figure again, I wonder if she'll be able to bear the weight of the Hou Mansion in the future.

  Qin Miao was also quite experienced in reading people, especially servants. With just a glance around the room, she could see the subtle thoughts on each of their faces.

  Perhaps from sitting for too long, her body felt somewhat tired and stifled. She stood up and casually swung her arms a few times, pacing back and forth under the corridor.

  People are used to seeing the calm and composed side of the lady of the house, but they never thought that the new madam would be so unbridled, directly waving her hands and feet in front of them. This is her first time giving them a dressing-down, even if she's young and not steady, she should at least put on a show.

  Before they could even think through their little thoughts, Qin Miao spoke up for the second time.

  "Cháolù Yuàn is the Hou Ye's courtyard, I don't care how you served me before. But now that the real mistress has arrived, we must follow the rules. As for what these rules are, I will have Li Niangniang take some time to explain them to you later."

  Rules? Everyone's mind was filled with a big question mark. The Hou Mansion had always followed established procedures, weren't those the biggest rules already? Wasn't it unlikely that Madame wanted to establish new rules?

  "Just remember one thing, madam: I'm a kind-hearted person and don't usually lose my temper. However... if anyone breaks the rules or does something wrong, we'll have to discuss it, so don't try to appeal to our relationship."

  At this time, Qin Miao had stopped in her tracks and was standing under the corridor, facing everyone with a straight back. Ru Hua quietly raised his eyes to look at Qin Miao for a moment, and instantly met Qin Miao's sharp gaze. Good fellow, this young lady is so young, how did she grow such a pair of intimidating eyes?

  Qin Miaohui went to see Ruhua because she was going to do something she had been wanting to do for a long time.

  "Nowadays, there are many people in Chōroin, and it's inconvenient to manage. I'm not a person who likes to do everything personally, so... as the picture..."

  Ruhua heard the new madam call out her own name, and she couldn't help but be startled in her heart, not daring to hesitate as she lifted up her head.

  "Like a painting, you are an old man in the mansion now. Serving Master Hou was quite hard work before. I've heard all about it. So I also want to give you some power, from now on you don't have to serve Master Hou anymore, help me manage the maids and rough servants in the Chao Lu Yuan." After finishing speaking, Qin Miao still gave a rather serious expression.

  "You'd better take care of them and help me discipline these maids. If they make any mistakes, I'll have to come looking for you. Of course, with more responsibilities on your shoulders, this month's pay will naturally increase as well. From now on, in addition to the original allowance for a first-class maid, add two taels, which will be deducted from my own allowance."

  As soon as this was said, the painted face immediately looked ugly. What does this new wife mean? She is the concubine given to the lord by the old lady, how can she not serve him closely? Although it's two more taels of silver every month, which sounds tempting, but no matter what, it's better than guarding the lord's side, in case...in case one day the lord favors her and has the good fortune to become a concubine, that would be far more than just two extra taels.

  After chatting for a while, Qin Miao suddenly felt a bit parched, and just as she turned around to pick up the tea cup from the table, she heard Ru Hua, who was standing below, say with a hint of dissatisfaction and grievance: "Madam, I am a servant given by the old madam to serve the young master personally. If I cannot serve the young master according to the old madam's instructions, I fear that I will not be able to fulfill my duties as entrusted by the old madam, so I hope you will consider this."

  "Oh? What did our ancestors give us?"

  Ru Hua saw that her new husband's words were somewhat hesitant, and in her heart she thought that what had just been said must have taken effect. Even if the Hou Ye couple was older, they couldn't possibly not listen to their elders, right?

  But our Qin family's daughter is just so bold and stubborn, she simply doesn't love following the beautiful plan.

  "Hey, what's going on? If the old ancestor asks, I'll cover for you. Since I'm going to reuse you, of course, I'd be willing to shield you from unnecessary troubles. Besides, if the old ancestor hears that you're capable now, he'll also be happy for you. You must do a good job and not disappoint the old ancestor's kindness in promoting you back then."

  "This..." As if a painting, for a moment, felt suffocated in her heart, not knowing what else to say, all the things she wanted to say seemed to have been said by others. How come this new wife doesn't look as young and naive as she thought? But looking at her again with an appearance of sincerity and wholeheartedness towards herself, she began to suspect if it was just her own imagination.

  At the sight of Ru Hua's embarrassed expression, Qin Miao knew that there was no need to waste any more words on her. "Ru Hua has been promoted, and it's because she did a good job in the past. You all should learn from her example. Besides, Master Hou always needs someone by his side to attend to him. From now on, Ru Mo will be the one serving inside the house."

  Ru Mo had always been standing at the bottom, and just now when Ru Hua was talking to the new madam, she didn't show any excessive expression, very calm. Qin Miao also saw it with her own eyes, but a personal maid who could be promoted by Xie Yan would not be stupid. So she was willing to give Ru Mo an opportunity, and put her by her side to observe carefully.

  But when she thought about it, her heart was furious. In terms of seniority, she had been serving the young master for seven or eight years, and this newly arrived Ru Mo was nothing but a newcomer. Could it be that the new mistress had come to curry favor with him? The more Ru Hua thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, why would the new mistress suddenly replace her, giving herself important tasks, wasn't it just because she was afraid of not being able to control her, and replaced her with a new person? Thinking this way, she became even more indignant in her heart, having lost the qualification to serve by his side, how could she show off in front of the young master from now on.

  Just as Ruhua was secretly displeased, we Mo girl stepped forward with a big smile and saluted Qin Miao: "Yes, the maid will keep her place and serve Master Hou wholeheartedly from now on."

  Look at what she said, first is to stick to her duties, then is to serve with all her heart, it's clear that she is trying to curry favor with the new mistress. Even Qin Miao listened and felt very pleased. Then she chatted with everyone for a while before letting people do their own things.

  Can't help but say, today Qin Miao finally let out a big breath. From the day on the boat, to Zi Xuan sending sweet soup, and then to the wedding night, Huashang's whole body was emitting an unusual and annoying aura towards Qin Miao. Today, Qin Miao told the servants that she is a kind person, but her tone was not right. For people like Huashang who are unclear about their own position and are self-satisfied, it's easy to trigger Qin Miao's desire to scold them. That's how today's scene in the courtyard happened.

  Just thinking that the most annoying thing in front of her had been solved, Qin Miao ate an extra bowl of rice for lunch. In the afternoon, Qin Miao didn't think about going to find Er Fang Sun to hand over the mid-autumn festival affairs, but was busy with Li Niang and others sorting out her dowry into storage, and in a hurry until dinner time.

  Xie Houye hadn't returned to the Chao Lu courtyard since morning, and Qin Miao was busy with her dowry and didn't have time to think about it. Fortunately, just as dinner was approaching, Xie Yan returned from the front yard.