Arú wasn't around, so naturally, no one introduced this girl to Qi Yue. Qi Yue could only surmise from her attire that she was a second-rank maid.

The concubines of Marquis Dingxi were allowed at most one second-rank maid; a first-rank maid was out of the question.

"Thank you, Auntie," Qi Yue said with a smile. Arú had taught her the rules: no need to be overly polite to the concubines, just treat them normally. Thus, she didn't rise.

Jiuzhi accepted the sweet pastry, a flicker of surprise crossing the maid’s eyes before she quickly masked it. She glanced around the room as if she had something to say privately.

"Lan'er, go pack a box of our local sweets for Auntie to sample," Qi Yue instructed.

Lan'er complied and left; Quezhi remained still.

"If you have something to say, just say it," Qi Yue looked at the maid and smiled.

Has this Jiuzhi truly become the Young Mistress's confidante? Ajin felt a pang of surprise.

"It's like this, the Young Mistress is short-handed. Auntie worries that the Young Mistress might not find someone suitable right away, so she sent this servant to mention it. Ximei in the back kitchen is quite clever; the Young Mistress might as well try using her first," she stated plainly.

Qi Yue was somewhat surprised. Concubine Zhou was being so direct with her? Did she have an unusual connection with the original owner of this body? Was she genuinely trying to help her again? Or was she already looking for mutual benefit?

She pondered this internally while nodding with a smile on her face.

"Thank you for thinking of me, Auntie. I'll keep that in mind," she replied.

Ajin relayed the message and promptly excused herself, lingering no further.

"I haven't heard of this Ximei, Young Mistress. Shall this servant inquire?" Jiuzhi offered from the side.

For matters concerning inquiries, Qi Yue usually wouldn't delegate to Wuzhi.

"The matter of auditing the storerooms is more pressing. Let Lan'er handle this small matter," Qi Yue decided.

Jiuzhi happily agreed. Being sought after, flattered, and respected by the managing matrons while auditing the storerooms was far more glamorous than making inquiries.

"Concubine Zhou is the niece of the Old Madam, the daughter of the Old Madam's non-principal younger brother," Arú explained to Qi Yue. "She used to be highly favored by the Old Madam and was quite familiar and close with you, Young Mistress." Benyue acknowledged this with an 'oh,' recalling the beautiful woman who had helped her during the Mid-Autumn banquet. She nodded, then flipped through the roster of names, noting that the girl was seventeen or eighteen, not a lifelong servant of the estate, but the daughter-in-law of a third-rank attendant who had joined the household midway through. The next day, she asked Lan'er about the findings.

"Eloquent, but with one flaw: she gambles heavily," Lan'er reported concisely.

Qi Yue hadn't planned on adding anyone new anyway. Seeing the girl's background and age, she was already disinclined, and hearing about her gambling sealed the decision. A couple of days later, she directly instructed that since the estate lacked sufficient staff, she couldn't spare another maid; the three maids currently attending her would simply have to work harder, and their combined salaries would be supplemented with the vacant second-rank maid's monthly allowance, closing the matter.

The news reached Concubine Zhou and Ajin, both of whom were stunned.

Concubine Zhou hadn't expected Qi Yue to disregard her recommendation, and moreover, Qi Yue had only sent someone to inform her after the decision was made. The messenger was a second-rank maid who delivered a brief thank you, followed by the exact same explanation Qi Yue had given everyone else.

"Does she really think she's grown wings now that she has the backing of the Marquis and the Heir Apparent? She won't even acknowledge me? Is this girl truly happy in her foolishness?" Concubine Zhou chuckled lightly, yet her hand involuntarily tightened around her teacup.

Qi Yue hadn't overthought it. Her purpose in managing the household was purely to make her own life more comfortable, and she certainly couldn't be casual about those kept close to her. She quickly relegated the matter to the back of her mind, genuinely overwhelmed. As she herself had noted, since gaining the influence of the Heir Apparent and the Marquis, their lives had become paradoxically less smooth.

First, the Third Miss's maid had caused a brawl with the kitchen staff over a single bowl of porridge. Then, a discrepancy was found during the audit of the storerooms, nearly leading to a full-blown brawl among the matrons. Mama Su played dumb and evasive, responding to everything with, "Ask the Young Mistress." Qi Yue's courtyard felt as chaotic as a New Year celebration.

Although Qi Yue swiftly resolved the chaos, she was summoned by the Marquis because the incident involved someone close to him.

"If you don't understand something, ask your mother more often," the Marquis Dingxi said with a smile.

Qi Yue said "Yes," then looked up at the First Wife, who sat nearby as if in meditation, the tearful Zhu Concubine dabbing her eyes, and Concubine Zhou calmly pouring tea.

"Young Mistress shouldn't be blamed for all this trouble," Concubine Zhu choked out. "I don't know why, but I suddenly craved steamed fish. I'm new here, I don't know the household rules, I didn't know I couldn't request an extra dish..."

The Marquis's expression darkened noticeably from before.

"Yue Niang, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. This is a home, not a government office," he said slowly, taking the tea from Concubine Zhou.

Though the woman before him was a beauty, the slight suffered by the woman attending him intimately chipped away at his masculine pride. Compared to the beauty, his reputation mattered more.

Concubine Zhou held the tea and stood quietly to the side without speaking.

"It is my fault, Auntie. Please don't say that," Qi Yue said with a smile. "Once one is pregnant, one's appetite changes. It was my oversight. I will instruct them immediately." Concubine Zhu responded with a smile tinged with grievance.

"It's truly my fault for troubling the kitchen staff. I don't know why I suddenly want this, and then suddenly that," she murmured, glancing at the Marquis while steadying her swollen belly.

"Marquis, perhaps it would be best to set up a small private kitchen just for Concubine Zhu?" The First Wife, who had been silent, finally spoke.

The Marquis hesitated, then looked at Qi Yue.

Qi Yue immediately nodded and smiled.

"Mother is indeed most thoughtful," she quickly added.

"This... this might not be proper. None of the others have one," Concubine Zhu looked at the Marquis timidly, like a startled rabbit.

What's wrong with being new? Was she kept in luxury outside only to suffer indignity over food after marrying in? The Marquis immediately agreed with a decisive nod.

The First Wife’s lips curved into a slight smile as she returned to her meditative state.

"Young Mistress, I truly shouldn't have spoken up," Arú said with a trace of anxiety.

Qi Yue sat on the kang, sipping tea to moisten her throat.

"I know. Once one is established for Concubine Zhu, the others will surely demand the same," she said. "In front of the Marquis, I couldn't possibly refuse him to his face, could I?"

"The Madam did this on purpose. She never made this concession for anyone before," Arú sighed with worry. "Now look, others will have an excuse to cause trouble again."

"What is there to fear? The Marquis made the decision. If they want something, they can go ask the Marquis," Jiuzhi scoffed, covering her face with her handkerchief, which still bore a fading palm print—a 'gift' from the Third Miss.

"That's not how it should be handled. The Marquis is the head of the household; I am the manager. My role is to ease his burdens. If every little thing has to be taken to him, what use am I then?" Qi Yue countered with a smile.

Jiuzhi nodded.

"Since we're talking about it, those matrons are too much. Why don't Mama Su and the others think the same way? They feign ignorance about everything and push it all onto the Young Mistress. Young Mistress, they are useless too—strip them of their duties," Jiuzhi said indignantly.

Qi Yue sighed.

"Removing one or two is fine, but dismissing over a dozen? That gets complicated," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Both Jiuzhi and Arú looked troubled. Despite having the title of manager, they lacked the actual authority—it was indeed difficult.

The First Wife not only refused to help but deliberately tried to create trouble. If only the Old Madam were still here.

"Concubine Zhou has arrived," a maid called from outside the door.

Qi Yue was slightly surprised; Arú hurried to the doorway to receive her.

Just a concubine—Jiuzhi paid her no mind and remained seated.

Qi Yue rose and smilingly invited her to sit.

"I couldn't speak up for you then, but you handled that response well. The Marquis, despite appearing even-tempered, is actually very stubborn. You must follow his lead, not oppose him," Concubine Zhou said frankly upon sitting down, her gaze full of approval and a certain familiar warmth towards Qi Yue. "You have truly become sensible now. If the Old Madam were here, she would surely be overjoyed."

Qi Yue already knew Concubine Zhou's background—a relative of the Old Madam and someone brought into the household personally by her. They were certainly the Old Madam's direct faction. Although Qi Yue lacked the memories of Qi Yueniang, she could easily surmise that Qi Yueniang must have been close to Concubine Zhou.

"I have caused you worry, Auntie," Qi Yue said quickly with a smile, immediately recalling the matter of the maid from before. Had she been wrong? Did that girl perhaps possess extraordinary qualities that made Concubine Zhou so eager to recommend her? Thinking this, a hint of apology colored her voice. "About that maid last time..."

"It's no great matter to have one or two fewer maids, but these managing matrons are different," Concubine Zhou interrupted her with a smile, pulling a list from her sleeve.

Qi Yue took it and saw names written down along with their respective areas of expertise.

"These are all old retainers from the Old Madam's time," Concubine Zhou explained.

Qi Yue instantly understood, nodding at her with a knowing smile.

"Thank you, Auntie. I know what needs to be done," she replied.

Concubine Zhou patted her hand, offering a smile that one elder gives to a junior.

Suddenly, a burst of excitement erupted from the courtyard.

"The Heir Apparent is back!" Jiuzhi's excited voice drifted in.

A flurry of footsteps passed, followed by the commotion from the Heir Apparent's rooms—Qiuxiang calling for water to be brought in, and so on.

Concubine Zhou had already risen upon hearing Jiuzhi's announcement, but noticed Qi Yue remained seated.

"Why aren't you going to attend to him?" she asked, surprised, then shook her head.

"He doesn't like me waiting on him," Qi Yue laughed.

Concubine Zhou shook her head and smiled.

"All men are contradictory in their words," she said smilingly, taking Qi Yue's hand and examining her closely. "This prime time of youth, you can't just let it pass by like this." As she held Qi Yue's hand, she felt a small packet pressed into her palm, prompting an 'Eh?' from Qi Yue.

Concubine Zhou pressed her hand down and patted it once more.

"This is a fragrance men adore; take it and use it," she said with a smile, rising to leave.

Qi Yue opened her hand to examine the packet. It contained a pinkish powder, emitting a sweet, yet slightly musky aroma. After inhaling it, her chest felt distinctly warm, accompanied by an inexplicable surge of impulse.

Is this the legendary aphrodisiac powder? This concubine really is something... Qi Yue shook her head, wrapped it up, and tossed it to Arú, who had just entered.

"Burn it," she instructed.

Arú didn't ask questions, immediately tucking it into her sleeve and departing.

She wouldn't be trapped in endless household intrigue forever; she simply had to write the stories befitting these characters.