Yun Jinnian was momentarily puzzled.
"What do you mean ’can’t be saved’?"
Ann-momo also shook her head, "That little maid asked me for twenty taels of silver, Miss, what do you think..."
Yun Jinnian looked at Mrs. Yuan, "Wet nurse, take two hundred taels of silver and give it to Ann-momo. Ann-momo, next time you see that little maid, give her some silver and have her seriously gather information for me, she won’t miss out on her reward!"
Mrs. Yuan immediately went to get the silver.
Yun Jinnian then said, "But Ann-momo, you need to change the way you refer to yourself when speaking. Even though I’ve never regarded you as a servant, a slip of the tongue is absolutely unacceptable!"
Ann-momo’s face flushed with heat upon hearing this.
Ever since she started serving Yun Jinnian, who had soon after visited Huguo Temple, Ann-momo didn’t know what sort of abilities Yun Jinnian possessed, nor had she ever seen Yun Jinnian lose her temper with the servants, always acting quite generously, which inevitably led to some complacency, causing her to forget her place.
Now that Yun Jinnian had bluntly pointed it out, Ann-momo felt burning hot on her face.
Busy, she said, "It’s the servant’s mistake, this servant will remember!"
Yun Jinnian was not one to fuss over small matters, but there were some things she needed to make clear to Ann-momo.
Ann-momo could do as she pleased within Niannian Garden, but what would others think if they found out?
Moreover, the true butler of Niannian Garden should be the wet nurse.
"Ann-momo, I won’t always be with the Yun Family. Whether I marry into the Zhang Family or the Li Family, you will have to come with me. The wet nurse is soft natured, and many important matters will inevitably require Ann-momo’s intervention. You are a person of great wisdom; surely you understand my meaning!"
Ann-momo was indeed a clever person, from serving in a grand mansion to entering the palace.
And it was Han Xuzi who had saved her life. She had pledged her life in repayment, staying with the Han Family, later to be at Yun Jinnian’s side.
It was also in this estate, with no opportunity to make any moves, that she inevitably grew restless.
"What Miss says is absolutely right, it’s the servant’s mistake!"
Yun Jinnian gave a faint smile, "It’s not a big deal. It’s getting late, you go down and rest. Everyone else should also go rest. The wet nurse will take care of things here!"
Leading by example, Ann-momo bowed and withdrew.
There were many rules.
Only after everyone had left did Mrs. Yuan speak, "Miss, why bother losing Ann-momo’s face in front of the maids? It could have been mentioned quietly!"
"And how does the wet nurse think it would be more effective?" Yun Jinnian retorted.
Mrs. Yuan fell silent.
"Wet nurse, because I want to keep Ann-momo here, I opened my mouth to give her a hint. If I didn’t want to keep her, should she continue making mistakes until one day it becomes irreparable, then I would just dismiss her. Why bother with such efforts, don’t you think?"
Mrs. Yuan paused, then nodded, "That’s true!"
Yun Jinnian smiled and stopped talking. Glancing out the door, she listened as the soft footsteps became more distant before focusing on her book.
Mrs. Yuan wasn’t in a hurry to tidy up, either. Taking the gifts, she cleaned each one thoroughly and wrapped them in a white cloth before placing them in a brocade box.
She moved quietly and gently, careful not to disturb Yun Jinnian.
Xu Xinmo felt a pain in her chest from anger, "That cheap wretch, that little cheap wretch!"
Pacing back and forth, she kept cursing.
A fire raged within her, searing her whole being. To make matters worse, her wet nurse was not around, and Daidai had no good ideas.
Daidai rushed into the room, "Miss, there’s good news!"
"What good news?" Xu Xinmo asked.
Whispering a few words into Xu Xinmo’s ear, Daidai watched as she began to smile, "It’s still my maternal grandmother who loves me the most. This time I want to see how that little wretch turns the tables!"