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The process of the palace examination was the same as the second examination in front of the hall. Yu Shande and the others had gone through it once, and this time, they were much calmer.

At dawn, the palace door opened and the candidates entered.

Due to the palace examination, classes at home were suspended for another three days. Yu Youyao did not have to go to school, so she took a sachet that was already half-embroidered and sat under the Parasol Tree to embroider it.

Nanny Xu instructed Chun Xiao, “If she does it for too long, it’ll hurt her eyes. Keep an eye on her from the side. Every three minutes, make some tea for Eldest Miss. She can only continue embroidering after resting for ten minutes.”

Chun Xiao quickly agreed. “Nanny, don’t worry. I understand.”

Yu Youyao embroidered for the entire morning. Her efficiency was also very gratifying. By lunchtime, the sachet was already more than half embroidered. She estimated that it would be done in two to three days at most.

Yu Youyao was very happy. She flipped the embroidery over and over again. The embroidery was smooth and tight, and the stitches were exquisite. Her skills were already comparable to others who had worked hard for three to five years. She was already very capable.

Chun Xiao handed her another cup of tea. “Young Miss, it’s time for lunch.”

Yu Youyao nodded and left the embroidery place.

She recalled that she had just given her cousin the wooden osmanthus incense bead bracelet two days ago. Her cousin wore it every day. After a few days, he also carried a trace of refreshing osmanthus fragrance.

The wooden osmanthus incense bead was mixed with agarwood, borneol, amber, and so on. Its scent was reserved and thicker, and it was suitable for men and women.

However, her cousin was a man after all. If he wore a sachet again, it wouldn’t be suitable for him to smell like cosmetics.

After thinking for a while, Yu Youyao asked Chun Xiao, “How about changing the sachet to a pouch?”

Chun Xiao nodded. “Young Master also brought a pouch with him. If it’s changed to a pouch, it can also be used to store some important items.”

However, this way, the pouch would have to be embroidered a little bigger. The “scented bag” that she had promised her cousin would have to be delayed for a few more days. It seemed that she had to hurry up.

Yu Youyao stood up and stretched before returning to the house to eat.

Today, Nanny Xu had personally cooked partridge soup.

With white jade sea cucumber, Dendrobium officinale, Cordyceps sinensis, red dates and other medicinal ingredients, the soup could invigorate the qi, nourish the blood and moisten dryness, repair the spleen and stomach, and strengthen the muscles and bones.

This medicinal cuisine was suitable for all ages. It was very nourishing and suitable for all four seasons. Yu Youyao gave her grandmother and cousin a bowl each.

After lunch, Yu Youyao returned to the study. After practicing calligraphy for an hour to digest her food, she returned to her room to take an afternoon nap.

Another hour passed.

When she woke up, Chun Xiao came over to report, “Young Miss, all the little girls picked from the manor have been sent to the residence. Nanny Xu went over to take a look and asked me to ask if you want to go over and take a look.”

Yu Youyao shook her head. “I’ll take a look after Nanny Xu has chosen someone!”

If a maidservant in the residence made a mistake, she would be sent out of the residence. If she was old enough to be matched with someone, or if her contract expired and she took back her contract…

As a result, there were not enough people.

Every year, the residence would choose some young maidservants to enter the residence to fill the gaps.

Even if she went to pick someone, it wouldn’t be safer than Nanny Xu.

Yu Youyao leaned against the chaise longue and read a few pages of Zizhi Tongjian. Nanny Xu led a few maidservants back to the Jade Courtyard and asked her to go over and take a look.

Yu Youyao put down her books and went to the courtyard.

The seven little girls stood in a row. The youngest was only eight or nine years old. This was the best way to teach them. After teaching them well, they would not lack rules and loyalty. When they were older, they would be more to their master’s liking.

The oldest was twelve or thirteen years old. He was a little older, but he was more knowledgeable and sensible. With a little guidance, he was also a capable person.

All of them stood obediently. Other than the rules being a little lacking, there was nothing wrong.

Yu Youyao had an idea. Her voice was gentle. “Look up.”

When the maidservants heard this, they quickly raised their heads. They had never seen such a dignified person. Unexpectedly, they were dazzled by Eldest Miss’s noble aura and quickly lowered their eyes.

Yu Youyao took a closer look and her gaze landed on a girl who was about twelve or thirteen years old.

Her blue dress could not hide her beauty and revealed a portion of her jade neck. She was thin and slender, and her head was bent like a swan’s.

She was really outstanding.

Nanny Xu was sitting beside Yu Youyao. When she saw Yu Youyao take a few more glances at the young girl, her eyes flashed and she said, “She’s also a poor girl. She has three younger sisters in the family, and a younger brother who fell sick after falling into the water last winter. He fell sick and couldn’t stop taking medicine. This girl is still young, but she’s both the eldest sister and mother. She helped her parents and siblings. She couldn’t survive anymore, so she signed a contract to sell herself and enter the residence.”

When Yu Youyao heard this, she understood the crux of the matter.

She had a clean background and was also the eldest sister in the family. She had helped to raise her younger sister-in-law for many years, so she was responsible. If she was taught well, she would definitely be a capable person.

The youngest brother in the family had an illness. This illness could only be treated and not cured completely. How could the commoners afford to take medicine for a long time? However, they only had one younger brother in the family. Even if they had to sell everything, they had to support their unique roots and rely on their male heir.

With weaknesses, he was easier to control.

At the very least, there was no need to worry about loyalty.

Yu Youyao nodded and looked at the girl. “What’s your name?”

The girl was shocked. She quickly lowered her head and replied softly, “I-I don’t have a name. My parents at home call me Eldest Miss.”

Although she was nervous, her words were clear, so Yu Youyao was a little more satisfied. “Since you’ve entered the Jade Courtyard, you’ll be called Qin Xin from now on. Learn the rules from Nanny.”

Qin Xin knelt on the ground with a thud. “Thank you for the name, Miss.”

Yu Youyao looked at Qin Xin with a complicated expression. She was a little dispirited. “Get up. The rules in my courtyard aren’t that strict as long as you do your job well.”

Only then did Qin Xin stand up.

Nanny Xu’s expression darkened and she said, “You still lack a second-in-charge maidservant, so I’ll let Qin Xin serve you tea in the future. What do you think?”

Yu Youyao looked away and nodded. “We’ll arrange it as Nanny said.”

Nanny Xu picked three more maidservants. “There aren’t enough maidservants in your house. I picked three. Eldest Miss, are you satisfied?”

These three maidservants were quiet and delicate, and they looked like they were well-behaved.

...

Yu Youyao looked down at the name list. They were all eight or nine years old. She nodded. “Why wouldn’t I be satisfied with the people Nanny chose? They’ll do!”

Nanny Xu smiled and agreed.

Yu Youyao pointed at the girl on the left and gave her names one by one. “Qi Yu, Shu Yun, and Hua Yi.”