Chapter 368 Misunderstanding
Without waiting for her to answer, Qin Xiaoning said, "Well, since you can't manage my yard, then you should pack up and leave immediately."

Lai Pozi had never expected that the little princess would be so decisive and merciless. She was so scared that she knelt down and said, "Princess, I have been working in this courtyard for a year. I have always been conscientious and have worked hard. Princess, you can't drive me away just because of this one thing."

Qin Xiaoning glanced at her and said, "I'm not driving you away just because of what happened this morning."

The old woman looked straight at Qin Xiaoning with obvious doubt on her face. Qin Xiaoning smiled coldly and continued, "You are the manager of my yard. If you are a smart person, you should understand that we, the master and the servant, will prosper together and suffer together."

"Your Highness is right." Before Qin Xiaoning could finish her words, the old lady immediately began to express her loyalty: "Since I have followed your Highness, I must be wholeheartedly doing things for you. I will never dare to have second thoughts."

"I believe you have no second thoughts." Qin Xiaoning smiled faintly: "But I'm afraid you don't take me, the princess, seriously either."

Qin Xiaoning's words hit the nail on the head, and Lai Pozi's face turned pale: "Princess, how dare I not take you into consideration? You are all in my heart and eyes."

The words had been made clear, and Qin Xiaoning didn't want to waste any more words. She winked at Song Zhi who was standing beside her. Song Zhi immediately stepped forward and made a 'please' gesture to Lai Pozi: "The princess still has things to do. Since you have been granted permission to leave, please don't linger here any longer. Please."

Seeing this, Mrs. Lai was about to kneel down and beg again with a sad face. Qin Xiaoning had already stood up and went to the inner room. In a hurry, she even wanted to pull Qin Xiaoning away, but Song Zhi stopped her: "Mother Lai, since the princess has spoken, you should stop dawdling here."

While they were talking, Qin Xiaoning had disappeared. Mrs. Lai still stood on tiptoe and stretched her neck to look inside, but Songzhi pulled her sleeve and dragged her out. When they reached the corridor, Mrs. Lai shook off Songzhi's hand and said sarcastically, "Young lady has only been back to the mansion for a few days, and you are so arrogant. Don't you know to save some blessings for yourself?"

Seeing that the old woman showed such an expression again, Songzhi responded without any hesitation: "Lai Mama, please don't take advantage of your age here. If you had known better, you wouldn't be driven out by the princess."

"I don't believe the princess is such a cruel person." Lai Pozi rolled her eyes at Song Zhi and said fiercely, "It's all because of you ignorant little hooves."

"What are you talking about?" Songzhi smiled coldly: "If you are smart and capable, who can instigate the master?"

"Besides, the princess is not someone who can be easily deceived." She rolled her eyes at Lai Pozi and said, "Since the princess has already ordered you to leave, you should go back and pack your things and leave."

After saying that, Songzhi didn't wait for the old woman to speak again, he just opened the door and left.

Qin Xiaoning had already packed up, and when she saw Song Zhi coming back, she ordered, "Give that lazy woman two months' wages extra, and I'll pay from my own pocket."

Songzhi was still immersed in the anger of the argument with Lai Pozi just now. Hearing this, he said unconvincedly: "Don't spoil that woman. People like her are not worth it."

Qin Xiaoning looked up at Songzhi's angry look, and guessed that she must have had an argument with the old woman at the door just now, so she said slowly: "I don't feel sorry for her, but we are now the focus of the servants' hot discussion. I jumped from being the prince's concubine to the principal wife, and there are probably many people gossiping about me and want to laugh at me."

She patted Songzhi's hand slowly and said, "I gave that old woman a few taels of silver just to show others. Don't let people think that I'm mistreating my servants."

After hearing what Qin Xiaoning said, Songzhi understood and nodded in agreement. After making simple arrangements for the matters in the courtyard, Qin Xiaoning took Songzhi out of the house. According to what she had discussed with Li Lanchun yesterday, the master and servant went straight to the meeting room of the mansion.

This was where the mistress of the mansion managed the household affairs. As soon as the master and servant entered the yard, they saw two rows of people standing neatly in the corridor outside the main hall. They were all managers from various places, who came to ask for instructions and get responses on time.

Everyone was waiting in the corridor with their hands down when they saw a young woman in gorgeous clothes walking towards them with steady steps. She attracted everyone's attention.

"This is the regent's new princess." A steward from the inner court, who recognized Qin Xiaoning, spoke to the person beside him in a low voice.

Everyone had heard that the prince of the mansion, His Royal Highness the Regent, had promoted his concubine to be his principal wife, so they were inevitably curious. Those who had never seen Qin Xiaoning's true face wished they had two more eyes to see her clearly.

Qin Xiaoning slowly walked up the stairs, and everyone greeted her. On the surface, everyone's attitude was respectful. Qin Xiaoning just nodded slightly and walked into the main hall.

After she went in, there was a quiet whisper in the corridor outside. Song Zhi, who had sharp ears, turned around and rolled his eyes in the direction of the corridor. Qin Xiaoning acted as if she didn't hear anything and walked towards the main hall with ease.

Before entering the inner hall, a steward came out to greet him. This person was the female chief steward of the inner mansion, known as Granny Jia.

She recognized Qin Xiaoning and bowed respectfully to greet her. Qin Xiaoning paused and asked, "Is Grandma here?"

Granny Jia replied, "Grandma has something going on in the yard, so she'll have to wait a while before coming over."

As she spoke, she led Qin Xiaoning to the inner hall and said, "I received a letter yesterday saying that you would follow Grandmother to manage the household. Everything has been prepared here."

As the two were talking, they entered the inner hall. This inner hall was where the mistress of the house handled affairs, so it was very spacious, with two tables in the middle of the hall.

It turned out that there should have been a desk, but because Qin Xiaoning was going to be a co-director with Li Lanchun, a new one was added. Under the two desks were two rows of lacquered wooden chairs, which were prepared for those housekeepers with status.

"Princess, please take a seat." Grandma Jia invited Qin Xiaoning towards the table on her left.

Qin Xiaoning nodded slightly, and then slowly took a seat. Granny Jia took the fragrant tea from the little maid and personally served it to Qin Xiaoning, saying, "Princess, please wait a moment. I will send someone to Zhilan Residence to see when the eldest grandmother can come over."

Qin Xiaoning took the teacup and replied with a smile: "Madam, don't worry. I came here today just to take a look at the situation first."

As the two were talking, the little maid outside came in and said that the head nanny beside Li Lanchun had come over.