"There was a saying that I heard from an Elder, he said, 'Loose lips sink ships,' Liu Tián Qǔ lied stealing an American idiom she learned from Nickolas.
"It means that unguarded talk can bring about doom. I am aware that as servants, there are certain things you will discuss among yourself. However, never is the happenings of my residence is to be discussed outside of the residence.
I'm sure many of you have heard the saying, 'There are always ears on the other side of the wall.' If you haven't, then it means to be careful what you say as people may be eavesdropping." Liu Tián Qǔ informed the attentive servants.
"Anyone caught or found to be discussing the business of my residence outside will face the extremely harsh punishment I mentioned before. That is how serious I am about guarding against loose lips. I warn everyone now because I will spare no one who is caught." Liu Tián Qǔ said in a stern voice with a severe look on her face.
"This is an excessively harsh punishment, that is why I am warning everyone now. Do not discuss any events of my residence outside of my residence at all. Not amongst yourselves and not with others. You have been fairly warned. If you feel the need to gossip amongst yourselves about something that happened in the residence, make sure it's done in the residence. Not outside of it." Liu Tián Qǔ said in a firm, authoritative voice.
"I will now inform everyone who is not aware of it. I am friends with the Wang Royal Manor young masters. They are to be granted entrance to my manor any time of the day. Be it dawn or midnight. It doesn't matter. The same holds for the Grand Prince and the First Lady of the Wang Royal Manor. Anytime they come, they are to granting entrance immediately. Housekeeper Gao, I ask that you find a special room somewhere in the manor and designate it for the Wang Royal Manor family. There are empty rooms and courtyards all over the place I leave that to you." Liu Tián Qǔ said as she look at Housekeeper Gao. Liu Tián Qǔ continued only after Houskeeper Gao voiced her understanding.
"No one of Wang Royal Manor is to be left outside of the manor waiting for me if I am to busy to see them immediately. They are to be escorted to the waiting room or courtyard, and I am to be informed of their presence in the residence immediately. Anyone else, no matter who they are other than the Emperor, is not be granted access to my residence unless I say so." Liu Tián Qǔ said in a stern firm voice.
"Many will become aware that I am close to Wang Royal Manor sooner or later. They will come to try to curry favor with me. Some will send gifts to try to buy my favor. Never are these people to be granted access to my manor. I don't care who they are. Nobleman, royalty, officials, military men, or even commoners, I don't care. They are not to step one toe over the threshold of my residence. Is that understood?" Liu Tián Qǔ paused as everyone voiced their understanding.
"No gift's other than gifts from the Wang Royal Manor is to be received. I don't care who they are from. We will have house guards that will stand guard and handle this matter. However, everyone in my residence needs to know where I stand regarding this matter." Liu Tián Qǔ said, making sure everyone understood her stance on this matter before continue.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"Now, if anyone comes to bribe you, I leave it to you to decide if you want to be a shameless person or not. I say that because, in my opinion, if someone comes throwing free money around. I will be the first one to shameless take it. However, they can forget about getting anything in return from me. Yes, I am that shameless." Liu Tián Qǔ said with a sly look on her face. Some of the servants broke into laughter. Some gawked in shock to hear a Young Lord say something like this.
"So if you want to accept bribe money, I don't care. However, I will warn you now the second harsh rule of my residence is anyone caught selling out my manor will be immediately beaten to death. For a traitor, I have no mercy, and there is no room in my residence for traitors." Liu Tián Qǔ said into the shocked silence. The amusement and mirth that hung in the air of the meeting hall died a quick strange death. Everyone stared at Liu Tián Qǔ in shock and disbelief on how quickly the Young Lord went from smile to threating death.
"If I suspect anyone of being a traitor but have no proof. If you are a slave, you will immediately be sold. If you are a free man or woman, you will be driven from my residence. I do not use people I can't trust." Liu Tián Qǔ said as a cold, ruthless look appeared on her face. The strange contrast shock the heart of everyone present.
"I am a very fair person, I am not snobbish nor am I pretentious. I am very easy going, and I want everyone, be it a slave or a free person, to enjoy living here. I want to create a great atmosphere here with great living conditions for everyone. Although I do have a few very harsh rules, however, those rules are to protect myself and everyone in this household. A fire set to a city gate kills the fish in the moat down below. What effects me will definitely affect you." Liu Tián Qǔ saw a few people nod in agreement.
"Now, as everyone already knows, there was a big disturbance in the city last night. I don't want anyone leaving the manor for the next couple of days. Even though I am curious to know what happened, I too will be staying indoors. For the next few days, only those that need to buy supplies for the manor are allowed to go out. For those that do go out, be mindful of your conduct and actions outside. The city is under heavy patrol and a strict curfew. Anyone who does out is to be back by late afternoon. I don't mind you inquiring about what happened or bringing back gossip," Liu Tián Qǔ said as her sly smile once again appeared. Many grinned at Young Master, who told them it's okay to gossip and shamelessly accept bribes. They shook their heads at the strange young master.
"However, I must stress that you must be very careful of your actions outside. Now I am going to have Housekeeper Gao come up. Housekeeper Gao will inform everyone of the house rules and punishments for the rules that are broken. Commander Jiang, you and I will retire to my lounge. There is much we need to go over regarding the house guards' situation." Liu Tián Qǔ said. Liu Tián Qǔ stepped down from the raised platform. As she and Commander Jiang exited the large meeting room, Housekeeper Gao took to the raised platform.
Liu Tián Qǔ was well aware that allowing her servants to accept bribes may not exactly be a good idea. However, she was hoping that word would get around that it was useless to bride the servants of Liu Residence. The servant would just take your money and run away. Liu Tián Qǔ was hoping that once that began to spread, the problem would fix itself. If the situation got out of control, she could always stop her servants from accepting bribes.