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"Please take your seat, Princess. We common folks dare not presume too much," Lin Jiaxin had even made a special visit to the village elder’s house before coming to the capital city to inquire how one should speak and conduct themselves when meeting with the princess and others.

These instructions were specifically emphasized by the village elder, reminding him that there must be a distinction between sovereign and subject, and under no circumstances should there be any disrespect.

Princess Anle chuckled and did not sit at the head of the table.

Instead, she plopped down into a chair on the side and said, "Old Master Lin, you’re too polite.

This talk of presumption is nonsense. From now on, we’ll be one family, and there’s no need for such formalities.

This residence is your home, and besides, Yuanyuan is now Hong De’s sworn sister.

Doesn’t that bring our relationship even closer? "

At the mention of this, both Lin Jiaxin and his wife perked up. They had been unaware at first until Lin Yuan suddenly spoke to them earnestly in the carriage on the way to the capital, scaring the couple quite a bit.

The sworn sister of a prince! That was not something to be taken lightly! It was said that those who could claim connections with the royal family were exceptionally influential, warranting even Li Chang to kneel in reception.

After Lin Yuan’s departure, the old couple chattered away, growing increasingly incredulous the more they thought about it and maintaining a skeptical attitude. But now, Princess Anle brought it up again, seemingly confirming the truth of the matter.

In a moment of distraction, Lao Fan dismounted the carriage and walked into the house, glanced at the seated individuals, and took his place at the head of the table.

Lin Yuan covered her mouth with a smile, seeing that Lao Fan seemed to be the only one entitled to sit there.

After chatting with Princess Anle for a while, Lin Jiaxin and his wife began to relax. They had heard from Lin Yuan about Princess Anle before and thought her to be an arrogant and overbearing mother-in-law, worrying about Lin Yuan’s future life.

But now, having spent some time with her, they finally felt at ease. Indeed, she was arrogant and overbearing, but that was only towards strangers; with her own family, she couldn’t be more pleasant.

To put it bluntly, Princess Anle was quite protective! In this respect, she was somewhat similar to Lin Yuan.

The elders engaged in casual chat about family and everyday life. Princess Anle was already briefed on the Lin family’s situation by Lin Yuan, but she still felt a pang of emotion when Lady Liu mentioned the issues faced by the first and third branches of the family.

Princess Anle’s own background was rather tragic, something Lin Jiaxin and his wife agreed tacitly not to bring up; they simply inquired whether there were any other members of the Xia family. Lin Yuan hadn’t heard Xia Zheng mention this, so she paid attention as her parents asked.

"Alas, my husband’s generation is quite prosperous; he has a brother and a sister," said Princess Anle with a sigh.

"The sister is easy to talk about; she’s Hong De’s mother, Consort Shu in the palace.

The brother, however, is more difficult; he’s in his thirties and still unmarried, and no one knows where he runs off to all day.

You know, Xia Zheng’s temperament is just like his uncle’s, never staying in the capital city. "

Lin Jiaxin and his wife exchanged glances, thinking that Xia Zheng’s uncle seemed similar to Liu Limin.

It would be nice if the two could make a match, but hearing Princess Anle speak of it, he was already in his thirties, and Liu Limin was only in her early twenties, so perhaps it was best to drop the idea.

After more conversation, Princess Anle glanced at the servant serving them tea and suddenly said, "Oh dear, look at me, all muddled. I completely forgot the main reason I came."

Hearing her say this, Lin Yuan and the others turned to look.

Princess Anle continued, "I noticed that you didn’t bring many people with you, and such a big house won’t clean itself.

I’ve selected a few capable ones from the Xia Mansion to bring over for you to assess.

If they’re not to your satisfaction, I can always have someone go to the broker to pick out a few that are more suitable. "

When Princess Anle mentioned she would provide maids for them, Lady Liu smiled awkwardly. "We’ve been working in the countryside all our lives and are used to doing chores. For house cleaning, why would we need anyone else? We can do it ourselves and don’t require maids."

Princess Anle’s eyes curved in a smile as she said, "You can’t be expected to do the work anymore. Your daughter has the means; you should sit back and enjoy life. If you were to work, Yuanyuan certainly wouldn’t be happy about that either."

In fact, the matter of acquiring maids had been brought up by Lin Yuan back in Zhuma Town, as she didn’t want her parents to suffer anymore.

But the Liu couple felt they were not wealthy landlords and didn’t need servants, resisting the idea.

In the end, they only hired Ding Ming and Ding Liang as house protectors.

However, now that they had arrived in the capital city, if they still didn’t have servants for the household, let alone what others might think, such a large house would feel eerily empty.

"Mother, I think the princess is right. Look at the size of this big house we’re living in now.

I just heard from Xia Zheng that there’s another courtyard in the back.

If it’s just a few of us living here, it will indeed feel desolate.

With more maids, there will be less work for each.

Mother, let’s start by using the people that the princess brought over.

Later on, once we’re more familiar with everything, I will buy some more people to fill out the staff," Lin Yuan suggested.

Hearing her daughter put it that way, Lady Liu no longer insisted. Indeed, just as Lin Yuan had said, if it were just a few people living alone in such a large house, she would find it chilling to the bone.

Soon, Qiu Ju called in the individuals Princess Anle had brought with her. It must be said that the people the princess had selected were quite competent.

Xia Zheng looked around and said to Lin Yuan, "My mother has a keen eye. Not a single servant from the Xia Mansion is disloyal. You should take these people; they are much better than any you could buy from the outside without knowing their backgrounds."

Lin Yuan nodded, acknowledging the point, and turned to look at the maids standing in the room.