Tang Tao came personally to escort Leng Ling's new servants a few days later and stood confused at Leng Ling's gate. Looking confused, he noticed a bell hanging beside the gate. As he was looking at it another young man came up beside him.
"What are you looking at, Tao'er? Did someone finally buy the old Mu Family Residence? But why haven't you gone inside yet?"
"Ah, Ru'er. Yeah, I was just trying to work out how to go in when I noticed the bell. You didn't know? Your little sister bought it. I'm delivering her new servants."
"My little sister? Are you talking about Sister Mei'er? I didn't think her father would allow her to live outside of the Fu Family Residence at her age. Nor would she have the money to afford this."
"Fu Meilin? Nah, not her. I'm talking about your biological sister, Miss Leng. Jun'er and the others brought her back to the capital on their last trip out. They found her in 10 Thousand Beast Forest."
"My biological sister? But Mother Li hasn't given Father any daughters?"
"Not Aunt Li. Aunt Di's daughter. She looks just like Aunt Di's portrait. You have the same eyes too."
"Huh?! But Mother was never found when she disappeared?"
Tang Tao rung the bell at that moment. A sweet tone sounded out from it before a voice spoke out.
"Young Master Tang? You bought my new servants? I'll grant you entry. Come in please."
"Yes. Thank you, Miss Leng. Do I just walk through?"
"Yes, now that I've granted your group entry, you can all come in the gate."
"Understood."
Tang Tao turned to the group of servants waiting behind him and motioned for them to follow him in. Curious about this supposed sister, Fu Ru also entered.
Once inside, everyone was restricted to a waiting area inside the gate. Within a few minutes, a beautiful young lady with blue eyes and black hair sparkling with red and gold streaks entered the area through an archway covered in climbing roses to the side.
"My apologies for the delay, Young Master Tang. I was in the back of the residence and it can take a few minutes to travel back to the front."
"No worries, Miss Leng. Here are the servants. Let me introduce you to the head servants and captains first. Xaio San is your new head maid. Xaio Lan is her brother and your new head manservant. I'm sure you know Xaio Bo from Jun'ers residence? He is their older brother. Both have been well trained. Next is Le Wu. He is your new accountant. Your new Captains are She Fan and Hao Lu."
"Welcome to my Leng Residence. I am Leng Ling. I look forward to working with you. Please take these rings and drop a little blood on them. You will need these to come through the array and access the residence. I will also pass you the ones for the rest of the servants and guards. Red represents a position of authority. Yellow for the servants, blue for the guards."
As she spoke, Leng Ling handed over the ring keys that she had made for them and waited for them to hand them out amongst the others.
"Everyone listen carefully please. These rings cannot be removed. But they are keys to allow you entry in and out through the array. They will also allow you to communicate with your heads and captains. The red ones are also able to communicate with me if needed.
Sapphire rings represent my staff. Take note of what each look like and take especial note of these ones. This one is a yellow quartz."
Leng Ling held a few others in her hand to show them.
"The yellow quartz are used for temporarily approved guests. You are to show anyone wearing one moderate respect. They are restricted to only guest areas. Anyone who wants to go beyond this point must wear one. They do not require blood as they serve only temporary approval.
If a person entering is wearing one of these blue opals, they are a permanently approved guest. Like your own, they are blooded. White Opals belong to my beast family and friends. Disrespecting them in anyway is an insult to myself and will result in your death. This is a fair warning to you. Their standing is higher than your own or even the blue opals.
Fire Opals like the one I am wearing are for the residence owner. There are only 2 of these in existence. My own is a lotus as you can see. The other is is carved into the shape of a dragon. That belongs to my fiance. His status is second only to myself in this residence.
Has everyone understood?"
" "" "" "Yes Madam!" "" "" "
Leng Ling nodded.
"Living quarters and barracks for you all are to the right. My beast friends and family are usually in the wooded area in the back, however they will often come inside the main residence to find me as well. They all understand human language although some may not be able to speak it. I reside in the main residence, obviously.
Please go and settle yourselves into your new home. I will give you the rest of the day to yourselves. You may start work tomorrow. Heads and Captains, I would like to see you in about 4 hours for a meeting. We will discuss the residence rules and expectations. I will expect you to pass those on to the rest afterwards. You are dismissed."
The servants quickly exited the waiting area through another rose covered archway in high spirits. Very soon, the area was quiet again and Leng Ling turned back to the two men left standing there. She ignored Tang Tao for a few minutes as she studied the unknown man next to him. She was surprised to see he had eyes similar to her own.
"Young Master Tang, your friend is?"
"Ah, Miss Leng, of course, you did say you hadn't met anyone in the Fu Family other than Hai'er and Fu Meilin. This is actually your brother, Fu Ru. Coincidentally, he saw me as I was studying your bell."
"Oh, nice to meet you Young Master Ru. May I ask if you are my full brother or a half brother through another wife?"
"Ah, we share the same Mother, Di Li. We also have a half brother through Mother Li. He is known as Fu Fenggi."
"Oh, I see. Well, welcome Young Master Ru and Young Master Tang. Please wear these quartz rings so we can enter the hall. Please join me for some tea."