I'd make this conversation reveal the household dynamics while also letting Mei/Xinyi begin to understand where her mother stands. It will also make the later conflicts with Ye Li and Concubine Ming much easier to follow.
Nua and Roe exchanged another glance before Nua continued, lowering her voice as though she were sharing something that should not be spoken too loudly within the He residence.
"Miss, since you are new here, there are some things you should know about the family."
Xinyi nodded. "Tell me."
Nua began with the eldest woman.
"First, there is Elder Madam He. She is the matriarch of the family and Master He Yan's mother. Everyone in this household respects her greatly. Even Madam He, despite being the mistress of the household, never dares to disregard her wishes."
"She is strict," Roe added carefully, "but she values the reputation and rules of the He family above everything else."
Xinyi nodded slowly, memorizing every detail.
"And Madam He?" she asked.
Nua's expression became slightly more serious.
"Madam He, Lady Ye Li, is the true authority over the household's daily affairs. She is very strict and expects everyone to follow the rules. The servants fear her, and even the other wives and concubines are careful around her."
"She manages everything herself," Roe added. "Nothing important happens in the inner residence without her knowing."
Xinyi's mind returned to the woman she had just met.
So she is the one everyone fears...
"What about Madam Xin?"
Nua's expression relaxed slightly.
"Madam Xin is very straightforward. She doesn't like unnecessary arguments or gossip. She mostly keeps to herself in her own courtyard and rarely interferes in anyone else's affairs."
"She has no children of her own," Roe added. "So she spends most of her time caring for Young Master He Yanxin."
Xinyi nodded.
"And Concubine Ming?"
This time, both maids hesitated.
Nua finally spoke.
"Concubine Ming is... different."
"How?" Xinyi asked.
Roe lowered her voice.
"She is proud. Very assertive. She knows Master He favors her, and she does not hide it."
Nua nodded.
"Because of that, she is quite arrogant toward the other women in the household. Madam He especially dislikes her."
"Why?"
"Because Master He indulges Concubine Ming," Roe explained. "He gives her more attention than he gives the other concubines. Madam He considers that a challenge to her authority."
Xinyi remained thoughtful.
"And my mother?"
The warmth in Nua's expression returned.
"Concubine Ning is different from all of them."
Xinyi's eyes immediately sharpened with interest.
"She is kind," Nua said softly. "She has never fought with the other women for Master's attention, nor has she tried to gain power within the household."
"She mostly keeps to herself," Roe added. "Even when others speak badly of her, she rarely responds."
Xinyi's fingers curled slightly.
"And now?"
Nua's smile faded.
"She is ill."
"How ill?"
"Quite seriously, Miss."
Nua hesitated before continuing.
"And... she has been confined to the rear courtyard."
Xinyi's expression changed immediately.
"Confined?"
Roe quickly explained, "Please don't misunderstand, Miss. It isn't exactly a punishment. Because of her illness, Madam He ordered that she remain in the rear courtyard and not wander around the residence."
Xinyi's heart tightened.
"Can I see her?"
The two maids exchanged an uneasy glance.
Nua looked at her carefully.
"Miss... I don't think it will be easy."
"Why?"
"Because Concubine Ning has been kept there for quite some time. And Madam He has not given permission for many people to visit her."
Xinyi's gaze hardened.
"She is my mother."
The words came out more firmly than she intended.
Nua and Roe fell silent.
For the first time since entering the He residence, the confusion in Xinyi's eyes was replaced by something else.
Determination.
Whatever this household believed about her...
Whatever name they had forced upon her...
Whatever rules stood between her and Concubine Ning—
She would see her mother.
This is a good place to let Xinyi learn the family hierarchy while also planting future dynamics with her siblings. I'd keep Nua and Roe's tone respectful but slightly conversational so it doesn't feel like a history lecture.
Nua quickly added, seeing the concern in Xinyi's eyes,
"You can meet Concubine Ning, Miss. Madam He has only ordered that you wait until tomorrow. She said you should first settle into the residence and rest after your journey."
Xinyi's tense expression eased slightly.
"Tomorrow..."
She nodded. At least she would not have to wait long.
Nua smiled.
"Now that you know about the women of the household, you should also know about your brothers and sisters."
Xinyi nodded, listening carefully.
"First is Young Master He Changyu. He is the eldest son of the household and Madam He Ye Li's son."
Roe's voice carried a hint of admiration.
"Young Master Changyu is very capable. He is currently preparing for the national examinations. Madam He is especially strict about his studies and takes great care to protect his reputation."
"She expects a great deal from him," Nua added. "He is considered the future pride of the He family."
Xinyi nodded thoughtfully.
"And the eldest miss?"
"Miss He Changli," Roe answered.
"She is Madam He's daughter and is known throughout the town for her beauty and virtue. She is gentle, graceful, and very well-mannered."
Nua smiled.
"She is already betrothed to Young Master Li, the only son of Master Li, the provincial governor."
Xinyi raised her brows slightly.
"So her marriage is an important one."
"Very," Nua replied. "The Li family is influential, and Madam He values this marriage greatly."
Xinyi absorbed the information before asking,
"And the other two?"
Nua continued.
"Miss He Weiyi."
Her expression softened.
"She is the daughter of Concubine Wu Jin. Her mother died while giving birth to her younger brother, Young Master He Jinyu."
Xinyi's expression changed slightly.
"She lost her mother at birth?"
Roe nodded.
"Yes. Since then, she has been raised under Madam He's care."
"Miss Weiyi is very obedient and kindhearted," Nua said. "She rarely causes trouble and treats the servants well. Everyone in the household speaks kindly of her."
"And Young Master Jinyu?"
Roe couldn't help but smile.
"Young Master Jinyu is... quite different."
"How so?"
"He loves martial arts."
Nua sighed with amusement.
"Madam He tried everything to make him concentrate on his studies. Tutors, lectures, punishments... nothing worked."
Roe covered a small smile.
"He would rather spend an entire day practicing with a sword than sit for an hour with a book."
"Eventually, Madam He gave up trying to force him."
"She decided," Nua added, "that if he refuses to become a scholar, he might as well become a warrior."
Xinyi couldn't help but smile faintly.
"So everyone in this family is different."
Nua nodded.
"Very different, Miss."
She paused before adding gently,
"But now you are part of this family too."
Xinyi's smile faded slightly.
Part of this family...
The words sounded strange.
She had been given their surname.
Given their home.
Given their history.
Yet none of it belonged to her.
She looked toward the window, where the fading sunlight painted the courtyard in gold.
Tomorrow, she would finally meet the woman she had been told was her mother.
And for reasons she could not explain, her heart was already filled with anticipation.
Yes—this detail is important because Yanxin can become a major source of tension in the household. I would make Nua and Roe slightly cautious when discussing him, because openly comparing him to Changyu could be dangerous.
Nua seemed to remember one more name.
"There is one more person you should know about, Miss."
Xinyi turned toward her.
"Young Master He Yanxin."
"He's only ten years old," Roe explained, "but don't let his age fool you. He is exceptionally talented."
Nua nodded.
"Young Master Yanxin has already learned things that most children several years older than him have yet to understand. He is extremely intelligent, quick to learn, and has an unusually sharp memory."
"His tutors praise him constantly," Roe added. "Some even say that his talent is greater than that of Young Master Changyu."
Xinyi's eyes widened slightly.
"At only ten?"
"Yes."
Nua's voice became quieter.
"And that is precisely why Madam He does not particularly favor him."
Xinyi frowned.
"Why would she dislike a child for being talented?"
Roe glanced toward the door before answering.
"Because Young Master Yanxin is not her biological son."
"He is Madam Xin's adopted son. She took him in because he was her younger brother's child."
Nua lowered her voice further.
"Madam He has always been very protective of Young Master Changyu. He is her eldest son, the heir she has raised with great expectations."
"So when Yanxin began surpassing Changyu in certain areas..."
She hesitated.
"Madam He began seeing him as a threat."
Xinyi's brows furrowed.
"He's only ten."
"Exactly," Roe whispered.
"Yet despite his age, his abilities have already attracted the attention of the household. Madam He treats him like a thorn that she cannot easily remove."
Nua quickly added,
"She does not mistreat him openly. He is still the adopted son of Madam Xin, and the household must maintain appearances."
"But she is colder toward him than she is toward the other children."
Xinyi fell silent.
A ten-year-old child.
Brilliant enough to threaten an older brother.
And disliked simply because of circumstances he had never chosen.
Something about that made Xinyi uncomfortable.
She looked at Nua and Roe.
"Then this family is much more complicated than I expected."
The two maids exchanged a knowing glance.
Roe gave a small, helpless smile.
"Miss... you have only been here for half a day."
Nua nodded solemnly.
"There is still much more for you to learn."