The Royal Family's Orphan is on the Rise

Zhou Qin took out a stack of banknotes and handed them to Jiang Ruofan, which stunned Jiang Ruofan and his master and servant.

"Master Zhou, what are you doing?"

"I forgot to return the one hundred taels I borrowed from you before, so I came here today to return the money. Please keep it, Prince Consort."

Jiang Ruofan took out a silver note worth one hundred taels and pushed the rest back.

"Don't be polite, my dear. I'll lend you these four hundred. You and the princess will have to pay a betrothal gift when you marry. It would be inappropriate if it's too little. We've been colleagues for many years. This is my gift. When you have money in the future, you can return it to me."

After hearing his words, Jiang Ruofan was moved and warmed by his words.

Thinking of the facts he said, he no longer shirked his responsibility.

"Thank you. I'll be welcome. I just don't know if this will affect Brother Zhou's career and family."

Zhou Qin smiled gently: "It doesn't matter. I'm sure the emperor wouldn't blame me even if he knew. After all, Princess Yongkang is being polite to his most beloved daughter. This betrothal gift is good enough, and it will make him proud."

Jiang Ruofan said: "Brother Zhou is right."

Hearing his address, Zhou Qin smiled. He and Jiang Ruofan had a good relationship when they were colleagues. It was only right for him to lend a helping hand when his brother was in trouble.

"As for my family, I would only lend my son-in-law if I was sure of the situation."

Jiang Ruofan was very grateful for his timely help.

"Wait, I'll write you an IOU."

Zhou Qin stopped him: "No need to do that, you're welcome."

Jiang Ruofan explained: "Our friendship as colleagues is one thing, but writing this note will also provide some protection for you."

Seeing that he was determined to do so, Zhou Qin no longer refused: "Okay, let's do as the Prince Consort says."

Zhou Qin took the IOU he handed over and was stunned when he accidentally saw the small box on the table.

"Did you carve this, Prince Consort?"

"Exactly."

"Your Majesty's hands are really skillful. You can paint and carve. I admire you."

"Brother Zhou, that's great. Now that you're here, if you're not in a hurry, why don't you stay for lunch so we can chat for a while."

"That's fine, as long as the Prince Consort doesn't mind, I'm willing to do anything."

Jiang Ruofan smiled gently: "Brother Zhou, you are joking. You helped me a lot this time. I should thank you."

Princess Yongkang's Mansion

The secret guard whispered in Shen Jiarou's ear: "Princess, Lord Zhou Qin went to see the Prince Consort, and brought 500 taels of silver notes, 100 taels of which were lent by the Prince Consort to Lord Zhou, and the other 400 taels were lent by Lord Zhou to the Prince Consort."

"Okay, I understand. You can go down." She handed the secret guard a bag of silver, and the secret guard left happily.

Shen Jiarou has always been generous in rewarding her people, and those who work for her are very loyal and happy.

Nanny Wang, Nanny Su and Nanny He came over, and Shen Jiarou smiled when she saw the three of them.

"Madams, please take a seat!"

The three of them bowed and said, "Thank you, Princess, for letting me sit down."

Nanny Wang sensed someone was coming, and she saw that the purse on the princess' waist was missing.

Although the princess had several identical purses, she felt it was not the same one as yesterday.

Shen Jiarou noticed that Nanny Wang was looking at her and suddenly explained.

"The Prince Consort is working hard to prepare the betrothal gifts."

Nanny Wang and the other two looked at each other and smiled, and Nanny Wang spoke gently.

"The prince consort is a nice man with good character. Apart from the big age difference between him and the princess, they are a good match in other aspects."

Nanny Su said, "An eight-year age difference is not a bad thing. When the princess is sixteen, the prince consort will be twenty-six. They will be more mature and stable, and their relationship may be more stable. It's not a bad thing."

After listening to the two people's words, Nanny He said: "What you said makes sense. The prince consort is now twenty years old, and he was also delayed by his previous marriage. It seems that the prince consort is a more responsible person, and he and the princess are destined to be together."

Shen Jiarou picked up the teacup and drank tea, quietly listening to the three maids' evaluation and discussion of the prince consort.

Zhen Luosang came in with soapy water: "Princess, Nanny Wang, Nanny Su, Nanny He, have a cup of soapy water."

Shen Jiarou thanked her gently: "Thank you, Sister Luosang."

"Thank you, Lausanne."

"Thank you, Lausanne."

"Thank you, Lausanne."

Xu Zhi brought Princess Mu Xue to the backyard: "Princess, I'll have someone inform you."

"it is good."

Seeing her coming, the three maids bowed in greeting.

"Your servant greets Princess Mu Xue."

"The three maids are welcome. Aunt Luosang is welcome."

Princess Mu Xue looked at Shen Jiarou and saluted respectfully.

"Mu Xue greets the Imperial Aunt. Please be well, Imperial Aunt."

"Excuse me, why did you come here suddenly today?"

"Look at what you said, Auntie. Does that mean you don't welcome Mu Xue?"

Shen Jiarou gave her a reproachful look: "Don't misinterpret my meaning."

Princess Mu Xue walked up to her, sat down beside her, and took her arm affectionately.

"Auntie, you haven't come to play with me recently. Could it be that you have forgotten me because of Uncle Royal?"

"You keep making it up."

"Humph, you can't forget your principles just because of beauty."

Shen Jiarou almost spit out a mouthful of water: "What, forgetting righteousness for the sake of beauty? You are probably trying to say that you value beauty over friendship."

"Yes, yes, that's what I mean."

Shen Jiarou sighed: "It's terrible to be uneducated."

Princess Mu Xue pouted: "Aunt Royal, you are bullying the weak."

Shen Jiarou said arrogantly: "Then you are bullying the strong with your weak, do you dare?"

Princess Mu Xue was speechless: "I can't argue with you."

Shen Jiarou reached out and scratched her nose: "Are you angry? Oh, don't be angry. Such a beautiful little fairy will look ugly if she gets angry."

"Aunt Royal, you are going too far."

"Yes, yes, I went too far. Can I have someone prepare food for you to make amends?"

Princess Mu Xue immediately smiled happily: "That's still worth considering."

"Still considering it? Then I won't apologize."

"That won't work."

The three maids laughed. This aunt and niece were really funny and interesting.

In the evening, the aunt and nephew entered the palace together.

"Auntie, please stay in the palace for a few days this time."

Shen Jiarou didn't answer her question, but asked, "How many days do you want to stay?"

"To be honest, I don't know, but it's still okay to stay for a day or two."

Shen Jiarou smiled and said nothing.

When Aunt Zhenhua saw her princess coming back, she quickly arranged for people to prepare cakes and candied fruits.

"Princess, here are pears, peaches, plums, and persimmons."

"Thank you for your hard work, aunt."

Princess Mu Xue followed suit and thanked: "Thank you, aunt."

"Princess Muxue is too polite."

Shen Jiarou likes to eat fruits. She picked up a peach and took a bite.

"This peach is quite sweet, Muxue, you should try it too."

"Yes, Imperial Aunt. Well, it's really sweet. Imperial Aunt, do you have a house full of fruit trees? I heard Sister Luosang mention it unintentionally."

"Yes, about a dozen."

Princess Mu Xue was shocked: "Wow, so many, isn't it a pity that you didn't go back this year?"

Shen Jiarou smiled and said, "No, the people below will deliver it regularly."

"Auntie, what else would you do with all the fruit you had in previous years besides eating it?"

Shen Jiarou pursed her lips and thought, "I make wine, preserves, and sometimes desserts, or dried fruits to eat."

Princess Mu Xue said with some envy and longing: "I really want to see it with my own eyes."