Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

The carriage drove all the way to the palace gate, and Nanny Jian from Shoukang Palace was already waiting there.

After getting off the carriage, Shen Chuning first greeted Nanny Jian, then turned around and helped Old Master Shen get off the carriage.

"The Empress Dowager is so thoughtful that she asked you to pick up Xiaojiu so early in the morning. Thank you so much."

Mr. Shen bowed with both hands, bowed upwards, and thanked Nanny Jian.

Nanny Jian quickly stepped back and said, "What are you talking about, old lady? Not only is Miss Nine our daughter, but she can be a study companion for the eldest princess. The Empress Dowager also had a say in this. It is only right that she should come and pick her up."

Shen Huaizhong watched Nanny Jian take Shen Chuning towards the harem, then he walked towards the court.

"Miss Nine, every ten-day period, we have riding lessons on the third, fourth, and fifth days, starting at the hour of Mao. The other four days start at the hour of Chen. Today is the first day of the lunar month, and the first lesson is Classics, History, and Miscellaneous Writings. It's still early, so I'll take you to your quarters and get you settled."

"I wonder if Miss Nine wants to live in Concubine Hui's palace or in Shoukang Palace?" Nanny Jian asked cautiously.

Shen Chuning blinked, "Where do the Princess and Princess Nanyan live?"

"The eldest princess lives in a side hall of Concubine Hui's Chunxi Palace, and Princess Nanyan and Miss An live in Lingfang Pavilion next to Chunxi Palace."

As Shen Chuning walked, she asked, "Is there any vacant room in Lingfang Pavilion?"

Nanny Jian said after careful consideration, "Yes, there is, but Lingfang Pavilion is a bit more shabby than Shoukang Palace and Chunxi Palace. The Empress Dowager said that if you don't want to live in Chunxi Palace, you can live in Shoukang Palace and keep her company."

"As for the Sixth Princess, the Queen Mother has sentenced her to three months of house arrest. Once the three months are up, if the Sixth Princess comes out and wants to cause trouble for you, I'm afraid no one will be able to protect you since you're living in Lingfang Pavilion."

Shen Chuning smiled faintly and said, "Please thank the Empress Dowager for me. The feud with the Sixth Princess has already been formed, and it's not something that can be avoided. Besides, we are both the eldest princess's study companions, so it's not good to treat her specially for such a small matter."

Nanny Jian advised, "It's better to resolve a feud than to create one. He's only in his early teens, how could he harbor any deep hatred? We can find a chance to put this matter behind us later."

"Yes, An Ning will remember Madam Jian's teachings."

Although Shen Chuning said this, she didn't think that Xiao Jinhuan's matter could be let go like this. Not to mention that she had been making things difficult for her in this life, even if Shen Chuning lost her life in the previous life, Xiao Jinhuan was half responsible.

……

Nanny Jian sent Shen Chuning to Lingfang Pavilion, and Fangruo, the head maid of Lingfang Pavilion, arranged for her to live in the ear room on the right.

When Nanny Jian left, Birui quietly stuffed a gold ingot into her hand. When Nanny Jian reached out and touched it, her face was full of smiles. She also gave some instructions to Aunt Fangruo, asking her to take good care of Shen Chuning.

After Shen Chuning and Birui put away their things, they brought the gifts to the house where Princess Nanyan lived.

She and Princess Nan Yan had met at a banquet before and were quite familiar with each other.

Another young lady from the An family, An Zhiyao, was only fifteen years old and would be coming of age in a few months. She was four or five years younger than Shen Chuning. Her family had only produced a late queen. After the late queen's death, the family's fortunes gradually declined. Therefore, An Zhiyao did not often move around in the aristocratic circles in Beijing. Shen Chuning had only met her from a distance a few times at the annual banquets held in the palace.

Princess Nan Yan wore a long green dress with delicate apricot blossom patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem. The stitching was fine and the skirt flowed lightly.

Her hair was as black as ink, tied into a high bun. A few pink and white apricot blossoms were pinned to the top with a golden hairpin. The petals shimmered softly in the sunlight. A pair of silver earrings in six colors dangled from her ears, swaying gently with her movements, making crisp sounds. Her face was unpainted, save for a single apricot petal on her forehead, giving her a fresh and charming look.

In contrast, An Zhiyao wore a rose pink long dress, a golden bodice, and a full set of headgear on her head, looking serious and solemn.

It’s not that it doesn’t look good, but it seems a bit deliberate in this context.

"I heard from Jinyu a long time ago that you were coming, but you kept us waiting for a long time. I heard that you were ill a while ago. Are you still feeling unwell?" Princess Nan Yan saw Shen Chuning at the door, and hurried over to hold her hand, and asked kindly.

"Thank you, Sister Nan Yan, for your concern. I'm much better now."

"This is An Zhiyao, the daughter of Lord An, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites. You should have met her before." Princess Nanyan introduced An Zhiyao to Shen Chuning.

"Hello, Sister Zhiyao." Shen Chuning bowed to An Zhiyao, and then asked Birui to bring the gift.

"This is a little gift from Chu Ning. I hope you two sisters won't dislike it." Shen Chuning said as she handed the two boxes of jewelry to Princess Nan Yan and An Zhiyao respectively.

An Zhiyao took out the pair of purple jade hibiscus earrings from the box, raised her arms above her head, and the sunlight passed through the earrings, casting a purple shadow on her face.

Purple jade is not common, especially two pieces of purple jade with such rich color.

An Zhiyao seemed very pleased with the earrings. A smile spread across her face as she carefully put them away. "I wonder what gift Princess Nanyan received? Why don't you open it and take a look?"

"Since it's a gift from An Ning, no matter what it is, I'm happy. It's getting late, let's go and don't let the princess and master wait anxiously."

An Zhiyao looked up at the sky and said, "It's still early, there's no need to rush. Besides, how long will it take you to open a box?"

Princess Nan Yan couldn't persuade her and had to open the box.

"Here, I see. Can we go now?"

The moment An Zhiyao saw the twin crabapple blossoms and butterfly hairpin inlaid with gems in the box, her smile froze on her face.

"So this sister is also a person who flatters the powerful and looks down on the weak. She looks down on me, the daughter of a fifth-rank doctor of the Ministry of Rites."

"As far as I know, your father was only a sixth-rank official. I don't know what crooked means he used to be sent to the eldest princess as a study companion." An Zhiyao said angrily.

Princess Nan Yan interrupted her, "Zhiyao, be careful with your words and actions. An Ning is the niece of the Empress Dowager. There's no need for her to resort to any crooked ways."

"If you like this hairpin, I'll trade it with you. I think those earrings are very delicate, I like them very much."

Princess Nan Yan said this and handed the box in her hand to An Zhiyao.

"Who wants your hairpin?" An Zhiyao pushed Shen Chuning away, put the box in her hand on the table in the corridor, and ran away crying.