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

Yuewei Hall.

"What is that smell? Do you smell it?"

The Sixth Princess Xiao Jinhuan asked while covering her nose, but when she looked up, she saw Shen Chuning and Shen Jingwan standing at the door.

"Shen Chuning, who are you trying to seduce? I'm afraid you've sprinkled all the perfume in the house on yourself. The smell is so choking that I can't breathe." Xiao Jinhuan said this while not forgetting to tell the maid to open the window.

The cold wind blew in from the window, causing everyone in the room to shiver.

Everyone looked at Shen Chuning with some contempt, but because Shen Chuning was the granddaughter of the newly appointed prime minister, no one dared to say anything.

Shen Chuning ignored everyone's gazes and walked to her seat and sat down.

When Shen Chuning passed by Xiao Jinhuan, Xiao Jinhuan did not smell the expected pungent odor, and then she realized that she had blamed the wrong person.

Shen Jingwan was still standing at the door, not knowing whether to go in or not, tears of grievance welling up in her eyes.

But what made Xiao Jinhuan even angrier was that this happened to her study partner.

"Shen Jingwan, who are you showing that dead look to? Are you giving me face?" There was an obvious threat in Xiao Jinhuan's tone.

Shen Jingwan had been scolded by Xiao Jinhuan many times in the past for her signature expression of grievance. Seeing Xiao Jinhuan angry again, she was so scared that her whole body was trembling. However, this made her seem even more wronged.

"Sixth Princess, why are you targeting Sister Wan so much? Sister Wan had some unpleasant odor on her body when she went to take care of the wife of Duke Qing. She was afraid that others would feel uncomfortable, so she thought of covering it up with perfume powder. Speaking of which, Sister Wan is also fulfilling her filial duty for the Sixth Princess." Shen Chuning said casually.

"Performing filial piety for this princess? She's just a concubine's daughter. What qualifications does she have to perform filial piety for this princess?"

"Sixth Princess, you may not know this, but Sister Wan is already registered under the name of Third Madam Shen. In a sense, she's your cousin. This time, when the Duke's wife fell ill, it was Sister Wan who took care of her at her bedside. When your own grandmother fell ill, the Sixth Princess probably didn't even go back to the Duke's Mansion to see her."

Xiao Jinhuan was even more furious after hearing what Shen Chuning said. Filial piety was the most important thing in this dynasty, and Shen Jingwan was clearly stepping on her to gain a good reputation.

"Shen Jingwan, are you doing this on purpose? Are you trying to act filial in front of everyone to outdo this princess?"

"No... I didn't." Shen Jingwan quickly denied it.

"No? Then you must have learned those seductive skills from your mother, since you put on so much powder. After all, you were born out of wedlock, so you only learned these things that are not worthy of public display."

"Caiyi, take her downstairs to wash off the scent of powder and makeup. After all, the windows of Yuewei Hall can't be left open. It would be a sin if she caught a cold. The water doesn't need to be too hot, but it will help her wake up and think about who she should be loyal to and filial to."

Caiyi received instructions and took Shen Jingwan back to her residence. The wooden barrel was filled with water that had just been drawn from the well.

The well water in early February was bitterly cold. Caiyi watched Shen Jingwan soak in the water for a full hour before letting her out.

Caiyi hated Shen Jingwan very much. She heard from Caidie that when she was out on business, Shen Jingwan took a fancy to her house and insisted on occupying it, even planning to move all her things out.

It was only after Caidie's strenuous efforts that Shen Jingwan was allowed to move a bed in.

Shen Jingwan developed a high fever that afternoon after taking a cold bath, but Xiao Jinhuan refused to let anyone call a doctor for her.

It was not until the fourth day of the fever that Shen Jingwan started talking nonsense, and only then did he order someone to send Shen Jingwan back to the Shen family.

It was said that he had caught a cold in the palace because he was not careful, and was sent back because he was afraid that the disease would spread to the nobles in the palace.

After Shen Jingwan returned to the Shen family, she did not dare to tell others that she was punished because she offended the Sixth Princess.

……

After finishing school in the morning, Shen Chuning came to Concubine Hui's Chunxi Palace with a small box.

Lunch had already been served in Chunxi Palace, waiting for Xiao Jinyu and the others to come back and have dinner.

After lunch, Concubine Hui left Shen Chuning alone in Chunxi Palace to talk.

"Here, this is your New Year's money, and congratulations on being adopted by Shuxuan. I don't know what you like, but I guess Shuxuan has found everything you want, so I will just give you the silver notes. Go buy whatever you like." Concubine Hui smiled and handed Shen Chuning a purse.

"A Ning is already old enough, why would she need any lucky money? But if it's to celebrate An Ning being adopted by her mother, then I definitely have to accept it."

Shen Chuning immediately put away her purse and took out the small box she had brought with her.

"What good things are in that box of yours? I saw you holding it since you came in." Concubine Hui asked.

"Of course it's a good thing. You will definitely like it after seeing it." Shen Chuning said mysteriously.

Shen Chuning first opened the box that had never been carved, and inside it were several uncarved seal stones.

"You don't have much talent for carving, but you have accumulated a lot of stones. When you entered the palace last year, you brought four stones for me. These are some top-quality stones. I'm afraid you have emptied your private treasury." Concubine Hui teased with a smile.

"How could that be possible? Aning collected such a large box of stones before the New Year. I couldn't carry so many when I came to the palace alone, otherwise I would have brought them all to you. Empress Hui, please play with these first. When you are done, tell Aning and she will give you more."

Shen Chuning opened her hands and gestured the approximate size of the box.

Concubine Hui burst into laughter at Shen Chuning's appearance, "How could I ask a child for something?"

"Why not? Oh, I have something for you."

Shen Chuning opened the exquisitely carved box again. Inside the box were more than a dozen seals, each with rabbits of various shapes carved on the seal buttons.

Concubine Hui stared at the row of seals in a daze for a moment, then picked up a seal and carefully stroked the rabbit on the seal button.

Although his eyes were looking at the rabbit on the seal, they were unfocused, as if he was looking through the rabbit at something else.

Concubine Hui was stunned for a moment before coming to her senses. "Did the things in these two boxes come from the same person?"

Shen Chuning nodded. "Uncle Yun and cousin Yun Yan brought it as New Year gifts before the New Year."

Concubine Hui tightly grasped Shen Chuning's wrist and asked, "What cousin did you just say?"

"Brother Yunyan, what happened to Concubine Hui?"

"Which inkstone?"

"The inkstone of the inkstone."

"Oh, Yunyan, the inkstone of inkstone, the inkstone of inkstone, Yunyan."

Amber, who was serving beside her, noticed that something was wrong with Concubine Hui and quickly came over to help her up. She said to Shen Chuning, "Miss Jiu, Concubine Hui seems to be feeling unwell. Please see..."

Shen Chuning also realized something was wrong and quickly stood up to say goodbye.

She originally thought that Uncle Yun must have some story with Concubine Hui, but she didn't understand why Concubine Hui had such a big reaction when she heard the name of cousin Yun Yan.