Soft and crispy waist

Tuan'er did not go out, but stood in the yard waiting for Mrs. Tian to come out.

"Have you...really signed the contract?"

"really."

"You little girl, how dare you make such a big decision!" Madam Tian cried and beat Tuan'er, but she knew that there was no way to save her. "Why? Why did you want to enter the palace? There is no place for people like us to survive in the palace."

Tuan'er let Madam Tian beat her, and she might not survive this trip. She was being unfilial, but... "Mom, if I don't go, can I survive?"

Mrs. Tian's crying paused for a moment, and then she cried even louder.

"It's all mother's fault! Mother is useless! I couldn't protect you! Mother deserves to die." The hand that had been beating Tuan'er started hitting his own chest, each blow harder than the last, as if he wanted to beat himself to death.

"Mother! Mother!" Tuan'er hurriedly grabbed Madam Tian's hand, shaking her head and crying. "Don't be like this, Mother. Entering the palace is also an opportunity. Who knows, maybe I can really become a court lady. Isn't that a good thing?"

Female officials are naturally good.

Can……

Now that things have come to this, even if things are not good, the only option is to get better.

Madam Tian sobbed, wiped her tears, and nodded in agreement, saying, "If you stay at home, your father will sell you out sooner or later. Your mother is incompetent and can't protect you or your sister. To be honest, it was all thanks to that nobleman from the Duke's Mansion who saved you that day."

Speaking of that person, Mrs. Tian remembered the touch of that hand again.

"I saw that noble lady that day. Although I couldn't see her face, I always felt that she looked like your sister. It's a coincidence that she was there, so maybe it was your sister who was blessing you. If you enter the palace, your sister will also bless you. But if you can see that noble lady again, you must thank her, understand?"

Seeing Mrs. Tian's eyes full of sadness when she talked about Xia Zheng, Tuan'er felt like there was something stuck in his throat.

In the end, he just lowered his head, not letting Madam Tian see the emotion in his eyes, and said in a muffled voice, "I understand."

Madam Tian nodded with tears in her eyes, and took out a few pieces of silver from the slit of her belt and stuffed them into Tuan'er's hands. "You need money for everything in the palace. I know you have money, but this is for you, so take it."

Holding the silver coins, Tuan'er knew how difficult it was for Madam Tian to hide under Xia Gang's nose, and how long it took her. She shook her head and wanted to retreat, but Madam Tian grabbed her hand firmly and did not give her a chance to open it.

The mother and daughter insisted on each other, but in the end, Tuan'er gave in and accepted the silver. Looking at her haggard mother, she finally spoke to her: "Mother, I'm leaving. I hope you can leave him if you have the chance."

Madam Tian shook her head and smiled, "He's in this state now and needs someone to take care of him. I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me. Just take care of yourself."

Realizing that it was useless to say more, Tuan'er bowed to Madam Tian and walked out without hesitation.

Watching her back disappear from the door, Mrs. Tian could no longer hold back her tears and burst into tears.

Two daughters, not one left.

Thinking of Xia Zheng, she cried even harder.

When her benefactor handed Zheng'er to her, she raised her to adulthood with great difficulty and wanted to find a good family for her. However, she ended up dying because of Zheng'er. How could she repay her benefactor?

It’s all her fault for being useless and finding such a man. But if it weren’t for Xia Gang, she wouldn’t even be able to survive... It’s all a sin.

……

It's snowing heavily again, but everyone says it's a sign of a good harvest.

As expected, good news came from the border on New Year's Eve.

Gu Yizi has killed Nurban, the leader of the Boh army. The other tribes were defeated and were willing to surrender to the Great Zhou. The old emperor got up overnight and sent ministers to negotiate. After the negotiations were completed, Gu Yizi could return to the court.

The good news spread among the various mansions, and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was naturally the first to know about it. They even set off hundreds of firecrackers at the gate to celebrate.

Flowers were added to today's red silk, and all the lanterns were lit. Even at night, the entire mansion was brightly lit as if it were daytime.

The New Year’s Eve banquet is held in Chaohui Courtyard, which is the largest and most luxurious courtyard in the mansion. It will not be opened except when distinguished guests come or there is a grand banquet in the mansion.

When she came in for the first time, Chunzhi looked around and was overwhelmed.

"When I first arrived at the Duke's Mansion, I thought Fanghuayuan was luxurious and grand enough. Then I went to Soseki Residence and found it even more elegant and charming. After that, I thought Yuegui Pavilion was beautiful. Now I realize that compared to this place, apart from the Crown Prince's Soseki Residence, which has its own unique charm, no other place can compare."

"If you weren't a concubine, you wouldn't be able to enter a place like this. Do you regret it now?"

"As long as I don't have to serve the prince, I won't regret it at all." Chunzhi was the happiest during the time when Gu Yizi was away from home. She had food and shelter, didn't have to work, and didn't have to suffer from the cold. It was simply a heavenly life. If it weren't for Xia Zheng, she would have wished Gu Yizi would not come back.

"Be quiet, don't let others hear."

"What are you afraid of? The Crown Prince's Consort is not here today." Although she said that, Chunzhi's voice was still much lower.

Tao Yurong was indeed not here. As the Crown Prince's Consort, she had to stay in the palace today to accompany the Emperor and the Queen Mother to observe the New Year's Eve. She could not return home until the New Year's Day worship was completed.

So today's banquet was hosted by Xue Wuyang.

It was supposed to be Wei Qingqing's, but Wei Qingqing had to step back because of her pregnancy, and she was so angry that she hasn't come yet.

But when I looked carefully, Xue Wuyang was not there either.

"Are you venting your anger on me? I told you to be extremely careful with this thing and not make any mistakes, and you almost dropped it. I'm telling you, if you drop it today, I'll skin you alive!"

An angry curse was heard, and when I looked for the source, it was Liu Ye, the maidservant beside Xue Wuyang.

The person she was scolding was a little maid who was holding a white jade cup. She was trembling with fear, but her hands were tightly holding the jade cup, not daring to let go even a little.

The white jade cup is indeed precious, but it is nothing in the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion. What's more, Liu Ye came from the Xue Mansion and must have seen a lot of such things. Even if she smashed it, she would not get so angry.

Seeing Liu Ye chase the man away and then turn around to walk out, Xia Zheng let go of Chun Zhi's hand and said, "My stomach is not feeling well. I need to go to the toilet. You go in first."

"I'll go with you."

"It's okay with Frost and Snow following."

Looking at Frost Snow's cold face, although Chunzhi felt a little scared, she knew he was indeed a reliable person, so she nodded without any doubt and walked in.

"Do you suspect her?" Frost Snow asked coldly in a low voice.

"Just taking a look." Xia Zheng felt that something was unusual. It was always right to be cautious.

But she didn't dare to follow too closely. Fortunately, the lights were on tonight and Liu Ye was wearing bright clothes, so she could see her from a distance sneaking into an unlit attic.

The mansion was large, with many people and many secrets. Xia Zheng took Shuangxue and quietly followed them to the back of the wall. She couldn't squat down, so she could only half lean against it.

"Do you really want to do this? What if you get caught?"