After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

“Sun Yi,” Fu Fang said, “I just heard Eunuch Chang Fu mention Steward Sun Yi. If the princess likes my tea ceremony, she must also like Steward Sun. Steward Sun was promoted to serve His Majesty because of his excellent tea ceremony. Steward Sun has been in the princess’s residence for so many years, he must have taught her everything he needed to. If she still can’t learn after all this time, she must be a fool. It would be easier to kick such a person out.”

A gentle laugh, a kind tone, yet the words spoken were utterly terrifying.

They openly mentioned Sun Yi, but secretly they were using Sun Yi's affairs to vie for the position of general manager.

"There are many good tea makers in the world, but only Aunt Fufang has the tea maker who can please me." Xiang An gently put down the teacup. "Aunt Fufang, you have worked hard for many years. Father Emperor is willing to let you leave the palace. First, he wants you to accompany me, and second, he wants you to rest well."

You raised my father and even held me in your arms; for that alone, I consider you family. How could I bear to let you do anything strenuous and demanding? But there's hardly anything easy or leisurely to do in the household. I don't drink tea often, so having you specially brew tea for me won't tire you out.”

"Princess……"

Xiang An wouldn't let Fu Fang say what she wanted to say. "Aunt Fu Fang, please rest well at the Princess's residence. Don't let my filial piety go to waste."

Tears welled up, and the scene was filled with sorrow and grief.

Fu Fang could no longer laugh. Without saying a word, she knelt down and pleaded, "Princess, have mercy! You are a phoenix in the sky, and I am just grass on the ground. Why should I, your princess, show filial piety to you? I am a servant, how can I be worthy of being your relative?"

“Aunt Fufang may say that, but I cannot do it. Aunt, you don’t know, ever since Chief Steward Sun Yi passed away, I’ve been drinking tea with trepidation. I have no one to trust me when it comes to food, and I’m so afraid that I can only sleep with one eye open at night.”

"Princess, Your Majesty..."

"Didn't you just say that Father didn't tell you what to do at the Princess's residence? So Auntie did this tea-making work to put my mind at ease. If you're really worried, I can ask Father as you wish."

Asking Xiang An to ask the Emperor about such a trivial matter would be tantamount to sending her to her death. Before leaving the palace, Chang Fu had already given her a heads-up, implying that she should work as the steward in the princess's residence without anyone noticing. At that time, she confidently agreed without hesitation.

Who knew that now they were in such a predicament? If this matter reached the emperor, it wouldn't be a secret anymore; the whole world would know. At that point, the emperor wouldn't even need the princess to intervene; he would have to kill her first.

It seems we can't force it.

That makes sense. In the princess's residence, besides the princess herself, the head steward is the most important person. Now that the position is vacant, the princess naturally wants to promote someone she knows. The maid who has been serving the princess for over ten years, why would she care about someone who just entered the residence?

It seems the only option now is to proceed cautiously and gradually. For now, we should stay in the princess's residence and slowly try to win her favor.

Fu Fang replied helplessly, "Yes. This servant will obey the princess."

Pushing open the door, the floor was covered with wood and tools. Xiao Ru, who was squatting on the ground carefully sorting them, turned around and said, "Princess, there's too much wood in the room. Please use some first, and then I'll bring some more. Besides that, could you please see if there's anything else you're missing?"

Xiang An glanced at them and said, "Everyone's here." She pulled Xiao Ru up and said seriously, "Fu Fang, who came from the palace today, is the Emperor's wet nurse. I just arranged for her to be in charge of making tea."

Xiao Ru: "This servant understands. I will be more vigilant about the princess's tea in the future."

"No." Xiang An shook her head. "What I mean is, do you want to be the head steward of the princess's residence? Before, your leg was not well, so I was afraid you would overthink it and I didn't tell you. Now that your leg is healed, you don't need to worry anymore."

"No," Xiaoru refused quickly.

"Why? You have been by my side for so many years and have managed half of the mansion's storerooms. During the years when Sun Yi was in charge of the mansion, you were able to hold onto power like a fish in water, sharing the same position with Sun Yi, and even surpassing him. In terms of seniority and methods, you are outstanding. If you were to become the steward, no one in the entire mansion would object."

“This servant is powerful because I have the princess backing me up, so Sun Yi doesn’t dare to be presumptuous. Besides, after becoming the head steward, I can no longer stay by the princess’s side to serve her at all times. This servant wants to follow the princess.” Xiao Ru’s round eyes were full of affection.

“It is most dangerous for you to be by my side. If you break your leg again, I still cannot protect you. I am a princess. No matter how angry Father Emperor is, he will not kill me. But the person who is always by my side will definitely be implicated and suffer.”

Xiang An carefully explained the pros and cons to Xiao Ru, "As the head steward, I will not interfere with you at all in this princess's residence. You can do whatever you want. Even if I die one day, you will not be implicated in the slightest and will still be the most powerful person in the princess's residence."

“This servant knows, this servant does not want it. Being with the princess every day is enough for this servant.” Xiao Ru’s resolve to refuse remained unchanged. She knew what she wanted; she was easily satisfied and didn’t need much more. She was content as she was now. “Princess, you need not persuade this servant. If one day I were to die for the princess, this servant would be willing…”

"Pah! What nonsense are you spouting? Your leg has only just healed, don't talk nonsense," Xiang An scolded in a low voice. "Speak properly."

“If the princess forbids me to speak, then I won’t speak. In short, I won’t do it.” Xiao Ru shrugged. “I won’t do it, but someone has recommended me.”

"Who?"

"Qin Zheng. The princess rescued her from the street a few days ago. She comes from a poor background, but with the training of this servant recently, she learns everything very quickly."

Seeing that Xiang An was still completely confused and had no memory of it, Xiao Ru explained in detail, "According to Qin Zheng, on the day the princess met her, her husband had taken the last bit of money from the house. If it weren't for the princess's intervention, her daughter would have died of illness."

A faint impression gradually surfaced in his mind: the woman he and Fu Qingbai had seen at Piaoxiang Tower that day.

Xiang An gave up: "Since you recommended her, let her give it a try. If it doesn't work, we'll find someone else."

"Yes, ma'am." Xiao Ru smiled triumphantly. "This servant will continue to secretly look for suitable candidates."

"I'll leave this matter to you."

Xiang An sat cross-legged on a low stool, holding a piece of wood in one hand and a saw in the other, preparing to start making crossbows. He owed Fu Qingbai for far too long.

I guess he brought the medicine over last time for this very reason. After all, he was injured and couldn't do it, and it wouldn't be good to rush a patient, so it's understandable that he was anxious.

I didn't think about this last time, and rushed to his house in a hurry. That was too impulsive.

He had wronged him for no reason and should apologize. After sawing off a small piece of wood of just the right length, Xiang An had an idea: "I'll carve a little trinket for him as an apology gift."