High-class maid

"If this old servant is not mistaken, that servant with the limp should be from the old lady's side," He Bo said after thinking for a while.

"What? My grandmother's side? How is that possible?" Song Wenyang was shocked and couldn't believe it for a moment.

"He was indeed one of the old lady's confidants. At the time, everyone in the mansion said he was the old lady's trusted confidant. However, that man was arrogant and conceited, and offended many people. Later, the old lady sold him off." Uncle He sighed as he recalled the past.

Song Wenyang didn't have time to join him in his lamentations. He lowered his head and pondered, "Could it be that my grandmother instructed her? How could that be? My grandmother loved me the most. But if it wasn't my grandmother, who else could command her confidants?"

"Young master, what's wrong? Is something amiss?" He Bo asked, puzzled, seeing Song Wenyang standing there in a daze.

"Forget it, telling Uncle He will only cause him more trouble. It's better not to tell him," Song Wenyang thought to himself. Then, calming himself down, he said...

"It's nothing. I just heard people in the manor talking about this servant, so I asked him a question."

“Oh, young master, don’t worry about such irrelevant people. Your most important thing now is to study hard. You came to the capital without a word. What will happen to Ouyang Academy? What will happen to your studies?” He Bo kept nagging, as if he wanted to take Song Wenyang all the way to Jinling.

Song Wenyang picked at his ear, his face showing a "here we go again" expression. He said, "Uncle He, I'm so sleepy. I've been traveling for days and nights, and I didn't dare to sleep on the boat."

Upon hearing this, He Bo stopped nagging, slapped his forehead, and said, "Look at me, I've been so busy talking to you. I need to rest properly, otherwise how can I study?"

After saying that, she ran out to make the bed for Song Wenyang.

Song Wenyang breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that He Bo had finally left. Being watched over was a kind of trouble!

Since Xiao Yi'an got engaged, the Minister's mansion has returned to its usual tranquility.

"Let's enjoy these few days of leisure. Once we enter the twelfth lunar month, we won't be free anymore." Shan Tao sat by the window embroidering, chatting casually with Shen Xing'er.

"What do you mean?" Shen Xing'er asked, puzzled.

“I went to the small kitchen to see my mother today and overheard the second-class maids saying that since the beginning of December, people have been visiting the old lady every day, and even the cleaning has to be done one more time than usual.”

"I see. There's nothing to be surprised about. Even ordinary families get busy in the twelfth lunar month and the end of the year. We just need to do our jobs well," Shen Xing'er comforted her.

“I know, this handkerchief will be finished today. When should we send it to the shopkeeper?” Shantao asked.

"I'll take it to my mother, and she can give it to my father. Whenever my father leaves the manor, he'll deliver it to the shop for us," Shen Xing'er said.

"It's really too much trouble for you, Uncle. There are still several days until the end of the month. Should I embroider some more for you to take with you?" Shan Tao asked.

"No, we'll be busy once the twelfth lunar month starts. If you're free now, you can save the extra embroidery for next month."

“What you said makes sense,” Shan Tao said.

"Rest for a few days first; your eyes are the most important thing," Shen Xing'er said.

"Know it!"

Days passed by at a leisurely pace, until one day, an imperial edict shattered the peace of the capital, causing a great deal of discussion among the city's inhabitants.

"Have you heard? That notorious bandit leader, Duan Laohu, has been captured!!!"

"So what if we caught him? He's just a bandit. What's the big deal?"

"What do you know? This Duan Tiger holds secrets about many officials in the court, which is why the Emperor wants to capture him alive," a passerby whispered, pointing to the sky.

"So that's how it is. Now that Duan Laohu has fallen into the Emperor's hands, the officials who colluded with him are scared," another passerby said while eating sunflower seeds.

"Look, the Emperor's decree has arrived," a man said, gesturing towards the east of the city.

A group of soldiers came from the east of the city. The officer in the lead posted a notice at the notice display area, then left two people there to prevent anyone from tearing it up, while the rest went to post another notice at another location.

After the soldiers left, the people gathered in the city immediately rushed forward.

"What does it say on this?" an old woman asked from the crowd.

"Duan Laohu is sentenced to beheading, to be carried out at noon three days later. Several other officials will also be imprisoned," a literate scholar added.

The crowd stood at the announcement desk for a while before dispersing.

"See, I told you so, officials were also arrested along with them," said the passerby who had been eating sunflower seeds.

His companion didn't respond, but instead watched as the servants in the crowd hurriedly ran into their own residences, as if they were informing their masters.

"It seems the capital is about to undergo a major upheaval," he muttered to himself.

Shen Xing'er learned about this two days later. On that day, she went to the kitchen to get her meal and overheard the other maids talking about it.

"Have you heard? Duan Laohu is going to be beheaded tomorrow!" Shan Tao said as she came out of the kitchen.

Shen Xing'er recalled that, just like the timeline in the book, once Duan Laohu died, the Second Prince would be considered to have rendered meritorious service.

"Xing'er, what are you daydreaming about?" Shan Tao asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing, it's just that I feel that he, a wicked and evil villain, has finally been brought to justice. It's true that good will prevail over evil!" Shen Xing'er exclaimed.

"Of course, I heard he revealed many officials' secrets, and several important ministers in the court were exiled!" Shan Tao said softly.

"Huh? You stay in the inner quarters all day, how did you know about this?" Shen Xing'er asked, puzzled.

"It's all over the capital! I heard the Emperor sent people to post it at the bulletin board office. They're not leaving them any way out!" Shan Tao said softly.

Shen Xing'er nodded. Among the officials who were exiled this time, several were under the Crown Prince's command. Now that they were exiled, they had thoroughly offended the Crown Prince.

The book says that the Crown Prince privately approached the Second Prince several times, hoping to ask him to make an exception and replace some officials with the ones presented to the Emperor. However, the Second Prince said that he was acting on behalf of his father and that he should report the matter to his father first. This angered the Crown Prince, who stormed off.

"There will be another happy event in our household soon..." Shen Xing'er murmured.

"Oh? What do you mean by that? With the court in turmoil, who has time to hold any celebrations?" Shan Tao was puzzled, thinking Shen Xing'er was just joking.

Shen Xing'er smiled but didn't reply.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, the emperor was receiving his secret guards.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince smashed many things in his residence, and then summoned several of his retainers to his residence to discuss matters."