High-class maid

"Reporting to Madam, Miss has been here for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea," Shen Xing'er replied respectfully.

"This, this, oh dear, has anyone seen it?" the First Madam asked.

"No, after Miss came out, I didn't see anyone else come out with her."

"That's good, that's good." The First Madam patted her chest and sat back down in her chair.

"You may leave now. You have done well by not hiding anything. However, I do not want others to know about this. Do you understand?" The old lady turned the prayer beads in her hand and looked at Shen Xing'er calmly.

"Yes, the old lady and the first lady are kind and have granted me permission to go with the eldest young lady to broaden my horizons. I know nothing else about the rest." After saying this, Shen Xing'er withdrew.

The First Madam nodded, thinking to herself, "She knows what's good for her."

“Mother, Shen Xing’er is quite clever; she didn’t hide anything from us,” the First Madam said.

"Danxue saw her go out with Luosheng. Danxue knows, which means you and I know. Rather than hiding it from us, it's better to tell the truth. Of course, it's also possible that Luosheng told her to tell the truth."

"No matter what, she's at least sensible. It's just that Sheng'er... my daughter-in-law is unfilial; I can't control her at all." The First Madam smiled self-deprecatingly, then got up to apologize.

"Please sit down. I've seen how hard you've worked all these years. The Second Prince is indeed a good man. But this means our Minister's Mansion will be forced to take sides," the old lady said.

It turns out that the current emperor only has three princesses and four princes, which is half the number of offspring of the previous emperor. The eldest prince, who is also the crown prince, was born to the most favored concubine in the palace.

Although the third prince's mother was of Mongolian ethnicity, she was still greatly favored because of her maternal grandfather. The fourth prince was born just two years ago, and the emperor, having a son late in life, also doted on him.

Only the second prince, born to Consort Ru, had no illustrious maternal grandfather, and his mother was not favored. He remained unknown and unassuming, yet he was secretly in love with the eldest daughter of the Minister's family.

“Our Minister’s Mansion has always been loyal to the Emperor and the court. If Sheng’er were to marry the Second Prince, wouldn’t that mean we would be on his side? But the Crown Prince has been subtly hinting at this to you, Master. What should we do…”

The First Madam clutched her handkerchief, feeling that she had failed in her duties and had brought trouble to the Minister's mansion.

"You don't need to be nervous. Our Minister's Mansion never takes sides. The fact that we suddenly chose the unknown Second Prince might be a good thing. At least we won't be feared by others," the old lady comforted her.

"Yes..." The First Madam sat down nervously.

"Alright, you may leave now. Have Jiu Chuan come tomorrow, and I'll discuss this matter with him." The old lady waved her hand, dismissing the first wife.

The next day, Shen Xing'er was working in the courtyard when Lümo gave her the quilt from the old lady's room to air it out. Just as Shen Xing'er finished hanging the quilt, she saw her mother, Wang Shi, approaching.

"Mother, what brings you here? Don't you have any duties to perform?" Shen Xing'er asked with delight when she saw her mother.

"The First Madam sent me, saying that you served the Eldest Miss well yesterday and she sent me to deliver a reward," Wang said cheerfully.

As he spoke, he handed the small purse to Shen Xing'er. Shen Xing'er weighed it in her hand and realized that there was a small ring inside.

"This was brought by Miss. You can go back inside and take a look. I'll go and deliver Danxue's reward to her." Madam Wang gave Shen Xing'er another small purse, and then went to find Danxue.

"Xing'er, tell me quickly, what is Yongchang Prefecture like?" After finishing their respective tasks, Shan Tao pestered Shen Xing'er to ask.

“Yongchang Prefecture is very, very big, and there are many beautiful ladies there. Our young master won two first prizes at this poetry competition,” Shen Xing’er said.

"Wow, this really brings honor to our Minister's Mansion! I heard from the ladies in the courtyard that the masters will be going to Yongchang Prefecture soon to propose marriage to that young lady. Have you seen her yet?"

"I've met her. She's as beautiful as a fairy descended from heaven, and she speaks and acts with great poise. I imagine she'll be a wonderful mistress in the future," Shen Xing'er said candidly, recalling Hou Xinyu's appearance.

"Sigh, why am I not so lucky? We're both women, but we have to serve others," Yamamomo asked, holding her face in her hands, feeling frustrated.

"Silly Shan Tao, you must not say such things again. It is our honor to serve in the Ministry of Rites. If someone with ulterior motives hears this, they will make a fuss about it." Shen Xing'er said righteously and sternly.

"They're just saying it, don't worry, I won't say it to outsiders."

"Don't compare yourself to others. Compared to those disaster victims, we are already much better off. Taking good care of your own life is more important than anything else," Shen Xing'er comforted her.

Shan Tao nodded, tacitly agreeing with what Shen Xing'er said.

Inside the old lady's room.

"Mother, is there something you need for me?" Master Xiao Jiuchuan rushed over after court, not even having time to change out of his court robes.

"Sit down, it's nothing urgent. Danxue, bring the master a cup of milk tea to warm his stomach," the old lady instructed unhurriedly.

The master sat down, loosened the buttons on his collar, and after Danxue served tea and left, he asked...

"Is it because of Sheng'er?"

"You knew all along?" the old lady asked in surprise.

"What could she possibly hide from me, her father? The bodyguards I've hired at great expense aren't just for show," the patriarch said casually, sipping his milk tea.

The old lady was slightly surprised; she hadn't expected her son to know about what had happened in Yongchang Prefecture. She suppressed her surprise and asked...

"So what do you think? We can't let this continue."

“Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I have also observed the Second Prince. He is indeed handsome and polite. No wonder Sheng’er is so infatuated with him.”

The old master had been young once too, and he understood Xiao Luosheng's feelings. It would be strange if his daughter didn't have someone she liked.

“But our Sheng’er is qualified to be the Crown Princess. Are you willing to let her give up that high position to become a prince’s wife?” the old lady asked.

“Mother, you don’t understand the affairs of the court. This eldest prince is incredibly powerful and seems to have secured his position, but I see that he has a violent temper and those who support him are not truly sincere.”

The old man placed the milk tea on the table and began to analyze it seriously.

"I don't understand either, but is this Second Prince really someone I can entrust my life to? Could it be that he's only after Sheng'er's status?" The old lady asked worriedly, fearing that her granddaughter might meet the wrong person.

"It shouldn't be. He didn't do anything to Sheng'er. Besides, Consort He has always been well-behaved in the palace. I don't think the Second Prince is a wicked person."

"So it seems you've also taken a liking to the Second Prince," the old lady asked.

“No matter who Sheng’er marries, every move of our Minister’s Mansion will be judged by everyone. Rather than that, it would be better to let my daughter marry a prince,” the patriarch said.