Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Shuyan looked at Shen Sangwan with a helpless expression.

Upon seeing the other party's hand gesture, she promptly knelt on the ground, saying, "This humble woman has spoken without restraint; please forgive me, Your Highness."

“Aunt, Ayan has lived in Qinzhou for a long time. As you know, it is adjacent to the Northern Witches. On the Double Ninth Festival, they wear dogwood to ward off evil spirits and insects. She does not know the customs of Zhongdu. Ignorance is no excuse. I hope that you will not blame her for Awan’s sake.”

Shuyan's poem didn't attract any attention, but it brought her other troubles.

When everyone heard her utter the words "Chongyang," their expressions changed, and they all turned their surprised gazes toward Shuyan.

The sudden silence around her startled Shuyan, who instantly realized she had said something wrong.

Princess Consort Sheng, who was sitting in the superior position, had her lips curving upwards in an instant, but the smile vanished.

"Xiaotong, what's going on? I feel like everyone's being superstitious about something."

[My lord, the Double Ninth Festival is an extremely unlucky day for the people of Nan Jing Kingdom, and it's taboo. Now your little Yan Yan is in trouble.]

Upon hearing Xiaotong's words, Shen Sangwan's mind raced as she searched for relevant information, needing to quickly find an excuse to cover it up.

Shuyan looked at Shen Sangwan with a helpless expression.

Upon seeing the other party's hand gesture, she swiftly knelt on the ground, saying, "This commoner has spoken without thinking; please forgive me, Your Highness."

“Aunt, you know that Ayan has lived in Qinzhou for a long time. It is adjacent to the Northern Witches, and on the Double Ninth Festival, they wear dogwood to ward off evil spirits and insects. She is not familiar with the customs of Zhongdu. Ignorance is no excuse. I hope that you will not blame her for Awan’s sake.”

Wen Yuexi suddenly stood up and said with a smile, "Why not change it to 'My heart is filled with longing for distant places,' which would both fit the scene and fulfill Miss Cen's flying order?"

Shen Sangwan really wanted to applaud Wen Yuexi. Although she didn't know why the other party stood up to help Xiao Yanyan, she was already very grateful that she could help her out of a predicament.

"The fragrance of laurel travels far and wide, and my thoughts are filled with longing for distant places."

"That's a good interpretation; it really does fit the scene." Shen Sangwan turned to Princess Consort Sheng. "Aunt, what do you think?"

When Lady Liang saw that her daughter had come to her rescue, she quickly smiled and echoed her sentiments.

Princess Consort Sheng's expression did not improve, but she did not pursue the matter further. She simply said in a cold voice, "Let's stop composing poems here today. You may all enjoy them at your leisure."

Shen Sangwan winked at Shuyan, and after receiving the signal, she pursed her lips and kowtowed, saying, "This humble woman is new to Zhongdu and had no intention of offending you. I thank Your Highness for your forgiveness for my rudeness today."

Princess Consort Sheng waved her hand, "You have lived in Qinzhou for many years, so this was an unintentional mistake. Get up."

Shuyan took the opportunity to calm herself down while she was engrossed in her work.

After bowing again, he stood up and sat down, but he was still a little shaken and kept his head slightly bowed.

Since she arrived here, she has almost become a person who is not good with words, and today's events have made her even more cautious.

After all, this trouble came unexpectedly because of what one said.

Seeing that the other party was safe and sound, Shen Sangwan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that the poetry writing was over, everyone dispersed on their own, gathering in small groups to wander around the mansion.

Princess Consort Sheng, citing her age, allowed the younger generation, including Shen Sangwan, to enjoy the flowers and play at the mansion, while she and several other ladies of the court returned to the main hall to sit down.

Wen Yuexi had only taken a few steps when Shen Sangwan called her back, smiling as she said, "Miss Wen, thank you for what happened earlier."

Looking back at Shen Sangwan and Shuyan, Wen Yuexi shook her head. "It was nothing, Your Highness. There's no need for thanks. Besides, I only offered to help because I saw that Miss Cen was a kind person, similar to my elder sister."

"The Empress isn't nearly as kind as my little Yan Yan; you're clearly talking nonsense."

Shen Sangwan didn't know whether Wen Yuexi's words were true or false, but since the other party showed no hostility, she didn't say anything more.

After Shuyan expressed her gratitude again, the two went elsewhere hand in hand.

At the beginning of Shenshi (3 PM), in a secluded pavilion in the Prince Sheng's mansion, Shuyan felt a little bored and asked when they could go back.

Did those young ladies ask about your identity?

"I explained it to them in the words we had agreed on at the manor, but whether they believe me or not is hard to say."

"That's alright. As long as you come out with your own name and an independent identity, and you've shown your face in front of them, it will be easier to take the next step in the future."

Shuyan's eyelids were drooping. In mid-August, she was so sleepy that she couldn't take a nap. She asked again when she could return to the Princess's residence.

"I had Shuyun secretly take care of something. If you're sleepy, you can rest here for a while, and I'll watch over you. Or I can have Princess Consort Sheng arrange a private room for you..."

Shuyan raised her hand to stop her, "No, stop. The old princess probably has a problem with me now, but she's only letting it go because of you."

They're even preparing a side room; are they setting up a morgue for her?

"Then you'll have to suffer a bit. Lie here for a while, and I'll call you when someone comes."

Shuyan was indeed extremely sleepy, so she slumped half her body on the stone table and fell into a deep sleep.

Shen Sangwan was also a little tired. She stretched her head and vaguely heard some noises outside the courtyard wall not far away.

Could there be assassins in this prince's mansion?

"These thieves are incredibly resourceful to sneak into such a remote place."

Having just jumped down from the courtyard wall, Wen Yuening stared intently at the pavilion.

Shen Sangwan looked up and saw a familiar figure, and paused in thought.

What's wrong with this empress? Why does she always like to steal from other people's homes?

And why wear such dark clothes in broad daylight? Are they afraid no one will see them?

"you..."

Upon seeing that it was Shen Sangwan, Wen Yuening didn't wait for the other person to speak before she crept along the wall and into the side room.

"Xiaotong, are thieves really this brazen in broad daylight these days?"

"My lord, you're saying the Empress is a thief?"

Isn't that so?

[My lord, aren't you curious why the Empress came here alone?]

She's probably here to find what I asked Shuyun to look for.

Xiao Tong gave Shen Sangwan a thumbs up and couldn't help but nod.

Master, your brain is getting smarter and smarter. I used to think you were stupid...

What? Stupid?

Shen Sangwan gritted her teeth, her fists clenched tightly.

[Ahem, no... no, Master misunderstood. I meant Master is a pure, high-IQ genius.]

Xiaotong curled up into a ball, hiding in the corner, trembling as she tried to comfort herself.

[But what extraordinary abilities does this Empress possess? She can freely enter and leave the palace in broad daylight, and even evade the guards patrolling Prince Sheng's residence to sneak in.]

【Master, you can try visiting the Phoenix Palace more often to increase your presence. You might trigger a side quest, and completing it could unlock more access permissions.】

All I do is make her do tasks all day long, nothing but tasks, it's driving me crazy!