Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

It turned out that the maid next to Shen Ningxue was completely oblivious and didn't even try to help her mistress.

Shen Chenyi's face darkened. He thought to himself, "This is useless. I'll definitely ask my mother to replace this maid and find a clever and capable one for my sister."

So he personally stepped forward to help Shen Ningxue up.

Shen Ningxue simply grabbed his wrist, sobbing and weeping, showing no intention of getting up at all.

Could it be that you're injured somewhere?

In no time at all, Jiang Wanwan and her group had arrived.

Looking at the crowd gathered together, he asked with some confusion, "What are you all doing? Why are you all gathered together?"

Before he could finish speaking, he caught a glimpse of Shen Chenyi squatting on the ground and Shen Ningxue half-lying on the ground with tears streaming down her face.

"This...is this?"

"Shen Ningzhu, it's you again, isn't it? You've bullied Xue'er again? You vicious woman, how can you be so wicked at such a young age? I... I'll fight you to the death."

Jiang Wanwan's eyes reddened with anxiety.

He rushed towards Shen Mingzhu without regard for anything else, his initial elegance and poise completely gone.

Shen Chenyi hurriedly got up to stop them, but they were too far away, and it was clear he couldn't stop them. Shen Ningzhu sighed inwardly, already prepared to be beaten.

Before the other party could even get close, Granny Gui suddenly spoke.

"Madam Shen, please calm down."

Shen Ningzhu: ? ? ?

Everyone:? ? ?

Jiang Wanwan said coldly, "What does Granny Gui mean by this? Please forgive me for not understanding. My daughter has been bullied like this, and Granny Gui still wants to protect the culprit?"

Shen Ningzhu: ? ? ?

She really dares to think of such a thing as covering up a crime.

Granny Gui smiled gently, "Madam Shen, you're too kind. It's not that I'm covering for her."

"However, is it too hasty for Madam to conclude that Shen Ningzhu was responsible without conducting any investigation?"

"Furthermore, even if it was her fault, so what? She is the woman publicly acknowledged by His Highness the Crown Prince, and he still has the right to punish a woman from an official family."

With just a few words, Jiang Wanwan's path was completely blocked. She knew in her heart that what Granny Gui said made sense, but seeing her poor daughter, she still couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"Granny Gui, please forgive me for disagreeing. Does high status mean one can do whatever one wants?"

Shen Ningzhu thought to herself, in this ancient era where imperial power was supreme, wouldn't some members of the royal family and nobles do whatever they wanted?

For example, she inexplicably became that scoundrel's antidote; she should have been the victim. But what happened?

Not only could she not seek justice or take revenge, but she was also forced to completely lose her freedom. Who could she tell all of this to?

Granny Gui said expressionlessly:

"Madam Shen, please be careful with your words. A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. There is no such thing as doing whatever you want."

“But Shen Ningzhu is already His Highness the Crown Prince’s woman. Whether to punish or discipline her is up to His Highness the Crown Prince. As for others, they have no right to tell her what to do.”

Shen Ningzhu: ? ? ?

Things weren't quite what she had imagined. No, they were completely different.

She is someone close to the Empress, so we shouldn't torment her. We should warn her, openly and secretly, not to harbor any improper thoughts. Isn't a dragon among men, a chosen one of heaven, someone a lowly village girl like her capable of having her way?

Why are you even speaking up for her?

Granny Gui turned her head to look at the dumbfounded Shen Ningzhu, smiled and stepped forward, slightly curtsying to her.

"This old servant greets Miss Shen. May you be blessed with good fortune."

Shen Ningzhu was filled with questions. She blankly helped Granny Gui up and stammered, "Granny, please get up. You mustn't. I'm afraid I can't take it."

No, wait, her villainous persona...

Before I could process what I was saying, the words were already out. What can I do now? Is it too late to make amends? How can I fix it?

It's really killing me.

She could still act with ease even if the other party was unfriendly, but how could she act with such friendliness towards her and unconditional support?

She's not some huge pervert!

When Granny Gui heard her reply, her eyes were full of appreciation, and she nodded at her with satisfaction.

He continued, "Has the young lady rested well? This old servant is here to teach you about palace etiquette. If you've rested well, do you think we can begin?"

I've got it! This is a breakthrough.

Learning is out of the question. As long as the other party thinks she's hopeless, incapable of being taught, and lazy and unwilling to learn, their impression of her will be negative, right?

But what can be done?

How could she bear to hurt such a gentle and beautiful nanny? Waaaaah.

No, no, no, it's better to die for your fellow Daoist than for me. She can only be injured first.

Shen Ningzhu quickly composed herself, tilted her head, and began to groan incessantly while holding her forehead.

Granny Gui was shocked. "What's going on?"

Shen Ningzhu appeared weak and pitiful, saying, "Replying to Granny, I'm fine, it's just... it's just..."

"But what is it? Please tell me, young lady, and I will do my best to help you."

"But I am frail and easily blown over by the wind. In the summer, I suffer from the intense heat."

"I've only been out for a short while, and I'm already feeling incredibly dizzy again. Just thinking about having to learn etiquette later makes me... sigh, what am I going to do with this body?"

The people around: ? ? ?

Shen Ningxue was so angry she almost fainted. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her flesh.

She used this pain to remind herself to be rational; otherwise, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to resist tearing Shen Ningzhu's pretentious face apart.

What is this pretentious bitch saying?

Is she physically weak?

Who was the person who slapped her and almost stomped her to death? Her chest still aches intermittently, not to mention her face.

I've long since become numb; I can't feel anything anymore.

With her strength, she's actually weak?

In her opinion, she could probably take down a bull, right?

"Mother, I..."

She painstakingly planned a scheme, but the other party emerged unscathed, while she herself suffered the most.

Shen Ningxue was unwilling to give up and tried to attract the attention of Jiang Wanwan and Shen Chenyi. She took the opportunity to play the victim and gain their sympathy so that they would stand up for her.

Before he could even open his mouth, he was interrupted by Granny Gui.

"So that's how it is. This old servant thought it was something serious!"

"It's alright. Her Majesty the Empress said that learning etiquette can't be rushed. We can learn it slowly, and if it really doesn't work, we can learn it after we enter the manor. Please don't worry, Miss."

Shen Ningzhu was completely numb.

What kind of divine empress is this?

This is a real feudal society, not a romance novel. A woman who can sit on the throne as empress needs not only a distinguished family background, but also sufficient strategic skills.

A champion of palace intrigue, so easy to talk to?

She didn't believe it.

There must be a deeper meaning behind these actions.

Is the crown prince suffering from some hidden illness or unknown quirk, or is the empress planning to lower his guard first, so as to slowly boil him down?