The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

The Empress interrupted her, saying, "What are you talking about? Putting aside our sisterly bond, I've watched Feng'er grow up, and she and Chuan'er are in love. As parents, it's only right that we worry about our children."

Lady Sun nodded with tears in her eyes. The Empress then said, "You should go back now. The morning court session is almost over. I need to get ready to welcome the Emperor."

Sun thanked her and took her leave. After seeing Sun off, the Empress thought for a moment and instructed, "Someone, send a letter to the Grand Princess, saying that I am pleased to know that the Princess's family is about to have a happy event and I would like to visit her residence."

Early that morning, things were also in turmoil for Jian Yue. Before she was fully awake, she was woken up by a noisy commotion. She opened her sleepy eyes and soon saw Xiao Cui huffing and puffing as she entered the room, followed by Xiao Rou and Xiao Tao.

Jian Yue squinted; there had been one more fish that slipped through the net.

"Xiao Cui, what's wrong? Why are you so unhappy?"

Jian Yue asked softly, showing how much she valued Xiao Cui.

Xiao Cui pouted and said, "Miss was kept up very late last night and now she has to get up before dawn. I feel sorry for her and want her to sleep a little longer. But who would have thought that the maids and servants that Madam sent this morning would be so noisy and have no manners at all, just chattering around in the courtyard. It's so annoying."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, saying, "Then just tell them to stop arguing. Why are you so angry?"

“Miss, didn’t you see the faces of those people who came? They acted like they were the masters of this place. When I went up to speak to them, they ignored me and said that I had no status in the manor and could not control them.”

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue suddenly looked at Xiao Cui, her eyes filled with fear, and said with trembling lips, "Xiao Cui, are you saying that these people are the same as those people from yesterday? If so, then quickly go and tell Father that we should give up on them!"

Seeing her mistress immediately put on a dramatic act, Xiao Cui couldn't help but laugh inwardly, but said seriously, "Don't worry, Miss. Yesterday, I was instructed by Master to tell them what happened here. If they are disobedient, they can talk to Master themselves. Don't cause trouble here. If they do, just slap them out."

As she spoke, Xiao Cui even acted like an adult, glancing sideways at Xiao Rou behind her.

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue nodded repeatedly, saying as if she were still shaken, "That's right, that's right. Father said that you are my head maid here, and you are in charge of everything here. If you don't listen, kick you out. If you don't leave, go find Father."

The implication was quite clear. Xiao Rou and Xiao Tao both trembled and lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound. Xiao Cui glanced around and said with a grin, "What Miss says is true, but some people don't think that way. This past glory can't last forever. You have to know your place, don't you?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaorou immediately knelt on the ground, crying and saying, "Miss, please forgive me. I know I was wrong. From now on, I am a member of this courtyard. I will obey whatever Sister Xiaocui says. Please have mercy and forgive me!"

She was locked up all night and didn't sleep well because of the howling and wailing in the yard. When the door was opened in the morning, there was still dried blood from the violence the night before in the yard, which scared Xiao Rou half to death.

She didn't understand what was going on here. All the servants who had come with her had disappeared, and in their place were people from the madam's side, as well as a few guards from the master's side.

What happened?

She dared not make a sound, and just followed closely behind Xiao Cui, who had opened the door for her, not daring to utter a word. Later, she encountered Xiao Tao, who was arrogant and haughty towards her, pointing and gesturing at some people like a rooster with its head held high.

However, when Xiao Tao saw Xiao Cui arrive, she shut her mouth and didn't say anything more.

Immediately, she dared not wag her tail anymore.

Something must have happened here last night.

Seeing Xiao Rou kneel down, Xiao Cui glanced at Xiao Tao, who was standing silently with her eyes down, and said coldly, "Why aren't you kneeling?"

Xiao Tao trembled and quickly knelt down, saying, "Sister Xiao Cui, spare my life! This servant... this servant does not know what crime I have committed."

Jian Yue feigned surprise and asked, "Xiao Cui, what mistake has she made this time?"

Xiao Cui tilted her head and hummed, "This morning, she's the one who's been jumping around the most. I wonder where she is after all the commotion last night. Miss, I suspect that Xiao Tao might have been embezzling from her post and went out to do something bad last night."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao quickly shook her head and said in a panic, "Xiao Tao didn't go anywhere last night, really didn't go anywhere, Sister Xiao Cui, please don't slander me."

Xiao Cui sneered, crossing her arms, and said, "You say you didn't go out, then why did I search your room and find no one?"

"me……"

Xiao Tao's heart skipped a beat, and she didn't know how to answer.

Jian Yue looked at Xiao Tao with a gentle yet questioning gaze that could be both sickeningly sweet and terrifying. Xiao Tao broke out in a cold sweat under her gaze, but could only bow her head and kowtow repeatedly to the ground.

Jian Yue seemed unable to bear seeing Xiao Tao kowtow like that, even drawing blood from her forehead. She gently asked, "Your name is Xiao Tao? You're quite pretty. Can you tell me where you went last night?"

The voice was gentle, not at all harsh, just ordinary concern. Before Xiao Tao could speak, Xiao Cui said at the right moment, "Miss, think about where she could go? If it's not really embezzlement, then she's probably going back to the eldest young lady's courtyard to complain about us. Weren't all those people who were beheaded by the master last night the eldest young lady's?"

Xiao Tao's face turned pale instantly, and she quickly said, "No, Miss, no, it's just that I'm a coward. Last night I heard some noise and was scared, so I didn't come out of my room. Later, Sister Xiao Cui knocked on the door, but I didn't know it was Sister Xiao Cui, so I crawled under the bed. It's true, everything I'm saying is true."

Xiao Cui sneered: "You're used to lying, aren't you? You didn't know it was me who went in? I called out to you, and you still didn't recognize me? Did you mistake my voice for a ghost?"

"No, no, Sister Xiaocui, I, I..."

Xiao Tao didn't know how to answer. On Friday morning, just as Jian Yue was about to speak again, she suddenly kowtowed to Jian Yue and cried, "Sixth Miss, you must investigate. I really didn't complain or say anything bad about you. The eldest young lady and the sixth young lady have sisterly feelings for each other. Even if I went to report, the eldest young lady would definitely not blame the sixth young lady. Why would I go and ask for such a thankless task?"

"Sixth Miss, the Eldest Miss entrusted me to you, so you are now my person. I would never do anything to harm you. Yesterday, I was cowardly and failed to protect you, almost causing your death. I deserve to die. I only beg you to be lenient with me, Miss Qiu, please show mercy!"

This affected manner did not fool Jian Yue. However, Jian Yue was a gentle person at this moment, so she quickly got up and helped Xiao Tao up with heartache, saying, "What are you doing? I didn't say anything to you. How could I suspect that my elder sister was trying to harm me? You always kowtow, and now you're bleeding. Xiao Cui, do we have any medicine for wounds? Quickly put some on her."

Xiao Cui frowned, but still went to the dressing table drawer to find some ointment and handed it over, saying, "Miss, this is medicine that Master just sent over yesterday. Are you really going to give it to her? Even if she didn't go out to inform anyone, she was still cowardly and didn't come out to protect you. That's already a mistake. What's the point of keeping such a servant around?"

Jian Yue gave Xiao Cui a reproachful look, then said in an almost pleading tone, "Alright, Xiao Cui, I know you mean well, but Xiao Tao is already bleeding, so please stop talking. She's young and hasn't experienced as much as you have, so it's normal for her to be scared."

As she spoke, Jian Yue handed the medicine bottle to Xiao Tao and said, "Go and apply the medicine quickly. Don't come to serve me today. Take good care of the injury on your forehead so that it doesn't leave a scar."

Xiao Tao bowed her head and thanked him, then left and breathed a sigh of relief.

She was almost scared to death. Last night, she saw the chaos in the courtyard and, being cautious, secretly hid outside before the master arrived. After everything was over, she went to tell the young lady what had happened before sneaking back.

Who knew that last night, that damned Xiao Cui actually went to see her and caught her red-handed.

After Xiao Tao left, Jian Yue walked over to Xiao Rou. Xiao Rou was startled and didn't know what to say. Then she saw Jian Yue put her hand on hers and help her up. Just as she was at a loss, Jian Yue asked softly, "Were you once a second-class maid who served the eldest sister?"

Xiao Rou was taken aback. She looked up at Jian Yue and nodded, not understanding what was going on. Jian Yue said softly, "Don't be angry with Xiao Cui. Last night, I asked Xiao Cui to put you in the room because I was afraid you would disturb your older sister's rest."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Rou quickly shook her head and said tremblingly, "Xiao Rou wouldn't dare."

Jian Yue smiled, patted the back of her hand, and sighed, "It must be hard for you. You're the maid in your elder sister's room, but you have to do manual labor here. If it were me, I wouldn't be used to it either."

However, Xiao Cui and I simply couldn't manage to keep up with the conditions in this courtyard, so our elder sister took pity on us and sent you here. It's just that this led to your accident. Luckily, you and Xiao Tao are alright; otherwise, how could I explain this to our elder sister?

As she spoke, Jian Yue was about to cry, her beautiful eyes already brimming with tears, looking pitiful as they were about to fall. Xiao Rou was stunned for a moment, then quickly lowered her eyes and said, "Sixth Miss, you are too kind. Xiao Rou should be grateful to Sixth Miss. If Xiao Rou hadn't been locked in the room yesterday, she would have lost her life long ago. Xiao Rou is extremely grateful."