Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

The Empress Dowager was also quite surprised by this. She had thought that she would have to use threats and inducements, but she did not expect him to agree so readily. She was momentarily stunned and said, "You agreed."

"Ok".

Seeing that he had finally understood, the Empress Dowager was overjoyed and quickly instructed, "You two, stay in the Regent's Palace and serve the Regent well. If you serve him well, I will reward you handsomely."

"Yes, Your Highness, we will serve you well," the two palace maids replied, equally excited, their smiles barely concealed.

Afterwards, the Empress Dowager left the Regent's Palace with satisfaction.

After she left, Yingfeng said excitedly, "Your Highness, you've finally come to your senses."

Mu Jinchen ignored him and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Yu Lian hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, what should we do with these two young ladies?"

Mu Jinchen glanced at them, then casually said, "Send them to Prince Yu's residence."

Yu Lian was stunned, then thought about it. Although it was unexpected, it seemed to make sense. "Your Highness, if the Empress Dowager finds out, I'm afraid she will..."

"It's alright, just send it over."

"Yes... someone, take them to Prince Yu's residence."

The two palace maids panicked instantly and hurriedly knelt down.

"Please, Your Highness, don't send us away. We'll do anything for you, just please keep us in your manor."

“Your Highness, we don’t want to go to the Prince Yu’s residence. We were sent by the Empress Dowager to serve you, Your Highness…”

Before long, the two palace maids were dragged out.

“Your Highness, they were sent by the Empress Dowager to serve you. Would it be inappropriate for you to send them to Prince Yu?” Yingfeng said.

"Here you go."

"I can't, I'm not worthy of it," Yingfeng said hastily, waving his hand in refusal.

Mu Jinchen glanced down at him and said, "Hmm, find a royal physician to take a look. Don't delay." After saying that, he turned and left.

Seeing that he had misunderstood, Yingfeng hurriedly chased after him to explain, "No, Your Highness, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant. I didn't..."

Soon, the two disappeared, leaving only Yu Lian on the roof.

Yu Lian shook her head secretly, sighed helplessly, and then walked out.

Prince Yu's Mansion

Mu Xiaoyun was feeding the fish in the yard.

Luo Peng walked to his side and said, "Your Highness, the Regent has sent two palace maids."

"Palace maids, why send two palace maids here out of the blue?" Mu Xiaoyun asked unhurriedly.

"It was originally given to the Regent by the Empress Dowager."

Mu Xiaoyun chuckled, "My fifth brother is truly... different from others."

"Your Highness, what should be done with those two palace maids?"

“Since it is the Regent’s kind intention, then send it to the backyard… and keep it there,” he said, dropping fish food into the pond.

"Yes".

Chaoxiyuan

That day, after paying her respects and returning to her courtyard, Su Qianrou slumped onto the couch, looking utterly dejected. She thought to herself, "How much longer can this go on? If this continues, I'm really going to go crazy. I have to get up at four in the morning every day to listen to a bunch of people spouting sarcastic remarks. I've had enough."

Seeing that she was in low spirits and not in a good mood, Chunzhu asked, "Miss, what's wrong? Why are you unhappy?"

Su Qianrou lay lazily on the couch and casually asked, "Chunzhu, do you think there's any way to avoid paying respects?"

Chunzhu replied earnestly, "If you are sick, you don't need to go to pay your respects."

"She's sick," Su Qianrou's eyes lit up, and she instantly had an idea.

Just then, Qiulan walked in and, upon hearing that someone was ill, asked, "Who's ill? Miss, are you ill?" As she spoke, she quickly walked up to Su Qianrou and looked at her anxiously.

"No, you've come at the perfect time," Su Qianrou said excitedly, sitting up and asking expectantly, "Qiu Lan, can you make a medicine that makes people look sick, but actually not sick?"

"Miss is pretending to be sick."

"Yes, can you get the medicine out?"

"Sure, whenever you'd like, Miss."

"The sooner the better."

"it is good".

"That's wonderful, Qiulan, having you is truly my blessing," Su Qianrou said happily.

Chunzhu said helplessly, "Miss, you really are something else, you'll stop at nothing to avoid paying your respects."

"Spring bamboo, you can't just use idioms randomly, I call this skillful use."

Chunzhu smiled and said, "Yes, Miss is the smartest."

Su Qianrou couldn't help but laugh.

The next day, Su Qianrou fell ill and lay weakly in bed, where the doctor was taking her pulse.

Upon receiving the news, Lin Rong rushed over in a panic. She went straight to the bedside and saw Su Qianrou's pale and haggard appearance. She couldn't help but think of the serious illness Su Qianrou had suffered a few months ago. She panicked instantly, grabbed the doctor's hand, and asked anxiously, "Doctor, how is my daughter? Is she alright?"

"Reporting to Madam, Miss is fine, just a bit of a cold. I'll prescribe some medicine, and she'll be fine after taking it. Just be careful not to catch a chill again."

Lin Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, okay, thank you for your hard work."

Then, the doctor went out.

Lin Rong quickly sat down by the bed and asked with concern, "Rou'er, how are you feeling? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

"Mom, I'm fine, don't worry."

Lin Rong didn't say anything, but covered her with the blanket. Then she turned to look at Chunzhu and the other two and said sternly, "Kneel down."

Chunzhu and the others dared not say anything more and immediately knelt down.

"Mother, what are you doing?"

"They neglected their duties and failed to provide adequate care; they should be punished."

"Mother, this has nothing to do with them."

"Rou'er, stop speaking up for them. If you continue to protect them like this, one day they will ride roughshod over you."

“Mother, you’ve misunderstood. It really has nothing to do with them,” Su Qianrou said, sitting up. “Mother, I was faking my illness.”

Lin Rong looked at her, half believing and half doubting.

Su Qianrou explained, "I didn't want to go to pay my respects, so I asked Qiulan to give me a medicine that would make me look weak. In reality, I'm not sick at all."

"really".

"Really, if you don't believe me, I'll go down and run a couple of laps right now and show you," Su Qianrou said, lifting the covers to get out of bed.

"Alright, alright, I believe you. You should lie down properly so you don't catch a cold," he said, covering Su Qianrou with the blanket.

Then, Su Qianrou glanced at Chunlan and the others and said, "Mother, could you please let them get up first? Kneeling is tiring."

Lin Rong had no choice but to look at Chunzhu and the others and say, "Get up."

"Yes, Madam Xie."

Then, Lin Rong looked at Su Qianrou and said helplessly, "You're always causing trouble."

"Mom, don't be angry," Su Qianrou said coquettishly, holding Lin Rong's hand.

"I know you don't want to go and pay your respects, but you can't stay sick like this forever, you'll have to go eventually."

"I know, but I really don't want to listen to my aunt and third aunt making sarcastic remarks anymore, and the old lady too, her open and subtle sarcasm and dislike for us are practically written all over her face."

"That's just how they are, you don't need to take it to heart."

“I didn’t take it to heart, I just…” he said, then sighed and added, “Then I will go to pay my respects tomorrow.”

Lin Rong could see her reluctance. "Fine, since you're sick, then take good care of yourself. It's getting colder and colder these days. I have a hot spring resort in the eastern suburbs. Go there for a few days, soak in the hot springs, and take care of your health."

“Really?” Su Qianrou’s eyes lit up.

"Ok".

Su Qianrou sat up excitedly and hugged Lin Rong, saying, "Mom, you are so wonderful, I love you so much," her joy overflowing.

Lin Rong chuckled, reached out and hugged her, her face full of affection.