After Nanny Jing left, Xiu'er couldn't sleep.
In this world, some people rely on their abilities to live well, while others rely on luck.
Without a doubt, I am one of those lucky few.
A kind master, a loyal husband, an understanding mother-in-law... How happy she would be if nothing happened to the Prince's mansion.
"Are you asleep?" Nanxing's voice rang out from the doorway.
"I'm going to sleep," Xiu'er said irritably.
Nanxing pushed open the door and entered.
Xiu'er got up, lit a candle, and sat down at the table wearing a gray squirrel fur coat. Looking at the wine jug Nanxing was carrying, she asked, "Why are you drinking now?"
"I'm bored," Nanxing said. "I went to the rooftop for a drink and got chilled, so I came here to warm up."
Xiu'er pointed at the brazier and said, "Sit there. What are you doing, sitting in this freezing weather! If you're really bored, go eat some radish."
"I'm capable, but I'm afraid he'll die before he even gets started."
Xiu'er: "That's true, don't exhaust yourself in bed and then you won't be able to speak up for the Prince."
"Don't bother with him. He won't speak up for the Prince. Even if Noble Consort Jia offends him, he'll deal with Noble Consort Jia himself; he won't cooperate with anyone."
Pei Shen is too proud and prefers to work alone because he feels there are no partners who are worthy of him.
"What exactly are you planning to do?" Xiu'er grabbed a handful of melon seeds and sat down next to the brazier.
"Pretend to have a miscarriage."
Xiu'er: "... No wonder you said it's just copying others. You're imitating the Empress too!"
"As long as I can intimidate him, that's fine."
"Does that fool you? Didn't you say before that he was very shrewd and cunning?"
Xiu'er feared that in the end, Nanxing's attempt to steal a chicken would backfire and he would lose the rice instead.
"If we can't intimidate them, so be it. We don't have any losses we can't afford to pay."
Xiu'er: "That's true. It's hard to say who'll get the better deal! You'd better hurry up and prepare your wedding gift, Song Jingyang and I are getting married!"
"I've been ready for a long time, and I wanted to drink wedding wine tonight, but you guys were too slow, so I'll have to find some wine to satisfy my craving." Nanxing said with a smile, raising the wine pot.
"I don't believe you!" Xiu'er rolled her eyes. "You must have something to tell me, so tell me."
"Do me a favor." Nanxing didn't keep me in suspense. "The whole thing about faking a miscarriage has to be consistent, and I know nothing about it."
Xiu'er served the princess, so she naturally knew more details.
"Go and deceive Pei Shen?"
"Um!"
"Alright!" Xiu'er said, "I'll subtly inquire about Her Majesty again."
"Good."
"Someone's coming," Nanxing suddenly said.
Xiu'er exclaimed alertly, "Who's there? An assassin?"
"The footsteps sound like Qin Sang."
Tang Zhuyun had arranged for Qin Sang to stay at the mansion a few days earlier, worried that she would be harassed by Prince of Yong.
As soon as Nanxing finished speaking, there was a gentle knock on the courtyard gate.
Xiu'er opened the door, and sure enough, it was Qin Sang.
Qin Sang held up a lantern, wearing a bright red cloak trimmed with white fox fur, looking both luxurious and warm.
I want to talk to you.
Xiu'er thought to herself, "What day is it today? Why is everyone coming to see me?"
She welcomed Qin Sang into her room, while Nanxing had already disappeared.
--Nanxing was quite aware of his status as a wanted criminal.
Qin Sang didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "Xiu'er, I met the Empress once when I entered the manor, but I haven't dared to bother her since, so there are some things I can only ask you."
"Tell me, Her Majesty doesn't actually consider you an outsider."
"I know." Qin Sang nodded, moved. "She was already overwhelmed with worry when the prince was in trouble, yet she still remembered me. I feel nothing but gratitude."
Theoretically, she was no longer of any use to the Prince of Jin.
A hidden piece that is exposed is actually a dead piece.
Qin Sang herself had also prepared for the worst.
She felt she had repaid Tang Zhuyun's kindness and had no further regrets.
Unexpectedly, Tang Zhuyun actually brought her to the Prince's Mansion.
"Xiu'er, have you heard of Lord Xu?" Qin Sang asked.
Which Lord Xu?
Xiu'er said that she only knew of one person, Lord Xu, but she had only heard of him and had never met him.
--What was the official title of that Lord Xu always came to freeload breakfast at my master's house?
"He has become the chief minister," Qin Sang said.
"You know more than I do!" Xiu'er said. "That must be him."
No one else could possibly be considered equal to my master in status.
It must be Lord Xu.
"Lord Xu has retired, hasn't he?" Xiu'er added. "When the Princess was staying at her parents' house, I heard the Master grumbling that he didn't enjoy his food as much anymore since Lord Xu wasn't competing with him for it."
"Then it makes even more sense; it must be that retired Grand Secretary Xu," Qin Sang said confidently.
"What's wrong?" Xiu'er asked. "You still know him?"
He likes me.
Xiu'er almost choked on a sunflower seed shell.
He's old enough to be your grandfather!
Is it possible for someone so young to retire with honor?
"Lord Xu likes my pipa playing," Qin Sang said. "When I was serving Prince of Yong, he once entertained guests and asked me to play the pipa. Lord Xu's gaze towards me was different after that."
She had worked her way up in the sex industry, and she could see right through a man's eyes.
Xiu'er spat, "Lord Xu, you're being far too disrespectful to your elders!"
Qin Sang laughed, "I was just afraid he wouldn't budge."
"That won't do, he's too old!"
Qin Sang said, "With my status, how could I possibly be picky about finding someone to rely on?"
Staying in the Prince's mansion was only a temporary means of securing one's livelihood.
But the princess was also in a difficult position; she couldn't help, but she didn't want to cause trouble for too long either.
"I have to find a way for myself," Qin Sang said. "Lord Xu is highly respected; even if he retires, his reputation will remain."
"If Prince of Yong really wanted to deal with him, he could certainly handle Lord Xu!" Xiu'er said.
"It's not that we don't get along, it's that I'm not worthy," Qin Sang said with a smile. "Who am I? Is it worth offending a prestigious elder for my sake?"
She's a piece of trash.
Prince of Yong might get angry over something, but he wouldn't make a big fuss over something.
What Qin Sang didn't say was that if she could help the princess, she would do her best.
But not right now.
The most important thing right now is for her to stand firm.
Xiu'er muttered under her breath, "Why do you insist on being with that old man...?"
My master used to be the one, and now he's taken a fancy to Lord Xu.
Qin Sang said self-deprecatingly, "Because men only truly behave when they're hung on the wall. They don't have the energy they had when they were young to be fickle and easily bored. I'm the newest one."
The competition wasn't fierce; everyone else was vying for young men. All she wanted was a stable life.
"I don't know how to bring this up with Your Majesty, so I've come to ask you for help."
"Has Lord Xu already agreed?"
"He won't refuse." A confident glint appeared in Qin Sang's eyes.
She knows how to manage her roles well—lover, daughter, student...