Yin Shuang remembered everything clearly – the first time Chun Yan complained the water she poured was too cold, the second time too hot… only after the eighth time did Chun Yan finally say it was acceptable.

Chun Yan glared at Yin Shuang, her eyes reddening as she looked toward Nanny Tong: “Nanny, look at her!”

Nanny Tong could barely contain her laughter. She had thought that when Yin Shuang pushed down Chun Yan, she would say something serious, but it turned out she was just correcting that it was eight times pouring water, not once.

Still, she had to scold when scolding was due. Nanny Tong put on a stern face and reprimanded Yin Shuang: “If you have something to say, just say it. Why use your hands! Would you also be so improper in front of Miss? That’s enough… don’t learn etiquette here anymore. I heard from Chun Tao that you have considerable strength, so come help me with some work. Let’s go!”

Chun Yan watched helplessly as Nanny Tong led Yin Shuang away. But the nanny hadn’t assigned her any tasks either, making her feel even more panicked. She had just returned to Qinghui Courtyard only to be left hanging here – what was this supposed to mean?!

Chun Yan wanted to chase after them, but Yin Shuang’s push had aggravated her wound, and now the pain made it impossible for her to straighten her back.

“Miss Chun Yan, someone at the gate is looking for you. They say when you returned this morning, you dropped something, and they’ve specially come to deliver it to you.” A maid who shared the communal sleeping quarters returned and told Chun Yan with a smile.

Seeing Chun Yan’s tense face as she silently supported her waist and walked outside without even saying thanks, the maid immediately dropped her smile and huffily picked up the basket containing embroidery hoops, spitting in the direction Chun Yan had left: “Bah! Still acting like she’s the senior maid beside Miss!”

As soon as Chun Yan emerged, she saw an unfamiliar old woman standing at the gate. Her eyes were guarded: “What did I drop?”

“Miss Chun Yan!” The old woman smiled warmly and bowed to Chun Yan. “I’ve been entrusted with a message. A guard from Prince Liang’s mansion has come to find you, saying he has urgent matters to discuss with you.”

Chun Yan froze. The places where she had been beaten and hadn’t fully healed began to ache again, but her heart hurt even more. She bit her lower lip, her eyes immediately reddening. During those days when Prince Liang couldn’t contact her, he must have been very anxious!

However, she had just been brought back to Qinghui Courtyard. If she went to meet Prince Liang’s people now and was discovered, Nanny Tong would beat her to death.

“I… during these days of recovering from my injuries, I’ve delayed so much work at Qinghui Courtyard that I really can’t get away. Please help me convey any message. I won’t go out!” Chun Yan hastily pulled out several silver coins from her sleeve and pressed them into the old woman’s hands.

The old woman weighed them and smiled warmly: “That’s fine, this old servant will make the trip for you.”

Gao Sheng, who was waiting outside, didn’t get to see Chun Yan. He heard the old woman say: “During Miss Chun Yan’s recovery from her injuries, much work at Qinghui Courtyard has been delayed, all waiting for Miss Chun Yan’s return to arrange. Miss Chun Yan really can’t spare the time. Whatever you need to say, feel free to tell this old woman. Though I can’t read, I can certainly relay messages between you and Miss Chun Yan!”

After hearing this, Gao Sheng pressed his lips together and turned back to Prince Liang’s mansion without a word, reporting the matter to Prince Liang: “Your subordinate feared there might be expert hidden guards within Duke Mansion, worried about alerting them and ruining Your Highness’s plans, so I didn’t dare to force my way in.”

Although Gao Sheng hadn’t seen Chun Yan this time, the trip to Duke Mansion wasn’t entirely fruitless. At least he knew that Bai Qingyan, remembering old sentiment, had allowed Chun Yan to return to Qinghui Courtyard. This way… Chun Yan would have more convenient opportunities to act.

Seeing Prince Liang’s pale, bloodless face tense with strain, Gao Sheng said in a low voice: “Your Highness, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. Liu Huanzhang heard about the Liu family members being imprisoned and couldn’t stay outside the city. He has already disguised himself and returned to the city! If Liu Huanzhang gets caught… and these letters haven’t been placed in Duke Mansion yet, then all our efforts will have been in vain.”

Prince Liang wore a dark purple diagonal-collared straight robe, sitting behind his writing desk. He crumpled up a ruined piece of calligraphy and tossed it aside, frustrated by Liu Huanzhang’s reckless behavior. In his agitation, he coughed twice, aggravating the wound on his chest.

“Your Highness?!” Gao Sheng’s expression tightened. “I’ll have someone summon a physician!”

Prince Liang raised his hand to stop Gao Sheng, covering his chest with one hand. After composing himself slightly, his gloomy eyes looked at Gao Sheng as he said hoarsely: “Whoever was watching Liu Huanzhang, have them report for punishment…”

“Yes!” Gao Sheng clasped his hands in acknowledgment.

Prince Liang braced his hands on the writing desk, his fury unabated as he swept the white jade paperweight from the table.

Chun Yan’s refusal to see Gao Sheng was probably because she had never dealt with Gao Sheng before. In that case, he could only send Tong Ji. Tong Ji was his attendant, and Chun Tao would certainly meet with him.

Thinking of this, Prince Liang’s face darkened as he called loudly toward the door: “Summon Tong Ji!”

Before long, Tong Ji, who had been busy personally brewing medicine for Prince Liang, came running in: “Your Highness, you called for me!”

“Give the letters to Tong Ji!” Prince Liang said.

Hearing this, Gao Sheng handed the several letters from his chest to Tong Ji.

Tong Ji took the sealed letters in confusion, looking toward Prince Liang.

“Later…” Prince Liang started to speak, but then pressed his lips together. Today, Gao Sheng had already gone to find Chun Yan; if he sent Tong Ji to find Chun Yan now, it would draw too much attention. He changed his words: “Tomorrow, when Duke Mansion holds the funeral, you take these letters to find Chun Yan.”

Prince Liang repeated the instructions he had prepared earlier to Tong Ji. After hearing them, Tong Ji clutched the letters tightly, feeling indignant on behalf of his master.

“Tomorrow, when Duke Mansion holds the funeral, it should be both busy and chaotic. Tell Chun Yan she absolutely cannot miss this opportunity, otherwise she won’t find such a good chance for at least half a year. Have her make sure to place the letters in the Duke’s study!” Seeing Tong Ji’s furrowed brow, Prince Liang asked sternly, “Did you hear what I said?”

“Your Highness! That Miss Bai called you a villain last time, saying she would rather marry a cat or dog than marry Your Highness. Why must Your Highness insist on this, Miss Bai?! Besides her good looks, what’s so special about this Miss Bai? Her fate with children is so thin – why do you torment yourself?! You are Jin’s noble prince – what kind of young lady can’t you have!” Tong Ji quietly tried to persuade his master.

“Are you trying to make decisions for me now?” Prince Liang, already furious about Liu Huanzhang’s unauthorized return to the capital, spoke with inevitable harshness.

“Master!” Tong Ji immediately knelt. “Tong Ji wouldn’t dare! Tong Ji truly feels wronged for Master! Our Highness is such a precious person… what does the Bai family’s eldest daughter have to be proud of in front of Your Highness! I just fear that if Master humbles himself to marry this Miss Bai, she’ll become even more arrogant and bully Master in the future!”

Prince Liang hardened his heart and said to Tong Ji, who had accompanied him loyally since childhood: “If you’re truly loyal to me, then handle this matter properly! If you mess this up… pack your things and leave! Prince Liang’s mansion won’t keep you either!”

Tong Ji’s face went pale. He pressed his lips tightly together, tears welling up in his eyes, but he forced himself not to cry out, feeling utterly wronged.

“Go out!” Seeing Tong Ji’s appearance, Prince Liang’s voice softened.