After the nanny left, the young women in the room began to discuss in low voices.

Usually when they saw Nanny Jiang, she had a cold and fierce demeanor, so why was she so amiable today? Her face was full of flattery and ingratiation toward that newly arrived young lady. It made people suspicious—could that woman have an extraordinary background? But those who entered the palace as palace maids, where would they have any illustrious family standing!

While everyone was discussing, Ji Wanxin had already walked in. She surveyed her surroundings. The place wasn’t large, accommodating nearly ten palace maids—many people in a cramped space. But it was kept clean and tidy, barely passable.

Ziwei came forward and said to her: “Miss, from now on you’ll sleep here.”

She pointed to an empty bed!

That bed was truly pitifully small, really only able to accommodate one person.

Ji Wanxin had been pampered and raised in comfort since childhood. How could she have ever slept in such a place!

However—

Her eyes showed not the slightest hint of disdain. This was her fate, and she had to accept it. For the sake of her future days, she must endure.

She expressed her thanks: “Thank you, Miss Ziwei.”

“No need to thank me. From now on, treat this place as your own home, and we’ll look after each other.” Ziwei also brought her a set of clothes, saying: “In a moment, change into these clothes. You cannot wear casual clothing in the palace.”

Ji Wanxin took the garment and nodded.

Several young women walked over and asked: “What’s your name?”

“Ji Wanxin.”

“I’m called Mingyue, she’s called Xianglian, and that one is…” Everyone enthusiastically introduced themselves one by one.

Ji Wanxin just listened quietly, her face always bearing a gentle expression.

Suddenly someone said: “Wanxin, you’re truly beautiful. How could someone as beautiful as you end up here?”

She only replied with one sentence: “Forced by circumstances.”

“Earlier we saw the nanny treating you so well. I wonder where your family home is? What is your relationship with the nanny?” Everyone began persistently trying to get information from her.

She only listened, saying nothing.

Everyone found it extremely boring and dispersed.

Ji Wanxin held that set of palace maid clothing and sat on her narrow little bed. Her face showed no ripples of emotion, but her palms gradually tightened bit by bit.

This kind of place was not where she should be!

Soon!

She would leave here very soon!

……

The Yu Residence.

Minister Yu tidied up his attire and ordered someone to prepare a carriage, preparing to go to Prince Rong’s manor.

Yu Wei entered and tried to dissuade him: “Father, your health hasn’t recovered yet. Wait a few more days before going.”

“That won’t do.” “But…” Yu Wei said: “Right now the murder case in our residence hasn’t been solved, and the murderer’s identity is still unknown. For Father to go at this time seems inappropriate. Moreover, Father, you no longer have an official position. If you go to see Prince Rong, it will inevitably cause misunderstandings. If someone with ulterior motives makes a big fuss about this, it won’t be good. Father, you’ve always been cautious—you mustn’t create trouble at this critical juncture.”

Indeed!

Minister Yu was no longer the Court of Judicial Review Minister. If he went to Prince Rong’s manor to pay a visit, people would inevitably think he was going to “curry favor” with Prince Rong, wanting to secure another official position! At that time, who knows how many people would gossip behind his back. Plus, with Hua Ling’s death still not cleared up, going now would be quite inconvenient.

But Minister Yu was a stubborn person. Once he decided on something, no one could ever pull him back.

His face showed determination: “I’m going to Prince Rong’s manor for other matters.”

He didn’t want to speak too clearly.

Yu Wei was about to speak—

Minister Yu continued: “Enough, you’ll come with me as well.”

Yu Wei couldn’t withstand his father’s stubbornness and could only give up.

The father and son then took a carriage toward Prince Rong’s manor.

Prince Rong’s manor, outside the courtyard.

Lang Bo leaned against a pillar holding his sword, looking up at the moon in the sky, and let out a sigh.

Lu Jiang happened to hear and came over to ask him: “Lang Bo, what are you sighing about? Ever since returning, I keep seeing you lost in thought.”

“Alas…”

“When did you develop worries on your mind, you rascal?”

“Alas…” Lang Bo sighed again, muttering to himself: “I wonder what she’s doing?”

His tone was full of longing.

This completely baffled Lu Jiang.

“She? Who are you thinking about?” Lu Jiang asked.

Lang Bo kept looking at that round moon in the sky, and began muttering again: “I wonder how much longer until I can see her.”

“…”

Suddenly—

A stone flew straight toward Lang Bo’s forehead.

Fortunately, Lang Bo snapped back to attention in time and caught the stone.

“Who?”

Shi Ziran leaped down from the rooftop with a smile on his face, walked over and teased: “You big fool, I never thought you’d turn out to be such a romantic.”

Lang Bo tossed the stone in his hand to the ground and glared at him: “I say, why are you always so mysterious? When we need you to appear, you don’t appear, and when we don’t want you to appear, you always show up—like a ghost!”

“Even if I were a ghost, I’d be better than you, this lovesick fool!”

“Go, go, go!”

Shi Ziran laughed heartily, then said to the completely bewildered Lu Jiang: “Uncle Lu, you don’t know yet, do you? When this big fool went with the prince to Houliao, he found himself a sweetheart there. That young lady is waiting for him!”

“What?” Lu Jiang was astonished. “Which family’s young lady is so unlucky?”

Pfft—

Upon hearing this, Lang Bo immediately had a head full of black lines and his cheeks twitched, not knowing what to say.

Shi Ziran could barely contain his laughter: “Uncle Lu, you can’t say it like that. After all, it was the young lady who first expressed her feelings to him.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely true.”

Lu Jiang was skeptical. He reached out and patted Lang Bo, saying: “Well done! Before, I was worried that with your rough manner, no one would take a liking to you. Now I’m relieved.”

Lang Bo: “Uncle Lu, don’t mock me.”

“Where am I mocking you? Your brain has always been one-track, unable to think flexibly. Now you’ve finally found someone who doesn’t mind you—you need to grasp this opportunity well yourself. Don’t be like some brute and end up scaring her away. Then you’ll have plenty to cry about.”

Lang Bo: “…”

Indeed, they were his own people—they mocked him without leaving any face.

Shi Ziran nudged Lang Bo: “Did you hear that?” “I heard, I heard.” Lang Bo muttered: “You have the nerve to talk about me—look at yourselves! You’re all advanced in years and still unsettled. Once the prince resolves the matters in the capital, I’ll go find Miss Qin Xi and live a good life with her. So stop worrying about my affairs and worry about your own.”

Ugh!

Old iron, you really hit the heart!

While Lu Jiang was ruthlessly fed a bowlful of dog food by him, his heart was also bleeding. After all, he truly was advanced in years and still an old bachelor—how could that not pierce the heart?

To avoid awkwardness, Lu Jiang said: “Fine, fine. If you want to see your young lady sooner, then serve the prince well. Right now the prince is busy with court matters. Since you’re by the prince’s side, you must also stay alert. At this critical period, we cannot let our guard down!” The relaxed atmosphere was swept away!