Zhu Yàn smiled: “It’s about time to participate. The previous examination I didn’t feel very confident, but I’ll give it a try this time.”

Yang Er had gone south to fight pirates, Tingyuan was battling the Tartars, and now even Shixi had found a place suitable for himself. Naturally, he couldn’t slack off anymore.

The two good friends finished drinking and each returned to their respective residences.

Eldest Princess Changrong was waiting for Chi Can.

“Originally, I didn’t interfere with what you did, but the commotion you caused today was too big. Even the Lan father and son were scolded by the Emperor because of you.”

Chi Can frowned impatiently: “This is my duty. As Supervising Secretary of Works, seeing the Lan father and son engaging in corruption and perverting justice, should I pretend to be mute? If so, why should I occupy a position without doing the work?”

Eldest Princess Changrong looked at her son’s agitated appearance and suddenly smiled: “How many people in this world occupy positions without doing the work? But since you’re willing to act this way, I won’t stop you. I just want to remind you not to get yourself trapped.”

“Mother naturally doesn’t need to worry about this.”

Hmm, anyway, if he did get trapped, Mother would go to Uncle Emperor to save him.

Chi Can never deny the advantages brought by his birth, nor would he deliberately seek distant solutions while ignoring nearby ones out of false nobility, which in reality contributed nothing to the court or the people.

A mother knows her son best. Seeing Chi Can’s nonchalant expression, Eldest Princess Changrong sighed softly: “Have you ever thought about when your uncle passes away…”

Eldest Princess Changrong spoke vaguely: “Who will you depend on then?”

“I haven’t thought that much about it.” Chi Can’s tone was flat, his gaze calm as he met Eldest Princess Changrong’s eyes. “If we all thought that much, Yang Er wouldn’t go fight pirates, and Shao Tingyuan wouldn’t have stayed in the Northern Territories since age fourteen, even killing his wife.”

Eldest Princess Changrong was slightly stunned, her mood quite complex.

“Mother, I drank alcohol and have a bit of a headache. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go rest.”

“Go ahead.” Eldest Princess Changrong waved her hand to dismiss Chi Can, then stood up and walked to the window, gazing outside in a daze.

Outside the window, the canna lilies grew lush and green. Cotton-like seeds from somewhere drifted in through the open window, settling on Eldest Princess Changrong’s fingertips.

Light footsteps approached.

“Princess—”

Eldest Princess Changrong glanced back at the female official Dongyu and said indifferently, “You may go. I want to be alone quietly.”

Dongyu withdrew silently.

Eldest Princess Changrong leaned against the window, thinking about Chi Can’s affairs.

Toward this son, she had never known what attitude to take. Seeing that face identical to that man’s, she wanted nothing more than to take scissors and destroy it. But as this child grew day by day, he was ultimately different from that man.

The Lan father and son’s overwhelming power depended entirely on her imperial brother’s favor, while her two nephews, Prince Rui and Prince Mu, were different.

Lan Shan’s son, Lan Songquan, privately associated closely with Prince Mu to support Prince Mu’s ascension to continue enjoying wealth and glory.

As Prince Mu’s only competitor, Prince Rui had suffered no small amount of grievance from the Lan father and son over the years. If he could ascend to power, the downfall of the Lan father and son would be just around the corner.

Since Can’er so detested the Lan father and son, perhaps she should change her neutral stance of many years.

Thinking of the Lan father and son, Eldest Princess Changrong sneered coldly: Her son – she could treat him however she wanted, but if others dared to lay a finger on him, she would not be polite.

The laundry room of the Li Residence gained a temporary worker, like a small pebble falling into a lake. It didn’t cause much of a splash before calm was restored.

Having entered the residence through the influence of Third Miss’s personal maid A’Zhu, and doing work that wasn’t particularly respectable, the Li Residence servants were at most curious about the newcomer, with no feelings of envy or jealousy.

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law was quite talkative, and before long, the residence’s servants knew quite a bit about A’Zhu.

Her family was poor, her brother couldn’t afford to marry, so A’Zhu voluntarily sold herself to a wealthy family as a maid. Over the years, she never forgot her family, and even the house back home was built with A’Zhu’s saved monthly wages.

Unfortunately, misfortune struck from clear skies. Their hometown suffered a disaster, and their family endured hardships to reach the capital. Being penniless and unable to find work, they were reduced to begging until reuniting with A’Zhu gave them good days again.

Under the corridor of the west side courtyard of Yahe Courtyard, Binglu covered her mouth and laughed: “A’Zhu, your sister-in-law is interesting. She praised you like a flower. Now everyone in our residence knows you’re filial and righteous.”

A’Zhu lowered her eyelids upon hearing this, revealing a bitter smile.

Binglu tugged at A’Zhu’s sleeve: “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy that the whole residence praises you?”

A’Zhu forced a smile at the corners of her mouth and silently shook her head.

Qiao Zhao stood by the window, listening to the maids’ conversation and sneering inwardly.

Where was A’Zhu’s sister-in-law being good to A’Zhu? This was purely putting A’Zhu on a pedestal. With the whole residence’s servants watching, whenever that family made any demands of A’Zhu in the future, A’Zhu would face enormous pressure if she wanted to refuse.

Binglu was simple-minded and naturally couldn’t think of these things. Noticing a figure at the courtyard gate, she pursed her lips: “A’Zhu, your sister-in-law is here again.”

A’Zhu awkwardly bit her lip and stepped forward to greet her.

“Didn’t I say not to come looking for me here casually?”

“I know, I know. You said this is where the young lady lives, and servants like us shouldn’t come here. But your sister-in-law came to find you about something.”

“What is it?”

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law didn’t answer, rolling her eyes around as she looked everywhere.

“What are you looking at, sister-in-law?” A’Zhu’s tone grew colder.

Perhaps she had made a mistake from the beginning, only thinking of not bearing to see her mother die of illness with no one to care for her, so she arranged for her sister-in-law to work at the Li Residence.

Sister-in-law had never been a diligent or well-behaved person.

“Hehe, sister-in-law has never seen where a young lady from a prestigious family lives.”

A’Zhu’s face turned completely cold: “Sister-in-law, you’ve already come looking for me seven or eight times.”

“No, I heard that Third Miss is like a celestial fairy, so I was curious. Little sister-in-law, sister-in-law came to discuss how to celebrate mother’s birthday.”

“Birthday celebration?”

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law looked astonished: “Little sister-in-law, you can’t have forgotten that mother’s birthday is coming up, can you?”

A’Zhu listened expressionlessly.

She had been sold since childhood. Even after the family’s circumstances improved thanks to her, she had never heard of her brother and sister-in-law celebrating their mother’s birthday any year. How would she know which day Mother’s birthday was?

Mother’s birthday is next month. Little sister-in-law, how do you plan to celebrate it for your mother?”

“We’ll discuss it when the time comes. Sister-in-law, don’t forget that I’m serving others as a servant, not as a young lady. Constantly taking leave and angering the young lady might even cost me this position.”

“Alright, alright. You’re busy, so your sister-in-law will go first. When mother’s birthday approaches, I’ll come find you to discuss it.” A’Zhu’s sister-in-law seemed frightened by A’Zhu’s words. Without waiting for A’Zhu to say anything more, she hurriedly turned and left.

A’Zhu remained silent for a long time before turning around.

“Young lady—”

Qiao Zhao, standing behind her, gently patted her arm: “Work with peace of mind. Don’t think too much.”

After several more calm days passed, this morning Qiao Zhao went to Qingsong Hall as usual to pay her respects to Old Madam Deng.