“Yes.” Xiuzhu responded in a low voice and left together with her. Watching their departing figures, Jixiang said, “This servant has always been worried that if the Princess truly married Second Young Master, Second Young Madam would make things difficult for you. Now it seems this servant was measuring a gentleman’s heart with a petty person’s mind.”

Ruyi said with doubt in her voice, “Princess, is there truly a woman in this world who wouldn’t seek a devoted man?”

Yunyi withdrew her distant gaze and said slowly, “It’s not that she doesn’t seek a devoted man, but compared to her own joys and sorrows, she cares more about Shimin’s happiness and sadness, taking joy in his joy and sorrow in his sorrow. She truly, truly loves Shimin to the extreme.”

After carefully pondering her words, Ruyi said, “That is to say, everything Second Young Madam said just now was true, not superficial empty words?” After a pause, she continued, “This servant always feels she’s too good to be real. Perhaps she’s like the Lady Ji you mentioned before, Princess—one way on the surface, another way behind the scenes.”

Yunyi nodded and said, “She won’t be like Jirong. Jirong treats people with schemes, while she treats people with her heart. The two cannot be mentioned in the same breath.”

“I hope everything is as the Princess says, so you can have much more peace in the future.” Hearing Ruyi’s words, Jixiang deeply agreed, “Isn’t that so? If it were like with the Eldest Young Master, having to be on edge all day, worrying about whether someone might harm oneself or the children, it would truly be exhausting.”

While they were talking, Zhangsun Shi had also returned to her own room. After receiving the medicine she had ordered someone to fetch, she walked to Xiuzhu’s side and personally applied the light green ointment to her still swollen cheek.

“Hiss!” Xiuzhu gasped from the pain, and Zhangsun Shi slowed her movements, “This medicine is very effective for reducing swelling and bruising. Bear with it a little.”

After applying the medicine, Zhangsun Shi looked at her and asked, “Are you still angry with me?”

Xiuzhu said sullenly, “How would this servant dare to be angry with Miss?”

Zhangsun Shi sighed softly and took her hand, “I know you meant well for me, but you really shouldn’t have said such things in front of the Princess. Fortunately, the Princess didn’t take offense and even pleaded for you. If it had been someone difficult and unreasonable, today wouldn’t have ended so easily.”

Xiuzhu said defiantly, “This servant would rather be beaten to death than have her plead for me.”

Zhangsun Shi shook her head, “You silly girl, the Princess hasn’t provoked or offended you. Where does all this resentment come from?”

Xiuzhu held it in for a long time but still couldn’t contain the words in her heart, speaking rapidly like scattered beans: “She hasn’t offended this servant, but she has provoked the master! Ever since she came to our place, Miss, you’ve been treating her well with good food and drink, even personally sewing clothes for her. And her? Not being grateful would be one thing, but she actually seduced the master. She calls herself a princess, but this servant has never seen such a shameless princess!”

Zhangsun Shi frowned tightly, “You just said you knew your mistake, so why are you talking nonsense again? Stop talking immediately.”

“Everything this servant said is fact.” Xiuzhu said stubbornly, “Miss clearly knows she has ill intentions, so why do you still treat her so courteously? You should drive her out of the mansion.”

“What ill intentions? You’re getting more and more outrageous. Stop talking immediately.” Zhangsun Shi scolded quietly, then said, “The Princess and my husband have known each other for a long time and have mutual feelings. How can you call it seduction?”

“She knew the master was betrothed to Miss yet still had feelings for him—that’s mistake one. The master kindly rescued her from Jiangdu, yet she clings to his side and refuses to leave—that’s mistake two. Miss treats her kindly, yet she pushes for more—that’s mistake three. Such a person doesn’t deserve to stay in our Prince’s mansion, let alone become the master’s equal wife.”

Zhangsun Shi sighed, “The matter of love is the most difficult to control. Often by the time one realizes it, the roots of affection have grown deep and one cannot extricate oneself. How can you blame the Princess for this?”

Xiuzhu shook her head, “Miss, you’re always thinking of others. When will you think of yourself? Seeing you like this, this servant feels wronged for you. When you first married, the master spoke so sweetly that this servant thought he would be devoted to you alone. But how long has it been? He’s already turned to love someone else, making Miss sad and heartbroken. It’s truly infuriating.”

“‘To find a devoted man and never part until our hair turns white.'” Zhangsun Shi murmured this line, then smiled, “Speaking of which, their acquaintance and understanding came before I married him.”

“Miss.” Seeing her find fault with herself, Xiuzhu said displeasedly, “How can you…”

“Enough.” Zhangsun Shi stroked her hair, “Silly girl, there’s nothing to feel wronged about. For me, the most important thing is that my husband is safe and happy. Everything else is unimportant.”

“But…” Xiuzhu paused, then said dejectedly, “Fine, I won’t say anymore. Miss won’t listen anyway. I only hope Princess Jinyang has some conscience and remembers Miss’s kindness to her, not harboring inappropriate thoughts.”

Zhangsun Shi smiled and said, “Alright, you’ve been nagging all day. Aren’t you tired? It seems I really should find someone suitable and marry you off early, to save myself from listening to your nagging all day.”

Xiuzhu’s face turned slightly red as she said coquettishly, “This servant won’t marry. This servant wants to stay with Miss forever.”

Zhangsun Shi smiled with pursed lips, “I don’t plan to let you stay forever. I know your thoughts. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely find you someone who will be devoted to you alone and let you marry in style. Only then will I not fail our friendship of growing up together.”

“No matter who Miss finds, I won’t marry.” Faced with Xiuzhu’s words, Zhangsun Shi teased, “When fate truly comes, I’m afraid you’ll be the one fighting to marry. I won’t be able to stop you even if I wanted to.”

Xiuzhu was so embarrassed her face nearly burned up. She stamped her foot, “I… I won’t talk to Miss anymore.” With that, she turned and quickly walked out, leaving behind a string of laughter.

At this time, another place was filled with terror. Xin’an looked with extreme fear at the man who suddenly appeared before her. This person had appeared without a word and killed Old Zhang who was driving the cart, then dug a pit on the spot and buried Old Zhang’s body. After that, he forced her off the cart, drove away the horses, and set the cart on fire.

Seeing him approach with a steel blade still stained with blood, Xin’an’s first reaction was to run. Unfortunately, she was tightly bound and could barely take a step, let alone run. She could only watch him approach while trembling all over. Seeing him raise his blade, she trembled even more violently, her voice shaking like autumn leaves in the wind, “You… what do you want to do? Don’t… don’t kill me. Please, don’t!”

This person was Xue Wanche. He expressionlessly swung his blade down. Xin’an screamed and tightly closed her eyes. After waiting a while, the expected severe pain didn’t come. Instead, her hands and feet felt loose. She cautiously opened her eyes and saw that the ropes binding her had been cut and fallen to the ground. As for that person, he had already sheathed his blade and was staring at her coldly.