I lifted the teacup, held it to my nose, and sniffed. Sure enough, a faint fishy odor escaped me—a common Liu tactic, adding seemingly insignificant substances to tea to cause minor ailments, with no clear cause. I'd been bitten countless times in my past life.

"Mother is right." I put down my teacup, a look of just the right amount of grievance on my face. "But I'm also wronged. I didn't say those things. It's just that others saw that I've been reading some books recently and were unhappy about it, so they deliberately made it up to make me laugh."

I paused, then looked up at Liu, my eyes clear. "Besides, not all the 'jokes' I hear are good things about me. For example, yesterday I heard someone say, 'Madam Liu is too kind-hearted, that's why she was outdone by the legitimate daughter.' When I heard that, I felt sorry for my mother."

Liu's hand, holding the teacup, suddenly stiffened, and a few drops of tea splattered onto her moon-white sleeve, leaving a small dark stain. She suppressed her anger, a stiff smile playing on her lips. "Really? I didn't realize I was so 'kind-hearted' in other people's eyes."

"That's right!" I tilted my head in feigned innocence. "The neighbors all say that my mother treats me like her own daughter. It's just that I'm a dull girl and can't learn her 'virtuous' ways. Instead, I get into so much trouble. It really worries my mother."

I deliberately emphasized the words "virtuous and virtuous" and added a slight drawl. Liu's face instantly turned ashen, her chest heaving violently, clearly furious with me.

Just then, footsteps were heard outside the hall, and Prime Minister Su's voice came through the screen: "Oh? I heard someone is 'teaching' my legitimate daughter in the hall?"

Liu's expression changed, and she quickly stood up and straightened her clothes, her face returning to her gentle and virtuous expression: "Master is back. I was just talking to Li'er, there was no 'teaching' involved."

Prime Minister Su stepped aside the screen and entered, still carrying the solemn air of a court official. He glanced at me, his gaze pausing on the untouched teacup before me. Then, turning to Madam Liu, he spoke calmly, "Madam, you are indeed thoughtful. However, Jinli is young and straightforward. If she does anything wrong, you should just teach her privately. Why bring it up publicly? If the servants hear it, they'll make up stories."

The smile on Liu's face was a little faltering: "Master, you are right. It was my fault for not considering it carefully."

Su Xiang ignored her and walked over to me. He picked up the book in front of me and flipped through a few pages. Suddenly, he asked, "I heard that you asked the storyteller to write some jokes?"

My heart tightened, but my face remained calm. "Father, I just thought those rumors were too harsh, so I thought... let them spread so everyone knows that it's not true."

Prime Minister Su hummed, put down the book, and cast his gaze upon the sycamore tree outside the window. After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "Don't believe everything the market says, but don't disbelieve it either. But in the future, you must know how to be measured. The daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion doesn't live by the gossip of the people on the street."

His tone wasn't harsh, but it carried an undeniable authority. I lowered my head and said, "Daughter, I understand. Thank you for your guidance, father."

Prime Minister Su glanced at me again, his eyes filled with a subtle hint of... approval. Then he turned to Madam Liu, "Madam, I just returned from the palace. His Majesty mentioned the issue of the grain transport system in Jiangnan and asked me to investigate. You've been working hard lately, managing the household affairs. Why not let Li'er help you with some of the burden? She can also learn how to manage the household."

Liu's face suddenly changed. She had obviously not expected Prime Minister Su to bring this up. Asking me to interfere in the government affairs is tantamount to reducing her power! She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Prime Minister Su's gaze suppressed her: "It's settled. Li'er, starting tomorrow, you will follow Madam and learn how to manage the accounts."

"Yes, father." I suppressed my surprise and bowed. Is Su Xiang...helping me?

After Prime Minister Su left, Madam Liu looked at me with eyes that practically spitted fire. She took a deep breath, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the handkerchief. "Good...very good. Su Jinli, you're really good at this!"

I smiled faintly, neither servile nor arrogant: "Mother, you are too kind. I am just listening to my father."

After leaving the main hall, I was still a bit dazed. Prime Minister Su's attitude today was truly unusual. Not only didn't he blame me for "exposing the family's dirty laundry," but he even indirectly helped me secure the position of housekeeper. Could it be...he already knew something?

"Miss, look!" Mo Zhu suddenly pointed ahead and shouted excitedly.

I looked up and saw my eldest sister, Su Qingyao, standing in the corridor, holding a jade hairpin. When she saw me coming, she immediately frowned and thrust the hairpin into my hand: "Here! This is for you."

I took the hairpin and saw a lifelike magnolia flower carved into its head, exactly the style my biological mother loved. "Eldest sister, this is..."

"Don't ask!" Su Qingyao turned around, her back to me, and said in a somewhat awkward voice, "I was cleaning the storeroom the other day and saw it. It's just sitting there anyway, so I'll give it to you. It'll save people from saying you're 'unethical' and don't even have a decent hairpin."

I looked at her slender figure, and my heart warmed. I recognized this hairpin; it was a relic left by my biological mother to my eldest sister. She always treasured it and never left it.

"Sister, this is too valuable. I can't accept it." I wanted to return the hairpin.

Su Qingyao turned around abruptly and glared at me. "Just take it if I tell you to! Why all that nonsense!" She paused, her tone softening. "...I heard from the servant in the front yard that Father wants you to learn how to manage the household?"

I nodded.

Su Qingyao snorted coldly, "That old hag Liu must be pissed off, right? Well, let her know who's in charge in the Prime Minister's Mansion!" She walked up to me and looked me over carefully. "Remember, when you're managing the accounts, keep your eyes open, especially in the warehouse and the accounting office, because that's where the most tricks happen. If you run into any difficulties, come to me."

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