The royal gardens are divided into an inner garden and an outer garden.

The royal family members lived in the inner garden, while the court officials and their families lived in the outer garden. The court officials who came this time were all assigned to an independent courtyard.

The courtyard where the Marquis of Weiyuan lived happened to be adjacent to the courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence.

When Rong Qingqing and Shangguan Yanran passed by the courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence, they encountered Madam Shangguan, who was out for a walk.

"Mother," Shangguan Yanran called out.

"You silly girl, where did you go?" Madam Shangguan said, seemingly scolding, but her expression was extremely gentle.

"Madam Shangguan," Rong Qingqing stepped forward to greet her.

Madam Shangguan's gaze fell on her, and she said with great delight, "You must be Qingqing? Yanran has talked about you to me quite a bit. I never expected you to be so beautiful."

"Madam flatters me. I've always heard that Madam Shangguan is gentle and kind, and a rare beauty. Seeing her today, I can confirm it's true. No wonder Yanran has such a good nature and such a refined and elegant appearance. She has clearly inherited Madam's good qualities," Rong Qingqing said sweetly.

Madam Shangguan's lips curled up into a wide smile that she couldn't suppress. "You little girl, you really know how to talk."

“I’m just stating the facts,” Rong Qingqing blinked.

Madam Shangguan was overjoyed by her words. She already had a good impression of her, and now she liked her even more. She took her hand and said, "You two have come back just in time. I've already had someone prepare the meal. Come on, let's go in and eat."

“Alright, then I’ll shamelessly stay,” Rong Qingqing said with a smile.

"You and Yanran are good friends, and you'll be visiting each other often in the future, so please don't be so polite," Madam Shangguan said with a smile. "Yanran's father has been entrusted with an important task by the Emperor and is staying in the capital to oversee the country. I was just worried about having no one to keep me company, and that girl Yanran always complains that I'm too talkative and refuses to keep me company. It would be even better if you could keep me company and talk to me."

"I just hope you won't find me too noisy, Madam," Rong Qingqing said with a smile.

The two entered the house chatting and laughing.

Shangguan Yanran, standing still: "..."

Why does she feel like she's been abandoned and neglected?

After dinner, Rong Qingqing sat and talked with Madam Shangguan for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, she got up to say goodbye and returned to her own courtyard.

Having traveled such a long distance today, Rong Qingqing was quite tired. When she returned to her room, she saw that Xiao Tao had prepared hot water, so she decided to take a bath first so that she could go to bed early.

She completely forgot that she had invited Xie Jingrun to come to the house that evening from outside the villa.

She was uncomfortable with anyone present while she was bathing, so she refused Xiao Tao's service, took off her clothes, and sat in the bathtub.

When Xie Jingrun arrived, the door was ajar. Xiao Tao, who had been standing guard outside, left because she suddenly needed to use the outhouse.

Seeing that the lights were on inside and the door wasn't closed properly, Xie Jingrun assumed that Rong Qingqing was waiting for him, so he pushed the door open and went inside.

However, upon entering, one sees the room filled with steam.

He paused, then suddenly heard the sound of splashing water coming from behind the screen, as if someone was playing in the water, and the soft singing of a woman...

Xie Jingrun's gaze fell on the screen, and he saw the woman's graceful figure reflected on it.

He paused for a moment, then realized what was happening, his handsome face flushed red, and he quickly turned around.

However, the woman's beautiful image reflected on the screen seemed to have taken root in his mind, and he couldn't shake it off.

His narrow eyes were dark and brooding, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on his smooth forehead. His fists clenched, and he could no longer contain himself. In a low, hoarse voice, he scolded, "Rong Qingqing, you have no shame!"

He realized that her invitation to come over tonight must have ulterior motives, but he never expected to encounter such a scene as soon as he entered her room.