When Madam Tu arrived at Xie Xiangxiang's courtyard, Xie Xiangxiang stood up and politely asked, "Mother, what brings you here?"

A few days ago, she instructed her maid, Baoxiu, to investigate the No. 3 courtyard in Tianhou Lane, Nancheng, following the clues in the letter. Although the people in the No. 3 courtyard rarely went out, some people still saw Gu Yuebai and Gu Chengyan.

She went to cause trouble for Madam Tu, and as a result, Baoxiu was severely beaten.

Baoxiu suddenly turned against them, claiming she was lying and that Tianhou Lane in the South City was an abandoned courtyard with no one living there. She begged to leave Fanghua Garden, not wanting to be Xie Xiangxiang's maid, because those who served as Xie Xiangxiang's head maids never had a good ending.

The matter was dropped, Xie Xiangxiang was placed under house arrest, and Baoxiu was transferred to the estate.

The old lady comforted Xie Xiangxiang, saying, "The maids promoted below are unreliable. I promised your grandmother that I would take good care of you, and I will not break my promise."

Xunmei and Anxiang, two second-class maids from Ci'en Courtyard, were transferred to Fanghua Garden to become first-class head maids.

At this moment, Madam Tu looked at her, unable to describe her feelings.

She had initially favored her daughter-in-law the most, but in just three months, how many incidents has she encountered?

“Your grandmother is seriously ill, and I pleaded for you to go and take care of her. In this way, your confinement will naturally be lifted.”

After failing to catch her husband in adultery at Moon Lake Garden, she was slapped thirty times and confined to Fanghua Garden to learn manners. She caused a scene with the letter from the South City, resulting in her complete confinement. Madam Tu then summoned her to attend to her ailing husband, thus naturally lifting her confinement.

Xie Xiangxiang thought to herself: The old lady has three daughters-in-law, yet she asks her, her granddaughter-in-law, to take care of her when she is ill.

But she had to say thank you. If Gu Chengyan came back and she was still under house arrest, how could he still like her!

Furthermore, in the deep courtyards of the mansion, the heir apparent's wife was confined to her quarters, and the servants would trample on her three times.

Madam Tu handed her the prescription: "Go and get the medicine for your grandmother, and have someone brew it for her. Listen to her advice; your mother went through the same thing when she was young."

Xie Xiangxiang finally understood why Madam Tu had shown her such kindness.

There's no such thing as getting up early without a reason.

Despite her inner bitterness, she had to feign gratitude and say, "Thank you, Mother, I will remember this."

After seeing Madam Tu off and taking the prescription, he told Baowen to fetch ten taels of silver from her dressing case.

Baoxiu was transferred away, but Baowen remained.

When no one was around, Baowen, being soft-hearted, secretly advised her: "Madam, you shouldn't stand up for yourself anymore. Baoxiu only said that to protect herself. The two people the old lady sent, claiming to be for your own good, have actually sidelined you."

She held Baowen's hand and cried, "Baowen, in this mansion, you are the only one I can trust from now on. I will protect you, and I will not investigate anything further."

Only now did she understand that her mother, Madam Xu, clearly resented that her father only had his first wife in his heart and that her grandmother only had Xie Yu and Xie Zhaozhao in her eyes, yet she had always been docile and obedient, never daring to openly fight for anything, because she lacked the confidence to fight back; she couldn't fight against the powerful!

She just needs to behave herself now and learn to conceal her talents. This Marquis's mansion will be hers sooner or later, so she's not in a hurry!

Xie Zhaozhao entered the palace and arrived at Xingning Palace. Consort Xi was very happy to see her.

“These days, your aunt has been worried about you all.” Consort Xi held her hand. “The disaster in Zhongzhou is too great, and there is nothing your aunt can do. As long as you are well, your aunt will be at ease.”

Xie Zhaozhao did not tell her aunt about hoarding grain. There were spies everywhere in the palace, and nothing could be said here.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two saw Imperial Physician Wen from the palace come to check on Consort Xi's pulse.

Consort Xi said to Imperial Physician Wen, "While you're at it, could you also take the pulse of Madam Gu and see if there's anything amiss?"

The imperial physician was very polite. Xie Zhaozhao probably knew what her aunt meant, so she didn't say anything and extended her wrist.

After taking her pulse, Physician Wen smiled and said, "The Grand Secretary's wife is in good health; there is nothing wrong with her."

After Imperial Physician Wen left, Consort Xi smiled and said, "My only thought now is that you will get pregnant soon."

Xie Zhaozhao blushed and said with her eyes lowered, "Auntie, it depends on fate."

"It depends on fate, but it also requires your efforts." Consort Xi was clearly prepared, and had Liuli take a booklet from her dressing case for her, as well as some nourishing medicine.

"This booklet contains methods to make it easier for women to conceive. You and the Grand Secretary should take these nourishing medicines on time." Consort Xi patted her hand. "Zhaozhao, it is a woman's duty to bear children for her husband's family after marriage. Third Prince Gu is not young. Those of similar age to him, like the Crown Prince, already have four children."

Xie Zhaozhao nodded in agreement.

"Your aunt is telling you this because she's afraid your mother-in-law might use your inability to have children as an excuse to force someone into your room. Do you understand your aunt's intentions?"

Xie Zhaozhao hurriedly knelt down before her aunt: "I have troubled Your Highness, I am guilty."

Consort Xi pulled her up: "Why are you kneeling? There are no rules between us, aunt and niece. It's good that you understand my feelings."

Xie Zhaozhao knew perfectly well that her aunt cared for her. In fact, Consort Xi had something else she hadn't said: if she couldn't conceive soon, she was afraid that besides the old lady of the Marquis's mansion, His Majesty would also try to find someone to help her.

The old lady would definitely pick someone from among her many relatives, perhaps even her grandnieces. Despite the generational difference, she's capable of doing such a thing.

Xie Zhaozhao and Gu Shaoyu could refuse the old lady's arrangements, but the woman bestowed by Emperor Hui could not only not refuse, but also had to be treated well.

That's what you call frustrating!

After returning from the palace, Xie Zhaozhao did not immediately go back to the Marquis's residence, but instead checked out various rice shops on the street.

"Miss, the price of rice at the Wu family is 220 cash per catty."

"At Wei's rice shop, the price of grain is also two hundred and twenty coins."

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