Xiao Guozi arrived at Qunfangyuan in a high-profile manner. This courtyard is larger than Sendaiyuan and is said to have been expanded from five or six smaller courtyards.

There's no lake here, nor is the scenery that's particularly beautiful. With dozens of concubines living together, it feels a bit cramped.

Xiao Guozi's face occasionally showed a disdainful expression. He really couldn't understand why people would flock to Prince Yong's mansion to become his concubines, given such treatment.

"Eunuch Guo, what brings you here?" The first person to see Xiao Guo was Aunt Lan. She lived at the entrance of Qunfang Garden, so she saw Xiao Guo as soon as he came in and hurriedly tried to get close to him.

Everyone in this household knows that Xiao Guozi is the newly appointed trusted eunuch of the princess. Apart from the chief stewards like Fu Bo and Bi Qiao, who doesn't try to curry favor with him?

Guo Zi had seen this kind of ingratiating smile, which was both flattering and reserved, many times. Of course, he had only recently come to appreciate its charm, as he had only ever seen others fawn over Liang Yunsi in this way before.

"Aunt Lan, we pay our respects to you." Although it was called paying respects, his back was still straight and his eyes were still arrogant, showing no sign of respect whatsoever.

Aunt Lan was unhappy, but she dared not show it. She still smiled and said ingratiatingly, "Father-in-law, there is no need for such formality. I am not worthy of such courtesy."

Bah! You're just a eunuch. Once I gain the prince's favor, become a concubine, and give birth to another prince, I'll settle accounts with you!

He hated her to death, but he didn't show it on his face at all.

Xiao Guozi could easily see through her little scheme. He sneered and stepped inside.

"Oh, which lady are you looking for, Father-in-law? How about I show you the way?" Aunt Lan swayed her hips as she walked up to Xiao Guozi, offering her services in an attempt to find out the purpose of his trip.

Seeing that she was so understanding, Xiao Guozi said loudly, "In that case, thank you, Auntie. I have come here on the orders of the Princess to deliver a message."

"What message does the eunuch want to convey?" Aunt Lan's eyes instantly turned ardent. A message? Was it a trusted eunuch? And judging from Xiao Guozi's normal expression, it must be a good thing.

Xiao Guo sneered, "He's really impatient. If someone like that were in the palace, he would have died eight hundred times over."

"You only need to take me to find Aunt Yue. As for the rest, you will know when we get there."

His voice was not soft, and several maids passing by nearby heard it and immediately ran back to tell their master.

When Xiao Guozi arrived at Aunt Yue's residence, several other aunts were already waiting there under the pretense of visiting.

The aunts initially surrounded Aunt Yue, chatting and laughing, and everyone who saw them was moved by their deep sisterly affection.

As soon as Xiao Guozi appeared, the concubines surrounding Aunt Yue quickly huddled around him.

"Eunuch Guo, what brings you here?" The woman spoke in a sweet, coquettish voice. She was quite shrewd in the circle of concubines, and Little Guo naturally recognized her.

"Aunt Jiao, the other day the princess told me that you've become even more radiant and beautiful, and seeing you today, it's true." Xiao Guozi didn't hold back his praise at all.

"Really? The princess really said that?" Concubine Jiao was a powerful figure in the Qunfang Garden, so she naturally knew whose words carried the most weight in this vast palace. At this moment, she was overjoyed.

Xiao Guozi forced a sincere smile. "Of course it's true. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't say more to you, Aunt. I've come here on orders to deliver a message to Aunt Yue."

"I wonder what business you have with this lowly concubine, sir?" Aunt Yue was furious. A bunch of lowly women, they were just fawning over her like sisters, but as soon as this eunuch arrived, they changed their tune. What a bunch of shallow-minded people.

Xiao Guozi looked down on these beautiful women, but he didn't show it on his face. He respectfully bowed to Aunt Yue and said, "This servant greets Aunt Yue."

The sudden grand gesture stunned all the concubines. Who was Eunuch Guo? He was the princess's confidant. Apart from his mistress and the chief stewards, who had he ever been so respectful to?

Aunt Yue was also dumbfounded.

"No, no... no need for such formalities." She realized her hands were trembling and she felt incredibly guilty.

Xiao Guo sneered, "You dare to act as a spy with such a small amount of skill?"

If Zhao Shu knew this, she would surely laugh and say, "Those people want to place people in the Prince Hui's mansion, the Yang family, and the Xie family, but none of those families are as good as the Prince Yong's mansion for placing people."

Prince Yong's mansion was a mess, while the other mansions were like reinforced concrete. It was ten times more difficult to place someone in the other mansions than in Prince Yong's mansion.

With lower costs, the products naturally cannot be compared to high-end products.

"Of course, of course. The princess said that Concubine Yue is skillful and virtuous. However, the position of concubine in the Prince's mansion has been vacant for a long time. After much thought, she felt that the position of concubine was rightfully hers. However, Concubine Yue has not yet had any children. But the princess said that as long as the concubines perform well, they can have children for the Prince's mansion after they are included in the family genealogy. If the concubines perform well, the princess will definitely petition the Empress Dowager."

The concubines immediately erupted in a commotion. Xiao Guozi's words, when broken down, conveyed two messages: First, the princess had a good impression of Concubine Yue and intended to support her. However, the Prince's mansion had two positions for secondary consorts and four positions for concubines of lower rank, so as long as one performed well, one could also have a chance.

They were so excited they didn't know how to express themselves. They had been in the Prince's mansion for many years, hoping for nothing more than to become a concubine. Even if they dared to dream of becoming a secondary consort, they dared not speak of it. They never expected that one day, such a great opportunity would suddenly fall into their laps.

After Xiao Guozi left, the aunts who were on good terms with him quickly gathered together to discuss what to do.

"Sister, I heard yesterday that the Empress Dowager is planning to arrange a second wife for the Prince. I suspect that since the Princess will have a stepmother and a stepfather, she will support the concubine to stand against the new Princess in a protest."

Aunt Du hurriedly told her what she had learned.

"My sister thinks so too. In the past, when the Empress Dowager wanted to choose a concubine for the prince, all the noble ladies claimed to be ill, so it never happened. Now the Empress Dowager plans to go to the Lin family on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month."

"As you all know, the eldest daughter of the Lin family is the princess's best friend. The tea parties she hosts are all attended by noble ladies from prominent families. I'm afraid she might actually be able to choose a successor consort this time. As you all know, most noble ladies are unwilling to befriend the princess."

When it came to taboo topics, everyone chose to understand implicitly rather than elaborate, meaning that everyone understood.

"So, the princess is looking for someone with powerful methods to oppose the new princess? No wonder Eunuch Guo said the princess favors Consort Yue." Someone figured out the key point and the more they thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.

Some people understand, some don't, "Why is that?"

"Look, Aunt Yue gets along well with everyone and has never argued with anyone. It's clear she's very shrewd and resourceful."

"Heh, well, she'll have to be alive to suffer that." One of the concubines, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.