As evening fell, Zhao Shu and Prince Yong finished their dinner and began playing chess. Before they knew it, the moon and stars were few. "Father, rest now. We'll practice Tai Chi early tomorrow morning."

Prince Yong wasn't actually sleepy yet, but he usually rested at this time, so he had someone put away the chessboard. "A-Jun," he called to Zhao Shu, who was walking out.

"Is there something you need, Father?" Zhao Shu turned around.

“Things have been unsettled in your residence lately. When you go out, take more people with you. It would be best if you wore a veil when you left Qionghua Courtyard.” Prince Yong recalled the young gentleman he had seen when he returned to the residence earlier, and alarm bells rang in his mind. He became even more disliked of Prince Duan.

Zhao Shu felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, "I understand, Father. Please get some rest."

As they emerged from Chensong Courtyard, Xiao Guozi, Luluo, Chuchun, Xinwei, and Xinchou followed behind, forming a large procession carrying several lanterns.

However, even so late at night, one can still encounter strangers within the territory of Prince Yong's mansion.

"Zhang greets the Princess." A young man in front bowed from afar. Zhao Shu walked ahead and met the man's gaze.

The young man from the Zhang family ahead appeared to be fourteen or fifteen years old. He had handsome features, gentle eyes and brows, and a strong scholarly air. He wore a blue robe and looked somewhat thin and frail. He held a folding fan in his hand and carried a dim yellow lamp.

Surprisingly, there was no one serving him.

Overall, he has a refined and gentle demeanor, but he is still quite immature, and his temperament is not quite there yet.

Zhao Shu remained silent, but gave Green Ivy a meaningful glance. Green Ivy understood and said, "Young master, it's late. You should go home as soon as possible. Otherwise, if you encounter some fox spirit or female ghost and lose your life, we can't bear the responsibility."

"It was my rudeness, please forgive me, Princess. I will go home now." He blushed and was flustered by what Green Ivy said. He had been a decent, refined and gentle man, but now he looked incredibly weak and useless.

This is a typical example of a weak, indecisive, easily frightened, and timid scholar.

Zhao Shu immediately dismissed him and was about to leave when Zhang the scholar, as if he had some unfinished task, said to Zhao Shu, "Princess, the day after tomorrow is the Po Lan Festival. I would like to invite you to join me on behalf of my sister. I hope you will do me the honor of attending."

He nervously pulled a card from his pocket and handed it over.

However, even as he stretched out his arm until it ached, Zhao Shu didn't send anyone to take the invitation. "Princess?" he called out, trying to remain calm, but his voice was still weak.

Zhao Shu stared at him coldly, as if trying to see through him. Zhang Shusheng's ears turned red from her gaze.

"Have you ever heard that I, the princess, have a bad temper, am willful and capricious, and treat human life as worthless?" Zhao Shu looked directly into his eyes, but the scholar was useless and actually dodged away.

He didn't know what Zhao Shu meant by asking this question, and was still thinking about how to answer when Zhao Shu spoke first, "Let me tell you, all of this is true, Xiao Guozi, throw him out! If he dares to step into the Yongwang Mansion again, no matter how many steps he takes, he'll get a beating."

"Yes, Princess." Xiao Guozi's face was grim. How dare he harass the princess in the middle of the night? He must be tired of living. Did he think that just because he has a handsome face, he could pretend to be gentle and refined?

Scholars who don't understand the proper conduct between men and women, and who don't know how much harm private relationships can cause to women, are deliberately trying to harm the princess!

He was highly skilled and ruthless, causing Zhang Shusheng to grimace in pain. However, his purpose for coming here had not yet been achieved, and he couldn't just go back like this. After struggling for a while, he realized he was no match for Xiao Guozi, so he cried out, "Your Excellency..."

The words were muffled by the cloth that Xiao Guozi tore off his body. "Kid, I'll teach you a lesson for yelling today."

Back at Qionghua Courtyard, Zhao Shu suddenly understood. It turned out that Prince Duan had this idea: to use the marriage to bring Prince Yong's mansion into his possession. She wanted to see what kind of extraordinary person could help him accomplish this task.

"Little Guo, have Wei Ji come over to serve you first thing tomorrow morning." Before going to sleep, Zhao Shu gave the order and then went off to enjoy a peaceful rendezvous with Morpheus.

The next day, as soon as Zhao Shu woke up, Green Luo said angrily, "Princess, a beauty has come to our manor. She even cooked porridge herself and sent it to our Prince."

Having figured things out last night, Zhao Shu didn't react as strongly as Green Luo. After calmly washing up, she went out of her room to prepare for breakfast.

However, when they arrived at the courtyard, they saw many pieces of cloth and ready-made clothes, as well as silk flowers, hairpins, and other items that girls love.

The servant girl Ruyi, who delivered these gifts, greeted Zhao Shu with a bow, saying, "Greetings to the Princess."

"No need for formalities, what are you doing here?" She pointed to the jeweled clothes.

Ruyi smiled and said in an intimate tone, "This is a gift from the concubine to the princess. It was originally supposed to be sent to the princess on the day she arrived, but the concubine has not returned to the capital for many years and was afraid that the gift would not be fashionable. So she observed for many days before daring to take it out to give to the princess. Princess, do you like it?"

Indeed, they are all very beautiful items. Both the materials and the workmanship are exquisite. In Beijing, you would have to spend a lot of money to buy such good things.

In the past, Zhao Shu would definitely have liked it, but today's Zhao Shu is not the Zhao Shu of the past. She has seen much more beautiful things, so she will not be dazzled by this little thing.

She glanced at it a few times and said indifferently, "Consort Zhang is very kind. Please thank her on my behalf. Chu Chun, put the things away. They are a token of Consort Zhang's goodwill."

Ruyi's smile froze. Princess Jun lost her mother at a young age. Even if the Empress Dowager doted on her, there would be times when she would be negligent. How could a child this young not like pretty things?

She couldn't understand it at all. When the concubine returned to the Marquis of Huainan's mansion, she brought gifts for the young ladies of the mansion, and they all liked them very much. Why did the same thing elicit such a reaction from the princess?

"Princess." Before Ruyi could react, Wei Ji came over. Ruyi looked at her and her expression changed immediately. What a charming and beautiful woman.

"Sister Wei is here. Have you eaten yet? If not, then please eat with Ah Jun." Zhao Shu seemed to have said this a thousand times over, as if it came out of her mouth effortlessly.

Not only was Consort Wei flattered, but Ruyi was also greatly surprised. She had heard that Princess Jun was willful and capricious, and that she would beat or scold her servants. It was unbelievable that she would call a singing girl "elder sister".

Wei Ji had already eaten, but being able to dine with the princess would elevate her status, so she couldn't let this opportunity pass by. Thus, she said with delight, "Thank you, Princess."

Zhao Shu nodded, not even glancing at Ruyi, and walked past her, leading her people to have breakfast.

After having breakfast, Zhao Shu didn't go to Chensong Courtyard. Instead, she took Wei Ji, Xiao Guozi, Luluo, and the others and slowly made her way to Zhang Nihong's Cuilan Courtyard.

Cuilan Courtyard is next to Qinyi Courtyard and Xiaoxiang Courtyard, separated only by a wall. As soon as Zhao Shu entered the courtyard, she said to Zhao Nihong, who had just finished breakfast, "Cousin, I heard that you like the pipa. I happen to have someone here who is good at the pipa, so I specially brought him over for you to listen to. It will also allow you to test the skills of the musicians in the manor."

After saying that, before Zhao Nihong could object, he beckoned to Wei Ji, "Sister Wei, play what you're best at."