Zheng Fengyun looked at Hongye and Fuyu and said softly in a spoiled tone, "I don't like other people touching me, I only like my mother."

Hongye and Fuyu blushed and awkwardly stepped aside.

Gu Qinlan took Zheng Fengyun's hand and walked into the house.

The room was decorated in a warm and elegant style, with a faint fragrance permeating the air.

Gu Qinlan asked Zheng Fengyun to sit at the table and personally poured him a cup of tea.

Zheng Fengyun thanked him and carefully drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.

Gu Qinlan turned to look at Hongye, who was standing with her hands at her sides, and instructed, "Go and prepare the east wing for the second young master to stay in."

Hongye gave a slight bow, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes, and asked softly, "Madam, what should we do with the maids and nannies serving the Second Young Master?"

Gu Qinlan frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness in her eyes as she looked at Hongye.

Hongye's concerns were not unfounded.

Since she married into the Prince Duan's mansion, the maids who came with her dowry, the dowry, and the four new concubines she brought back have made the once spacious courtyard almost too small to even have room to step in.

“This…” Gu Qinlan pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s arrange for the nanny to stay in a side room first, and I will make a decision after careful consideration.”

Upon hearing this, Hongye nodded slightly and was about to leave when she couldn't help but say, "Madam, the layout of the courtyard is already quite cramped. If we bring in more nannies, it will only become more crowded. Perhaps we should let them stay outside the mansion for the time being and make arrangements after the young master returns."

A hint of appreciation flashed in Gu Qinlan's eyes; she knew Hongye was thinking of her. However, the rules of the Duan Prince's Mansion were strict, and having servants live outside the mansion seemed somewhat against the rules.

“Hongye, you’ve thought this through, but I can’t break the rules of the Duan Prince’s Mansion. Besides, Fengyun has just arrived in our courtyard. If we let his maids and nannies live outside, people will gossip and say that he is not valued.”

Hongye was silent for a moment, then suddenly her eyes lit up and she said, "Madam, why don't we let them stay in the pavilion in the garden for the time being? It's spacious and bright there, and it won't disturb the daily lives of the other people in the courtyard."

Gu Qinlan smiled slightly, her eyes showing approval: "Hongye, you are really smart. As you said, let them live in the pavilion. However, you must take care of them yourself to make sure they don't disturb others."

Hongye nodded gently and said confidently, "Don't worry, Madam, Hongye will definitely handle things well."

After saying that, Hongye turned and left to get busy.

Gu Qinlan then summoned Fuyu and assigned her a task: "Go and prepare a gift for my young master."

Fuyu was taken aback, a hint of surprise and worry flashing in her eyes.

His brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Gu Qinlan with a puzzled expression, and he couldn't help but ask, "Madam, this gift... seems rather unusual. The relationship between the young master and you is delicate; are you really planning to give him such an expensive gift?"

Gu Qinlan smiled gently, a sly glint in her eyes: "Of course, this gift is meant to surprise him and let him know that I have no intention of reconciling with him."

Fuyu was still uneasy: "Madam, if this gift is too valuable, it may cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

Gu Qinlan smiled gently, a hint of determination in her eyes: "I know what you're worried about. But this gift isn't just a simple expression of my love for him; it has a deeper meaning. Just do as I say, and don't worry about it."

Fuyu hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "So, what exactly is this gift?"

Gu Qinlan smiled mysteriously and said softly, "It's a sword."

"A sword?" Fu Yu exclaimed in surprise, nearly dropping her teacup. "Madam, you're going to give the young master a sword? This...this is extremely disrespectful!"

Gu Qinlan glanced at her indifferently, her tone leaving no room for doubt: "This sword was specially prepared for him. The blade is inlaid with gemstones, and the hilt is engraved with auspicious patterns. This sword represents both my care for him and my expectations for him."

Fuyu was still somewhat worried, but she could only obey orders. She nodded slightly and replied, "This servant obeys."

Gu Qinlan smiled with satisfaction. Fuyu was a smart person; she would understand her intentions.

She picked up her teacup and said softly, "You will prepare this sword yourself. Make sure it is perfect and without the slightest mistake."

After explaining the relevant matters, Gu Qinlan faced the four beautiful women who had been waiting for a long time: Bailu, Guyu, Mangzhong, and Jingzhe.

The four girls, named Bailu, Guyu, Mangzhong, and Jingzhe, stood in a neat row. Gu Qinlan's gaze swept over them, and the four girls looked at her expectantly, as if every word she said could determine their future.

Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said calmly, "Listen carefully, because the courtyard space is limited, you will be arranged to stay in the courtyard next door."

Upon hearing this, the four concubines all showed joy on their faces. Bai Lu gently bit her lower lip and said shyly, "Thank you for your care, Princess Consort. We are willing to follow your arrangements."

Gu Yu smiled and chimed in, "Yes, this way it will be easier for us to see the Crown Prince."

The Grain in Ear and Awakening of Insects nodded in agreement, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

At this moment, Hongye, the maid standing behind Gu Qinlan, couldn't help but speak up: "Madam, is this really a good arrangement? This way, the distance between you and the young master will grow even greater."

Gu Qinlan glanced at Hongye and said indifferently, "Hongye, don't you understand? I don't care how many women the prince has, as long as they don't affect my life."

Hongye looked at Gu Qinlan with concern, wanting to say something more, but Gu Qinlan waved her hand to stop her.

Gu Qinlan turned to her four concubines and continued, "Now that you've entered the Prince Duan's residence, you must abide by the rules here. You must get along well with each other, not fight over him, and certainly not affect my relationship with the Prince."

Bai Lu and the others readily agreed.

Gu Yu asked curiously, "Princess Consort, what kind of person is the Prince?"

Gu Qinlan smiled and said, "The young master is exceptionally talented and handsome, truly captivating at first sight."

Upon hearing this, all four concubines showed expressions of longing on their faces.

At this moment, Hongye couldn't help but interject, "Madam, are you really not bothered by how many women the young master has?"

Gu Qinlan's smile faded, and she said seriously, "Hongye, you still don't understand. In this chaotic world, having a stable home is already a blessing. I don't want to make this family restless because of jealousy and rivalry."

Hongye lowered her head silently and said no more.

Gu Qinlan turned to her four concubines and said, "Don't worry, as long as you follow the rules, I will treat you all equally. But if anyone dares to challenge my bottom line, I will not be lenient."

The four concubines readily agreed, their reverence for Gu Qinlan growing even stronger than before.