Lu Ziyuan looked unconvinced: "No... I feel like it didn't hurt as much this time as the first time, so I should be able to get used to it."

He carefully took the herbal tea, drank it all in one gulp, but it didn't seem to help. So he asked Zhong Muyu, "Yu'er, didn't you have some medicine that could cure this before? Why did you give me herbal tea this time?"

"This is to teach you a lesson so you won't be greedy for food next time. Besides, the medicine prescribed by the physician is fine, it's just a little bitter."

“Then I won’t eat it. I’m not a person who craves food, but I want to experience the food you like with you, so even if I eat with you next time, I will still do so. I won’t drink the medicine prescribed by the physician.”

It was rare to see Lu Ziyuan acting so willful, and Zhong Muyu stared at him in surprise: "Why is he being willful now?"

Lu Ziyuan said, feeling wronged, "Can't I even be willful?"

"No, this... feels too out of place. You should act more normal, otherwise I won't be used to it."

Zhong Muyu looked both amused and exasperated; Lu Ziyuan's behavior was really awkward.

"Then, I want to take your medicine."

"Fine, I really can't move you."

Zhong Muyu took out a strip of pills from her sleeve, but instead of putting it in his hand, she placed it on the table.

"You just drank herbal tea. To prevent it from counteracting the effects of the medicine, take it again in the morning. If you still feel unwell during this period, just drink herbal tea. I've prepared a big jar, so you won't have to worry about drinking it all."

"..."

Lu Ziyuan could only watch helplessly as the pills were right in front of him, feeling like crying but having no tears left.

After finally enduring until the sun came out, Lu Ziyuan quickly ate breakfast, swallowed his pills, and went to his Xiuyu residence to do official business.

Zhong Muyu leisurely ate breakfast and sat to the side, slowly drinking herbal tea.

When Zaochun heard about Lu Ziyuan from Chengfeng, she couldn't help but worry: "Is His Highness really alright?"

"Spicy food a few times is no problem for him. He's been fighting on the battlefield for so many years, he's eaten all sorts of weird things. How could he easily be defeated by chili peppers? But you, you ate quite a bit of spicy food last night, didn't you?"

Zaochun laughed and said, "This servant eats with you, so what's a little spice? Chengfeng will be fine."

"It seems that Lu Ziyuan is the only one with a bad stomach."

Zhong Muyu stood up and asked a maid to find her a set of clothes, intending to go out and search for some new storybooks to read.

In early spring, she asked, "What is Your Highness going out to buy?"

"Check if there are any new stories out yet. I already finished reading the one I borrowed from you. You can take it back later."

“In that case, I’ll go too. I heard from the people at Yunshang Pavilion the other day that they’ve designed a new style based on your previous clothing designs, and they’re planning to have you take a look. If you like it, you can have Zhang Mama make you a set to wear first.”

"While changing her clothes, Zhong Muyu said, 'Not bad, you can even design your own drafts now! I definitely have to go check it out!'"

After changing their clothes, the two of them, hand in hand, set off in an oxcart.

The two were happily heading out when Lianhua and Lianqin happened to see them.

The two women were strolling in the small garden of Xinxiang Courtyard. Although Xinxiang Courtyard was not small, it was a place where you could see the end at a glance. The princess wouldn't let them go out, ignored them, or give them anything to do, which made them feel very uncertain.

And now, I happen to witness this scene again.

Lianqin said enviously, "Zaochun and the Princess Consort have such a good relationship. It's a pity we didn't follow the Princess Consort back then, otherwise we could have lived such a carefree and unrestrained life."

Lianhua said, "What's the use of saying all this now? Fate plays tricks on us. Besides, no matter how well Zaochun had it, she was still just a guard's wife. But we are different. The Empress Dowager sent us here to serve the prince. Even if things don't go well, we are still concubines."

“That’s what they say, but the Princess Consort has locked us up in this Fragrant Courtyard, as if she’s forgotten about us. How are we supposed to serve the Prince? How are we supposed to be his concubines?”

"Alas, the Princess Consort is still young, and it's understandable that she wants to monopolize the Prince. But time waits for no one. She's left us hanging here, so we have to fight for it ourselves."

Lianhua's tone was extremely anxious. She was nineteen this year, and if she didn't try now, she feared she would never have another chance. As a maid trained by the Empress Dowager, how could she marry a servant and hastily spend her life with him?

Perhaps influenced by Lianhua's emotions, Lianqin also cheered herself up: "You're right, the Princess Consort's behavior is just jealousy. If this continues, we're doomed. Sister Lianhua, do you have any ideas?"

Lianhua looked confident: "I've already thought of a plan. It doesn't matter if we can't leave this Xinxiang Courtyard, as long as we can move around here. The Prince often comes to see the Princess, so why should we be afraid of not having a chance? The most important thing right now is to keep the maid who is watching over us in check."

You mean Qiao'er?

"It's her. We still need to rely on her right now."

Lianqin looked displeased: "Although we both come from the palace, she is still a low-ranking palace maid, and we still have to try to win her over!"

"What's the big deal? Don't forget, the ladies in the palace often try to win over the eunuchs and maids who serve the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."

After Lianhua's explanation, Lianqin understood a lot. Just then, Qiao'er passed by and saw the two of them standing there whispering to each other, so she went over and asked, "What are you two doing?"

Qiao'er knew that Zhong Muyu didn't like them, and since Zhong Muyu had instructed her to manage these two people, she wouldn't be polite to them either.

Lianhua smiled ingratiatingly, "We're new to the Prince's residence and don't know much about it yet, so we've decided to take a walk and chat here."

Qiao'er looked suspicious: "Taking a walk and chatting? Without the princess's order, you can't wander around. Go back to your room."

After saying that, Qiao'er was about to go about her other business when Lianhua stepped forward and grabbed her arm in a flattering manner.

"What a coincidence! We both came from the palace, so we must have some connection, right? It's so boring staying in the room doing nothing. Even if we were to serve the Princess by cooking and cleaning, that would be great!"

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but the Princess Consort hasn’t assigned you any work. All kinds of work in Xinxiang Courtyard are already being done, so there’s really no room for you.”

"You can mention it to the Princess, or redistribute the manpower. We're willing to do any dirty or strenuous work! Zaochun got married, and now you're a favorite of the Princess. Don't you even have this much power?"

Lianhua tried her best to persuade her, and kept giving Lianqin meaningful glances.

Lianqin leaned closer knowingly: "Yes, now that we've come to the Prince's mansion, we can't just sit around doing nothing. Sister Qiao'er, please help us."

As she spoke, Lianqin took off the jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it in Qiao'er's hand.

Qiao'er immediately refused: "Bribing me won't work. How about this, since you're bored, I'll go find you some embroidery to help you pass the time."

After saying that, she broke free from their grasp and left.