not good. "

To prevent Su Miao from speaking recklessly, Shen Changji put her down and walked directly to the next room.

"Brother, how could you..." How could you interrupt someone!

The long silence that followed quickly silenced the red-faced chatter from next door.

Su Miao stopped watching the commotion and picked up the gauze lantern from the ground, heading towards her own courtyard.

Exhausted, Su Miao fell asleep quickly after returning home.

...

The next day, Su Miao really missed the roast pigeon at Zuixianglou, so she got up, tidied herself up, and went out with Tao'er.

"Have you heard? I heard that when Prince Xie went to the palace today, he got a reward for Miss Su from the Duke's mansion!"

"This Miss Su seems to have quite a few abilities in Zhangshui City! I heard she's put in a lot of effort."

"I've heard that too. Although she's a woman, she's in no way inferior to a man!"

"That's right. I remember this Miss Su went to Zhangshui City and was in charge of the most chaotic area! It was during an epidemic, and Zhangshui City is a small place, so the environment was bound to be terrible—dirty and smelly! But she endured it!"

Su Miao sat next door, wearing a veiled hat. Hearing these words, a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

They weren't wrong. When she was assigned there, it was indeed very dirty and smelly, and the environment was bad. There were still many doubts about her.

But so what? She came to help them get rid of their suffering, not to enjoy herself.

What she needs to do is change that situation.

If she does a good job, she won't need to say anything more; people will naturally change their opinion of her.

Tao'er took a sip of tea and couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Xie has asked for a reward for you. What kind of reward could it be?"

She was a little curious.

"Perhaps it's those external things."

Upon hearing this, Su Miao couldn't help but scoff coldly.

She still remembered asking Shen Changji last night what reward she would receive.

Unexpectedly, the man simply said no.

She had originally planned to use this opportunity to boldly make some demands.

Who knew, this... damn man!

Tao'er couldn't help but make a bold guess: "To be honest, I think this Young Master Xie seems to have feelings for you, Miss. Do you think he might..." Tao'er couldn't help but make a bold guess.

"Won't!"

Su Miao was resolute.

"I'm really curious."

"Don't be curious, eat!" Su Miao smiled and put a chicken leg into Tao'er's bowl.

Tao'er didn't stand on ceremony with Su Miao either.

After the master and servant finished eating, Su Miao went to buy some rouge and face powder.

As soon as Su Miao stepped out the door, she heard a voice teasing a man.

"Oh, who do we have here! Isn't this Miss Su?"

As he spoke, the other person tried to lift his fan to lift Su Miao's veil.

She quickly took a step back, her brows furrowing.

"Who are you! How dare you be so insolent!" Tao'er quickly stepped in front of them.

"These days, everyone is talking about Miss Su. If I hadn't met her today, I wouldn't have known that she was such a wonderful person."

As the man spoke, he rubbed his palms together, a greedy glint in his eyes.

He mustered his courage and tried to hold Su Miao's hand.

But Su Miao pushed him away forcefully.

Because he couldn't stand, he fell directly to the ground, looking completely disheveled.

The constant laughter around him only made him more embarrassed.

"Hey, you're really asking for trouble! I've taken a liking to you and want to take you home as my wife, but you're so ungrateful!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Tao'er said, displeased.

"Arrogance? My father is a censor, after all. If I wanted you, wouldn't it be a simple matter? You're just a cousin fostered in the Duke's mansion, not a proper young lady. What are you putting on airs for!" Sun Yan was instantly displeased.

He spat and looked Su Miao up and down with malicious intent.

"Imperial Censor? Isn't that just a sixth-rank official?" Tao'er frowned, even more disdainful.

"So what if I'm a sixth-rank official? I don't need a cousin like you..."

Su Miao stepped forward and stomped on Sun Yan's mouth, then rubbed it twice with her floral shoes.

"What do you want? Say it again!"

"I want... um..."

Sun Yan couldn't bring himself to say it; with each word he uttered, Su Miao tightened her grip.

Su Miao only let go of Sun Yan when his lips were swollen and he could no longer speak.

"You...you have some nerve! Just you wait!"

Sun Yan covered his swollen mouth, looking displeased, and left with his men.

A mere cousin dares to bully him!

very good!

Sun Yan returned as quickly as possible and immediately informed his father.

He just wanted to marry his cousin, what's wrong with that?

If it weren't for Su Miao's beauty, he wouldn't have lowered himself to marry her!

Unexpectedly, before Sun Yan could finish speaking, he was hit by a book thrown at him by Imperial Censor Sun.

"You unfilial son! Of all people to mess with, you had to pick on her!"

"Father, what wrong have I done? It's that Su Miao who doesn't know what's good for her!"

"What do you mean she doesn't know what's good for her? His Majesty remembered her merits and directly bestowed upon her the title of County Princess. Do you think you can afford to offend her now?" He looked at Sun Yan with exasperation, almost dying of anger.

“County...County Lord?” Sun Yan’s pupils widened.

Not only was he surprised, but even Su Miao was terrified when she returned to the Duke's mansion by this imperial edict.

On her way back, Tao'er was worried about what would happen if Su Miao offended Sun Yan.

Who would have thought...

While her father-in-law was reading the imperial edict, Su Miao was in a daze.

"Little Miao, quickly thank His Majesty!" Old Madam Shen reminded her with a smile.

"Thank you... thank you, Your Majesty."

Su Miao looked at the imperial edict in her hand, completely incredulous.

“Now everyone here calls you Princess Su. You can move out of the Duke’s mansion and live in your own residence,” the eunuch reminded her.

Upon hearing this, Tao'er couldn't help but feel excited for Su Miao.

After all, they'll be people of status in the future!

After her father-in-law left, Tao'er couldn't help but say, "Could this be the reward that Young Master Xie asked for for you, Miss?"

Tao'er's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for Chen Changji, who was standing not far away, to hear clearly.

His face suddenly darkened.