The next day, she woke up early and called Qianxue to help her wash and dress before going to the Fujin's courtyard to pay her respects.

Ignoring the various looks and expressions on everyone's faces after seeing her, Geng Youran slowly squatted down to pay her respects to the Fujin.

"Little sister, get up quickly, are you feeling any better?"

"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I have already recovered."

Ulanara nodded and smiled slightly:

"It's true that life on the estate is quite nourishing; I noticed that my sister's complexion has become much rosier."

Geng Youran returned a smile without saying anything.

Nian Yunrong, who was standing to the side, adjusted her earring and said:

"Sister Geng, you've come at just the right time. The Prince has just returned, and you've already come back from the estate. It's clear you really miss the Prince."

Apart from the Fujin (wife of the emperor) and Niohuru Wanru, everyone else focused their attention on Geng Youran.

Geng Youran, having experienced many big events, paid no attention to these people's probing and focused solely on drinking her tea.

"Alright, ladies, Sister Geng is better now, we should be happy for her. That's all for today, ladies, please go back now."

When Nian Yunrong saw that the Fujin had refuted her predicament with a single sentence, she was about to retaliate when the maid behind her pressed down on her shoulder.

Back in the courtyard, Nian Yunrong loudly questioned:

"Qingxi, what's wrong with you?"

“Consort, as you can see, the current Princess Consort is clearly on the same side as Lady Geng. If you attack Lady Geng at this time, aren’t you just asking for trouble?”

"I just can't swallow this! That woman has no family background, no looks, she's just a cook, why does everyone favor her!"

Qingxi didn't know how to comfort her.

Everyone in the manor knew that the concubine was fond of the prince, and the prince also doted on his concubine.

However, the concubine always felt that the prince did not like her, believing it was because others were gossiping about him.

This time, Lord Nian sent a message to Consort Geng, saying that Consort Geng had gone to Sichuan with the Prince, which made Consort Geng sick for many days. She only showed signs of improvement after the Prince returned. However, after the Prince returned, he only went to the First Lady's place and did not come to see Consort Geng at all.

Just then, the sound of dishes shattering on the floor came from outside.

Qingxi went out to see:

"Ying'er, what's wrong with you? You're so clumsy!"

Ying'er knelt on the ground, trembling, begging for mercy:

"Sister Qingxi, I just twisted my ankle by accident, please have mercy!"

At this moment, Nian Yunrong came out, personally helped Ying'er up, and picked up a piece of broken glass.

"This seems to be the tea set that the Prince recently bestowed upon my concubine."

Ying'er trembled and dared not utter a sound.

Unexpectedly, Nian Yunrong took the shards and slashed them at Ying'er's arm.

"ah!"

Ying'er clutched her injured arm and kowtowed to the ground, too afraid to cry out.

Qingxi was startled by Nian Yunrong's actions. She watched as Nian Yunrong threw away the broken pieces and turned to go inside.

She took a small piece of silver from her purse and handed it to Ying'er.

"Take this and go find a doctor to treat you. Don't go to the front to serve me for the next few days."

"...Yes, Sister Xie Qingxi."

Ying'er covered her arm as she left the courtyard. Not long after, she ran into Xiao Anzi, who was returning from delivering snacks to Prince Hongshi.

"Isn't this Ying'er? What happened to you? Why are you bleeding so much?"

She shook her head, gritting her teeth and remaining silent.

Seeing that Ying'er didn't speak, Xiao Anzi had no choice but to take her to Geng Youran's courtyard.

"Master! Master!"

Qianxue came out and scolded:

"What are you yelling about? Have you no manners? What happened?"

Just as Xiao Anzi was about to speak, Ying'er collapsed beside him.

"Oh, what's with this?"

The two people helped Ying'er to Qianxue's room, carefully bandaged Ying'er's wounds, and then went to the small kitchen to make soup for Ying'er.

"Xiao Anzi, go and report this to Gege right away."

"Okay, I'll go right now!"

Upon hearing that Ying'er from Consort Nian's courtyard had been injured and brought back by Xiao Anzi for treatment, Geng Youran quickly asked:

How is he?

"She's alright, just bled a bit and fainted. Sister Qianxue just applied medicine to her and is making soup in the small kitchen now."

Geng Youran nodded.

Although she and Nian Yunrong didn't get along, Ying'er was innocent.

“Last year, your concubine reported back to me, saying that I would send the person back after he woke up.”

Xiao Anzi didn't move.

"What's wrong?"

Geng Youran asked in confusion.

“Princess, you didn’t see it, Ying’er’s wound on her arm is quite deep. It might have been done by Consort Nian. Sending her back now would be like throwing a lamb to the slaughter.”

Geng Youran was in a bit of a predicament. After all, Ying'er belonged to Consort Nian, and it was really inappropriate for her to stay in her own courtyard like this.

But given the severity of the injuries, there must be something more to it.

Geng Youran thought for a moment and then gave the instructions:

"Go and fetch a doctor to prescribe some medicine for Ying'er. Then go and report to the Fujin. Don't mention the matter of Consort Nian. Just say that you met Ying'er in the kitchen and, unable to bear it, brought her here."

In this backyard, besides the prince, the princess is the most powerful.

Even if Consort Nian wanted to use this matter to cause trouble for her, she would have to think twice.

Following Geng Youran's instructions, Xiao Anzi first consulted a doctor and then reported to the Fujin (wife of the deceased).

The Fujin (principal wife) assumed that Geng Youran was being kind-hearted and agreed to let Ying'er stay with Geng Youran to recover from her injuries.

Consort Nian would not admit to privately torturing servants, so Ying'er was left behind.

"Thank you, Princess Geng, for saving my life!"

After Ying'er woke up, she felt dizzy. She regained some strength after drinking some soup.

With the help of Xiao Anzi and Qianxue, he kowtowed to Geng Youran to express his gratitude.

"You still have an injury on your hand, get up quickly!"

Geng Youran frowned, noticing that the girl appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old.

"Qianxue, Xiao Anzi, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and help Ying'er up."

After helping Ying'er up, Geng Youran asked her about the cause of her injury.

At first, Ying'er didn't dare to speak, but she told the truth when Geng Youran said he would send her back to Consort Nian.

"Gege Geng, please, please let me stay. I'll do anything. If you send me back, I'm afraid I won't even be able to save my life!"

"What have you done to make Consort Nian so unforgiving of you?"

In Geng Youran's memory, Nian Yunrong was prone to jealousy, but she never laid a hand on the servants who served her.

Although Ying'er is pitiful, there must be a reason behind it.

When Ying'er heard Geng Youran's question, she stammered and couldn't give a coherent answer.

Geng Youran then realized that Ying'er either had some unspeakable secret or had done something to wrong Nian Yunrong, which was why she was being treated this way.

Thinking of this, Geng Youran straightened her face.

"Tell me, what exactly did you do!"