Gan Qiongying slowly opened her eyes in the mirror, watching the old woman still advising her, listing all the advantages of being a concubine, saying that she could rise to the top in one step and be surrounded by servants, and would no longer need to be a lower-class person.

In short, it has countless advantages and no disadvantages.

Gan Qiongying finally understood that she had not been chosen as a maid, but rather that the concubine she had just been chosen for last night had suddenly died, and that she was to be sent to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace tonight.

If the group of servants they selected to look after in the Crown Prince's residence dared to report the truth, they would all be implicated.

So they came up with the idea of ​​substituting one thing for another, and Gan Qiongying just happened to be caught in the crossfire today, becoming the substitute...

She had been wondering why she had pulled out a lock of the old woman's hair, making the already shabby old woman's hair even worse, but she was still chosen. And this is what was waiting for her!

Gan Qiongying absolutely did not believe the benefits the old woman was talking about. If such benefits were truly available, they would not have been offered to someone like her who had only been selected today.

Even if they look alike, the Crown Prince's residence has already found so many candidates for concubines according to the criteria of phoenix eyes and cherry lips. If any one of them is chosen to replace the Crown Prince, everyone would be fighting tooth and nail to get them. How could they possibly send a newcomer who doesn't even know the rules directly to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace?

There's definitely a huge pit here.

Gan Qiongying was quick-witted and knew that if she suddenly got up, broke free from the group, ran out of the room, and shouted outside, her two shadow guards would immediately appear and take her away.

They watched her and followed her all day long.

The Crown Prince's residence is different from the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. This residence is only used to select maids and receive some guests. The guards are not as strict as those at the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. Just look at those few listless guards at the gate. It would be no problem for Gan Qiongying to get away.

However, as she looked at herself in the mirror, already dressed up, and listened to the old woman's various pronouncements about becoming a concubine and surviving tonight, she slowly curled her lips into a smile, feeling like a phoenix soaring to the top.

It wasn't because of any illusory wealth and glory, but rather because it was something you searched high and low for but couldn't find, only to have it come to you effortlessly.

Gan Qiongying had been thinking of finding an opportunity to see Li Hua after entering the mansion as a maid, and tonight was just the perfect time.

Even if the other party is not Li Hua, but Zhongli Zhengzhen, it doesn't matter. Gan Qiongying looked at her head full of various pearls and jade hairpins. It shouldn't be difficult for her to take Zhongli Zhengzhen hostage, right?

Zhong Li's legs were broken, so he probably doesn't have much ability now. Even if he did, it wouldn't matter, as Gan Qiongying's two shadow guards would secretly follow her.

The three of them will then kidnap Zhongli Zhengzhen and try to use her to force Li Hua out.

Therefore, Gan Qiongying knew that the other party was setting a trap for her, so she played along and sat there without moving, smiling with anticipation.

She excitedly grabbed the old woman's hand and said, "Old woman, you have shown me such great kindness. When I become a concubine of the Crown Prince, I will definitely repay you!"

"I wonder what the old lady's name is?"

Of course, the old woman dared not say it.

This kind of underhanded trickery must never be known to anyone. She doesn't seek any reward, because she knows that the woman in front of her will definitely not live past tonight.

The old woman looked at Gan Qiongying with a hint of pity in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and politely gave a false name: "This servant's name is Hua Caiying."

This name belonged to someone the old woman disliked, someone who lived in the same Crown Prince's residence but always seemed to be above her.

Zheng Mama thought to herself, "There's no head to the grievance, but there's a name to the debt. If this woman becomes a ghost, she can seek revenge on Hua Caiying, not on her."

Upon seeing that the woman was indeed as she had guessed, coveting the title of the Crown Prince's concubine and the prospect of great wealth and honor, and obediently letting her manipulate her, Granny Zheng was overjoyed once again.

He sincerely gave Gan Qiongying a few words of advice: "When you arrive at the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, you must follow the nanny who is guiding you. Do not look around or talk carelessly. Do whatever they tell you to do. When you see the Crown Prince, you must also behave properly."

Zheng Mama said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has an unpredictable temper, sometimes gentle and sometimes irritable. If you happen to be irritable, you should just kneel on the ground and beg for forgiveness."

"If you happen to be in a gentle mood with the Crown Prince, do not try to do anything seductive. If you displease the Crown Prince, you will be severely punished and sold out. Just listen to the Crown Prince's orders and you will not make a mistake."

Gan Qiongying immediately recognized who was Li Hua and who was Zhongli Zhengzhen, and nodded with a smile: "I understand, thank you for your guidance, Granny."

Seeing how obedient and easily fooled Gan Qiongying was, Granny Zheng thought that since she was a dying person, she would at least make a good-for-nothing before she died.

They even specially arranged for the catering service to send over some dishes and rice, so that Gan Qiongying could fill her stomach first.

Then he left Gan Qiongying in the room and ran out to discuss matters with a group of accomplices who were implicated because of the sudden death of the concubine who was to be sent to the mansion that night.

Gan Qiongying had been hungry and tired all day, and now she could finally eat her fill.

Meanwhile, Granny Zheng made arrangements for the person who would be escorting this concubine to the Crown Prince's palace that night.

Once the person is sent to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace and into his hands, the reason for her death—whether she was executed by the Crown Prince in a fit of anger or poisoned to death by the Crown Princess—is none of their concern.

Once this woman dies, the events that happened before will be impossible to verify, the switch will be concealed, and Zheng Mama and the others will be able to escape punishment.