As fellow maids, Manhuan ordered Wenxin around like this, yet Wenxin showed no displeasure whatsoever. Was she too calculating, or did she genuinely not care?

"You must not do this again," Shen Mingzhuang said to Man Huan in a deep voice.

It was rare to see her young mistress with such a serious expression, so Manhuan responded somewhat guiltily.

Have any messages been sent in from outside the palace these past few days?

As agreed, Aunt Liu should be out there helping her prepare for leaving the capital. Now that she has almost no time to leave Jiang Wang and travel around, Man Huan has become the only person who can help her.

Just as Manhuan was about to bring this up, she saw that the woman looked grave and spoke in a very low voice: "There's not a single piece of news. After the palace maids' clothes were distributed, I would go to Wenhua Gate whenever I had the chance and wait for a while. I did run into the Third Master a few times, but there was no news at all."

Shen Mingzhuang frowned slightly, but still managed to suppress his anxiety.

“You’ve done a good job. Even though you’re working in the palace, there are many people and a lot of eyes on you, so you don’t have to go every day.”

Because Manhuan is her personal servant, no one else will assign her any tasks. Manhuan has a lot of free time now, but if she goes there too often, it will inevitably attract attention.

Having said all that, Shen Mingzhuang patted Manhuan's hand and said, "Let's be patient for a few more days."

Now that Wenxin is still in her hands, Aunt Liu probably wouldn't dare to stand her up.

Otherwise, Shen Shuchun would be very interested to hear why Aunt Liu would send her personal maid to the palace.

After entering the palace, the unusually calm period always gave her a feeling of unease, like the calm before the storm.

Just as I was wondering whether I should give him a few more words of advice, a voice came from outside: "Is Shen Fengmo inside?"

Both master and servant remained silent, listening intently to the sounds outside.

Wenxin glanced at the door of the side room and hesitated before asking, "Yes, who are you?"

She looked somewhat bewildered, suggesting that the person who came looking for her was someone she didn't recognize.

"I am on duty at the front. Your Majesty, please ask Shen Fengmo to return quickly."

Shen Mingzhuang then realized that he had stayed for a while, so he quickly straightened his clothes and went out.

"I'm here, I'll go back now."

The newcomer was a somewhat unfamiliar pink-clad palace maid. Judging from her clothes, she was indeed dressed as a maid from the Imperial Study. However, Shen Mingzhuang had not seen her when he went in and out of the Imperial Study these days. If Jiang Wang sent someone to urge her, he should have sent someone who served in the inner palace.

Just as he took a few steps with suspicion, the little palace maid suddenly stopped, looked around, and stepped forward, saying, "Shen Fengmo, it is Mr. Pei who wants to see you."

Mr. Pei?

Shen Mingzhuang was stunned for a moment, his mind racing to search for information about Mr. Pei.

"Which Mr. Pei?"

She couldn't think of anyone; if she didn't know them, she definitely wouldn't have gone.

The intrigues and power struggles within this palace are endless; who knows who's really in charge?

"He is the princess's musician, the eldest son of Minister Pei's household."

Is it Pei Jingzhou? Shen Mingzhuang knew that Pei Jingzhou was a master of the zither and was ordered to teach the princess the zither. It was not surprising that people in the palace called him "Teacher".

A few hundred meters away from the Imperial Study, there is a rockery and covered walkway that rivals the Imperial Garden. The landscaping is unique and beautiful, with ancient trees reaching for the sky. The clean cobblestone path is lined with various exotic flowers and plants. As soon as you walk in, most of the summer heat dissipates.

The cicadas chirped, the brook babbled, the summer grass and trees grew wildly, and a faint fragrance of flowers filled the lush greenery. The octagonal pavilion with its curtains hung empty.

"I'm here."

Just as she looked around, she heard a somewhat familiar voice.