Chapter 15
"You have been following me for some time now."
Xiaoju asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by this, Miss?"
She didn't understand why her mistress would suddenly say that.
Shen Qingnian looked at Xiaoju's delicate face and said calmly, "You are not a servant born into the household. I remember you will be able to leave the household in two years."
Those born into the household are sold into servitude to the Shen family and are considered slaves, from which they can never escape. Those not born into the household, like Xiaoju, will be released from the mansion to be free.
Xiaoju was Shen Zheng's person. Her brother, Wenfeng, was a servant who served Shen Zheng. Naturally, she was introduced by Wenfeng and thus gained Shen Zheng's favor.
Upon hearing Shen Qingnian's question, Xiaoju immediately felt a sense of alarm: "Miss..."
Shen Qingnian scooped up water with jasmine fragrance and sprinkled it on her collarbone. The water droplets made the red mole on her delicate collarbone even more beautiful.
She said calmly, "Wen Feng is a slave, so it's natural that Father values him. But you are not a servant, so why should Father value you? When the two-year period is up, will Father really release you from the manor?"
Knowing so many of Shen Zheng's secrets, Xiao Ju could not possibly leave the mansion safely. When Wen Feng introduced Xiao Ju, did he really not consider these things?
After Shen Qingnian finished speaking, she clearly felt Xiao Ju's hand tremble.
"Miss, what do you mean by this...?" Xiaoju's tone was somewhat suppressed.
She had considered the matter the young lady had mentioned, but she was already in the game and had no way out.
When her elder brother introduced her to the family, she thought he was just looking out for her and getting her a good job. But after entering the manor, she realized it wasn't a good job at all; it was a quagmire...
Shen Qingnian smiled and said, "My father's household is clean and he has not taken a concubine for many years. You have a gentle nature, and my mother has long intended to make you a concubine. Xiaoju, your good days are not far away."
These seemingly gentle words made Xiaoju turn pale, and even her body swayed.
This is hardly a good day; it's clearly an attempt to trap her and kill her in the Shen mansion...
After Shen Qingnian finished speaking, she stopped talking. The only sound in the room was the gentle patter of the shower. Xiao Ju didn't urge her any further.
It was half an hour later when she got out of the bathtub.
Xiaoju absentmindedly wiped Shen Qingnian's long hair until Shen Zheng knocked on the door. Only then did she realize what was happening, quickly dropped the handkerchief, and opened the door.
After Shen Zheng entered, he glanced at Xiao Ju with considerable dissatisfaction. She was never this slow on ordinary days. How could this maid be so incompetent?
Xiaoju noticed Shen Zheng's gaze and lowered her head even further.
Lord Shen probably has other intentions towards her. If she really becomes a concubine, then she will be under house arrest, having to serve Lord Shen at night and suffer the torment of his wife during the day.
She's still just a maid, and she gets punished by the mistress occasionally. Let alone becoming a concubine. A concubine without any background lives a life worse than a maid.
Thinking of this, Xiaoju couldn't help but tremble.
She didn't want to be trapped and die in this inner quarters...
Xiaoju's thoughts were in turmoil, and after Shen Qingnian's seemingly unintentional reminder, she began to overanalyze Shen Zheng's every move.
As Shen Zheng entered the room, he was greeted by the rich fragrance of jasmine. When he looked at Shen Qingnian sitting on the stool, his eyes lit up.
She is indeed beautiful, otherwise I wouldn't have chosen her.
"I heard that you were sent back to the manor by the Crown Prince?" Shen Zheng walked to the chair opposite Shen Qingnian and sat down.
After the steward informed him of the news, he rushed over. The current Crown Prince had never sent any noble lady back to her residence before; this was the first time.
Shen Qingnian nodded: "His Highness the Crown Prince escorted me back to the side gate and then left."
"What do you plan to do next?" Shen Zhengqian asked.
After these few encounters, he realized that Shen Qingnian was quite capable. Although he understood this, he still needed to constantly urge her on.
Shen Qingnian picked up the hot tea on the table and said softly, "The Crown Prince's birthday is in half a month. I will embroider a painting to present to His Majesty, and that dilapidated temple will also be embroidered into it."
Today, the Crown Prince's suspicions about me have intensified. After he sees that embroidered painting, his suspicions will only grow stronger. I urge Father to have a jewelry shop create a new red jade headdress for him in a few days, so that the Crown Prince's men may see it.”
The matter of the dilapidated temple should not be rushed; it must be uncovered step by step to achieve the best results.
Shen Zheng understood, and he nodded: "Would you like to invite some embroiderers into the mansion?"
Shen Qingnian's lowered eyes flickered slightly: "It must be embroidered by my own hands to win the Crown Prince's heart. My aunt's double-sided embroidery is excellent. I need to learn from her."
She was right, but Shen Zheng narrowed his eyes: "You'd better not try anything funny."
Shen Qingnian is intelligent, and it is precisely because of her intelligence that Shen Zheng is even more wary. The only person who can control Shen Qingnian is Aunt Liu. In order to avoid any mishaps, Shen Zheng almost never lets the two of them meet.
At this moment, the steward rushed in, his face full of excitement: "Master, the Crown Prince's Palace sent people here, bringing a lot of nourishing things, including a century-old ginseng root!"
The palace eunuchs specifically instructed that if the young lady caught a cold, they should immediately go to the palace to summon the imperial physician, and absolutely not delay.
This is the first time the Crown Prince has ever sent something over on his own initiative, which shows how much he values the young lady.
Song Xuan was afraid that sending the imperial physician over rashly would cause too much of a commotion, which is why he gave such instructions.
But for the Crown Prince, who always adhered to etiquette, this was already an extraordinary honor. Even Lin Yue'er, who was previously closest to the Crown Prince, had never received such treatment.
Upon hearing the steward's words, Shen Zheng immediately beamed with joy: "Good, good, good! You truly are my good daughter! Tomorrow, I will have the steward send you to Aunt Liu's place."
After saying that, he instructed the steward: "His Highness the Crown Prince cares deeply for Qing Nian, and everyone should know about this."
Once this gets out, it will definitely overshadow Lin Yue'er, and the rumors about the Crown Princess in the capital will change hands.
"Father, you mustn't! His Highness only has a good impression of me right now. If we make a big fuss about it now, it might annoy His Highness," Shen Qingnian quickly stopped Shen Zheng.
Shen Zheng glanced at Shen Qingnian, somewhat hesitant.
These days, many court officials have been openly or secretly mocking and ridiculing him, saying that no matter how outstanding Shen Qingnian is, she can't compare to that Lin family girl.
It made him furious...
Shen Qingnian explained, "Father, have you forgotten the rumors about Lin Yue'er and the Crown Prince that were circulating some time ago?"
Even though the soldiers and civilians on the border praised the daughter, the capital was far from the border. Without someone secretly manipulating things, how could the rumors have spread to the capital, even surpassing those about Lin Yue'er and the Crown Prince?
If she hadn't been studying the Crown Prince every day, she would never have connected these two things.
After hearing her say that, Shen Zheng finally connected the two things. After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "As expected of my daughter, you are indeed exceptionally intelligent."
Shen Qingnian lowered her head, looking extremely obedient.
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In the Eastern Palace—
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