Chen Mianmian took another sip of tea to calm her nerves, then took a deep breath. "Alright, do you still have any relatives alive?"
Liu Xiangning said earnestly, "I've been sold so many times that I can't find any relatives anymore, and besides, I don't really want to look for them."
Shen Mianmian nodded thoughtfully, "When Hanrong asks later, just say that it was the princess who saved you. As for why the princess saved you, we don't know. Anyone who is curious can ask the princess themselves. As for my taking you in... say that it was the princess's request."
Same old method: whoever is absent takes the blame.
Although the princess was present, no one dared to question her, making her the perfect scapegoat.
"Yes, Master... Oh no, Miss, don't worry, I'm very discreet and quick-witted. Everyone used to say I was clever and would never give anything away!"
Looking at Liu Xiangning's cheerful smile, and recalling that she had just been sold to a brothel a few hours earlier, Shen Mianmian couldn't help but admire the girl's resilience.
Even if Liu Xiangning were to become a courtesan, she would still be the one who tried the hardest.
It's really...heartbreaking.
Even Chen Mianmian, who considered herself an observer and unsympathetic, softened considerably. "Call me whatever you want, you can call me Master."
Anyway, she has nothing to teach.
Liu Xiangning said with a fawning expression, "Yes, from now on I will call you Miss in public and Master in private. So, Master, what are we going to do later?"
Chen Mianmian glanced at the tightly closed door. "No rush, let's wait a little longer. When Madam comes out, I need to coordinate with her and make sure we don't say anything wrong."
"Yes, Master."
Liu Xiangning had a lot to say, but seeing her master's furrowed brows and thoughtful expression, as if he were making a decision on something important, she obediently shut her mouth and remained silent.
Another incense stick's worth of time passed.
When the door opened, Granny Li and the Madam came out.
Chen Mianmian said, "Go and invite Madam and Granny Li over for a short visit."
"Yes, Miss." Liu Xiangning happily went to carry out her first task after joining her master's fold.
He scurried up to the lady, behaving with the utmost respect.
Ding and Li were startled, but after calming themselves down, they went over.
Shen Mianmian had already gotten up. "I'm sorry, Madam. I didn't come over to invite you in person because there were too many people around, and I was afraid it would cause unnecessary suspicion. So I'm troubling you to come over. Please sit down, Madam."
Ding didn't think much of it and sat down.
Granny Li invited Concubine Shen to sit down as well, while she herself stood behind the Madam.
Chen Mianmian didn't offer much courtesy, because now was not the time to respect the elderly and care for the young; she had to resolve the matter quickly.
"Madam, when we get back, the young mistress will most likely ask us about it. How should we answer?"
"what you think?"
Chen Mianmian said, "I have a suggestion: let's put all the blame on Her Highness the Princess. Liu Xiangning was saved by the Princess, and it was also the Princess's idea for Liu Xiangning to come to the Marquis of Anning's residence. As for why the Princess made this decision, we'll have to ask the Princess; we don't know either."
The worried old woman, Li Mama, was overjoyed. "That's right! Aunt Shen is right!"
Ding also breathed a sigh of relief, "Although it sounds unreasonable, upon closer reflection, this has always been the way Her Highness the Princess acts. It would be unreasonable if a princess of high rank and power were to act like an ordinary woman, hesitant and timid, with all sorts of concerns, even when doing something small."
So, the blame was shifted onto the princess, and that was the end of it.
Chen Mianmian led Liu Xiangning and Hanrong back to the courtyard of the guest rooms, while Granny Li went to the guest room where Jiang Yinjin was.
The two sides split up and, after Li Mama and Jiang Yinjin finished explaining the day's events, everyone prepared to return to the Marquis's residence.
I won't go into details about what Granny Li said to Jiang Yinjin.
Half an hour later, the people from the Marquis of Anning's mansion, accompanied by Ying Gu, left the Princess's mansion and boarded the Marquis's carriage.
Unlike when they came, on the return trip, Ding requested to ride with Chen Mianmian, using the excuse that she wanted to question Liu Xiangning about her situation.
A carriage carries four people. The lady's carriage was already full, with the lady herself, Granny Li, Chen Mianmian, and Liu Xiangning inside.
Hanrong then had to go to the second carriage, which was the carriage of the young mistress Jiang Yinjin.
Soon, the carriage drove away from the gate of the princess's residence and headed towards the Marquis of Anning's residence.
In the second carriage,
Jiang Yinjin sat at the back of the carriage, Chu Yu and Chu Xue squeezed together on the bench on the left, while Han Rong sat on the bench on the right.
The car was tense and quiet. The young mistress didn't speak, and none of the other three dared to utter a word.
After a moment, Jiang Yinjin snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at Hanrong. "The letter delivered to Chen Mianmian was about Liu Xiangning being sold to a brothel?"
Hanrong was secretly nervous. "Young Madam, this servant really didn't know. When Consort Shen entered the Princess's room, the Princess's maids wouldn't let me in. I waited outside the whole time. The Princess's maids can testify to that!"
Jiang Yinjin nodded slightly. "The second question: who saved Liu Xiangning, the princess or Aunt Shen?"
Hanrong said, "This... this servant doesn't know either, but this servant thinks it's the princess, because Her Highness always acts as she pleases, doing whatever she wants, you could say... without any reason, including the princess sending Liu Xiangning to our Marquis's residence, which is also completely unreasonable."
Jiang Yinjin frowned slightly. "When the princess interrogated Liu Xiangning, you were outside the room. After the interrogation, did you hear anything from Aunt Shen?"
"...No, Aunt Shen and Liu Xiangning were talking in the corner of the courtyard and didn't let me get close..." Hanrong felt embarrassed as she finished speaking.
Chu Yu asked nervously, "Young Madam, do you think it's possible that they've discovered Han Rong is one of your people?"
Jiang Yinjin carefully considered everyone's reactions in her mind, then slowly shook her head, "I don't know either, I can't tell."
It was fine as long as she was quiet; she knew that the lady couldn't keep things to herself, and if the lady found out, she would definitely reveal it.
But the lady did not show any reaction.
So where exactly is the problem?
At the same time, another carriage.
Liu Xiangning had expected Lady Anning to interrogate her, and she was prepared to be questioned. However, as soon as the carriage started moving, she heard Lady Anning excitedly say, "Quick! Quick, get the candied fruit! Mianmian, you tell a joke. If you don't want to, just continue talking about 'Princess Pearl'! Last time we talked about Consort Ling, and then what? Did Consort Ling actually help Xiao Yanzi?"
"??" Liu Xiangning—Eh? Is Lady Anning so... carefree?
Chen Mianmian sighed helplessly—well, out of all the characters in the novel, only the lady's character hasn't fallen apart!
Since the lady of the house made the request, Shen Mianmian had no choice but to agree. However, she couldn't talk about "Princess Pearl" either, otherwise, if the princess found out that the lady had "preferred" it, who knows what kind of trouble she would cause.
So, Chen Mianmian started telling the story of "The Legend of the White Snake" to the lady, captivating the other three.
Liu Xiangning, in particular, listened intently while pondering—she still needed to read more books! Indeed, she needed to read more!
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