Zhao Jinxiu indeed went to the governor's mansion; she wanted to ask Madam Zheng for advice.
However, given her status, she would never be able to meet the high and mighty governor's wife.
One of the nannies who came out to deal with Zhao Jinxiu was a servant of Madam Zheng.
She handed Zhao Jinxiu a paper package, "This is the newly prepared Five-Stone Powder. Find a way to send it to the King of Yue!"
Zhao Jinxiu did not take it immediately; her expression was somewhat hesitant.
It is said that Helian Jue's addiction to Wushi Powder was thanks to her.
The day after the governor's birthday banquet was also three days before the prince's residence moved.
Using her identity as a maidservant to the princess, Zhao Jinxiu secretly sneaked into Helian Jue's courtyard.
Seeing that Helian Jue was holding a wine jar and looked drunk, she earnestly urged him to take Wushi Powder, saying that this medicine could "relieve worries" even better than drinking alcohol.
Zhao Jinxiu was too nervous at the time and had no urgent desire to please Helian Jue, so she did not notice the ruthless killing intent that flashed across his handsome face, which was pretending to be drunk.
Helian Jue: ...
Suppressing the urge to kill Zhao Jinxiu, he resorted to his old trick and pretended to die drunk right in front of her.
Duofu, who had been watching over him, quickly stepped in to smooth things over when he saw the situation. "Miss Jinxiu, you can keep this medicine for now. I'll give it to His Highness after he sobers up!"
Zhao Jinxiu wanted to stay and serve, but Duofu didn't give her the chance at all.
In the end, Zhao Jinxiu had no choice but to hand over the Five-Stone Powder to Duofu and leave dejectedly.
The next day, Zhao Jinxiu heard that His Highness the Prince of Yue had become obsessed with Five-Stone Powder, and that he wore a long robe with wide sleeves and his hair was disheveled from morning to night, looking like a madman!
Zhao Jinxiu felt a little scared: Could it be that I have harmed His Highness?
She wasn't truly unaware of the conflict between the Prefect's Mansion and the Prince of Yue's Mansion, nor was she unaware that Cui Boyong and his wife harbored ill intentions towards His Highness the Prince of Yue.
She desperately wanted to escape her lowly status and become someone superior to others.
Madam Zheng threw out a bait, and even though Zhao Jinxiu knew the bait was poisoned, she couldn't help but swallow it.
For the next three days, Zhao Jinxiu did not see Helian Jue again.
But I heard that he was becoming increasingly worse.
On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Prince's Mansion moved, and Zhao Jinxiu finally met the Prince of Yue.
He was indeed disheveled and acting erratically, which made Zhao Jinxiu even more frightened.
She still harbored ambitions, but the problem was, what if the King of Yue really became obsessed with the Five-Stone Powder and turned into a drug-addicted madman?
Even if she followed the King of Yue, it seemed she would still be unable to gain his favor.
Concubines who fell out of favor were simply objects to be beaten or killed at the master's whim.
If that's the case, she might as well follow the princess and be a head maid.
Zhao Jinxiu was frightened and regretted it.
So when she came to the governor's mansion again and was once again given a packet of Five-Stone Powder by the nanny, she hesitated.
"What? You've changed your mind? You don't want to become His Highness the Prince of Yue's concubine anymore?"
The old woman was shrewd and experienced; how could she not see Zhao Jinxiu's hesitation?
She sneered repeatedly, "Too late! From the moment you handed the Five-Stone Powder to the King of Yue, you could never turn back!"
“Zhao Jinxiu, I advise you to be smart. Helian Jue is already crippled, and the Yue Prince’s Mansion will never be as glorious again.”
"You should listen to our mistress and serve her well. In the future... she might look after you!"
"Otherwise, hmph, you should know what will happen!"
The old woman's threats did indeed frighten Zhao Jinxiu.
Zhao Jinxiu was not stupid; she knew very well that she had offended the princess.
As for His Highness the King of Yue, he was so useless. After taking Five-Stone Powder for a few days, he actually went mad.
She can no longer rely on the Yue Prince's Mansion.
She could only rely on the governor's mansion.
After much deliberation, Zhao Jinxiu made up her mind and reached out to take the packet of medicine.
"That's right!"
Seeing that Zhao Jinxiu obeyed obediently, the nanny finally showed a satisfied smile.
"Also, when you get back, try to find out about the sugar shop."
The old woman continued, "By the way, I heard your father is the manager of the sugar shop?!"
Madam Zheng chose Zhao Jinxiu not only because she was attracted to her ambition, but also for other important reasons.
"A candy shop?"
Zhao Jinxiu was taken aback for a moment, and then a troubled expression appeared on her face. "My father is in Guangcheng, not in Yuezhou."
Xiao Zixiu was in charge of all the sugar shops in Yuezhou.
Xiao Zixiu was a military officer in the Prince's mansion, belonging to the category of "outer officials," while Zhao Jinxiu, a maid in the inner courtyard, had no chance to get close to him.
The old woman glared at her and said with displeasure, "Just do what the madam tells you to do. Why all the nonsense?"
Zhao Jinxiu was startled; she hadn't expected the old woman to turn on her so suddenly.
However, the sugar shop was an important business of the Prince's mansion, so it was really not a good idea for her to inquire about it.
Because of her affair with the prince, the entire Zhao family despised her.
She ran home to find out what was going on, only to be scolded herself.
Seeing that Zhao Jinxiu was clearly frightened by her, yet still looked troubled, the old woman cursed inwardly as "useless lowly servant," but her expression softened.
“I know you’re in a difficult position! Here’s what you can do: you can tell Xie some ‘secrets’ about the governor’s mansion to regain Xie’s trust, and then find an opportunity to inquire about the sugar shop.”
The nanny gave Zhao Jinxiu a suggestion.
Zhao Jinxiu stared blankly at the nanny for a long time before she reacted. "Nanny, do you mean to make the Princess Consort mistakenly believe that I am getting close to the Governor's Mansion to help her gather information?"
But wouldn't that expose her secret dealings with the governor's mansion?
Seeing Zhao Jinxiu's astonished expression, the old woman curled her lip and said, "If you don't tell me, do you think Xie Shi doesn't know? Xie Shi isn't stupid!"
Zhao Jinxiu has gone to seduce the prince. Will Madam Xie send someone to keep an eye on her?
With just a little attention, one can discover Zhao Jinxiu's whereabouts.
Since "exposure" is inevitable, we might as well make good use of it and have Zhao Jinxiu stage a counter-espionage scheme to help the governor's mansion obtain more "secrets" from the Yue King's mansion.
Other things aside, Cui Boyong and Madam Zheng were extremely envious of the highly profitable sugar shop business!
Unfortunately, the candy shop bore the mark of the Prince of Yan's residence, and news from the capital indicated that the Prince of Yan was currently enjoying great influence, so Cui Boyong dared not make a move lightly.
If you can't openly rob, then you can only find a way to steal—get your hands on the secret recipe for making sugar, and how many sugar shops can't open?
"...Okay! I understand!"
Zhao Jinxiu nodded, obediently like a puppet on a string.
...
Upon returning to the Prince's Mansion in Crescent Moon Village, Zhao Jinxiu did not rush to deliver the Five-Stone Powder to Helian Jue's courtyard, but instead went straight to Xie Yuan's main courtyard.
"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! I was bewitched and, after being provoked by a few words, I developed thoughts I shouldn't have had."
"This servant dares not ask Your Majesty for forgiveness, but this servant begs Your Majesty to give this servant a chance to atone for my sins."
Zhao Jinxiu prostrated herself at Xie Yuan's feet, pleading humbly.
Xie Yuan raised an eyebrow: Oh ho, what kind of trouble is this ancient green tea girl causing now!
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