Jiang Qingqing finally got the imperial decree from Empress Xu after crying and making a fuss.

Early the next morning, Jiang Qingqing got up earlier than usual to attend classes at the Imperial College.

"Pick out the most beautiful clothes for me!"

Her unquestionable tone aroused Xin Juan's doubts. While she was helping the princess put on her clothes, she asked cautiously, "Are you going out of the palace today?"

"Why not? My mother personally assigned me this task, so I must go all out to host this banquet."

Jiang Qingqing stretched out her hand and clenched her fist, looking like she was struggling.

"Your Highness, are you going to take the Third Prince with you when you leave the palace this time?" Xin Juan asked casually while tying her pocket.

Yes...her naive brother.

Jiang Qingqing drooped her head, sighed sadly, and said earnestly: "He is more likely to cause trouble than to achieve success. He should just study hard in the Imperial College and not skip classes."

She is telling the truth.

But from Xin Juan's point of view, she felt that her little princess looked very mature beyond her years, just like Prince Xiao, who was now highly valued by His Majesty.

When I think of Prince Xiao, who is always serious, and then look at the lively and cheerful little princess in front of me.

Xin Juan suddenly began to worry. If His Highness played with the Prince for too long, would he learn to be serious?

I think of the young princess, with her sweet and lovely face but a stern face and a calm gaze...

Xin Juan got goose bumps all over her body and couldn't help but shiver.

"Are you sick?" Jiang Qingqing looked at the senior palace maid in front of her who was in a trance and then trembling, and couldn't help but speak to her with concern.

Xin Juan hurriedly shook her head. She called the palace maid who knew how to comb hair over, and she walked out carefully, holding the princess's token to leave the palace and the imperial edict approved by Empress Xu.

According to the rules of Tianqi Palace, one needs to register and explain before leaving the palace.

As Xin Juan walked out of Huaning Palace, she saw Zi Lian, the head maid of Chuxiu Palace.

"Xin Juan? What are you going to do?" Zi Lian walked over quickly.

The two exchanged greetings, and then Xin Juan casually explained, "Your Highness is leaving the palace to help Princess Qi Yang prepare the eldest princess' birthday banquet. I have to go register Her Highness the Princess right now. We can talk again when we have time."

After saying that, Xin Juan hurried away again.

Zi Lian of Chuxiu Palace looked at Xin Juan's departing back thoughtfully, and suddenly changed direction. On the way back to Chuxiu Palace, she could pass by the Imperial Garden.

Normally there are palace maids taking care of the flowers and plants in the imperial garden, but now it is empty.

Zi Lian somehow entered the Imperial Garden. When she was quietly walking into the garden, about halfway, she heard a female voice speaking.

"I bribed the Xu family and went to the Imperial College to persuade the Third Prince to stop studying, but Princess Dunming found out."

The female voice was so familiar that Zi Lian concentrated and listened carefully.

"However, if this token can be handed over to the Third Prince, maybe the Third Prince can go out to play. Once he leaves the palace, wouldn't it be easy to take action? Even if the matter is exposed, we can still find someone to take the blame."

A male voice suddenly sounded, "This method is indeed good, but Princess Dunming is really too much of a nuisance. Why is she everywhere?"

"It's okay. She's just a woman. There's no need to worry too much. Your Majesty is pampering her now. In the long run, she will definitely be overpraised. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"It's better to be careful in the palace. Your method of killing two birds with one stone is really good. You framed the Third Prince by using the Xu family's tricks. Even if the truth is revealed in the future, you can still find a scapegoat from the Xu family. If the queen knows your scheme, it will definitely make your mother's family shine in Jinling."

Zi Lian frowned and looked behind the fake stone mountain. Although she couldn't see who it was, the voice sounded very familiar.

She wanted to look forward again, but her feet suddenly stepped on dead leaves. The crunching sound seemed particularly abrupt in the silent imperial garden.

Zi Lian held her breath, turned around in a hurry, and ran out of the imperial garden in small steps.

——

Xin Juan returned to Huaning Palace and handed Tong Yun's letter to Jiang Qingqing.

Jiang Qingqing didn't expect that leaving the palace would be so easy.

After a while, she got on the carriage leaving the palace, and the creaking sound of the wheels could be heard all the way.

Sitting in the carriage was Wanqing, the senior palace maid assigned by Empress Xu. Wanqing lowered her brows and sat at the door of the carriage with neither arrogance nor servility.

"You can leave the palace, but why can't Xin Juan leave?" Jiang Qingqing had been wondering about this for too long. The road to the Princess's Mansion was too boring, so she couldn't help but ask.

When Wan Qing heard the princess' voice, she turned her head slightly and came over. After listening, she spoke: "Xin Juan is only a maid who serves the princess. Strictly speaking, the position of the chief maid beside the princess is still vacant."

You don’t know until you ask. You’ll be shocked when you ask.

Jiang Qingqing had always thought that her power was not as great as that of the Queen and the Emperor's uncle... Turns out, it was only because Xin Juan herself was not qualified to accompany her out of the palace.

Wan Qing strictly obeyed the rules of serving her master in the palace.

Jiang Qingqing didn't say a word, and she wouldn't say a word either.

Even if Jiang Qingqing occasionally said something, if it didn't mention Wanqing's name, she would think she was not talking to her, and she would pretend not to hear anything and sit obediently in her carriage.

If it weren't for this person's body, Jiang Qingqing wouldn't be able to feel his presence.

This speechless feeling of frustration kept her going all the way until the carriage slowly stopped at the gate.

Without waiting for Wanqing to get off the carriage and lay the ladder, Jiang Qingqing lifted the curtain and jumped off the carriage board first.

As she jumped, the red hairpin on her bun became a little crooked. She subconsciously reached out to fix it, but someone had already fixed her bun.

Then I heard Wan Qing's respectful words, "Your Highness shouldn't do this."

Jiang Qingqing: ...Thank you.

As her hair was tidied up, she finally had time to look at the gate of the mansion in front of her, which had white walls and black tiles and was as majestic as the Imperial College.

There was no one to greet her at the door, and Wanqing frowned at this moment.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment." Wan Qing put her hands on her abdomen, walked to the door of the Princess's Mansion first, and knocked on the doorknob.

After about a while, the sound of a door opening was heard from behind, and then a servant in dark palace robes appeared.

"Princess Dunming has come to the Princess's residence in compliance with the Queen's order, specifically to assist Princess Qiyang in preparing the palace banquet."

The senior palace maid Wanqing didn't wait for the eldest princess's servant to ask any questions before she introduced herself.

When the servant who opened the door heard that these people were of high status, he immediately and kindly led them into the mansion, into the small hall specially used for receiving guests. He then hurriedly sent someone to the backyard to find the eldest princess to report.