In the end, Cuizhu didn't tell Xiaojinzi. After all, it was better not to let too many people know Liu's secret, otherwise it would be really bad for Liu.
"Princess, if you want to see him, do you plan to meet him outside or here?" Cuizhu asked after a moment's thought.
"Let's meet here. I'm afraid we'll be seen outside!" Liu said after thinking for a while.
“Yes. Then we need to come up with a foolproof plan to let Master Mu in, while avoiding being seen by others.” Cuizhu glanced at Liu Shi and said.
"Yes, you're right, we need to avoid being seen by others," Liu said, her face showing some agitation.
Cuizhu nodded and said, "Master, this matter needs to be considered carefully. You must not rush it."
Liu gradually calmed down and realized that her request was gambling with her future; one wrong move and she would lose everything.
“Princess, he is, after all, an old acquaintance of yours. If this is discovered and it reaches the master’s ears, it will be very detrimental to your reputation and future position,” Cuizhu said.
Liu nodded and muttered, "No rush, no rush, he's here anyway. We need to think things through carefully and figure out how to meet him in order to minimize the risks."
“My lady, I’ve observed that the young eunuch who carries our sedan chair outside is quite clever and very respectful to the princess. I think he wants to come and serve the princess. I feel that to make this matter go smoothly, I alone may not be enough. The princess should recruit one or two more capable eunuchs and servants to help out both inside and outside the palace,” Cuizhu said.
Madam Liu nodded and said, "The two eunuchs who were assigned here seem rather dull. I think that little Jinzi is indeed very clever and hardworking. You think he's good, and I think so too. But when it comes to employing people, besides being clever and capable, we also need to see if they are loyal to me. In the end, loyalty is the most important thing."
Cuizhu said, "What you say is very true, Princess. Why don't we listen to what this little Jinzi has to say? It seems he really wants to serve you, Princess."
Liu said, "Alright, go and ask him first. Then, carefully inquire about his character and personality from his surroundings."
After receiving Liu's instructions, Cuizhu took the silver to see Xiaojinzi.
"Sister Cuizhu, did you come to see me?" Xiao Jinzi heard from the steward that a girl had come looking for him. As soon as he came out and saw that it was Cuizhu, he immediately stepped forward and smiled.
"Yes, little Jinzi, let me ask you, are you willing to serve our princess?" Cuizhu was too lazy to beat around the bush and asked directly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinzi immediately beamed and said, "Sister Cuizhu is truly Xiao Jinzi's benefactor. She can see right through what Xiao Jinzi is thinking."
"You mean you've been wanting to serve our princess for a long time?" Cuizhu asked.
“Yes, Princess Liu is very kind, and Xiao Jinzi feels a strong connection with her. I’ve always wanted to find a stable master to serve, and I don’t want to stay here any longer. I never expected that you would actually come and talk to me like this today,” Xiao Jinzi said. Actually, what he said at Changyin Pavilion today was to show his loyalty to Liu Shi; otherwise, how could a mere sedan chair bearer dare to say such things?
Seeing that he was indeed intentional, Cuizhu quickly said, "Our princess likes your cleverness, but what our princess values most is loyalty. Little Jinzi, when you serve by our princess's side, the most important thing is loyalty."
"Sister Cuizhu, Xiaojinzi truly wants to serve Princess Liu. Please, Sister Cuizhu, go and tell the Princess on my behalf that Xiaojinzi is absolutely loyal and will never have any other intentions once she follows the Princess." Xiaojinzi raised her hand and swore an oath.
"Alright, save those words for when you tell our princess!" Cuizhu said.
After saying that, she took Xiao Jinzi with her to Xinghuachun Pavilion to see Madam Liu.
"This servant greets Your Highness!" As soon as Xiao Jinzi saw Liu Shi, he immediately patted his sleeves, then stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and gave her a grand salute.
Since arriving at the Fourth Prince's residence, Lady Liu had never received such a grand ceremony from a servant. Xiao Jinzi's gesture truly satisfied her vanity. Lady Liu had always believed herself to be inferior to Lady Fucha, and therefore looked down upon by her. Today, Xiao Jinzi's ceremony made Lady Liu fully realize her status as a princess of the Prince. Although she had previously been the daughter of a prefect and had received many servants, upon arriving in the capital, she felt instantly inferior, surrounded by women of far higher status than herself.
"Little Jinzi, I heard from Cuizhu that you'd like to serve me?" Liu Shi looked at him and said with a smile.
"Yes, this servant is willing to serve the Princess. From the first day I saw the Princess, I felt that she was a kind-hearted person, a person of great fortune and nobility. This servant is willing to serve her with utmost loyalty and do my best for her," said Xiao Jinzi. He had long since stopped wanting to stay in this garden as just a sedan chair carrier. He wanted to seize every opportunity to climb up the social ladder, otherwise he wouldn't be able to bear the pain he had endured.
Hearing Xiao Jinzi's flattering words, Madam Liu was quite pleased. She said, "Alright, since you think so, then I will give you such an opportunity. If you do well, I will take you into my life and serve you personally. If I achieve great things in the future, it will be thanks to your and Cuizhu's contributions."
"Thank you, Princess!" Little Jinzi quickly bowed her head and said.
So, Cuizhu told Xiaojinzi about Liu's desire to see Musheng. After listening, Xiaojinzi thought to herself that Liu was really muddle-headed. She should be avoiding this kind of thing as much as possible, so why was this master actually trying to get close to her?
"Well, can you think of a way to let that Young Master Mu secretly come to see the Princess? That would put the Princess's mind at ease," Cuizhu said.
“Princess, it’s not difficult to see Mu Sheng,” Xiao Jinzi said. “Why don’t we choose a day and carry you to Changyin Pavilion to watch the opera as usual? Then when we come back, I can exchange clothes with Mu Sheng and have him carry you in my place. That way we can come in.”
"That's a good idea, Little Jinzi. But how can we keep it from the people who are carrying the sedan chair with you?" Upon hearing Little Jinzi's idea, Madam Liu immediately thought it was a good one.
“That’s easy. I’ll tell the brothers who carried the sedan chair that day that all we need to do is slip them some silver, and they won’t say a word. At worst, we can let Young Master Mu hide inside the sedan chair,” said Xiao Jinzi.
Liu and Cuizhu exchanged a glance and felt that the second method was more appropriate. That way, there would be no chance of bumping into someone and seeing them.
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