After being pummeled by Xiao Cui, the man was in so much pain that he couldn't straighten up and kept groaning in agony.
"Grandma, spare my life!"
"Hmph! Let's see if you dare to speak ill of my young lady again!"
"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare! I was just following orders! You're a heroine, please let me go!"
Xiao Cui ignored him and picked up the jewelry box next to her, walking towards the main hall of Luoying Palace.
As soon as they stepped through the garden's archway, the maid standing beside Zhang immediately spotted Xiao Cui and reminded her,
“Madam, that’s a maid that Gu Qianluo brought from the Gu residence.”
Zhang Shi has always been aloof and never paid any attention to these maids and servants. Hearing that Xiao Cui was brought from the Gu family, she was determined to sell her far away.
"Guards, tie him up! Sell him to the Drunken Flower Brothel!"
Upon receiving the order, the servants of Baixiangju who were waiting nearby took out hemp ropes from behind their backs and ran towards Xiaocui.
Seeing that the newcomer was hostile, Xiao Cui narrowed her eyes, clutching the jewelry box tightly to her chest, and glared at the man before her, shouting.
"What do you want? This is the Second Madam's residence; you are not allowed to cause trouble here!"
Upon hearing this, the two servants exchanged a smile and said sarcastically,
"Hehe, Gu Qianlu betrayed the Second Young Master, bringing shame to the Marquis's mansion. The First Madam ordered that all the servants in Luoying Palace be sold off."
"Little Cui, aren't you going to surrender? If you wait for us to make a move, you'll be in big trouble."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui suddenly panicked, then realized something and blurted out,
"You are only bullying the people of Luoying Palace because the Second Young Master is away on a campaign to quell the rebellion and the Old Madam is recuperating away from home."
"Heh! Bullying? Little Cui! Wake up!"
It was your wife who did wrong. As servants, you not only failed to remonstrate with her, but also aided and abetted her.
Now she has made a mistake and fled in panic, but it is you who are punished.
Why would you say anything good about someone like that?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui frowned, tears welling in her eyes. Her fingers, hidden beneath her skirt, clenched into fists as she retorted, feeling wronged.
"You're talking nonsense! I've served Miss Gu since I was a child, and we grew up together."
Miss is always law-abiding and is by no means fickle.
There must be some misunderstanding!
Madam Zhang sat upright in the main seat of Luoying Hall, raising her eyes to look at Xiao Cui. Seeing the two servants dawdling and not doing their work, she summoned her capable assistant.
"Zhang Qiu, go! Stop wasting your breath on her! Just tie her up."
The guard named Zhang Qiu was a trusted confidant brought by Zhang from her maternal family. Because he was an orphan and was adopted by the Zhang family, he took his master's surname.
The Zhang family raised him to adulthood, and he naturally obeyed their every command.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I obey!"
Zhang Qiu had been learning martial arts from the Zhang family's martial arts instructor since childhood, and his lightness skill was superb. In the blink of an eye, he had tied Xiao Cui up like a rice dumpling.
"Ugh! Let me go! Let me go! I can walk by myself."
Zhang watched from afar as Xiao Cui was dealt with, a smug smile spreading across her face.
"Oh! It's so much quieter now. Come on! We'll come back after you've finished cleaning up."
After saying this, Zhang Shi, supported by Ru Shuang, slowly walked out of Luoying Palace.
Ru Shuang turned her head and saw that Luo Ying Palace was deserted. She couldn't help but feel a little flustered and reminded her.
"Madam, the Old Madam isn't here. Won't she scold us for doing this?"
"Hehe, the old lady is getting on in years, how could she have the leisure to manage the affairs of the inner quarters?"
Now, in this Marquis's mansion, the Marquis's wife is in charge! But because of the Second Young Master's influence, she can't interfere in this matter, so she's pushed the responsibility onto me.”
Upon hearing this, Ru Shuang couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a flattering smile, saying, "Congratulations, Madam! You've cleared another obstacle."
Second Prince's Residence
Since the Empress changed the imperial physician for the Second Prince, his eye disease has recovered better than before, and he has gradually been able to see half of things clearly.
Because Liu Xiaolan served the Second Prince his meals and medicine every day, she voluntarily stayed in the side room next to the Second Prince's room.
Therefore, she was always able to find out the Second Prince's movements immediately.
From a young age, Liu Xiaolan was influenced by her mother, who spoke highly of how wonderful the royal family was.
They, as lowly servants, could never imagine having any connection with the royal family.
But now, Liu Xiaolan has achieved it because of her mother's connections.
"Xiaolan, if Consort Gu hasn't asked about my attendance at the flower-viewing banquet at the palace today, don't bring it up with her."
Although it was called a flower-viewing banquet, its real purpose was for the empress to use the guise of flower viewing to select consorts for the princes.
"Is Your Highness worried that Consort Gu will be angry?"
"Yes, yes, I don't want to upset her."
"But Your Highness should know that Sister Xue will find out from the servants sooner or later."
"Sigh, if she knew that I, the prince, came to see the beauty, she would be heartbroken again, wouldn't she?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaolan paused, her hand that had been raising its sleeve stiffening. A look of resentment flashed in her eyes, and she said, with a wronged expression,
"Your Highness, you value Consort Gu so much, I truly envy her."
After speaking, the Second Prince raised his arm and pulled Liu Xiaolan into his embrace, placing a kiss on her slender neck to comfort her.
"What are you envious of? Haven't I treated you well? Hmm?"
"How annoying! Your Highness is teasing me so early in the morning. It's making my heart race."
"Hahaha! Look at you, you've already experienced the ways of men and women, why are you still as shy as a young girl just beginning to experience love?"
Liu Xiaolan's gaze was intense, and her flushed face made one want to kiss her.
The Second Prince's brows twitched slightly, his eyes dark and deep. He slowly bent down, and just as he was about to touch her, a gust of wind came from outside the door.
"Your Highness! It's getting late! We should set off!"
Upon hearing this, the second prince's eyes darkened slightly. He straightened his disheveled robes and gave instructions to the beauty in his arms.
"Xiaolan, get along well with Consort Gu."
Liu Xiaolan's heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head slightly, a fire of jealousy burning in her eyes, but outwardly she feigned generosity and responded...
"Your Highness, rest assured, I'm the best at making people happy!"
Since Gu Qianxue and Liu Xiaolan were not the Empress's wives, they were not invited by her. So, during their free time, they exchanged needlework skills and honed their painting techniques in the mansion.
Gu Qianxue seemed to understand that her impulsive and reckless nature in her previous life led to the final tragedy.
In this life, she has decided to remain calm in all things, to suppress her anger, and to deal with the women in the inner quarters without resorting to open tactics, but rather with covert methods.
That's why she drank the wine of hatred today and tried to "get along peacefully" with Liu Xiaolan.
Liu Xiaolan was tactful and knew that as a concubine, she always appeared humble in Gu Qianxue's presence.
When she was with her, Liu Xiaolan was calm and often served her like a maid. She greeted Gu Qianxue with a smile and was very respectful.
If Gu Qianxue hadn't known what she was doing behind the scenes, she would have been completely impressed by her acting skills.
However, when Liu Xiaolan recalled what the Second Prince had said to her that morning, and looked at Gu Qianxue's indifferent expression, she suddenly felt uncomfortable.
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