Xiao Yingzhi's crisp words startled the three old women who were discussing something. Their faces turned pale and when they turned around, they saw the Crown Prince's wife staring at them expressionlessly. They were so scared that they immediately knelt down with a thump and begged for mercy.

Shen Xinyan glanced at Qiutang, who nodded slightly and called a few strong maids to take the three people away. She thought about it, and gave a few instructions to a maid named Zhuer beside her. The maid nodded in response, bowed to Shen Xinyan, and left with those people.

Seeing that her mother didn't answer her, Xiao Yingzhi asked unwillingly: "Mother, what is a concubine?"

Shen Xinyan was rarely choked by her and hesitated about how to explain it to her.

At this moment, Ling Fu suddenly said: "The outer room probably refers to the house outside!"

Is that so? The little girl looked at him suspiciously, then raised her little face and pulled Shen Xinyan's sleeve: "Mom, is that so?"

Shen Xinyan mumbled a few words, and fearing that she would ask more questions, she quickly changed the subject: "It's getting late, we have to go and come back quickly. If we go too late, Ying'er's favorite hair flower will be bought by someone else."

The little girl's attention was finally successfully diverted, and she hurriedly pulled her hand and left: "Then let's go!"

Shen Xinyan breathed a sigh of relief and waved for Pingfu to follow.

But Zhu Er led the maids to the main hall in a grand manner. Seeing Fang's capable Nanny Zhang assigning tasks, she stepped forward and said, "Nanny Zhang, I am following the order of the Crown Prince's wife to hand over these three people who have the audacity to criticize the master to the First Madam for punishment."

The three old women knelt on the ground and begged for mercy again.

Nanny Zhang was determined and said apologetically, "Madam has been ill recently and has not been paying attention to trivial matters. Since these three people were caught by the Crown Prince's wife, why not hand them over to the Crown Prince's wife for disposal."

Zhu'er sneered, "Madam, it's so easy for you to say that. You've completely shirked your responsibility and put the blame on the Crown Prince's wife. Logically, the first wife is in charge of the government, and all matters in the mansion, no matter how big or small, should be decided by the first wife. If the Crown Prince's wife handles it, people who don't know would think that our Crown Prince's wife is disrespectful to her elder sister-in-law and is overstepping her authority!"

"Besides, these three people were so bold as to criticize the Crown Prince. This matter is of great importance, but I didn't know that the Crown Prince's affairs were only 'trivial matters' in the eyes of Madam, and there was no need to inform the Madam!"

"Of course, Madam is a person of high status in the mansion. Since you said that the Madam doesn't care much, I dare not say much. But I also have a job to do, so I have to report to the master in charge. I think that the Madam is ill and can't take care of it. Since this is related to the Crown Prince, Your Highness will definitely punish her severely."

"Oh my, young lady, you are really sharp-tongued... I just said this, but you have caused a lot of criticism from you. You are really worthy of being trained by Miss Qiutang!" Aunt Zhang said with a fake smile, but she was afraid that she would really make trouble in front of the Grand Princess, and it would be difficult to get out of the situation then. She could only agree reluctantly, "In this case, I will go back and report to the Madam!"

"Mammy, you should have done this a long time ago. It's just a waste of everyone's time." Zhu'er snorted coldly.

Nanny Zhang's mouth twitched and she decided to ignore her.

I don’t know how the Crown Prince’s wife trained these maids. Each one is more sharp-tongued than the other and won’t suffer any loss easily.

When Fang saw her come in and heard what she had reported, she frowned and said unhappily, "I have grown old for nothing, but was frightened by a little girl. All my preparations were wasted!"

Aunt Zhang's old face suddenly turned red and white, and she mumbled for a long time without being able to utter a word.

Fang was furious: "They have brought the men to me, I can no longer pretend to be ignorant. Since that is the case, I will beat those three people with a stick and send them back to the manor!"

Ever since she occasionally heard the rumor, she had intended to take this opportunity to stir up trouble with the second wife and her husband, but she did not want to get herself involved. Since Shen had brought the person directly to her, she must have guessed that she had done it on purpose.

She rubbed her forehead, feeling that things had not been going well recently. She didn't know why Shen from the second house suddenly became more difficult to deal with. Not only that, she also became a person who was not willing to suffer any loss.

It's really...

***

Although Shen Xinyan felt uncomfortable listening to what the three old women were discussing, she still remained calm.

Fang had always been strict in running the household. If she hadn't deliberately let them go, the servants would never have dared to talk about their master so brazenly. Therefore, after she had calmed down from her initial anger, she immediately understood.

On another level, she still wanted to believe Wei Junhang, just like he did in his previous life, that he would stand by her side no matter what happened.

Qiu Tang observed her expression and saw that the anger between her brows gradually dissipated, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Honestly, she didn't believe that the prince would have a concubine. But the three people's words were very true, and she was also a little surprised. But she was more afraid that if this was true, it would affect the relationship between husband and wife, and the second room's rare warm and happy days in recent days would be gone forever.

These are things she absolutely does not want to see.

Although Lin Fu was young, he was always sensitive. Although he might not understand what the three old women said, it did not prevent him from noticing that Shen Xinyan was in a low mood. Now that he saw that the gloom between her brows had finally disappeared, he could not help but smile.

"Madam, look at this, it will look great on you!" He handed the shoe that he had been eyeing for a long time to Shen Xinyan and said with anticipation.

"Young Master, you have a very good eye. This hairpin is a perfect match for your elegant and noble temperament, and the color goes very well with your clothes." The female shopkeeper came forward with a smile and began to promote and praise the product with all her might.

"Mom, this one is beautiful too, this one is beautiful too!" Xiao Yingzhi said excitedly, holding up a crabapple flower from the pile of gauze and throwing it towards her.

"Yeah, it looks good. Mom will put it on for you to see." Shen Xinyan first pinned the crabapple flower on her daughter, then she bent down and let Lingfu insert the swing into her.

Pingfu's eyes sparkled. He held up the boudoir and carefully inserted it into her bun. He pursed his lips and looked at it carefully. When he was sure that the boudoir was not inserted crookedly, he was happy and asked shyly, "Madam, I have inserted it. Do you think it looks good?"

"It looks good. It's better than the one I wore originally." Shen Xinyan naturally would not dampen the child's kindness.

"Mom, where's mine?" The little girl was unwilling to be left behind.

"Of course it's pretty too!" Shen Xinyan praised generously. As soon as she finished speaking, she saw her daughter smiling with joy.

Both mother and daughter got ornaments they liked. Shen Xinyan picked out a set of exquisite headwear as a gift for Princess Qiongshu. After thinking about it, she chose a Guanyin jade pendant, asked the shopkeeper to string it with red thread, and personally put it on Linfu's neck.

When Fu saw that he had it too, his eyes suddenly brightened.

"Thank you ma'am!"

Shen Xinyan touched his face, told Qiutang to prepare to settle the bill and leave.

The next moment, Qiutang came over with a suspicious look on his face.

"Ma'am, this is so strange. The shopkeeper said that someone has already settled the bill for us."

Shen Xinyan was startled and asked hurriedly, "Can you tell me who it is?"

"It was said to be a girl, and that girl said she did it on the orders of her family's mistress, but we can't find out which mistress it was." Qiu Tang was puzzled, and after thinking for a while, she couldn't think of which mistress would do such a thing.

Is she a lady?

Shen Xinyan was also completely confused.

"Madam Crown Prince!" Just as she was wondering, she heard someone calling her from behind. She turned around subconsciously and unexpectedly saw Xu Sumin standing there with a smile on her face.

"I'm afraid Madam, you don't recognize me. My surname is Xu. I met you once at Lingyun Temple last time, and was fortunate enough to receive your advice."

Of course Shen Xinyan knew that her last name was Xu. After all, there were not many women who would carelessly use their husband's surname throughout their lives, and the "Mrs. Xu" in front of her was one of them.

"Mrs. Xu." She nodded politely, knowing that the person who settled the bill for her was probably the wealthy Mrs. Xu.

As for why the other party did this, seeing that she can now stand steadily on her legs, it seems that she has avoided the disaster of a broken leg in her previous life.

"Just now, I went to settle the bill, and the shopkeeper said that a lady had already settled the bill for us. I think this lady is you, Madam Xu."

"Compared with the great kindness of the Crown Prince's wife, these few hundred taels are worth nothing. I hope that the Crown Prince's wife will allow me to return a small amount in return." Xu Sumin said sincerely.

If she hadn't been reminded that day, she would have died by now. No matter how she knew she was in trouble, and she didn't know why she reminded her, a great favor was a great favor. Although Xu Sumin was a woman, she still understood the four words of gratitude.

Shen Xinyan shook her head: "I understand Madam Xu's intentions, but the things I chose today are just gifts. If Madam Xu..."

Xu Sumin understood what she said and said with shame, "If I have failed Madam, it would be my fault. Madam, please forgive me for my rudeness."

When Qiu Tang heard this, she hurried forward and handed the banknote to the maid beside Xu Sumin.

The girl looked at Xu Sumin, and when she nodded, she took it with both hands.

"A new Ruyi Pavilion has opened in the south of the city, which specializes in selling rare toys from all over the world. It is most popular among children. The weather is just right now, I wonder if I would have the honor to invite you to go there with me." Xu Sumin invited sincerely.

Shen Xinyan could tell that she wanted to make friends with her, and she happened to admire her. She looked at her daughter and Lingfu, whose eyes widened when they heard about the "strange stuff", and smiled slightly: "It is my honor to go with Madam Xu."

She is able to face challenges head-on even in adversity. Ordinary men may not be able to have such a strong character, not to mention that the other party is a woman.

After experiencing a tragic end in her life, Shen Xinyan already had some respect for this self-reliant woman.

The two smiled at each other, and saw appreciation in each other's eyes.