Xi Lan glanced at Chang Yue, who understood and picked up the teapot, saying she was going to get a new pot of tea.
After the maid left, Xi Lan lowered her voice and said, "Girl Jin's maid, Xin'er, is telling everyone that Fourth Master has been staying in your room these past few days. She also said that you come from a humble background but are restless and like a vixen, seducing Fourth Master. Oh dear! Those words are too awful to repeat."
I still remember the last time I ran into Kim Min-jung, she was indeed sharp-tongued. She dared to show her displeasure to my face, so it was perfectly normal for her to say some unpleasant things behind my back.
Su Yushan was not surprised by this. She was just wondering what Lan Gege's purpose was in coming here today. Was she just passing on some gossip, or did she want to stir up a conflict between her and Jin Minjing?
To find out Lan Gege's purpose, the only way was to go along with what she was saying. So Su Yushan replied, "Fourth Master has so many maids. It's his freedom to go to whichever one he wants. It's not something I can decide. Do you think Fourth Master will come every day if I ask him to? Jin Gege really thinks too highly of me."
"That's right!" Xi Lan covered her mouth and sneered, "She did want Fourth Master to come over, and even claimed that she was sick, but unfortunately Fourth Master still came to her sister's room. She hates you so much that her teeth itch."
Because of this, Su Yushan sighed inwardly that Princess Jin cared too much about Hongli. "Even if it wasn't me, it would be someone else. If Fourth Prince goes to someone else's place, she will get angry. Wouldn't that just make things difficult for herself every day? Why bother?"
Before coming here, Xi Lan wasn't sure what kind of person Su Yu Shan was, but after hearing her words, Xi Lan understood and became even more determined to win her over.
“I like my sister’s understanding nature. We come from different places, and it is fate that we can come together as sisters. We should serve the Fourth Master well, but she wants to monopolize him and regards the other maids as enemies. She targets them at every turn and mocks them at all times. It is both pathetic and infuriating.”
Judging from Lan Gege's tone, it seems that she was also targeted by Jin Gege and harbored resentment towards Jin Gege, which is why she came to say these things.
However, this was only on the surface. Su Yushan didn't know the truth. After all, she didn't know Lan Gege's character well. A few casual words were enough; she shouldn't say too much to avoid causing trouble.
"A woman in love is bound to lose her rationality. She will unconsciously crave something in return for what she gives. In the end, she still loves the Fourth Prince too much."
After saying all that, Su Yushan changed the subject and started talking about something else, without mentioning Jin Minjing again.
Even after hearing that Jin Minjing was talking badly about her behind her back, Su Yushan did not curse or resent. Whether she was truly magnanimous or just saying it for show, Xilan admired her and secretly praised Su Yushan for being so calm and composed, despite being an ordinary commoner.
It seems this woman is not just beautiful; she also has poise and eloquence, which even she, a woman herself, admires. No wonder the Fourth Prince dotes on her.
After sitting for a while, Xi Lan got up to say goodbye, saying that she would come to visit her again when she had time.
Su Yushan personally saw her off and watched her walk away before turning back.
Chang Yue counted and recorded all the tonics, and then opened the osmanthus cake for her master to enjoy.
Su Yushan instantly thought of those plots in palace intrigue novels where food is used to harm people. Although she had no grudge against Princess Lan, and Princess Lan probably wouldn't harm her, she decided not to taste it for safety's sake.
"I've been having a toothache lately, so I can't eat sweets. You guys can share these!"
Back inside, Su Yushan slowly sat down, her mind filled with a multitude of complex emotions. A few days ago, she had been recuperating and had only seen Hongli, without feeling much. But after seeing Lan Gege today, she truly realized that her situation had undergone a complete transformation.
There were too many women in Hongli's harem. To survive there, she not only had to face Hongli, but also had to get along with these women in the harem most of the time.
As the saying goes, three women make a drama. There are six maids and countless servants in this courtyard. This drama is far more complicated than she imagined.
Hongli had only stayed at her place for two nights, yet he was already being over-interpreted by others. When he was neglected, he was poorly fed and clothed; now that he was not mistreated by the servants, he was envied by others. His life was truly like walking on thin ice.
Living in this world, it's impossible for her not to interact with anyone. Who to associate with and how to strike the right balance in those interactions is a profound subject. Su Yushan dared not draw any conclusions easily and needed to observe the people around her for a while longer.
Jin Minjing deliberately leaked the news to use Lan Gege to deal with Su Yushan. Unexpectedly, Lan Gege not only didn't cause trouble for Su Yushan, but instead became very close to her. This outcome was truly beyond Jin Minjing's expectations.
"What does this Xilan mean? She insists on getting so close to someone I hate. Is she deliberately trying to oppose me?"
"She might be trying to form a faction! Princess, I think you shouldn't fight alone, you should find a partner."
"Who can I turn to?" Looking around the mansion, there were few people who could catch Jin Minjing's eye. "Princess Fucha is in cahoots with Xilan. Princess Chen has not yet been favored by the emperor, and her father's official position is not high. It would be of no use for me to turn to her."
After a moment's thought, Xin'er began to offer advice to her master, "Right now, the one with the best family background is Princess Gao. You can try to build a good relationship with her."
Both of them had previously been favored by Hongli, and Jin Minjing regarded Gao Gege as an enemy, and they had some minor conflicts. "You forgot, I don't get along with her!"
"Your Highness, you must know that there are no eternal enemies in this world. Now this Han girl, Su Gege, has stolen the Fourth Prince's favor and is getting so close to Lan Gege and the others. If you don't find someone you can trust, you will easily suffer losses. What if they also win over Gao Gege? Wouldn't you be ostracized by them?"
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