The Third Princess is determined to bring down Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu this time, even though her two head maids, Jinzhu and Yingluo, plead with her to return to the capital and come back later with more people to protect her.
But she knew clearly that if she went back, leaving the palace wouldn't be so easy. She was in such a predicament, while Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu were living happily ever after. They were dreaming!
Therefore, even though the Third Princess's mission failed halfway and her left and right arms were cut off, she still refused to turn back. She simply sent a message to the Fifth Prince, asking him to send another batch of useful people.
When the Fifth Prince received the news that the people he had assigned to the Third Princess had been ambushed halfway there, he was so angry that he almost vomited blood. Those were the secret guards and assassins he had trained at great expense!
Twelve! Twelve!
Just like that, it's gone!
They went out on a mission and didn't suffer such heavy losses even against the boss and the third boss's men. Idiots! Idiots! A bunch of idiots!
The Fifth Prince's heart was bleeding, and he cursed several times!
The messenger below asked cautiously.
"Should we send someone else to the Third Princess's side?"
"Send my ass! I really didn't believe her. She can't even get there safely. What can she possibly accomplish?"
It's good enough if they don't get themselves hurt.
However, he changed his mind the next moment.
"Wait, send two more people over there and tell them to be on their guard."
"Should we also bring one of those?"
That thing is hard to find; we only have that one copy, and finding another one will probably take some effort.
"Then use Gelsemium elegans."
Tell them to do everything they can to help Jinghe get rid of Xie Yushu.
Once Xie Yushu is gone, Yuquan Manor will become a no-man's land, and Jinghe will be supported to take over.
The fact that the manor has fallen into the hands of that fool Jinghe is tantamount to it falling into my hands.
Hopefully, she'll be smarter this time and not be sent back by Xie Yushu as soon as she arrives.
The Fifth Prince was furious, but since they had already invested so much, letting go now would be an even greater loss. So he had no choice but to send two more men, hoping that Jinghe could succeed.
Jinghe, much to the delight of Xie Yushu and Qu Xiaodie, finally arrived late.
Fortunately, we finally arrived.
Upon receiving the notification, Xie Yushu personally led a group of people out to greet them, as they had given their names and she couldn't refuse to show them respect.
This wasn't the first time Xie Yushu and Jinghe had met. They had seen each other a few times from afar when Xie Yushu was teaching at the Imperial Medical Academy, but neither of them made a point of getting to know each other.
They simply knew that such a person existed.
Although Xie Yushu was a first-rank princess and Jinghe was only a fourth-rank princess, Jinghe was the emperor's daughter. Being associated with the royal family always made her superior. Xie Yushu took the initiative to greet Jinghe.
It's just a polite gesture of cupping one's hands in greeting.
Jinghe was unhappy, but there was nothing she could do. She wanted Xie Yushu to kowtow to her, but Xie Yushu was of a higher rank and could refuse to kowtow to her, a fourth-rank princess.
Aunt Su, Qu Xiaodie, and the maids who came out to greet her all knelt down on the ground.
Remembering the purpose of her visit, Jinghe's face lit up with a kind smile.
"Get up, all of you. I came here because I heard that Jade Spring Manor is different from other places. I heard that men and women are equal here, and only ability matters."
Moreover, I, the princess, have long heard of the great names of Steward Qu and Steward Sun of Yuquan Manor, and I must make good friends with them this time.
From now on, you all don't need to be so polite. Just treat me the way you normally would!
As soon as she finished speaking, Qu Xiaodie and the others immediately stood up, showing their perfect eight teeth and smiling at her.
Neither enthusiastic nor faulty.
Jinghe deliberately praised several managers right away, partly to put Xie Yushu in a difficult position and give her a hard time, and partly to test Qu Xiaodie and the others' attitude.
She's not good at big things, but she's adept at playing mind games and testing people's hearts—Jinghe, who came from the palace, is a master of these things.
Qu Xiaodie and the others, however, couldn't see anything amiss at first. They weren't happy because of her praise, nor did they show any more enthusiasm towards her. It was unclear whether it was because Xie Yushu was there, or whether they were truly unfazed by praise or criticism.
Xie Yushu seemed oblivious to Jinghe's cryptic remarks and simply gestured for her to proceed.
"Princess Jinghe, please!"
Jinghe seemed to only then notice Xie Yushu, and said as she walked into the villa.
"Xie Yushu, may I call you that?"
Actually, we'd seen each other from afar before, but never had a chance to get to know each other. Even after several months apart, you still look radiant!
"Really? Thank you for the compliment, Princess Jinghe. However, Princess Jinghe looks thinner and darker. You must be tired from the journey!"
These words made Jinghe's feigned smile crumble. Saying she had lost weight was tolerable, but saying she had gotten darker was like stabbing her in the heart.
Looking at Xie Yushu's smooth, fair skin, she suddenly felt inferior and lowered her head to hide the malice in her eyes.
He unconsciously touched his face and said awkwardly.
"Perhaps. After years of exposure to the elements, it's normal to get tanned."
Xie Yushu also seemed to realize this belatedly.
"See, I was a bit blunt; it's not actually that dark!"
Jinghe's face darkened even more upon hearing this.
The group walked awkwardly for a while, then Jinghe looked at Aunt Su and said...
"This aunt looks familiar. Have I seen her in the capital before?"
Aunt Su turned around and said when she heard her name mentioned.
"Your Highness, I used to be a training aunt in the palace. Later, when I reached the age, I was released from the palace and had the opportunity to work under Your Highness."
The Third Princess heard this and said
"So they came from the palace. No wonder the people at the manor are so well-mannered!"
The Third Princess deliberately emphasized the words "knowing the rules," and Xie Yushu knew she was unhappy that Aunt Su hadn't greeted her. She didn't expose her, and simply went along with it.
"This is nothing!"
If it weren't for the Third Princess's instructions to treat you the same way you normally would, allowing them to relax and be more at ease, they would definitely be sticking to etiquette and being long-winded in every way!
The Third Princess is so easygoing; it saves them the trouble of kneeling.
Didn't you say there was no need for formalities? Why are you being so sarcastic?
The Third Princess, hearing Xie Yushu flatter her and then use her words to shut her up, felt choked up and could only force a weak smile as she replied.
"It's nothing, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, it's fine. Besides, I feel a special connection with you, so I just came here to experience it."
"Father greatly admires you, saying that none of us are even half as good as you. When I came here, I told Father that I wanted to learn from you, even if I only learned a third of your skills, it would be enough to brag about back home. You can't keep it to yourself!"
Xie Yushu said
“Princess, you are of noble birth. I am not even half as good as you, and I have no skills to speak of. Building houses and constructing biogas digesters are mostly rough work involving digging and mixing mud.”
That biogas digester is actually just a cesspool; Princess, learning from it would only lower your noble status!
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