After the housewarming banquet, Chi Yan began preparations for the upcoming spring imperial examinations.
Shen Tangning occasionally accepted invitations to flower viewing and banquets, and her days were relatively leisurely. Her mother entrusted the management of the household to her. The Chi family was not as strict or large as the Marquis's mansion, so it was easier for her to manage.
That day, she was reading by the window when Yuan Zhao knocked on the door. Without even looking up, she said, "Come in."
Yuan Zhao took a few steps forward, casting a shadow in front of him, and Shen Tangning put down her book.
"My lord, there is news from the princess's residence."
A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "Hui Niang contacted you?"
Unexpectedly, Hui Niang was unusually vigilant. Yuan Zhao tried every means to contact her, but Hui Niang did not respond for a long time.
After a full month of negotiation, the other party's attitude finally softened.
Yuan Zhao touched his nose: "I heard that Princess Yun'an has been taking her anger out on her a lot lately. She probably can't take it anymore. If she keeps going like this, she'll die soon!"
In the princess's residence, it was common for servants to be beaten to death. Although some people had complaints, everyone knew that His Majesty doted on Princess Yun'an, so no one dared to cause trouble for themselves.
Shen Tangning pondered for a moment: "Let's proceed according to the plan."
To escape the princess's residence, one must first incur Princess Yun'an's dislike, but without directly angering her.
——
Princess's Residence.
Exhausted, Hui Niang returned to her room. She lay down fully clothed, staring blankly at the eaves, the man's words echoing in her mind, her fingertips tracing the uneven scars on her face.
Someone once smiled and stroked her head, saying, "Ah Hui is so beautiful. When you reach the age to leave the palace, I will definitely arrange a good marriage for you and let you have a grand wedding!"
At that time, she was still innocent and naive. She nestled on that person's lap and shyly said, "This servant will not get married. This servant will serve Your Highness for the rest of my life!"
Hui Niang closed her eyes in pain, tears rolling down her cheeks.
She lived such a difficult life that sometimes she really thought it would be better if she were dead. But then again, she should have died in that accident anyway.
Hui Niang suddenly sat up, slowly wiping away the moisture from the corners of her eyes, her gaze gradually hardening:
No, she has lived a life of hiding until today, and has not yet been able to see His Highness. She must not die so easily!
She took out a pill from her pocket, gritted her teeth, and swallowed it.
He went to the well, drew a bucket of cold water, poured it over his head, and shivered in the night wind, hugging his arms.
...
Yun An looked at herself in the mirror, dissatisfied with her appearance. Suddenly her face turned cold, startling the maid beside her, who immediately knelt on the ground.
"Princess, spare my life!"
The old woman frowned, stepped forward and kicked the maid: "Useless thing, you can't even do this little thing right!"
The maidservant trembled and stepped aside, while the matron approached and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Yun An lazily pursed her lips: "Where's Hui Niang? Let her do it, she does a nice job with her hair."
The old woman looked troubled upon hearing this: "Your Highness, Hui Niang is ill today."
Yun An smoothed her hair, then sneered, "She was only punished a few days ago, and now she's sick? She's so delicate! What, is she dying?"
The old woman's expression shifted, and she lowered her voice: "If it were an ordinary illness, it wouldn't be a big deal, but I heard that she has developed a rash all over her body, which looks somewhat like... smallpox!"
Yun An was startled, and the gold hairpin in her hand suddenly fell to the ground. Her eyes were filled with both fear and disgust: "If you have such a disease, then you should throw it away immediately!"
Smallpox is contagious!
I wonder if she got infected by hanging around me a few days ago?
Yun An felt a chill run down his spine and gritted his teeth: "Summon the imperial physician!"
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