He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Inside Jinse Courtyard.

Jiang Bingning placed the stack of silver notes in the hidden compartment of the makeup box.

With money, one's mind is at peace.

With money, many things are no longer hopeless.

She appeared to be enduring these three days, but in reality, she was never idle for a moment.

She memorized the features, mannerisms, and speech of every servant inside and outside the courtyard.

What she was looking for was a pawn who could help her pry open a crack in this deep and secluded mansion.

Her gaze finally settled on an inconspicuous figure in the corner of the courtyard.

She was a young maid, about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a slender figure, and always kept to herself.

When others cut back on her food, she would only have tears in her eyes and never dare to argue.

Jiang Bingning felt that she looked somewhat familiar.

She closed her eyes, and memories of her past life flooded back like a tide.

On the night the Prince Xin's mansion was breached, flames soared into the sky, and the sounds of battle shook the fields.

She carried the blood-stained spear and stepped into Jiang Yuerong's courtyard.

The servants and maids in the courtyard had long since scattered like birds and beasts.

Only this little maid, with such a frail body, stood with her arms outstretched and trembling, shielding Jiang Yuerong.

Those eyes were filled with fear, yet also with a hint of determination.

A loyal servant.

Even if the person protecting her is a fool like Jiang Yuerong, it still shows her true nature.

Such a person, if used in the right place, is the sharpest knife.

-----------------

In the corner of the courtyard, Chun Tao squatted under the old locust tree, her head buried in her knees, her shoulders trembling.

She dared not cry out loud.

She originally thought that the head maid's transfer of her from Consort Lin's courtyard to Jinse Courtyard was an immense favor.

Consort Lin was capricious, and she still had bruises on her body from when she was pinched last time.

But she never expected that this place would turn out to be another pit of fire.

The new girl, Jiang, was a quiet person and never scolded or beat the servants.

But this Jinse Courtyard is like a forgotten corner of the entire Prince Xin's Mansion.

The charcoal was wet, the rice was cold, and even the servants ate leftover scraps from the kitchen.

Forget about saving money for her mother's medical treatment, she can't even fill her stomach.

The day before yesterday, she dared to ask the head maid why the graduating classes in Jinse Courtyard were so different.

The old woman told her with a forced smile.

"Who told that blind woman inside to offend Aunt Zhao?"

"You were transferred there so that we could 'serve' her properly."

"If anything goes wrong, you little brat, you'll have to take responsibility for it yourself!"

At that moment, Chuntao felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

She got it.

She didn't receive a blessing; instead, she became a scapegoat who could be pushed out to take the blame at any time.

Thinking of her mother coughing up blood on her sickbed, Chun Tao couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with grief.

What's wrong with you?

A clear, cold voice suddenly rang out from above.

Chun Tao was startled and suddenly looked up.

Upon seeing that it was Jiang Bingning, she knelt down with a "plop," her forehead touching the ground, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Please spare me, young lady! I... I didn't mean to slack off! I was wrong!"

Jiang Bingning didn't say anything, but bent down and helped her up.

"Get up and come inside with me."

Chun Tao dared not disobey, and lowered her head like a child who had made a mistake.

Jiang Bingning took a relatively intact green bean roll from the food box and handed it to her.

Chuntao was stunned.

Jiang Bingning spoke softly, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger, but carrying a hint of helplessness.

"I've been observing you for a few days."

"When the food is delivered, you always get the smallest portion."

"I don't have anything fancy here, but this pastry is edible. You can have it to tide you over."

Chuntao's eyes instantly turned red.

She looked at the clean, white bean roll, and her Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

She was really hungry.

She took the green bean roll and swallowed it in a few bites.

Because he ate too quickly, he choked and couldn't cough it up.

Jiang Bingning handed her another cup of tea.

"I don't have any good tea here, just make do with this and it'll help you calm down."

After drinking a glass of warm water, the feeling of suffocation slowly subsided.

Chun Tao stared blankly at Jiang Bingning, and after a moment, tears welled up in her eyes again.

She was sold into the royal palace at a young age, and being beaten and scolded was commonplace. No master had ever treated her so gently.

Give her some snacks and pour her some tea.

Chun Tao gritted her teeth, as if she had made up her mind, and suddenly lowered her voice.

"girl."

"Um?"

"You...you must be careful in everything you do while you are in this mansion."

She dared not mention specific names, but the sincerity in her eyes was unmistakable.

She thought for a moment and then added.

"Next time... next time the kitchen sends food, I'll go to the door to receive it!"

"If I run fast, perhaps... perhaps it will still be warm when it reaches you, Miss."

Jiang Bingning looked at her and smiled.

This little girl is indeed grateful and repays kindness.

"Were you crying in the yard just now because you didn't have enough to eat?"

Chuntao's face turned pale, and she quickly shook her head.

"No, this servant..."

"Is it because someone in your family is sick?"

Jiang Bingning's voice was very soft.

She suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Young lady... how did you know?"

Jiang Bingning simply looked at her calmly.

"I saw you go to the back door to get your medicine the other day."

"Yesterday you went to empty the swill and secretly hid half a steamed bun in your sleeve."

"A person like you wouldn't degrade yourself like this if it weren't for your family."

Chun Tao's psychological defenses collapsed at this moment.

She could no longer hold back and revealed her predicament.

My mother is seriously ill and urgently needs money, but her monthly allowance is being deducted by the head maid for various reasons, leaving her with very little.

Jiang Bingning listened quietly without interrupting her.

After she finished crying, Jiang Bingning took out a silver note from her sleeve.

One hundred taels.

She handed the flimsy piece of paper to Chun Tao.

"Take this and go get your mother treated first."

Chun Tao's crying stopped abruptly.

One hundred taels?

She had never seen so much money in her life!

After she realized what was happening, she knelt down on the ground with a "plop" and kowtowed desperately.

"No! No, young lady!"

"This is too much! My life isn't even worth that much money! I can't accept it!"

Jiang Bingning pulled her up and forcefully stuffed the silver notes into her hand.

"I'll give it to you, so just take it."

"Your mother's illness can't be delayed any longer."

Chun Tao thought of her mother's illness, and nodded heavily with tears in her eyes.

As if remembering something, she finally gritted her teeth and said what she had never dared to say before.

"Miss, I have something to tell you!"

"The reason you suffered such mistreatment at Jinse Courtyard is because..."

She leaned close to Jiang Bingning's ear and whispered very softly.

"It's because you bumped into Aunt Zhao, who serves the Princess, in front of the mansion gate!"

"It was the nanny in charge of purchasing who received the news and specifically gave the order!"

"They're just trying to give you a hard time!"