The most dissolute couple in the capital

When Butler Sun came out of the main courtyard, he still had that respectful smile on his face.

Only after turning the corner of the covered walkway and confirming that no one was following him did the smile on his face gradually fade away.

He has been managing this palace peacefully for two whole years.

Prince Liang was favored by the Emperor and Empress Dowager since childhood. He was innocent and carefree and did not leave the palace to establish his own residence until he was twenty years old.

Unlike Liu Lu, who is about the same age as His Highness and can play around with him, he is an old man who has watched His Highness grow up.

While in the palace, with the Empress Dowager and the Empress watching over him, even a lowly servant like him could only skim a tiny bit of profit when buying exquisite trinkets, no matter how dishonest he was.

Once outside the palace, far from the emperor's reach, this vast princely mansion became his domain.

He was a rootless man, and his only wish in life, besides securing a future for his adopted sons, was to accumulate wealth so he could live out his old age in peace. He was getting old, and it was time for him to enjoy his retirement.

They don't steal or rob; they just inflate prices on purchases and round down the accounts. His Highness doesn't care, and the palace doesn't interfere. This household has dozens of people to feed and clothe; which steward doesn't have a little bit of profit in his hands?

I feel perfectly justified in taking this money.

But this new princess—

Butler Sun took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the front yard.

A mere maidservant from the household of a sixth-rank official dared to inspect the accounts the moment she entered the door.

He walked to the front gate and called over a servant boy: "Go and fetch Chuncao."

Chuncao was one of the new maids who had entered the manor a few days ago, and she was assigned to do menial tasks in the main courtyard. According to the rules, the maids in the main courtyard were under the jurisdiction and command of the Princess.

But Chuncao was able to enter this mansion because of her relationship with Steward Sun.

A moment later, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old hurried over. She was pretty and had a clever look in her eyes.

"Grandpa Sun," Chuncao curtsied and lowered her voice.

Butler Sun looked her over and asked in a kind tone, "Have you been settling in well these past few days working in the main courtyard?"

"It's alright, it's just that the rules in the Princess's courtyard are a bit strict, and Sister Suxin keeps a close eye on things."

"Strict rules are a good thing." Butler Sun nodded, then changed the subject, "His Highness's study needs to be cleaned early tomorrow morning. You will go with him."

Chuncao was taken aback: "The study? Isn't that where Eunuch Liu is in charge? I'm just a lowly maid transferred from the outer courtyard—"

"I've already spoken to Liu Lu, saying that the main courtyard is short-staffed and I need you to help out for half a day." Butler Sun smiled. "Once you get there, just sweep and dust, and don't touch anything else."

He paused, then said earnestly, "But on the long table by the window in the study, there is a celadon lotus-patterned vase from the previous dynasty. His Highness is very fond of that vase; it was a gift from the palace the year before last."

Chuncao's fingers clenched the hem of her clothes slightly.

"Listen carefully," Butler Sun's voice was so soft it was almost a whisper, "I don't need you to touch that bottle. Just do your work. But if, and I mean if, you accidentally bump into the table and the bottle rolls down and breaks..."

Chuncao's expression changed slightly.

Butler Sun patted her shoulder, like a kind elder: "Don't be afraid. If you break something, someone will take responsibility for it. Just remember one thing—you were assigned to the main courtyard by the Princess, and everything you do is according to the Princess's arrangements."

Chuncao opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but under Butler Sun's calm gaze, she finally lowered her head.

"This servant understands."

-

The next morning, Cui Qingyi didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.

Besides the Prince of Liang, she was the most powerful mistress in the Liang Prince's mansion. The Prince of Liang was also very playful, sometimes getting up early to go out and play, and sometimes getting up later than her.

The newlyweds were so happy they were practically living in a daze, oblivious to the world around them.

She slowly sat up, and Su Xin was already waiting beside her with warm water and salt for rinsing her mouth.

"Your Highness, His Highness went to the study in the front courtyard this morning, saying he wanted to try a new incense."

Cui Qingyi took the handkerchief and wiped her face: "He's certainly diligent."

Before the words were finished, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside: "Your Highness, this servant...this servant broke the celadon lotus-patterned vase in His Highness's study."

Su Xin's brows immediately furrowed.

Cui Qingyi slowly put down the handkerchief, picked up her teacup to moisten her throat, and said, "Bring it in."

There was some commotion outside, and after a while, a little maid was brought in, trembling.

It is spring grass.

Her knees buckled, and she knelt on the ground: "Your...Your Highness, this servant deserves to die! When I was cleaning the study, my sleeve accidentally brushed against a vase on the table, and the vase...it broke..."

Cui Qingyi looked at Chuncao kneeling on the ground without saying a word.

Su Xin whispered a reminder from the side: "Your Highness, Chuncao is a new maid who was assigned here a few days ago. She does sweeping and cleaning in the main courtyard."

Cui Qingyi nodded, her tone indifferent: "You're just a lowly servant in the main courtyard, why would you be cleaning His Highness's study?"

Chuncao stiffened and lowered her head even further: "It was...it was Steward Sun who arranged it. He said the main courtyard was short-handed and asked me to help out for half a day."

Cui Qingyi asked calmly, "How much silver is that bottle worth?"

Su Xin replied, "This servant does not know, but I heard it is an antique from the previous dynasty, and Your Highness likes it very much."

Cui Qingyi silently did some calculations in her mind.

A celadon artifact from the previous dynasty, in good condition, would be worth at least three to five hundred taels on the market. But this one was a gift from the palace, bearing the title of an imperial bestowal, so its value could potentially increase several times over.

Could a lowly maid afford to pay for it? No. What if she couldn't afford it? Hold her accountable for disciplining her. Who would discipline her? The princess herself would.

What a clear cause-and-effect chain.

Chuncao remained kneeling on the ground, too afraid to move.

Cui Qingyi sized her up for a few moments, then suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Where are you from?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, my family is from the south of the city. My father was originally a carpenter, but he fell ill and we couldn't make ends meet, so he sold me."

"Who did you sell it to?"

Chuncao hesitated for a moment: "First I was sold to a matchmaker in the East Market. When the Prince's Mansion was short of people, they bought me."

"Understood." Cui Qingyi's face remained calm. "You may leave now; you don't need to work today."

Seeing that her master did not blame her, Chuncao thanked him profusely and withdrew.

After everyone had gone far away, Cui Qingyi leaned back in her chair and slowly tapped her index finger on the armrest a few times.

She was certain that Steward Sun should already be in front of Li Chengjing.