The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

The old lady looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Your mouth can be so sweet, it can be so cruel, it can be so sharp. Do you know how many teacups were smashed in the main courtyard this morning? Seven, a whole seven! Ha, all this commotion is thanks to you."

Xu Qianhui lowered her head: "It's all thanks to the old lady."

"Stop pretending to be innocent." The old lady pointed at her lightly, then beckoned, "Show the things to Hui'er."

Granny Fang immediately brought over a box: "Please take a look, Miss."

Xu Qianhui took the box and opened it; inside were several sheets of paper.

The first one is the polo club roster.

The second image is a sketch of the seating area.

The third sheet lists the names of the women from each household.

Qin Miaoyun from the Grand Tutor's Mansion, Qiu Zhiqing from the Ministry of Revenue's Mansion, the women of the Prince of An's Mansion, and even Princess Fu'an were above her.

Xu Qianhui read very slowly, and the old lady did not urge her. The only sounds in the room were the soft clinking of teacups and the occasional crackling of charcoal fire.

After a while, perhaps thinking that Xu Qianhui had finished reading, the old lady pointed to the roster.

"That petty Fu was afraid you'd go to the polo match, afraid you'd cause trouble at the manor again, and even afraid you'd ruin Zuo Qing's marriage. She argued with me all morning yesterday."

"Auntie is overthinking it." Xu Qianhui raised her eyes: "Ah Hui knows how to behave properly now."

The old lady's smile deepened: "I love a sensible girl like you. By the way, I haven't been feeling well these past few days, but the children in the household are very filial, and we've already arranged for them to take turns caring for me."

"That polo club..."

"Don't worry, it won't be delayed." The old lady twirled her prayer beads. "Xiao Fang went to Huichuntang to get the new medicine, and after a few days, I feel much better."

Granny Fang stepped forward with a smile: "Before, when the illness was unknown, Doctor Wang was still able to stabilize the old lady's condition. Now that we know the cause, the old lady will surely recover soon."

"That's wonderful news!" Xu Qianhui echoed with a smile. "The old lady is a blessed person; some people's good days are coming to an end."

The old lady couldn't hide her smugness: "She's just the daughter of a fallen marquis's family. She doesn't even know her own worth. She thinks she can wield power in the Duke's mansion? She's dreaming."

Xu Qianhui nodded, then said worriedly, "I heard that Second Master was hit on the leg by the coachman in the manor. I wonder if the Second Branch of the family will be affected by this..."

"He wouldn't dare." The old lady raised an eyebrow: "If word gets out that a mere illegitimate son is jealous of his legal mother, his career in officialdom will be over."

"Miss, you may not know this, but before that coachman was driven out of the manor, he attracted some interesting things." Seeing that the old lady was in a good mood, Granny Fang also chimed in.

Xu Qianhui asked in confusion, "Wasn't that an accident?"

Granny Fang looked at the old lady, and seeing her nod, she lowered her voice and continued, "How many coincidences are there in the world? It was Qing Shu, the young master's attendant, who bribed someone to make him run into the second master."

Xu Qianhui covered her mouth in surprise, and after a long while, she stammered, "Why...why did he..."

She quickly stopped herself, realizing that what she was about to say was too hot to handle.

The old lady scoffed, "Why are you afraid to speak up about what happened to Minister Zuo?"

Xu Qianhui quickly shook her head: "Ahui is just afraid of saying the wrong thing and spoiling the old lady's mood."

The old lady looked at her: "Are you afraid of me?"

"I'm afraid." Xu Qianhui answered quickly: "With a word from the old lady, she can make Ahui enter through the main gate, or she can make Ahui leave through the side gate."

The room fell silent after he said that.

The old lady stared at her: "Have you ever complained about the Duke's mansion?"

"I used to resent it, but now... Ah Hui just wants to live life to the fullest," Xu Qianhui said, rubbing her fingertips together.

"You're quite frank," the old lady chuckled. "Then tell me the truth, what are you planning to do about Zuo An?"

"Ah Hui heard that Zuo An has already accepted the marriage proposal from the Grand Tutor's family and probably won't be returning to Jiangnan." Xu Qianhui lowered her eyes: "Miss Qin comes from the Grand Tutor's family, so it's perfectly legitimate for her to be his wife. If Ah Hui tries to get involved with her, she'll only be humiliating herself."

The old lady glanced at her and said, "Just tell me what you want, Zuo An. If you don't want him, don't beat around the bush with me."

Xu Qianhui continued to lower her eyes and rub her fingertips. In the blink of an eye, a tear fell onto the back of her hand.

"Alright, alright, I'm not blaming you." The old lady's tone softened. "With me here, what are you afraid of Qin Miaoyun for? The Duke's family has been hereditary for five generations, and I am a first-rank noblewoman. What's wrong with arranging a concubine for my grandson?"

Xu Qianhui raised her face, her eyes filled with disbelief.

A concubine.

The old lady actually agreed to give herself the position of a secondary wife.

If Qin Miaoyun were to hear these words, not only the second branch of the family, but even her aunt would be furious and come to Ci'an Hall to question her.

At that time, the Duke's mansion will be in complete chaos, which will just fulfill the old lady's wish.

What a pity, what a pity that the old lady's plan was all for naught.

She used to long to return to Jiangnan with Lin Zuo'an, to live together in a courtyard, enjoying three meals a day throughout the four seasons.

Let the soul find rest, and let the flesh and blood grow wildly.

Can......

She would rather lose a man who betrayed her than take him back.

She rose and knelt down, tears welling in her eyes: "Madam's kindness is too much for me to accept lightly."

The old lady looked at her: "You don't want it?"

"I do," Xu Qianhui answered readily. "But what Ahui wants is not charity or pity."

"So what do you want?"

"Ah Hui wants the old lady to teach her, to teach Ah Hui how to stand still."

Disappointment flashed across the old lady's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and said, "Fine, it's better than crying and begging for a title."

Granny Fang presented a wooden waist token.

The words "Rongguo Gongfu" are engraved on the top, and the old lady's private seal is on the back.

"Please keep this, Miss."

Xu Qianhui accepted it, her eyebrows immediately curving into a smile: "Thank you for your kindness, Madam!"

The old lady waved her hand: "From today onwards, you will live in the side courtyard of my Ci'an Hall. I will teach you the rules and etiquette. Anyone who dares to overstep my teaching authority will be sent to see me."

Xu Qianhui held the waist token and bowed.

The old lady continued, "The side courtyard has been tidied up long ago. The two maids serving you won't easily enter your room. If you need anything else, just tell Granny Fang."

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Qianhui looked at the old lady: "If Zuo An comes over tonight..."

"If you want, there won't be a single servant breathing in the side courtyard. Whoever you want to know you've entered the mansion, only the person you want to know will get the news."

Xu Qianhui expressed her gratitude again, and seeing that the old lady was a little tired, Fang Mama led her to the side courtyard.

Although it was a side courtyard of Ci'an Hall, it was the furthest place from the old lady's room.

Presumably, the elderly woman is a light sleeper at night, and this arrangement was made specifically to avoid making too much noise and disturbing her rest.

In the past, at Songbai Courtyard, except during his menstrual period, Lin Zuoqing would make a ruckus almost every night once or twice.

Then he asked someone to wash her body carefully.

I'm not sure if this place is convenient.

After entering the room, Granny Fang had two maids kowtow to acknowledge the person. Just as she was about to leave, Xu Qianhui called out to her.

"Granny, where should I go to bathe tonight?"

Granny Fang, being an old and shrewd woman, saw Xu Qianhui's flushed cheeks and embarrassed expression and immediately laughed.

"Miss, there's no need to worry. You can wash up in the room next door. There's a bamboo tube above the bathtub that connects to the Ci'an Hall's small kitchen. Hot water is available all day long. Just pull the rope and the hot water will come naturally."

It truly lives up to its reputation as the old lady's courtyard.

Xu Qianhui sighed inwardly, stuffed a silver ingot into Granny Fang's hand, and said with a light smile, "In that case, I'll have to trouble you to let the Second Young Master know about my arrival in the manor."

The prey will be delivered to our door by tomorrow night at the latest.