Ruyi and Ru Huan are resting in the room.
Although the person hitting them with the board showed leniency, they have been by Princess Consort Yi’s side for years, and their health has been nurtured to be quite delicate.
If compared to those wealthy young ladies outside, they might be even more tender and fair-skinned.
Thus, when the board hits them, the injuries are still quite severe.
Seeing the redness and bruises covering their backs, Yingshuang, the second-class palace maid administering the medicine, feels deeply concerned.
"Sisters, try to endure a bit. This medicine is freshly sent by Princess Consort Yi herself, claiming it will heal in three days. Let me apply it for you now."
The two nod and bite on handkerchiefs.
Though the skin isn’t broken and there’s no bleeding, the burning pain against the cool injury ointment still makes their backs tense.
Yingshuang’s hands are quite swift, thoroughly applying the medicine to injured spots.
Luckily it’s summer, so wearing only thin garments is fine.
The two sisters have been by Princess Consort Yi’s side for years, and such injuries aren’t the first time.
But their loyalty to Princess Consort Yi has not waned a bit.
The reason they didn’t inform Princess Consort Yi about the Second Prince being titled a king was due to careful consideration.
They feared Princess Consort Yi would lose her composure over family issues.
They believe the Emperor deliberately did so, intending to simultaneously reprimand Princess Consort Yi, the Third Prince, and the Liu Family.
If the madam had any reactions and got caught...
Wouldn’t it put her in a dilemma?
Only to not anticipate Bai Pin’s news arriving so swiftly.
Had they known she was here to talk about this matter, they wouldn’t have allowed them inside.
Now, it’s truly a sigh of relief.
"What should we do now, Sister Ruyi?"
"What can we do? I suppose the madam has already contacted the family. Now, anything we plan is futile. We just have to wait and see. The master kept us by the madam’s side to protect her, so we must prioritize her benefits."
Ru Huan nods in agreement, determination filling her eyes.
If they reach a point of absolute necessity, they would surely step forward to take all the blame upon themselves.
Inside Yao Tai Pavilion.
Lin Guifei heard the news a few days ago.
Her attitude was completely different from Princess Consort Yi’s.
She personally arranged for monks from Baolin Temple to recite scriptures at the traveling palace and sent many "old possessions" of Princess Consort Su to evoke the Second Prince’s gratitude.
Looking at these old possessions, there was not much turmoil in the Second Prince’s heart.
After all, he hadn’t seen the person herself, and these lifeless objects hardly stirred any sorrowful emotion.
Seeing his blank expression, Nanny Duan did not step forward to disturb him.
She only closed the door, letting him remain quietly inside.
Nowadays, several maids led by Nanny Duan have been sent away by her provocations, leaving those remaining to work diligently.
Unfortunately, in Nanny Du’s eyes, they are all sand.
Cleansing them one by one is only a matter of time.
As she was about to head to the Inner Court Department to check on newly promoted palace maids, she unexpectedly encountered Du Changzai, who had been stationed outside for days.
Seeing her, Du Changzai beamed with joy, unable to close their mouth.
Rushing forward, kneeling on the ground, they exclaimed.
Yet Nanny Du looked stern as if the person before her was merely acting, devoid of any noticeable emotion.
She merely sidestepped their kneeling and then gracefully said.
"Miss Du, watch your words and actions. The little gratitude between us has long been severed years ago; this ’mother’ title is not one I can bear now."
"Mother, I’m muddle-headed. Back then, I didn’t heed your advice to marry outside the palace but chose the path of a concubine instead. Over the years, as I’ve suffered in the harem, I’ve regretted endlessly — I truly realize my mistake now! Please forgive me, mother."
Du Changzai cried like a rain-drenched pear blossom, and were it not for the seclusion of this path, it might have been witnessed by outsiders.
Sadly, no matter how fervently they cried, Nanny Du remained unperturbed.
Even a bit of disdain appeared in her eyes, and she then shook her head and said.
"Miss Du, you’re exaggerating. Whether you recognize your mistake or not, best not to mention it again in the future. Since you chose this path yourself, tread it well. Blessing or curse, bear them yourself. This was what I said back then, and still the same today."
The firmness in her expression made Du Changzai, who knelt on the ground, lose their prior fragility.
A hint of determination flashed in their eyes.
"Mother, are you truly so heartless, watching me suffer under other’s abuse in the harem without care?"
Nanny Du couldn’t be bothered to argue further, directly leaving.
Duan Chang then stomped their foot in frustration but to no avail!
The palace maid Qiu Yun, who supported them, also looked displeased.
With a cold snort, she said.
"Nanny Du is truly heartless; Miss Du humbly implored her this way, yet she’s still so ruthless and unfeeling!"
"Who wouldn’t say so? Such a mother is of no use at all!"
Having come to the traveling palace with difficulty, naturally intending to pour out their heart to Nanny Du.
Hoping she would, for the sake of their mother-daughter bond, provide some help.
Although Lin Guifei offers a little care, another noble means another path.
Especially now, as Nanny Du reappears before everyone!
"Initially, I planned to use her path to approach Lin Changzai, but didn’t anticipate such an affront to my dignity. All right, let her not fall upon hard times later, or if she pleads before me, I’ll repay today’s humiliation doubly!"
Saying so, she flung her sleeve and left.
Leaving only a place of silence.
Nanny Du paid no mind to this matter and walked towards the Inner Court Department.
And so, Chunqi was left awkwardly trailing.
Having overheard a slew of secrets.
She had intended to go to the Inner Court Department with Nanny Du, yet her pace was quick, leaving within the blink of an eye.
Oddly enough, having rushed over just encountered this scene.
Frightened into hiding in the shadows, not daring to make a sound.
Unable to advance or retreat.
Only after both had left for quite a while and she found no one returning, did she emerge.
Dusting off her legs numb from squatting, she then headed quickly towards Huifang Courtyard.
Lin Wanyi felt quite surprised upon hearing the news.
She had met Du Changzai a few times.
Clinging to Lin Guifei; although somewhat ingratiating, she wasn’t one to recklessly stir trouble.
Thus, still fairly easy to associate.
Unexpectedly, she turns out to be Nanny Du’s daughter, and their relationship is estranged?
This, she truly hadn’t considered.
"You weren’t discovered?"
"I was cautious, not at all."
"That’s good. This matter must be kept absolutely secret; only the three of us should know, understand?"
Chunqi and Xia An both nod, their expressions serious.
Lin Wanyi silently reminisced about her interactions with Nanny Du, seemingly without anything particularly unusual.