Duan Shaoqing slumped on his chair, unable to speak for a long time.

Xiaolian lowered her head slightly, looking well-behaved.

After a long time, Duan Shaoqing exhaled a breath, but his voice couldn't help shaking: "Let me ask you, why did Kou Qingqing do this?"

 “My servant doesn’t know.”

"I don't know?" Duan Shaoqing was so angry that his heart ached, "I don't know that you let her do whatever you want?"

This is not only nonsense, it is clearly seeking death, and he is dragging the Shaoqing Mansion to die with him!

Xiao Lian bit her lip, with an innocent look on her face: "My servant is just a little maid, I can't control the girl."

Duan Shaoqing was choked.

That dead girl is lawless and cannot be stopped by a little maid.

 “What’s next for Kou Qingqing?”

“The girl said that she will come back after a long time. When the time comes, no one will find her out of her men’s clothes. Please don’t worry, sir—”

 “What a fool!” Duan Shaoqing was furious.

Xiao Lian persuaded her very calmly: "Sir, please keep your voice down. What if people hear that you are informing someone for the sake of making meritorious service and making a fortune?"

　Duan Shaoqing: “…”

　　That dead girl should be poisoned to death with a bowl of medicine. Why is he so stupid!

 After a while, Duan Shaoqing gritted his teeth and asked, "Does anyone else in Wanqingju know?"

"Of course you know. How could you keep it a secret when such a big girl is not in the house?"

Duan Shaoqing was so angry that he covered his chest.

This humble maid is so righteous and confident!

 “Call them all in!”

"Yes." Xiao Lian responded abruptly, turned around and went out to call someone.

 Fortunately, there were not many people. Apart from Xiaolian, there were only Mother Wang, Aunt Li, and a little maid brought back from outside.

"If you three can't keep your mouth shut, don't blame me for pulling out your tongues." Duan Shaoqing said harshly.

Mama Li knelt down on the ground and swore neatly: "If this old slave talks nonsense, the sky will strike with thunder and I will cut off my descendants!"

 Mother Wang also swore a poisonous oath.

The little maid then raised her hand: "If this maid talks nonsense, she will never be able to get married!"

Duan Shaoqing frowned: "You don't count."

 Can’t get married? It's not normal for someone to follow that dead girl. What if you think it's a good thing not to get married?

The little maid had to swear a poisonous oath that would ruin her face and make Duan Shaoqing satisfied.

 When the three of them went out, Duan Shaoqing stared at Xiaolian and sneered: "Even if Kou Qingqing doesn't care about Shaoqing's house, isn't she afraid of death? She went crazy to do such a thing that would kill her whole family!"

"The girl said that as long as the elder helps her cover up that she is not in Shaoqing's house, everything will be fine."

 “What if? What if!” Duan Shaoqing wanted to go crazy again.

When Guchangbo's house was in bad luck, he was so worried that he couldn't sleep well all night, lest the emperor's decree came down and Shaoqing's house would be imprisoned.

It was finally easy to relax, but something more terrible happened.

Xiao Lian blinked: "The girl didn't say what to do if anything happens."

When Duan Shaoqing left Wanqingju, he was in a state of confusion.

“Father, you don’t look well. Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”

Duan Shaoqing met Duan Yunchen who had just returned home on the road.

Originally, the triennial examinations and palace examinations were rare events that always attracted much attention. However, not long after the examinations, something happened to Gu Changbo, so the announcement of the apricot list was much less exciting. The palace examination was postponed again and again, until May, and the process was completed indifferently due to the emperor's lack of interest.

 Duan Yunchen is now overseeing government affairs at the Ministry of Household Affairs and has officially entered an official career.

"No." Duan Shaoqing quickly denied, glanced at his upright son, and silently swallowed the reminder.

 Chen'er has not heard anything outside the window for many years, and his thoughts and actions need to be tempered, so he was reminded that bad things may happen.

“I’m just busy with official duties, so I’m a little tired. Are you still adapting to the Ministry of Household Affairs?”

Duan Shaoqing managed to deal with his son for a few words and returned to the courtyard.

The most important thing tomorrow is to take a look at that **** girl and see how she disguises herself as a man. Can't you tell it at a glance?

 When Duan Shaoqing thought about it, he was so anxious that he couldn't even eat dinner.

At this time, Xin You was a guest at the eldest princess's residence.

The weather is hot, but the flower hall used for entertaining guests in the Princess's Mansion is comfortable and pleasant. Ice basins are placed in several corners of the Gein Hall.

“This is your cousin Kong Rui.” Princess Zhaoyang introduced herself.

 “I’ve met my cousin.”

 Hong Rui returned the gift.

 “This is your cousin Kongfu.”

Although Kong Fu was young, he knew etiquette and sweetly called him cousin.

“Everyone, please sit down.” Princess Zhaoyang looked at Xin You with gentle eyes, “Don’t be restrained, this will be your home from now on.”

"Thank you, aunt." Compared to Princess Zhaoyang's enthusiasm, Xin You was much more polite.

 Being polite means being distant.

Xin You didn’t want to take advantage of Princess Zhaoyang’s sincerity towards Mr. Xin’s love for Wujiwu.

On the contrary, the eldest princess Zhaoyang felt that her sister-in-law's children should be like this, not flattering the superiors and not being negligent to the inferiors.

This dinner did not last long. After it was over, at the signal of Princess Zhaoyang, a maid presented a small box with a thousand taels of silver notes in it.

"If you recognize me as your aunt, don't shirk it. Just keep it. There will be more places to spend money in the future."

Xinyou thanked him and accepted the banknote.

 “Rui’er, you send Xin Mu for your mother.”

"yes."

Kong Rui has been sending Xin You outside the mansion, where the carriage from the eldest princess's mansion is waiting quietly.

"Master Hou, please stay." Xinyou stopped and said politely.

Kong Rui raised his eyebrows.

 Just now I was my cousin, now I am the Marquis.

 “You should call me cousin.” Kong Rui said seriously.

Xinyou: "..." I didn't expect that Marquis Jing'an was such a serious person.

 Fortunately, she is not serious.

 “Cousin, stay here.” Xin You changed her words.

Kong Rui cupped his hands and said, "Cousin, walk slowly."

Xin You walked towards the carriage, and a voice sounded: "Is it Xin Daizhao?"

Xinyou stopped and turned around.

Kong Rui, who was watching Xin You get into the car, also looked over.

 The eldest prince, King Xiu, came over.

“I have met His Royal Highness King Xiu.” Kong Rui bowed first.

King Xiu hurriedly said: "My cousin, there is no need to be polite."

Xin You bowed his hands and said, "I have seen His Royal Highness King Xiu."

King Xiu looked at Xin You carefully and said with a smile: "The little king just heard about Xin Daizhao. He originally wanted to invite Xin Daizhao to the office for a cup of tea, but when Xin Daizhao came, my aunt didn't bother me..."

 “His Royal Highness, King Xiu, has betrayed a humble minister.” Xin You thanked him politely.

When she was still a "kou girl", she had several contacts with King Xiu, and the impression she gave her was that he was gentle, polite and humble towards others.

Now that she is the adopted son of the empress recognized by the emperor, and the biological son of the empress that many people doubt, King Xiu's attitude has become better, and he expressed his closeness so quickly.

Now that King Qing has fallen, and the following princes are still young, King Xiu is undoubtedly the most promising candidate for the crown prince. Faced with the potential threat of Mr. Xin, does King Xiu have other motives for his attitude, or is he just pure and kind in nature?

As the biggest beneficiary of King Qing's loss of power, King Xiu was Xin You's target of suspicion, so he naturally did not refuse his approach.

"Tomorrow, I will be hosting the ceremony. I will invite Xin Daizhao and cousin Rui to have tea with you, and please show your appreciation." King Xiu sent out the invitation with a smile.