“Redemption and leaving the residence?” Lady Zhai frowned, clearly puzzled.

In the Hou residence, being a head maid was a prestigious position.

Even after marriage, if she couldn’t stay in the residence as a stewardess, she could still help manage the estate or the shops.

It was unusual for anyone to redeem themselves.

“Rong Rong has family outside the capital. She’s always wanted to redeem herself and reunite with her family.”

“Reunite?” Lady Zhai shook her head with a smile. “At her age, she’ll be married off soon. After staying with you for so long, can she really be content to go and marry someone else? That girl clings to you so much. Don’t try to deceive me. Are you planning to make her a concubine just because I didn’t agree to make her a maid?”

“It doesn’t matter what you think of me. From now on, please don’t mention Rong Rong’s past,” Xie Yuan Chu said solemnly to Lady Zhai.

Seeing her son’s serious demeanor and his strong protection of Rong Rong, Lady Zhai felt a surge of anger.

Before Lady Zhai could react, Xie Yuanchu continued, “Do you know what kind of fortune Rong Rong had at the hot spring estate?”

“What kind of fortune could she have?” Lady Zhai questioned dismissively, but then she realized something. “Are you saying she was…?”

“It’s not as you think. I just observed that His Highness seems to have taken a liking to her.”

“You observed? Could it be that you’re mistaken?” Lady Zhai still didn’t believe it.

Rong Rong was indeed beautiful, but the Crown Prince had rejected many beauties chosen by the Empress.

How could he possibly be interested in Rong Rong?

“I’ve discussed it with Fu Quan, and it’s highly likely.”

“Fu Quan, who has watched the Crown Prince grow up, must be accurate if he thinks so.” Lady Zhai shook her head, looking resigned. “I understand now why you didn’t want Yuanrui to go to the Eastern Palace. If she doesn’t catch the Crown Prince’s eye, no status will matter.”

“Mother…”

“Don’t worry. No one in the Hou residence will dare to say anything against Rong Rong. I’ll speak with Yuanrui again. She’s my own flesh and blood, and I care for her more than you do.”

Xie Yuanchu nodded, knowing that with his mother’s agreement, there was no further issue.

Just as he was about to leave, Lady Zhai added, “Tonight, stay at Yilan’s place.”

Xie Yuan Chu paused, unsure how to respond.

There were certain things he found difficult to discuss with his mother.

It was different from matters between husband and wife.

He could follow propriety in such matters, but when it came to feelings, it was about genuine emotion.

Looking at Rong Rong’s slightly flushed nose when she was sick, he felt a desire to kiss her.

Seeing Zhen Zhen’s shy lowered head made him want to lift her chin.

But looking at Wang Yilan, who seemed like a wooden figure, he felt no impulse at all.

“Once the Hou residence has a legitimate heir, I will make sure to arrange for whoever you wish to take as a concubine.”

When Zhai Shi spoke, Xie Yuanchu felt a surge of warmth in his heart, recalling the trembling figure of Zhenzhen nestled in his arms that night at the hot spring villa.

He was unwilling to act on impulse or have matters become contentious, but with his mother softening, he felt he could meet Zhenzhen’s hopes without issue.

“Understood,” Xie Yuanchu said.

Zhai Shi, seeing Xie Yuanchu’s smiling face as he left, felt both amused and exasperated.

She complained to her old maid nearby, “I’ve always told him to marry wisely and he agrees with me every time. But as soon as I mention adding a new concubine, his face lights up like a flower. It’s as if he could wag his tail! He doesn’t resemble his father at all.”

“Everyone has a fondness for beauty. Both the Marquis and the heir are the same. There are no concubines in this household, only a proper wife. You are indeed a virtuous wife, but you were the most beautiful woman in the capital in your youth.”

The old maid’s words made Zhai Shi feel a bit better, and she couldn’t help but sigh thinking about her daughter-in-law, Wang Yilan.

Wang Yilan wasn’t unattractive, but she lacked an understanding of fashion.

She dressed like an old woman, and even Zhai Shi, who practiced Buddhist devotions, wouldn’t wear her clothes.

Despite Zhai Shi’s repeated hints, Wang Yilan stuck rigidly to her family’s customs, choosing a name for her quarters that sounded old-fashioned.

Zhai Shi had come to terms with it, realizing that personal fate played a role, and as long as the Marquis’s household had a legitimate heir, the rest was secondary.

Xie Yuanchu went to the Rongkang Courtyard, where Wang Yilan was naturally pleased, but they remained distant, ending the night without much intimacy.

…

When Zhenzhen pushed the door open, she saw Rongrong counting money on the couch.

“Aren’t you on night duty?” Rongrong asked casually as she packed the counted money into her purse.

“Tonight, the heir is staying at Rongkang Courtyard.”

Rongrong noticed Zhenzhen’s forced smile and the undisguised disappointment on her face.

Wang Yilan was Xie Yuanchu’s main wife, and it was proper for him to stay in the Rongkang Courtyard.

Still, saying this to Zhenzhen would only make her feel worse.

Zhenzhen understood these things but placed too much importance on Xie Yuanchu’s affection.

“If the kitchen still has people working, why don’t you take me to see Mrs. Han?” Rongrong suggested, trying to distract Zhenzhen.

The kitchen was busy all night. It wasn’t clear if Mrs. Han had left yet.

Besides, it would be too conspicuous for the two of us to go to the kitchen together.

Once we set a date to leave the residence, we can meet Mrs. Han outside.

I’ve already told the Young Master about Luo Mei, and he will bring her to our courtyard in a day or two.

Rong Rong felt grateful for Zhen Zhen’s enthusiasm.

After they washed up, they lay down and chatted a bit before falling asleep.

Compared to Zhen Zhen, who was worried, Rong Rong hoped that Xie Yuanchu would stay in the Rong Kang Courtyard every day.

When he wasn’t in the study, he didn’t need to keep watch at night or wake up early.

Other than tidying up, there wasn’t much to do.

When Rong Rong was ill before, Zhen Zhen had stayed up several nights for her.

Today, Zhen Zhen had her own worries and couldn’t sleep all night, tossing and turning until almost dawn.

Rong Rong covered her with a blanket and went to the study.

Xie Yuanchu’s study was large.

Besides him, only Zhen Zhen, Rong Rong, and Xin Zhu were allowed in.

The Young Master’s wife, Mrs. Wang, also didn’t come in casually.

When Xie Yuanchu wasn’t there, Rong Rong enjoyed being in the quiet, undisturbed study.

She used a feather duster to remove the dust from the bookshelves and arranged the books according to Xie Yuan Chu’s preferences.

While she was busy, someone pushed open the study door.

Rong Rong turned around, surprised to see it was Xie Yuanrui.

Xie Yuanrui was seventeen this year, with a good appearance and demeanor, but she wasn’t outstanding.

Even so, she seemed to be glaring at Rong Rong with a piercing gaze.

“Third Miss,” Xie Yuan Rui said.

Rong Rong greeted her, but Xie Yuanrui stood in the doorway, staring at her as if she wanted to pierce her with her gaze.

“Third Miss, the Young Master is at Rongkang Courtyard right now.”

Xie Yuanrui seemed not to hear Rong Rong and continued to stare at her.

Rong Rong felt uncomfortable under her gaze but could only stand there.

After a tense silence, Xie Yuan Rui turned and left without saying another word.

Rong Rong was puzzled and sensed the hostility in Xie Yuanrui’s gaze.

Perhaps Xie Yuanrui, who aspired to be the Crown Princess, had heard some rumors about the hot springs and came to confront her.

However, Xie Yuanrui, being of high status, didn’t speak and left in a huff.

Fortunately, Rong Rong would soon be free from these troubles and could escape from such jealousy.

For some reason, as Rongrong thought back to when she was still Jing Rong, she remembered encountering the then-prospective crown princess.

The crown princess looked down at her from her palanquin, barely glancing in her direction, making Rongrong feel like nothing more than a speck of dust.

Even now, thinking back on that cold gaze made Rongrong shiver slightly.

“What are you lost in thought about?”

Xie Yuanchu waved his hand in front of Rongrong’s face, startling her.

She hadn’t even realized he had entered the study.

Rongrong lowered her head to hide her panic. “The Third Miss came by earlier. She just stared at me without saying a word. I wasn’t sure what she wanted, so I must have looked a bit dazed.”

“Yuanrui? Did she say anything?”

Rongrong shook her head and pointed to where Xie Yuanrui had stood. “She just stood there silently, staring at me. It felt strange.”

Seeing that Xie Yuanchu didn’t seem surprised, Rongrong guessed it was related to the Crown Prince.

“Who knows what that girl is up to. I’ll ask her later,” Xie Yuanchu said, glancing with interest at the neatly organized bookshelf. Although Rongrong had reorganized it, she had done so in a way that catered to Xie Yuanchu’s preferences.

“I didn’t know you had such a talent. It’s really a pity to let you go.”

“The matter of buying out my contract, has the young master agreed to it?” Rongrong asked.

Xie Yuanchu’s gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Rongrong. “Of course. Have you gathered the money for your release?”

“Not yet,” Rongrong replied. “I have a monthly allowance of one or two silver coins. I should be able to make up the difference in another two or three months.”

“How much more do you need?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. I can manage to gather it.”

Xie Yuanchu was amused by Rongrong’s attitude. “Have you decided who will take over your duties?”

“I discussed it with Zhenzhen and we think that the maid, Luo Mei, from the Madam’s courtyard would be a good choice. She has a pleasant temperament and is quite clever.”

“Luo Mei? That name sounds familiar. Is she the little maid whom Zhenzhen wanted to bring over? Alright, if you both like her, that’s fine with me,” Xie Yuanchu said.

He didn’t recall much about Luo Mei, only that she was a good-looking maid, but he was particularly attentive to Zhenzhen and Rongrong.

“Thank you, Prince.”

Xie Yuanchu pressed his lips together. Rongrong was extraordinarily beautiful, and making her happy naturally brought him pleasure. “Zhenzhen mentioned wanting to take a day off to go shopping with you. When do you plan to go?”

“We were thinking of going on the day the young master is out, so it wouldn’t interfere with your duties in the study.”

Xie Yuanchu thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s go the day after tomorrow. I’ve arranged to go to the Zhenyuan Marquis’s second son’s residence to enjoy the plum blossoms, and I’ll be home only after the evening banquet.”

Rongrong eagerly looked forward to leaving the house and finding a place the day after tomorrow.

She felt even more relieved. “Thank you, young master.”

“Here, this is for both of you. If you see anything you like, just buy it.”

Xie Yuanchu handed her a small purse.

Rongrong took it and felt that it contained about seven or eight taels of silver.

In the Marquis’s household, rewards were usually in the form of items, and only during festivals did they give out red envelopes with money.

“Young Master, this is—”

“I spend more than this just for a meal outside. Take it. Once you leave, there won’t be any more chances for me to reward you,” Xie Yuanchu said casually.

He was speaking the truth, as he often spent twenty to thirty taels just for entertainment outside.

With that, Rongrong had to accept the money.