Chapter 81

 Qingpu Residence one remained silent as cicadas in cold weather, except for an elderly man who stood in the hall speaking with conviction.

“Although the final outcome is good, the Crown Prince should not risk his life. The safety of the Crown Prince is related to the entirety of Beilin. When faced with situations, one should think twice before acting.”

Chang Liu stealthily approached the door, asking Xifeng quietly, “Where did we leave off?”

Xifeng didn’t look away. “The body double was killed.”

“Ah…” Chang Liu sighed. “That’s still early. With all these matters to discuss, how long will the old man go on for?”

Inside the room, the voice of the elderly man continued, “The Prince longs for the Crown Prince in Beilin. When I came, the Prince instructed…”

Shen Yu stepped in with steady steps, seeing Chang Liu and Xifeng standing by the door like pines. She asked, “What are you two doing standing there?”

Xifeng and Chang Liu exchanged a glance that said, “You’re in trouble.”

The voice of the elderly man inside was interrupted. He frowned and asked sharply, “Who is making noise outside?”

Shen Yu hesitated and asked, “Who is it?”

Chang Liu reminded her in a low voice, “The steward of the Wang Mansion, Uncle Zhong.”

Shen Yu nodded. “Oh,” she said and approached. “Your Highness, I am on duty today.”

Then she bowed to Uncle Zhong. “Steward Zhong, greetings.”

Uncle Zhong looked Shen Yu up and down and asked, “Are you the child His Highness picked up on the battlefield?”

What does he mean by ‘picked up on the battlefield’? If one didn’t know, they might think Shen Yu was His Highness’s adopted child.

Shen Yu glanced at Xie Tingzhou uncertainly and said, “I suppose so.”

With that said, she prepared to sit in a nearby chair.

Before her bottom could touch the chair, Uncle Zhong shouted, “His Highness has not spoken yet. How dare you be so insolent!”

Shen Yu was startled by this scolding, unsure whether to advance or retreat. She stood bent over for a moment before straightening up.

This was how she usually acted in front of Xie Tingzhou. No one had ever objected to her taking a seat. She was already accustomed to it.

Uncle Zhong said sternly, “The mansion cannot be without someone in charge. The responsibility of the guard falls to Xifeng. It was not appropriate for this old man to overstep, but it seems Xifeng hasn’t managed things well either.”

Xifeng acknowledged from under the eaves, though he thought from the start that His Highness had warned him that he couldn’t control this person, and with His Highness protecting her, how could he control her?

Xie Tingzhou coughed lightly behind his hand and said, “Steward Zhong, you’ve had a long journey. You should rest for a few days before handling matters in the mansion.”

Uncle Zhong immediately said, “Since His Highness is unwell, I won’t disturb you further. I’ll go attend to other matters first.”

Xie Tingzhou nodded slightly.

“You all, leave with me,” Uncle Zhong said.

Shen Yu pondered whether this “you all” included her. Seeing everyone inside retreating, she followed them out.

“Shi Yu, stay,” Xie Tingzhou suddenly spoke up.

Uncle Zhong glanced at Shi Yu but didn’t object.

Only Xie Tingzhou and Shen Yu were left in the room.

Xie Tingzhou seemed in better spirits today than yesterday. He must be slowly recovering.

“Uncle Zhong is an old hand at the Wang Mansion,” Xie Tingzhou said slowly. “He came specifically from Beilin and will stay here to manage affairs. He may seem rigid, but he’s kind-hearted. Xifeng and Chang Liu are orphans, both raised by him.”

Xie Tingzhou didn’t mention that he himself was also raised by Uncle Zhong.

That was a secret of the Wang Mansion that couldn’t be revealed to outsiders.

Shen Yu nodded. “I’ve said I’m likable. Within three days, he’ll surely like me.”

Xie Tingzhou lightly touched his lips.

He didn’t mention what else Uncle Zhong had said, letting her be as likable as she wanted, but Uncle Zhong probably wouldn’t like her no matter what this time.

Shen Yu suddenly remembered something and asked, “Are those ‘Miss Sisters’ also brought by Uncle Zhong?”

“Miss Sisters?” Xie Tingzhou was puzzled.

“Oh,” Shen Yu said. “That’s what Er Ya called them. Those girls are in the courtyard next to mine. They don’t seem like maidservants from their attire.”

Xie Tingzhou’s expression stiffened slightly. “Uncle Zhong arranged them next to you?”

“Yes,” Shen Yu asked again, “Who are they?”

Xie Tingzhou remained silent for a moment. “They are inconsequential people, nothing to worry about.”

Shen Yu felt that Xie Tingzhou’s gaze wasn’t so sincere. Perhaps he hadn’t told the truth. After finishing the conversation with Xie Tingzhou, she left the room and pulled Chang Liu aside to ask again.

Chang Liu blurted out like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, “Those, those are concubines sent by the Prince for Your Highness.”

“Concubines?!” Shen Yu exclaimed.

“Yes, concubines,” Chang Liu said matter-of-factly. “Your Highness is twenty-two years old. It’s natural to have concubines in the former Wang Mansion of Beilin.”

Shen Yu felt like she had been struck by a heavy blow, unable to recover for a long time.

Yes, a twenty-two-year-old nobleman, who doesn’t have a multitude of wives and concubines? Isn’t it normal to have a few concubines?

Chang Liu scrutinized her for a moment. “Don’t you know what concubines are for? You’re only a little older than me. You probably haven’t tried it yet.”

Shen Yu felt a strange sensation in her heart, somewhat sour and bitter.

After thinking quietly for a moment, she seemed to vaguely recall a similar feeling when Jiang Lianzhi mentioned taking concubines in the last life, but it wasn’t as intense as it was now.

Shen Yu’s mind suddenly sounded an alarm. Could it be that regarding Xie Tingzhou, she…

Chang Liu leaned over, somewhat aggrieved. “Actually, I haven’t tried it either. His Highness once sent me one, but when I saw that sister, I was scared. She tried to undress me as soon as she came up.

I drove her away. I heard… um… when a man and a woman get along well, they sleep together at night. I didn’t get along with her, and she even tried to undress me. That was too much.”

…

Shen Yu was on duty at Qingpu Residence, but guests arrived at the front of the mansion. Although they didn’t name names, after gesturing to the servants for a while, the servants knew they were looking for Shen Yu.

When Shen

 Yu arrived in the front hall, she heard Uncle Zhong speaking respectfully inside.

“I wonder if Shen Yu has offended the young Marquis?”

Pei Chunli replied, “No, it’s just that I know her from before.”

Shen Yu wondered when she had met a young Marquis, and why didn’t she know about it?

She peeked into the hall and saw Pei Chunli lifting his teacup. Their eyes met perfectly.

Pei Chunli’s eyes lit up. “Brother!”

Shen Yu really didn’t know when she had such a brother. She hurriedly entered and bowed. “Young Marquis.”

Pei Chunli put down his teacup, stood up, and circled around Shen Yu. Suddenly he said, “It’s been a year already, why haven’t you grown taller?”

Uncle Zhong observed the two of them.

Pei Chunli saw her puzzled expression and explained with gestures, “Don’t you remember? Last spring, we met in a… in a room. I was lying on the couch, and you were on top of me… um… hmm…”

Shen Yu hurriedly covered Pei Chunli’s mouth, afraid he would say something absurd.

Looking at Uncle Zhong again, she saw a look of disdain on his face.