By the creek.

Rong Ting gazed at his own reflection in the shimmering water, his face staring back at him from the ripples.

He lifted the corner of his mouth, attempting to force a friendly smile, but his lips felt stiff.

Rong Ting rarely showed any expression, not because he was particularly good at controlling his emotions, but because, in his eyes, everyone was the same—nothing but a source of irritation, incapable of stirring any other feelings. So, he simply regarded them with indifference.

But those maids had said that he had frightened her brother.

If he frightened her brother, she would be upset.

He furrowed his brow and then intentionally relaxed it, trying again to smile at the water, but it came out stiff and unnatural.

Even he himself found it awkward to watch.

…

Jiang Rao went to the usual places where her brother liked to hang out, thinking she would find him quickly, but she found no sign of him. Even with the maids following, it should have been foolproof, yet she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of worry. Children always seemed safest when they were in sight.

Her impatience was clear in her eyes. From a distance, she saw a tall figure holding her brother’s hand and walking toward her.

When she recognized the figure, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

It was Yang Xiuzhu.

A few days ago, their disagreement at the Lantern Festival had ended on a sour note, yet here he was, smiling gently as if nothing had happened, his face as warm as spring.

But for Jiang Rao, once there had been conflict, she couldn’t greet him with a smile.

She didn’t want to talk to him, watching as he approached with her brother’s hand in his.

“Miss Jiang,” he greeted her. Though he wore a cold expression towards her, his tone was still unusually gentle. “I happened to run into your younger brother on the street just now. I saw he was only accompanied by a maid, so I took it upon myself to bring him back, just to make sure he didn’t get into any trouble on his own.”

One maid… wasn’t he with two maids?

Jiang Rao felt a wave of frustration.

Even though Yang Xiuzhu’s actions might have been unnecessary, they were done with good intentions, so a thank-you was still in order.

Reluctantly, she forced herself to speak in a calm tone. “Thank you, Young Master Yang.”

Aside from the thanks, she didn’t have anything else to say.

She pulled her brother closer.

Looking at the chubby little boy, who for some reason seemed to be in a better mood, Jiang Rao’s frustration grew. If it weren’t for this troublesome brat running around, he wouldn’t have crossed paths with Yang Xiuzhu.

Just a couple of days ago, she had angrily declared she would sever ties with his family, and now she had to go thank him.

It was so embarrassing. She must have done something wrong in her past life to deserve this.

Jiang Jinxing, completely unaware of his sister’s thoughts, came to her side, then turned around and, with his babyish voice, said, “Thank you, Brother Yang.”

Jiang Rao’s eyebrows immediately furrowed.

The little tyrant rarely said “thank you” of his own accord.

And now he was calling him “brother”…

When did their relationship become so good?

Yang Xiuzhu smiled slightly, bent down, and ruffled Jiang Jinxing’s head. “Next time we meet, I’ll take you out to play.”

Jiang Jinxing nodded enthusiastically.

Jiang Rao’s ears perked up at the “next” in his words.

As soon as Yang Xiuzhu left, Jiang Rao immediately pressed him, “Where did you go play just now?”

Jiang Jinxing covered his mouth and mumbled through his hand, “We promised we wouldn’t tell Sister.”

He pouted, watching Yang Xiuzhu walk away, then, in a show of camaraderie, clenched his little fist.

…

Yang Xiuzhu walked a few steps before suddenly stopping.

He opened his hand, revealing a few pieces of candy in his palm.

He thought about Jiang Rao’s reaction earlier—she was clearly still angry.

It was his younger sister who had spoken too harshly last time.

With her beauty, she’d probably never heard anyone call her ugly in her life, let alone in front of others.

Her anger was understandable.

What he hadn’t expected was that when she said she didn’t want to deal with his family, she really meant it. Over the past few days, every formal invitation he sent her was rejected.

He’d been keeping an eye on her, wandering nearby for a few days. Today, he finally had the opportunity when he saw her little brother, tear-streaked and complaining to his maid about wanting candy.

Children were simple and easy to please. A few pieces of candy and he was all smiles.

What he hadn’t expected was that the little boy had been restricted from eating sweets recently, and had been craving them for a long time. Giving him the candy felt like providing a lifeline in the snow.

It seemed that even the heavens were helping him.

Otherwise, considering how wealthy the child’s family was, and how he had everything he needed, he wouldn’t have known where to begin to win the boy over.

The candy shop owner was polite to him, and the little boy’s eyes sparkled when he looked at him.

If he could make her brother happy, getting closer to her would be a little easier.

He couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

But then he remembered how angry she had been earlier, and he wiped the smile off his face, slowly shaking his head.

He would need to continue working at it, take it slow, and bide his time.

…

At the Jingxiu Palace, Ji momo, as she did every day, stepped into the palace gates.

Ji momo was the most trusted assistant of Empress Jiahe. In the Jingxiu Palace, she had the longest tenure and the highest rank. The young palace maids and eunuchs all greeted her respectfully whenever they saw her.

In the past, Ji momo took great pleasure in this sense of authority, but today, she couldn’t help but notice that their attitude towards her seemed a bit different.

They weren’t as eager as before.

A sense of suspicion rose in Ji momo’s heart. As she stepped into the palace, she finally understood the reason when she saw the unfamiliar new face by Empress Jiahe’s side.

The Empress had instructed her to stay by her side.

This was clearly her position.

Ji momo’s face, wrinkled from years of age, twisted as she furrowed her brows. She approached the Empress and asked, “Your Majesty, who is this…?”

Without raising her eyes, Empress Jiahe spoke in a calm, indifferent tone: “This is Yu Ying, a new palace maid.”

Ji momo watched as the young maid took her former position, a wave of unease and fear rising in her heart as if her territory had been taken. She stepped forward, attempting to replace the new maid, who was massaging the Empress’s shoulders, saying, “Your Majesty, let this old servant take care of it. I’ve been serving you for many years and know exactly what kind of pressure you like.”

She subtly reminded the Empress of her long years of service.

However, to Empress Jiahe, whose suspicions were already aroused, her words were nothing short of offensive.

Serving for years, only to ultimately betray.

Empress Jiahe smiled, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Ji momo, you’re getting older now, and your strength isn’t what it used to be. Out of pity for you, I think Yu Ying should handle the physical tasks. At your age, it’s time you rest more.”

Yu Ying took the opportunity to ask, “Your Majesty, is this pressure comfortable?”

“Extremely comfortable. I haven’t felt this relaxed and at ease in years.”

Ji momo‘s face burned with embarrassment, unable to comprehend that the Empress had begun to find fault with her skills.

When the Empress handed over tasks that had previously been hers, such as delivering messages to officials, to Yu Ying, making Ji momo’s expression grew even darker.

Things like massaging shoulders or serving water were just opportunities to personally care for the Empress and build a closer relationship.

But delivering messages to officials was clearly something that should be entrusted only to a trusted confidant.

Her mind became a whirl of confusion, and she couldn’t help but recall the incident when she had been rejected by the Empress after the scandal with the civil service exams.

In that instant, a chill ran down Ji momo’s spine.

These successive events were sending her one unmistakable message:

The Empress was already looking for someone to replace her.

She was getting older, but the Empress had always treated her well before, and Ji momo had thought that if one day she grew old and the Empress needed to find someone to replace her, she would be given a heads-up.

But now, today, it came as such a complete surprise!

A deep sense of impending danger began to rise within Ji momo.

She only knew that the Empress seemed dissatisfied with her, but she had no idea just what her grievances were.

This left her feeling increasingly unsettled.

That evening, she sent a message to the Fourth Prince, hoping for a meeting.

She knew her place—she was just a servant, an outsider. The Fourth Prince and the Empress’s maternal family, the Xu family from Jinling, were much closer, and their relationship was stronger.

Perhaps the Empress had already discussed her with the Fourth Prince.

The fourth princes was inherently greedy and lustful, otherwise, he would never have suggested embezzling a portion of the monthly allowance intended for the ninth princes, almost causing a major scandal that could have created serious trouble for the empress.

But greed and lust also made him vulnerable to flattery and bribery.

Ji momo arrived at the Fourth Prince’s residence, carrying a set of gold-crafted knives.

The Fourth Prince had already learned from the Empress about Ji momo’s involvement with outsiders so he planned to remove her quietly.

However, Ji momo had run errands for them for many years, handling countless matters, and she knew too much. There were still many tasks under her purview, and the people who had conspired with her hadn’t all been tracked down yet. It wasn’t the right time to eliminate her.

His attitude was cold, yet he accepted the gold knives, and with a hint of theatrics, said, “Ji momo, perhaps you should reflect—maybe there’s something wrong with you.”

Ji momo feigned understanding.

Could it be that she had handled some matters poorly, bringing the Empress’s displeasure upon herself?

As she left the Fourth Prince’s residence, she furrowed her brows, wondering if she should do more for the Empress to prevent her power from slipping away.

If she lost these powers, the people who had once flattered her would surely disappear.

As Ji momo pondered this, one thing came to mind that the Empress hadn’t yet thought of—but she had already considered it herself.

…

Once Ji momo left, the Fourth Prince’s expression turned cold. He instructed his servants to put the golden knives away, stacking them in the estate’s storage.

…

After leading Jiang Jinxing home, Jiang Rao quickly grabbed the bag of pickled plums and went to find her father.

Seeing that Fourth Master Jiang was in the study, packing away his calligraphy and paintings into a chest, Jiang Rao’s eyelids twitched. She immediately ran over to stop him, calling out sweetly, “Father.”

Before she could say anything else, Fourth Master Jiang stopped his actions, his eyes narrowing as he warily looked at her. “Speak, what do you want?”

“I don’t want to leave the city.”

Fourth Master Jiang raised an eyebrow as if he had expected this. “Is it because of that boy from the western side of the city?”

Jiang Rao had already anticipated that her father would ask this. She shoved a pickled plum into Fourth Master Jiang’s mouth. “I can’t bring myself to leave, especially after trying those plums and pastries from the Miaoshige.”

Fourth Master Jiang spat out the pit. “Then I’ll buy that shop tomorrow, and we can leave right away.”

Jiang Rao: “…!”

She spoke the truth. “I’m doing it for him…”

Fourth Master Jiang was heartbroken. “Restraint, my daughter—restraint! I’ve taught you that a woman must be reserved!”

Jiang Rao stamped her foot in frustration and explained once more, “Father, his leg is injured, and the medicine was something I had to beg for. I just can’t bear to leave him alone. I’m afraid the medicine might not be right for him.”

“You’re still talking about that medicine? You almost risked your life for it!” Fourth Master Jiang poked her forehead, and when he saw the slight shimmer in her eyes, his heart softened with tenderness.

“Fine.”

He sighed in resignation.

Before Jiang Rao’s tears could even fall, she beamed, hugging his arm happily, “Father, you’re the best.”

Fourth Master Jiang was helpless, but he added, “But you can’t stay for too long. At most, another three months. Once summer comes, you must leave. Your grandmother’s birthday is coming up. We can’t miss that.”

Jiang Rao happily nodded, “Alright.”

“One more thing,” Fourth Master Jiang said with a stern look, “During these three months, you need to practice your embroidery more.”

Jiang Rao: “…!”

Did she really need to practice her embroidery?

No matter what she embroidered, it all turned out the same.

She tried to act cute, hoping to charm her way out of it, “Father…”

Fourth Master Jiang interrupted her coldly, “Choose one: plum, orchid, bamboo, or chrysanthemum.”

“…”

“Can I embroider dirt instead?”

^_^