Today, her eldest sister-in-law was hosting a snow viewing party, but Shen Ruojin had no appetite for breakfast. However, as the future mistress of the Duke Ling’s mansion, she knew several aunts and sisters would be attending, so she couldn’t afford to lose face.

At that moment, Shen Ruojin’s wet nurse, Nanny Yang, entered, looking embarrassed.

Shen Ruojin asked curiously, “Nanny, what’s the matter?”

Nanny Yang replied, “That girl Qin hasn’t left her room in a month. Other than paying her respects to you, she hasn’t gone anywhere. The other day, she had a confrontation with the prince, and now she’s been vomiting non-stop. She’s probably pregnant.”

This Qin was the concubine who gave birth to Guan Muyun’s eldest son and had now risen to the status of a favored concubine.

Shen Ruojin thought of the current tensions between the eldest son and Guan Muyun, and a flicker of coldness flashed in her eyes. “Keep a close watch on her. If she doesn’t report in a couple of days, find someone to check on her.”

Nanny Yang nodded in agreement.

At the same time, another maid, Bilian, entered and spoke in a similarly awkward tone, “Young Madam, Fourth Madam sent Lin’er over, saying their carriage broke down. After repairs, it still tilts to one side, making it hard to travel. Fourth Master has an urgent errand and wants to borrow the Crown Prince’s carriage.”

Shen Ruojin frowned. “There are plenty of carriages in this house. Why does he want ours?”

Bilian explained, “The Second and Third Masters don’t get along with the Fourth House, so they naturally won’t lend theirs. Today, the Duke and the Crown Prince took the Duke’s carriage to the court. The Madam also mentioned that she’s going out, so hers isn’t available either. Fourth Master is quite proud, so he won’t borrow from the other illegitimate sons. After considering all options, they’ve come to you.”

Shen Ruojin felt a surge of anger, thinking about lending her carriage to Guan Muyun’s uncle and his wife.

The old Duke had been accommodating his brothers for years without mentioning dividing the family. He let them live off the mansion’s wealth, making various demands. This earned him a good reputation for loyalty and care, but he didn’t consider the burden it placed on Shen Ruojin and Madam Guan, who had to manage the household.

But for now, Shen Ruojin hadn’t secured her position in the household yet. To take over from her sister-in-law, she needed the support of these people. She didn’t expect them to sing her praises, but she hoped they wouldn’t say anything harmful, especially as it could affect her future as the household’s next manager.

Shen Ruojin sighed: “After all, this is the prince’s car. He will have to go out in the future. Ask the driver to be careful and not to damage it.”

After dealing with these two matters, Shen Ruojin felt even more tired.

But what made her even more discouraged was that such things happened every moment, and dealing with these messy things every day had become the most common thing in her daily life.

Shen Ruojin had no appetite. She quickly ate two mouthfuls of bird’s nest and went to watch the snow with Fang and several aunts and sisters.

Fang was smiling but had a dagger hidden behind her, and Shen Ruojin was not willing to be outdone. The two sisters-in-law were at loggerheads for the entire day. Fang certainly didn’t get anything good, and Shen Ruojin didn’t gain any advantage either. It could only be said that it was a miserable victory.

Shen Ruojin spent the whole day in a bad mood until the evening when Guan Muyun and a few childhood friends returned after having some snacks and drinks.

Shen Ruojin had originally planned to take a rest, but when she saw Guan Muyun coming back, she forced herself to get up from the bed and change her clothes.

Guan Muyun really enjoyed Shen Ruojin’s humble attitude.

His Jin’er was always so caring. He had gone against all odds and resolutely married her. It was truly the right decision.

“How is my husband today? I guess there is nothing going on in the court,” Shen Ruojin asked with a smile.

“There’s nothing going on in the court,” Guan Muyun said. “It’s just that recently the clothes of the King of Chu have become very popular in the capital. It is said that they were given by the emperor himself. Now that His Majesty is becoming more and more indulgent towards him, I’m afraid he will raise this son.”

Guan Muyun and Lingguogongfu both followed the Eastern Palace, but Tao Sheng supported the King of Chu.

If the King of Chu could really take the throne by then, Tao Sheng would win, and all of them would be completely defeated.

Thinking of this, Shen Ruojin’s heart was churning, but she didn’t show it on her face: “Then Tao Sheng is really lucky.”

“Father has also inquired about the emperor’s intentions. The emperor has no intention of changing the crown prince. Compared with the King of Chu, the crown prince is indeed more likely to take the throne,” Guan Muyun said drunkenly. “I heard that the King of Chu relies heavily on your sister. He will fail sooner or later. We are all family, so we should help each other if we can. If you have a chance, find Tao Sheng and talk to her, and then let her turn to the light.”

Ruojin’s character in Guan Muyun has always been that everyone likes her and protects her. The reason why Tao Sheng is angry is also because her parents and brothers are unfair to her, but she has a deep sisterly love for her and does not think that she has taken her identity, nor does she want to make enemies with her.

But Shen Ruojin also knew that these were all said for the other party to hear. Given her current relationship with Tao Sheng, if she were to persuade her, she would probably just push Tao Sheng further away.

Shen Ruojin said with difficulty: “When there is a chance, I will give it a try.”

_

Tao Sheng’s new job is to help the Ministry of Rites prepare for the New Year celebrations. In the past few days, she has not been working in the Taiyue Office but has gone to the Ministry of Rites to wait for the division of labor.

As soon as she and Su Heng arrived at the reception room of the Ministry of Rites, they saw a familiar figure.

Tao Sheng walked over quickly and greeted Ji Yanming cheerfully: “Why are you here, cousin?”

Ji Yanming was a little surprised to see Tao Sheng, but he still responded to her question first, saying that he was also ordered by Li Daxueshi to come to the Ministry of Rites to help prepare for the New Year celebrations and write the congratulatory text.

Ji Yanming was talking to Tao Sheng, but Xie Huaian was looking at the young man next to Tao Sheng.

“Who is this gentleman?”

After Xie Huaian said this, Ji Yanming noticed the young man next to Tao Sheng. This man had rosy lips and white teeth and was gentle and refined, but he was a little short, which made him look particularly out of place standing next to Tao Sheng. His temperament could only be described as just okay.

Tao Sheng introduced them: “This is the head of the Imperial Music Bureau, Young Master Su Heng, who came with me to work in the Ministry of Rites.”

Su Heng saw that these two were Tao Sheng’s friends. As someone who needed her to play the zither to survive, he wanted to give her face, so he just smiled and said modestly: “I just came here to learn with Lord Luo and I just want to help her.”

Ji Yanming saw that Su Heng and Tao Sheng were standing very close to each other. He and Xie Huaian came in at the same time, but neither of them were so close. He couldn’t help but frown.

Tao Sheng’s attention was still on Ji Yanming’s words just now: “I always thought that writing these articles was what Xie Tanhua was best at. I didn’t expect that my cousin would also come to the Ministry of Rites to work this time.”

Xie Huaian smiled and said tactfully that since the adults were old, they didn’t want to read too long at the New Year banquet. The emperor was the same. He heard that Ji Yanming’s writings were always concise and accurate, so he specifically chose him.

Tao Sheng smiled: “So that’s how it is.”

Xie Huaian also smiled and said “yes.”

Ji Yanming looked at the young couple in front of him who were talking and laughing.

The joy that flashed in Xie Huaian’s eyes when he saw Tao Sheng could not be faked, and the two of them spoke in tacit understanding. Even though Xie Huaian’s words were obscure, Tao Sheng knew what he meant as soon as she heard them. The two of them seemed to be closer than before he left.

Ji Yanming recalled Xiao Feng’s gesture to him that day and felt that this was not a good sign.

He had never felt the dangers around him before, so why was it that after returning from this mission, he found powerful enemies everywhere?

Ji Yanming’s heart sank.