The two were having a pleasant conversation. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning'an had just gotten up.
"Your Highness, do you remember the two maids the imperial son - in - law sent to Chu Yu before?"
Jiang Ning'an nodded. "What's up?"
"Doukou is here. She's been waiting outside, saying she wants to see you."
"See me?"
Jiang Ning'an couldn't help but be surprised.
After thinking for a moment, she still allowed Doukou to come in.
Doukou abided by the rules. From the very beginning, she kept her head down, her eyes only on the ground, not daring to look directly at Jiang Ning'an.
"This servant pays respects to Your Highness."
Doukou knelt on the ground. Jiang Ning'an didn't tell her to get up. "What brings you to see me?"
"Your Highness, although this servant serves beside Miss Chu, I... want to do things for Your Highness."
Jiang Ning'an raised her eyebrows. "Oh? Your Miss Chu always talks about equality for everyone. Aren't you happy serving her?"
Doukou gave a bitter smile. "At first, when I heard her say that, I was quite happy. But I've served Miss Chu for quite a while, and I haven't seen where the equality is. Now the monthly allowance has been cut off. Miss Chu eats and drinks well, but... this servant can't."
The Princess Mansion not only cut off the allowance but also stopped providing meals. However, Chu Ming gave a considerable amount of silver to the kitchen, so the kitchen still cooked for Chu Yu but didn't care about the servants like them anymore.
Although Chu Yu always had a grand meal and there were always a lot of leftovers, after Chu Yu finished eating, she and Peilan had to wait for Xiaocui to finish before they could eat. By then, there weren't many leftovers, and she and Peilan couldn't get enough to eat.
Inequality was one thing, but going hungry for days on end? Who could stand that?
Doukou took a deep breath and kowtowed to Jiang Ning'an again. "Your Highness, this servant doesn't ask for much. I just want to survive. Please save me."
Jiang Ning'an looked down at her from above and didn't say a word for a while.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Chu Yu only had three people around her, and she couldn't even keep them in line.
"I can agree to you, but I have conditions."
Although she could have the secret guards keep an eye on Chu Yu, the secret guards could only see Chu Yu's general movements. They couldn't find out her more detailed thoughts or plans.
"Your Highness, rest assured. Since this servant serves beside Miss Chu, if there's any movement, I'll report it to Your Highness immediately."
"You're quite smart," a smile flashed across Jiang Ning'an's face. "Meng Chun, give her the monthly allowance and arrange other things for her as well."
Meng Chun responded and led Doukou away.
In the yard, Meng Chun took out a piece of broken silver from her sleeve and gave it to Doukou. "Since you've received the silver from me, from now on, you're the Princess's person. But if you dare to be two - faced and betray her, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Doukou quickly said she didn't dare.
After the warning, Meng Chun's tone softened a bit. "Alright, I'll go and tell the kitchen to count you in. From now on, you go to get Miss Chu's meal and eat before you go back."
Doukou quickly nodded. "Yes, thank you, Miss Meng Chun."
"Go."
Watching Doukou leave, Meng Chun went back to report.
"Your Highness, rest assured. This servant has arranged everything."
Jiang Ning'an nodded. "How about Xu Linchuan?"
Lin Ji emerged from the shadows. "Xu Linchuan was deprived of the title of the third - place scholar in the imperial examination, but he doesn't seem to be in a hurry to go home. Instead, he goes out drinking every day and has also been to several gambling houses, but it seems he didn't really gamble."
Jiang Ning'an frowned. "Doesn't this guy have parents to discipline him?"
What on earth is he up to?
---
Ruyi Cloth Shop.
"I really didn't expect to meet you today!"
Jiang Wenlan was completely different from when she first came. Her face was full of smiles.
Chu Yu also smiled. "I'm glad you're in a better mood. After all, I didn't really help you much. I just talked to you."
"Just talking to me is great! You don't know. In the capital, whenever anyone mentions the Princess of Zhaoyang, they're both disgusted and afraid. Only the two of us can't stand it and dare to speak out directly!"
Just for Chu Yu's courage, Jiang Wenlan approved of her.
Chu Yu said with a smile, "Alright, it's getting late. You should go back quickly. I also need to go back and tell my uncle so he won't worry."
"Then Sister Yu, I'll leave!"
Jiang Wenlan left in a carriage, and Chu Yu walked back to the Princess Mansion briskly.
When she got back, it was just time for lunch.
"Miss, Doukou has gone to get your meal. Please wait a moment."
Chu Yu nodded.
Soon, Doukou came back.
As usual, Chu Yu ate first, then Xiaocui, and finally Doukou and Peilan.
But today, Doukou didn't seem to have much of an appetite.
Peilan asked in confusion, "Doukou, why aren't you eating?"
Doukou shook her head. "I'm not very hungry. You eat."
The remaining food should be barely enough for Peilan to fill her stomach.
"How can you not eat when you're not hungry? You've been so tired," Peilan frowned. "No, you must eat!"
Doukou said helplessly, "I'm really not hungry."
She had eaten meat for the first time in a long while and was still savoring it.
Seeing that she really had no appetite, Peilan didn't try to persuade her anymore. "Then I'll save some for you. Eat it when you're hungry."
"You don't eat much at each meal. Don't save it for me."
After saying that, Doukou patted her hand and got up to leave.
Peilan looked at Doukou and then at the table full of food, and finally started to gobble it up.
She hadn't had enough to eat for several days.
Meanwhile, inside the room.
【Congratulations, host. You've completed the task. Three hundred points have been credited to your account!】
Looking at the balance of points, Chu Yu felt a bit more at ease.
Jiang Wenlan was indeed as shallow as she had imagined. Just by saying a few bad words about Jiang Ning'an to her, Jiang Wenlan actually invited her to her home.
She really regarded her as a friend.
However, someone who so easily entrusted their true feelings, Chu Yu only thought was stupid.
Thinking of this, Chu Yu called the three servants over and had them help her change into a simple and comfortable dress.
"Find a decent gift later. I'm going to the Xuanping Marquis Mansion in a few days."
Doukou's eyes flickered.
"The Xuanping Marquis Mansion? Miss, what are you going there for?" Xiaocui couldn't help but ask.
"I've made an appointment with the young lady of the mansion. I'm going there as a guest in a few days."
"Wow, Miss is really amazing. You even know the young lady of the Marquis Mansion!"
Doukou memorized this matter in her heart. At night, after Chu Yu fell asleep, she got dressed again and was about to quietly go to Wutong Residence. But as soon as she went out, she was stopped by a figure that suddenly emerged from the shadows.
Doukou gasped in fright.
"Do you have a message for the Princess?"
Doukou quickly said, "Miss Chu has gotten to know the young lady of the Xuanping Marquis Mansion and will go there as a guest in a few days."
The person grunted and then disappeared into the shadows again.
Before long, the news reached Jiang Ning'an's ears.
Jiang Ning'an sneered. "She's really well - informed."
"Your Highness, it's getting late. You should rest."
"Okay."
As the night deepened, the lights in the Princess Mansion were gradually extinguished.
In the Moxiang Inn, Xu Linchuan stood by the window, looking up at the moon hanging high in the sky.
After a long while, he closed the window and walked back to the bed.
He lay down fully clothed, reached under the pillow, and felt a cold scabbard.