On that day, Nanny Shuang made arrangements to have Liutiao serve the princess closely.
By now, the more Nanny Shuang observed, the more she suspected something was amiss. Logically speaking, Liuzhi was more steady and cautious in handling matters, yet Nanny Shuang had chosen the lively Liutiao instead. Liuzhi watched as her former sister, who used to be slightly inferior to her, became the personal maid of the mistress, while she herself remained a second - class maid. Strangely enough, she showed not a trace of unhappiness.
Even someone like Bihuan would probably mutter a few words and take some time to come to terms with such a situation.
Was it sisterly affection? Or was Liuzhi as sincere as their former mistress?
In any case, Nanny Shuang didn't believe either explanation. Under the pretext that Liuzhi was a capable girl, she transferred Liuzhi to serve herself. As the head nanny beside the princess, Nanny Shuang was of course in favor and had little maids to attend to her daily needs. However, the maids around Nanny Shuang were usually low - ranked ones. How could someone like Liuzhi be used?
Nanny Shuang found all sorts of reasons to keep Liuzhi busy all day long, with not a moment of leisure.
In contrast, the princess was used to having Bihuan around. Unless Bihuan was unavailable, she rarely assigned tasks to Liutiao.
Overnight, the two sisters, Liuzhi and Liutiao, had clearly different fates.
Since the two maids lived in the same room and saw each other constantly, within a few days, their relationship was far from what it used to be.
Nanny Shuang rubbed her hands and sneered. "You two little ones, do you think you can cause trouble in front of the princess?"
A few days later, a post from Princess Jiayang was delivered to Shen Yuning. It was another invitation for her to attend a banquet at the princess's villa.
Shen Yuning hadn't seen Weirui for a long time. Coincidentally, that day was a day off. She told Yin Zidu and then took the Xue family's carriage to the princess's villa.
The villa was ablaze with colorful flowers, looking extremely beautiful. A group of sixteen - or seventeen - year - old girls, more charming than the flowers, were laughing and frolicking in the yard.
Shen Yuning sat upright in the pavilion, enjoying the scenery. It was quite pleasant.
Princess Jiayang walked over and sat opposite Shen Yuning. She ordered the maids to serve tea and specially made plum soup for Shen Yuning.
Looking at the wonderful scenery of the villa, Shen Yuning turned to the princess and said, "There are many distinguished guests today. Instead of waiting in the main hall, Your Highness seems to want to accompany me alone?"
Princess Jiayang laughed, "There are indeed many guests, but the current in - vogue Princess Regent is the most important one."
Shen Yuning lowered her head and smiled gently. This year, the Shangjing Academy had set up a women's department. Just like the boys' classes, it was divided into four classes named Tian, Di, Xuan, and Huang, teaching students according to their age and ability. Princess Jiayang was invited by the dean of the academy to teach the art of playing the zither.
In the past, all the teachers in various fields were men. Women could only be private tutors, teaching the young ladies in each mansion. Now, they could even become proper teachers in the academy.
Princess Jiayang seemed to be in high spirits and smiled more amiably than usual. "I remember that your zither - playing skills used to be unrivaled in the capital. It seems like I haven't heard you play for a long time."
Shen Yuning nodded. "After leaving the Xue family, I've neglected my zither - playing skills. I haven't practiced for many years. Last year, I once picked up my sister's zither and played a few tunes, but the sound was so terrible that I didn't want to touch it again."
"Excellence in a skill comes from diligence while sloth results in decline." Princess Jiayang took a sip of tea. "However, your neglect of the zither - playing skills is not intentional."
Shen Yuning didn't mind. "The four arts of qin, qi, calligraphy, and painting are originally for cultivating one's sentiment. Now that I have more important things to do, where do I have the time to play the zither and paint all day long?"
Princess Jiayang laughed heartily. "You've always been so straightforward and daring since you were a child, which makes you so likable. However, you're right. Now that I have a granddaughter and my own things to do, I feel that my life has been worthwhile."
In the garden nearby, Weirui was leading a group of noble girls in a game of arrow - throwing. She had undergone a complete transformation and had become the most noble and elegant young lady in the capital.
Shen Yuning looked at Weirui from afar. The reckless and wild little girl in her childhood had grown into such a young lady. Should she be happy? She didn't know. In fact, she hadn't talked to Weirui for a long time. When they met, they could only exchange a few hasty words and then go their separate ways.
She only knew that Weirui was a much - sought - after noble girl, because Weirui's aunt was her and Weirui's grandmother was Princess Jiayang.
But just like she used to be in the Xue family, in fact, she relied on the family rather than herself.
What about Weirui?
Princess Jiayang seemed to see through Shen Yuning's thoughts. She pushed the plum soup in front of her. "Your grandfather once said that you had a very intelligent mind. He was really right. Even after so many years of hard work and toil, your mind hasn't become more open - minded."
Shen Yuning turned her head, looking confused.
Princess Jiayang continued, "I understand the principle that children and grandchildren have their own fates. Maybe you've seen the vast world and think that's the place where one can soar freely. But you're not Weirui. How do you know that she also likes such a life? She used to live a life of being scolded by everyone and not knowing what the next day would bring. Now, who knows if she isn't happy?"
Yes, the appropriate smile on Weirui's face was exactly the kind of dignified posture that Shen Yuning had wanted to learn when she saw beautiful and gentle ladies in her childhood.
After a while, more people came. Princess Jiayang didn't have time to accompany Shen Yuning all the time, so she got up and left first.
Just then, Mrs. Shao and Xue Yuxin walked over. When Xue Yuxin saw Shen Yuning, she rushed over and wanted to pinch Shen Yuning's face.
Mrs. Shao stopped her. "You're going to be a mother soon, but you're still so unruly. Look at Yuning. She's becoming more and more steady. You're still like a child even after getting married."
Xue Yuxin wasn't angry. She laughed merrily. "She's the princess. Naturally, she's different."
Mrs. Shao shook her head helplessly. After helping her daughter sit down properly, she asked in a low voice, "Yuning, is this baby a boy or a girl?"
Shen Yuning was stunned for a moment and then shook her head. "I don't know. It's only been more than five months. How can I tell? Moreover, in today's world, why should we still care whether it's a boy or a girl?"
Xue Yuxin covered her mouth and laughed. "Ordinary families don't need to care, of course. But you're a member of the royal family. The whole court is looking forward to you giving birth to a legitimate eldest son for the regent."
Shen Yuning frowned slightly and looked at Xue Yuxin.
But Xue Yuxin had already turned her head and was talking to her mother, saying that everyone was also looking forward to the baby in her belly being a boy to enrich the Zhu family's family line.
Mrs. Shao didn't respond to her eldest daughter's words. She just looked at Shen Yuning's expression and said in a low voice, "Yuning, you should be more careful. The emperor's health is getting worse and worse every day, but he hasn't established a crown prince. There are all kinds of rumors in the court. The regent... has extremely high power. Since he entered the court, he has been wooing various forces..."
What was coming was finally coming.
In the past, the court officials had all praised the regent for his dedication and hard work. Now, the situation had changed.
Just then, they heard an uproar from the crowd not far away.
The three of them looked up together and saw a noblewoman walking over. She seemed a bit timid and didn't walk very gracefully. People around her were all pointing at her.
This woman looked delicate and timid. Although her clothes and ornaments were plain, it was obvious that the materials were not ordinary.
This person looked a bit familiar.
Mrs. Shao said in a low voice, "She's Bai Miaomiao."
It took Shen Yuning a while to react. Bai Miaomiao was Concubine Bai. Why did she come today? And why was she dressed like this?
Xue Yuxin's eyes were crescent - shaped. "She married General Liang last month. Now she's the general's wife."
This sentence shocked Shen Yuning so much that her mouth couldn't close.
Xue Yuxin added, "General Liang is quite considerate. He was afraid that others would look down on his wife, so he personally visited each mansion and invited the female relatives of his acquaintances to interact with his wife more often on weekdays."
However, it seemed that few people understood General Liang's intention. As Bai Miaomiao walked over, most people's looks were full of disdain and impatience. Bai Miaomiao's head was almost hanging down to her chest.
Mrs. Shao sighed. "She was timid to begin with. Isn't General Liang putting her on the spot by doing this?"
Xue Yuxin disagreed. "But since she's become the general's wife, she has to be more generous and can't stay in the mansion all the time like before."
Shen Yuning stood up, got off the pavilion, and walked towards Bai Miaomiao.
Bai Miaomiao was startled when she suddenly saw Shen Yuning. She quickly bowed and was about to say "Second Miss", but she held it back and stammered, "Princess..."
Shen Yuning helped her up. "The general's wife doesn't need to be so polite. In fact, the princess and the wife are old acquaintances. It was the princess's fault that she didn't attend the wife's wedding in person to congratulate her."
Bai Miaomiao was extremely ashamed of marrying Liang Hong, so she only held a simple family banquet and didn't make a big deal out of it. Naturally, she didn't invite the noble people in the capital.
Shen Yuning said this just to comfort her.
However, a tactless lady immediately came over and flatteringly grabbed Shen Yuning's hand. "Your Highness, she used to be a concubine who couldn't show her face."
Shen Yuning turned her head and asked with a bit of amusement, "Why can't a concubine show her face?"
The lady was speechless. After being stunned for a long time, she suddenly realized that she might have misunderstood the princess's intention. The princess didn't want to suppress this shameless woman who had been a concubine and still dared to remarry?
Shen Yuning gently pushed the lady's hand away and sneered. "Which law of the Great Zhou says that a woman who has been a concubine can't remarry?"
The lady felt embarrassed. Of course, this wasn't stated in the law, but everyone knew it. A woman who had been a concubine was definitely not a virgin. Even if she was abandoned by the master's family, if she wanted to remarry, she could only marry an ordinary person, and it would be best for her to stay at home for the rest of her life in shame.
Shen Yuning stepped forward, took Bai Miaomiao's arm, and smiled again. "The general's wife was originally a good - family girl. She was forced to become a concubine in the marquis's mansion. It was the Supreme Court that cleared her name and allowed her to get a divorce. Why can't she remarry? General Liang is a heroic man who defends the country. How can you judge his marriage?"
Just then, they saw Liang Hong striding in with a machete in his hand.