A Rao didn't speak, only lowered her head slightly, her voice still as gentle as ever, "Does Brother Changqing know what mistake A Rao made? Why did Prince Jin suddenly..."
Feeling A Rao's shoulders tremble and her slender body shiver slightly, with a hint of pitifulness, Changqing was silent for a moment but couldn't help but speak, "You didn't make a big mistake. It's just that Prince Jin doesn't need so many servants around him. If Prince Jin changes his mind, I will go to Chufang (Kitchen) to pick you up myself."
Noticing Changqing's usual distant attitude towards her, A Rao's heart relaxed. It seemed the problem only lay with Prince Jin. His attitude towards her changed after he visited the Main Courtyard, so it was clear that Gu Shui Rou had played a role in it.
On second thought, going to Chufang (Kitchen) now was actually a good thing. A Rao's eyes darkened. Let Cui Ping bear Gu Shui Rou's jealousy and malice first.
Main Courtyard, as A Rao expected, her being sent to Chufang (Kitchen) was indeed because Gu Shui Rou had spoken ill of her in front of Prince Jin. In fact, it wasn't Gu Shui Rou who proactively asked to remove the servant from Study, but rather the result of Ru Yan's repeated suggestions.
Although Gu Shui Rou and Prince Jin had reconciled, this was the first time Gu Shui Rou had seen Prince Jin so angry, so much so that he hadn't come to the Main Courtyard to humble himself for four days straight. In the past, whenever they argued, Prince Jin would always rush over the next day to coax her and tell her not to be angry and harm herself.
Gu Shui Rou listened to the servants gossiping about her and Prince Jin, and she was so angry that she punished several talkative servants in a row. While she resented Prince Jin for not giving her face, she also, under Ru Yan's analysis, began to subtly worry about Prince Jin changing his mind. If Prince Jin changed his mind, how could she still live the joyful life she had now?
Although Gu Shui Rou was unwilling to live in harmony with Prince Jin, she only wanted his heart to be tied to her alone. To receive the affection of Prince Jin, who was admired by many noble ladies in the capital, was such a delightful thing.
"Princess Consort, think about it. If Prince Jin is annoyed by your temper and turns around to take in a dozen concubines, will you still have a good life?"
Ru Yan patiently persuaded her. She was a servant who had served by Gu Shui Rou's side since childhood, so she naturally knew her mistress's temperament. Although her mistress constantly claimed that Prince Jin had stolen her and her childhood sweetheart's marriage, wasn't this also saying that Prince Jin was not the only one for her? She knew her young lady; although she was a bit vain, it wasn't excessive. She just wanted to firmly hold Prince Jin's heart, so how could that be considered wrong?
But the situation was different now. The mistress had no heir for three years, which already invited gossip, not to mention that Prince Jin's Manor currently only had the mistress and no other concubines. If the mistress still did not give birth to an heir, the gossip would surely drown the Main Courtyard.
The more this was the case, the more her mistress needed to hold onto Prince Jin. Only Prince Jin's continued favoritism towards her mistress could silence those people. Prince Jin was her mistress's biggest trump card.
Therefore, now seeing that Prince Jin was not impatient like before and did not rush over the next day, but instead immersed himself in Study for several days, her first reaction was that some hussy in Study had bewitched him!
As the Princess Consort's confidante, she naturally couldn't personally watch Prince Jin be seduced by other little hussies. Therefore, she repeatedly suggested to Gu Shui Rou, exaggerating the consequences if Prince Jin were to be seduced and lose interest in the Main Courtyard.
Gu Shui Rou was not someone skilled in internal family struggles, but she was someone who disliked anyone else appearing in Prince Jin's heart. Hearing this, she naturally flared up in anger and immediately agreed with Ru Yan, sending her to Front Yard to investigate the situation.
As for the incense that Ru Yan claimed the Princess Consort specially prepared for Prince Jin, that was naturally Ru Yan's own fabrication. In Gu Shui Rou's eyes, her proactively humbling herself to show favor to Prince Jin was already the biggest concession she had made.
"He personally sought to marry me, and I didn't actively marry him. What right does he have to be angry with me?"
Gu Shui Rou naturally didn't believe Prince Jin would take concubines. She knew how infatuated Prince Jin was with her. How could such a man, who had been gentle and doting towards her for three years straight, be seduced by others?
On this point, she had some confidence in Prince Jin and herself.
Therefore, when Prince Jin arrived, she originally intended to proudly complain about why he hadn't come for several days, making her lose face. However, at Ru Yan's glance, she reluctantly softened her voice a bit and directly stated her dissatisfaction with the servant in Study, demanding that Prince Jin send her away.
Although Prince Jin was happy that Gu Shui Rou had finally humbled herself to him, he still hesitated at the thought of sending A Rao out of the manor. That silly servant was very devoted to him and had not made any major mistakes.
After some thought, Prince Jin decided to send A Rao to Chufang (Kitchen). That place was both remote and leisurely, which could be considered a reward for A Rao's proper service during this time.
【Target's current favorability +5, current favorability 27.】
A Rao paused her flower-drying motion and looked towards Study. These past few days, Prince Jin had been intermittently increasing her favorability, and she, as Prince Jin wished, would not easily wander into Study unless Front Yard instructed her to.
However, even though she was no longer in Front Yard, her things still needed to be placed near Prince Jin to increase favorability. A Rao looked at the brand new sachet at her waist, a slight curve on her lips.
Study, Prince Jin picked up the teacup and took a sip, then immediately spat it out, his face unsightly, "Someone!"
Cui Ping, dressed in a flamboyant manner, walked out with a slender sway of her waist and bowed gracefully to Prince Jin, "Prince Jin, your servant is here."
Prince Jin placed the teacup on the table, his tone displeased, "Did you brew this tea?"
Cui Ping froze, then nodded, "Yes, your servant specially brewed Biluochun according to your taste, Prince Jin."
Ever since A Rao left, she was overjoyed, yet frustrated that she couldn't send A Rao away in one go, after all, the matter of her illicit lover was a major issue, enough to have A Rao drowned in a pig cage.
But now that A Rao suddenly left, Cui Ping became the only servant in Front Yard who could be close to Prince Jin. For days, the little servants around her congratulated her on finally winning Prince Jin's favor, saying she would surely be a favored mistress in the future.
Cui Ping was flattered and in a great mood. Now, she wished she could appear before Prince Jin every minute and every second, making him deeply infatuated with her. As for A Rao's matter, when A Rao, unable to bear the loneliness, tries to cause trouble, she would then expose A Rao's scandal, making her unable to serve Prince Jin ever again. Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?
Cui Ping saw the silence on the seat for a moment and thought it was her thoughtfulness that had pleased Prince Jin. She curved her eyebrows, her voice sweet and syrupy, "Prince Jin, ah—"
The crisp sound of the teacup smashing to the ground made Cui Ping tremble all over, her face pale. She shivered as she looked up, only to see Prince Jin looking at her with a somber expression. This gaze made Cui Ping's heart clench in fear.
"This tea is so hot, do you want to scald me to death?!"
Looking at Cui Ping's foolish appearance, Prince Jin didn't bother to look at her again. He just spoke in a deep voice, telling someone to clean up and leave. He looked at the empty cup holder and couldn't help but think of the herbal tea A Rao made for him.
Prince Jin closed his eyes, "Someone."
Changqing stood outside the door, "Prince Jin."
"I want to drink tea. Go to Chufang (Kitchen) and get some."
Changqing was startled, then nodded, "Your subordinate obeys."
After Changqing left, Prince Jin continued to pick up his book and read. It was just a cup of tea, after all. He was the master of this manor, and there was nothing he couldn't drink.