Chao Sheng followed Chun Mo into the main house, where the furnishings were very simple. Apart from the tables and chairs, there was no other decoration or ornamentation in the room. Qiu Yan stood at the door of the east wing, seeing them come in, she raised her hand to draw the curtains.

  The fourth prince sat in front of the desk, roughly practicing calligraphy. Chao Sheng and Chun Mo made a silent gesture together, then quietly waited on one side. A small eunuch dressed in blue stood beside them, probably serving to lay out paper and grind ink, and Chao Sheng's gaze fell on his fingers - with some ink stains.

  The fourth prince filled up an entire sheet of paper and finally looked up.

  Chun Mo said at the right moment: "Your Highness, this is Chao Sheng."

  "I know, I've seen it." The fourth prince naturally wouldn't invite Chao Sheng to sit down or offer him tea. He moved the paper with the good handwriting aside and spread out a new sheet, casually asking: "Were you at Huanyi Alley earlier?"

  "I reported back to Your Highness, first at the open well and then later in the house."

  The fourth prince wrote a few words, seemingly not very satisfied, shook his head and asked: "Then your needlework must be quite good?"

  "It's actually not that great, it's just that Mother Guan takes care of me more because I'm young and weak, the chores in the inner room are a bit easier than those in the outer courtyard."

  "Is it? Huanyi Lane... how is it?"

  Huh?

  What's so special about the Washing Clothes Alley and what does it have to do with this high-and-mighty prince?

  And how to describe it?

  What about those who soak their clothes in a large basin of water that is both smelly and murky? What about the ones who would fight over a piece of fatty meat until they scratch each other's faces? Or what about those in the inner chamber, whose eyesight is already very poor, and can only see things clearly when they stick their eyes right up against the fabric?

  "I didn't stay in the laundry alley for too long, but most of the women washing clothes at the well were quite chatty..." This is true, doing laundry can be boring, so those women would often tease each other. Although none of them had ever been married, they would talk freely about anything, mostly to alleviate their boredom."

  Once you've started, it's easier to continue.

  "Winter is hard to get through, with insufficient hot water, so I have to use cold water to wash clothes. Actually, the well water is warm in winter and cool in summer, and the water that has just been drawn from the well is still warm, but it becomes icy and bone-chilling in an instant after being carried up. After doing such labor for a long time, my joints have developed rheumatism, and the bones in my waist and legs have also become ill due to prolonged strain."

  The hardships of these slaves were listened to with great relish by the fourth prince, who even stopped writing.

  Chao Sheng originally thought he could finish with just one or two sentences, but looking at the Fourth Prince's expression, he had no choice but to continue speaking.

  "When drying clothes, there are also rules to follow. If the relationship is good or if it's a high-end laundry service, the clothes can be dried in the sunny spot. Those that aren't as favored might end up being dried in a shaded area. Clothes dried in the shade just aren't as comfortable as those dried in the sun. On windy days, bamboo clips are often used. I remember one time when there was too much work and the person drying the clothes forgot to use the clips. When the wind picked up, many of the clothes were blown to the ground and got dirty, so they had to be washed again..."

  This trivial matter, the Fourth Prince actually listened with relish.

  Deeply moved and astonished.

  All right, there are many people in this world who have strange hobbies. Like the Second Prince who likes singing and dancing, that's considered normal. The Eighth Prince likes playing polo, which is also very normal.

  The fourth prince likes to hear some fresh and interesting things... It's nothing serious, right?

  Chao Sheng spoke until her mouth was dry and tongue parched, even bringing up some things that had happened in the sewing room. It wasn't until it was time for dinner that she finally stopped talking; otherwise, she really wouldn't have had anything left to say.

  The fourth prince nodded: "Mm, you go back first." He also instructed Chun Mo: "Take good care of her."

  The fourth prince is delighted to hear this?

  Are these things just being treated as stories?

  However, when Chao Sheng raised his head and looked at the expression on the face of the Fourth Prince, it seemed both gentle and somewhat melancholic.

  Chun Mo stepped out of the house and said to Chao Sheng: "The prince really has a different view of you, I've never seen him listen to someone talk for so long."

  Chao Sheng covered his throat, wanting to say something, but only coughed twice, with a very painful expression.

  Chun Mo rubbed his forehead: "I was indeed careless."

  After drinking a mouthful of water at home, I finally felt less thirsty and my throat didn't hurt as much.

  Chun Mo smiled and said: "You're really good at talking, I'm so absorbed in listening. However, the reality of Huanyi Alley might not be as good as you described, are you only reporting the good news but not the bad?"

  Chao Sheng smiled wryly: "Sister is teasing me."

  Chun Mo said: "You rest, I'll have someone bring the meal to your room for you to eat. The prince has entrusted me to take good care of you, and I dare not be neglectful."

  Chao Sheng lowered his head. It wasn't until Chun Mo closed the door and left that Chao Sheng raised his head again.

  Chun Mo's words always have a hint of sourness, although it's very subtle.

  Chao Sheng couldn't directly tell her, "Don't worry, I didn't think of taking your position as the number one person in Huaye."

  No matter where you are, people will always be divided into upper, middle and lower classes.

  Chun Mo is undoubtedly the most superior among the servants in Huaye Manor, and others have to yield to him.

  But for Chao Sheng, this first place position ——

  At first, I was always by Chen Fei's side, but it wasn't like that anymore after the incident. The inner feelings and emotions that arose from then on are still unbearable to think about even now.

  She still remembered that during the New Year's celebration, Wu's mother got drunk and mumbled to herself.

  People who appear rough and rude all the time are also full of grievances and pain.

  Who has she been wronged by before?

  Chao Sheng shook his head.

  Chun Mo is indeed a person of her word, and she had someone bring over dinner for her.

  Chao Sheng thanked the little palace maid Xiang Li for bringing her food and sat down to take a sip of soup first.

  The weather is getting hotter, and the soup is also quite hot. After two mouthfuls of soup, I start to sweat slightly on the tip of my nose, but my throat and stomach feel much more comfortable.

  Actually her requirements are not many, just being able to eat a bowl of rice and drink a mouthful of soup.

  I hope such days can last forever.

  Ke Canghai also knew that she had turned a circle and walked so many detours, eaten so much bitter fruit, and now returned to the starting point when she first entered the palace.

  No, it's even worse than back then.

  At that time she was clean and innocent, what about now? If the palace maid also had a file, her file would have been stained with a big stain.

  The matter of the Smoke and Cloud Palace... She was demoted without a clear reason, wouldn't people with ulterior motives suspect that there's more to it? Whether she had a hand in it or inadvertently discovered some secret, she would be shunned by others.

  Chao Sheng took another sip of soup and suddenly froze.

  Wait a minute.

  Just now...

  What was she thinking just now?

  Her intuition told her it was important.

  Hmmm, whether she has done something with her hands or found out some secret...

  She didn't lift a finger.

  She didn't know either.

  But what did others think of this matter? And how did they guess her role in it?

  If she had done something with her hands and feet, she would have been dead without a complete corpse long ago.

  Then, did others think she knew some secret?

  But Cai Sheng herself knew that she didn't know anything at all.

  That day's events had been replayed in his mind several times, even though he didn't say a word.

  The Empress Dowager entered through the curtain she had drawn, and the Empress Dowager did not stay for long. At that time, Empress Chen seemed to be fine. When the Emperor arrived, Empress Chen also smiled and welcomed him, her steps steady, her eyes bright, without a hint of strain.

  The problem lies in dinner time.

  At that time, Chao Sheng was not at home. She always felt that she was too wronged. She didn't know anything and hadn't done anything.

  Is it the food that has been manipulated by hands and feet, or is it incense?

  If it's incense, then there are several people who have the opportunity to take action, but if you make a move in advance with the incense, then you will be acting too early.

  What's wrong with it? What did she overlook?

  ————————

  One more delivered.

  Seeking evaluation, seeking votes, seeking patronage, twinkling eyes~~~

  I'm so dead～ Today, I bit my cheek twice and my tongue once. What's even more unbelievable is that I bit the root of my tongue！！！！ How on earth did I manage to bite it？？