As Xia Bi said, just losing three books was not enough for Chun Mo to drive away the palace maid sent by the Empress.

  She came back with a huff, and Cao Sheng didn't dare to be slow, hastily pouring tea for her.

  Chun Mo took over the teacup and was stunned for a while, suddenly slamming the cup down: "This matter is not over!"

  The result was that Jin Hua sincerely admitted his mistake and begged for punishment, while the Fourth Prince magnanimously chose not to pursue the matter.

  On the surface, after Jin Hua and Jin Ye suffered a loss, they suddenly became docile and no longer tried to win people over to oppose Chun Mo. Nowadays, whatever tasks she assigns, she does them neatly and efficiently, showing that she has ability. When she sees Chun Mo, she also greets him with a smile, and is even very polite to Chao Sheng.

  The tide is secretly warning.

  Since they are not on the same path but rather in opposition, the stronger their abilities, the greater the threat to oneself.

  With background and ability.

  Bowed down and accompanied with a smile.

  The sweeter they smiled, the more terrifying the things hidden behind their smiles seemed.

  Last time, Chunmo had already torn his face off, and Jinhua and Jinye wouldn't take this loss lying down. They certainly didn't want to end up like those palace maids from Songtao Pavilion who got kicked out. Who knows what would happen this time?

  In this palace, everyone has no way out.

  Must sharpen one's head and step on others to climb up.

  Once stepped on by others, it's irretrievable.

  Be careful everywhere, check and count your own things every day, lock them up carefully. Be mindful when entering or leaving, and be even more cautious with food and drink, she dare not eat anything given by others unless it's something she has personally handled and seen.

  It's not that she doesn't trust people around her, but sometimes those sly tricks are hard to guard against.

  It was still sweltering in August, and Chao Sheng had no appetite for several days, only able to drink some soup. With a lot of work to do, she quickly lost weight on her already slender frame, making her clothes seem like they were hanging off her body. Finally, it rained at night, cooling the air down somewhat. Chao Sheng took a short nap in the afternoon and woke up to the sound of cicadas chirping loudly outside her window.

  She rubbed her eyes and propped up the dressing table to comb her hair.

  Qiu Shan pushed open the door and came in, smiling and saying: "Lazy girl, are you awake?"

  Chao Sheng pinched a strand of hair and turned around with a smile: "Sister Qiu Yan, what are you running around for on such a big noon without resting?"

  Qiu Yan leaned against the door frame and hesitated for a moment, Chao Sheng thought she had something to say, so he stood up: "Sister Qiu Yan, what instructions do you have?"

  "It's nothing."

  Chao Sheng poured a cup of cooling tea and handed it to her, Qiu Yan reached out to take it.

  In the coarse ceramic cup was a very ordinary cooling tea, which was originally plain and unremarkable. However, being held by the slender white fingers of Cang Sheng made Qi You somewhat dazed.

  When Xiao Lian first arrived, she was just a thin and pale little girl. Day by day passed, and without anyone noticing, she quietly changed her appearance.

  Her eyebrows were thick and thin, like two strokes of drunken rain and smoke marks. Her eyes were clear and beautiful, and as she turned, it seemed as if there were countless words she wanted to say. The cheeks that had just woken up from a nap were as pink as peaches, and for a moment, Qiū Mò suddenly thought of the four characters "I see you are lovely". She heard that this phrase was always in books and plays, and then she suddenly remembered it.

  Always lowering one's head in a hurry, suddenly as if discovering her existence.

  Just now when I walked in, I saw that glance, and Qián Yàn was shocked at first, then thought to herself if she had entered the wrong place.

  No, she didn't go the wrong way.

  Qiu Shan took over the tea and looked at Chao Sheng's eyes with a complex gaze.

  "You..." Qiu Shan shook his head and took a sip of tea.

  The lukewarm tea water is slightly astringent, but the aftertaste is sweet and plain.

  "What's wrong with me?"

  Qiu Yan smiled and asked about the task he had assigned to Chao Sheng two days ago.

  The tide comes and goes, bringing her gifts.

  What Qiu Yan didn't say out loud was that it's a pity she miscarried.

  This girl doesn't look like a palace maid at all.

  But she was just a palace maid.

  What a pity.

  "Autumn Ink sister first look, I'll tie up my hair."

  Chao Sheng tied up all her hair and fastened it with a headband. She never liked to use bright colors like others, her headbands were always half old, and the colors she used were only light yellow, gray blue, not at all like a young girl's.

  But thinking of her experiences, Qiū Yàn felt it was no wonder she was like this.

  Who has gone through such a disaster, and also served as a hard laborer in the Washing Alley for a year, will not be silly and careless again, only thinking of getting ahead.

  A few days ago, when Chao Sheng was washing her hair and Qiu Shan was helping her rinse, because she was afraid of splashing water on her clothes, Chao Sheng only wore a thin shirt, with her sleeves rolled up high and the back of her neck exposed. Qiu Shan saw that her shoulders and neck were snowy white with a few red marks scattered about, like delicate flower petals sprinkled on condensed milk, and casually asked: "How did you get these?"

  Afraid of getting water in his eyes, he hastily said: "The marks left by the beating."

  How hard did he hit her? Qiu Yan looked at it and felt pain for her.

  It's really surprising she made it through.

  Chao Sheng looked at her and saw that she was staring at herself without speaking, a bit strange: "Autumn Ink sister, is there anything wrong? If something is not right, I'll change it again."

  Qiu Yan smiled and said: "Nothing, all good." She couldn't help but raise her hand to pinch Cao Sheng's face, smooth and slippery, just like pinching a silk thread.

  "You're really a woman who changes eighteen times. With your looks, being a concubine would be more than enough."

  Chao Sheng was taken aback for a moment, and couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Why did you suddenly think of saying this? Don't tease me, sister."

  Qiu Yan also smiled.

  "Alright, let's get serious. You've had a good sleep, come with me to the west to deliver something."

  "What should I send?"

  Qiu Shan said: "The prince instructed early this morning to take a painting over to the second imperial son."

  But Qiu Yan hesitated again.

  Although she had just wanted to call Chao Sheng together and take a walk in the yard, now she has some hesitation.

  Chao Sheng didn't think much and turned around to change his shoes: "Then I'll go with my sister. Where's the painting?"

  At this moment, Qiu Yan also couldn't change his words anymore. He went to the main house to fetch the painting and went with Chao Sheng to Songtao Pavilion.

  The second prince was still asleep after his noon nap, and Qiu Yan and the others waited for a while. Song Can came out and said: "Let's leave first, you don't have to wait here anymore. The young master slept late last night, who knows when he'll wake up?"

  No need to see the second prince, Qiu Yan and Chao Sheng both let out a sigh of relief.

  Since she had those two bunches of grapes and a bowl of flaky pastry, she hadn't really met the Second Prince. She always felt that if they met again, who knows what else would be beaten out to eat.

  It's better not to fight.

  Out of Songtao Pavilion, the wind blows from behind, carrying a faint scent.

  Chao Sheng sniffed gently, and the fragrance was faint and elusive.

  "Autumn Ink sister, have you smelled the fragrance?"

  "Ah, yes, it's osmanthus."

  "Does Yiqiu Palace have osmanthus flowers?"

  "Autumn is suitable for autumn, and it's all about the word 'autumn'. In front, there's a maple pool, and in back, there are osmanthus flowers." She pointed to the back: "This was once a flower garden, with a large area of osmanthus flowers in the back."

  She was pointing in the direction of Luoshui Pavilion.

  He had never been to the other side of the strait and didn't know that there were osmanthus flowers over there.

  "Nowadays, no one goes there to admire the flowers anymore. Only Aunt Li takes people there every year to pick flowers and make osmanthus cake and osmanthus sugar, which can make your teeth sweet."

  Chao Sheng smiled and said: "Then I'll have to eat two more pieces when I get back."

  Just as Qiu Yan was about to speak, a little palace maid came running out from the direction of Hua Ye's residence, stumbling and staggering, and shouted from afar: "Something's happened! Sister Qiu Yan is in trouble!"

  ——————————

  Uh, suddenly became tense...

  Afraid of missing the flight, afraid of not finding the hotel after getting off the plane, stomach is all knotted up.