No medicinal material was on the tray carried by the last maid. There were instead some gorgeous and gaily-colored clothes. However, after taking a close look, Zhao Xiran noticed these presents weren’t made of top-quality brocade, which wasn’t in line with Shao Wanru’s current high status as Princess Chen. To be honest, only those servant girls in the Marquis Xing’s Mansion would use this kind of brocade, though not so bright in color.

“Well…” Zhao Xiran was astonished and asked in wonder. “Her Highness?”

“My Lady said since Madam Jiang was degraded to Concubine Jiang, there must be some tough days for her in the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. These are clothes she received when returning to your mansion. Now she’d like to give them back to Concubine Jiang. They can help solve her problems just in time,” Nanny Yu said, smiling.

The last maid came forward and presented the tray to Zhao Xiran.

These cheap clothes were from the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, which proved Madam Jiang must have chosen not very good satin for Shao Wanru back then. At this time, Shao Wanru sent them back. Her deed appeared a little mean, but when Zhao Xiran gave it a second thought, she realized how harshly Madam Jiang treated Shao Wanru in the past.

She sent those inferior pieces of cloth mainly for those principal maids to Princess Chen, who was unmarried then. Even though Madam Jiang bullied her in this way, Princess Chen could do nothing to fight against her. After all, though these clothes were not of superlative quality, they looked decent in bright colors, which were different from the colors of those garments for their servant girls at that time.

“Er…” Zhao Xiran felt embarrassed. No matter how disgusting Concubine Jiang’s tricks were, she was still her mother-in-law.

“First Young Master, Her Highness asked me to pass on a few words,” Nanny Yu added.

“What does she want me to know?” Zhao Xiran asked.

Nanny Yu gave two quiet coughs, clearing her throat. Then, she began reporting what her master said, “First Young Madam, I believe you know what Concubine Jiang used to be like without me telling you. I’m kind and generous enough to deliver her a few sets of old clothes. As for others, they may even want to take her life away. I believe many people will celebrate it if she dies at this critical moment!’

After Nanny Yu finished speaking, she hurriedly bowed and apologized, “First Young Madam, I’m sincerely sorry for not acting on etiquette and saying all of this directly!”

Zhao Xiran’s face changed significantly as she suddenly stood up straight. There was panic in her eyes. Ignoring Nanny Yu and many outsiders standing nearby, she hurriedly turned around, winking at a trusted old maid beside her. “Send these clothes from Princess Chen to Concubine Jiang and see what else she needs. If she wants anything, go ahead and tell me. Tell her to take good care of herself.”

The sudden thought struck her that if anyone murdered Concubine Jiang, she would be blamed for it.

Concubine Jiang suffered a humiliating failure partly because of Shao Wanru and partly because Zhao Xiran had lost her baby after being slapped by her. If Concubine Jiang died at this time, she and Shao Wanru would have to take the blame. People would think it was the two of them that hounded Concubine Jiang to death.

Shao Wanru had become Princess Chen, who enjoyed a noble status. It was also rumored that Concubine Jiang, an elder unrelated to Princess Chen by blood, had treated her badly. Besides, the Prince Chen’s Mansion, Great Elder Princess, and even the Empress Dowager would back her up. Even if her reputation might be slightly tarnished, so what?

Zhao Xiran was different. She married into the Marquis Xing’s Mansion without any rank or title. Furthermore, as Concubine Jiang’s daughter-in-law, she could not bear the felony charge of forcing her mother-in-law to die.

In particular, if Concubine Jiang passed away at this time, Shao Hua’an might remain a humble concubine’s son forever.

Zhao Xiran had considered this before, but she thought nothing severe would happen to Concubine Jiang. The clothes sent by Shao Wanru enlightened her. She understood that with Concubine Jiang’s evil and unpleasant character, she must have offended many others. Besides Shao Wanru, the third branch also bore Concubine Jiang a grudge. Though Third Madam seemed sick and weak, she was not so easy to deal with.

Or even… Marquis Xing might do it too!

When such a horrifying thought popped into her mind, Zhao Xiran was so frightened that her back suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. In a great hurry, she dispatched her reliable old maid to Concubine Jiang’s place. The maid was undoubtedly to make some arrangements to guarantee her safety. At this time, Concubine Jiang could not die. Zhao Xiran, who didn’t allow that to happen, must keep her alive!

When the trusted old maid understood what she meant and left, Zhao Xiran finally breathed a sigh of relief. She forced a smile and said, “Many thanks for Princess Chen’s gift. Please show my gratitude to Her Highness when you’re back.”

Nanny Yu smiled and said, “First Young Madam, please don’t mind that My Lady intervened!”

“How could it be? If it weren’t for Her Highness…” Zhao Xiran paused for a moment. Then she fully understood Shao Wanru’s conduct: her main purpose wasn’t to insult Concubine Jiang with some old clothes; instead, she did it to remind Zhao Xiran to keep an eye on Concubine Jiang. In this regard, they sort of shared the same interests.

During this special period, Concubine Jiang must not die.

With a distinguished identity, Princess Chen was not afraid of being slandered by others, but she preferred not to be accused of murder.

Both of them were clever enough to take a hint, so they did not need to bring the matter out in its entirety.

“I am very grateful to Her Highness for her kindness… When I recover, I will go and thank her in person!” Zhao Xiran said.

“First Young Madam, it was the least we could do. By the way, Princess Chen wanted to ask you about the case in the charge of the Ministry of Justice. How do you intend to handle it?” Having accomplished the first mission, Nanny Yu smiled slightly and turned to the second question that Shao Wanru told her to ask.

“The case sent to the Ministry of Justice?” Zhao Xiran opened her mouth and didn’t know where to start for a while. She and Shao Hua’an had just talked about this. In fact, it was best to minimize the bad effect of this matter and let it go in the end. They hoped Princess Chen wouldn’t pursue it. But so far it looked like Princess Chen wouldn’t allow Concubine Jiang to get away with her past wrongdoings.

“This… I can’t make the decision. Please tell Her Highness she might have to discuss it with Old Madam.” Zhao Xiran strove to get rid of this matter because she didn’t want to take it over.

“I’m afraid that it won’t be good for you if we go and talk to Old Madam!” Nanny Yu said calmly.

“What do you mean?” Zhao Xiran’s face darkened as she asked.

“Old Madam will explode with rage again when such an awful thing just happened. In the Palace, she became so agitated that she fainted. Although she has returned to the manor now, I’m afraid she is unwilling to mention it again and won’t take care of this matter. She will inevitably dump this problem on you. At that time, if you can’t solve it well, Old Madam will vent her anger on you anyway.”

Zhao Xiran could take the initiative to do it, or Old Madam would ask her to handle this matter. Either way, she couldn’t avoid it.

If Zhao Xiran didn’t promise to look into the matter now, Old Madam would take it out on her when meeting her.

Third Madam had never been willing to meddle in the second branch’s affairs. Besides, she didn’t get along well with Concubine Jiang. Therefore, Old Madam couldn’t let her solve this problem.

Therefore, even if Zhao Xiran chose not to do it, this tricky issue would eventually fall on her. At that time, both sides would criticize her.

Zhao Xiran had no choice but to say reluctantly, “Alright. I’ll get to the bottom of it and give Her Highness a reply as soon as possible.”

She had to undertake the task. As Shao Wanru had said, she couldn’t get away with it anyway, so she might as well agree to it readily now. In this way, there might be room for negotiation. Zhao Xiran wouldn’t let Concubine Jiang implicate the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, or at least her husband and her.

“I’m sorry to have troubled you, First Young Madam. If you have any plans, please send someone to us as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Ministry of Justice might directly pronounce a judgment. Concubine Jiang’s honorary title is deprived, isn’t it?” Nanny Yu thanked her with a smile and then asked one more question.

Zhao Xiran’s eyes lit up.

“Well, I’m a bit hazy about that. I’ll decide after we discuss it with the marquis,” Zhao Xiran said, ignoring Nanny Yu’s last question.

“Yes. I’ll go back and report it to My Lady first!” Nanny Yu said casually without pursuing the matter.

“Okay, someone, send Nanny Yu off for me!” Zhao Xiran called out.

“First Young Madam, that’s very kind of you. I’ll take my leave first!” Nanny Yu bowed and left with a few of Princess Chen’s maids. A principal maid of Zhao Xiran showed them out.

Zhao Xiran’s eyes flickered a few times under the light in the room. “Honorary title?” In such a hurry, they must have no time to deprive Madam Jiang of her honorary title. In other words, she was a titled concubine. Her title could make some profits!

“Maids, ask First Young Master to come over!” After pulling herself together, Zhao Xiran ordered. She couldn’t decide for herself, so she needed Shao Hua’an to make the decision…

When Nanny Yu got back to the Prince Chen’s Mansion, she went to report to Shao Wanru. At this time, she was making a collage under the lamp.

Pieces of maple leaves were arranged and stuck to a backing, making this portrait of a noble lady in autumn woods.

Those maple leaves of different shades not only turned into maple leaves under the setting sun in the painting but also decorated the hems and the belt of the woman’s dress fluttering in the air. Shao Wanru applied some simple and light lines only to a few crucial parts. As for the blank space, she displayed great originality by adorning it with maple leaves trimmed into different shapes.

Of course, she had to complete another picture before accomplishing the collage of maple leaves. Only by comparing the two pictures could she paste those maple leaves into the right place. At present, there was still a lot of work for her to do.

She prepared all the raw materials in advance. Since she had practiced before, Shao Wanru was skillful at pasting this picture. With great care and patience, she made this birthday present for the Empress Dowager in an orderly way.

After hearing Nanny Yu’s report, Shao Wanru retreated two steps to see her unfinished painting. Then she put down the maple leaves in her hand that still needed to be cut to wash her hands in the clean water. After that, she wiped her hands on a white towel and asked softly, “How was First Young Madam when you left?”

“She must have understood what I meant, but she didn’t answer my question. My Lady, but I don’t understand it: what difference does it make if Concubine Jiang has the title?” Though Nanny Yu had done everything that Shao Wanru had instructed, she didn’t know why they had to do that.

A faint smile crept across Shao Wanru’s smile as she sat on a chair and took a teacup from Qu Le. Unhurriedly, she wiped away the froth with the lid and put the cup down. “Since she is still a mandated woman, she doesn’t have to take her trial at the court!”

“Even so, she can’t reverse the verdict, right?” Nanny Yu became even more confused. She had been living in Jiangzhou for a long time, so she was unfamiliar with the matters related to titled Madams from aristocratic families. Back then, she only met a few titled noble ladies, and no one would tell her the reasons in detail, so she felt completely in the dark on this question!

“A titled lady enjoys some special privileges, and Madam Jiang can make an issue of it! Besides, there is a key factor in the matter of Madam Jiang, but no one has paid attention to it. It’s only because some people think they have the same interests, but in truth, the interests of people in the Marquis Xing’s Mansion are not completely the same!” Shao Wanru said meaningfully, and her eyes darkened a little.

Benefits could start incessant troubles inside the Marquis Xing’s Mansion…