Chapter 597: Someone wants to be a concubine in the Prince of Yue's mansion?

Li Qingluo finished speaking in a calm tone, but Que'er and Zheng Mama were shocked and exclaimed together: "What?!"

Bao Xia, who had followed in with tea, was so frightened her hands trembled, and she nearly dropped the entire tea set she was holding.

Bao Xia: "Que'er, what's wrong with you?"

"What matter has made you and Grandma so shocked?"

Bao Xia patted her chest, still not having regained her composure.

Que'er's face flushed with anger: "Some shameless thing wants to steal our young lady's position!"

Zheng Mama: "Snatch? Can she even snatch it?"

"Give her a good face!"

"Back when the old servant of the Jiang family first saw her, she was no good!"

"Now she actually set her sights on our household. This old servant really wants to give her a sound beating, so she'll know exactly what kind of place the Prince of Yue's mansion is!"

Que'er: "Last time, I also saw her at the Jiang household as a servant."

"Jiang Thirteenth Lady's gaze fell straight onto Your Highness, like a sewer mouse spying a piece of fatty meat, her eyes glowing green."

"At that moment I wanted to step forward and give her two hard slaps!"

"Pah! Supposedly a genteel lady from a respectable family—utterly shameless!"

"And now she's waited until today, still harboring designs on our household's Your Highness!"

Bao Xia was also very displeased.

Although she is merely a maid.

But now she has suddenly gone from being a maid in the lady of a merchant's household to a maid in the prince's mansion's lady's quarters—such a change in status, even for a mere maid, is like a fish leaping over the dragon gate!

Moreover, the mistress and master of the household are a rare example of mutual affection.

Bao Xia has wandered since childhood, having served at least three different households.

This is the first time she has seen a master and mistress who respect each other so deeply, their affection enduring.

Although the mistress suddenly has to go on a distant trip now, and it's unknown when she'll return.

Although the master was once a live-in son-in-law.

Although the mistress's birth was not high.

But the master is now a prince, and they still love each other as at the beginning!

The master would never possibly abandon the mistress.

The mistress is wholly devoted to the master as well.

Moreover, the master looks like someone extremely difficult to get along with!

Whoever sees him alone isn't trembling with fear?

Dong Er even said she once nearly pissed herself from fright the first time she saw him.

But whenever the master is in front of the mistress, whether his temperament or appearance, he seems to become another person.

He becomes gentle and considerate, becomes lowly and subservient.

Who would know, that is actually the currently red-hot Prince of Yue!

Or the rumored decisive commander of the Imperial Forest Army!

More importantly, we servants in this household are all quite happy!

Few matters.

Much rest.

And plenty of silver!

Most importantly, Bao Xia never worries about becoming a concubine.

Think of that Tang Chun earlier—she harbored a wandering heart, yet still ran to the master to embarrass herself, and in the end was sold off.

This household absolutely does not allow anyone with such thoughts to exist!

The one who despises such people most is the master!!

Moreover, if this simple, easygoing mansion were to gain a few more concubines or half-masters, Bao Xia can imagine this household would no longer be harmonious!

Just thinking about it makes Bao Xia nearly jump with rage.

Even rolling up her sleeves in anger, she exclaimed: "Who is it? I'll follow you lot and help clean her up!"

Seeing her like that, Que'er's expression finally eased a bit.

"You are conscientious."

"But where would you be useful? Don't worry about this matter."

"Remember, after we leave, you three senior maids just guard the household well. Never betray the young lady's trust in you."

"Also, when you follow to the Prince of Yue's mansion, be sure to keep in mind what I've instructed you."

"Your Highness doesn't like maids approaching him. So you three may only enter to tidy the rooms when His Highness is not around during the day; at all other times you must absolutely not appear, lest you lose your heads."

"If Your Highness doesn't want you to serve and only wants a young male servant, you'll just obediently withdraw, spending each day lying around waiting for the young lady's return."

"You belong to the young lady; as long as you don't cause trouble, Your Highness won't dismiss you."

"Also, if any impure-hearted person appears in the mansion, you three should consult and go find Guard Zhui Yu; he'll handle it!"

Que'er had said all these words last night already.

Now Bao Xia still listened to them again seriously.

Although she feels somewhat reluctant inside, she still looks forward to the future, feeling it should be more relaxed than now.

In her heart, her hatred for those who might return to wreck this household's peace has grown even stronger.

"Princess Consort, Grandma, Que'er sister, rest assured. I will keep an eye on everything in the mansion and do my utmost to guard this home."

Li Qingluo nodded at her: "This household, I'll entrust it to you few to worry over a bit more."

Finally, the time of parting has arrived.

Li Qingluo would not let anyone from the manor see her off, fearing the servants would cry, and also fearing that making a big fuss would draw onlookers.

"Externally, I'll just say I'm unwell and have gone to a country villa to recuperate. As for the rest, there's no need to mention anything."

In fact, aside from Duan Rongshi, Bao Xia and the other servants had no idea where Li Qingluo was actually going on this trip.

Bao Xia, Xi Qiu, and Dong Er, the three maidservants, had their eyes swollen from crying.

But they could only wave their hands, watching Li Qingluo's entourage, each carrying simple Li-surname belongings, leave the manor gate.

Li Qingluo took all twenty-seven killers with her.

This was also Duan Rongshi's firm demand: he would not allow her to leave even a single guard to protect her.

However, upon reaching the gate, they discovered that the one who was supposed to accompany them was not Leng Dian.

How could it still be Zhui Yu?

"Princess Consort."

Zhui Yu turned, clasped his hands toward Li Qingluo, and had a small bundle slung over his shoulder.

Li Qingluo: "How is it you?"

Zhui Yu looked at Li Qingluo with a hint of resentment and sorrow: "Princess Consort, do you truly not want your subordinate?"

"Though I lack Leng Dian's steadiness, I will do my utmost to protect the Princess Consort and not cause you worry."

"I also volunteered for this trip; I hope the lady will grant my request."

Zhui Yu spoke sincerely, almost to the point of kneeling before Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo glanced at Que'er and Killer Three beside her.

Although they looked a bit uneasy, there was no reason to stop Zhui Yu from joining them.

After all, the lady is not only their mistress but also Zhui Yu's Princess Consort.

Li Qingluo had no choice; Zhui Yu had always been sincere toward her, and she could not refuse his face.

Moreover, Duan Rongshi surely agreed to this as well.

Thus she said: "Fine, but Zhui Yu… I don't want anyone to cause a loss of life over personal feelings on the road."

"In my presence, you are all equal. Whoever breaks the rules will be punished!"

Zhui Yu: "Lady, rest assured; I have long let go of past grievances."

Li Qingluo: "Really?"

Why then does Que'er's eyes show a look of heavy heart?

Li Qingluo did not leave the city immediately.

The party first split into two groups.

Killer One led, taking twenty of the killers ahead to wait outside the city.

Because if they simply rode out of the city on thirty-plus horses in a grand procession, it would surely attract attention.

Thus Li Qingluo still left Nan Gong Fu by carriage, planning to change to horses after leaving the city.

Killer One and the others would first go to the villa to arrange the horses.

Xuan Cang went along with Killer One.

They also rode in a carriage, and Zheng Mama stayed inside to tend to him, who was still somewhat seriously injured.

Li Qingluo then took Killer Three, Que'er, and a few other killers to wander about the city.

In the blink of an eye, she appeared at the Jiang household.

Jiang Thirteenth Lady wanted to become a consort of the King of Yue; although Li Qingluo believed Duan Rongshi would not accept or heed this, she could not tolerate such an irritating matter being forced upon her.

Before departing, she would certainly pay a visit to the Jiang manor.

"Lady, what if Jiang Thirteen spreads rumors of your jealousy and ruins your reputation?"

Li Qingluo: "If she has the ability, does she dare to spread it?"

She gave a cold snort: "I will make her remember this lifetime: those who belong to me, Li Qingluo, are absolutely not for Jiang Thirteenth Lady to covet!"

Moreover, reputation?

If Li Qingluo cared about that, she would not have initially posed as a merchant just for her own convenience to go out and show herself.

Can a merchant's reputation be any better than that of a jealous wife?

After saying that, Li Qingluo brought Que'er and had already climbed over the wall, arriving at Jiang Thirteenth Lady's courtyard.

To her, the Jiang household is now also familiar.

Despite two living people appearing so conspicuously, they still managed to avoid everyone's gaze.

Moreover, after the incident involving the Jiang Old Lady, Jiang Shangshu and Jiang Second Master were both implicated in the matricide case, and they are no longer as glorious as before.

Jiang Second Master committed suicide.

Jiang Third Master was implicated and poisoned to death in the Dali Temple prison.

Now, only the main branch remains to support the entire Jiang household.

Jiang Shangshu, no, Jiang Yanzhi, has also been impeached and removed from his post as Shangshu; now everyone in the Jiang family, indeed the whole household, is filled with a deathly gloom.

Upon arriving at Jiang Thirteenth Lady's courtyard, Li Qingluo heard a tinkling laughter like silver bells.

"Uncle has agreed to my request."

"I knew she would agree to my request."

It was Jiang Thirteenth Lady's joyful voice.

Maid: "Miss, you are truly clever! Now the Jiang family is in decline, long since not what it used to be."

"Since the Second Master, our Third Master, and the Old Lady all died one after another, the people of the main branch don't even regard us as people."

"Once you successfully become the consort of the King of Yue, see who still looks down on you! Looks down on us!"

Jiang Shisan Niang: "Yeah. All these things that came out of the Jiang family, they blame the source of disaster on my heartless father."

My father back then favored his concubine and cast aside my mother, driving her to death; later he made that lowly woman his legitimate wife, and in the process my dear younger brother was spoiled into a good-for-nothing.

I, Shisan Niang, am clearly the legitimate daughter, yet I live worse than any of the concubines' daughters. I never expected a day of blessing; now that he's dead, all the accusations are pointed at me.

On what grounds!?

They, the main branch, always put on an aloof act day after day, but in the end they still aren't going to have a chance to straighten their backs again unless they rely on me, Shisan Niang, in the future.