Before Shao Wanru had come back to Duke Xing’s Mansion, Madam Jiang and Old Madam were in charge of the affairs of the inner court. However, Old Madam aged, so everything was mainly handled by Madam of Duke Xing, Madam Jiang, who could be called as the master of the inner court of Duke Xing’s Mansion.

It could be proved by the fact that she had even plotted against Third Madam.

Her nominal Second Uncle was also not simple. Not only did he know everything happening in the inner court, but also he took charge of the outer court. What’s more, he meant a lot to the Emperor.

But everything she saw now had proved that Old Madam had always been the dominator of Duke Xing’s Mansion. Whenever it came to something important, her Second Uncle would always negotiate it with Old Madam. That was to say, as long as it was a big deal, Old Madam’s opinion would be asked.

No sooner had Madam Jiang left than Third Madam took full charge of the inner court, which should have something to do with Old Madam. She helped Third Madam get the position.

In a word, although it looked like that Old Madam didn’t take charge, she had always been the big boss of Duke Xing’s Mansion, including the inner court and the outer court.

Some decisions must be made by her!

Shao Wanru clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, which made her feel a sharp pain in her palm even through the handkerchief, and then slowly relaxed her hand. Only the sharp pain was left and it slowly slid into her heart.

She felt heavier and angrier because of the speculation in her mind.

If that was true, Old Madam was far more than a vicious human. Even vicious tigers would not eat their cubs, let alone human beings…

When she walked out of the courtyard, she found that Xiao Xuanzi was looking around under the tree in front of her. Seeing them, he hurriedly ran over with a smile.

“Fifth Miss!” Xiao Xuanzi said with a smile and bowed respectfully.

“What’s the matter?” Shao Wanru asked in surprise. Shouldn’t Xiao Xuanzi be with Chu Liuchen now?

“Master wants to know whether Fifth Miss was in charge of any affair today,” asked Xiao Xuanzi with happiness. He looked very relaxed and casual, which was completely different from the expression he showed before Shao Jing and Old Madam.

“I was in charge of the tea room and helped deal with some other affairs. I had nothing to do with the drink and food!” Shao Wanru immediately understood what Chu Liuchen meant. She answered softly with her heart suddenly got softened.

According to Old Madam and Shao Jing’s words just now, Shao Wanru knew that if the blame was put on Duke Xing’s Mansion, they might find a scapegoat.

It couldn’t be Old Madam herself, nor could it be Shao Jing or Shao Hua’an. Then it was hard to say who would be chosen except the three!

But one thing could be sure. The scapegoat wouldn’t be a servant because no one would believe that a servant would be daring to do such a thing, even she or he was a favorite of masters.

The tea room, which was under the charge of Shao Wanru, was responsible for the insufficiency of the pastries they had prepared. They only prepared the sweet pastries they thought to be good, without thinking that some guests might dislike this kind of sweet or hate sweet food. However, it was also because of this mistake that the tea room didn’t help make the sweet spring rolls for the kitchen.

Therefore, all the food served at the banquet had nothing to do with Shao Wanru.

Xiao Xuanzi immediately got her point. He rolled his eyes and said, “At that time, some pastries were indeed served to the princes, but they don’t like sweet food, so they didn’t eat them!”

Of course, the pastries were delivered by the servants. Two kinds were served. One of them smelt sweet and the other was a plate of spring rolls wrapped in bean paste. All princes didn’t like sweets, so none of them even touched the pastries. The reason why Xiao Xuanzi remembered it so clearly was that he had advised his master to try some at that time. But Prince Chen didn’t taste a bite. He also glanced at the other two masters, who never ate any of them. It could be seen that they all didn’t like pastries.

Shao Wanru smiled slightly and understood what Xiao Xuanzi meant.

“Thanks, Xiao Xuanzi!” Yujie was very clever and hastened to thank him.

“Why thank me? Thank my master! Master is afraid that Fifth Miss will get involved in trouble. Although nothing serious will happen to you with my master’s protection, it is no good to be linked with such trouble that might cause some unpleasant gossips,” said Xiao Xuanzi, who was smiling like a happy flower. He was smart and left a good impression on the future princess by highlighting the power of his master in front of her.

What he said also showed Chu Liuchen’s special protection for Shao Wanru.

“Thank your master!” Shao Wanru couldn’t help smiling and said.

“Okay, I’ll pass the message right away!” Xiao Xuanzi said happily, believing that his message would please his master. After bowing to Shao Wanru, he ran to another courtyard nearby.

As she thought, the courtyard Xiao Xuanzi went toward was the place where they would discuss what to do next. Rolling her watery eyes, she walked slowly toward the inner court. She couldn’t intervene in the following things. Fortunately, Chu Liuchen was there.

Thinking of Chen Liuchen, she bit her lip gently, with a sense of peace in her heart. She was no longer panicky and helpless. Gone was the situation where she could only clench her teeth to bear everything.

“Fifth Sister, what happened?” Shao Caihuan came in a hurry and asked when she saw Shao Wanru.

She had just arrived as soon as she heard the news.

“Prince Yue and Prince Zhou had a fight. Grandma asked me to turn to Prince Chen for help,” Shao Wanru said briefly.

“They, they fought? How could it be?” asked Shao Caihuan, whose face greatly changed into a nervous one.

“I don’t know the reason either… Maybe they drank too much…” Shao Wanru gave a vague reply. She indeed didn’t know the cause. “Grandma and Second Uncle are still talking about it inside. They asked me to go back first!”

She said and pointed at the courtyard where she had just come out.

“Everyone is inside there?” Shao Caihuan asked with panic and anxiety.

“Just Grandma and Second Uncle. The others have gone to somewhere else, “Shao Wanru shook her head.

“Fifth Sister, why don’t we go in and listen to their plan?” Shao Caihuan grabbed Shao Wanru’s sleeve and said nervously.

Shao Wanru didn’t expect such words. She looked at Shao Caihuan in astonishment. Old Madam and Shao Jing had made it clear. Obedient juniors should stay away from them at this time. How could she have such an idea?

Shao Caihuan didn’t often behave to be a disobedient person, but she was abnormal today.

As if sensing Shao Wanru’s doubt, Shao Caihuan hastened to explain, “My mother was the host of the banquet in the inner court today. Grandma will blame the problem on my mother. But she is innocent! No one would expect that the two princes would get drunk so easily after just a few cups of…”

“A few cups? How do you know that, Third Sister?” Shao Wanru asked sharply and glanced at Shao Caihuan’s eyes which were full of panic.

“I… I don’t know. I heard it from the person who came to report to me! They shouldn’t get drunk like that… the two princes have always been in good health…” Shao Caihuan lowered her head and murmured with panic. It seemed that she was explaining or talking to herself.

“How many cups can get a man drunk if he is in poor health?” Shao Wanru asked thoughtfully.

Shao Caihuan was frightened and suddenly raised her head. She let go of the sleeve of Shao Wanru, who could feel that her hand had trembled.

She was in a serious panic.

“I… I have no idea…” She stammered and added with an embarrassed smile after seeing Shao Wanru’s frowning eyebrows and the increasing doubts in her eyes. “I… I’m just afraid that my mother will be implicated in it. As you know, Grandma is never fond of my mother and she always thinks highly of Second Madam. If the matter can’t be settled, it was hard to say…”

Saying that, Shao Caihuan was truly worried. What she meant was that she was afraid that Old Madam and Shao Jing would push the blame to Third Madam.

“Fifth Sister, can you come with me and listen? I… I have to explain it to them!” Shao Caihuan looked at Shao Wanru imploringly with her eyes turning wet. “My mother doesn’t know anything. She has always been in bad health since that matter happened three years ago. Without Second Madam, she just forces herself to go on keeping the whole mansion well by herself. Most of the time she is unable to do it well as she wishes.”

Shao Wanru looked at her calmly and stepped aside. “Third Sister, go by yourself. Second Uncle and Grandma are inside there!”

“Fifth Sister, I am scared if I am alone! Can… can you go together with me?”

Shao Caihuan didn’t move her feet but looked at Shao Wanru with tears in her eyes and pleaded, “What if we don’t go inside? We can listen to them in secret outside. I bet we won’t be caught by Grandma and Second Uncle!”

“Grandma and Second Uncle have asked me to go out. If I go in again, they will think that I disobey their order on purpose. Third Sister, do you want me to be misunderstood? Go by yourself, please. If Grandma and Second Uncle ask me about you, I will say that I didn’t mention anything to you, and they won’t blame you. Your visiting will be considered as an accident!”

Shao Wanru shook her head calmly and refused Shao Caihuan.

What Shao Wanru said was more or less for Shao Caihuan’s good. No matter Shao Caihuan decided to eavesdrop or rush in, it would be much better if she pretended not to know that Old Madam and Shao Jing didn’t allow anyone to disturb them. It was a help for Shao Caihuan that Shao Wanru made a false testimony.

Shao Caihuan’s face suddenly changed into a cold one. She took a step back with the panic and fear in her eyes gone. She looked at Shao Wanru coldly and said with disappointment, “Fifth Sister, I misjudged you. How can you be so cold-blooded!”

“What kind of person do you think I am, Third Sister?” Shao Wanru raised her eyebrows and asked.

“I thought that you were at least a warm-hearted and gentle girl. You were a good person! Although Second Madam has always wanted to frame you, my mother has always been very good to you, and I also want to be friendly with you. So I understand that you hate Second Madam, but why are you so indifferent and have no intention of helping my mother when she is in trouble?”

Shao Caihuan said with tears in her eyes, aggrieved and angry.

However, Shao Wanru’s eyes became deep. She rolled her eyes with a trace of coldness flashing in them. It seemed that they could pierce through one’s heart. She cast a cold glance at Shao Caihuan, who was frightened to step back subconsciously and avoided Shao Wanru’s eyes. She felt a little guilty…