“Miss, I am a family member of Lord Sheng Yong. Recently, Prince Qi has shown great kindness to my two sons at the academy and has often visited our humble home…”
“I am deeply grateful. Today, when I saw Princess Jing from afar, I thought to come and express my thanks…”
Sheng Minmin stood outside a pavilion, speaking politely to the two maids guarding the door.
She signaled to Qingying with her eyes, and Qingying hurriedly handed a small pouch to one of the maids. However, the maid pushed it back, her expression still cold.
“Madam, my mistress is resting and may not be available to see you.”
Sheng Minmin wasn’t annoyed. Countless people likely tried to curry favor with Princess Jing, so the servants were probably used to turning them away. She smiled and continued,
“To be honest, my visit isn’t just to express gratitude. There are also some important matters concerning Prince Qi that I wish to report to Her Highness…”
At the mention of “important matters concerning Prince Qi,” the two maids tensed slightly.
“However, I understand that Her Highness prefers quiet and shouldn’t be disturbed. Perhaps you could summon Mama Wang for me? Speaking to her would be just as well…”
The two maids exchanged glances, deliberating for a moment before one finally spoke.
“Then I’ll inform Mama Wang for you. But if she refuses to see you, don’t blame us.”
“Of course, thank you.”
Qingying handed another pouch to the maid at the door, and this time, the maid accepted it.
After a while, Sheng Minmin was finally able to meet Mama Wang.
“Madam Huang, what important matter do you have concerning His Highness?”
Seated in a side room of the courtyard, after tea was served, Mama Wang asked calmly.
From the moment she saw Mama Wang, Sheng Minmin trembled with suppressed emotion, as if she had a thousand words to say but could only swallow them back.
She glanced at the servants, and Mama Wang understood, waving her hand to dismiss them. The servants bowed and retreated, carefully closing the door behind them.
Only then did Sheng Minmin recount in detail what she had overheard behind the bamboo grove earlier.
Mama Wang’s expression turned grave as she listened. County Princess Xiayi’s plot to harm Princess Fuling was, at its core, Third Princess’s scheme against the Eldest Princess.
If forced to choose between Third Princess and the Eldest Princess, the current emperor and the Qi Wang Residence would undoubtedly side with the Eldest Princess, their blood relative.
Mama Wang stood and thanked Sheng Minmin.
“Thank you, Madam Huang. His Highness has often troubled your household with his visits—it’s only right that the residence expresses its gratitude. In a few days, Her Highness will prepare modest gifts to be sent to your home as thanks…”
Sheng Minmin understood that Mama Wang was doing this to prevent her from drawing Third Princess’s attention.
She couldn’t help but marvel at Mama Wang’s meticulousness and kindness, just as she remembered.
“Mama Wang, if I encounter any other important matters concerning His Highness in the future, may I come to see you?”
Hoping to see Mama Wang again from time to time, Sheng Minmin couldn’t resist asking.
Mama Wang seemed slightly puzzled but nodded nonetheless.
In the end, Sheng Minmin left satisfied.
…..
Three days after returning home, the Qi Wang Residence sent a carriage of gifts as thanks for the household’s hospitality toward Prince Qi.
Among them, a maid specifically requested a private audience with Sheng Minmin. She respectfully presented an exquisite box from her sleeve, containing a large, luminous pearl.
There was no need to ask—this was undoubtedly a gift from the Eldest Princess.
This pearl was even larger and rounder than the one Sheng Mingzhu had falsely accused her of stealing in her past life.
For a moment, Sheng Minmin was overwhelmed with emotion. She knew the pearl was valuable, but she couldn’t bring herself to like it. She instructed Qingying to store it carefully.
“Madam, the people from the servant agency have arrived.”
Qingxiang suddenly came to report. The day before, Sheng Mingzhu had mentioned wanting to select two clever maids.
Currently, Sheng Mingzhu’s two senior maids, Yunjin and Qingtian—one had been sent to the estate as punishment, and the other had been demoted to a third-tier maid. She indeed needed replacements.
So Sheng Minmin had arranged for the servant agency’s manager to bring candidates today.
“Let’s go help Sixth Miss make her selection…”
With that, she took Qingchi with her.
Now, Qingying managed all internal affairs, Qingxiang attended to her daily needs, and Qingzhu handled the accounts—finally freeing Sheng Minmin from tedious “domestic duties.”
When they arrived at Haitang Courtyard, they saw twenty or so young maids standing in the yard.
Sheng Mingzhu reclined on a lounge chair, her expression cold.
But the moment she saw Sheng Minmin, she flashed a perfect, practiced smile and said sweetly, “Mother, you’ve come.”
The smile was flawless—too flawless, as if rehearsed a hundred times in front of a mirror.
But this “mask” didn’t fool Sheng Minmin. She knew Sheng Mingzhu too well.
“Haitang Courtyard could use a few more servants. Have you found any you like?” Sheng Minmin asked with a smile.
“I haven’t decided yet. I thought I’d have them introduce themselves first—their names, skills…”
“Good idea.”
Sheng Minmin nodded and said no more, sitting in a chair brought by a servant.
The manager below immediately had the maids introduce themselves as requested. After listening to over a dozen, Sheng Minmin suddenly heard Feng Sanya’s voice.
Her hand, holding the teacup, froze mid-air.
She knew she couldn’t have misheard.
The voices of the Feng family—she could never mistake them!
Afraid of being noticed, Sheng Minmin calmly took a few sips of tea before setting the cup down and examining Feng Sanya in the crowd.
Dressed in a pink outfit with her hair in twin buns, Feng Sanya looked no different from the other maids at first glance.
But having grown up in the village, her slightly tanned skin clashed with the pink fabric, making her stand out awkwardly among the fair-skinned girls—more shabby than charming…
In just a few breaths, countless thoughts raced through Sheng Minmin’s mind.
Taohua Village had strict customs—selling children was nearly impossible.
Last time, Huang Yaning’s case was only permitted because it was exceptional, with both the village chief and Scholar Li’s approval before the Feng family could “sell” her to the Zhao family.
But if the Fengs wanted to sell Feng Sanya to a servant agency, it would be almost unthinkable.
Recalling Uncle Zhao’s letter mentioning that Taoniang had brought the second branch of the family to the capital…
So, since Taoniang couldn’t return to the Sheng Mansion as a servant, she sent Feng Sanya in instead?
Sheng Minmin suppressed a smirk.
Feng Sanya’s arrival was perfect!
In her past life, Feng Sanya had ended up as the wife of a minor official. Now, she was reduced to being a servant.
And Feng Sanya was no pushover. Once she realized the girl she was serving, Sheng Mingzhu, was her own sister, how bitterly jealous and resentful would she become?
Sheng Minmin couldn’t wait to find out…
“Aside from embroidery, what else are you skilled at?”
She pointed to a strikingly beautiful maid, about fifteen or sixteen years old.
“Replying to the young miss, I am also skilled at making pastries.”
Sheng Mingzhu smiled and questioned two more maids before finally pointing at Feng Sanya.
“You only said your name is Sanya, but not what you’re good at…”
“This servant grew up in the countryside and has no special skills. But I can tell stories—amusing tales from the village to entertain the young miss…”
“Not bad. That should keep me entertained.”
With that, Sheng Mingzhu turned to Sheng Minmin with a sweet smile.
And Sheng Minmin knew instantly—that expression meant trouble.
