Not long after, Uncle Zhong brought the things. Mo Qinghuan picked up the recipe, took a glance, and then placed it flat on the table.
"Dan'er, tell the kitchen to prepare some small dishes."
Dan'er understood her intention and stepped forward to inquire, "My Lady, didn't His Highness say... it's better not to go to the back courtyard?"
Mo Qinghuan sighed and played with her fingernails. The delicate pink nail polish made her fingers look even whiter and more delicate.
"Let's go and see her. She must have been very lonely all these years. His Highness was clearly doing it for her own good, but he used the wrong method. It would be really unworthy if he got resented for this."
Dan'er nodded in agreement.
Mo Qinghuan didn't follow the recipe because she thought that no matter how delicious the food was, eating the same thing day in and day out would make anyone sick of it.
After Dan'er left, she changed into a light blue ankle-length ruqun. Her fair ankles were exposed, and there was a small bell tied around her ankle, making a crisp sound as she walked.
The weather was fine today. The sky was cloudless and there was no wind. It was neither too hot nor too cold. In a few days, it would probably really start to get hot.
Dan'er carried the food and followed behind Mo Qinghuan.
When they reached the back courtyard, they suddenly found that the door wasn't locked again. She had entered in the same way last time.
She didn't think much of it, just assuming that Uncle Zhong was old and couldn't handle things as well as before, so he had forgotten to lock the door.
When she reached the door, she raised her hand and knocked gently. The sound of chains dragging on the ground came from inside.
"Come in." Her voice was very pleasant, not the dull and hoarse voice Mo Qinghuan had imagined.
She pushed the door open and walked in. The woman's white clothes were dirty. Mo Qinghuan couldn't help but frown.
"What are you doing here?" After the last time, the woman already knew Mo Qinghuan's identity, but she still looked a bit surprised to see her.
Mo Qinghuan turned around and told Dan'er to put the food on the table.
She looked at the woman and suddenly didn't know how to address her. As if sensing her thoughts, the woman had a faint smile on her lips and didn't show any hostility towards her.
"When this servant was serving beside the Crown Princess, Her Highness called this servant Seventeen."
Mo Qinghuan naturally couldn't address her like that. She thought for a long time but still didn't know how to call her.
"Dan'er, go and call Shuang'er and Dongxue over. Have them clean up this place, and then prepare a bucket of hot water for her to wash up."
The woman seemed to be frightened. Her pupils shrank and she stepped back.
"My Lady, there's no need for this."
Mo Qinghuan walked up to her. There was a hint of panic in the woman's eyes. Mo Qinghuan didn't understand why she was so afraid of her, but she remembered that the fear in the woman's eyes when she saw Mu Yanming last time seemed even more intense.
She wondered what this woman had gone through all these years while being locked up here.
"Are you sent by His Highness to question me?" This was her first reaction because over the years, no matter how Mu Yanming had questioned her, she had clearly stated that she wouldn't mention the past events again. The Crown Princess had been gone for so many years, and she would never allow any rumors to attack her.
Mo Qinghuan smiled faintly and sat down at the table. "I knew you'd think so, but don't worry. I never thought of asking you any questions. These things have nothing to do with me."
Hearing this, the woman suddenly frowned.
"You and His Highness are a couple. How can you say that his business has nothing to do with you? Are you really on his side?"
No, she couldn't not be on His Highness's side. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were no longer alive. His Highness was all alone in the world. If his wife wasn't on his side, wouldn't that be too sad...
Mo Qinghuan naturally understood what she meant, but her purpose for coming today wasn't to curry favor and get information.
"May I call you Aunt? You served beside the Crown Princess for so many years, so your feelings for His Highness must be special. But he's locked you up here for so long. Do you hate him?"
The woman seemed to be lost in thought. "What are you talking about? How could I hate His Highness?!"
Mo Qinghuan let out a long sigh. "It's good that you don't hate him. If you did, it would be understandable. After all, he's restricted your freedom for so long."
The woman frowned and said angrily, "What do you know?! His Highness is protecting this servant. This servant not only doesn't hate him, but is also very grateful to him. If His Highness hadn't locked this servant up here, this servant might have died long ago."
Mo Qinghuan couldn't help but look at her with new respect. As expected of someone who had served beside the former Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, her vision was much higher than that of ordinary maids.
But did she really think what she said?
Mo Qinghuan stood up and walked to the door. "I just think that even if it's for protection, this method shouldn't be used. And since you know that His Highness is protecting you, it means that even if your chains are unlocked, you won't escape, right?"
The woman looked thoughtfully at the chains on her hands. She had been here for so many years and it seemed to have become a habit.
Although she had thought about escaping at first, His Highness's methods were more powerful than those of the former Crown Prince. So she knew that even if she escaped, the outcome wouldn't be better than being locked up here. She might as well just go with the flow.
Seeing that the woman didn't say anything, Mo Qinghuan pushed the food in front of her. "Eat. I'll go and ask His Highness for the key. After you've eaten, take a bath and have a good rest. As for whether to stay or leave, I believe you can make a decision."
After saying that, she got up and left. Just then, Dan'er brought Dongxue and Shuang'er over to clean up.
"Wait until she's finished eating and then clean up after that."
Just as she was about to leave, Dongxue stopped her. "My Lady, this servant dares to be so bold. There are a few things this servant wants to say to Your Ladyship about today's matter."
Mo Qinghuan stopped and turned to look at Dongxue. "Speak."
Dongxue didn't mince words. Pointing at the woman in the room, she said, "This woman knows too many past events. His Highness locked her up here for a reason. Your Ladyship really shouldn't have brought us all in today. If this gets leaked and ruins His Highness's plans, who can take the responsibility?"
Mo Qinghuan raised her delicate eyebrows slightly and looked at Dongxue thoughtfully. Then she understood.
"You've known about this woman's existence for a long time. Whether we came today or not doesn't make much of a difference. As for Dan'er and Shuang'er, they're my confidants. If you doubt them, aren't you basically doubting me?"
Dan'er and Shuang'er immediately stood behind Mo Qinghuan, showing their stance.
Seeing that she was isolated, Dongxue curled her lips into a cold smile. "No one can guarantee what will happen in the future, right, Your Ladyship?"
She emphasized the words "Your Ladyship" very strongly. Mo Qinghuan frowned slightly, looking quite displeased.