Listening to Lady Yin's sobs, Yin Susu stretched out her small hand to wipe away her mother's tears. She said sensibly, "Mother, don't cry. Susu is fine. As long as Susu is obedient, cousin won't beat me."
Yin Susu frowned and tried hard to console Lady Yin. "Susu is really okay..."
"Come on! Take the token and enter the palace. I'm going to ask Yin Wenyun if, after becoming the empress, she's no longer part of the Yin family and is just allowing the crown prince to bully Susu," Lord Yin blurted out impulsively, grabbing the token and about to head for the palace.
Seeing this, Yin Susu quickly wriggled out of her mother's embrace. She grabbed Lord Yin's sleeve and finally couldn't hold back her tears. "Waaah! Susu doesn't want Father to be thrown into jail, nor does Susu want brother to become a beggar. Susu was just talking nonsense. Cousin didn't beat me..."
"Susu doesn't feel any pain at all. Father's official position is all thanks to Aunt. If Aunt gets angry, Susu will have no home."
Although her words were jumbled, they shocked Lord and Lady Yin. They could both guess what Yin Susu was trying to convey. They looked at each other in silence, but their hearts were in turmoil.
Previously, the Yin family had always shown the utmost respect to the Fengyi Palace and had done their best for the crown prince. Who would have thought that the crown prince would secretly intimidate Yin Susu like this?
What worried them even more was that they didn't know if this was just a simple threat, the crown prince's true intention, or even the empress's idea.
"My lord, why did you suddenly ask this?" Lady Yin suppressed her anger. If the crown prince dared to bully Susu like this, he must have bullied other children too.
And Lord Yin's next words made Lady Yin think, "Just as I thought."
Lady Yin pinched the palm of her hand and made a prompt decision. "Hurry! You take Susu to the Princess Jingning's mansion. I'll go to the Yan family to see how young master Yan is doing."
Lady Yin was in charge of the Yin family. Without hesitation, Lord Yin took out a handkerchief and tried to wipe Yin Susu's little face clean.
Lady Yin snatched the handkerchief and threw it away. She grabbed Lord Yin's collar. "The crown prince is only seven years old, but he already dislikes the Yin family. It's unimaginable what he'll do in the future."
"Although Princess Jingning seems insignificant, in fact, she has the support of the Mu and Shen families. The number - one young master in the capital is her eldest son. Now that her youngest daughter has been bullied by the crown prince like this, we have to take advantage of this!"
"I'll go to the Yan family to find out the situation. You take Susu and try to get closer to the princess's mansion. See if we can..."
Lady Yin didn't say the last three words out loud, but Lord Yin understood from her lip - reading that it was "depose the crown prince".
Lord Yin was stunned. He suddenly felt that things were developing too fast. Were they really going to depose the crown prince? The Yin family had finally produced a crown prince...
"Do you still want to benefit from him?" Lady Yin sneered. "He's already a little devil at the age of seven. If he really becomes the emperor, he might target the Yin family first."
"Didn't you hear what Susu said? He wants to throw you into jail and make our son a beggar..."
Listening to Lady Yin's sarcastic words, Lord Yin felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly replied, "Okay, okay, okay. I understand."
...
The chaotic events outside didn't affect the princess's mansion.
In the garden.
Chen Miaochun was holding the recipe book of Zuiyin Tower pastries. She carefully selected a few kinds of pastries that Shen Baozhu liked the most. Yan Mingli was sitting beside her, fanning her with a folding fan.
"Are you hot? Is this breeze okay?" Yan Mingli asked eagerly.
Seeing Yan Mingli trying so hard to please Chen Miaochun, Chen Ruxia was satisfied but also a bit jealous.
She had only found her elder sister back for less than three months, and this was a good time to bond. But out of nowhere, Yan Mingli showed up. He was really in the way.
Chen Miaochun selected three kinds of pastries and looked up. "These three will do. Make two pieces of each. One for a taste test and the other for a more detailed enjoyment. Not too much, not too little."
Yan Mingli glanced at them and memorized the names of the three pastries. "Sure thing!"
"Miaochun, why don't you choose some pastries you like?"
Chen Miaochun put down the recipe book and shook her head.
Because of her experience of going hungry as a child, when Chen Miaochun first entered the princess's mansion, she had a strong appetite. Even though she knew her eating manners were unseemly, she still stuffed food into her mouth. But after being constantly fed by Shen Baozhu and Yan Mingli, she had improved a lot.
Tomorrow was the first day after Baozhu's punishment ended. She should give Baozhu a good treat.
Hearing that Chen Miaochun had selected three kinds of pastries and two pieces of each, Chen Ruxia reminded her, "Wait. I remember the punishment was that she wasn't allowed to eat pastries in the first month, only one piece in the second month, and two pieces in the third month. Sister, you've chosen six pieces. Baozhu can't eat them, can she?"
Chen Miaochun blinked and said a bit cheekily, "Ruxia misunderstood. I'm the one who's going to eat these six pieces of pastries. It's just that I've had a poor appetite recently and can't finish them all."
"So you'll ask Baozhu to help you finish them, right?" Chen Ruxia guessed Chen Miaochun's excuse and continued.
Yan Mingli took Chen Miaochun's side and quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Ruxia, is the princess's mansion going to be renovated? Why did god - mother ask me to prepare more clothes and said to put them in the manor? It seems we're going to live there for a long time."
At first, Chen Ruxia had only said that they would temporarily stay in the princess's mansion. But later, Chen Miaochun became a female marquis, and the former Marquis Yong'an was seriously ill and bedridden. So the temporary stay had become a long - term one.
Compared to Chen Miaochun and Yan Mingli, who were often out and about, Chen Ruxia did know Princess Jingning's intention.
She gently waved her round fan and smiled. "It's a long - term stay. After brother Heqing finishes the imperial examination next year, god - mother will take Baozhu and me to live in the manor for a long time. You and sister can either continue living in the princess's mansion or go to the manor. There are yards for you in both places."
Yan Mingli was puzzled. "Wow, why is she taking you and Baozhu but not us..."
Chen Miaochun stepped on Yan Mingli's foot, signaling him to be nicer to Chen Ruxia. Yan Mingli grimaced in pain.
With her sister protecting her, Chen Ruxia threw a smug look at Yan Mingli. She put her arm around Chen Miaochun's shoulder and said proudly, "Because Baozhu and I don't need to go out often. It's different for you. For example, you need to collect rent. If you live in such a far - away manor, how can you collect rent every day?"
Chen Miaochun frowned. Wouldn't that mean she'd have to separate from Ruxia and Baozhu?
Yan Mingli asked curiously, "Then why do we have to move to the manor? Can't we just stay in the princess's mansion? Is there not enough space? I can buy the houses on both sides and knock down the walls."
"That's not the reason," Chen Ruxia explained. "Haven't you noticed? The gifts the god - like figure gives Baozhu are getting bigger and bigger. From the initial amulet and silver bracelet to the little golden dragon a few days ago. God - mother is afraid that the future gifts will be even bigger, so she wants to move to the manor. It's not only spacious there, but there are also the Mu family's private soldiers near the manor, so it's safer."
Yan Mingli hadn't thought of this. He whispered, "It's not that bad. The little golden dragon isn't that big. Why do we have to move to the manor? If you and Baozhu move there, what about Miaochun?"
Chen Ruxia replied without hesitation, "Sister will come with me!"
"What about me?" Yan Mingli's whispering got louder. "How big can Baozhu's gifts be? No matter how big, they're not that big anyway."
Yan Mingli gestured in the air to show the size of the little golden dragon.
Before Chen Ruxia could retort, Shen Baozhu ran over. "Sister Miaochun, sister Ruxia, brother Mingli, look at Baozhu's new gift!"
Shen Baozhu excitedly lifted the hood of the treasure - hunting hamster. A hamster with smooth fur and a huge size appeared in front of the three of them.
Looking at the treasure - hunting hamster, Yan Mingli was too shocked to speak.
Chen Ruxia imitated Yan Mingli and exclaimed, "Oh! How big can Baozhu's gifts be? No matter how big, they're not that big anyway!"
Yan Mingli couldn't argue with Chen Ruxia. Angry, he looked for help. "Miaochun, I was just joking. How could Ruxia take it seriously... Miaochun?"
In the blink of an eye, Chen Miaochun had walked up to the treasure - hunting hamster. She sized it up and concluded, "It's quite plump. It should taste better than a rat."
The treasure - hunting hamster panicked. "Master, save me! Someone wants to eat me!"