Chapter 6: First Meeting with the Prime Minister

"No, Madam, but this time it is not like before. Previously, she always followed her own whims; she didn't care whether the servants had done something wrong, and if she found something displeasing, she would beat or scold them. But today, when she dealt with Xiao Zi, she spoke with such logic and reason that she didn't seem like a useless waste at all."

"Oh? Tell me more. What happened?"

Nanny Ye recounted everything that had happened this morning at Mu Xiaoxue's White Snow Garden to Concubine Liu, word for word. Listening to it, Concubine Liu's brow furrowed.

"Oh, such a thing happened? It seems we must pay closer attention to that wench from now on. Didn't she just deal with Xiao Zi? Arrange another clever maid to go in there and keep a close eye on her. Don't let that girl slip through our fingers."

"Yes, Madam. I will arrange it immediately."

Night fell quickly, and the entire manor was brightly lit. This was the first time Mu Xiaoxue had left her own garden since her transmigration. Looking around carefully, she saw rockeries, pavilions, arched bridges, gardens, and ponds. It seemed this Prime Minister's manor was quite grand! However, after wandering around in circles, Mu Xiaoxue discovered that her garden was very far from the main hall! Why did it feel like the place she lived was so remote?

"Why hasn't the Eldest Miss arrived yet? She is becoming more and more ill-mannered. It seems we'll have to hire a governess again. What will happen if she marries the Crown Prince in the future?" Just as Mu Xiaoxue was preparing to enter the main hall, she suddenly heard a voice filled with impatience and stopped in her tracks. Anyone who could speak with such natural authority must be the predecessor's father!

"Master, please do not be angry. The Eldest Miss is still young and inevitably a bit willful. I will send someone to invite her right away."

As Concubine Liu spoke, she shot a glance at Nanny Ye beside her. Although this movement escaped the Prime Minister's eyes, it did not escape Mu Xiaoxue's. It seemed they were up to their old tricks again! Just as Mu Xiaoxue thought this, Concubine Liu and Nanny Ye indeed did not disappoint her; the master and servant were playing their parts in perfect harmony.

"Nanny Ye, hurry and send someone to invite the Eldest Miss over immediately!"

"Replying to Master and Concubine Liu, this servant has already sent people to invite the Eldest Miss twice, but every time the servant sent goes, they return having been scolded by the Eldest Miss..."

"She really is becoming more and more ill-mannered. Humph!" Seeing that the Master was starting to lose patience with that wench, Concubine Liu felt this was enough. She didn't dare push further, for she feared that overdoing it might backfire.

"Master, please calm your anger. The Eldest Miss is still young and doesn't understand things yet. We can just teach her properly after a while. Nanny, if you are told to go and invite her, then just go! Why all this talk? Are you even allowed to judge the right and wrong of your masters? Should I send you back to your hometown to live out your old age!"

"I am sorry, Master, Concubine Liu! I will go personally to invite her right now. Please do not send me away; this servant has always served by your side and cannot bear to leave you!"

"That's enough. It is not Nanny's fault; she was merely telling the truth. She has always been by your side; would you be used to it without her?"

"I understand, Master. Nanny is an old servant; I only hope she knows what should and should not be said. Why haven't you thanked the Master yet?"

"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Concubine Liu."

What a pair of master and servant! They coordinated so well. *Willful, ignorant... aren't all these traits things you taught me? It seems if I don't act willful once, you'll truly think I'm easy to bully!*

"Father, Concubine, it seems Xue'er is late." Looking at Mu Xiaoxue's attire tonight, Concubine Liu and Nanny Ye exchanged a knowing glance, their suspicion of Mu Xiaoxue deepening.

Tonight, Mu Xiaoxue wore a dark green bodice dress underneath a white gauze robe. She had simply tied her middle hair into a butterfly knot, secured with a single jade hairpin. She had applied a little rouge to her face; although she still had blunt bangs, she at least looked somewhat like a lady of a noble family.

"If you knew you would be late, why didn't you come earlier?" Mu Guozhen thought back to how, before leaving the house, Mu Xiaoxue's clothes were always clashing reds and greens or greens and reds, her head was covered in heavy jewelry, her rouge was so thick it could paint a wall, and her lips were coated like two hot dogs. It was enough to ruin anyone's appetite.

Seeing the current Mu Xiaoxue, Mu Guozhen was startled, but at the same time, he felt a slight sense of relief. It seemed his daughter had truly grown up, so even his reprimand was much softer in tone.

"Father, Xue'er didn't know she would be late! Besides, Nanny Ye came to notify me today that there would be dinner in the main hall tonight, but she didn't say what time!" Mu Xiaoxue looked at Mu Guozhen aggrievedly.

"Oh? But didn't Nanny Ye just send someone to invite you?" Once she heard that, if the Master knew she hadn't sent anyone to invite her at all, wouldn't he be furious?

"Alright, Master, the Eldest Miss is here, so please do not blame her! Come, Xue'er, come sit quickly. You must be starving!" Fearing Mu Guozhen would grow suspicious, Concubine Liu quickly changed the subject.

"Huan'er, hurry and assist the Eldest Miss to sit over here."

"Yes."

*Changing the subject on purpose again, are we? I'll just make sure things don't go your way.* Mu Xiaoxue's injuries were mostly healed, but she deliberately walked toward Mu Guozhen with a limp.

"Xue'er, what happened to you?"

"It's nothing! Father, I just accidentally fell down the stairs a couple of days ago. I'm almost all better now! My body and head were covered in injuries those two days; it made me not even dare to go out to see Brother Crown Prince." Mu Xiaoxue deliberately circled Mu Guozhen a few times, nearly tripping, causing Mu Guozhen to catch her quickly.

Though it seemed like an incidental answer, Mu Xiaoxue actually wanted to tell Mu Guozhen: *The moment you step out, your daughter will accidentally fall down the stairs, and it's already happened.* Of course, she didn't dare tell him the last part, because no one would believe in soul transmigration and rebirth.

"Fell down the stairs? What exactly happened? Can anyone tell me what happened!" Mu Guozhen looked around—everyone present simply lowered their heads, and no one answered.

"Concubine Liu, you tell me!" Being singled out by Mu Guozhen, Concubine Liu's body involuntarily jolted, and her eyes flickered incessantly.

Hearing Mu Guozhen ask this, it seemed he still cared about this daughter! *Concubine Liu, are you going to find another excuse to let this pass? Let's see! You really didn't disappoint Mu Xiaoxue. Sigh! What are you all going to do when you encounter someone as smart as me!* She also didn't forget to act vain.

"Alright, Master, you have just returned and must be hungry; let's eat quickly! If you don't move, you won't dare move anything. As for this matter, I will tell you slowly later." *But some people just don't want to let it go. Concubine Liu, you won't speak? Then don't blame me for dragging your daughter into the water too! I'm not doing it on purpose, absolutely not on purpose; I just like watching the drama...*

"Yes, Father, I am truly fine."

"It was just that a couple of days ago, Second Sister invited Brother Crown Prince to the Wind-Watching Tower to see the scenery, and I went along too. When we were going down the stairs, I don't know how, but I fell. I felt like someone pushed me, but Second Sister said I just fell because I wasn't careful. Alright, Father, I will be careful next time. I will definitely be cautious when I go out with Second Sister."

Hearing Mu Xiaoxue's words, both Concubine Liu and Mu Xiaomin had the urge to strangle her. *If you don't speak, no one will take you for a mute!* The two of them glared at Mu Xiaoxue simultaneously, as if saying, *You did it on purpose, didn't you!*

Mu Xiaoxue looked at them with a smile, as if answering: *That's right! I did it on purpose, what are you going to do about it? I'll watch you all pretend!* *Sigh! As expected, they didn't disappoint Mu Xiaoxue again! Heavens! Earth! Can I go become a fortune teller now?*