His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Mo Sangyu, along with Feng Mian, moved from the dilapidated new house into the east wing of the main courtyard.

The side rooms in the main courtyard were much brighter and cleaner, with bright and sturdy windows that kept the cold wind firmly out, making them many times better than that new house.

We should have moved here sooner.

It's called moving, but it's actually very simple.

Carrying only a few pieces of clothing belonging to the original owner, along with the meager "dowry"—two small bundles in total—he left.

The servants in the main courtyard, having received orders, dared not obstruct the order, but their gazes remained extremely unfriendly.

Vigilance, disdain, incomprehension.

Why did Your Highness allow this ill-intentioned woman to live in the main courtyard?

That's outrageous.

Mo Sangyu was completely unconcerned about these looks.

You can't stand her, but you can't get rid of her. All you can do is stare at her helplessly. What's the use?

Upon hearing the news, Granny Yu hurriedly went to find Gu Jinzhi. After receiving the reply that His Highness knew and tacitly approved, she frowned and was very angry.

Unaware of the details, she only felt that His Highness's recent behavior seemed like that of a different person.

Mo Sangyu is indeed very beautiful, with a good figure. Could it be that His Highness is bewitched by her beauty?

Otherwise, why would he repeatedly tolerate a woman who tried to harm him and even killed Ah Lin and Ah Hu?!

Although Granny Yu did not understand or agree with it, she was still a loyal servant and could not go against His Highness's wishes.

"Ugh."

She sighed deeply.

"Don't worry, Your Highness knows what he's doing."

Seeing her sigh, Gu Jinzhi offered a word of comfort.

As a result, Granny Yu not only didn't appreciate his efforts, but also glared at him fiercely: "You dog-headed strategist, His Highness has been bewitched by that woman, and you've been bewitched by her too? Don't you know how to advise His Highness?"

"..."

Gu Jinzhi opened her mouth, wanting to say something in her defense, but Granny Yu had already walked away angrily.

At once……

You're quite old, don't you know to slow down?

His legs and feet are quite nimble.

……

This sentiment within the manor never dissipated; since no one dared to cause trouble for Mo Sangyu, it naturally spread to Feng Mian.

At noon, Fengmian went to the kitchen to fetch lunch for Mo Sangyu.

Several female servants in charge of the meals exchanged glances. One of them, a burly woman, cried out "Ouch!" as if she had slipped, and the food plate she was carrying crashed to the ground.

Food and soup were spilled all over the floor.

"Oops, it's spilled!"

The servant woman shouted arrogantly, glancing sideways at Feng Mian: "The Crown Princess's lunch is gone, what are we going to do? Everyone saw it, right? She bumped into me by accident, it has nothing to do with me."

The others nodded in agreement, echoing the slave woman's words.

Upon seeing this, Feng Mian was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and became both anxious and angry: "I... I was standing far away, it was clearly you..."

"What do you mean? We all saw it with our own eyes, how could we possibly wrong you?"

Another slave woman said, "Food is precious here, and there's no extra for you masters and servants to waste. Pick up what's on the ground and you can still eat it."

Feng Mian looked at the food mixed with dust on the ground, and his eyes instantly reddened.

She bit her lip and pulled out a few copper coins from her pocket: "I...I'll pay for it, can I start over? Don't worry, I'll do it myself..."

"Little girl."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the head slave woman.

"This is the border region, where food is scarcer than gold. Even if you have money, you might not be able to buy it. Rules are rules. Today's rations are gone. You either eat what's on the ground or you'll have to go hungry."

As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of mocking laughter erupted around him.

Feng Mian stood there alone and helpless, looking at the food on the ground and the indifferent and unfriendly faces around him, feeling wronged, helpless, and angry.

Tears welled up and rolled down her cheeks.

Just then, Yan Qing, who had just returned from getting the medicine, was limping past the kitchen door.

He saw Feng Mian being bullied, and initially thought that since she was that witch's person, it was only right for her to suffer some difficulties, so he didn't intend to meddle.

But for some reason, Feng Mian's suppressed, weak sobs, her thin shoulders, and her slightly trembling appearance felt like a thorn, gently pricking him.

It made him inexplicably irritable.

He recalled that night when Feng Mian was ordered by Mo Sangyu to drag his companion's corpse away to dispose of it all by himself. When he returned, he was kicked out. He was usually bullied by his master, and now he was being harassed by the people in the manor...

She was also a person with a tragic fate.

Yan Qing stopped in his tracks, took a deep breath, cursed himself for being too kind, and then turned around and stormed into the kitchen.

"What's all the noise about!"

He roared loudly, his deputy's authority still intact, and the kitchen instantly fell silent.

When the servant women saw it was him, they quickly composed themselves and looked somewhat embarrassed.

Yan Qing didn't even glance at them, walking straight to Feng Mian. He frowned, his tone still unpleasant: "What are you crying for! Will you die from missing a meal?"

Startled by his shout, Feng Mian paused for a moment, her eyes blurry with tears, on the verge of crying but unable to, making her appear even more pitiful.

It was as if he had bullied her.

Yan Qing scratched his head in frustration, then turned to the group of servant women and said with a stern face, "Haven't you heard that I offended the Crown Princess last night and was given thirty lashes?"

The expressions on their faces changed slightly.

"Immediately prepare a proper meal and send it to the east wing. If I see you engaging in these underhanded tricks again, I'll have His Highness give you thirty lashes!"

"Yes, yes."

The slave women were so frightened that they immediately responded and sprang into action.

Yan Qing glanced at Feng Mian again and saw that she was still sobbing, with tears on her face and clumsy movements, which made him even more annoyed.

He said irritably, "What are you still standing here for? Waiting for them to apologize to you? Grab your food and go back now!"

After saying that, without waiting for Feng Mian's reaction, he endured the pain in his buttocks, tried his best to maintain a normal pace, and quickly left this place of trouble that made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Even after walking quite a distance, I couldn't help but want to turn back and take one last look.

I must have had my brain damaged by the beating yesterday!

Eat salty radishes and worry about nothing.

……

After receiving the food, Feng Mian calmed himself down before returning to the east wing of the main courtyard.

She lowered her head and said in a hoarse voice, "Miss, dinner is ready. Today's food... is quite good, it's fresh out of the pot."

Mo Sangyu was leaning against the window, seemingly lost in thought.

Upon hearing this, she turned her head, her gaze lingering on Feng Mian's lowered face for a moment, sweeping over her slightly reddened eyes, before finally landing on the food on the table.

"Um."

Mo Sangyu responded and walked over, calmly beginning to eat.

The food was indeed excellent, steaming hot, and much more plentiful than the previous two days.

She ate slowly and deliberately, only glancing at Feng Mian briefly. Feng Mian then obediently sat down beside her and ate with her.

This has been the case for the past few days.

"Have you cried?"

During the meal, Mo Sangyu remained silent until she finished eating. After putting down her chopsticks, she asked, "Tell me, who bullied you?"